Tag Archives: party ideas

Wine Party 101

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I hope today’s post inspires you to have a party!

Some of the best parties are the most simple. Friends, cheese and wine sounds fine to me.

I was pretty excited to use our chalkboard for this post. It lives in our garage because the scale of it is too big for our house. It makes me sad, but I know in our next place it will work and I look forward to putting it in our kids play room (in the future).

Flowers are essential to a party or potted plants (succulents, perhaps). It brings warmth and color to a space. I have flowers in my house just about all the time.

Oh, cheese! You are a vice that I can’t live without. A forbidden love. Cheese and wine are the best of friends and have a great liking for each other. They bring out the best in each other, (saltiness from cheese mixed with sweetness of wine) enhancing, oozing, amplifying in my mouth, they make a party.

Having a wine party is fun, but having a blind tasting wine party is fun and an art. Make wine bags by using brown paper bags and tie with a string and write down a number on the bag. Try guessing what varietals of grape/grapes are in the wine, age, region? Focus on the sight of the wine: look at the pigment of the wine and then focus on the viscosity (legs of the wine), sniff and use your senses to differentiate the many smells;  then sip the wine, look for complexities, acidity and tannin levels, and flavor. Then ask yourself the important question: Do I like this wine? Make notes on a piece of paper. At the end of the night discover your results by revealing the bottles.

Blind tasting allows you to create an unbiased opinion on wine, as well as allowing you to formulate your preference in favorite wines.

Happy Partying!

D.I.Y | Clothes pin banner

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Last week, I hosted a bridal shower for a friend and I wanted to keep the decorations simple and personal. On my work desk I always have a thing of rustic jute twine or baker’s twine. They are essentials for any home, in my opinion. Another must-have is clothes pins. Two handy things that can create something so sweet, like a photo banner. For the photos, I printed out pictures that I took of the bride and groom and strung two banners, one on my fireplace mantle and the other above the food table. I was so happy to send this home with the bride-to-be, so she could enjoy.

This can be made for pennies and altered to fit the theme of any party by just changing the colors and materials.

Happy creating friends!

 

D.I.Y | Party : Streamers, Party Picks And A Mini Piñata

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What will 1.50 and change get you? Three rolls of crêpe paper to fringe, pick and papier-mâché with. A few weeks ago I hosted a crafternoon party. I fringed three rolls of streamers and hung the delicate rows in my living room, the streamers ended up hanging around but after a while they started to droop and it was beginning to look like a limbo party in our house.

I try to reuse materials as much as possible and so I saved the streamers and created party picks and a miniature piñata out of the crêpe paper.

Party picks:

Take a toothpick and about an inch of crêpe paper cut in half lengthwise, fringe the ends and put a dot of glue on each end, then roll the fringe crêpe paper to the tip of the toothpick.

Fringed streamers:

I measured and cut the desired length of my streamer and then wrapped the cut portion around my fingers to create a layered oval. Then, with sharp scissors I fringed both ends. After fringing I unrolled the oval, all the while taking care to separate any ends that might be sticking together. I wanted 25 different streamers for my party so, yes, I did this 25 times and yes, I had a hand cramp at the end. But the result was a lot of fun.

Mini Pinatas:

I used an old cereal box and drew my cupcake on the box, if you do not have a steady hand you can use a cookie cutter. I cut out a matching set and then began to create a box by cutting the borders out and then taping together, make sure you use the same thickness for each cut. Be sure to leave a hole at the bottom of your shape. Once you have your shape it’s time to decorate. Cut off the ends of your crepe paper and work your way from the bottom up until you cover your entire piñata (except for the hole, aka trap door). I used Mod Podge to adhere the streamers to the cardboard. Lastly, fill your piñata with candy, confetti or a love note.

Then, create your trap door handle.

To create a handle you will need a piece of fabric (or a package tag or whatever your heart desires) and string. First, secure the fabric to one end of the string and then secure the other end of the string to a piece of crêpe paper. Then, use the crêpe paper to make the trap door. Allow it to dry overnight. And now you have made a piñata!

Drink Bar | Bellinis and Mimosas

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Nothing says a good weekend like a glass of champagne in the form of a mimosa or bellini. Ali and I planned an ultimate Saturday delight a few weekends ago, which included scones, quiche, great music, crafting and a champagne bar.

I set up a small, yet charming, champagne corner in my house and used a galvanized bucket filled with ice to keep the bubbly chilled and used glass liter jars of fresh orange juice and fresh peach nectar. It was a welcoming way for guests to make their champagne concoction. My style of hostessing is “my house is your house” as I like to make sure everything is easily accessible for my guests.

For the ingredients, you will need good champagne and proseco, fresh peach puree, fresh squeeze orange juice and a garnish such as raspberries, strawberries, oranges, mint or blueberries. Make sure you have a lot of ice on hand to keep your bottles chilled and enough champagne glasses for your guests.

For non-traditional recipe ideas try: Blood Orange Mimosas, Passionfruit Bellinis, or a watermelon and lime mimosa

And, didn’t I mention great music? No party is complete without some lively songs.

Here is a music playlist for you to enjoy:

  • The National- High Violet
  • J.J Cale- Call Me The Breeze
  • David Bowie – Sound And Vision
  • Beirut- Postcards From Italy
  • Talking Heads- This Must Be The Place
  • Wild Nothing- Summer Holiday
  • Sam Cooke- Good News
  • Bootsy Collins- I’d Rather Be With You
  • Gardens & Villas- Black Hills
  • Emmylou Harris- Two More Bottles of Wine
  • Andrew Bird- Fiery Crash
  • Arcade Fire- Sprawl ii
  • Bruce Springsteen – Girls In Their Summer Clothes
  • Fiest- Brandy Alexander

D.I.Y | Party : Cocktail Stirrers #1

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It might be the bohemian spirited side of my personality. Just like Shrek said “Ogres are like onions” meaning we all have lots of layers, but I have a girlie romantic layer of me that adores flowers in my hair, being barefoot, loose braids, and feathers!

Last weekend, I was cleaning up from a girlie champagne craft party and had leftover materials and BAM! I knew I wanted to create offbeat cocktail stirrers for my bar!

The feather stirrers now just need exotic cocktails in jewel toned glasses, then roses, candles, metallic accents, a Moroccan feast, records and friends.

Feather Cocktail Stirrers

Need:

  • Bamboo stirrers or wood dowels
  • Feathers
  • Hot glue gun
  • Metallic string

How:

Glue each feather one at a time to the end of your stick. Finish off by wrapping the base of the feather with metallic wire and then securing your wire with glue at the beginning and end of your twists.