It's Inauguration Day!

Gather friends and family to watch this significant moment in history. Consider decking out your space with a patriotic theme. Click here to view all the patriotic posts on Tastefully Entertaining.

Images above from Tangarang and flickr user di0nne.

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

January Birthday Dinner in Pewter

This month's Birthday Dinner post features the color pewter. Combined with touches of gold, pewter creates an old-world glamour feel to this party theme.

- Miscellaneous pewter and gold desserts put together on a tray provides color-coordinated options for your guests (via Matthew Mead)
- Use an array of vintage pewter trays for serving food. Consider utilizing them in your centerpiece too or try pewter vases for floral arrangements (via Matthew Mead)
- A golden favor box adorned with a piece of pewter rhinestone jewelry (via Matthew Mead)
- A vintage-inspired chiffon silk dress for the guest of honor
- Pewter and gold colored dinnerware add to a lovely table setting
- Pewter candelabra with gold candles creates an old-world glow at the center of your table

Puppy 1st Birthday Party

Ronda left a comment a few days ago looking for ideas for her son's puppy-themed 1st birthday party. Here a few bits of inspiration:

- Puppy-themed tabletop decor - Though the diaper-fold napkins may be more apt for a baby shower than a 1st birthday, the set-up of this table is very cute. It features dog cookie favors at each place setting. The centerpiece can be puppy-related with a few small dog stuffed animals or maybe cylindrical vases filled with dog treats in different shapes or colors.
- Puppy-themed sugar cookies are an easier DIY dessert idea (via flickr user bumblebeegrad)
- Adorable puppy 1st birthday cake (via flickr user crafty confections)

Super Bowl Food & Tabletop Ideas

As the theme for Super Bowl gatherings remains the same from year to year, I've decided to share what I think of as the best tabletop decor idea along with a new batch of game day recipes. HWTM put together an amazing party concept for Superbowl get-togethers. Her tabletop is shown above. Check out her entire Game Day party theme here.

For your football snacking, try out the following recipes:
- Sliders with chipotle mayonnaise
- Caribbean chicken wings
- Grilled BBQ potato skins
- Soft pretzels with queso poblano sauce and mustard sauce
- Swedish meatballs
- Toffee brownies

Pretty in Pear

Be pretty in pear (green)! This hue and fruit is perfectly in season for a mid-winter wedding.

- Pear place card and favor set perfectly atop a deep brown charger at each place setting
- Lovely decor accomplished by submerging pairs under water in cylindrical vases several of which are further decorated with white florals
- A color-coordinated candy buffet serves up some fun and a choose-your-own dessert option
- Phoebe Couture pear green dress for the bridal party
- Feature a signature cocktail that fits the theme - an Absolut peartini

Winter White Wedding

Winter weddings are the perfect time to take advantage of one of the most elegant and lovely colors - white. Subtle and sophisticated, classic and chic, this color is stunning when used solo or when paired with other winter hues. Consider steel blue, black, periwinkle, silver, sage green or, as in today's inspiration board, pewter.

- Italian-influenced designs adorn this stunning white and pewter wedding cake
- Reception table with white florals, linens, dinnerware, candles and seating
- Bridesmaids in white dresses, pair with pewter-toned jewelry and heels
- A white floral bouquet is accented with crystals and pewter brunia tie into the pewter ribbon belt on the bride's dress
- A boutonniere made of a single ranunculous and a silvery dusty miller branch
- A homemade favor of snow-white vanilla meringues

Happy Holidays!

[image via]

Happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas and wishes for a fabulous 2009!

I'll be on vacation and traveling from now through the New Year so look for regular posts to resume in January. Here's to a 2009 filled with excellent entertaining ideas and inspiration!

Elegant Appetizers

You can never have enough appetizer recipes, especially around the holidays with multitude of parties and get-togethers. Consider serving a few of these delicacies at your upcoming holiday gatherings.

- Tea Smoked Chicken

- Lemon Grass Salmon Canapes

- Shrimp with a Chile-Cilantro Rub

- Asparagus, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Galettes

- Spanish Tortilla

- Grown-up Ham and Cheese Finger Sandwiches

- Vegetarian Dumplings

- Miniature Sweet Puffs

Christmas Table Details

Adorn your Christmas tabletop with lovely place cards or place setting decorations. Here are several DIY ideas to inspire your holiday tablesettings.

- Paper plate angels
- Crepe-paper bells
- Vintage scroll with holly
- Christmas tree place cards
- Green bow napkin decoration
- Holly jolly place setting
- Candy cane place cards
- Paper tree place cards
- Tree-shaped napkin rings

A Glamorous New Year's Dinner

There's nothing quite like the elegant combination of black and white. It's sophisticated, timeless and, in the right setting, so very glam. So, what better combination than black and white for an extravagant and glamour-filled new year's eve dinner.

The images above all come from a 1940's inspired home collection by Ralph Lauren. (via Toast and Tables)

Handmade Hanukkah Inspiration

As time passes by, we are getting closer and closer to Hanukkah and Christmas. Today, I thought I'd feature some homemade elements to add to your Hanukkah celebration. All from Martha Stewart, these ideas are sure to add to you holiday fun.

- Paper chains and dreidels made of light blue, silver and white construction paper
- Glittered dreidels make a great centerpiece or decoration (made from plain wood dreidels with colored glitter)
- Craft your own stylish gelt wrappers
- A glittered Hanukkah dessert of sufganiyot (or jelly doughnuts)
- Assemble your own menorah made of water glasses, silvers beads and blue candles
- Dreidel gift card holders could also serve as a place card or as invitations

A Good Will Cookie Party

Cookies are a delicious and fun part of the holidays. I have many memories of spending time in the kitchen with my Mom learning to make our family's favorites. Cookies seem to have a way of bringing us together and are a perfect theme for a holiday party. You've probably heard of a cookie exchange party (where everyone brings a different treat to share) but why not take that concept and help spread joy this holiday season. Invite friends to bring a few dozen cookies in addition to supplies for making cookie packages. Group a few different cookies and spend time together wrapping them up in creative bundles or boxes. Then, target a group of people, whether you know them or not, and hand them out. Imagine the fun you'll have with your friends, in addition to helping make the day of those you give an out-of-the-blue gift of yummy cookies.

Above are a few new favorites from Martha Stewart to add to your recipe box. Pictures and recipes can be found here. Below are some suggestions for lovely ways to present your cookie packages (also from Martha Stewart).

A Stylish Snowflake Wedding

Today's post shows a different take on a snowflake-themed wedding for the winter season. Instead of using snowflakes in every element, use them conservatively for an elegant and lovely motif.

- This pretty centerpiece features some snowflake shaped votive holders in combination with holiday balls in shades of light blue, teal and brown
- Really neat DIY place cards that each feature a unique, creative snowflake
- A spread of cheeses, fruits, etc attractively laid out with light blue cards denoting each type of cheese [Martha Stewart via Snippet & Ink]
- Chocolate ganache cookies have a snowflake-esc feel to them (though you could use a snowflake cookie cutter to get the exact shape)
- Snowflake wine stopper cutely packaged and placed atop a table setting with a light blue napkin and white dinnerware