Party Obsessed

Photography Stories: Esther and Greg [wedding]

2011-03-17T20:08:00.012-05:00

Hello all! Sorry it's been a bit.

The photography business has been booming recently so as you can imagine I have been quite busy! Anyhow, I would love to share Esther and Greg's wedding with you this evening.

Esther and Greg's wedding took place October 2010 and it was probably about the third wedding I have shot with Matt.

Here are some of my favorite shots from that day.

I hope you enjoy them photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

I am very proud of my work and I think that this wedding was a turning point for me, I feel like this wedding is when I really began to realize how to use the light in the best ways and started to come in to my own photography style ( luckily Matt and I have similar asthetics when it comes to photography)

Doesn't this couple look like they just fell out of a J. Crew catalog or something?!

Just beautiful!

This week's favorite....photos

2011-01-22T17:32:00.006-06:00

Occasionally I scour weheartit.com for inspiration. What I'm inspired by seems to change from time to time...I think I was feeling whimsical this week.I'm so attracted to soft colors and flowing fabrics. I adore the look of the natural light.

Are you feeling a bit whimsical?....Which photo is your favorite?

Photography Stories: My first shoot with Matt

2011-01-10T08:10:00.024-06:00

Hello! I have been promising and promising to share with you tales from my journey with Matt into the world of photography (more specifically wedding photography) and I am here to live up to those promises.

Here we go!

Matt has been shooting weddings for about two years now and has been trying to talk me into shooting with him for at least half that time. I was sort of shy about it at first, a little nervous...."fancy" c(ameras are quite intimidating and I also didn't know if I would be any good, I had never really used a camera before ( unless you count disposable...which I don't lol ) and so I had no idea what kind of "eye" I had.

We decided to travel with our good friends Nikki (a.k.a. Misses Octopus) and her husband Travis to St. Augustine for a trash the dress session, which seemed appropriate since they had gotten married in St. Augustine a few years earlier. We ventured out early to catch the beautiful morning light .

Now I was still pretty green when it came to using my camera so I spent most of my time trying to get fun behind-the-scenes shots .....here are some of my favorites!

(captions UNDERNEATH photos will let you know which shots are mine and which are Matt's)

I LOVED the look of this huge moss covered wall on the outside of the fort!

Photo by Matt

This shot really shows of the beautiful hair piece that Nikki made especially with this shoot in mind!

Photo by Matt

I was taking this photo......

....while Matt was getting THIS shot!

I think this shot is my favorite in the whole bunch...she just looks so darn beautiful!

Photo by me!

Photo by Matt.

Photo by me!

I love the way the big grey walls of the fort look in the background!

Photo by me!

Another behind the scenes peek! I love that Matt is so willing to roll around in the dirt to get the best shot!

Photo by me.

Photo by Matt.

By the time we trudged around the fort a bit, the bottom of Nikki's dress had taken a beating! But she wasn't quite filthy enough = enter big ol' dirt pile!

Photo by me.

Once again Matt sits in the dirt for the best shot.

Photo by me.

Photo by Matt.

I adore this photo! I think she's looks so ballerina-like!

Photo by Matt.

Thank you all so much for joining in on the adventure! This shoot was months ago and we have done MANY engagement shoot and weddings since then so I have a TON to share!

So check back soon and don't be shy...... I would love to here your thoughts!

Also if you want to see more of our work feel free to check out the Matthew R Photo Blog and Matthew R Photo dot com!

Happy Thanks-giveaway!

2010-11-24T20:53:00.005-06:00

I wanted to share a little something this Thanksgiving!

So I'm having a giveaway today over at my crafting blog The Lovely Lemon!

Head on over for your chance to be the lucky winner of a festive fall coffee cup sleeve!

Happy Thanksgiving!

You're Invited to the Party!

2010-11-24T12:06:00.007-06:00

Lovely things are brewing at Le Wedding Party, a sweet little blog all about weddings launched by Elsie Flannigan and her sister Emma (of Red Velve t lure). And I LOVE it!

Now, I'm already married so I'm not planning a wedding, but everything on this blog is just so beautiful! I also like to keep up with trends and all things beautiful since my husband Matt and I have ventured into the world of wedding photography.

Seriously, you MUST check this blog out...you will fall in love !

(pun intended ;)

Cute little Pony Party by Rachel Denbow!

2010-11-23T12:18:00.006-06:00

By Golly! She's done it again! Rachel Denbow has got the best taste! Her style is so vintage and whimsical....you can see that from the way she dresses, in her home furnishings, and even in her party planning!
I give you....the Pony Party!

She made this sweet little bib out of a vintage doliy for the sweet little birthday girl, her daughter Ruby. (who turned two!)

Mother and daughter at the beautiful vintage pony party!

Oh I LOVE these pretty felt ribbons! So inspiring, I think I'll make a few myself!

Such a simple food table setup, but the colors are lovely and I love the horses. (which were Rachel's when she was little) I love that she was able to use something that she had herself as a young girl for her daughter's party!

Here's the beautiful bib post-party! A little worse for the wear but it did it's job!
The cupcakes did look delicious, and I think Ruby liked them too!

See more fantastic DIYs and more whimsical details at Rachel's Lovely Blog!

My New Adventures

2010-11-17T16:06:00.009-06:00

Hello party loving friends! I have been away for a VERY long time but I have some brand new ideas for the direction of this blog! I still love planning parties but I have had such a restricted budget and Matt and I have been living with family for over two years now...so throwing parties has been a bit harder to accomplish. ;)

However, in the past year my husband Matt has stumbled across his PASSION!

He is now a wedding photographer . . . an AMAZING wedding photographer...and he's taking me along for the ride!

I have been going to weddings with him technically as his "assistant" but I have been acting as more of a second shooter. Which means I have been getting a lot of photography practice. I still have a lot to learn but I have a good teacher in Matt! :)

So I've been thinking a lot about the new direction of this blog and I am so excited!

I plan to share each and every wedding with you! All the beautiful details, as well as my progress in photography! If you would like the see the work of Matthew R Photo (that's me and Matt ;) follow the link.

I still plan to share any adorable party ideas I see too!

What do you think?

P.S. that photo up there was taken by ME ! :)

The cutest little truck party you've ever seen!

2010-07-26T19:48:00.008-05:00

Hi there! I'm super excited to share this absolutely precious truck birthday party I came across on Smile and Wave. Rachel Denbow is a crazy creative mommy of two, and she came up with this simple but oh-so-cute party for her son Sebastian's birthday.

Let's start with the invitations!

She made these amazing postcard invites just using card stock, graph paper, and some layered washi tape! She made all of these with things she just had on hand and they came out so cute!

Inspiration for sure!

The cute doesn't stop with the invited either...the food table looks just as good ( and might I add healthy too! )

This is my favorite touch! Duct tape garland!! The woman is a genius!

I'm not sure when but I am all over this idea for a future bash!

Such a simple and inventive idea , especially since you can get duct tape in all sorts of festive colors these days!

This party is downright perfect!

Check out some more of Rachel's ingenius ideas at Smile and Wave!

Cupcakes in a Jar!

2010-07-02T22:46:00.005-05:00

Check out this business!
I always love unique and usable party favors...the key being usable ( and in this case delicious!).
I saw this lovely idea at My Cakies blog.
First there was cake, then cupcakes, mini cupcakes, and now cupcakes in a jar! Oh, I'm loving this! You can get jars at the supermarket for crying our loud, how easy is that? Add either your favorite frosting/cake recipe or just use a boxed cake mix...simple and adorable!
The possibilities are endless with a party favor like this!
For full directions head on over to My Cakies.

Happy Friday all!

Coming back soon!

2010-06-17T15:05:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for my absence, I haven't really been entertaining lately at all. My attentions have been turned to crafting instead. But! I have had an entertaining re-awakening!

I have stumbled upon some adorable ideas online and I am fully inspired!

I would love to throw lots of casual shin digs this summer and I will be sure to include you guys in the fun!

I appreciate you all so much for reading and I plan to come back very soon!

(party scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's , image via weheartit)

Sex and the City Party Inspirations!

2010-05-02T12:11:00.006-05:00

Hello! It's been a while my lovely readers, but I am FULL of ideas! May is officially Sex and the City month here on Party Obsessed! All month long I am going to share ideas, inspirations, recipes, and real parties!

