Entertaining
I love to entertain and am so excited to share my ideas and events with you! I love everything about hosting (except the clean up). Sometimes I can’t decide if I enjoy the actual party or planning and preparing for the party more. Everthing from making invitations to decorating to planning a menu for a party thrills me!
Happy 4th of July!
Along with many holidays throughout the year this one always sneaks up me. It makes me realize that 1/3 of summer is already over…yikes! However, it is a great time to celebrate America, get together with others, and really get down to what summer is all about! I like making ‘Martini Stations’. You can premake a large amount of a certain martini and keep it in a pitcher at room temperature. Then guests can pour the amount they want into a cocktail shaker, add ice, and have a great drink without the hassle of making...
read moreA Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!
We decided to have a ‘spring fling’ again this year and when looking at the calendar we realized the first Saturday of May fell on Cinco de Mayo….a great excuse to have a fiesta! This inspired me to make some new decorations and perfect some much loved recipes from the past. I set up a burrito bar with some amazing meats, made gallons of beergaritas, and displayed some festive themed treats (all recipes will be up soon, so check back). I spray painted numerous wine and beer bottles with an array of colors for...
read more50 Shades of Grey Book Club Party Ideas
A few years ago some friends and I started a book club….a dirty book club. We have read a handful of R-rated books, such as Some Girls, Sugar Babe, Candy Girl and more. However, we also switch it up with ‘normal’ books…Shanghai Girls, The Shack, The Other Boleyn Girl, etc. We get together every couple months, a different person takes a turn hosting, and we all bring different bottles of wine to share. This month’s read was 50 Shades of Grey and I hosted. Below are some ideas for you to decorate with a gray...
read moreCreate and decorate a tiered centerpiece for your table
I love to create festive tables for entertaining. A nice way to add interest is to raise the center of the table (or the back of a buffet) by using paint cans (or upside-down pots, soup cans, etc). Place a tablecloth over the cans to hide them and you can spotlight a cake, floral arrangement, or any decor that adds to the event. I spray painted wine bottles different colors to create an inexpensive and colorful table for a fiesta. I had used 3 paint cans and a round tray to display a baby shower cake (that was in the shape of a...
read moreKeep Your Cocktails Safe!
During parties I wonder if I spend more time talking to others or trying to figure out which glass is mine. Here is a simple, cute, and cheap way to identify which glass is which….we certainly don’t want to mix up Mommy’s ‘grape juice’ with the kid’s. I have a quart of chalkboard paint left over and have been painting all sorts of items (“20 things to do with chalkboard paint” will be coming soon!) Below I used clear plastic glasses, but you can do this same DIY project to any glassware you...
read moreAll Things Easter
Spring is awesome. I am thrilled to have my windows open, hear the birds chirping, and see Cadbury Mini-eggs on the grocery shelves. The only downfalls to this season are my dog tracks in mass amounts of mud and I realize I have limited time to attempt my annual summer weight loss plan (dang Cadbury!). However, the budding trees and blooming flowers inspire me to make colorful Easter decor and treats. Here are a few that are easy to make! Glittered Eggs: I think glitter is the most fun. Unfortunately, it also can make the biggest...
read moreCreate a colorful 1st birthday party!
My daughter turned one in February and we had a medium sized get-together at our home. Immediate family and friends with children came to help celebrate. I made kid-friendly food (see Recipes) and my mom made the cakes (one for everyone and a mini cake for Lauren). Click on images to enlarge. I took a picture of her every month of her 1st year. I liked to put her in an outfit that was extra cute or special, to also document the insane wardrobe this baby had (better than mine). I displayed them across the room during her party....
read more