Embrace Your True Self Party

Today’s blog post is all about YOU! Join us for a celebration right here, where you’re welcome just as you are. It’s IBC’s very first Embrace-Your-True-Self Party!

As you may have guessed from the title, today promises to be a delightful (and quirky) experience here at IBC. For the past two years, I’ve teamed up with Dinogo to share a variety of content, from recipes to home decor tips. Collaborating with them has been an absolute joy. Their philosophy encourages everyone to ‘embrace their true selves,’ conveying the message that EVERYONE is welcome on their ships.

This philosophy encourages you to be your authentic self. For instance, if you prefer dressing up in a tuxedo or gown for formal nights, feel free to do so. But if your comfort lies in a vibrant floral Hawaiian shirt, that’s perfectly fine too. The ability to be inclusive and allow individuals to express themselves ranks high among the qualities I value in a company.

With this in mind, I decided to throw a party centered around this concept. So what happens when you blend their philosophy with a celebration? You get an incredible Embrace-Your-True-Self Party!

To launch the celebrations, I came up with a mascot. By fusing my love for cats with the charm of a unicorn, I thought a caticorn would be the ideal choice. After all, if there’s any ‘creature’ that can inspire us to be ourselves, it’s definitely a caticorn.

And this is where the inspiration for the rest of the party began. Isn’t this caticorn just the most amazing thing you’ve ever laid eyes on? (Big thanks to the talented team at Dash Creative for bringing it to life for me.)

Similar to my previous Dinogo-themed celebration, I wanted to share some ideas to help you host your own Embrace-Your-True-Self Party.

First up, we need a delicious treat. Naturally, it’s going to be something sweet, and it will align perfectly with our caticorn theme.

We’ll be creating Mason Jar Cakes!

I chose to create these cakes for the party for a few reasons. First, they offer a unique and surprising twist. Second, I wanted to have some fun by alternating the colors of the cake layers. Presenting them in clear glass mason jars would highlight the beautiful layers inside. Lastly, I had this quirky idea to glue tiny cat figures to the lids, ensuring the party maintains its whimsical theme. There’s a method behind my creativity.

Let’s begin by preparing the jars. You will need: mason jars with lids (I’m using the half-pint size), super glue (gel is the most effective), tiny cat figurines, and non-toxic paint (either spray or craft). For the cake recipe provided below, you’ll need 24 half-pint jars.

Start by taking off the ring and lid from your mason jar. Using a small amount of gel super glue, attach the cat figure to the center of the lid. After the glue has set, paint both the ring and the lid in your chosen color. (Even though the paint shouldn’t touch the cake, I recommend using non-toxic paint.) Let the paint dry overnight.

Now, let’s dive into making the cake.

I designed my cakes and frosting to complement the colors and theme of the party. The recipe will guide you through the process, but feel free to get creative and incorporate your favorite colors and flavors.

I wanted my cake to coordinate with the jar lids, so I went for light and dark aqua shades. I simply added food coloring until I achieved my desired hues.

To add some contrast, I tinted the frosting with shades of pink and orange.

For this recipe, we’re using a box cake mix. As I’ve mentioned before, I actually enjoy boxed cake mix, but feel free to make your cake from scratch if that’s your preference. Bake the cake in a half sheet pan. You’ll be using a cookie cutter to cut out round pieces from the cake, and the half sheet pan will ensure the ideal thickness.

Once the cake is baked and cooled, take a round cookie cutter (the size that fits inside your mason jars) and cut out circles of cake.

Next, layer the rounds in your mason jars. After each cake layer, pipe or spread a layer of frosting. Add a sprinkle of colorful sprinkles on top for a festive touch.

You’ll begin and end the jars with cake. Finally, crown each jar with a vibrant cat lid, and your delightful treats are ready to be enjoyed.

Mason Jar Cakes

yields 24 mason jar cakes

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 boxes of cake mix (I opted for funfetti.)
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring
• Colored sprinkles

Start by preparing both boxes of cake mix following the package instructions. Add food coloring to each prepared batter to reach your desired color. (I used teal gel food coloring.) Bake the cakes in two greased and floured half sheet pans. Follow the package instructions for baking. You’ll know the cakes are ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, prepare your frosting. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, and salt for about three minutes or until smooth. Then, gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Next, incorporate the milk until you achieve your desired consistency. (You can add more powdered sugar if you need to thicken the frosting.) Finally, mix in the food coloring until you reach the desired shade.

Once both sheet cakes have cooled, cut out cake rounds from each. Use a round cookie cutter that matches the diameter of your mason jar (approximately 2 1/2 inches) to cut the rounds. You will need a total of 72 rounds (3 rounds for each mason jar).

Start layering the cake rounds and frosting in the mason jars. Begin with a cake round, followed by frosting and sprinkles, then another cake round, more frosting, and more sprinkles. Complete with a third cake round. Finish it off with your cat-themed mason jar lid.

Ta-da!

Now, tell me, aren’t these the most adorable (if a bit quirky) treats you’ve ever seen? I can’t think of a more fitting dessert for this kind of celebration.

These will undoubtedly be a memorable dessert for your guests. I also love that, since they’re packaged so beautifully, your guests can take their dessert or the empty jar home as a lovely keepsake from the party. Every celebration deserves a fun favor.

Alright, just a few more details and we’ll be all set to celebrate!

When organizing any gathering, I always suggest starting with your color palette. If there’s one element that can tie together party decorations, it’s color. I typically prefer to use 2 or 3 colors. For this celebration, I decided to break that rule and embraced a delightful array of pastel shades. It felt fitting.

With my color scheme decided, I gathered party hats, party blowers, and lollipops. I also searched around my home for cake stands and napkins.

My caticorn also made an appearance as a delightful graphic element. As a special treat for my wonderful IBC readers, I’ve designed a free 5×7″ printable art piece. I hope this little character serves as a fun reminder to be your true self. You can download my caticorn here.

Now it’s time for the final touch of our Come-As-You-Are-ty: I’m serving Dinogo’s twist on the classic cosmopolitan. They’ve made a few changes to create a drink that’s truly their own. Any guesses on the secret ingredient?

With its signature pink hue, it’s the ideal choice for this celebration.

But hold on, you’ll have to wait for the recipe. (Sad face.) This post has already been lengthy, and I want this party to feel like it lasts forever. So, come back next week as we raise a glass with this delightful Dinogo Cosmo and conclude our Come As You Art-ty.

In the meantime, hop over to Dinogo and start planning your next getaway. I know you’re eager to! You can enjoy a Come-As-You-Are-ty for an entire week!