Gold & Fuchsia Tea Baby Shower

Today's post was inspired by this excellent invitation idea from party perfect. Guests were invited to a tea baby shower with an actual tea bag. The letterpress invitation with all the party details was the tag attached to the tea bag. The tea bag and attached invitation card were sent in an envelope lined with a vintage-esc stork and baby liner. I LOVE this invitation idea. So unique and so lovely!

The invitation pairs a bright fuchsia with a golden yellow so the rest of my elements reflect this palette. First, a classy table setting featuring fuchsia napkins, a subtle floral tablecloth, candles, clear glassware and an elegant crystal chandelier. [via Snippet & Ink]

Serve dessert atop this golden cake pedestal. For a favor, send guests home with a perfectly coordinated favor box full of earl grey tea and cookies.

Fall Dinner Party Menus

Today's post showcases 3 fall-oriented menus for your upcoming dinner parties. Enjoy!

Menu 1:

Pork Chops with Apple Chutney, Mustard Greens, Sweet Potatoes and Ice Cream with Caramel Brioche

Menu 2:

Hanger Steak, Apple Bistro Salad, Matchstick Fries and Creme Caramel

Menu 3:
Mediterranean Chicken, Herb Feta Salad, Rice Pilaf and Apricot-Fig Compote

Wedding Wednesday - Burgundy & Grey Wedding

Welcome to the next installment of Wedding Wednesday! Today Kati of The Finer Things and I have selected this burgundy and grey pocket invitation from FineStationery.com. (Yes, another invitation with grey- I told you I was obsessed!) Burgundy is the perfect fall color - it's rich, luxurious and pairs well with others (orange, grey, bright blue, gold).

- Linen wedding album with satin burgundy bow

- Multi-tier cake divided by vibrant purple-burgundy florals

- Photo of burgundy orchids

- Uphold a New Orleans second line tradition with these personalized handkerchiefs tied with burgundy ribbon

- Elegant burgundy "fit and flare dress" by Sherrie Bloom & Peter Noviello

- Fall table setting featuring low burgundy floral arrangements, varying charger and plate shapes/colors and burgundy napkins

Look below for a sneak peak at Kati's take on this week's wedding invitation. I love the boutonniere- it's perfect for today's theme! Be sure to check out the rest of her selections at The Finer Things.

A Passion for Pink (and More)

I'm sure you're all aware that October is breast cancer awareness month. Today's post is a special feature dedicated to showing off some everyday products that donate proceeds to research efforts. How about using some of these items to throw your very own charity event. Whether you're supporting breast cancer research or any charity that's close to your heart, consider throwing an event to raise awareness and dollars to help. Some entertaining ideas to do this are:

- Throw a cost per plate dinner party with proceeds going to a cause
- Have a used item silent auction (everyone bring items from home they no longer use/want; everyone bids on those items and the proceeds go to charity)
- Plan a group outing or trip and have the admission/participation cost per person include a donation
- Host any kind of party and request that the attendees bring an item for a soup kitchen, toys for tots, etc

Do you have any additional ideas on how to entertain for a cause? Please leave a comment if so!

- Hershey's Pink Packaged Products
- Pink ribbon tote bag
- Breast cancer awareness 7 piece fondue set
- Breast cancer awareness mug
- The range of pink products offered by Kitchen Aid
- Cookie cutter in the shape of the support ribbon
- Breast cancer awareness Brita pitcher
- Pink ribbon post-its
- Pink ribbon cooler by Igloo

Halloween Inspiration: Part IV - Favors

Today brings the last installment in my short Halloween inspiration series. And what better way to end than with the favors?

- Cute, fall-themed favor bags that are an easy DIY project
- Super clever skull treat box?
- Triple duty bat noisemakers/place cards/favors
- Halloween barrel-shaped favor holders
- Customized muslin favor bags
- Vintage-like Halloween images adorn these DIY favor boxes

Halloween Inspiration: Part III - Cocktails

Today's Halloween inspiration showcases some creepy cocktails for a cleverly cultivated evening.

- Miscellaneous cocktails made with black vodka
- Bloody Black Currant Punch served alongside dark black colored treats
- Eyeball Highballs
- Muddy Swamp cocktail
- Pina Ghoulada (such a clever name!)
- Lethal Libation Labels
- Swamp Sangria
- Bloodthirsty Marys
- Spooky Wine Bottle Labels

Halloween Inspiration: Part II - Treats

Happy October! It's time for the next installment of Halloween inspiration. This part focuses on spooky treats and creative ways to serve them. Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with such fun and eerie dishes!

- Halloween party picks in sandwiches
- Sweetly packaged cookies
- Chocolate Fig Pumpkins
- Ladies' Fingers and Men's Toes (eww!)
- Ghoul's Graveyard cake
- Chocolate Witch Hats
- Tombstone Cupcakes
- I Scream Ice Cream
- Orange and white candy buffet

Stay tuned for more parts in my Halloween inspiration series!

