Kite 1st Birthday Party

Shelly emailed in looking for some inspiration for her son's 1st birthday party in the park. She already had the invitations sent out (see top left) and just needed to take that theme through to the next step. Here are a few ideas:

- kite cupcakes for a matching and delicious dessert
- homemade kites actually fly and would make a nice favor - match the colors to your invitations or partyware
- homemade kite decorations are super cute and can be customized with words, letters, numbers, etc to fit the party; made with patterned scrapbook paper and various ribbon strings [via party perfect]
- bright and fun, this party tabletop sports a multi-colored umbrella to add to the decor
- celebrate the birthday boy by spelling out his name on pendants made to match the colors and patterns of your kite decor [via party perfect]

Pink, Lime & Black Wedding

Today's post, featuring a pink, lime green and black wedding, was inspired by this fun tabletop design by Ravishing Radish. Utilizing Totally Tabletops dishes and a cake from Tallant House, this display is a great base for a contemporary wedding scheme.

- Customized pink and black coasters
- Personalized name buttons attached to stylish pink and black table cards
- Bridesmaids can wear classic black dresses while carrying vibrant pink and green bouquets
- Have the groom wear a solitary pink flower boutonniere

Preppy Baby Shower for a Girl

Pink and green combine into preppy stripes and polka dots for today's baby shower theme. My inspiration arose from this lovely table setting featuring green place mats and pink napkins tied with a pink striped belt. Invite your shower guests with a this pink and green striped invitation from FineStationery.com. Serve up this rose drink of pink lemonade (with or without the vodka depending upon who's drinking it) alongside a slice of this adorable pink, green and yellow cake as photographed by Rebecca Thuss. For favors, send guests home with some sweetly decorated candy treats that fit perfectly into the color scheme.

Blue & Orange Wedding

Today's post was inspired by this lovely orange favor box with blue striped ribbon by Matthew Mead. I enjoy the pairing of orange and blue - it's vibrant, fun and contemporary.
- Orange place cards hung on blue ribbon [via]
- Modern blue 3-tier cake with large orange flowers [via Blush]
- Blue bridesmaid dresses and orange bouquets
- Navy suit, blue stripes tie and an orange floral boutonnieres
- Place setting featuring clear blue chargers with orange napkins and tablecloths

September Birthday Dinner in Bright Blue

As summer is almost over, I wanted to make this month's birthday dinner reflect the sunny brightness of the season before we switch to the deep and rich hues of fall. So, here is September's Birthday Dinner in bright blue.

- A bright blue ice bucket and water bottles with loopy straws is practical and pulls in the color scheme nicely
- Blue and white paper decorations
- Two-tier blue cake with white initial for the birthday celebrant
- Add some flair to the chairs with blue geometric shape garlands
- Place some bright blue confetti in round clear acrylic containers and add in some candy or other treat for a fun favor
- Make or purchase blue invitations to gather friends and family for the party

Wedding Wednesday - Old-World Sage & Ivory Wedding

Welcome to another edition of Wedding Wednesday! This week Kati of The Finer Things and I selected this sage green and ivory lace invitation from FineStationery.com. It's made by one of my favorite stationers, Prentiss Douthit. I love the simplistic elegance portrayed by this invitation. It looks simple but then you can look more closely and see the intricate details of the old-world lace pattern.

I chose to carry the feel of what I call 'subtle traditional' throughout my picks for this week's board. I like how the pale colors compliment each other and have an antique-like appeal.

- Lovely table decor featuring glass chandeliers and many arrangements of ivory flowers

- Sage green leaves and ivory florals decorate this classy cake [via Snippet & Ink]

- Tea length silk dupioni bridesmaid dress in snapdragon and ivory by Watters & Watters

- Delicate and very detailed bridal bouquet [via Snippet & Ink]

- Sage green handmade guest book by wedlog

Check out a sneak peak at Kati's board below. I absolutely love the dress she includes! Be sure to head over to The Finer Things to check out all of her selections!

Labor Day Menu

I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day! Here is a new menu for your Labor Day gatherings:

- Bacon Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- Smokey Beer Burgers with Creamy Mustard Sauce
- Peach-Mustard Pork Chops
- Honey Dijon Potato Salad
- Wilted Greens with Ricotta Salata
- Grilled Tofu with Asiago and Walnut Pesto

Cocktails Anyone?

