Are you screaming or ice cream?! We sure are! In our house, we find all the excuses we can to host an ice cream social. And this Labor Day weekend is no exception.
Whether you are celebrating the start of the school year, a birthday, a baby shower, or start of summer, an ice cream social is always the perfect party theme to incorporate into your soiree! It’s fun, festive, and oh so tasty!
To help with your next celebration, we’ve put together an inspiration board with everything you need (including our new favorite menu from our shop!) to throw your own ice cream social at home! Enjoy!
Check out how we brought this inspiration board together HERE!
Summer is winding down, so it’s time to throw your final end-of-summer shin dig with the perfect themed dinner party! The rooftop or patio is calling for a stylish celebration, but no matter where you choose to host your party, you’ll be able to create the perfect summer setting with this year’s hottest trends! I’m in love with the flamingos, palm leaves and pineapples that are popular this season, and coupling them with a bold and chic color palette of hot pink, bright green and gold just screams summer. We’ve put together some tips and tricks to pull off this summer’s hottest party theme that will make a lasting impression on your guests!
Move over, flamingos and pineapples! There is a new player in town! Cactus and succulents are the new rage this summer and they are all over the party scene. And thanks to my friend Shelby with BerryPom and James, DFW’s newest online party goods and gift shop, your next cactus-centric celebration is at your fingertips too!I’m loving the cactus theme because it’s fun and summery, plus it brings in a natural feel to your party that is refreshing, light and airy. It’s also a great way to put a spin on a traditional fiesta so you can mix up the party style but still get to indulge in some tasty chips and guac!
BerryPom and James has a passion for party planning and has filled her shop with gifts and decor for all the cutest party trends, but her cactus decor is on point! From the plates and cups, to the balloons, to the candles, I can’t get over her adorable ode to the prickly plant!
To further help your party go off without a hitch, we’ve put together the perfect inspiration board to help guide you as you plan your next fiesta gathering!
You can also play with the color scheme a bit too! I personally love the bold greens and blues with pops of gold as shown in our inspo board, but you could also highlight the lighter greens and use more of a pastel palette and bring in light pinks (especially for a girl’s party)!
It’s Hollywood’s biggest night, but it doesn’t have to put a big dent in your wallet. I mean let’s be real, it’s easy to spend oodles of dollars on a glitz Oscars watching party — but we’re here to show you that you don’t have to!
Here are some tips and tricks on how to throw a party worthy of a trophy!
First, what goes better with the year’s biggest films than popcorn?! It’s the quintessential movie snack… and it’s also easy on your bank account and on your party planning anxiety. I chose a popcorn bar with a variety of seasonings — aptly named after some of this year’s Best Picture nominees — and displayed them in glass jars of varying heights. Frequent visitors of my blog know I love me some clear, light and airy party spaces!
Now, no party is complete without desserts, and I just happened to get the most ADORABLE Oscar-themed cookies from my good friend Briana with Just Call Me Cookie! Our “cookie wardrobe” was complete with dresses, tuxes and even the envelopes for award announcements.
But the big winner? These Oscar statue cookies that STAND ON THEIR OWN! I’m in love with these cookies, and the reasons are endless. They are a delicious treat, but also double as cute decor or party favors for your film-loving friends.
Okay, so you’ve got your treats taken care of… But how do you pull your party together?? I’ve written it once, I’ll write it a thousand times: It’s all about the details! The printables made especially for this event by the lovely Linda from Sprinkled Designs were the perfect touch to tie everything into the Oscars theme.
From the invitations, to the labels for our different popcorn flavors, to the Bingo cards for the guests, Sprinkled designs was the ticket! The little things at a party like this are what your attendees will remember, and it’s an inexpensive way to go the extra mile.
This party is all about the stars of the big screen, but it was special for me because I got to make an appearance on the small screen! My good friends at WFAA-TV were so kind and had me talk about hosting an Oscars watching party on News 8 at 4!
It was a blast being at the studio and meeting some of the WFAA on-air crew!
Where has this year gone?! I can’t believe Valentine’s Day is just a few short days away! As you all know, this year is just absolutely crazy getting ready for our wedding in June, plus my best friend is getting married a couple weeks after us, so we are filled to the brim with exciting wedding prep and parties!
With showers and meetings galore, I have to admit, our Valentine’s Day celebrations are not as elaborate as they have been in years past (remember our Valentine’s Brunch last year?). This year we are taking it a little bit slower and enjoying an intimate dinner for two at home, which is actually perfect since we have been running, running, running so much. I’m really looking forward to a quiet night at home with my fiance.
To create a quiet and more relaxed environment, I wanted a formal and classic dinner table set up this year. I started with a sweetheart table dressed in a white tablecloth with pink and gold accents. Once I set the table, it just looked too plain to me, SO, I employed my new favorite dinner party trick! I found the cutest gold lip wrapping paper (yes, wrapping paper!) from Swoozies and cut it into the shape of my table and used that as the table topper! It put a whole new spin on my table and was exactly what I was looking for! It took literally no time to set the table, but the patterned wrapping paper gave it a very intentional and styled look.
Does this not just completely change the look?! I am so thrilled with how it turned out. It still looks formal and more traditional, but has a certain pop to it that really brings the whole table to life!
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.
Happy Wedding Wednesday! It’s been a while since we’ve had a wedding post around here, but we are back in full swing with one of every future bride’s favorite part of the engagement season -the bachelorette party!
Even if you’re not currently planning a bachelorette party, this styled shoot I did with Gold Dust Vintage, will have you dropping hints to all your gal’s boyfriends to put a ring on it so you too can throw this chic bachelorette slumber party!
A feminine palette of gold, black and white with pops of red was just what this party needed to create a trendy and swanky vibe – and that it was! This girls night was nothing short of modern and stylish! Don’t believe us? Take a look for yourself and get inspired!
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!
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!
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.
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).
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.
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!
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!
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!
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?!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.).
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.
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!