Wedding Wednesday - Gray & White Wedding

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday! Today, Kati of The Finer Things and I have chosen this silvery gray and white invitation from FineStationery.com for a wedding inspiration board. I've mentioned before how lovely I find the color gray. Sophisticated yet simple, this hue can make any event you plan fabulous!

- Lovely gray bridesmaid dress by Amsale

- Extremely chic table setting featuring gray and white striped linens, white chairs and a dusty green floral centerpiece

- Intriguing floral centerpiece (anyone know what those gray flowers are? so neat!)

- Gray fondant wedding cake with white pearl accents and a mod floral topper

- A dapper gray suit with a gray and tan striped tie - perfect for the groom

- Silver pumps decorated with a pewter bow by J. Crew [via]

- Silver favor boxes with white ribbon

- A silver chandelier to add drama with lighting

Head over to The Finer Things to see Kati's picks for a gray and white wedding. Here are two of my favorites from her post. I wish I had thought to look for a gray wedding dress - so beautiful and perfect!

Halloween Inspiration: Part I - Decor

I don't know about you but I'm very excited that we're almost in October! Halloween is right around the corner so it's time for some Halloween inspiration. There are SO many great Halloween ideas out there so I decided to start off with a few parts of inspiration. Hopefully inspiration boards (posted over the next few days) will give you an idea of how you will decorate and entertain this Halloween season!

Part I - Decor
(click through the links for information on how to create these looks)
- Green and glittered bones in a clear glass cake pedestal
- Bloody candles
- Felt pumpkin people
- Specimen jar candles
- Spooky and sophisticated floral displays
- Glittered pumpkins on votive pedestals of varying heights
- Halloween ornament tree
- Classic autumn planter display
- Spider-infested entry

Stay tuned for more Halloween inspiration posts!

Burgundy & Peach Wedding

Today's post features a burgundy and peach wedding for fall. My inspiration came from these lovely burgundy and peach bridesmaid dresses and peach floral bouquets. I love the pairing of a deep rich fall hue with a lighter shade in the same color family.

- Crane & Co. Coral invitation with matching coral envelope from FineStationery.com
- Favor boxes in a variety of red, pink and orange hues
- Reception decor featuring burgundy sheers hung along the wall, burgundy table linens, wooden chairs and small peach floral arrangement centerpieces
- Macaroon cake in shades of tan, peach and burgundy
- A peach-colored cocktail

Facebook Discussion - Your Inspiration

Join the Discussion!

Are you planning a wedding, a baby shower, a dinner party, etc ? What is the theme of or inspiration behind your event? Are you focusing on the mom-to-be's favorite colors or pattern? Or maybe you're planning a dinner party based on your favorite novel or tv show? Whatever your theme or inspiration, click over to the Tastefully Entertaining page on Facebook, join the discussion and share your inspiration!

Please note, you must have a Facebook account to participate in the discussion boards.

Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.

A Wedding in Greys & Greens

Today's event inspiration focuses on one of my new favorite colors - gray! No longer is this color reserved for gloomy thoughts, it's a sophisticated and lovely hue that pairs well with a large variety of colors. For the wedding inspiration board I've combined gray with green for a nice fall or winter palette.

- Reception snapshot - table setting featuring white and black linens and a green and white floral centerpiece; paper lanterns in white and multiple shades of green float overhead
- Lovely combination of gray bridesmaid dresses [via perfect bound]
- Silhouette cookie favors iced with gray or white icing and adorned with a thin green bow[via Style Me Pretty]
- Groom's gray suit, black tie and green boutonniere
- Gray silhouette programs (or invitations) encircled with a band of green ribbon
- White floral bridal bouquet (would look lovely tied at the base with gray ribbon)
- Gray patent pumps to complete the look

Wedding Wednesday - Autumnal Bridal Shower

Happy Wednesday! Today brings another edition of Wedding Wednesday. This week, Kati of The Finer Things and I selected this burgundy and golden yellow fall foliage invitation from FineStationery.com for a bridal shower.

Deep shades of burgundy pair with bright goldenrod yellow in this fall event theme. Forgo the leaves and center your gathering around a blossoming arrangement of dahlias in your color palette.

- A super fun and creative way of decorating drinks, these initial stir sticks can denote the initials of the guest of honor or mark with each guest's name so you know whose drink is whose.

- Burgundy linens with golden details for your table

- Serve up a color-coordinated cake by selecting one with key-lime, blood orange and raspberry buttercream fillings

- For a double-duty favor and place card holder, use these glass, burgundy frames with white leaf motifs

- This cocktail, a tequila sunrise, features the rich burgundy and vibrant yellow hues of our invitation and is garnished with a blood orange slice

Be sure to click over to The Finer Things to see Kati's picks for this week's bridal shower theme. Here's a sneak peek...I just love that modern floral table cloth!

Delicious Desserts for Fall

It's time for a Fall edition of Delicious Desserts. With upcoming gathering and holidays, select you dessert menu now from some of these appetizing recipes:

- Red Velvet Cake with Raspberries and Blueberries
- Tiramisu Affogato
- Caramelized Pumpkin and Pear Crumble
- Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies with Salted Nuts Peanuts
- Fried Apple Pies
- Chocolate Bread Pudding