Fresh Starwberry Party

May is the 1st time locally (Middle TN) that you can get fresh produce! And strawberries are one of my favorites! Here's a little inspiration straight from the strawberry fields to have your own Strawberry Party! ... 'Like strawberry wine'

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Enjoy!

Angee

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5 Simple Party Planning Tips!

Your birthday, engagement party, corporate event or kids party is coming up, how exciting! Now what… where do you start?

1. Pick a Theme
Some people really dislike the idea of a theme, but a theme doesn’t necessarily mean 80’s, big hair and leg warmers. You could simply pick a simple color scheme, modern theme, rustic theme and of course actual themes. Choosing a theme will make the process easier because you can incorporate the theme into everything, such as food, drinks, invitation and decorations. Whether it’s very specific – such as a “Welcome to the Jungle” or as general as a favorite color palette, having a theme in mind will help guide your decisions and keep you from getting overwhelmed by too many options!

2. Start Early & Set the Stage
Once you have established a theme, start researching ideas online, such as Pinterest. Create a list of items you would like to purchase (compare prices – you can grab great deals online!). Start ordering right away so you can avoid express shipping costs, as well as have peace of mind that your items will arrive in time for your party. 

You may think this is crazy, but do a “dry run” of your set up. Set up a mock table, with anything you were going to theme it with, and make any adjustments. Although everything may have looked perfect in your head, sometimes, things need some tweaking. Giving you time to make finishing touches will most definitely be helpful on the day of your event. At least you will know exactly how it’s meant to look, and there will be no crazy running around on the day of your party. Imagine how calm you will be the night before the party!

3. Take that shortcut!
If you’re having your party at home, don’t spend hours cooking and cleaning! Instead, prepare simple finger/cocktail food options. A cocktail style event is a great option to keep guests socializing with one another, they can chat and enjoy your canapés! For an even simpler option, you can always hire a caterer to provide the food for your function. Another idea is to order take away from your favorite local place! 

Of course, if you love to cook, then this will be heaven for you! But remember, ask for help! Not necessarily in the kitchen, but perhaps with general set up, or serving, just to take some of the pressure off.

4. Stations Are AMAZING!
Have you ever been to a party where all the food and drinks are placed together in one corner, and it seems the entire room is empty because all the guests are crowding around the food table!? Why not set up stations? Perhaps place various styles of food together split into three areas. A drink set up may include separate beer, wine and cocktail stations. Instead of a range of cocktails, perhaps a “signature cocktail” which again should tie in with your theme! They can be pre-made so guests can grab one and keep walking. It will keep guests moving around, socializing and will stop the traffic jam around the food.

5. Have some you time
Act like the party is beginning half an hour before guests are actually meant to arrive and have some time to yourself. Enjoy your handy work with a glass of wine or a signature cocktail. Take a few deep breaths and just RELAX! Your guests can tell if you are frazzled or stressed, and an important factor in hosting a party is being charming and welcoming. Having 15 minutes to half an hour of you time will most definitely calm your nerves.

A Pair of Pears have some really great Party Planning FREE printables to help keep you on track!

Cheers!
Angee 

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Happy Holidays - DIY Greeetings Party

Happy Holiday!  It’s been awhile, and I’ve missed you. Hello to all subscribers; welcome to the party! I know you’re looking for a good excuse to hunker down with your girlfriends, and I ’ve got one–it’s the holidays, after all. We all have too many errands to do this time of year, so why not get one done together? 

This season, throw a Holiday Greetings party for your closest pals. Invite everyone to your place and provide a comfortable space for them to address and sign their Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa cards. It’s a great way to make a tedious task more fun and catch up with your girlfriends at the same time. You can easily throw this party together and have it this week, leaving you plenty of time to mail those cards out.



Setting and Setup
This is an easy party to set up. You’ll want to make sure everyone has enough tabletop space to comfortably write their cards. Holiday decorations will help put everyone in a festive mood, so try to get that done ahead of time. Holiday music is a must–especially if you can come up with something a little different. Try the Great Women of Christmas CD for some classic holiday cheer by some powerful women. A Very Special Christmas Vol. 1 is classic pop fun, and A Charlie Brown Christmas brings a moody instrumental flair to your party. But since holiday music selections are endless, and run the gamut from celtic to swing to punk, get what you and your friends like. Don’t forget to light a fire in the fireplace, or some candles to add a holiday glow. Simmer a pot of cinnamon sticks on the stove for a decidedly welcoming atmosphere.

