{birthday inspiration: 29th birthday toga party}

Every year I go back on forth on whether I want something low key or something bigger for our birthday party (Chris and my birthdays are three days apart so we have always done a joint party).  You can see our 26th birthday dinner here and here, 27th birthday cocktail party here & a more intimate dinner we did for our 28th here.   This year we turn 29 and I decided to use that as the perfect excuse to do something a little cheesy (it is the last year of our 20s after all!) - we decided to throw a toga party at our new place in a few weeks to celebrate!  Complete with flower crowns and gold laurel wreaths, lots of wine and champagne (plus our party staple whiskey punch!) and of course a photobooth.  Toga attire is strictly required from guests and I can't wait to see how people deal with that!  Here's a little inspiration board I put together for the evening:

{moroccan dinner party inspiration}

Ever since we returned home from our trip to Marrakech, I have been dreaming about throwing a colorful party inspired by our time there.  Our 5 days in Morocco had such a magical feeling that only comes from being in a place that is so foreign and filled with exotic discoveries at every turn.  I hope I never forget the feeling of wandering through the maze of the souks taking in all the gorgeous trinkets or the intriguing all night dinners in ancient Riads served with the unparalleled hospitality of the region.  With the weather finally warming up I figured the coming weeks would be the perfect time to host a little outdoor dinner party starting at sunset with a decidedly Moroccan theme complete with plenty of romantic lanterns, vibrant colors and a flavorful Mediterranean menu.  Here's the inspiration board I put together for the evening:

I have a few go-to playlists that I use when we have guests over for dinner (as well as a couple for bigger parties or special trips), but I've been needing to create a refreshed version and this dinner party gave me the perfect excuse to mix some classic favorites with some more interesting moroccan inspired tracks.

You can play it directly from the playlist below or subscribe to it right here!

                                     

I can't wait to reveal some of the decor I have been hunting down and share the entire dinner party including the delicious menu with you soon!

Find what speaks to you.

Compensation was provided by Pier 1 via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pier 1.

{party inspiration: bocce + bro-sé}

One day back when we were in Paris, we were sitting around with a few friends of ours and one of our male friends jokingly referring to his glass of rosé wine as "bro-sé" in an attempt to make the pink liquid seem more manly.  We all thought this was hilarious and joked around about for a little bit until it occurred to me that this idea of "bro-sé" could make for a really fun party in the summer.  Since alliteration makes everything sounds better, I thought a little outdoor get together of bocce + brosé would be the perfect party to throw once the weather warms up.  Similar to the cocktails + croquet party inspiration from here this party would be a simple set up of outdoor games, small fresh bites and lots of rosé (this bottle is one of my all time favorites and you can find it at Whole Foods!)

  Ask all your guy friends to round up their most masculine bottle of rosé to share and you'll whip up a batch of these or these for guests to munch on.  Since you will be outdoors, keep the decor simple with colorful blankets and a handful of signs like this one for the game area.  Even though it's a simple outdoor party, I would still want to don a glamorous summer dress like this one!  Also this image would absolutely have to be used somewhere in relation to the party- perhaps on the invite?

{party inspiration: cocktails & croquet}

Lately I have been daydreaming of warmer weather and all the fun outdoor activities it brings with it.  Roaming along the historic Paris streets and soaking in all the beaux arts details is truly inspiring, but it has also made me long for the bright pops of color more present in America.   After coming across a designer croquet set in a small boutique, I though what could be a more perfect party than throwing a "cocktails & croquet" themed get-together on a sunny spring afternoon!?!  I have a mild obsession with croquet (and cocktails for that matter!), forcing our friends into a game every time we are out in Palm Springs plus we even had a croquet set up during cocktail hour at our wedding!

Throwing a "cocktails & croquet" party would be as simple as whipping up a few batches of cocktails, purchasing a fun croquet set and heading to your local park (unless you are lucky enough to have a fabulous backyard!).   This email invite from Paperless Post would be perfect especially with a note asking guests to dress in "croquet whites" as well as requesting they bring along an easy snack dish to take some of the work off the hosts!  I would also pick up some striped napkins and tablecloths, this trophy vase for table decor, and of course a pack of lawn flamingos!  

Here's a little inspiration board I put together for this event and hopefully I can make it a reality on a sunny weekend once we return from Europe!

{party inspiration: love hangover brunch}

Valentine's conveniently falls on a Friday this year which is great for those brave enough to venture out into the battlefield of restaurant reservations battles and fixed price menus, but it also allows the opportunity for a fun day after party on Saturday!!  While we usually celebrate Valentine's with an intimate home-cooked dinner, I have always thought it would be fun to host a big Valentine's party for all our friends.  If we were home I would definitely be throwing a boozy day after brunch complete with red/pink/purple decor, brightly colored flowers, an overflowing bloody mary bar, and a DIY waffle bar.  This party would also be the perfect time to make two of my party wishlist items a reality: getting to wear the dream outfit of a glam sequin skirt/white t-shirt and snacking on a cake stand tower of delicious donuts!