Mix up a some cocktails for your end of summer gathering with this new batch of drink recipes. Cheers!
- Frozen Peach Champagne Cocktail
- Bitter Crush
- Pisco Pinch
- Pineapple-Chile Margarita

- Avocado Daiquiri

Wedding Wednesday - Unique Fuchsia and Lime Bridal Shower

Happy Wedding Wednesday! This week Kati and I have chosen a new Prentiss Douthit invitation from FineStationery.com. This invitation mixes a bright pink and green floral design and a light blue floral design divided by dark brown vertical stripes. This unique and lovely invitation needed a equally unique shower theme.

- My first (and probably favorite) selection was this reception decor featuring patterned and plan floral balls floating in the pool. In the distance of this beautiful outdoor setting you can see tables draped in pink linens with brown chairs. [via Tapestry Flowers]

- Stylish green daytime dress for the bride by Michael Kors

- Table decor featuring a bold fuchsia and lime floral arrangement

- Place settings include a fuchsia menu card and lime floral piece adornment

- Additional floral centerpiece for decorating any other areas in need of a slash of the theme colors

- Fuchsia and lime favor filled with sweet treats selected by the bride

- Bridal Passion cocktail [recipe and image at Brides.com]

Be sure to head over to The Finer Things to see what Kati has put together for this week's theme! Below are a few of my favorites but trust me, you'll love the rest of her selections just as much!

Bright Multicolor Wedding/Party Inspiration

Today's post shows some miscellaneous inspiration for a bright and multi-colored wedding or party. I love to see when a a event scheme uses a larger color palette as it makes things more interesting and provides more options for finding just the right elements. Above you'll see some ideas for a combination of pink, orange green and tan.

- Cocktail and hors d'oeuvres station with bright cocktails, unique food presentation and pretty paper lanterns [via Social Design]
- Small and sweet pink, green and orange floral arrangements form a nice centerpiece [via Faye and Greer]
- Cute save the date/invitation by Two Paperdolls featuring green, pink and orange florals, swirls and a dragonfly
- Pink and orange flowers surround a monogram for a pretty reception or ceremony wreath decor piece
- Table setting featuring orange tablecloths, pink napkins, green floral chair drapes and a green and pink candle/floral centerpiece
- Colorful groom's boutonniere against a tan suit [via]

Yellow & Brown Wedding

Today's yellow and brown wedding was inspired entirely by this ceremony/reception photo from Faye & Greer. I am in love with every detail- the cream and yellow wedding dress, the bridal party attire in a mix of browns, goldenrod and creams, the lush greenery of the garden, the closeness of the guests to the ceremony, the cream patio umbrellas and the white paper lanterns - everything works so well together! Since this one photo shows so much there are very few other elements left to include! For the invitation, consider Sunshine by Thistleberry Press for a luxurious letterpress presentation with yellow florals [via]. A bridal bouquet cream calla lilies and pale yellow freesia would be lovely. And lastly, a beautiful 5-tier cream/yellow wedding cake alternating lattice-esc bands and flowers [via Rebecca Thuss].

Summer Picnic Menu

The weather is lovely and warm so why not plan a picnic with your family or friends? Here is a delectable menu to get you started:

- Miss Leslie's Ham Salad on Biscuits
- Turkey Pinwheels
- Iced Tea with Grenadine
- Mac-daddi-roni Salad
- Mini Whoopee Pies
- Chopped Veggie Salad with Watermelon and Feta Cheese

Enjoy!

Pink & Navy Pool Party

The weather has been so delightful here lately - what I'd consider the perfect summer. So I felt it was time (and certainly not too late) for a pool party! My inspiration came from this cute navy and white swim ring with pink anchor design [via At Home with Kim Vallee]. To invite guests, consider this fun pink, navy and white stripe invitation from FineStationery.com. As this party is aimed for adults I had to include a summer drink and this Strawberry Watermelon Mojito fits the bill perfectly. It's pink, fruit-filled and just right for a warm summer day. For an incredibly useful (and important) favor, hand out customized bottles of sunscreen. Create a matching poolside by making use of these navy and white lounge chairs [via Domino magazine]. Lastly, offer your guests a cupcake with cute themed adornments - a navy and white sailboat and a pink and white life ring [via flickr user cupcakenouuveau].

