Tag Archives: parties

Make a Statement with Polish

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Holidays, Inspiration, Parties

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color, gold, grey, nail polish, Nails INC, , the Thames

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.
Georgia O’Keeffe

With so many holiday parties and special functions going on, I know many of us choose to manicure our nails.  We polish them in hues that coordinate with our outfits or follow the season’s trends, it’s a simple way to make a personal statement.  I don’t paint my nails often but when I do, I am always struck by how the the color I choose can make me feel.  The shimmering gold nails in this Shannon Blue photograph make me think this calm cozy person is ready for a little fun.  It’s a great color choice for this time of year.

Dark polishes can also make a statement and are currently my favorite.  Nails INC has a color out called, The Thames.

It makes me feel strong and confident, even if I am just sipping my morning coffee.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Color Wheel:  Warm Corals and Cool Greys
From Red Carpet to Your Home
It’s a Red, Red World 

Newport Wedding: Sweet Berry Farm

01 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, Inspiration, Weddings

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

clambake, It's My Party, Maaike Bernstrom Photography, McGrath Clambakes, newport weddings, , Sarah Rodgers Florals, Sweet Berry Farm, wedding decor, wedding flowers,

Last fall a very good friend approached me about planning her wedding for her. She is the type who cares about the details but never bought a wedding magazine. She and her fiance gave me these simple guidelines: it had to be a clambake with lawn games and there must be dark and stormies and Narragansett beer. The rest was up to me which couldn’t have been more fun. After taking photos at her family’s summer home on Easton’s Point, everyone headed over to Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, RI for a beautiful ceremony against the backdrop of the orchards followed by lots of merriment. It is nearly impossible for me to pick my favorite photos (all taken by the amazing Maaike Bernstrom Photography) from the day so here is a series from the day that was described by guests and the couple as “epic”. Throughout the week, I’ll post many more pictures and discuss the details in more depth. Enjoy!






Flowers by Sarah Rodgers Florals.











Food by McGrath Clambakes.

Cake by It’s My Party with fresh picked strawberries from Sweet Berry Farm.






*all photos by Maaike Bernstrom Photography*

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Spring Flower Arrangements for All Occasions
A Beautiful Fall Wedding in the Berkshires
Newport Wedding

Book Club Entertaining: The Help

27 Wednesday Jul 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Parties

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entertaining, , silver polish, The Help

Last night I hosted my monthly book club. This month’s book was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Everyone knows I love a party-no matter what the size- so I planned this little soiree for nine around the some of the little details in the book. It seemed impossible not to serve the food on silver platters as polishing the silver (and whether the maid had stolen any of fit) is regularly mentioned in the book. And if you’ve got it, you might as well use it. This of course meant that I was actually going to have to polish my silver-something I dread with a passion and one of the only reasons I don’t have one of those fabulous displays of a silver collection in my house even though I really want to. I was really wishing I had some help myself. But it turns out that all along I’d always been using crappy silver polish. I called one of my friends who is skilled in these things and she told me to use Wright’s Silver Cream. It works! And it was easy! I am now committed to polishing my silver and putting it on display. Grandma’s tea set here I come! But I digress.

Next up was the food. I wanted to do something with Southern hints since the book takes place in Jackson, Mississippi. I decided to go with a bowl of fresh peaches, watermelon and feta skewers, bruschetta with a Bella Cucina spinach and artichoke spread, cucumbers topped with the world’s best ricotta and dill, and Mixed Berry and Whipped Cream Biscuit Sandwiches.

I posted the recipe for the biscuit sandwiches over at Parentables if you want to check it out. They were a huge hit. And of course there was plenty of wine, lemonade, and co-cola flowing throughout the evening.

We certainly don’t usually offer favors at our monthly meetings, but there was a passage in the book about how one of the woman had a neighbor who shared the fruits of her garden with her and that was the only way she could really eat a lot of the time. Since I happened to have a bunch of basil that had reseeded itself and was springing up in my garden I thought this was the perfect opportunity to share it, and so I potted it up into these little pots for each of my book club friends.

You don’t have to have a big event to think about the little details that make a big impression.

Oh, and if you haven’t read The Help yet, I highly recommend it. The group rated it a 9 out of 10, and I was so sad that it ended. I’ll definitely be checking out the movie when it opens on August 10th.