Check back next week for a little Valentine's gift guide or browse the one from last year here!

{party inspiration: winter blues indoor campout}

The holidays are over and besides Valentine's day next month there doesn't seem to be much to celebrate other than cold winter weather (unless you are in California where it is currently 80 degrees!).  Even though we are lucky to be missing the worst part of Chicago winter while living in Paris, the weather here is still chilly and a bit rainy on most days which prevents us from having any fabulous Parisian picnics under the Eiffel Tower.  So why not host a cozy party to bring the outdoors in and combat the inevitable winter blues with a little indoor campout complete with spiked hot chocolate and tasty s'mores!?!?  All you need to do is move your furniture back, toss out a few warm blankets, light a fire (or create a fake one!) and put out all the fixings for your guests to whip up a warm glass of hot chocolate (with adult mix-ins of course!).   The best part is this party works just as well for both a larger party as it does for a intimate surprise date night!

{party inspiration: nye}

Right now most people are centered on gift shopping, holiday parties and traveling home for Christmas, but you can't forget about planning a little New Year's Eve party or it will sneak right up on you while you are still enjoying your new Christmas presents!  Using Target's new celebration glassware form Threshold as inspiration, I created this NYE party inspiration using a muted palette of classic white and gold mixed with dove grey and a dusty vintage peach/rose.  For NYE last year, we went crazy with the color scheme (see photos from that party here and the inspiration here) so this time around I wanted to try a complete 180!  Be sure to check back tomorrow as I have some very exciting news about where I will be spending this NYE! :)

Cheers! Hi Ball glasses  |  Cheers! Old Fashioned Glasses  |  Confetti Cocktail Shaker  |  Classic Champagne Flute

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The

opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of 

the opinions or positions of Target.

{party inspiration: VS fashion show viewing party}

For years now I have always loved watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion show on TV every holiday season- it's just the epitome of girly silliness plus the musical acts in the past shows have only gotten better and better! Back when we were living in LA, some of my girlfriends and I got together to have a little viewing party for the fashion show with a "sweatpants & jewelry" theme showing up in our comfiest yoga pants, but wearing layers of our most fun jewelry.

In honor of the VS Fashion show taking place this evening and airing in a few weeks, I thought I would put together a little party inspiration board for this exact theme as I am hoping to host this party again this year.  So grab your ladies together for a fun girly night in their chic-est sweats dripping in their most over-the-top baubles!

PS- this post is not sponsored by Victoria's Secret- I really am just that obsessed with watching their fashion show every year! :)

{party inspiration: a grilled cheese soiree}

You might have seen on Instagram that last Sunday night we hosted a little grilled cheese soiree at our place and it might just be my new favorite party theme.  We purchased a bunch of bread and butter then asked guests to B.Y.O.C. - bring their own cheese and desired toppings.  Of course there ended up being a little friendly competition among guests to make the best grilled cheese combination- some of the front runners included jalapeño pesto pear with gruyere, baked beans with cheddar, and a surprising combo of american singles with hot dogs!  This is such an easy inexpensive last minute party idea that requires minimal set up and it gets guests involved!

{bachelorette party supplies}

Summer means wedding season which is great and all, but the really nice part about wedding season is the cooresponding bachelorette party season!!!  I love a good excuse to throw a fun girly party for a night out filled with champagne and confetti.  My one complaint with bachelorette parties is the obnoxious decor- can we all just agree once and for all to leave the penis crowns and pink zebra striped decorations at the tacky party store where they belong?  Here's a little round up of some fun alternatives for any bachelorette parties in your future:

For the bride:  No need to over-do it, but the bride to be HAS to wear a little something.  This is not negotiable.  When else in her life can she parade drunkenly around in a wedding veil.  Simply inform your bride-to-be friend that this is happening and buy her a simple veil.  And grab the adorable ring sunglasses to go with it!

Groupwear: In addition to the penis crowns, please also leave the matching rhinestone tank tops at home.  You are all better than that and your wardrobes deserve more.  That doesn't mean the ladies shouldn't get the chance to wear a coordinating accessory because like the bride's outfit- when else do you get to parade around with your friends wearing the same cute flair?!?  Colorful flower crowns (diy tutorial here) or bow headbands (see them in action here) make a nice alternative.  Personally I love the chiffon or tulle pouf for the ladies to wear, but I am biased since that's what we did for my bachelorette- see an easy tutorial for those here.   You can't go wrong with a simple pair of earrings like these or festive Lolita sunglasses.

