An Oscar Party to Remember

The Academy Awards have always been my Super Bowl. Seeing Hollywood's finest step onto the red carpet in their designer gowns with immaculate updo's and donning an impeccable face of makeup is worthy of a celebration in my book, regardless of awards being handed out or not. So, when I came across this gorgeously designed home Oscar party by Twig and Thistle I couldn't resist sharing. The invitations, decor, color scheme, and snack choices are all perfection.

photos by Twig & Thistle

Delicate Glam - Pink + White Party

I recently came across this delicate yet glamorous photo shoot and immediately fell in love. Created by Paper Stories, Indie Wed, Ryan Alexander Events, Pollen, and photographed by AveryHouse, each of the respective companies contributed only sustainable (reused, recycled, or natural) objects for the staging. Antique china, satin ribbons, paper bunting, and miniature fresh potted plants mixed with a neutral palette of colors within the blush and blueish green families all assist in creating this deliciously sweet and pretty party. My favorite aspect is that of the ruffle cake. Perfection.

photos by AveryHouse via The Sweetest Occasion

How to Throw a Holiday Party

Throwing a holiday party can be stressful and overwhelming to say the least, but entertaining your family and friends this time of year can end up being the brightest memory of the season. Whether you envision a grand event or intimate affair, these are my tips to help guide you through the entire party planning process.

Guests: Tis the season to be with friends and family, but a party too large can lead to disaster. Choose a set number of guests that will fit into your space comfortably, and invite a handful more in anticipation that not everyone will attend. To avoid hurt feelings, keep the list to your closest family and friends only, and consider celebrating with coworkers and acquaintances on a smaller scale, like the office holiday party or a dinner out.

Invites: This aspect of the party planning process is simple and shouldn't break the bank. Sending out Evites for cocktail parties, or even a simple email, will suffice. For a full menu dinner party fancier invites are suitable, but no need to go all out. Invitations cards like these from Rifle Paper Co. are perfect.
- when to send - cocktail party: 1-2 weeks in advance with rsvp up to 3 days prior - dinner party: 3-4 weeks in advance with rsvp up to 2 weeks prior


Food & Drink Too many elements will clutter your party, so choose one thing and do it well.
Cocktail party: If you decide upon a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres party, be sure to say so on your invite so guests don't show up expecting an entire meal. A week prior to your gathering choose a signature cocktail that can be made in batches prior to the party, and offer an assortment of wine, beer, juice, and sodas as well. Determine 3 or 4 hors d'oeuvres that are easy to eat with your hands and don't require a lot of time spent in the kitchen. Shop for your party assuming each attendee will consume 3-4 drinks and roughly 10 hors d'oeuvres pieces.
- suggestions - signature drinks: cranberry martini, candy cane cocktail, maple butter kiss, 103 holiday cocktail recipes - easy appetizers: brie with cherry chutney, fig and olive tapenade, double tomato bruschetta, antipasto pasta salad

Dinner party: If a plated dinner is something you had in mind, planning your menu a week or two in advance will make all the difference. Choose sides that can be made ahead of time so you're not stuck in the kitchen the day of the party. Keep appetizers simple and store bought: nuts, crackers, cheese, fruits, and dips. Pour them into festive dishes to fancy them up.
- suggestions - main course: maple glazed roast turkey, holiday rib roast, apricot brown sugar ham, stuffed winter squash (vegetarian) - make ahead sides: roasted pumpkin apple soup, traditional mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, chilli glazed sweet potatoes


Decor: Keep decor at a minimum, allowing the drinks, food, and company to be the star. Simple table cloths or table runners, glass or mercury votives with unscented tea candles, and fresh greens from your tree or the store will be more than enough to create a holiday party wonderland.
- suggestions - mercury glass votives, winter white garland, striped table runner

Entertainment: Nothing trumps good conversation and laughter amongst guests, so keep the entertainment factor simple with a mix of your favorite holiday tunes. Create a playlist on your iTunes or log into Pandora for free and find a holiday station to your liking.
- suggestions - Michael Buble holiday, Diana Krall holiday, Nat King Cole holiday


Favors: This step is completely optional, but if you want your guests to leave with a little something in hand, homemade gifts from the kitchen might be the perfect ending to a great evening.
- suggestions - brownies wrapped individually, roasted nuts in a small mason jar, hot chocolate packets with a bag of mini marshmallows