Invitations
You’ll want to make sure your invitation gets noticed in the flurry of holiday mail. So instead of a typical holiday invitation, do something a little different. Buy small holiday memo pads at the dollar store, and write the invitation details on the first page. Place the pad in an envelope and mail for a invitation that comes in handy too.  Or, find the girliest pink invitation you can and send that–it will really stand out among the reds, greens, silvers and blues. On the invitation, remind your girlfriends to bring their invitations, address book, stamps, address labels, and a writing instrument. (If you are really last-minute, just call or use Evite.)

Food and Drink
Whatever you serve, make sure you have some warm offerings to match the warm feelings of the season. A simple supper of soup and bread would be divine. Or, ask each girlfriend to bring a warm appetizer. Hot chocolate (spiked with peppermint schnapps, if desired) or apple cider, mulled wine, or coffee drinks are all apropros. This recipe for a warm-cider-based Indian Summer sounds intriguing and easy. You may want ask your girlfriends to keep food and drink off the table you are using to write invites (to prevent staining someone’s holiday greeting), but that’s up to you.

Making Connections
As you work on your cards, you’ll no doubt be catching up on all the latest girlfriend news. But during conversation lulls, try some of these conversation starters having to do with holiday cards and traditions–or make up some of your own. You can even write the questions on cards or slips of paper and take turns drawing them from a hat. You’ll learn some interesting tidbits about your gal pals!

• Who has been on your holiday card list the longest?
• Who lives the farthest away on your list?
• When did you first start sending your own holiday cards?
• How do you display holiday cards?
• What is your favorite holiday song?
• What is your most cherished holiday decoration?
• What is your favorite holiday tradition?
• What do you hate about the holidays?
• What is your most memorable holiday gift?
• Do you re-use gift bags? Wrapping paper?

Party Favors 
The "write" favor for this party would be a special pen. Purchase a nice selection at a party supply or card store, choosing either a holiday theme or a feminine one.  Let your guests pick out one to use at the party (if desired) and take home. 

There-wasn’t that simple? You got your cards done and had fun. What your girlfriends will remember is not how clean your house was, or how sophisticated your appetizers were, but that you gave them a warm welcome and an opportunity to enjoy each other, away from the pressures of the holiday season.

I  hope you have a December full of peace, joy and friendship.

Cheers!
Angee

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Beaujolais Nouveau Party, Ooh la la!

Photo via Google Image Search

Are you looking for an excuse to get together with your pals this week? Oui, oui! Look no further because Beaujolais Nouveau Day is upon us! Invite the gals over for an inexpensive, wine-themed girl’s night with a little French flair. Ooh la la!

Photo via Georges Duboeuf

The cause of much revelry in France and among Francophiles in other countries, Beaujolais Nouveau wines are traditionally released the third Thursday of November. (This year, November 21. 2013) They are the first wines out of harvest each year and are drunk to celebrate life and hard work. They’re also a perfect accompaniment for a girlfriend get-together—fresh, cheap, fruity and fun to drink. The informal, frivolous spirit surrounding their release around the world is a great excuse to get the girls together and celebrate!

If you’d like more background on Beaujolais Nouveau, there’s a nice little history from the IntoWine website here.

Setting and setup

For Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2013, the timing is a bit last-minute, so clean up the kitchen and the party room and be done with it. Adding twinkle lights or plenty of candles is always a festive touch. You will, of course, need to be outfitted with wine glasses and a corkscrew. Chill the wine beforehand; because Beaujolais Nouveau is served chilled–half an hour in the fridge is perfect according to the Georges DuBeoef website.

Invitations

Evite is the speediest way to create an electronic or mobile-friendly invite.  It has lots of fun wine design and girl’s night out options.  It even lets you search flickr or Google image search for cool photos (I searched “beaujolais nouveau” and came up with many good choices) or insert a photo of your own.  

Photo via Google Image Search

Run out on Thursday and buy some Beaujolais Nouveau, (Bojo Nouveau wines can not be purchased before the 3rd Thursday of November, so you will have to buy them the day of!) and chill it down. Your local wine merchant should be able to help you find some. Georges DuBeouf is a commonly seen brand in the U.S., with a price average of $10.00 per bottle. The company even offers Beaujolais Nouveau party planning tips and a calculator to help you figure out how much wine to buy. There are other brands too, so be adventurous and try a few. Maybe you will even want to have a mini tasting with your gal pals. The Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau, pictured at right is one of my favorites. I would describe it as light and juicy and perfect for entertaining. It is priced around $12 – $13 per bottle.