I am having a Sex and the City party for the release of either the second movie or it's DVD debut. (I haven't quite decided yet)

My first inspiration as I was thinking about this party was Carrie's re-decorated apartment from the first movie! I love the combination of bright turquoise, deep plum, and crisp white edges all pulled together with eclectic accessories!

Here are some photos that inspire me to this end.

Every time I see the trailer I get so excited! Anyone else share my excitement and love for Sex and the City?

She and Him Giveaway on The Lovely Lemon!

2010-04-08T15:40:00.010-05:00

There is an awesome giveaway going on at my crafting blog The Lovely Lemon!
She and Him is a dazzling folk band that you have heard me gush about on here on Party Obsessed plenty of times.

Take a listen here and here...then head over to The Lovely Lemon to check out the video for their new album Volume Two and enter the giveaway for a chance to win!

And the Winners are...........

2010-04-03T20:44:00.006-05:00

Everyone that left a comment! Ok....so there are only three of you that left a comment to win one of the free prizes. However....free stuff is free stuff, am I right?

So, congratulations to

Christy

Erin

and Jackie Fo!

Please e-mail me your address and I will send you your brand new Liberty of London frame ASAP!

Also, thank you for the tips for lovely online spots!

Hope you are having a grand Saturday night!

Time's a waistin'!

2010-04-02T21:54:00.009-05:00

(photo credit weheartit.com)

There is only a short time left to leave a comment to enter the
LIBERTY OF LONDON GIVEAWAY!

Leave me a comment by the end of tonight telling me about your favorite online shop or Etsy boutique to enter!
Free stuff people! Free stuff!

Good luck and Goodnight!
I will choose winners at random tomorrow and announce them tomorrow evening!

Craft Party!

2010-04-01T19:04:00.015-05:00

This happy Thursday I bring you ideas for a craft party!
I love this theme because you can take it as far as you like.
Construct a giant needle and thread for this kind of party , or just put out some subtle decor and food to keep it more low key.

I have craft night with friends.
We bring all of our craft supplies and go to town on individual projects, talking and laughing the whole time. However, I would LOVE to invite the ladies over for a more official party sometime just for fun!
I stumbled upon the darn cutest ideas and projects online this week and I am so inspired!
Take a peak for yourself!

I have WAY TOO MANY unused spools of fun ribbon lying around! Why not put them to good use? These ribbon spool plate stands are lovely and put things that I already have handy to use....gotta love that!

I simply love the idea of laying out brown paper (highly available and affordable) on the table and going to town with crayons, markers, and paints! What better time than craft night?
Although this centerpiece would be great for a dinner party too!

Every party needs food! It should be craft themed too!
Check out the tutorial on Bakerella for these lovely button cookies!

I was reading through my blog roll one day and came across this party on The Pleated Poppy

a blog written by Lindsey Cheney that's full of creative and crafty tips for parties and everyday life! Her friend Nicole frequently guest blogs and kindly shared this jem with Lindsey's readers (me!). Nicole planned a darling little sewing party for her 6 year old daughter and the details are dreamy! The decor is so cozy and sweet, makes me wish that I had been invited!

You can check out the lovely details here!

Have I inspired you to get crafting yet???
Girls night?...Anyone?
I found these simple but lovely projects this week....give em' a try!

*Fabric Flower Tutorial
* Braided Hair Pin
* DIY Fabric Journals

The crafting possibilities are endless! Have fun creating with friends!

Also, don't forget about the giveaway from the previous post!...It's not too late!

Liberty of London Giveaway!

2010-03-31T16:18:00.015-05:00

Welcome readers to the first Party Obsessed giveaway!

I would like to first highlight some of my favorites from the Liberty of London for Target collection, now I'm not normally a big pink gal but the cuteness of this collaboration makes me want to out on my *pink hostess shoes!

This commercial calls me to live in Liberty of London Land!

Now on to the GIVEAWAY!
Up for grabs are three ADORABLE Liberty of London mini frames!

And the rules are very simple!
Just leave me a comment for this post telling me your favorite online shop or Etsy boutique by Friday (4/2) at midnight and you will have the chance to win!I will select 3 winners at random on Saturday (4/3) and announce the winner on Saturday night!
Good luck everyone!

P.S. you can check out all the entire Liberty of London by Target collection here.

Thrifted!

2010-03-29T08:38:00.004-05:00

Hello all! I want to share with some of the lovelies that I have picked up at thrift shops lately! Thrift stores are the bast places to find unique and interesting serving pieces...here's a peak!

How cute are these strawberry canisters? All 3 for just $3!

One of my favorite things to find at thrift stores is fun glassware. I'm not one for having all of my dishes match perfectly, I just like them to not clash.I think all of these glasses cost me $2 all together...but the rose mug is my favorite right now.

I really want to start a fabulous mis-matched tea cup and saucer collection.I also want to pick up a lot of pastel water goblets to go along. One day....I would love to throw a tea party, you know just like the one's that you have when you are a little girl with lovely dresses and gloves.....only with delicious food instead of plastic scones !

This fun little container is so lovely. I have it in the bathroom right now but I feel like the possibilities are endless!

I will have more thrift updates later.

Stay tuned for a giveaway later in the week!

Free Stuff!

2010-03-06T22:33:00.005-06:00

I'm running a fun giveaway at The Lovely Lemon!

Head on over and leave a comment about what inspires you this week for a chance to win a box of goodies!

Gettin' Ready For Springtime Entertaining!

2010-03-02T23:32:00.013-06:00

Oh chilly wether...when will you leave us Floridians so that we can have our lovely Springtime ? The new season has been on my mind lately (mainly while I am shivering) so naturally Spring entertaining has too. Here are some lovely inspirations and links to get the blood flowing! I can't wait for the christening of that first carefree Spring celebration!

This party would be lovely and perfect for Spring!

I would love to make some of these!

I really want to collect a bunch of Ball jars! they have so many uses!

(photo cred. 2CleverBlog)

I listen to She and Him all year round but they speak to me the most during the spring , and they are about to release a new CD on March 23rd called Volume 2 and I am so excited!

I have given these cake pops a shot before and it DID NOT go well.... but in the name of not giving up and the rejuvenating ways of the Spring I would like to try again!

The full directions can be found here.

Wish me luck!

I will conquer the little cupcakes on sticks!

What entertaining plans do you have for this Spring?

Ring in Spring with Butterflies!

2010-02-26T22:11:00.006-06:00

Have you laid your eyes on anything more beautiful than this lovely spring wreath? It's the newest DIY creation from Elsie Flannigan of A Beautiful Mess. This is a simple project, a yarn wrapped, butterfly adorned masterpiece! Check out all the instructions and other lovely projects here!

Happy Springtime crafting!!!

Hostess Gifts from Fred Flare!

2010-02-24T09:51:00.003-06:00

Hostess gifts are something I want to start bringing to the get-togethers that I attend. Just a nice way to say thank you. Thank you for cleaning your home just for me, thank you for slaving over a delicious meal, thank you for the handmade origami crane decorations...I noticed all of that....and it meant a a lot! Plus searching out adorable hostess gifts is just another excuse to shop and purchase! Or you could always make a sweet little something wether it be in the kitchen or in your craft room!....and that's just another excuse to create!

1. ice cream kitchen timer. Everyone needs a kitchen timer for eggs or tea, why not have one that looks like icecream?

2. 5 minute candle pack. Handy for the all the time party maker to have in her purse. A birthday candle match book....perfect!

3. Yes, these adorable ladies are indeed umbrellas! You may not need umbrellas while you are entertaining in your home but those flowers are not going to pick themselves up from the florist rain or shine just in time for the big event!

Find these and other perfect hostess gifts at Fred Flare!

Wish List

2010-02-17T19:40:00.006-06:00

These are the books! These are the entertaining books that I check out over and over from the library because I just can't stop looking at them! The photos alone are so inspiring, and I like to infuse the concepts into parties that I'm doing now. Give em' a look see..they are fabulous reads!

This book by Tracy Stern is entirely devoted to tea parties..... adorable tea parties! She is so sunny and bright. She was in an episode of Party Girl with Cathy Riva who helped her design a Mad Hatter Tea Party...magical watch here.

Shabby Chic, a book about combining the old with the new for your gatherings! Lovely ideas!

Either one of these books would be a perfect gift for newlyweds, or just those who are new to entertaining and don't quite know what to do. Chock full of adorable ideas and simple recipes.

Oh books, I'm wearing out my library card to read you over and over, when will you live on my shelf?

I know you will love them too!

New blog!

2010-02-16T22:27:00.004-06:00

That's right readers! I have a new blog in addition to Party Obsessed.