For even more holiday party planning tips and accessories, check out my Decemeber article on Houzz here.

photos: Simply Bloom Photography via Style Me Pretty

Hostess Gifts for the Holidays

Bringing the host or hostess a small gift in exchange for all their preparation and hard work is something I like to do, especially during the holiday season. Whether it's store bought or homemade, having a gift in hand is a nice gesture and will surely start the night off on a nice note. Here are a gifts I'm sure a hostess would love:

Studiopatro tea towels - Anthropologie milk bottle measuring cups - Rifle Paper Co. recipe cards - Studiopatro kitchen apron

Wishing safe travels to everyone on the road today and tomorrow!

*Brunch at Saks is currently running a Sachin+Babi rose gold bracelet giveaway. If interested, click here to enter *

Thanksgiving Table Settings + Place Setting Diagram

One of the things I love most about the holidays is decorating the table. While I'm not a fan of over-the-top fancy place settings, I do find it quite fun to celebrate the day with nice plates, silverware, and glasses. As for the accessories, I like to keep the centerpieces, place cards, and scattered decor rather simple, allowing the food to be the center of attention. Here are a few Thanksgiving table settings I'm loving, complete with a place setting diagram to assist those of us who are in charge of that particular duty this year.

I foresee a lot of dishes in the future:

photos 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (original)

20 Fall-themed Pieces for Autumn Entertaining

I'm over at Houzz.com today sharing my 20 favorite fall-themed pieces for entertaining guests this season. From the Williams-Sonoma pumpkin spreaders to West Elm's "wishbone" platter, each piece will add the perfect touch of autumn to all your gatherings. See all 20 of my picks here.

photo

Hope you're enjoying the weekend :)

5 Staples for Easy Entertaining

While spur-of-the-moment visits from family, friends, or neighbors can be fun and exciting, they can also be equally as stressful when you're suddenly left scrambling, trying your best to play double duty as joyful attendee and hostess extraordinaire. Here are 5 simple staples to keep on hand to assist you when any spontaneous visits come about.





A simple appetizer: assorted nuts. Keep a bag or two of assorted nuts in the back of your pantry. Place them in a festive bowl, add a few shakes of sea salt, and voila. Simple, pretty, and your guests will enjoy them just as much as any fancy tray of appetizers.



A bit of bubbly: sparkling water. Depending on who your visitors are and what time of day it is, a glass of wine or a cocktail might not be appropriate. While your guests will be just as appreciative with a glass of ice water, it's always nice to have a little something sparkly on hand like Pellegrino or mineral water. Add in a squeeze of lemon, orange, or lime for some extra pizazz.



A little glow: tealight candles. Lighting a few unscented (to assure all guests are comfortable) tealight candles can immediately add warmth and charm to your gathering. Tealights are great year-round, and can be quickly dressed up by placing them in a mason jar or small votive.

photos by KT Merry Photography via Dreamy Whites

A few laughs: a game to play. Games tend to be overlooked when entertaining, but they can be a great way to get everyone talking and involved. Whether it's a box of trivia cards to keep the conversation flowing, or it's your favorite go-to board game to liven up dull moments, having a game or two in your storage closet readily available will surely result in a good time had by all. Suggestion: Apples-to-Apples



Good tunes: a guest-friendly playlist (or CD). Adding music to your get-together will immediately energize the room and may be just the thing to keep your guests entertained the entire time. Create a playlist on your iTunes with a variety of genres to appease all tastes, or use genre specific CD's like Putumayo's French Cafe or Italia.

Brunch at Saks is now on Facebook! Click here to visit our page.

Vibrant Party Decor

With summertime in full swing, parties and outdoor gatherings seem to be the only thing filling our calendars these days. While something as simple as a food display can be enough to decorate the space, it's always fun to add a little bit of color, which is why I'm loving these party accessories from Rie Elise Larsen. Paper lampshades, vibrant bunting banners, and chic pillows would all make the perfect addition to your gathering.

