Going On A Summer Picnic

So, here it is Tuesday and I haven't posted since last Thursday. I didn't intend to take a mini-break, but sometimes life happens, you get busy, you have some fun and you just gotta roll with it, right?

I don't usually post inspiration boards on Tuesday, but I am today because I've had the idea for a summertime picnic floating around for a while now. I first saw the image of the bicycle with picnic basket over on Oh, Hello Friend and knew I wanted to create a board around it.

This summer picnic is great for a warm July afternoon. There's a handmade quilt to lounge on while you sip cool lemonade out of a glass drink dispenser using cool striped straws. The food is simple: Greek salad roll-ups and fruity meringues. There is even a sweet little oilcloth bag to carry any leftovers home.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how well these boards come together. As I started putting things together, this red and green color scheme just sort of developed on its own and all the images I liked amazingly fit right in. I'm so glad the look doesn't come across at all Christmas-y. Instead, it's more like the perfect ripe watermelon -- summery and fresh.

olive rings quilt from Tiptoe Studio; recycled glass beverage dispenser from Target; bicycle picnic from Oh, Hello Friend via Oh So Beautiful Paper; oilcloth lunch bag from Martha Stewart; Greek salad rolls from Sweet Paul; picnic basket from CSN stores via Country Living; strawberry and kiwi meringues from Joy the Baker; gingham cloth napkins from Williams-Sonoma; straws from Kikkerland via Oh Happy Day

Host a Stylish Graduation Party

First, a question. How is it possible that it is already time for Memorial Day weekend? It seems like I was just filling Easter baskets last week!

Now, onto today's inspiration board. Since summer is quickly approaching, that means tons of graduations will start taking place (if they haven't already) between now and the beginning of June. Whether it's kindergarten, high school or college, graduating is major accomplishment that deserves a celebration.

This board shows you how to put together a simple celebration full of personality and sweet treats. I think it is a party you can customize for any age, boy or girl.

• You must have a congratulations banner for a graduation party. This one fits the theme perfectly. The Write Stuff Graduate Banner from Earmark
• Celebrate the graduate's journey with a photo wall that shows off school pictures, photographs of achievements and favorite snapshots. photo garland from Party Perfect
• Tie up baked goods with ribbon in school colors. They can decorate buffet tables and go home as party favors. chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches from My Baking Addiction
• Use gold foil seals to embellish everything from invitations to paper cups. graduation party ribbon decorations from Martha Stewart
• Choose modern, monogrammed stationery as invitations or as a classic gift for the new grad. aqua links stationery from Whitney English
• Graduation cap pops made from chocolate candies make whimsical treats. candy cup caps from Bakerella
  

5 Great Birthday Banner Ideas

Ah, banners. Or garlands. Or streamers. It doesn’t matter what you call them. Hanging up anything with ribbon or string in the name of celebrating is an absolute must-have in my party planning mind. They are such an easy, festive and customizable party decoration. Whether you make them or buy them, they can be as simple or elaborate as you want.

Here’s a look at five great finds from romantic flowers to classic pennant flags.

1. Polkadot Collection cardstock banner from Polkadots & Pirates
2. Customized Papel Picado banner from Mexican Sugar Skull via Snippet & Ink
3. Fabric and pom pom trim banner from Moda Bake Shop
4. Felt pennant banner from Ohdeedoh
5. Flower garland from Sophie Cuvelier via Design Crisis

An Idea For Celebrating Family Birthdays

I think that birthday parties are a lot of fun. Sometimes, however, these carefully planned celebrations leave parents stressed out and kids overwhelmed. Often, the party takes place on a day that fits into busy schedules -- in the case of my daughter, a day that works around the season opener of SEC football -- instead of the person’s actual birthday.

This is where today’s inspiration board comes in. It’s for a special birthday dinner, which is a tradition I’m itching to start, and it ensures everyone in the family gets to celebrate on his or her birthday. I’m not saying no to big parties; those will definitely still happen. I mean simply celebrating the big day with decorations used only for birthday dinners along with a customized menu of favorite foods.

While I created this board for families with children in mind, you can easily make it work for couples, roommates or groups of friends. Just choose a color scheme that's a bit more sophisticated.

• Birthday Banner Make a birthday banner using instructions from Paper Source. Keep this decoration neutral so you can use for every birthday. Celebrations Banner from Paper Source
  
• Paper Pom-Poms Hanging paper pom poms are popular decorations for any party, but they're festive and easy to make yourself. So easy, in fact, you can make them in everyone's favorite color for their birthday dinner. Paper Pom-Poms from Martha Stewart
  
• Gift Wrap Since you're going to wrap gifts anyway, have the paper and tags coordinate with the other decorations. Place them in the center of the dinner table as a centerpiece. Carrot Dot Gift Wrap from Broadway Paper; Flora & Fauna Gift Wrap from Paper Source; Posey Garden Embellishments from Paper Pumpkin
  
• Personalized Plate Dedicate one plate as The Birthday Plate and only use it when someone is celebrating. Madras Pink Dinner Plate from Fine Stationery
  
• Birthday Cake Opt for a homemade or simple store-bought cake for your family dinners, and let the birthday boy or girl choose the flavor. Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting from 3liz4; recipe at Notes from My Food Diary
  

I’ll see about doing this in my family this year. Since my birthday is first up, it might seem suspicious to start the tradition and then immediately pull it all together for myself. What do you think?