Serve a selection of French cheeses to try with your Beaujolais Nouveau. Your wine merchant, local TraderJoes or Whole Foods should be able to help you select some within your budget. If you’d like to explore further, there’s an About.com article about pairing wine and cheese here. Slice up a baguette, arrange on a cheese board or pretty serving tray, and voila!

You could also serve some tapas-style appetizers if you are inclined to spend just a bit more time in the kitchen. 

Connecting Activities

-Toast your girlfriends with this special girlfriend salute:

A Toast to our Girlfriends

Here’s to our girlfriends

They keep us strong

They make us laugh the whole night long

They give us shoulders to cry on

And shoes to try on

They see our true selves

Even when we look like hell

So raise a glass to our female friends

May the fun we share never end!

• It would be fun to share some Wine and/or French trivia, learn some French phrases, or watch some French films during your Bojo Day soiree.
• You can also print this ‘What Kind of Wine areYou?’ quiz for a fun diversion.
• Or, keep the girls occupied making their own beaded wine charms. You’ll find an awesome how-to for “Ridiculously Easy” beaded wine charms on NotMartha.

Favors

If you don’t make your own wine charms at the party, buy some as favors to give your friends. Pretty wine charms are a lovely and useful favor, and you can find them at many discount stores or check out Etsy.com for lots of super cute options.

If nothing else, buy some bottles of Bojo Nouveau this Thursday, Friday or Saturday, and invite some friends over to share a little girlfriend spirit. It’s such an easy excuse for a girlfriend get-together.

Do you have some wine-related girls night ideas to share? I would love to hear them, please leave them below. 

Merci beaucoup!

Angee

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Got Glitter? 50 DIY Projects That Sparkle!

Got glitter? Or should I ask- Got enough glitter? I don’t think so. And if you know me, you know that having glitter isn’t enough…YOU HAVE TO USE IT!

I’m a sucker for glitter.  It just makes everything so much prettier!

There’s so much glitter goodness out there that it would be selfish of me not to share some glitter inspiration. Here are 50 DIY projects that are sure to add a bit of sparkle to your desk, outfit, party, and home.

Glitter Party Decor (clockwise from the top left)

1. Glitter Party Hat: Hats off to these easy colorful party hat! (via Studio DIY)
2. Glitter Table Setting: Using temporary card tables at your next dinner party or holiday event, spruce them up with gold posterboard instead of a table cloth. (via Elizabeth Ann Designs)
3. Glitter Cake: Fine, this one is more an image for cooking inspiration, but it’s still an impressive use of glitter, the edible kind. (via Polkadots)
4. Glittered Wooden Flatware: Such a cute idea for a big party or outdoor picnic! You could even use nail polish with a fast-dry coat if you’re working on a tight timeline. (via Oh Happy Day)
5. Glitter Disco Lantern: A paper lantern transformed into a disco ball? Love it. (via Oh Happy Day)
6. Blush + Gold Backdrop: For a glittery backdrop in your DIY photo booth, add strands of sequins and glittered circles in front of a romantic blush fabric. (via Style Me Pretty)

 Glitter Accents

7. Glitter Watch: Got an old watch band from middle school that could use an update? Glitter it up! (via Adventures in Fashion)
8. Glitter Camera Strap: Speaking of boring straps for useful items, take your camera strap to the next level by getting glitter involved. (via Funkytime)
9. Tubular Statement Necklaces: For this pile of gorgeous necklaces, Brit + Co took a cue from the ladies at Pepper Cotton and filled plastic tubing with glitter, sprinkles, and beads, oh my! 
10. Gold Glitter Clutch: Looking to customize a clutch? Nothing says shiny chic like a bit of gold glitter. (I Am Style-ish)
11. Glitter Bobby Pins: Everyone’s got a pile of bobby pins on their dresser or nightstand. Breathe some new sparkly life into them by adding all sorts of shapes. (via Giant Dwarf on Etsy)
12. Glitter Heart Pins: On the same note, a great stocking stuffer or Valentine’s gift for your girls would be these sweet heart pins. (via Life and Art of Andrea Rodgers)
13. Glitter Shades: Glitter nail polish plus your dollar-store Wayfarer wannabes? Done. (via Brit + Co.)

