Memorial Day-Weekend Gathering

Hope you're getting ready for a long weekend and the official begining of summer!  If you or your friends are hosting a cookout, here are some fun ideas to get you started.

If you are the host you'll need some cute styling ideas, right?!  Above, are some easy and inexpensive suggestions using wrapped vases, colorful flowers, and table cloth painted with flag stripes.  Keep the drinks icy cold and easy to grab, in a pretty garden urn. 

Embelish other necessities with crafty pinwheels, flags, or umbrellas.

Need a delicious side dish to bring to a pot luck?  Try one of these easy recipes for potato or pasta salad, from Kraft. 

Nothing better than a sweet treat that is light, and pretty too.  Here, 2 ideas for strawberries, and of course, everyone's favorite cupcake!  Have fun celebrating Memorial Day!

Photos:

Buffet Table

Napkins, burger, drink (all from Martha Stewart.com)

Steakhouse Potato Salad, Feta & veggie Pasta Salad

Strawberries, cupcakes, dipped strawberries

I had to add this great FREEBIE from Posh Pixels!  You can print out these adorable food flags to use this weekend.  YaY!!  Thanks Posh Pixels!

Woodland First Birthday

Let's just call this "Woodland Wednesday" shall we, as I'll be doing a double feature today, showing off 2 incredible Woodland themed parties - one for a little boy, and one for a girl.

First up is this 1st birthday celebration for a little guy, loaded with woodland accents and owl details.  The sweets table was provided by Melody of My Sweet & Saucy.   Her client (mom Sarah) did the decorating, and I think we have another future party planner on our hands!

Can I just tell you how much I LUUURRRVE all the accent tables used for various displays!...the chest with moss-filled drawers!...the frames & owl photo display area!...even the 2 snack stations!  Each area even has it's own hanging penants, banner, frames, or mobile.

Next up is the photo booth full of whimsy!  Sarah provided a basket filled with silly props to be used in the photos.  I think the animal masks are particularly amusing.   You can find links for the DIY photo booth I blogged about here.

Next up, Woodland Fairy party for a little girl.

Woodland Fairy Birthday

This Woodland Fairy birthday party was created by Kate Landers Events, LLC.   It takes place in a wooded back yard which trandsends you to a magical fairy land!

The snacks buffet is a wonderful focal point with it's lush greenery, butterflies, toadstools, and fantastic parfait bar with toppings placed in homemade chocolate birds nests.  The nests are simple to make with shredded wheat cereal and melted chocolate.  You can find the complete instructions here.

The table setting displays more toad stools, and a fairy tutu and head garland for each little girl.  A special garland wreath hangs from ribbon, above.

More decorative details include fairy doors at the base of trees, felt banner hanging from tree limbs, and fairy dust and wands.  The fab duo at Paper & Pigtails designed the invitations and coordinating tags, and now have them available in their Etsy shop.

For lots more detailed shots and a complete report on activities, visit the post at Kate Landers Events, LLC.

Trend Alert - Bring The Inside, Out!

You know the term, "bring the outside in" when it comes to interior decorating...large open windows, lush greenery and flowers, even garden-style furniture pieces.  This trend is doing the opposite and bringing indoor pieces, outside for entertaining.  I love this idea because it really helps create a cozy atmosphere when you're in the midst of wide open space.  Here are some beautiful examples: 

Desk tables and decor mark the spot for writing well-wishes to the guest of honor, viewing photos, housing a welcome book, etc.  Chests (oh, how I love the open moss-filled drawers) can act as the dessert table or drink station.  You can even pull out some old drawers and display treats inside.

You can use shabby chic furniture styles, or sleek modern styles to incorporate this look.  It's unexpected and very cool!  

Photos:
desk 1, desk 2,
chest 1, chest 2,
drawers, desk
bar

SATC 2 Party Ideas

It's finally here!  The Sex And The City 2 movie opens this Friday and my girlfriends and I will be there, will you?!  If you're planning a pre- or post- movie get-together, Jen at Second City Soiree has some fantastic ideas for you.  Taking cues from the story line where the gals visit Abu Dhabi, decor takes on an exotic flair, with a few details giving a nod to some of the scenes in NY. 

Each of the ladies is represented in these whimsical food displays:  "Miranda's 60 hour work week Easy Hummus", Carrie's tuxedo cookies represent the tux she wears to Stanford's wedding, "Samantha's little secret" of age defying 'vitamins,' and the hilarious scene where Charlotte's white skirt meets daughter's red hands!  You can find all these ideas and More, as well as free downloads for the signs, at Second City Soiree.  Whether you display these ideas on opening night, or for the DVD release, they are sure to set the tone perfectly!