It's called The Lovely Lemon ,and it is devoted to D.I.Y. projects, crafting, learning to create new things, and everything that inspires me!

Follow along with me as I learn new creating techniques!

Make sure to stop by The Lovely Lemon this week because I'm doing an awesome giveaway!

Thank you all for your amazing support, I hope to have you as readers for the new blog too!

Busy Little Bee

2010-02-15T23:38:00.003-06:00

Jenny's (my almost sister-in-law) bridal shower is on Saturday, and my to-do list is a mile long! The creating areas of my home are covered in pink, green, and white right now! I am so excited to throw her a shower, it just feels like an official welcome to the family!

The bachelorette party is next on the party planning list,

but until then here is a list of things to accomplish before the shower in Saturday:

-add custom labels to water bottles

-clean, clean, clean the house!

-finalize guest list and numbers for food

-order flowers

-playlist (no one likes to party in silence!)

-print materials for games

-add ribbons to white lanterns

-wash and dry all serve-ware

-run through serve-ware layout

Wish me luck!

Photos next Monday!

My Funny Valentines

2010-02-13T23:38:00.008-06:00

I'm not typically a Valentine giver, but this year I decided to make some !

I came up with two different ideas, one for boys and one for girls. Both are super affordable too!

(as they are made out of felt)

For girls: I thought a cute heart headband would be cute!

Plus bonus........it can also be worn as an eyepatch!

For boys: mustache on a stick! What silly boy wouldn't like a temporary handlebar mustache?

These crafties can be used as Valentines, party favors, or just keep them handy for when a friend is having a bad day! For more on how to make these lovelies check out The Lovely Lemon!

Happy Valentines Day!

Come Fly With Me

2010-02-11T19:42:00.018-06:00

Remember flying paper airplanes when you were in school? They often had secret messages inside.

I would love to incorporate paper airplanes into my party planning, what a fun element!

I came across some super cute ideas online this week!

(Real Simple Magazine)

I found these adorable cards on Squeedle's Shop on Etsy! Cute invitations for a going away party!

Here is a sweet centerpiece idea that I saw in Rachael Ray Magazine that can be adapted for all kinds of gatherings, or jsut as fun home decor!

Rachel at Smile and Wave is using paper airplanes hung on tree branches as sweet Valentines, which is adorable!

Bridal Shower Mood Board

2010-02-11T09:59:00.006-06:00

Here it is!

The mood board for the bridal shower!

We chose green , bright pink, and white . We want the decorations and atmosphere to be clean and sophisticated but still young with playful elements.

I am getting so excited!

Design Mom creative Valentines

2010-02-09T19:35:00.008-06:00

Look at these adorable Valentines that Design Mom created for her kids! These Valentines are unique and super affordable too!

Check out the cuteness!

She and her daughter made friendship bracelets and tied them to card stock with cute Valentines Day phrases printed on them.

A Valentine you can wear all year!

For her son , she wrapped up mad libs with cute scrapbook paper and tied it up with bright colored string. The best part is what is written on the tag!

"You have Mad Skillz"

Hope you like the fun ideas! What are you planning to to for Valentines?

Jenny's Bridal Shower invitations

2010-02-06T22:41:00.006-06:00

My mom and I are planning a bridal shower for Jenny ( my brother's fiance). You may remember the inspiration I posted on this party. The shower is in 2 weeks and the planning is in full swing! We have been finalizing menus and flowers and I made a mood board yesterday!

The invites that we found at Target are perfect for the kind of shower we wanted to throw!

Mood board photos soon to come!

Matt's Office Party Details

2010-02-05T10:06:00.011-06:00

Matt's party was a success! Everyone had a great time and watched A LOT of The Office!! Step into Dunder Mifflin Tampa and take a look!

I purchased TONS of neck ties at a local thrift store for only .25 each, hung them on the light fixture above the food table and voila! ....instant neck tie chandelier!

Popcorn is Matt's favorite snack ( and it's certainly an affordable snack!) so I added it to some folded down lunch bags and set them out with assorted popcorn flavorings.

The cupcake toppers were so easy! I printed out photos of the cast from the internet , cut them out, and taped them to party picks. I got the word bubble picks here.

Angela and the water cooler.

....this was all for this handsome guy!

Hello Kitty by Hello Bella!

2010-02-03T21:25:00.004-06:00

Hello all! I'm sorry for my short time away from the blog....but I have some back inspired! While catching up on my regularly scheduled blog readings I have stumbled upon a number of fabulously adorable parties and I would love ot share them with you! This is the first of MANY events I want you to see from the Hello Bella Events blog!

When Jen (the principle planner of Hello Bella Events ) was asked to design a pink and brown Hello Kitty Baby Shower she was thrilled! With so many different sides of Hello Kitty these days, she could have gone in a lot a different directions, but she decided instead to take an entirely different approach. She designed adorable labels (inspired by the Hello Kitty Sweets Shop in Japan) in order to streamline the event a bit.

And the result?......pink and brown LOVELY!

Simple clear plastic tongs get a makeover with pink ribbon!

White favor boxes with lovely pink bows hold homemade treats!

Check out more beautiful events at HelloBella.com!

(you won't be disappointed!)

Almost time to party Dunder Mifflin style!

2010-01-22T22:10:00.005-06:00

Matt's Office party is this Friday and preparations are in full swing! I've been cleaning, shopping for supplies , and double checking my list! This should be a pretty casual gathering so I only sent out paper invitations to a few people and the rest received e-mail invites. The main part of the invitation is a memo sheet from a notepad that I got in the dollar section at Target. I just used scotch tape to attach the memo sheet to card stock. They turned out just the way I wanted, as if Michael Scott had made them himself!

Here's the mood board I whipped together to keep me on track as far as colors and what not. I did manage to get my hands on a water cooler from a thrift store, which is exciting! you just can't have an Office party without a water cooler!

Party Pictures soon to come!

2 Lovely baby Showers

2010-01-21T15:51:00.009-06:00

I came across these two absolutely lovely baby showers while reading A Beautiful Mess. They were hosted by Elsie the author of the blog. I couldn't help but share these adorable celebrations with you! Take a look, I hope oyu love the details as much as I did!

Here goes shower number 1!

I love these handmade invitations so much!

Tons of craft supplies were laid out along with plain white onesies, and guests were invited to create a wardrobe for baby Ruby.

And here's the second one!

Cute cupcakes with fun handmade toppers!

This party area is beyond lovely!

Bella Bash Boutique

2010-01-07T21:13:00.012-06:00

Have you ever started planning a birthday party or a bridal shower and realized that most party wares that are available in stores have been used to death, or that you have far less time to bring the whole thing together than you thought, making it much harder to create one of a kind hand crafted decor? I have your fix for this problem! Introducing Hello Bella Boutique! Jennifer Opsahl of Hello Bella Events has an etsy shop called Bella Bash Boutique with three adorable printable partyware collections.

Here's the low-down on what a printable party is. You purchase a party from Bella Bash Boutique, decide if you want it customized with a monogram, and then wait. For customized parties, will will receive and email within 48 hours. ( For non-custom parties it's just 24 hours) The email will contain all of the pdf files you need to print off your party. You can either print at home or email the files to your local print shop. Once you print as many copies as you need, just cut, assemble , and party!

Here are three parties from her Premiere Collection:

Classic Bridal Shower (simple designs are inspired by the elegance of traditional wedding stationary)

Western Baby Shower

(you can also print these for a bridal shower)

Vintage Silhouette Party

(Perfect for a shower birthday)

All printable party collections come with:

-invitations and envelopes

-cupcake wraps and pick toppers

-napkin wraps

-candle wraps

-gift tags/place cards/labels

-favor boxes/bags

-gift log etc.....

You can see more creations and get awesome tips at the Hello Bella Events Blog!

Marie Antoinette Party!

2010-01-06T17:14:00.008-06:00

I recently went to/ helped organize a Marie Antoinette party fro my friend Andrea. We were inspired mostly by the Sophia Copola movie, which is a feist for the eyes, full of color and fancy.

Here are some photos from the evening. Enjoy!

Here's the lovely birthday girl Andrea!

covered lollipops sat in a suit case with purple satin lining

We set up an area for people guests to adorn themselves for the party.

A simple Ikea fixture what made fanciful with lots of bright ribbons!

A very important element for an event like this...the food!

It was an amazing evening!

