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Entertaining

Category
Entertaining

How to Host a NYE Dinner Party

As featured in IBB At Home Winter 2016 Edition

Just because you’re done with turkey dinners and gift wrapping, the holiday season isn’t over! The fanciest of them all is circled on my calendar for December 31st! New Year’s Eve is often one of the most lavish nights of the year filled with glamorous parties, glitzy dresses, and festive dinners. Revelers have high expectations for the evening, so I’ve put together these tips and tricks to help ensure your NYE dinner party goes off with a bang!

1. Guest List and Invitations – A well-designed invitation gives your guests a glimpse of just how glamorous your NYE party will be. It’s the first chance to sweep them off their feet, so make sure your invitations help portray the elegance and experience you want to create.

2. Location – New Year’s Eve calls for opulence and grandeur. The best way to set your NYE party apart is through a swanky location. I love the idea of a rooftop dinner party with a show-stopping skyline view to really wow your guests, but if that’s not in the cards for you, think of these non-negotiables: extra space for mingling, a TV screen for the NYE broadcast, and a visible clock for the countdown!

3. Decor – Decorations set the ambience and formality for the entire evening, and it’s impossible to go over the top on New Year’s Eve. It’s a night that calls for all things glittered, sparkly and metallic. The most popular color palettes seen in NYE decor is black, gold, silver and white. If you want to go somewhere in between, I love champagne and pewter tones, or if you want a pop of color, emerald is the perfect hue to pull in!

4. Menu – By the time NYE rolls around, many of us have already been cooking and hosting so many holiday dinners, that it’s nice to keep the menu simple! For this reason, I love serving a variety of cheese, meat, and chocolate fondues. It’s a great, interactive way to involve your guests and minimize the prep work on your end, plus it also provides hours of entertainment for your guests! If you want to add an extra special touch, create personal menus for each guest that correlates with the invitation you sent out!

5. Champagne Bar – NYE is not complete without some bubbly, so be sure to stock up on extra champagne for your soirée! Design a “Pop Fizz Clink” bar to display a signature cocktail as well as a selection of champagnes for your guests!

6. Countdown Plan – The countdown to midnight is often what guests look forward to the most! What is better than ringing in the new year with your special someone and enjoying a midnight kiss? Create something memorable for the moment and make sure to announce the countdown with a microphone. Pass out party hats, horns, confetti, sparklers, or even arrange or a big balloon drop!

Finally, relax and celebrate with your guests! This is your last big gathering of 2016. Grab yourself a glass of champagne, enjoy that extra strawberry dipped in chocolate fondue, and reminisce about all that 2016 had to offer.

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Photography by Lindsay Davenport Photography

Styling and Planning: The Everyday Hostess

Straws/Straw Flags/Napkins: Sequins and Lipstick

Invitations and Menus: Amazing Design Studio

Calligraphy Bar Sign: Slinging Inks of Bella Grafia, Inc.

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Christmas

Chic Winter Wonderland with Pottery Barn Kids

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If you saw our recent post with WFAA on How to Create Your Own Winter Wonderland, you know that I’m all about the snowy and winter white Christmas decor this year! Being from Colorado, I grew up with a winter wonderland outside where all of our Christmases were white. The colder weather, snow dusted trees, and glowing lights is what made Christmas feel so magical as a kid. So being down here in Texas, with temperatures still in the 70’s some days, has been a bit of a shock!

To help keep the magic of Christmas alive for these Texas kiddos, my friend Summer Adams with She Leaves a Little Sparkle (if you don’t follow her already, hop on over to her blog and shop! She is one the absolute sweetest and most creative people I know!) and I decided to host a chic winter wonderland party for her kids and their friends! And to bring this whole party to life, we teamed up with our incredible friends at Pottery Barn Kids here in Dallas on Knox Street to adorn this party with the most festive decor and furniture!

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To set the wintery and snowy scene, we started by hanging Pottery Barn Kids’ (PBK) Fa La La Glitter Garland and Oversized Felt Snowflakes in the trees.