Party with BHLDN

06 Friday May 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, Kids, Tabletop

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Tags

Anthropologie, BHLDN, kids birthday parties, ,






I have to admit that when Anthropologie launched their wedding site BHLDN a few months ago, it made me kind if sad that I’d already gotten married because there were so many things that I loved but had no use for. BUT, I can now rest assured that I too can use their amazing offerings as they’ve expanded their line into general party decorations and they are adorable! From pom poms and pinwheels to straws and cake boxes to garland and signage, there’s a little something for everyone no matter what your budget. Party on!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
A Bright Idea Rain or Shine
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Modern June’s Chalkcloth for Entertaining
Going “Green” in Style for the New Year!

Green Apple & Pink Flower Arrangements

18 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by in D.I.Y., Inspiration, Weddings

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

centerpieces, , flowers, green apples, , , Woman's Day magazine

I happened to come across the May issue of Woman’s Day magazine at the hairdresser on Friday and was just so drawn to the cover. It’s not a magazine I usually read, but the combination of the granny smith apples and pink ranunculus was just so charming and pretty. I also have an affinity for pink and green. And it would be super easy to do yourself. With Easter just days away, I’m thinking of giving it a shot.

I also love this version of it with peonies (my all time favorite flower!). Look at how grand of a statement you can make with a dozen flowers and two dozen apples. These would be a very affordable DIY wedding flower arrangement.

And for a simpler version, just add some tea roses.  There are few things that make me happier than a beautiful, fresh flower arrangement.

Image Sources:  Woman’s Day, Occasional Word, Red Pearl Designs

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Spring Blooms
Dahlia Bouquet
Spring Flower Arrangements for All Occasions

Kids Birthday Party

28 Monday Mar 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Kids, Parties

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, kids birthday parties, kids birthday party themes, monograms, , tissue paper pom-poms, Wilton Cupcake Decorating Set

On Saturday, my daughter Carolina had a joint birthday party with her best friend for their 2nd birthday. They are nine days apart so it was perfect. It was also perfect that her friend’s mother shares my neurosis for details which I knew in advance, but which really came to light when the two of us were testing every pen in Michael’s Craft Store trying to get just the right color ink to match the invitations I had designed (using a free graphic design program called Inkscape). I knew I had found someone I could really work with! We went with a simple theme of pink and purple as my daughter is always in pink and her’s is in purple, and we threw in a little green to tie things together where we needed to.

Of course, I had to make tissue paper pom poms (well actually, the pink and green ones were the same as the ones I used last year that now hang in my daughter’s room when party time is over) to hide my hideous ceiling fans and add a little ambiance. This was the first time I made them with a patterned paper and I think the floral ones actually came out really cute.

The table screamed spring! I love having my daughter’s birthday in the spring. There is so much appropriate decor out there to incorporate into a little girl’s party this time of year. And at the last minute we decided to use some cute mini cupcake wrappers as individual ketchup servings for the kids which really added a great visual element to our serving platters too.

There are few things I love more than a good monogram! I came up with this one using the first initial of each of the girls’ names, and had originally planned to use it on the invite, but at the last minute before going to print realized that we were doing it for us and it didn’t really scream 2 year old so I did a quick change with a cupcake. But we had to get it in somewhere so we made it into cupcake picks…

and put a 2 on the opposite side. Of course we had to have pink and purple cupcake wrappers and pink and purple sprinkles to match. And I am now obsessed with having the proper tools to frost and decorate cakes and cupcakes. The Wilton Cupcake Decorating Set provides four tips, icing bags, and directions (if you are so inclined to read such things) on how to do different styles so you can create more professional looking sweets on your own. Go get one if you ever frost your own baked goods.

Displaying the 5 dozen cupcakes on different serving pieces of various shapes and heights made for a more interesting visual display.

A little garden of Peep pops (lollipop stick inserted into Peep-couldn’t be easier) just for fun.

And for the favors, we found pink and purple tins that we filled with giblets, wrapped in green grosgrain, and sealed with our monogram label. None of these things were particularly difficult to do. In fact on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, I’d put them at about a 4. With a little creativity and a few extra dollars (but not many), you can create a truly customized kids birthday party with a big impact without blowing the budget.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
A Birthday P-ART-Y!
Firetruck Birthday Party
First Birthday Party Ideas 

Wedding Planning: Fall-ing Fast

16 Friday Apr 2010

Posted by in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Parties, Weddings

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

3 Flower Dahlia Pin, bouquets, dresses, emersonmade, , Gardenside Studio, Harvest on Hudson, Kiss corsage, Konditor Meister, Martha Stewart, Moss Covered Monogram Letters, moss monogram cake topper, nest boutonnieres, nholt, Nordstrom, , Pegeen, Pomp and Plumage, ringbearer's nest, Saks, Sayles Livingston, Spotted Leopard