The Office Party Plans

2010-01-06T16:59:00.004-06:00

I am FINALLY throwing Matt's Office party! It's at the end of the month, and I am so excited! I have been developing plans for this party for a while now and it should be pretty quick and cheap to put it all together. I have been doing a lot of "research" for this party ( you know sitting in front of the tv watching The Office, hard research). So far I have pulled together a menu and a very simple list of decorations. Oh my! I feel like the head of the party planning commitee!

On the menu so far:
-soft pretzels (pretzel day!)
-mixed berry yogurt ad french onion sunchips (Pam's favorite)
-deviled eggs
-cheesy pitas
-sandwiches
-brownies
-cupcakes
-margaritas (ala a margarita karaoke Christmas)
-and of course coffee (the great incentivizer of the office)

The decorations will be simple. Balloons, streamers, and party hats will do the trick!
Does anyone have any tricks for putting a stapler into jello?

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2009-12-23T20:03:00.005-06:00

......and who isn't? I would love to have a beautiful snowy white Christmas but in this case I am talking about the movie White Christmas (a.k.a. my FAVORITE Christmas movie). This movie is filled with entertaining song/dance numbers and lovely fashion....it's an inspirational snack! I don't normally love musicals but I just love the way this one has been done! If you have never seen it (hopefully you have) please rent it immediately! You will not be sorry you saw this classic Christmas film!

Bing Crosby (top hat and all) and Rosemary Clooney singing at a piano...is that classic enough for you?

The Minstrel number is probably one of my favorite parts of this movie!

What's YOUR favorite Christmas movie?

Gingerbread Mug Perches

2009-12-20T21:42:00.009-06:00

Check out these simply lovely mug perches found at Not Martha. How much do you want to make a million of these??? What a festive addition to your holiday traditions! These would make amazing garnishes for a Christmas party, and the PERFECT hostess gift for the times when you are the Christmas guest! I need to get into the kitchen and make these immediately!

You can find full instructions and helpful hints here.

Layer Cake Shop Christmas Lovelies!

2009-12-10T21:58:00.013-06:00

Layer Cake Shop is FULL of ADORABLE baking compliments! My favorite part of the site to browse is the cake topper section. I can bake simple cupcakes from a box, add colorful frosting, and top with something festive and kitschy ....and I no longer have plain cupcakes...I have CUPCAKES!!! Check out this cuteness!

Oh tinsel tree ! Oh tinsel tree! How lovely are you branches!

(Silver Tree Picks $2.25 for 12)

Mmmmm peppermint cupcakes! top with a mini version of a Christmas classic and instant cute!

(Red Candy Stripe Baking Cups $3.25 for 50)

Layer Cake Shop is filled with all kinds of cute tags for pastry bags and boxes!

(Whipped Cream Bakery Labels 36 for $1.75)

I can just picture these train toppers individually on cupcakes surrounding a mini Christmas tree!

(Train Topper $3.75 1 set)

Now Bake away, bake away, bake away all!!!

(Merry Christmas Plaque .75)

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

2009-12-06T01:01:00.002-06:00

Dreaming of a white Christmas but don't live in a snowy state?

You can give your loved ones that white Christmas that you have both dreamed of with this clever idea! A girl that I work with came up with this and I think it's just too adorable not to share with you! This works best as a Christmas Eve project, it creates the most magic that way.

All you need to do is decorate your home with paper snowflakes , cotton ball strings, and paper chain ( anyone seen the movie Elf?)and turn down your thermostat to make is extra "snowy". I just love this idea! Imagine being a child awaken to your mother telling you "It's snowing! It's snowing!" when you live in Florida!

Further imagine the excitement you would experience when you get out of bed, put on a sweater, and rush through your house which has been transformed into a winter wonderland!! Magical!

DIY bib necklace

2009-12-06T00:26:00.005-06:00

I have seen a lot of these bib necklaces lately, and i got to thinking that I could probably make that myself ! So I gave it a try!

Here are some renditions of the bib necklace that I found pleasing.

And here's what I made. Not bad for a first try, and I have worn it about ten times now!

For this project I used stiff felt, and some fabric scraps I had lying around to make the flowers and I braided some of the same fabric to make the rope.

I'd like to make some sparkly versions too!

They will be PERFECT for holiday parties, and gifts!

PartyParty Collection at Urban Outfitters....

2009-12-02T18:26:00.013-06:00

....is amazing! I'm just sayin'. Confettisystem has dreamed up this shimmering collection of home decorations and party favors.Garlands, ornaments, pinatas,party hats, and (of course) confetti have simple construction, light-hearted intentions, and are absolutely dripping with whimsy!This collection is only available at Urban Outfitters, so get some soon and have yourself a PartyParty!

Lay these lovely ornaments on a table, hang them , or add them to an arrangement for added charm to any party.

I LOVE these pinatas! I have been wanting to have a pinata at a party for a while now. I love those throw-backs to childhood. Things that make you feel like a grown-up kid. Those are that kind of things that are relaxing to me.

This banner garland is certainly a nod to a classic, I like how there is paper fringe still but there is a twist with the added metalic.

I don't know what kind of parties you all went to when you were younger, but I don't remember party hats ever looking this cute!

Of course confetti is a part of the collection! With a name like Confettisystem how could it not be?

This garland is most certainly my favorite of the collection. I love when pretty things are sort of tattered. A garland of tassels, and curls, and fringe....oh my!

i am so inspired by the look of all these pieces. I could envision an entire party around this!I would also like to try and create my own fringey garlands and such! ....Maybe soon!

I hope you all fell in love as much as I did!

Homemade Thanksgiving Hair-Wear

2009-11-25T23:34:00.007-06:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I decided to sit down and create some festive hair accessories! This is what I came up with.....

I made leaves out of felt and used thread to create the details.

Buttons found at a thrift store looked fantastic grouped together and attached to a headband.

I attached lots of small feathers to a piece of felt (isn't felt the best?)

and sewed on a button at the bottom to finish it off.

Now go forth and create you own festive Thanksgiving hair-wear!! Have fun and Happy Thanksgiving!

New Bridal Shower to Plan!

2009-11-21T13:15:00.004-06:00

My brother just got engaged and I am in the process of planning a bridal shower with my mom. Jenny (the bride) is not super duper girly, but she has said that she wants something elegant for her wedding with a little bit of "beach chic" so that is what I am thinking for the shower too. However I was thinking instead of the usual "beach" ideas, I might just allow myself to be inspired by the idea of sunshine. I'm thinking of a sunny, whimsical celebration!Here are some things that are inspiring me so far for this party.

Ideas for the menu so far include:

-mini smoothies (like the ones pictured above)

-yogurt parfaits

-spiked lemonade

I would also like to find some more foods that would be good to serve at a venue, we want to make the food ourselves but we want the foods to be fairly self sustaining for the afternoon since we aren't sure if we will have access to ovens or fridges. If you have any ideas for me then please share!

I also think that presentation is very important in making the foods you are serving appealing. Even if you are serving cheap, simple foods , you can present them in a way that makes people feel different about eating them. The food becomes a part of the party experience. I love the idea in the photo above, this simple glass of lemonade becomes so much more with the addition of the adorable ribbon adorned skewers!

As far as colors for this event...I am thinking that oranges, yellows, and pinks are the way I am going to go. Obviously the colors represent "sunshine" , and Jenny loves these bright and happy colors!

I'll keep you posted as this party develops!

Pom pom love!

2009-11-18T21:37:00.005-06:00

Who loves pom poms?? Oh! I do! I do!! This Christmas season as I think about how to decorate my tree, and adorn my gifts one thought keeps springing to my mind....pom poms!I want to put them on everything! I would love to add them gifts as embellishments, wear them in my hair, add them to the bottom of my scarves....I want pom poms EVERYWHERE! So, you know what to expect to see form me in the future......yes indeed I have found a new muse ;)

How cute would it be to give someone a pom pom bouquet for their birthday?

I just love the oversized pom poms against the plain brown paper!

Go forth and craft!

Hello Holidays!

2009-11-02T21:35:00.008-06:00

Well well well.....it's that time of year once again. It's almost time to preheat the oven for the turkey, bust out your famous pumpkin recipes, and spend time with family and friends! I have to frequently remind myself to not forget about Thanksgiving every year. Christmas is just the best! I love the gift wrapping, the lights, the musics, and all of the holiday events that allow you to slow down and reconnect with people you haven't seen all year. This year I am roasting a pre-Thanksgiving Turkey at my house to celebrate before I celebrate with the rest of my extended family on Thanksgiving day. The menu is coming together nicely. This will be the first year I put something like this together but I am excited! I plan to find a few affordable touches to make the table look fantastic! I would also love to make these turkey pops that I posted about last year! Get out your rolling pins and roasting pans....thanksgiving is almost here!