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We created the coziest little spot for the girls with PBK’s Faux Fur Lounge Chair, Shimmer Velvet Dusty Blush Anywhere Chair, and faux fur throw pillows. To give it that extra playful vibe for the girls, we added our favorite Green Flocked Trees,  Plush Bears, and Reindeer! I wish I could lounge here all day!

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Dinner Party Tablescape

Thanksgiving Tablescapes to Inspire

It’s absolutely crazy to me that Thanksgiving is just a week away! I don’t know where the time has gone, but it definitely doesn’t feel like the holidays should be here already (maybe because it’s still 85 degrees here in Dallas)!

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is wandering through stores and scrolling through Pinterest admiring all of my favorite designer’s holiday decor and tablescapes! I can’t wait for the year when we can host our own Thanksgiving dinner at our home, but in the meantime you can bet that I am dreaming about every single detail and how I would set the table if we were hosting.  

I’ve compiled 11 of my favorite Thanksgiving tables this year that has me seeing hearts in hopes that this will help inspire you as well!

Whether you are right there with me and dreaming about your future holiday tablescapes, or you are looking for inspiration for your Turkey day dinner table, this is the post for you. From modern rustic to luxe glam, no matter what your style is, there is bound to be something here to inspire you!

Enjoy and happy Thanksgiving, friends!

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Entertaining

Farmhouse Inspired Thanksgiving Table

If you’re looking for some Thanksgiving tablescape inspiration, then go ahead and close all those Pinterest browsers because we have some fabulous inspiration for you right here!The Everyday Hostess Thanksgiving Table from the Iman Project 6 Bree from The Iman Project and I had so much fun styling this Chip and Joanna inspired Thanksgiving tablescape! Of course we are right there with the rest of America and love their modern farmhouse look, but we also wanted to add a vintage yet formal flare to our table this year.

The Everyday Hostess Thanksgiving Table from the Iman Project 20

With Bree’s homemade farm table, our antique place settings and couch, Coral Lane’s modern chairs, Root and Bloom’s natural garland, and the Paper and Taigh’s menus, this setting was the perfect marriage of the modern and vintage look we were going for.

The Everyday Hostess Thanksgiving Table from the Iman Project 9

No matter what your style is or what type of Thanksgiving theme you are going for this year, there is bound to be something here that inspires you!

Check out some of our favorite pictures from the shoot!

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Special thanks to all the incredible vendors who helped bring our vision to life!

Styling: The Everyday Hostess + The Iman Project |

Photography: Photography by Katsi |

Florals: Root and Bloom |

Farmhouse Table: The Iman Table |

Venue: Summerfield at Tate Farms |

Candlesticks and Chair Rentals: Coral Lane

Menus: Paper and Taigh

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Brunch

Fall Inspired Brunch

Just as brunch is the classic combination of breakfast and lunch (and drinks!), this adorable rendezvous was the perfect fusion of rustic tones and bright colors!

The Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport Brunch

One of my dear “Friendors” (Vendor friends 🙂 ) Lindsay with Lindsay Davenport Photography asked me to style her Fall appreciation shoot and brunch for her 2016 wedding couples, and, of course, I jumped all over it! Whenever I have the opportunity to work with a friend and design festive tablescapes, you can bet that I am all in (and immediately on Pinterest scanning for ideas!)! With just a little bit of brainstorming, our “We Love You a Brunch” event was born!

The Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport Brunch

This party screamed “fall,” and I love it! The auburn based color palette complemented the earthy tones in the wooden tables and accents. And, let’s be real for a sec… you’re on the wrong site if you don’t want a touch of glam! The gold silverware and beaded chargers gave the pop the tablescape needed.

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And oh my GOURD are these pumpkins not the perfect autumn accent?? With pumpkins on the tables and serving stations, Lindsay’s guests had to be getting that fall feeling (even if the air doesn’t feel like it down here).

The Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport Brunch

Now how could I style a party without my new favorite fall trend!? These acrylic calligraphy signs by the very sweet Caddy Corner Designs and the illusion of the floating menu were the perfect bright and airy touch to the buffet! Plus they brought in a touch of modern flare that paired perfectly with the fall rustic vibe.

View More: http://lindsaydavenportphotography.pass.us/love-you-a-brunch-11-5-16-printThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport BrunchThe Everyday Hostess and Lindsay Davenport Brunch

Our “We Love You a Brunch”was a huge success filled with delicious food, festive decor, and of course, lots of laughs! Special thanks to all the fabulous vendors who made this shoot and event possible!

Photography: Lindsay Davenport Photography

Styling: The Everyday Hostess 

Calligraphy: Caddy Corner Designs 

Farm Tables: The Iman Project + Lavender & Mint Designs

Invitations: Sprinkled Designs 

Straws: A Party Through My Eyes

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Entertaining

Football Tailgate

Football season is in full swing, so you know what that means! Food, friends, and tailgating! To me there is no better way to spend your Saturday or Sunday than setting up a festive spread in the back of your truck with the best football comfort foods, drinks, and friends!

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And with the right set-up and decor, your tailgate can be just as glamorous as it would be at home! To prove it, my friend Amanda with Glitter and Spice and I threw a spirited TCU vs SMU tailgating party for some of our favorite fans! Catch all the details below, including my favorite tailgating products. And don’t forget to check out our tailgating 101 tips and tricks!

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Photography: Paisley Layne Photography
Featuring: Glitter and Spice and The Everyday Hostess
Styling: The Everyday Hostess
Banner: Sprinkle of Confetti
Straws: A Party Through My Eyes
Paper products/Invitations/Cups/Drink Stirrers/Platters/Napkins/Party Decor: Sequins and Lipstick
Cookies: Just Call Me Cookie
Table Runner: Swoozies | 
 
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Entertaining

Tailgating 101

Last year we shared all of our favorite tips and tricks for hosting the perfect game watching party from the comfort of your home – but what if you want to take your party on the road with you and enjoy a game day tailgate?!

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Tailgates are always my favorite way to get in the spirit and enjoy a fun-filled day of football! But if you’re the host, they also come with a long list of to do’s and quite a bit more preparation. To help ease the stress a bit, we’ve put together the x’s and o’s of how to throw the perfect tailgate!

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  1. Arrival Time: Your arrival time will depend on how die hard your group is, but I have found that most fans start arriving around 3 hours before the game starts. Therefore, you should plan on getting to your tailgate spot around 4-5 hours before kick-off. That way, you will have plenty of time to set-up and cook before your friends start showing up.
  1. Supplies: Always keep a toolbox in the back of your car with tailgating essentials such as jumper cables, spatulas, bottle openers, tongs, extra silverware, flashlights, can openers, trash bags, paper towels, hand sanitizer, duct tape, etc. If you’re really serious, consider bringing a generator for your car and a grill! And don’t forget plenty of coolers to chill your food and beer.
  1. Food Prep: Prepare all ingredients the night before. This will make your day of prep and cooking much easier! For example, if you’re serving burgers, shape and pack the burger patties between sheets of wax paper and slice up the condiments and toppings in advance!

Now for the fun part! Decor and food!

  1. Setup: For the perfect display, convert the back of your car or truck bed into a DIY serving station for your guests! This will make your tailgate more interactive and will minimize the work for you. I love the idea of a hot dog or burger bar, so fellow fans can dress their dish however they prefer.the-everyday-hostess-tailgate-41-44
  1. Decor: Class up your tailgate with a few special touches! Consider adding a touchdown paper table runner as an easy way to spoof up your tables. Then add banners, flags, decorative napkins and straws, serving trays, and koozies in your team’s colors to create a game winning display! Check out our favorite festive details from our recent tailgate here!the-everyday-hostess-tailgate-27
  1. Food: When it comes to tailgating food, easy is the name of the game! I keep my menu to anything that can be made on a grill out of our trunk (burgers, hotdogs, and BBQ sliders) or anything that does not need to be heated or refrigerated for a long time (think chips, sliced veggies, dips, fruit kabobs, nachos, jalapeno poppers, puppy chow, seasoned popcorn, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, etc.).
  1. Drinks: Beer is an absolute staple at tailgates, but consider serving a signature cocktail in your school’s color as well! For a cute and easy decorative tip, I love adding washi tape to mason jars in the shape of football strings for each guest’s beverage.the-everyday-hostess-tailgate-5
  1. Seating: Don’t forget to pull out some foldable chairs so your guests have somewhere to relax and enjoy the company and game!

