here comes the par-tay decor

here are 5 decor ideas created for weddings that you should steal immediately, if not sooner, for your next in-home celebration...

for your upcoming birthday party or shower:

1. paper tissue balls stapled together create an interesting backdrop or an exciting entrance to a soiree. via martha stewart.


2. give those kiddos an easy grab at the candy by creating a lollipop tree. via martha stewart from the {amazing!} wedding of st. louis stationary designer, cheree berry

for your next brunch:


3. a centerpiece to perk your table up! carnations "planted" in coffee beans is the perfect centerpiece for a brunch or "sip and see" baby shower. via the knot.


4. turning your home into party central can sometimes seem daunting. narrow your focus to one room to do the majority of your decorating. if the party is happening in your living room do something unexpected like tying a bouquet of flowers to your curtains! via the knot.

for your next dinner party:


5. impact is created by repetition. i love lining my front porch steps in candles for an evening gathering. if you've got firm stairs (and no children/pets at the party) make a statement by filling tall cylinders with water, floating candles and flowers. via the knot.

cheers!

crystal clear

mason jars are an adorable touch to any party. but apartment therapy had a great post about using the gorgeous aqua blue mason jars - that are all the rage but rarer than their clear sister-cups - as centerpieces.



call off the hunt honey, wave that magic wand around your existing clear jars because you're doing this yourself...with glass paint!


check out the how-to on bridal buzz. this is a totally cost-effective centerpiece idea that doesn't sacrifice style. imagine all the color options to match any party theme!

photo credit:image from apartment therapy, wheat centerpiece from elizabeth anne designs,how-to at bridal buzz.

cheers!

stepping out

i love simple and chic as do hostesses across the pond apparently. ideal home has some outdoor entertaining inspiration for you, love...
ideas that are easy to do yourself like trading in bulky candles for tapers outdoors...

or keeping bugs away from your (vodka) lemonade by covering it with muslin or coffee filters...

and ideas that are good in magazine theory but totally impractical...

that is unless you have an empty and immaculate shed sitting in your backyard that has just been begging for a couch and chandelier.

nonetheless enjoy more outdoor entertaining inspiration at ideal home.

cheers!

where you at and watcha been doing?

hey! yup, i'm still here despite the lack of posting. before we move onto stunning tabletops let me point out that i've updated my blog address to:


that's right, like a real website and everything. reset your bookmark if i've so graciously been given such a save. hugs!
moving on...

a couple months ago i participated in a fabulous charity event for st. louis children's hospital. designers from around st. louis were given a round table, 8 chairs, and told to let their creative juices pour like bloody mary's on sundays. i took some horrible pictures that i was too ashamed to show you before. here is a look...don't be appalled (just be glad i've since updated my equipment).



luckily my new favorite mag st. louis entertains was on hand with a video camera and captured a lot of the stunning tabletops. its waay better than me and my point and shoot. click to watch the video...


the video touches on it a little, but my inspiration was a true child's table. it would be so easy to recreate for a child's birthday party or a baby shower. i filled various apothecary jars (of all shapes, sizes, and heights) with all things that are wonderful about being a kid - toys, crafts & candy! my centerpiece was an array of colorful kites that my mom attached to bamboo sticks using heavy wire. then we inserted those sticks into a jar filled with sand! it was super easy, super cute, and was the perfect way to honor the essence of being a child.

cheers!

a father's day feast

this weekend we were stop #2 on an early father's day progressive dinner party. my brother-in-law did the apps, we did dinner, and my sister-in-law rounded out the evening with dessert. there really wasn't a theme to the progressive dinner (unless drinking wine is a theme) so it was up to me do as i wished. what better summer dinner than a shrimp boil?! no plates, no utensils, no clean-up. i see the irony in a girl hosting a no-plates dinner when she owns a tableware rental business. we did use colorful stemware that (totally) made the party pop!
there are two rules for a shrimp boil. 1. its outside and 2. you eat on paper. getting black fingers from newspaper skeeves me so i opted to lay freezer paper out. to bring a little life to the table i gave everyone a colorful paper placemat. before the mess and the sun went down...

the to-be slop bucket holding the napkins.

i don't know why i used twine. it felt rustic and outdoorsy. i've never been to a "real" shrimp boil so i have no idea if twine can even be found near the sea. i thought it a must for a st. louis shrimp boil though.


even dad's present got wrapped up in it...

i didn't get a good shot of the drink table set up but it was super casu. i laid some more freezer paper down and just in case anyone thought i would be playing bartender, i wrote out some cliff notes...



if i didn't have a reason for the twine, i really didn't have a reason for a big purple hydrangea other than i grew it myself and was so proud of it that i immediately cut it and brought it inside to show off like a trophy.

the shrimp boil turned out to be the perfect progressive dinner entree - just boil the ingredients and serve!


and the family chowed down...


cheers!

in full bloom: a garden soiree

chris over at celebrations posted a spectacular garden birthday party she recently hosted. i thought the colors, set-up, and especially the backdrop were amazing and wanted i'd pass it along. girlfriend grew her own centerpieces! and you couldn't have bought a better backdrop than the mass of those hydrangeas! work it chris...use what your garden gave ya...


look at the matching sage slushy drink. fill me up!


cheers to you chris! take a stroll through the garden party over at celebrations at home.

cheers!

multiple personalities: lollipop cookies

everyone loves a good lollipop party! colorful, playful, tastiful! if you want to put a homemade touch on your next candy themed celebration then this is the sweet treat to make.
a simple food-colored sugar cookie...

...turned chewy lollipop...


photos via blogoye.org...i'm not sure what language the blog is in though so for cooking instructions visit allrecipes.com.

cheers!