A Hunting We Will Go

photo by katrinket

Over the next couple of weeks, there will be a lot of hunting going on...for eggs that is! This Easter tradition is always fun for the kids who get to search for little treasures and the adults who get to enjoy the party.

Use these ideas for a brightly-colored, egg-themed celebration.

easy centerpiece: candle-holder egg tree from BHG
decorative baskets: flowered Easter baskets from Martha Stewart
party favors: pretty wrapped boxes from Rebecca Thuss
crafts for after the hunt: egg animals from Good Housekeeping
polka-dot napkins: chartreuse dots cocktail napkins from Paper Source
pink Easter cupcakes: chocolate cupcakes with blackberry buttercream from janset1 via flickr
invitation: egg basket invitation from Fine Stationery
colorful bunny plates: embossed bunny plates from Plum Party

Put Flowers On The Table

With so many choices in spring tableware, you don't even need an actual bouquet to decorate the table with blooms. But, of course, you'll want one anyway.

Whether brunch, lunch or just desserts, this bit of inspiration has you covered for any spring celebration.

from top left:
Lyda Teapot from Pier 1; Garden Party Damask Table Runner from Target; Hydrangeas and Grape Hyacinths centerpiece from BHG; Flower Plate & Bowl from Pier 1; Floral Mist Cake Stand from fishs eddy; Verdant Acres Mug from Anthropologie; Floral Melamine Appetizer Plate Set from Target

St. Patrick's Day Ideas

Whether you're looking for Irish recipes, crafts for the kiddos or sweet treats to end the day, here are a few ideas to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It's not too late!


Menu Ideas: Irish Stew from Martha Stewart; corned beef and cabbage from allrecipes.com; Irish soda bread from allrecipes.com
Craft Ideas: candy and popcorn centerpiece from JesseKate Designs; St. Pats pins from Family Fun; leprechaun hat vase from BHG
Dessert Ideas: car bomb cupcakes from Smitten Kitchen; shamrock crispy rice treats from No Time for Flashcards; Irish cream chocolate cheesecake from allrecipes.com

A Cocoa And Cupcakes Kind Of Day

photo by striatic

Yesterday was March 1, and it snowed for about six hours at my Alabama home. First, I was obsessed over getting perfect pictures of my adorable little girl making like a snow baby. This did not happen; she was terrified of the snow. My next desire? A hot drink, of course. As I sipped, I thought about how serving simple cups of hot chocolate (or coffee, or tea) is the perfect refreshment for a winter party.

When I started thinking about parties, I started thinking about, what else? Cupcakes. So…I pulled together a mini roundup of cold-weather party inspiration, perfect for a winter birthday, baby shower or an afternoon snowed in with family.

clockwise from top left: mug of hot chocolate from flickr user avlxyz;
chocolate swirl hot chocolate from flickr user macinate;
hot chocolate in snowflake mug from flickr user Egan Snow;
coconut snowball cupcakes from flickr user kristin_a;
snowmen cupcakes from flickr user abakedcreation;
snowflake cupcake from flickr user Cake Girl

How do you spend a snow day?

Red And White Valentine's Table For Two: Right This Way!

photo by John Billings Photography

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I have mixed feelings about it. It seems every year I am a little less enamored with the idea of buying (and receiving) presents or celebrating with a dinner out all in the name of love.

My husband and I love each other every day, he treats me with little gifts all year long and we go out to dinner more than we probably should. We have promised each other no gifts this year, and we have yet to decide if we will celebrate at all.

As much as I am disheartened by the pressures and commercialization brought on by Cupid’s holiday, I am infatuated with anything red. With red being the color of love and all, there is plenty for me to drool over this time of year. The table settings below had me at first click, and I could not resist pulling together a few things to recreate the looks.

It just might be enough to inspire a romantic dinner at home, which is just our style anyway.


TABLE SETTINGS (top)
LOVE table setting from delish.com
table setting with paper lanterns from Rebecca Thuss

OPTIONS FOR YOUR OWN RED-HOT TABLE
polka-dot napkins from Paper Source
red ring dinnerware from Target
candy-filled floral arrangement from Martha Stewart
red garden pindot fabric from jcaroline creative
blooming place card from Martha Stewart
party lantern string lights from Luna Bazaar
red enamel letter from Urban Outfitters

How do you feel about Valentine's Day? How are you going to celebrate?

Easy Super Bowl Party

photo by jayel aheram

The Super Bowl is less than a week away. If you are playing host for the big game, here are some ideas for a simple supper party.


pictured from center left:

• Flavored Popcorn

• Chili in a Biscuit Bowl

• The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Potato Parcels

• Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

• Velveeta Ranch Dip

Invitation: Diagonal stripes the color of grass and leather give this unbiased invitation preppy panache. If you are short on time, you can get the same look with scrapbook paper and three-dimensional embellishments.

Décor: A Super Bowl party is really about the game and the food, but a few decorations helps create a festive and friendly atmosphere. Check these tabletop ideas at Hostess with the Mostess.

Menu: This selection of game worthy foods begs for all-night grazing. Everything can be eaten with one hand leaving the other free for a drink or a spontaneous fist pump.

What is your favorite football snack?