Summertime Entertaining: Tablescape Decor

As the summer months quickly approach, the desire to be outdoors and soak up the warmer days is a high priority of most. Enjoying meals in your backyard or at the park is one of the best ways to celebrate the season, and while the food is most certainly the star, the festive table setting and decor can be the perfect touch to any such gathering. Mismatched pillows as seat cushions, mason jars filled with candles, a few fresh cut flowers, and maybe a paper lantern or two, and voila; a summer soiree fit for all. Here are a few of my favorite outdoor looks:

1. Carolina classic Hudson chair 2. Peonies - peak season April-June 3. Ball mason jars 4. Penguin classic hardcover books 5. Dover tin bucket 6. damask pillows 7. Marquis Waterford candlesticks 8. burlap roll (craft stores) 9. Anthropologie plate in cloud; Mikasa plate in shimmer vine 10. Craspedia (or "Billy Ball" flowers) 11. Kate Spade June teapot

A Table Setting with a Sweet Surprise

To say I adore this charming table setting at Cape Cod's Chatham Bars Inn would be an understatement. Any gathering in which each guest receives an individual pie is a-okay by me! Simply beautiful.

via Desiree Spinner Events - photos by Bello Photography

ps. $100 Shopbop Gift Card giveaway is going on right here.

Fringe-themed Summer Fiesta

On Saturday it was 80 degrees and gorgeous in LA, definitely not weather one would expect in the middle of winter, even by Southern California standards. The large dose of sun mixed with a day at the beach had me wishing for summer and all of it's outdoor components, which is why I immediately fell in love with this fringe-themed fiesta designed by Ashley Meaders. Swooning.

Oh, sweet Clementine

I'm a teeny.tiny bit jealous of all the winter weather most of you are experiencing this week. While I will never complain about southern California weather, I must admit that deep within me is a wellie-wearing, sweater-crazed fiend just dying to emerge. With that said, I do hope you all are staying safe inside; perhaps cozied up and enjoying a hot cup of coffee or two. I thought I'd brighten things up around here with this fabulously delicious, spring inspired table setting.

[photos by Mary Swenson via]

Party Pretty

photo by Lo Bjurulf

Did you happen to catch the Golden Globe Awards last night? While the show itself is a bit mundane, it's the loveliness of couture strutting across the red carpet that I cannot get enough of. I myself was dressed to 'perfection' in Banana Republic pajamas; fancied up ever-so-slightly with a strand of pearls and a vintage cocktail ring. A sore sight, really. Every year I toss around the idea of throwing a party for one of the shows during awards season, at which time I would most definitely dress up (although a 'pajamas and pearls' theme does sound tempting). A few strands of glitter-tasseled garland, a pink tulle party dress, and the perfect pair of suede sequined booties would certainly be the perfect touch to any such gathering, don't you think?

[Confetti System garland, Sarah Seven dress, Rosie True heels]

Here's to a fabulous week ahead...

A Modern Winter Tablescape

A winter tablescape is one of my most favorite things about the holidays. My Mom was an absolute master with interiors and decorating, and nothing gave her more joy than creating a beautiful table setting. I've grown to love tablescapes myself, but tend to be attracted to simple and modern settings, although I really do love them all. This particular one caught my eye because of its effortless charm and simplicity.

[photos via]

Thanksgiving Tablescape Basics: Using What You Have

Searching 'thanksgiving tablescape' on Google for decoration ideas quickly overwhelms me every year. While the array of meticulously staged photos are beyond gorgeous, I must admit that over-the-top, fancy shmancy tables are not practical for our family most of the time. Some of my favorite pieces to use on a Thanksgiving table are festive, yet simple enough to arrange quickly without cutting into cooking and family time. Best of all? They're inexpensive- or free if you have a park or trail nearby.
Leaves, pine cones, branches, and acorns also make for beautiful table top decorations. The food is the main star anyway, so no need to stress over the decorations!

[photos here]

Sweet Tooth

I'm falling hard for this all-white dessert table by Amy Atlas. I've had such a sweet tooth lately; it's really bad. I'm talkin' coconut macaroons, shortbread cookies, white chocolate covered pretzels, etc, etc, etc. The problem is, we live by this amazing bakery and I can't seem to keep my car from taking me there every few days. But this must stop- I need to practice some self-control!

{Photos Amy Atlas Events}

Are those marshmallows on a stick dipped in white chocolate with sprinkles? Lord help me!

PS. I did a guest post over at Le Musings of Moi yesterday and it was so much fun! Thanks, Summer :)