Decor:  If you can just recreate the decor from this amazing 30th birthday party then you will be all set!!! Throw in a pink + gold tassel garland from The Flair Exchange to fancy up your hotel room and add a cute fringed heart on the wall- perfect for photo ops!

Activities:  Since most guests will expect a game, why not make it enjoyable for everyone and have a little blindfolded champagne tasting contest.  Buy a few different bottles of champagne- have all the girls blindly taste them and see if they can guess which is which! Don't forget to pick up a cute blindfold!

Favors:  Whether it is the bride to be or the main party planner who buys some favors for the guests, it is always fun to have a little something to thank everyone for coming.   Load up a cute tote bag with custom cocktail bottles, nail polish and other fun items- see some more ideas what to put in these bags here. 

Special Extras:  These are just some fun items to bring along for extra credit- girl's night table topics would make for a fun late night activity, custom name krazy straws would be perfect for guests to keep track of their drink and of course a secret stash of confetti never hurts!

{party inspiration: craft beer tasting party}

Girly party themes are so to come up with (sequins anyone?), but thinking of a fun party theme that is also masculine is a real challenge.  I decided to put a little party inspiration board for a craft beer tasting party I thought up after seeing these great (and affordable!) beer tasting sets at Target.  If anyone has any great masculine party theme ideas out there, I would LOVE to hear them!

{kentucky derby party inspiration}

With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to put together a little party inspiration for in home viewing party.  I have never actually hosted (or even watched) the Kentucky Derby, but I know it would be an easy and festive little party to throw together.  All you would really need is a few mint juleps and tea sandwiches plus requiring ladies to wear fabulous hats and gents to don a bow tie.  Throw in a few grass green party decorations as well as maybe these awesome party favors and you are ready to go!

{bliss weddings & events' KIKI party}

Today over on the Bliss Wedding blog, we are finally sharing the photos from the Kiki party they threw to welcome their newly opened Bliss Studio & office space!  Check out the inspiration board I put together for their event below as well as a few snapshots and head over to the Bliss Blog to see more!!!

This is one of the best party themes I have seen in a long time! Inspired by the Scissor Sisters song "Let's Have a Kiki" (go enjoy that gem right here). A kiki party would be perfect theme to use for a bachelorette party theme or a milestone birthday!

{find out all the details on the kiki kiss mirror later this week on the bliss blog}

More shots from this fabulous party theme right over here.

{all images via Studio This Is, Inspiration board by Mint Love Social Club}

{oscars viewing party inspiration}

I absolutely love awards season!!! (I am practically counting the minutes til the Golden Globes this Sunday!)

This morning the nominations for this year's Academy Awards were released so I thought I would share a little Oscars party inspiration I put together for the viewing party we are planning on holding next month!  Getting together with friends to watch the ceremony (and red carpet!) is a great excuse wear some sequins, drink champagne and have a little friendly competition with personal Oscar ballots! Hopefully I'll do better than last year- see that epic fail right here.

{new years eve dinner party inspiration}

This New Year's Eve, Chris' parents offered up their house in Huntington Beach for us to host a dinner party at while they are out celebrating the New Year in Palm Springs. Rather than have a stressful night out on the town, we quickly jumped at the chance to have a dressed up evening in alongside our closest friends.  Here's a little inspiration board I put together for the night and Ill be sure to share photos later this week.

Happy New Year!

{the parties of 2012}

Wow! 2012 was a whirlwind year that seemed to fly by!  Even though it felt like everything was moving at double speed, we got the chance to throw some amazing celebrations this year including one really big one- our wedding!  Here's a little recap of all my favorite parties from 2012 and based on these fabulous events, I cannot even wait to see what 2013 holds for us:

 {the "breakfast for dinner" themed party we threw for our good friend Kay- complete with a pancake stack cake! Definitely one of my favorite party themes since it was super easy to execute and who doesnt love breakfast food in the evening?!?!}

 {a garlic centric dinner party we threw in our new Chicago dining room.  This was first dinner party we had in our new place and I loved creating a menu around one ingredient}

 {a relaxed dinner party menu- one of the only posts where I featured a complete menu 

along with wine pairings!}

 {a colorful and fun engagement party some of my friends and I threw for our newly engaged pals,
Jeff & Katie.  My favorite part of this party was the DIY slider bar!}

 {my bridal shower- I definitely had absolutely nothing to do with the planning and execution of this party. All of the credit for this beautiful event goes to my bridesmaids, mom and mother -in-law.  I just loved this party so much, I had to include it!}

 {our "sequins & bow ties" themed going away party! This theme is hands down the best one I have ever thought of- I wouldnt mind if this was the theme for every single party going forward.}

 {breaking tradition for our birthdays this year, we opted to throw a cocktail party rather than the 20 person sit down dinner we usually choose to host- this was also the very first big party we threw in our new Chicago place, but surely not the last}

{a "champagne & desserts" themed party I threw for my good friend's 26th birthday party- another theme that I wouldn't mind using for many future parties!}

And of course- the best party of this year for us was our wedding in Palm Springs last April:

{champagne & desserts party inspiration}

Moving to Chicago was and still is a big transition for me, but one thing that makes the whole situation a million times easier is that we were lucky to move here along with two of our best friends, Josh & Heather,  who happened to get into the same MBA program as Chris!  Heather's birthday is coming up in a few weeks and being that she is one of the girliest girls that I know, I thought a champagne and desserts themed ladies night would be the perfect way to celebrate.  