Colorful Dinner Party

Today I was inspired by this bright and beautiful multi-color table setting. I love the bold blue tablecloth, black candelabra, purple and gold table cards and fresh flowers in hues of purple, yellow, pink, red, orange, lilac and cream. This would make a lovely dinner party scheme for any occasion. For the other elements in this theme, I wanted to pick up all of the colors. So, I begin with a purple and green invitation from FineStationery.com. You could try to find one with all the colors included but since I couldn't find one I think this is a nice alternative. Next, I selected vibrant yellow place settings that will just pop against the bright blue linens. Consider finding glassware such as this multi-color set where the stems pick up a variety of theme colors. Lastly, bring all the colors into your favors by packaging sweet treats in boxes finished off in contrasting wrap and ribbon.

Delicious Desserts

It's time for another dose of delicious desserts! Try out one of these recipes today!

- Rocky Road Sundae Pie
- Black and White Cookies
- Thai Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Cayenne-Spiced Mango
- Frozen Passion Fruit Meringue Cake
- Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
- Triple-Chocolate Pudding Pie with Cappuccino Cream

Summer Drinks

Happy August! It's time for another batch of summer cocktails! Hopefully you can mix up some of these this weekend to beat the heat. Cheers!

- Pink Grapefruit Margarita
- Lillet-Basil Cocktail
- Citrus Martini
- Caipirinha
- Pineapple and Mango Rum Cocktails
- Pina Colada

Birthday Dinner in Red

As July is almost over, I better get in my July birthday dinner feature. This month I'm focusing on the color red. Vibrant and hot, red is perfect for these steamy summer months.

- Lovely combination of red, teal blue and orange in this beautiful table decor
- Red starfish guest book
- Red candle holders, white pillar candles and red coral branches dress up a mantle and add some themed room decor
- Red coral napkin rings atop turquoise and white plates makes a nice place setting on the red table linens
- Red and orange tall invitation from FineStationery.com
- Red, teal and orange beribboned favors [via Snippet & Ink]

Red not your color? Check out my previous birthday dinners in the following colors:
- Hot Pink
- Teal
- Black

Parisian Inspired Bridal Shower

Parisian pink and black party themes have always been popular and will continue to be because they can be elegant yet fun and what better color combo than black and pink. For those of you looking for a feminine and chic theme for a bridal shower, baby shower or almost anything, consider Parisian pink and black...

- Beautiful and impressive cake [via cakegirls]
- Eiffel tower place card holders - a nice way to bring the theme into the little details
- Striking table settings - black and white stripe linens, white dinnerware, light pink napkins and pink floral centerpieces
- Eiffel tower invitation from FineStationery.com- Lovely use of silhouettes (which I adore)
- Eiffel tower favor bag kits - fill with bon bons or any favorite treat
- Framed signature board on an easel - have everyone write a message for the guest of honor

Summer Dinner Party with Family

Today's post details a summer dinner party for family. Gather with your loved ones to reminisce, catch-up and spend quality time together. Recreate traditions and make new ones.

- DIY candle luminary - Decorate your space with these lights for when conversations last well into the evening hours; This idea can be worked into any decor by using different colored glass jars or different beaded garland.
- Photo Table Decor - This was the inspiration for this entire post. I love the DIY lit up photo centerpieces. Directions provided on Martha Stewart.
- Watermelon-Basil Margarita - A fun, summertime beverage in the pink hued color scheme. Fruit cocktails are a must for summer entertaining.
- Outdoor Photo Display - Great idea to view and chat about old (and new) photos. Beautiful photo found in the gallery of Oh How Charming, an event planning studio in California.
- Pink circles invitation from FineStationery.com - Make sure each aunt, uncle and sibling is able to attend by sending an invitation at least one month in advance.
- Cookie box favor - Bake up some of the family favorites and wrap in a cute box. Include recipes as a convenience for those new to the family or those who misplaced the recipe.

Blue & Red Casual Dinner Party

Today's blue and red casual dinner party was inspired by this beautiful table setting photo by Rebecca Thuss. I love the multiple glass vases decorated with the red and blue floral design. And these vases really pop against the khaki table runner. For some added elements consider using simple red and blue striped tableware.

For the invitation, consider a classic and lovely red and blue invitation. For dessert, how about a cupcake topped with a strawberry slice and a blueberry - simple, adorable and color coordinated! [image via flickr user vegan ducky] Lastly, for a favor, these blue and red designed favor boxes fit our theme just perfectly.