A Baby Shower for Twins Part 1: The Inspiration

I think these would be wonderful inspiration for a twin baby shower! Are these not the cutest pillows you have ever seen? Find them at Modern Dose. More Twin Baby Shower inspiration to come!

I Heart Ribbon

I dare you to not find the ribbon you are looking for!! Ribbon can be the inspiration behind many events and I can't imagine and event without it!! The Ribbon Jar is the place to go for hard to find ribbon. How cute is the packaging too? Love it!

New Parties at Social Couture

Social Couture has added some new parties to their fabulous site! Pictured above is the Spring Fling Package ($170). I love the bright fun color combinations, it really gets you in the festive mood. How cute are those dress place card holders? They have also added the super cute Vintage Baby Shower!($110) The color scheme is the always sweet, baby blue and chocolate. Want to impress your guests but don't have the time to plan every detail? Social Couture is for you!

Picture: Social Couture Table Talk

Happy Hour: Chile Raspberry Martini

This fabulous cocktail recipe comes from the Absinthe restaurant in Boca Raton via Cocktail Atlas.

Chile Raspberry Martini
1½ oz. raspberry vodka
¼ oz. Cointreau
1½ oz. fresh lime sour
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 thin slice Serrano chile pepper, gently flattened
Shake all liquid ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with the slice of chile and a cherry.

Photo: Cocktail Atlas

Happy Hour: Hip Sips

Hip Sips by Lucy Brennan, is my go-to book when I'm looking for a chic signature cocktail for an event. Lucy Brennan is the owner of Mint and 820, a Portland, Oregon restaurant and adjacent bar. If you happen to be in the Portland area, you can learn the tricks of the trade by taking one of Lucy's cocktail classes at Mint. Each class features three of her signature cocktails and a cheese platter for nibbling on.($75 per person) Cheers!!

Design Inspiration: Wall Graphics?

I am diggin' these wall graphics from NotNeutral as decor for my next baby shower or bite-size event.

So many options, I'm just going to have to make a list:

• Decorate the wall as a background for pictures (guests can take home, or you can add your thank you notes after the party).
• Apply them down the center of the table as a table runner
• Use them to decorate the back's of the chairs(numbers, animals)
• Apply to cylinder vases as a centerpiece

Since they just peel right off, the mom-to-be can use them to decorate the nursery or the child's bathroom. It will be a great memory of the shower or birthday!

Pictures: NotNeutral

Happy Earth Day!

How cute are these organic cotton tote bags from RockScissorPaper? The best part? They are 25% off TODAY ONLY!! I'm definitely checking out that "Shine Brightly" tote! So cute for taking to the store, the market, or mall. These would also be great gift bags for bridesmaids, out-of-town wedding guests, or as a hostess gift filled with gourmet goodies! I love the color combinations! They also have fabulous custom stationary, gift wrap, and invitations! Check out their store!

Pictures: RockScissorPaper

Bring on the Capes and Ice Cream! It's a Superhero Birthday Party!

Here's the decor details from the Swanky Tables "Superhero Birthday Party":

• Superhero cape for the Birthday Boy from Etsy store, BabyPop
• Goody bags with custom labels, Avery 8164, for the candy station
• Yummy spider web cupcakes made by the hostess on French Bull Dots Cake Platters, Set of 2 (the hostess also made 1 dinner for the kids and 1 for the adults. She is a fabulous chef!)
• Hanging over the main table from the chandelier were action figures encased in CB2's squirly hanging candle holders
  
• Candy Station: Red, Yellow, and Blue Candy, Krazy Straws, Ring Pops, and Neon Light Bracelets
• The Birthday Boy in his Spiderman costume with his best 4 year old grin! Superhero Plate by French Bull, Red Washcloth Napkin with a strip of a vintage comic book turned into a napkin ring.(Ebay for vintage comic books)

The Table Decor:

• Black Tablecloth with Red Sparkle Runner
  
• French Bull Superhero Plate Set
• Red washcloths used as napkins with Vintage Superfriends Comic Book Pages cut into strips to make napkin rings
• Red, Blue, and Black superhero masks, PartyCity
• Centerpiece: Clear cylinder vases filled with popcorn and flickering battery-operated tealights. See Popcorn Lights Post
  
• Placecard Holders: Red and Blue Frosty Mugs, Target, with ribbon-tied Name Tags

The hostess(Batgirl), drinking her Wonder Woman Cosmo with Blue Sugar
Rim. Umbrellas made from Vintage Superfriends Comic Book.

Some Like it Hot!!