Sophisticated Baseball Theme

I think birthday inspiration for men may be one of the least represented genres in the party blogosphere.  Fortunately, I found one you can add to your ideas file if you happen to have a baseball lover.   Thanks to Amorology, who created this classy baseball themed wedding that is perfect for a gentleman's birthday celebration.

Create anticipation with "ticket" invitations, and decorate your party space with penants, baseballs, and peanuts!  Have bats and balls available for guests to write on{well-wishes to the birthday guy}.  Display treats in a vendor-style box/tray, and design a couple of coordinating centerpieces using baseballs.

I so love the idea of the "hey, batter, batter" favor box filled with pancake batter!  These ideas would also work well for Father's Day, coming up soon!

Pale Blue & Yellow Baby Shower {2 Parties, 1 Idea}

Today I've got 2 seperate parties that look great together!  The first, from Dooby Design Group, sets the scene perfectly for a Baby Shower (or Bridal) for a baby boy or unknown sex.  The color pallete is soft blue and yellow and uses monogram details and lovely flowers to create a classic design.

After a light luncheon, finish up with this yummy dessert spread from Pizzazzerie.  The colors are perfectly suited  for the design above and even incorporates more monogram detail!

Summer Style

I love this time of year when parties on the patio are the order of the day!  Here are a few fresh ideas from Good Housekeeping, to help you keep your cool.   

Don't have enought lawn furniture to accomidate everyone?  Bring some of your indoor furniture, out!  Small side chairs & tables can be easily transported.  Use coordinating table cloths and cushions to create a seamless look.

Set up a beverage station away from the food so traffic can move freely.  Provide a recycle bin for empty bottles.

Be sure to keep your food buffet at proper temperature.  Don't let dishes sit out for more than an hour, or create a 'cooler' by filling a larger container with ice and setting bowls of salads on top. 

Put your office supplies to work for you.  Use plastic stick-on flags for drink markers - just jot down your name with a marker. Secure napkin-wrapped cutlery with colorful rubber bands.

Finally, keep your guests comfortable by filling a basket with sunblock, bug spray, and even light throws for when the sun goes down.

A 'Tweet' Dessert Table

I saw this bright and cheerful dessert table by Blue Cupcake, yesterday, and thought it was another perfect example for Spring entertaining, 'Nesting' themed shower, or, as originally planned, a birthday party.
This was the sweets table for Julie Bowen's (Modern Family) twin boys 1st birthday party.  A fabulous display of cake/cupcakes, cookies, rice krispy treats on a stick, cake pops, candies, and macarons!

Ella's Fairy Birthday Party

I'd like to introduce you to Jennifer Birkhead Design.  Jennifer submitted pictures of her daughter's Woodland Fairy birthday party full of fun and fairy magic!  She designed the invitations and table signage, as well as crafted an incredible toadstool prop that I am obsessed with!  To set the scene, the ceiling was draped with cloth, and hanging poms butterflies.  A woodland 'scene setter' covered the walls!

Lots of fun activities were played such as 'finding the coins dropped by the tooth fairy,' musical 'toadstools,' and making special fairy wishes with fairy dust - the little girls would sit on the toadstool and say "Fairies, fairies I believe in you, please help make my wish come true," while being sprinkled with 'fairy dust.' Of course a sweet table was set up with lots of whimsical treats!

Spring Baby Shower {How 'Tweet' It is}

When Kaysi Fox from FABU Weddings & Events sent me these photos, I fell in love!  This Spring Baby Shower is filled with little "nesting" details and nature-inspired elegance.

(click photo to view larger)

The shower was held at a clubhouse and Kaysi took care of all the design & decor.  The table is layered with fabric, moss, and burlap to combine the rustic with the refined.   A combination of twigs, hydrangeas, and tulip vases lined the center of the table, filled in by rocks, and more moss.  Each place setting had coordinating paper accents, and a sweet place card with button detail, tied around the favor box.  The activities for the evening were baby shower bingo, playing pool, and sipping on mocktails!

Dinner was provided (from Olive Garden), and a beautiful dessert buffet followed.  The cookies, macarons, cupcakes, and cake were by Dippidee.  Color coordinated candies rounded out the display, along with a framed invitation to the event (see the invitation suite below-also created by Kaysi).

As I always say, if you bring your food in from a restaurant, display it in your own dishes!  Look how pretty the dinner buffet looks set in white dishes and surrounded by more themed decor.  Thanks for sharing this beautiful shower, Kaysi!