Take it Outside!

Don't know about you but the weather in Texas lately has been amazing {as soon as I post this though the weather WILL change}.  But for now, I have done lots of yard work lately and the nice weather has got me thinking about entertaining outdoors.  Wouldn't you love to have a cocktail party on the patio, dine alfresco or just enjoy a glass of wine with a few friends enjoying the fresh air?

Here are a few ideas to make that special get together easy and stylish!!

Use outdoor pottery as a wine chiller.

via

Love the look of this large basket to contain your bar items. 

via

LOVE this melamine collection from Pottery Barn - it looks like real Italian pottery in the picture.  The rope detail adds an unusual sophistication to outdoor dinnerware!

via

Love this entertaining stand from Pottery Barn.  Great piece because it allows your table display to go vertical.  The top could be used for a candle to create ambiance, and the other two layers for stacking plates and napkins.  Or use the top for a dip and have baskets of dippers like crackers and veggies on the other two layers.

via

Check out these Super Chill servers from Frontgate.  Made to keep your "cool" items chilled for up to eight hours without need for ice and with no condensation.  And they're stylish too!

via

What about hosting an outdoor screening of your favorite movie under the stars?

Here's an outdoor movie screen - too cool!  This is quite an investment because you have to buy the projector and stand - but I also researched and you can rent the whole shabang from local rental companies for about $299 to accommodate 10 guests in your backyard.

via

Cute paper containers for fruit salad serve with skewers instead of silverware. 

via

Ok, ok....I know this is totally out of the budget for most of us.  But we can dream can't we?  Wouldn't this be awesome for making wood-fired pizzas?

via

Now get out there and enjoy the weather...or as we say in Texas "at least while it lasts"!

Favorite Things Party!

Recently hosted a Favorite Things Party for some girls in the 'hood.  I got the idea off of Pinterest here.

What's a Favorite Things party?  It's a party based on the premise of Oprah's favorite things show, but nobody was giving away TV's, cars, trips for this party...bummer!  Instead, it's a party to share your favorite things with a few friends and it was a BLAST!

Here's how it works.  Each person brings 5 of one of their favorite things priced around $6 each.  That averages about a $30 expense per person.  Some people brought two small things.  When the girls get to the party each person writes their name 5 times on sheets of paper provided at the party and place them in a bowl.  You keep your items hidden from the group until it is your turn to go.  When it's time for the reveal, you go around the room and each person, one at a time shows their favorite thing.  They then draw 5 names (not drawing their own name or one person twice).  These 5 people get your favorite thing!  Each girl goes home with 5 new favorite things.

Here are some pics from the party.  We had 9 girls attend.  The table was set up with a Favorite Things bag for each guest to carry home their goodies.  It was a brown paper bag tied up with string ...these are a few of my favorites things - think Sound of Music and you can sing along too!

Each guest also took home a small Swag Bag - these were a few little favorite things of mine - gum, journal, EmergenC and Propel drink mix.

I served some of my favorite things... Wine of course, small yellow cupcakes with a bit of chocolate frosting, cream puffs with chocolate drizzle, Raspberry Chipotle sauce over cream cheese, bruschetta, a tart made with herbed goat cheese, pancetta and covered with balsamic salad, tray of olives, hummus and pita chips. 

Here were some of the items brought.  It was a good variety and fun to see what people liked and why it was their favorite thing.

Starbucks gift card, Dove, socks, wine, lip gloss, pens recycled from water bottles, Bliss cream, post-it notes, mini-bundt cakes, socks, hand towels, strawberry tool and kitchen scissors to name a few.

A big hit was this strawberry stem puller tool called a Stem Gem.

And the mini-bundt cakes - YUM!

and a Pinot Grigio Wine Cube!

We had a couple of people bring 5 different favorite things - note to self to be more descriptive in evite explanation.  But this ended up being fun too and we talked about next time trying to bring 5 different favorite things per person!

Here were my favorite things - Febreeze (I should own stock in this company!) and Judy Havelka Birthday Cake scented candle (also called Allure) - these soy candles are the best.  I put the candle out and it made the kitchen smell wonderful without EVEN lighting it!

The party was a hit and a definite "to do again" party theme.

Thanksgiving Dinner!

Are you hosting the family's BIG Thanksgiving dinner this year?  Here are a few ideas of how to set a beautiful table and host your guests in style!

Here are 3 ideas for Folding Napkins from Martha Stewart

Natural centerpiece from Martha Stewart.

Mini pumpkins atop candle holders and rustic elements with white china.

(Source: HGTV)

Pumpkin place cards to put at each place setting.  Use hang tags (I found these tags at the office supply store, you can print directly on them from your computer) or use paint pens to label the pumpkins.  Attach to pumpkin with twine or raffia ribbon.

(Source: HGTV)

Elegant Thanksgiving Table Setting

(Source: Traditional Home)

Close up of individual place setting from table above.

(Source: Traditional Home)

A more non-traditional look.  I love the tablecloth, green lights, and gold accents.

(Source: House Beautiful; Design Herring)

Kids table with stuff to keep them busy!

Leftovers for your guests!!  What a thoughtful idea.

Unique and gorgeous table setting - various heights and contrasting colors.

(Source: House Beautiful; Design Trovato)

 

Happy Turkey Day everyone ...a little early!