I love the idea of a self-serve bar in HOT hue's for your next outdoor soirée. These beverage dispensers are great when you want drinks with and without spirits! I can see the Conga Line forming now! Check out these fabulous outdoor entertaining items at Pottery Barn:

• Acrylic Drink Dispenser:: $59
• Cabo Martini Glass:: $54 Set of Six
  
• Rustica Pitcher:: $32
• Baja Barware:: $45-$54 Set of Six

Photo: Pottery Barn

Happy Hour: The Essentials

In lieu of a cocktail recipe this week, here are the essentials to have on hand for your home bar:

LIQUOR

Bourbon

Cointreau or Triple Sec

Gin

Rum (light)

Scotch (blended)

Tequila (white)

Vermouth (dry)

Vermouth (sweet)

Vodka

MIXERS

Cola, ginger ale, club soda, sparkling water, tonic water

Lemons

Limes

Cranberry juice

Orange juice

Angostura bitters

Simple syrup. Heat 1 part sugar and 1 part water in a saucepan. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Simple syrup keeps at room temperature for a couple of weeks; eventually it will crystallize. In a pinch, superfine sugar can be substituted.

Garnishes

Green olives (pitted)

Lemons

Limes

Kosher salt

Maraschino cherries

GADGETS

Long cocktail spoon

Paring knife

Peeler

Cutting board

Corkscrew

Bottle opener

Juice squeezer

Standard shaker (metal bottom, metal lid with a strainer)

Jigger (usually with a 1-ounce measure on one side, 1 1/2 ounces on the other). Most recipes call for 1 1/2 ounces of alcohol (a jigger, or a shot), but some call for 1 ounce (a pony). If you don't have a jigger, 3 tablespoons are about equal to 1 1/2 ounces.

Bartending handbook ( I LOVE Hip Sips by Lucy Brennan)

Cocktail napkins

Cocktail toothpicks

GLASSES

Martini glasses — must-haves for every bar because they say "cocktail"

Highball glasses

All-purpose wineglasses

Written by Amanda Hinnant-REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE

November 2002
PHOTO: POTTERY BARN-MODINE BAR

Cosmo....anyone?

Love these Cosmo Glasses(1.95) from CostPlus World Market(above) and the Green Libertini(2.50 sale)from CB2(left). These are great alternatives to the skinny stem of the traditional martini glass, and more durable when your guests get a little "tipsy". Fabulous dessert glass, or turn it upside down and use it as pedestal for a bowl or plate.

Popcorn Party Lights

Great idea for a Movie Night or Oscar Party from Everyday with Rachel Ray:

Place a small candle inside a glass and place the glass inside a larger glass vase. Pour popcorn into the vase to surround the glass. (If the glass is shorter than the vase, just prop it up on a layer of popcorn.) Place a few down the middle of your table as a runner or on your "concession stand" table.
Picture: Everyday with Rachel Ray

Berries & Cream Cones

Don't these look Yummy? I love the way the way they are displayed in tall shot glasses/juice glasses. They would be perfect for a 4th of July soiree or birthday party. This recipe comes from Everyday with Rachel Ray:


Berries & Cream Cones
Serves 10

1 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons sugar
Grated peel and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 lb. fresh cherries, halved, plus 10 whole cherries for garnish
1 pint mixed berries(raspberries, blueberries, blackberries
6 ounces milk or dark chocolate
20 sugar cones



1. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and the lemon peel. Mix well and refrigerate.
2. In a medium bowl, toss the halved cherries and mixed berries with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Refrigerate.
3. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high, 20 to 30 seconds at a time, until the chocolate just starts to melt. Stir until smooth. Using a pastry brush, paint the inside of the cones with the melted chocolate. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, about 15 minutes.
4. To serve, stand the sugar cones in narrow glasses. Place a dollop of the sour cream mixture in each cone, then fill with the mixed berries. Top with another dollop of sour cream and garnish with a whole cherry.

Picture by David Tsay, Everyday with Rachel Ray

Eye Candy for your Guests!!

I am loving these cute custom favor containers and labels from Karen Smallbone. They are just too cute!! These items make party color coordination a snap!! Many other containers and yummy candy on her site! Check it out!
PS. Prices are shown in Canadian currency. FYI

Photos from Karen Smallbone site

Happy Hour: Hop, Skip, and Go Naked

Ahhh...the College Days. I completely forgot about this drink, until I ran across it surfing around. I distinctly remember scrubbing this drink off our wood floors the morning after my roommates and I decided to throw a Christmas Party. I don't think we even served food. Just a keg and a couple old coolers full of this punch. Yikes!! Anyway, here's a cheap and easy recipe from the good ol' days!!