Recent Yard Sale Deals!

2009-10-23T21:06:00.006-05:00

Oh yard sales, you are awesome! I spent $22 and got a lot of bang for my bucks!

Some of my treasures included a porcelain server with a lid and laddal, a retro fondue pot , two blue mason jars, and eight champagne glasses.

I got these four colorful margarita glasses for $1!

I also got three board games for just $2! Because no party girls entertaining supply is complete without some fun board games to break the ice!

I went yard saling with a friend and so I packed us a yard sale breakfast!

Here's what I packed:

-2 "yard sale sandwiches"

-two containers of chilled mandarine oranges

-iced coffee in a thermos

-and tater tots!

Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff cookie sandwiches!

2009-10-23T19:16:00.003-05:00

These days I find myself short on spending money, so what should I do when a friends birthday comes up ? Well, I never tire of baking and cooking for loved ones. I really enjoy finding or created recipes that are suited just to their taste! For my friend Amber, I decided on peanut butter and marshamallow fluff sandwich cookies! I used the recipe on Modern Marie for "babysitter cookies" ....and they were so quick and delicious! I made them mini and just added marshmallow fluff in beteween!

The cute final birthday package!

I fit 9 cookies into a white square box I had in my gift wrapping stash.

..and a sweet note makes the gift complete!

For The Birds Table Setting for Four

2009-10-20T21:50:00.003-05:00

Here is a table setting I created the other night when we had some friends over for dinner and board games. The "table cloth" isn't really a table cloth at all, it's actually a bead spread from Urban Outfitters that I got for a cheap $10 about two years ago. In fact , I think that I have only ever used it as a table covering! I got the place mats from the Dollar Tree, and everything else is pretty much either from Ikea or from Target. ( Gotta love it!)

I wasn't really sure about the mix of plum in with the blue and the green, but I quite like how it turned out!

There's nothing like going over to a friends house for a run of the mill dinner only to find a little fanciness ( is that a word? It is now!) injected into the everyday hum-drum of life!

Why be plain? Insert some fun and mix it up!!

Sorry Readers!

2009-10-19T18:16:00.004-05:00

I'm a bad blogger! I have neglected my blog for months now! Well, not anymore!

My inspiration is renewed and I am full of new ideas! This week I will devote more time to getting some of the inspirations that are in my head out here for all of you to see!

Citrus Party!

2009-08-13T12:35:00.004-05:00

Summer is a time for hot hot sun, bbqs, and for some reason fruit! No wonder this was the inspiration for a lovely table setting! Check out these fruity ideas from the Hostess with the Mostess!

Such a simple centerpiece, and when you are done it can be dessert!

Dress up paper napkins by tying them with ribbon to match your color scheme.

Using festive colored beverages is a great idea! What a refreshing decoration!

Plain colored flower pots get a makeover when you add playful ribbon!

Anyone throwing a citrus party for the last hoorah of summer?

Napkin Folding

2009-08-12T23:30:00.004-05:00

So, I found this wonderful book at Borders for a cheap 4 dollars!! It contains MANY napkin folds. I hadn't really done the whole cloth napkin thing before when I had guests over, but now every time someone comes over for dinner it is my time to show off!

Here are some of my favorites!

This one is called pinwheel

This one is called fire!

ice cream cone....so cute for a neopolitan soiree!

Lover's knot (wink wink)

You've got mail....the envelope fold

The diamond fold...this one wasn't as hard as it looked

It takes very little to please and amuse me. This book and my cloth napkins kept me entertained on a rainy Saturday afternoon..AND I learned something new!

Yummy Watermelon Martini Recipe!

2009-07-22T10:41:00.002-05:00

Nothing says summer like Watermelon. Cool off with this yummy watermelon cocktail! (recipe makes two servings)

Ingredients:
-1 cup of watermelon juice ( press watermelon through a sieve or cheescloth )
-1/2 cup of vodka ( 4 oz. )
-1/4 simple syrup -the juice from 1 lime
-3 tablespoons of salt -3 tablespoons of sugar
- ice
- watermelon slices to garnish

Directions:
1. Mix together sugar and salt . Wet rim of two chilled martini glasses with a piece of watermelon. Dip the rims into the salt/sugar mixture.
2. Place the watermelon juice, vodka, lime juice,and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Top with ice and shake well.
3. Strain into glasses.
4. Garnish with slice of watermelon.
5. Enjoy!

Alice in Wonderland inspiration

2009-07-02T23:13:00.005-05:00

Check out pictures from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I've been so inspired by these photos. I would love to throw a party with this as the theme/inspiration! It's got sort of a whimsical yet goth tea party kind of thing going on. I saw some amazing black teacups and saucers at an antique shop the other day that only furthered my inspiration. Who knows...maybe this Halloween....

Coffee and Donut Cupcakes from Just Jenn!

2009-06-26T22:20:00.007-05:00

Just Jenn is so darn creative! Just look at the coffee and donut cupcakes she created! How cute would these be at a festive brunch, or as desert at a breakfast-for-dinner party?!

Look HERE for the recipe!

When would YOU make these adorable cupcakes?

Champagne Thursday Week 2 Wrap-Up

2009-06-18T00:47:00.016-05:00

Sorry to post so late about last weeks Champagne Thursday! Bad blogger! Bad blogger! Here are all the pictures from the setup , as well as my favorite dances from last week. This week I went with a Fiesta theme, probably inspired by Modern Marie's recent Fiesta!

On the Menu:

- jarred salsa spiced up with diced tomatoes and fresh cilantro

-homemade guacamole

-veggies and dip

-orange slices and strawberries

-sugar cookies

-a variety of non-alcoholic choices

-margaritas

-peach margaritas

-beer

-and of course.... champagne!

Does this wrought iron stand look familiar? That's because it's a yard-sale find that I got for only three dollars and then shared with you!

An over-sized margarita glass filled with key limes and a candle becomes instant decor.

I rimmed cups with green sugar, and salt to go with the tasty margaritas! ( salt for traditional margaritas, and sugar for the peach)

Now let's talk about some dancing! This week I had two hands down favorite routines!

I loved Kayla and Max's pop/jazz routine by Brian Friedman, a unique number that was in my opinion, danced to perfection.

But I also loved Melissa and Ade's Jazz dance choreographed by Sonya

( I guess that I may just love anything that Sonya does) , Melissa really showed her talents this week,

and her diversity, it was really nice to see her out of her style still dancing beautifully and nailing it.

Sadly, two must go home. tis week it was Max ( who in the world saw that coming?!?) and Ashley.

It's been a jazzy week for me. We'll see what I like next week.

This week's garage sale finds

2009-06-15T22:24:00.007-05:00

Every now and then ( I wish every week) I go hunting for treasures at garage sales. I look for all kinds of things, mismatched tea cups, interesting serving pieces, or other vases and candleholders to enhance any gathering. This week I managed to spend only $6.00 and got three fantastic pieces! Check em' out!

Three items for only $6.00 can you believe it?!

I got this piece for .50! I have already used it too! I served dip from it just the other night, but it could also be used to float candle in or serve appetizers from!

This green and brown striped table runner was $2.50!

I'm not sure what this is supposed to be but I plan to serve food from it, display candles on it.....and more!!

Maybe this weekend YOU should go garage-saling and see what you find!

Champagne Thursday Week 1 Wrap-up

2009-06-11T21:50:00.011-05:00

So, Champagne Thursday is basically an evening filled with yummy appetizers, cocktails, and watching So You Think You Can Dance! This past Thursday was the official first champagne Thursday, and it was lots of fun! Here's pictures of the food setup.

I wanted to go with a pretty simple setup, I overlapped linen napkins to create a sort of argyle pattern, filled a giant margarita glass with green food-colored water and floating candles, and then it was time for the food!

On the menu this week:

-fruit (watermelon, green apples, and grapes)

-veggies and dip

-pork/asparagus rolls (more to come on that)

-champagne (of course!)