9. Most importantly! Introduce yourself to your neighbors, share a few drinks, and enjoy!

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Decor:
“Go Team!” Banner: Sprinkle of Confetti | Straws: A Party Through My Eyes | Paper products/Invitations/Cups/Drink Stirrers/Platters/Napkins/Party Decor: Sequins and Lipstick | Touchdown Table Runner: Swoozies | 

 

 

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Entertaining

How to Decorate Small Spaces

For many of us in our mid 20’s, small space living is a fact of life. Apartments never seem to have enough storage or maybe certain rooms in your house are just a bit smaller than you prefer.

Learning how to decorate these small spaces and still keep them entertaining ready can be a challenge – one that I face regularly! My fiancé and I recently moved into the most beautiful little apartment in Dallas with gorgeous floor to ceiling views of downtown. Although we absolutely love it, I must stress the LITTLE part of it. Condensing two people’s furniture and lives into one 700 SF apartment has proven to be tricky, so we have been extremely focused on how to maximize every inch.

I know we are not alone in this, so I have compiled our 12 key tricks to decorating and maximizing your space while keeping it entertaining ready.

12 Tips and Tricks:

  1. Increase Kitchen Storage – It’s not uncommon, for apartments or older homes to have minimal pantry space or none at all. Get creative, and turn your hall closet into a pantry. Add some simple storage racks from Home Depot or the Container Store to serve as additional shelves for your pantry items.

The Everyday Hostess design and home decor - kitchen pantry

2. Lighting – Keep it light! To make your space appear larger, use pale colors such as whites, beige, blues and greys. Neutral colors help create a nice flow to the house that isn’t overwhelming to the eye. You can then add a few pops of color here or there to add some personality. We went for a beige and white color palette and added hints of aqua in the living room to give it a serene and calming environment. We also added little pops of color in our decor, specifically in our design books. We used the same white and beige palette in the master bedroom, but instead of aqua we used navy and gold as our accent colors to give the room a little extra pop!

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Entertaining

Types of Thank You Notes

If you read our post on The Etiquette of Thank You Notes, you know I am a huge advocate of handwritten thank you notes! If not, head over and check out some of our tips on when to write a thank you note (hint – pretty much always)!

So now that we are all writing thank you notes ;), what kind should you send?

I always like to have two sets of stationery on hand – One that is more traditional and classy for professional use (sending a thank you note to a potential employer for an interview or to my boss for tickets to a football game) and one that shows my personality for casual use (sending a thank you note to a friend for gift or to my  fiancé’s parents for having me over for dinner).

I’ve compiled a few of my favorite stationery sets in case you are in the market!

 The Everyday Hostess - Informal Stationery

  1. Boatmen and Geller | 2. Palm Beach Papery  | 3. Palm Beach Papery | 4. Boatman and Geller

The Everyday Hostess Formal StationeryCrane & Co. | 2. Crane & Co. | 3. Neiman Marcus

However, if this is your first set of stationery and you are looking for a one-card-fits all approach, pick a set that is classy but still shows your individual taste, such as the following:

The Everyday Hostess Stationery

  1. Palm Beach Papery | 2. Minted | 3. Crane & Co. |

PS – Don’t forget to keep a set of “Forever” stamps in your wallet so you are always ready to send a note in a pinch!

 

 

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