HOP, SKIP, AND GO NAKED
Allrecipes-submitted by Sharon

INGREDIENTS
6 12 oz. cans or bottles of beer
1 12 oz. can frozen lemonade(could be pink, if you are feeling extra festive or girly)
1 pint whiskey or vodka(this recipe calls for whiskey, we used vodka)

DIRECTIONS
In a gallon container, combine beer, lemonade concentrate and whiskey OR vodka. Stir and serve over ice.
Picture: Acrylic drinkware from West Elm

Happy Hour: The Superhero Cocktail

To keep in the spirit of the SuperHero:

Superhero

2 parts Absolut Vodka
3 parts Blueberry Syrup
2 parts Tequila
Raspberry

Chill a sling glass with ice or in the freezer. Pour absolut vodka, blueberry syrup and tequila into a shaker. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake it until the shaker is very cold. Empty the sling glass from ice and water. Strain the drink into the sling glass. Garnish with a raspberry (whole).
Picture and recipe from Absolutdrinks

Teroforma: A New Kind of Website!!

I happened to run across this fabulous Tabletop Site! Just launched in March, Teroforma lets you set a virtual table with their artisanal tableware, linens, and glassware. So much fun I could spend hours on this site. It's addicting!! Also, check out the Teroforma Blog.

Picture from Teroforma site.

It's a Bird...It's a Plane.....

It's a Super Hero Cape... I'm working on a Super Hero Birthday Party and I found these great Custom Cape's on Etsy from Baby Pop. These would be great for the guest of honor, as favors, or decor!! You can pick the color of cape, the emblem(shield, crown, or heart), and the color of the letter/emblem. As decor you could suspend one over the table or on the door when the guests arrive. SUPER CUTE!!!

Don't Forget Your Bite-Size Guests!! Part 2

Here's Part 2: The Breakables!!!

• Marimekko Unikko Mug & Bowl Set :: $29.95 SALE!
• notNeutral Transport Ceramic Snack Set :: $40
• notNeutral Season Ceramic Snack Set :: $40
• Marimekko Bo Boo Cars Mug & Bowl Set :: $29.95 SALE!
  

Don't Forget Your Bite-Size Guests!

When entertaining, you want to make sure your kids table looks just as chic as your dining room, so here are some great kids plate options that are "throw across the room" safe:

From Hip New York Kids Boutique, Cocoa Crayon:

• French Bull Monsters-$24-$28 per set of four
  
• French Bull Super Heroes- $24 - $28 per set four(I'm working on a kids super hero party using these plates)

From online boutique, Liapela

• French Bull Cat Kids Set - $22
  
• French Bull Monkey Kids Set- $22
• Club Set Dinnerware by trebimbi - $50
• notNeutral Links Kids Snack Set - $26
  

Happy Hour: Great Wall Cocktail

Here's the Great Wall Cocktail with a Swanky Tables Twist:

Ingredients:

4 1/2 Cups Pineapple Juice
1 1/2 Cups Orange Vodka
1 1/2 Cups Coconut Rum
Jar of Maraschino Cherries
Ice


In a large pitcher combine pineapple juice, orange vodka, and coconut rum. Chill.
Drop a maraschino cherry and a splash of the cherry juice(or grenadine) into the bottom of each glass.
Fill cocktail shaker with ice, in batches pour juice mixture into the shaker. The cherry juice gives the cocktail a nice little bunch of color!

Shake and Serve with cute cocktail umbrellas!!

Spring Entertaining Sale at West Elm

Some Great Deals at West Elm to add to your spring table:

• Branch Entertaining (Love the Carafe!) 3.99-19.99
• Novelty Cocktail Plates (set of four) 12.99
  

Modern Candelabra Love!!!

The Candelabra has definitely received a Modern Makeover. A Candelabra is always an easy way to add a big statement to your table. They mix well with additional votives as well as small floral arrangements. Here are some of my favorites:

• The More the Merrier Rubber Candelabra $165
  
• Red Candelabra $40 (on sale at Social Couture)
  
• Ceremoni Candelabra $12.99
• Ghost Candelabra $65
• Loop Candelabra $29
• Black Candelabra $40 (on sale at Social Couture)
  

Bongenre Melamine Dinnerware

I love Melamine Dinnerware as an alternative to paper plates for outdoor gatherings or children's parties. A colorful melamine salad plate or bowl works great to add a splash of color to your everyday dinnerware! Give Simple has a great selection of melamine dinnerware, including the above plates from Bongenre.