-beer (for the boys)

-shrimp dip ( recipe below picture) with wheat thins

I got this recipe out of the Kraft Food and Family Magazine, and let me tell you it is a crowd pleaser! Doesn't it look yummy in the picture? Here's the recipe:

Philly Shrimp Cocktail Dip

ingredients:

1 package (8 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

3/4 lb. cooked shrimp, chopped

3/4 cup Kraft cocktail sauce

1/4 cup Kraft shredded parmesan cheese

2 green onions sliced

directions:

1. Spread cream cheese onto the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate or shallow bowl. Toss shrimp with cocktail sauce; spread over cream cheese.

2. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and onions.

3. Serve with wheat crackers.

4. Enjoy!

Serve this at your next gathering and your guests WILL NOT be disappointed!

THIS was my favorite dance of the evening. Kayla and Max partner up for a Samba! I am a Kayla fan all the way! Enjoy the video! I can't wait to see the dances next week!

Introducing....Champagne Thursdays!

2009-06-10T10:53:00.004-05:00

Some of my favorite gathering to host are the ones that could be considered more "casual" . On Thursdays I am inviting people over to view So You Think You Can Dance, and to drink cocktails. I am calling it "Champagne Thursday" (ala Zooey Deschanel in Failure to Launch).

Every week I will try out some yummy appetizer recipes, and different cocktail recipes too! So let me know if you've got any good ones! This week, I need some good champagne cocktail recipes so let me know what you 've got! Perhaps I will play my dance playlist this week!!

By golly! She's done it again!

2009-06-08T19:13:00.003-05:00

Zooey Deschanel has been named the new face for the Oliver Peoples 2009 eyewear campaign. Is is any wonder? Adorable, chic, and just over-all like-ability make her a natural choice for the campagin. Here is a commercial that will air that showcases her comedic talent. Enjoy the lovely Zooey Deschanel !

Up Party ideas

2009-06-06T21:01:00.011-05:00

I saw the new Disney/Pixar movie Up this weekend...what a lovable movie, with such a sweet story. Trust me, this is a must-see! I just know that there are going to be some amazing Up parties out there. It got me thinking about what I would do if I were planning an Up party. Here are some images and ideas that have inspired me so far:

I could want to use all the colors of the balloons in the movie as my color palette. An Up party is screaming to be colorful!

Grape soda would need to be served of course ( if you have seen the movie than you know why) as well as chocolate bars.

I love the idea of mixing in elements of blue sky and white clouds throughout the party space. Tablecloths, balloons, scene setters ect...

Serve bright party foods and candy at this event to keep the fun in the food!

Maybe pull in some polka dot elements?

Here are pictures from the Hostess with the Mostess's Candy land party that inspire me.

Balloons, balloons, balloons.....EVERYWHERE! ALL OVER the party space, attached to the favors, even attach then to the invitations! Use your imagination!

What are YOUR ideas for an Up party???

What kind of hostess are YOU?

2009-06-05T23:29:00.004-05:00

I found this great quiz on the Martha Stewart website! I found out that I am

The Thoughtful Hostess:

" You plan ahead to ensure that the events you host are special and that your quests feel welcome. Friends feel comfortable in your home and enjoy bringing signature dishes to your table. You're known for featuring unique touches without going overboard.

Take the quiz and find out what kind of hostess you are!

and playing the role of last minute wedding coordinator.......me!

2009-06-04T21:37:00.005-05:00

I am not a professional party planner (yet!) , so I sure am not a professional wedding planner either. For now I'm indulging in my hostessing obsession, I enjoy scouring the internet, magazines, anything really for party inspirations and the best recipes. I love how other peoples creativity helps to widen my own, and how I can come up with something different and unexpected because of that inspiration. So, we have established that I am NOT a professional, that being said.....I was asked this past weekend to "help out" at a rehearsal dinner for a wedding that my husband Matt was the best-man in. The bride knew that I had "a thing" for party planning, so she thought I was a good choice. We get there and, it turns out everyone's eyes were on me to basically run the whole show. This was nerve racking for me as I have never planned or coordinated a rehearsal dinner, much less a whole wedding. I decided to rise to the occasion and give it all that I had. I have to say, it was VERY stressful but I learned SO MUCH!

Here are just a few things I learned:

1. I need to get myself an "emergency kit" with tape, lighters, tea lights, scissors, markers, chalk, double-stick tape, and band-aids ( my poor blistered feet, they didn't deserve to be in such pain...but they sure looked cute!

2. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES ........you will be running around ALOT to make sure that everything is on schedule and everyone is on the same page.

3. I wore a bright yellow top , which seemed to work out well for me because if the caterer or photographer needed me for anything, I was easy to spot.

4. I also learned a handy little trick: pre- light the candles to melt the wax off of the wick so that when you need to light the candles quickly (say I dunno about 50 of them in roughly 10 minutes) it won't take as long. This trick is especially for weddings when it comes to the unity candle.

Anyhow, that was my recent experience. I hope to have some photos soon....there was sort of a rustic apple theme.

Modern Marie's 20th Birthday Fiesta!

2009-06-04T15:37:00.003-05:00

Check out this sweet Fiesta that Modern Marie held at her home for her 20th birthday! I just love all of the bright colors! Her blog is so full of inspiration, these photos make me want to have a fiesta of my own!

What a creative invitation! So simple to make, I love it!

Yum! Margarita pie!

The paper flowers are such great details in this party!

She used pom-poms to spice up a colorful table runner from Crate and Barrel

The festive table settings look great!

Forever 21 Party Dress!

2009-06-02T20:54:00.003-05:00

I went to Forever 21 yesterday, you know just to scope out the newest styles and I stumbled upon a LOVELY party dress! So....someone invite me to a fun retro party so that I have somewhere to wear it immediately! I also bought this adorable blue flower ring and purple fabric flower headband. Oh Forever 21, how I love you

Somewhere Over the Rainbow...Ryan turns 3!

2009-06-01T09:00:00.007-05:00

Here is a party that my cousin Ashley threw for her daughter Ryan's 3rd birthday! The Wizard of Oz is such a great party theme for children! So fanciful! Check out the details of this adorable party!

Ashley used sidewalk chalk to create a "yellow brick road" down her front walkway. So people could follow the yellow brick road to the party!

Legs of the wicked witch of the East!

Rainbow piñata!

Pinwheels and swirly lollipops brought a bit of Munchkinland to the party!

I just love the cotton candy tornado!

What a creative mind! Not a surprise, after all she's the one who threw my beautiful "Love is in Bloom" bridal shower!

Thanks for the party inspirations Ashley!

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5!

2009-05-31T13:15:00.003-05:00

I am so excited to have So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 on television now! I did not watch the first two seasons, which I regret because I fell in love with, and developed an obsession with seasons 3 and 4! The last two weeks episodes have been auditions in New York, Miami, Los Angeles,Denver, Memphis, and Seattle. This Wednesday and Thursday night will be progression of the dancers on to the Las Vegas portion of the auditions to determine which 10 guys and which ten girls will be in the top 20. After the top 20 is selected , that's when the real fun begins! Stay tuned! Here are some of my favorite dancers so far. I m rooting big time for Kelsea Taylor (the first video) . Enjoy my favorites and stay tuned for more of my favorites!!So You Think You Can Dance comes on on Fox Wednesday night and Thursday night at 8pm.

Holly Golightly inspired bathtub sofa!

2009-05-27T22:23:00.002-05:00

Ok...so I think that it is safe to say that we all wish we had Holly Golightly's style and charm. Now you can have a piece from her quirky New York apartment in your home! Check out this inspired bathtub sofa by Flavour Design.

Starting a "just" $3500. Yikes, well I will most likely not ever have one because I am what you call "thrifty" (or cheap, but doesn't thrifty just sound better?) but they are still quirky and fun none the less.

Pack Your Bags Party Invite!

2009-05-26T22:18:00.001-05:00

Take a look at these creative invitations I found at Lexi Daly's adorable blog confetti.typepad.com!

Here's a recent invitation she worked on for a client. She was challanged to create an invite that would also double as the party favor and include items needed on an overnight trip to the country.

She designed vinyl name stickers to go on each invitation and everything inside the bags.

Invitation success!

Entertain in the great outdoors with modern accents from Z Gallerie!

2009-05-25T19:58:00.003-05:00

Have you ever gone into Z Gallerie and NOT wanted to buy almost everything that you see?......me niether. Check out their modern outdoor designs! The thing I love most about Z Gallerie is that different cultures are always incorporated into the designs. Enjoy!....I DARE you not to be addicted to this store!

Happy Peach Margarita Monday!