Here's a little inspiration board I put together for the upcoming fete:

More details from the party to follow- including some yummy champagne cocktail recipes!

{engagement party: jeff+ katie}

{the newly engaged couple- get Katie's cute dress here!}

Jeff and Katie are some of our closest friends and as soon as they got engaged, a few of their close friends along with Chris and I started brainstorming ideas for an engagement party.  Jeff and Katie are a very fun and light-hearted couple.  They love to have a good time and we knew they would want their engagement party to have a relaxed and fun vibe.  After Kay and I choose some general inspiration, we went to work on all the little details for their celebration while Chris worked out the food and drink.

 {floral arrangements by Chelsea of Hello Gem}

 {paper drink flags for the whiskey punch}

 {the drink set up for the evening in addition to the normal wine and beer selections was centered around champagne and a big batch of Gold Rush Whiskey Punch which was based off of this cocktail recipe}

 {to keep with the fun vibe of the party, we created a DIY slider bar for the guests to snack on throughout the evening. We hired Stephanie Ha to cook up sliders and veggie sliders to be garnished by the guests from an array of different toppings and garnishes.}

{We created the large slider bar menu with some Jeff & Katie inspired menu suggestions such as "The Deloitte Burger" named for the work place the two met during a college internship. Those who needed a little inspiration for their burger could reference the suggestions on the board.  Some of the favorite toppings of the night turned out to be (unsurprisingly) the bacon, truffle aioli, and sauteed mushrooms.}

 {my slider topped with avocado & truffle aioli for the win}

{dessert table set up adorned with festive confetti system}

 {how adorable are the cookies on the left provided by the bride-to-be's mother!?! 

snickerdoodle cupcakes on the right were made following this recipe.}

 {by far the most fun part of this party was the temporary tattoo set up!  Since both Jeff & Katie's last names start with a C, I thought it would be hilarious to design a little play on the classic Chanel logo along with their upcoming wedding month to be used as a temporary tattoo for guests to indulge in.  Kay & I were able to print these directly onto temporary tattoo paper and then cut them out for the guests to apply.}

{a few of the guests showing off their temp tats!}

I absolutely loved this party- engagement parties are quickly becoming my new favorite reason for celebration.  I cannot wait for Jeff & Katie's big day next year and this party was a fabulous way to kick off the array of wedding related activities that are to come in the next year. 

{sequins & bow ties party recap}

The weekend before last, we hosted our "sequins & bow ties" themed going away party.  I absolutely loved this theme from the very beginning and was so excited to see what our friends would wear.  Who doesnt want an excuse to break out some sequins?!?!  We started this party later in the evening and served all our favorite party snacks like our burnt habanero crema salsa and sausage bites (both of which are always picked clean by the night's end) along with some new additions like a gourmet popcorn spread.  For drinks, we kept it simple with everyone's favorite whiskey punch recipe and various champagne cocktail supplies along with the usual selections of wine and beer.

In lieu of a photobooth, we picked up 10 packs of Fuji Instax film and let all of guests capture the night as well as display the shots on our kitchen chalkboard.  Nothing can really replace a photobooth in my heart, but this set up came really close especially since guests could check out all the snapshots up on the board as the night progressed.

Although I did not take as many photos as I normally do since I was trying to spend time saying our goodbyes, I was able to capture some of the little details from the party including all the party food and decor to share with you along with some instagram shots near the bottom...

{champagne cocktail supplies}

{glitzy bar set up}

{simple snacks sprinkled around the loft}

{all the savory party staples: burnt habanero crema, bacon wrapped dates & sausage bites}

{gourment popcorn bar including parmesan seaweed popcorn, funfetti popcorn & sriracha

 lime popcorn (the hands down favorite of the evening)}

{red velvet whoopie pies- same ones we served at our housewarming party for the loft so it seemed fitting to pick them up for our going away bash}

{so much sparkle!}

{some of the guests' instagram shots}

{all the instax shots from the evening}

{easy and inexpensive decor for the deck: alternating metallic gold and white fringe drape}

This party was an amazing send off and a great way to get in some quality time with our closest friends while forcing them to dress up!  We are truly lucky to have had the new and old friends we were surrounded with in our 4 years in LA and I can't wait to see what Chicago holds for us!