Outdoor Party Inspiration

My husband uncovered some of our patio furniture and I'm aching to have a meal outside.  Whether fancy or casual, I love the thought of taking a party or event outdoors.  At least when the weather cooperates.  Here's some inspiration I found.  I'm totally swooning over the table under the magnolia tree.  I'm a Midwest girl who happens to love anything Southern.  Little decor is needed because mother nature has done most of the decorating for you, although I like seeing indoor furniture taken outdoors.  Now all you need are great friends and great food.

HWTM//Style Unveiled
Style Me Pretty Living //Inspired By This

Dressed Up Mantel

Happy Friday friends! I just wanted to share with you today a picture of my mantel. Last weekend my family celebrated my daughter's first communion and I had a bunch of left over flowers from her party, so I dressed my mantel with them. I should have changed the water in the vase with the branches in them before I snapped the photo, otherwise, I think the mantel looked really pretty and full of life with the fresh blooms. I hope to share with you some pics from the first communion celebration in the near future so, stay tuned. I had tons of fun planning it and I think it turned out to be just lovely. This weekend I'll be celebrating my daughter's fourth birthday, so there's no rest for me. What are you up to this weekend? Whatever you have planned, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

It's Her Business: Ceramica Botanica

Ceramic Serving Tray Indigo Triangles

 

I'm always on the hunt for unique pieces I can use when entertaining.  I stumbled upon Susan Rodriguez's shop Ceramica Botanica and loved all the unique patterns and colors she creates on her wares.

 

I love the raindrop shape of these appetizer plates.

 

Turmeric Gold Vase 

Susan hand builds her work from earthenware clay and uses intricate paper stencils that are hand cut and meticulously placed on each piece. Layers of colored slip are applied and then the stencil is peeled away to create her fabulous bowls, mugs, vases and more. 

 

 Ceramic Serving Bowl

 Small Bowl

 

If you too want to add a splash of color and fun to your table, be check out all of Susan's work at her shop. 

 





{Party Decor} Mixed Chairs

At the moment, I'm loving mixed seating for parties.  I love the unstructured, comfortable feel and look.  It's not too matchy-matchy.  It's just plain fun.  What do you think?  Do you love the look?  Or do you prefer a little more structure? 

 California Wedding Day//My Sweet & Saucy
 Green Wedding Shoes //Style Unveiled

Winter Tabletop Part 1

 

I was flipping through an issue of Midwest Living and stumbled across an idea for a tabletop inspired by the tundra.  The centerpiece included a bowl of rocks and artifical snow and I wanted to try it out.  I would describe midwest style as traditional and approachable, which the idea is. 

Well, I'm obessed with all things French and lately I've been drawn to some designs where the outline of natural elements or everyday objects are modernized and simplified and then presented in a playful manner.  So, I married these two concepts from Midwest Living and French design and this is how it turned out.  I placed light colored rocks on a flat glass plate and sprinkled on some artifical snow and placed some cold climate creatures around the plate.  Going with a palette of white and gray, I made the mountains in simple triangle shapes for both the centerpiece and napkin rings out of scrapbook paper and card stock.  I finished the napkin rings off with natural looking twine.  What do you think?  Come back later to check out part 2 of this post.

 

 

 

Reality Bites Cupcakes

 

  

I'm super excited today to introduce you to Ashley, who is the owner and baker at Reality Bites Cupcakes. She offers unique and amazing creations that appear to be everyday food, but are actually cupcakes. Ashley has a degree in art from the University of Richmond and has transferred her talent to creating cupcakes for her business Reality Bites Cupcakes. Ashley loves to see her customers smile when they take a bite of her cupcakes. If you would like to have a taste of Reality Bites Cupcakes for yourself and you're in the New York City or Long Island area get in touch with Ashley over at her blog, where you will also find some more great pics of her work.   I'm sure she will make you smile too with her sweet treats.

 

 

  



Turkey Spinach Meatballs

It's January, it's that time of year that we promise to eat a little healthier and move a little more.  I try to be good all year, but like everyone, I have my good days and my bad days.  To be honest, I really don't like to exercise, but I do it because I know it makes me feel and look better overall.  Today, I'm sharing with you a healthy version of the meatball.  When I first made this, my husband was skeptical because he loves his red meat.  With this recipe I was able to convert him over to the idea of sometimes using turkey instead of beef for some recipes.  I also like that there's some green in the recipe that I can sneak in on my kids too.  Do you have a recipe that allows you to feed your family healthier without them noticing?

{Inspired By} Twigs + Branches

Follow my blog with BloglovinLike many others, I'm inspired by my environment.  Right now, I look out my window and drive down the street and see bare trees.  To me, the trees take on a sculptural quality, which is just beautiful.  I get to see the bones of the tree, the tree without its' dressing, stripped, simple and yet complicated in form.   

1. Terrain 2.Sylwia Glass Art 3.West Elm 
4.LEIF 5.Terrain
 

Freshly Launched - Confetti Pop

Have you visited Confetti Pop yet?   Confetti Pop was created by two amazing ladies, Maddy Hague of Somewhere Splendid and dessert table designer Shauna Younge.  You can find DIY projects and great ideas to incorporate those DIYs into your next party.  I can't forget to mention the Confetti Pop shop filled with paper goods for a fun little shindig.  Go on over visit Confetti Pop, get some inspiration and do some shopping.