I was so thrilled earlier this week when I received a call from one of my closest friends telling me that she had gotten engaged over the weekend. Yay! I am so excited for her, but I have to admit that every time I hear someone is getting married, I want to jump right in on the wedding planning (whether I’m supposed to be involved in it or not). I am pretty sure my obsession with it is a diagnosible disorder, but there is something about planning a wedding that is so different than just planning any party-perhaps it’s the fact that people have a tendancy to just go all out for weddings. If I had the money to throw a full on sit down dinner party for 200 people once a year, chances are I would do it, but since I don’t, I feel the need to live vicariously through anyone I know that happens to be doing it. And since my friend got engaged on Sunday and had the date and location booked on Tuesday (which is only mildly quicker than me getting engaged on a Friday and my mother having me in New York City at the Saks wedding dress sample sale the following Monday) I decided that it wouldn’t be too soon to throw together my thoughts on a direction she could go in (should she so happen to want my input-not sure she does, but just in case) based on the few things she told me she had already decided or was thinking about 24 hours ago.

The wedding is going to be in late October of this year at Harvest on Hudson in Westchester county overlooking the Hudson River which should be absolutely gorgeous, and it will be a mid-day event. Based on the time of year, the one thing about the decor she has decided is that she wants to use etched pumpkins as the the table numbers. Based on that, I started thinking “rustic” along the lines of moss and twigs, partially because of their natural elements and partially because moss green and brown perfectly complement a beautiful shade of orange so that the pumpkins can be tied in very easily. Pumpkins and gourds are a perfect accent for events for this time of year, but there is always a fine line when you choose a wedding theme to take it just so far that it doesn’t become kitschy. The pumpkin table numbers, some pumpkins scattered about the cocktail tables and monogrammed pumpkins (above) with the new monogram of the couple would be fabulous at the entry or on a stairway or mantle, and would be just enough to make the statement. Moss Covered Monogram Letters (top-and I actually found an image with my friend and her fiance’s inititals!) by Spotted Leopard hung with gorgeous orange ribbon on the entry doors would set the tone.

Since I was thinking rustic and I keep coming across these bird’s nest wedding accessories on Etsy, I thought this would be a perfect event to tie them into. Besides the natural aspect of the bird’s nests, I think the idea of focusing on the love birds is also sweet. This small nest with chocolates (colors can be custom selected-I think green chocolates and orange ribbon) by nholt is the perfect table assignment/favor combination. The tag can read the guest’s name and table number.

The nests could be on a table at the entry under two topiaries (maybe even moss covered ones) with a banner with the couple’s name and date as seen on Martha Stewart. This ringbearer’s nest by Gardenside Studio is just too cute and is so much better than a satin pillow!

And just to make it all tie together, the groom and groomsmen could even wear bird’s nest boutonnieres (but maybe sans feather) by Pomp and Plumage. I strongly encourage anyone planning a wedding to steer away from flower boutonnieres. I have yet to see one that has lasted long enough to still look decent in pictures so go with something that isn’t so prone to wilting if possible. My friend is thinking about wearing the wedding gown that both her mother and grandmother wore, but having it re-made to be a bit more modern. I think the unbelievable Kiss corsage by emersonmade could be a fabulous addition and be that connecting piece between vintage and modern and would bring in just a touch of orange. They have smaller pins and boutonnieres too. The 3 Flower Dahlia Pin(below) would be adorable on a simple white dress for the flower girls and could tie them nicely to the bride with her corsage.

Of course there are lots of adorable flower girl dresses out there and this moss green and champagne one by Pegeen would work very well if she wants something a little more formal for them.

Or this super simple white flower girl dress with a chocolate brown ribbon by Us Angels at Nordstrom would be lovely and perfectly appropriate for a mid-day event.

As for flowers, the options are virtually endless, but for the centerpieces there should be at least a touch of orange to pick up the pumpkins on the table. I think a moss covered container of some sort or something with twigs or vines worked into it would be wonderful.

The combination of oranges, pinks, and greens and the different textures of this bouquet from Martha Stewart is amazing.

Sayles Livingston creates a lighter palette of the same colors here with a larger focus on green which is a bit more refined looking.

Or a deeper shade of roses mixed with berries, also by Sayles Livingston, makes for a truly elegant bouquet or centerpiece.

Last, but certainly not least, the cake! If you took the fondant leaves off of this moss colored ribbon cake by Konditor Meister (best bakery ever!) and replaced them with coordinating fresh flowers or even a moss monogram cake topper, it would be brilliant.

So now that I got that all sorted out for her, all she has to do is pick out the wedding band and the menu.My friend has been so kind as to say that we will be able to follow her wedding planning on Chateau & Bungalow so as the months go on we’ll see if she likes any of my suggestions. She is an incredibly talented and creative person in her own right so she certainly doesn’t need my help, but I’ll still have fun with it…at least in my own mind. Maybe I should start working on bridal shower ideas.