Glitter Holiday

14. Glitter Pine Cones: Pine cones get a serious makeover with help from gold paint and glitter tips. Wait… frosted tips? (via The Garden Gates)
15. Acorn Ornaments: Acornaments? So cute. (via Curious and Catcat)
16. Glitter Wrap: Grab a roll of craft paper, a few brown boxes, and get after it with glitter and glue. (via Brit + Co.)
17. Glitter Ornaments: For a chic Christmas look, add a bit of gold glitter to clear ornaments. It’s just the right amount of crafty and classy. (via Henry Happened)
18. Glitter Stickers: Similar to the glitter stickers in our recent wrapping tutorial, these circular sparklies add a touch of loveliness to any gift. (via Ambrosia Creative)
19. Glitter Christmas Lights: Totally in love with these glittery Christmas lights! (via Lovelies in my Life)

 

Glitter Cocktail Cart

20. Glitter Glassware: Nothing lifts one’s spirits while drinking spirits like a glitter-dipped wine glass. (via Inspire, Design, & Create)
21. Gold Star Glasses: Such a fun way to spruce up a set of inexpensive glasses. (via Sugar & Cloth)
22. Glitter Hearts: Add a bit of love to your  drinks with glittery heart swizzle sticks. (via Pinterest)
23. Glitter Champagne Flutes: Cheers. (Something Turquoise)
24. Glitter Dot Swizzle Sticks: So cute! (via The Sweetest Occasion)
25. Glitter Champagne Bottle: Sparkly… sparkly? Win. (via Style Me Pretty)

Glitter Your Home

26. Striped Glitter Votives: Grab the painter’s tape and glitter paint, and get stripey with it. (via Skruben)
27. Glitter Gardening Tools: Brighten up weekly chores by glittering the handles of your mops, brooms, and gardening tools. (via Brit + Co.)
28. Glitter Votives: Give your votives a touch of King Midas. (via 100 Layer Cake)
29. Glitter Vases: Paint the inside or the outside of your vases with glitter for a new look. (via The Sweetest Occasion)
30. Ombre Glitter Seashells: Recent beach vacation? Glam up all those beachy collectibles. (via Martha Stewart)
31. Glitter Reindeer: This wall art is so much simpler than it looks! Simply print out a shape or silhouette you like, cut out, cover with glitter, and glue to a piece of cardstock or even canvas. (via Daisy Dreaming)
32. Glitter Chevron Canvas: Our old friend Chevron! You could also do this with sparkly duct tape.
33. Gold-Dipped Feathers: Boho chic with a tinge of glamour. Love it. (via Ryan, Michelle, and Ellie Mae)

Glitter Style

34. Glitter Heels: Add some sparkle to your step! (via Restyle.Restore.Rejoice)
35. Glitter Button-Down Shirts: A great way to add a little zing to an old button down is to glitter the cuffs, collars, or button seams. (via The Zoe Report)
36. Glitter Oxfords: Glitter stripes and trim are a simple and quick way to jazz up a pair of boring old oxfords. (via Brit + Co.)
37. Glitter Toms: While we love the shiny varieties of Tom’s already out there, who can resist a vibrant DIY? (via Lil Blue Boo)
38. Glitter Tights: I definitely have to try these to believe their awesomeness – but they look great! (via Moustachic)
39. Glitter Sweatshirt: For cozying up over the holidays, stay fancy while you get comfy. (via Glitter and Grace)
 

Glitter Your Desk

40. Glitter iPhone Case: If you’re bored of your old iPhone case, go for the glitter. (via Desire and Inspire)
41. Glittered Deer: Need a friendly face on your desk? Or some glittery fauna? (via Seni with Love)
42. Glitter Thumbtacks: Love this move for a bulletin board, especially for display holiday cards and photo booth prints. (via Lovely Indeed)
43. Glitter Mousepads: That mouse of yours is essential. Pimp out his pad, MTV cribs-style. (via Brit + Co.)
44. Glitter Magnets: Another option for displaying cards, photos, and wedding invitations on your fridge. (via Pugly Pixel)

Glitter Garlands

45. Glitter Circle Garland: Punch out a bunch of circles out of glitter paper and sew together. Quick and easy! (via Honey and Fitz)
46. Glitter Letter Banner: Print and cut letters out to string your favorite words together on your wall. (via Creature Comforts)
47. Gold Garland: So. Much. Glitter! (via Glitter and Grain)
48. Glitter Is For Life: Hear, hear! (via Supermarket Sarah)
49. Scalloped Party Garland: Like the circles but need a different shape? Fold ‘em in half and create a scalloped border. (via Wine Country Weddings)
50. Lyrics Banner: And finally, words to live by. Let Your (Glittery) Heart Be Light! (via Katie’s Pencil Box)

Need more SPARKLE? Check out my Pinterest board Keep Calm & Sparkle for lots of glittery fun, DIY projects and much more!

What are your favorite glitter DIY projects? Talk to us in the comments below.

Cheers!
Angee 


 

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