2009-05-25T00:51:00.002-05:00

Well aint' that a peach?? May is coming to an end but I couldn't let that happen without first sharing a yummy margarita recipe (after all Cinco De mayo was this month) So....I give you the peach margarita!!

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup tequila

-1 1/2 cup margarita mix

-2 oz. peach schnapps

-16 oz. (about 2 cups) frozen peaches

-1 cup of crushed ice

-1 tablespoon of sugar

-fresh lime for rimming the glasses

-kosher salt

Directions:

1. Run lime around the rim of the glass . Dip rimmed glass in kosher salt.

2. Add tequila, margarita mix, peach schnapps, peaches, sugar, and ice to a blender.

3. Blend until smooth.

4. Enjoy!

What's Not to Love About Bryce Dallas Howard?

2009-05-22T22:37:00.008-05:00

I absolutely love Bryce Dallas Howard! But then who doesn't love an adorable red head? In my opinion she has preformed flawlessly in both the M. Knight Shamylan films that she has been in ( Lady in The Water, The Village ), and I am excited to be seeing her in more and more roles in main-stream movies like Spiderman and Terminator : Salvation , which I have not seen yet but I have heard that she is phenomenal in her role as Katherine Connor . Bryce Dallas Howard seems so charming and graceful...what's not to love?

What ever happened to all of the great party shows?

2009-05-20T22:21:00.006-05:00

I used to watch these fantastic and inspiring party planning shows on TV. The episodes used really pile up on the old Tivo. Anyways, the shows I was obsessed with were "Party Planner with David Tutera " Party Girl" hosted by Cathy Riva ( posted a favorite episode from her show, check it out HERE ) and my favorite "The Big Party Plan Off". I miss them! There was also a show called "Top This Party" that would be on at really random times, that I didn't like as much but, without any other party TV to watch .....it had to do. Did anyone happen to catch the one and only season of "Party Monsters: Cabo" on E ? Why are these shows not catching on? Isn't anyone else amused and obsessed like I am with entertaining and party planning??

Please let me know if there are any new entertaining shows out there. (other than MILLIONS of wedding shows)

Black, white, and hot pink party!

2009-05-20T22:04:00.006-05:00

I have recently developed an interest in finding all the inspiration I can for bachelorette parties! I have been researching activity ideas, decorations, and scouring the internet for the best decor ideas out there! Here is one of my favorites! These are photos from Kim at Head of the Table , a company that rents every type of dish you could dream of for any party that catched your fancy! More inspirations can be found at headofthetable.blogspot.com!

Kim believes that "when you set the table, you set the mood." I just love the combination of hot pink and the damask-like pattern. According to Kim, the pink base says, "let's have some fun!" while the pattern and hydrangeas say " this is a classy and chic soiree"

All the tableware shown is available to rent at Head of the table

Check out this creative and budget conscious party decoration! She used led pink and white led lights to add some ambiance. Swirls printed on regular computer paper were wrapped in a cylinder around the lights and topped with ribbon to finish off the look. What a fabulous idea!

My dog Daisy makes me happy

2009-05-20T08:20:00.006-05:00

Daisy in my lap on the way to the park.

Dressed like a hot dog for Halloween

Asleep in my mom's lap (this one is my favorite)

It has been requested to me that I show off some pictures of my Daisy. Here she is! All wrapped up in cuteness! Daisy is a red miniature dachshund. She enjoys long walks around the neighborhood and would much rather prefer to NOT take baths . Who wouldn't want to throw a party for this little munchkin??

Daisy the dog's Birthday Party

2009-05-19T20:34:00.002-05:00

My dog Daisy is turning three soon and I am going to throw her a little party....ANY reason to throw a party is good enough for me, but also what a fun theme to work with! Here are some images that have inspired me. I do have the madras print bucket that is pictured, I got it from the Cynthia Rowley collection at Target a couple summers ago! Oh- So- Cute!! Anyways, here are all the items and colors that inspire me so far!

Fantastic look for Nicole Richie!

2009-05-16T12:20:00.003-05:00

I don't know where this photo of Nicole Richie was taken, but what a great look for her! So Jackie O., or Audrey Hepburn. She looks lovely, I am glad to see her evolve away from some of the looks that she used to go for. Gorgeous and grown up, well done...keep it up Nicole!

Breakfast at Tiffany's Bash!.....From Modern Marie!!

2009-05-13T22:56:00.006-05:00

Modern Marie's blog has been one of my favorites for months now! She loves all things French, and vintage, and fun! Her blog is full of D.I.Y. projects, french things, fashion, and my favorite part....parties!! Here is a Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired bash that she had for her 18th birthday! Have a look at the adorable details!

The invitations were small boxes painted with Tiffany blue paint (that she customized at Home Depot) and filled with breakfast cereal. (I just love fun and kitchy little details like that) Underneath the cereal was all the party information! All tied up in a neat little bow!

Even the chandelier was dressed for the party!

Tiffany's boxes were stacked down the middle of the table. Fine china and pearl covered candle holders completed the look.

This is one of my favorite parts...she used an old photo frame and filled it with Tiffany's ads to use as a table top. How creative!

Tiffany-tinis! (or pineapple sherbert dyed blue)

Several clear pitchers were filled with all sorts of breakfast cereals!

Let your guests sleep in style like Holly Golightly in their own adorable sleep masks.

The party favors were mix CDs made to look like records. Here are the songs that she included in the mix!

1. Moon River - Henry Mancini

2. Downtown - Petula Clark

3. Moon River - Randy Spendlove

4. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Henry Mancini

5. Bittersweet Faith - Bitter:Sweet

6. Loose Caboose - Henry Mancini

7. Dirty Laundry - Bitter"Sweet

8. Kaboom! - Ursula 1000

9. Moon River Cha Cha - Henry Mancini

10. Something for Cat - Hanry Mancini

11. Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra

12. Come Fly with Me - Frank Sinatra

13. Mr. Yunioshi - Henry Mancini

14. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

15. She's Only 18 - Red Hot Chili Peppers

16. Barely Legal- The Strokes

17. Moon River - The Innocence Mission

18. Moon River- Henry Mancini and Audrey Hepburn

Recent Ikea Barigains!

2009-05-08T19:07:00.004-05:00

Who loves Ikea?......me, me, me!!

* set of six glasses ($5.99)

* mini glass pitcher, perfect for mixing up some cocktails ($2.99)

*set of 5 white pop-up magazine files ($2.99)

*BIG BLUE BAG handy for carrying almost anything (.59)

Hooray for Ikea! I have a feeling that I am going to be spending ALOT of time there and finding ALOT of bargains! Happy shopping!

Just Jenn's Virtual Baby Shower!

2009-05-08T18:52:00.002-05:00

Check out this idea for a "virtual baby shower" created by Just Jenn, a creative graphic designer with great entertaining ideas and an amazing blog!She had a friend who lived far away and on bed-rest, and her friends were also scattered all over the country. A virtual baby shower was the perfect idea! She had her friend give her a list of 10 friends. She then sent them each a favor box, and then all the "virtual" party guests had to do was send mom-to-be a gift. I love her theory "Nothing is better than free crap in the mail!" The favor boxes had a pink and brown color scheme (she designed the swaddled baby graphic), and each included three cards that were kind of like the "shower games" , as well as a stamped and addressed envelope for the mommy, so that they could send their completed shower games. One card was a fill in the blank "when I'm pregnant I look forward to...." card, the second was a traditional "make all the baby names you can out of the parents' names" card, and finally a regular " advice" card ( she wrote "get the epidural" as her bit of advice). What a great idea for a baby shower, bridal shower, or even a birthday party! justtjennrants.blogspot.com is FULL of amazing ideas of all kinds....take a look!

"Shower" games

Favors and games all wrapped up and ready to go!

Ikea of Tampa Grand Opening!!

2009-05-05T21:18:00.004-05:00

What is it about Ikea that people love so much?? The modern furniture, great deals, or just the Swedish charm?? I say All of the above! We here in Tampa FINALLY have an Ikea! I have been to and coveted several other locations for years now, but now I have my very own! An entire store (actually warehouse) filled with cheap and modern finds for every room in your house, and of course all kinds of steals for entertaining! (of course) What do YOU love most about Ikea??

Celebrate Summer Magazine in stores Today!

2009-05-04T22:43:00.003-05:00

I just discovered this magazine this year when I picked up the Spring issue. Full of great ideas, Celebrate magazine is one of my favorite reads! The new Summer issue is in stores May 5th!So if you are looking for good recipes and great party inspirations, get your copy today!