Gingerbread Pancakes

My family would be happy to eat pancakes morning, noon or night.  To keep things interesting, I make different pancake flavors during different seasons.  This recipe for gingerbread pancakes infuses the tastes of the holidays into one delightful breakfast treat.  I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does.

 

 

I will be taking some time off from blogging so that I can enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. I wish all of you a peaceful and joyous holiday.  I'll see you in January! xx

 

 

Gold + Copper Holiday Table

Like many of us, I have been busy trying to get all of the details for the holidays taken care of, which has left me little time to blog.  I just wanted to write this post to share with you this gold and copper holiday table I'm planning for a Christmas day brunch I'm hosting.  I'm in love with metallic colors right now, which is perfect for holidays.  I filled cylinders with faux snow and put some fresh greenery inside them for centerpieces along with some gold and copper colored votive candle holders.  The gilded burlap runner and ornaments are from Target.  You got to love Target.  The ornaments also act as place cards for everyone.  I wrapped each place setting in gold glittery ribbon so that each one is like an individual present.  Simple, but it's always the little touches that make a difference. 

Modern Christmas

My taste is all over the map.  I would describe it as traditional, modern, vintage.  The items below reflect my love of modern design.  Clean, simple and fresh.  The collection of modern shaped Christmas trees in the classic cloche from Dwell Studios reflects two mixes of styles that I like.  I was drawn to the simplicity of the shadow figures painted on the white background by Modern Inspired Design.  I love these metallic colors on these ornaments from Totem Color Blocks.  Aren't these nesting dolls  from Mokkasin just the cutest?  One of these little fellas reminds me of my husband.  Where ever your taste lies, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.  

Stylish Thanksgiving Tables

Are you still trying to figure out how to set the table for Thanksgiving?  Here are some super stylish tables we found.  We love how a few simple but well put together details can change a setting, in addition to some unexpected colors like orange and blue.  Hope you find this as inspiring as we do.

1.Centsational Girl 2.The Decoist via The Studio Blog
3. Camillie Styles

Accents for the Thanksgiving Table

We're not sure what happened, but all of the sudden we looked up and suddenly it's almost Thanksgiving.  Here are some fun accents we found to dress up your tabletop.

West Elm//One King's Lane
Jayson Home//Pottery Barn//Wisteria

Autumn Dinner

Taste the warm and rich flavors of fall with these delicious finds.  Start your meal with a harvest salad with a warm maple bacon vinaigrette.  This harvest pasta e fagiole soup with parmesan crisps will ward off any cold chill.  Of course a lovely cocktail like this pear cinnamon spiced martini makes any evening better.  Finish off your autumnal meal with a spiced apple pie seen here from Chelsea's Culinary Indulgence.  Happy eating friends!

1. Simply Scratch/2.Yummy Mummy Kitchen
3. Inside the Lovely/ 4.Chelsea's Culinary Indulgence

{Party Decor} Geometric Details

If you are looking to add a modern feel to a party, add some geometric details. We are in love with them.  Be sure to check out the details on how to make your own geometric runner from Hank & Hunt.

1.Love vs. Design 2.Hank & Hunt
3.Melangerie Inc. 4. Little Sooti

Raven Halloween Party Inspiration

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

A Halloween party inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" would be fabulously creepy. 

Pottery Barn//Tom Banwell//inhabit//The Nest UK //Still River Press

{Party Palette} Yellow + Green

 We like the combination of yellow and green, that occurs naturally for fall.  The pop of yellow is a nice contrast to the dark green.   

Enjoy Events Co.// Heal's
Emerson Fry NYC//Waiting on Martha//Sweet Nature Designs


 

Figs Five Ways

Figs are a beautiful and delicious fruit.  The rich color and sweet flavor are perfect for fall.  Here are some yummy looking recipes that all have figs as an ingredient.  How interesting does a burger with brie and green figs sound.  Have a light and flavorful salad of grilled kale, beets, figs and ricotta.  The fig infused vodka looks amazing.  And don't forget to end your meal with a sour cream fig cupcake with cream cheese frosting or a fig, mascarpone and pistachio tart.  Happy cooking and happy eating!

Black Butterflies

Yay! It's the first day of October!  It's one of my favorite months because it's fall, my wedding anniversary and Halloween all wrapped into one great month.  Let's step into Halloween with some unexpected inspiration.  I found some unusual images of black butterflies that I love.  Black butterflies for Halloween, weird or wonderful?  What do you think?  I think wonderful.

Black Cloud by Carlos Amorles via Colossal

 

This installation titled Black Cloud by Carlos Amorles is amazing.  I love the way it flows through the hallway giving the viewer the sense of a confined space surrounded by these black creatures.  It feels a bit like the Alfred Hitchock's "The Birds", but with butterflies.  You could try a smaller rendition of this on the walls of your home too.  

   

via Midwest Living magazine

 

Black butterflies adorn these orange and white pumpkins and one has even found its' way onto the plate.  It's fall meets spring and light meets dark.  Well hello there Halloween.  I've been waiting for you all year.