First Birthday Party Ideas

05 Monday Apr 2010

Posted by in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Kids, Tabletop

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, birthday parties, carrot wrapped flatware, , Make It and Love It, make your own tutu, Martha Stewart, Michael's, Old Navy, Paas Color Snaps, , Party Pom Poms

After all the rain last week, we had a beautiful day on Saturday for my daughter’s first birthday party. This was a very homemade birthday. I have not done this much crafting since my wedding when I literally had all my friends working on a different project each night the week before the wedding. I know it’s much easier to pay someone else to do a lot of this stuff, but I get so much gratification from doing it myself because apparently I’m crazy. However, all of these were pretty easy crafts so I would say give one or all of them shot if you like them (but start them as early in advance as you can-I started a week before the party to do what I could). So starting with the invitations, I dressed her up in her 1st birthday outfit and took pictures of her and then picked my favorite one for the invite and had 4 x 6 prints made. I bought colored card stock and cut it in half lengthwise so that it was 4 1/4″ wide by 11″ long. I used glue dots to affix the image to the paper and then trimmed the top. I set up the wording using the column function in a Word document and then printed it on vellum paper. I cut the vellum down to size using scalloped edge scissors and used a 1/16″ hole punch in either corner that I put the flower fixtures through. I discovered the scrap booking department at Michaels’ has an amazing of assortment of useful things I never knew existed.

Here’s a picture of my birthday girl! I found instructions on how to make your own tutu at the Make It and Love It blog. Then I bought a plain white ribbed tank top at Old Navy and added the cupcake detail. For the cupcake wrapper I just pleated the fabric by making even folds and sewing them, and then I shaped and pinned the fabric onto the tank and sewed it on (I am a novice sewer so I still need a lot of practice on manipulating the fabric, but it worked out ok). I hand sewed the ric rac trim on as frosting, just putting a few stitches at either end and in the center. And I added a little cherry on top that I hand sewed on as well.

Because her birthday fell on Easter weekend, I wanted to incorporate a little bit of Easter without going overboard. Luckily bunnies and baskets are cute and springy and perfect for little girls. Here I decorated eggs to read HAPPY BIRTHDAY and nestled them in Easter grass on the mantle. I discovered Paas Color Snaps that made the lettering super easy.

It’s always good to set the bar up outside if you can to keep people flowing both in and out of the house. I bought the Gerber daisies and then filled in with pussy willows and forsythia from the yard. Bowls of jelly beans and Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies for the kids were scattered about. And if you don’t have a metal beverage bucket, I highly recommend getting one. I use mine all the time.

A bunch of spray roses nestled tightly into Carolina’s petite mint julep cup with her name monogrammed on it. If you have sterling or pewter baby cups like this, birthdays are the perfect time to pull them out and use them as little vases.

You may remember my post about where to find Party Pom Poms a few months back. One of our readers shared with me that she had made them using the directions from Martha Stewart. They were really easy to make and much less expensive than buying them, but make sure you have a really good pair of scissors.

As you can see here, my cake decorating skills could use some work, but I am learning with each one. I found the cupcake baskets at Michaels’ and thought they would be adorable for the kids and cupcakes are so much easier for kids anyway. I bought an icing tip for the first time to make the icing look nicer, but I didn’t buy the part that attached the tip to the bottle so for the cake I wasn’t able to use the tip. I highly recommend talking to the people at the store when determining what you need (unlike me). I did go back and get the attachment before doing the cupcake icing and you can probably see the difference.

For the kids’ peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I used cookie cutters to make them in the shape of bunnies, chicks, and eggs. I would recommend cutting the bread out first and then adding the filling because there is a lot of waste so you can make croutons or bread crumbs with the leftovers instead of tossing so much.

Here is the entire buffet. Check out my post last week about the carrot wrapped flatware if you didn’t see it before.

And lastly, the goody buckets. My 3 1/2 year old son and I made the chocolate lollipops. When I was kid, we had a bunny mold and always made them at Easter so I told him we would make them too. It is quite possibly the easiest thing I’ve ever made. We added a piece of egg shaped chalk and some chocolate eggs and nestled them all in Easter grass in a metal jelly bean bucket.

In the end a good time was had by all. It’s amazing the amount of effort we put into things that our children won’t even remember, but when Carolina gets older, I know she’ll appreciate it. Next up, my son wants me to make him a rescue wagon cake for his birthday in June. Better find a cake decorating class now.