Sneak peak of Sex and the City Movie Sequel Fashion!

2009-05-04T00:06:00.001-05:00

These photos of Sarah Jessica Parker have recently been released, the photos were snapped while she was shooting print ads in New York City to promote the Sex and The City Movie Sequel! Only Carrie Bradshaw could pull off some of these looks!Enjoy fellow Sex and the City fans!

Run for the Roses with Plumparty.com!

2009-05-01T12:28:00.004-05:00

Plumparty.com. PLUMPARTY.COM! Oh, I love it! The run for the roses takes place tomorrow at the Churchill Downs, so get ready for your Kentucky Derby party! Plum Party can help! Check out all these great party supplies!

Encourage your guests to dress like their favorite jockies with these festive hats!

Talk derby to me baby!

Will the winner be your lucky pick??

Adorable mugs from Urban Outfitters!

2009-04-29T16:05:00.002-05:00

I love Urban Outfitters! They carry so many unique and interesting household accessories! Check out this adorable coffee cup and saucer set! I just love the colors, and it is so handy to have them all set up on a stand! $28 at Urban Outfitters!

Hostess With the Mostess....Bling Bride Party

2009-04-25T10:57:00.001-05:00

Jennifer Sbranti A.K.A. The Hostess with the Mostess has some of THE BEST party inspirations on her blog hostessblog.com! This Bling Bride parry was originally designed as a bridal shower, but I love this look for a playful bachelorette party too!I just love all the girly details, tons of pink and sparkles!

How cute are the flashing "diamond" rings on the stem of each glass?

Rhinestone letters, lots of glitter, and of course the bride wears a tiara!

Serve all your favorites at this event, include lots of pink food and drink!

Bachelorette Party Time!

2009-04-21T20:51:00.002-05:00

Since the bridal shower I planned, my mind has been on the next wedding event to happen....the bachelorette party! There are so many directions you can take a bachelorette party, from naughty...to nice. In the coming weeks I will be sharing ideas for all kinds or bachelorette parties. If you have thrown or been to an awesome bachelorette party , please e-mail me all the details!

Monkey themed Bat Mitzvah from Party Spot.com!

2009-04-20T21:45:00.003-05:00

I recently showed you a fantastic Simpsons themed party from Partyspot.com. Well I've got another fabulous shindig to show you ! This adorable monkey themed Bat MItzvah was planned by Abigail Kirsch. Take a look at some of the clever details!

I love the choice of color for this event! What 13 year old girl doesn't love hot pink and orange?

Multi-colored drink charms in red. blue, and green hung on the rims of wineglasses.

Every chair was accented with a neon toy monkey.

I love the pop of color in such a simple way: colorful paper shreds in lucite boxes!

Every guest went home with pink and white Paul Frank monkey printed socks!

Well readers, I hope that you enjoyed and were inspired by the photos from this event! Party Spot has much more where this came from!

Sex and The City Movie Sequel

2009-04-19T08:27:00.003-05:00

I don't know how many of you are Sex and The City fans out there...but I am a BIG ONE! I didn't actually start watching the series until it was already over, I had to catch up with DVD. BUT THEN....I fell in LOVE! The series is so clever ( probably because Carrie Bradshaw is a writer) and fashionable. Now the movie, don't get me wrong was really good. HOWEVER, it was nothing in comparison to the series. I have big curiosities about the sequel, and of course since I had a party for the premiere of the original Sex and the City Movie, I thought I might have a sequel party too! The official premiere date for the sequel is May 28th, 2010 , and so naturally that will also be the date of my Sex and The City Party The Sequel! Check back for theme development, and if YOU have any ideas please feel free to share!

The Swell Dressed Party

2009-04-16T22:41:00.003-05:00

Hello all! I have just recieved MY very own copy of The Swell Dressed Party by Cynthia Rowley and Ilene Rosenzweig from Amazon.com! And get this....it only cost me $4.00 including shipping! The introduction of this book compares hosting a party to performing a high wire act, stating that "A party at it's best is a place to be a little larger than life-funnier , prettier, bawdier- and the Swell hostess at her best sets the stage for her guests to try a few high-wire moves of their own." This is a book that takes a more fun-loving approach to hosting a party. I've only gotten through the first chapter "Early Birding: breakfasts, brunches, and morning-afters" so far, and I am fascinated!

Some of my favorite ideas from this portion:

- "A Tasty Tag Sale" , where semi-homemade muffins are sold and items for sale are set up into several "boutiques" the goal of this tag sale is not only to sell your cast-offs but also to mix and mingle.

-A "Misery Loves Company" Hangover Brunch to be had in a "recovery room" set up with fuzzy slippers, fluffy blankets, ice packs, vitamin water, and of course Tylenol!

And my personal favorite so far:

- An "Animated Brunch" Saturday Morning Cartoon Brunch. For this party indulge in every childhood fantasy of loading up the shopping cart with every sugary sweet cereal you have ever craved, along with mini milk cartons, OJ served from cartoon tumblers, and a cereal toppings bar loaded with sliced strawberries and bananas, brown sugar, nuts ect...)

That's so Audrey!

2009-04-16T13:11:00.003-05:00

Audrey Hepburn.....how we love you, and how you inspire us all. I don't know who the buyers are for Fredflare.com , but they are definatley inspired by her too! Here are some items they have available for sale that remind if Miss Hepburn. Check em' out......they are so Audrey!

Now you can sleep like Holly Golightly with this sleep mask for $14!

Not even Audrey could resist these white sunglasses, and black and white trench-coat!

Cute, cute, cute! Go to Fredflare.com and see for yourself!

Retro Bridal Shower Photos Part 2: Favors and Food

2009-04-14T20:29:00.004-05:00

Here we are! Part 2!

Flower pens fit into 5 fun Ikea vases! (.25 cents each)

We hand wrote the bride and groom to-be's full names on the notepad favors before the party for the "How many names can you make out of their names" game.

Food table and drink station.

The food table was overflowing with goodies!

colorful cupcakes, fruit cabobs, and veggies....oh my!

Boxed lunches were set on the back side of the food table....ready to serve!

A beverage dispenser held lemonade, and two beverage tubs held bottled sodas.

Boxed Lunches for Retro Bridal shower

2009-04-13T20:55:00.002-05:00

As I was imagining the whole food set-up for this shower, I envisioned boxed lunches. I wasn't sure yet what would go in them , but we needed a way to keep food costs down without sacrificing style or quality. Several ladies were going to arrive hungry , so I knew I had to rise to the occasion. Jenny and I ( the hostess ) decided to order several $5.00 foot-long sandwiches from Subway, we cut them into quarters, speared them with heart picks (Martha Stewart, Walmart) added chips, tied up with yarn , a napkin, and a bride/groom pick and BOOM! Adorable boxed lunches!...Ready to serve!

Boxed lunches stacked neatly on the food table.

I found the cutest bride and groom picks at Plumparty.com to decorate the top of each box.

Each row was labeled with the kind of sandwich in each boxed lunch so that guests could choose.

I folded a colorful napkin, and tied up a pick with blue and green yarn.

Here's what the inside of each one looked like.

Retro Bridal Shower Photos Part 1 : Decorations

2009-04-12T12:23:00.002-05:00

Here are photos from a bridal shower I helped plan with my roomate for her sister. It was a fantastic success and now I have all the pictures to share with you! There were alot of details that I wanted to show , so there will be 3 different posts to showcase this fun party!

Towel wedding cake.....yum!

The bride has to have a special seat to sit in while she opens her gifts!

Here are the prizes for the shower games!

I never thought I would use crepe paper bells for a party, but here I am ! I think it turned out great! Fabric ribbon makes it more modern.

Entrance, and gift table. .........More to come!

Happy Easter Cake Pops from Bakerella!

2009-04-11T11:30:00.003-05:00

What's the very best way to say Happy Easter? Baked goods of course! Bakerella has got some great ideas! She's famous for her cake pops already so it's no surprise that she has some design ideas for Easter too! Check them out!

Cute little bunny tails!

My personal favorite is the sheep!

Thank you readers!

2009-04-11T11:16:00.005-05:00

I want to say a special thank you to all of you that read my blog. It started as just a way for me to express my creativity and also a place to put all of my (many) party thoughts. But I wanted to thank each and every one of you that take an interest in my blog, and find me to even be somewhat talented. All of your comments mean so very much to me. I would love this blog to be about your ideas too! So if you ever want to expand on my ideas please leave a comment or send me an e-mail!