8.23.2012

Bacherlorette Party Wine Tasting Survival Bags

 
My friend Catie's bachelorette party wish was a day wine tasting in the valley with her friends and family. The details were planned. Lunch spot - check. Stretch Hummer Limo - check. Winery, private wine tour at a wine makers studio and a tasting - check. Great friends and family - check. The last thing we needed were survival bags or goody bags for the day of.
I found the reusable wine totes online at amazon.com. Perfect size bag to hold our goodies and double duty use for the bottles of wine everyone purchased along our trip.
I have just dipped my toe in the waters of free fun fonts. I used fonts I found HERE to create the tags. For those of you who haven't explored this awesome way to create great signage - get to it. It is easy and fun, not to mention how much more spice it add to your projects!
This was the must have item I wanted in the bags. Small, cute pink cans of champagne. Perfect! Finding them was not so easy. Most of the places I tried said they usually carry them but they were sold out. Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market and Target were all a bust. I was about to order them directly from the Coppola winery when I found them at a local specialty grocery store. 4 cans per box for $16.
The Goods:
- mini can of champagne
- bottle of water
- sunscreen (it was mid August and really hot when we went)
- Granola bar
- almonds
- breath savers
- a funky straw for the champagne
- I HAVE A HEADACHE medicine for the next morning (found at Target)
 
Favor bags like these are great for lots of reasons. Everyone enjoys getting a small gift, especially when it is a surprise. This stuff is all small but useful items for a day trip. And you can add hints of color to your event with the bags. Pick tissue and or tags that coordinate with the theme of the day or even the wedding colors. Have fun with it and your guests will definitely appreciate it!

8.22.2012

Pop of Color Bridal Shower

My fabulous friend Catie is getting married in Park City, Utah in September. We can hardly wait to arrive at the mountain and start celebrating this special couple. Her sister Lisa and mom Debbie threw a bridal shower for her. The party was filled with pops of color and hints of love. Every last detail was planned and perfected. Great job ladies and congrats to the soon to be Mrs. Nelson!
Bride to be - love this personalized hanger. Perfect for day of pictures and a great gift idea. Click HERE for similar styles.
Yummy colorful gumdrops in keeping with the theme.
Tower of sweet treats.
The signage and printables were adorable. All in bright, vibrant colors. This one listed the menu.
The food was amazing! And there was so much variety. Perfect for everyone to find something they liked - most people liked it all!
Succulents in small glasses wrapped in colored paper. They were tasteful, adorable centerpieces on the tables. Click HERE for a tutorial on making them.
Such an easy thing to do, but it makes such an impact. Add cucumber, lemon or lime slices to a pitcher of water. Takes standard water up a notch and is a perfect detail for any party.
Great idea for the mimosa bar. Pick your juice - mango, guava or mango passion fruit, then add your Brut (bubbly). Always a great idea to have an interactive drink and or food station to get people conversing at the party. Great icebreaker.
 
All in all the party was a hit. Catie really enjoyed herself. The shower flowed nicely and people really had fun. And the food was delicious. When done correctly the small details come together to make a perfect event!
 
Happy Shower Planning!

8.17.2012

Pinterest Favs - Cape Cod Dreaming

I would love to visit Cape Cod. I envision sunny days playing in the water and evenings by a fire pit after a clam bake. Mind you, I don't love sea food but I do love all things nautical and the party decor for a clam bake would make me all kinds of happy!
Sources - Recipe for a perfect trip to Cape Cod - Brilliant blue waters and casual boat rides, Great advice for meeting new friends, Beautiful lemon display for an afternoon party by the shore, Lazy summer days on sandy beaches, Cool watermelon cooloers in adorably quaint mason jars, the perfect crisp, preppy flowers, A little piece of mind.

Happy Pinning!

8.16.2012

Tension Rod Ribbon Storage

I love ribbon. Grosgrain, satin, wire, patterned - you name it, I probably have some of it. It adds a cute touch to a package or even a little note with a bow at the top. My problem has always been how to store it. I have tried lots of ways to store them and nothing seems to be the perfect solution. Until now . . . enter the tension rod!
Here is what I started with. Lots of ribbon on small spools.

What you need:
  • 1 tension rod - I found mine at big chain home improvement store in the curtain section. Mine was very small in diameter adjustable for length.
  • small drill - in case some of your spools don't have a pre-cut hole in the center
  • small push pins - to pin your ribbon so you don't have hanging pieces
I have a small space below the lowest shelf in my den and the rod fit perfectly underneath.
I organized mine by color. I love the way it looks, it is neat and tidy and very functional!

Happy Organizing!

8.15.2012

Berry Wash - Making Berries Last Longer

We love berries. Love them. One of the best parts of summer! And this year the kids have started going berry picking which adds to the fun. When they are fresh and in season, we have them at our house. I did some research on ways to help the berries stay or last longer without freezing them. This seemed like the easiest and quickest option. And it worked! Bonus!

All you need:
Vinegar
Berries
A Place to wash them
I cleaned the small part of our sink really well. Then filled it with 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water and put the berries in the water. I was concerned it would change the taste of the berries but it was so diluted, it didn't change the taste at all. I kept them in the water for less than 5 minutes, removed them and put them in a bowl in the fridge. They lasted for well over a week and kept up their shape. Definitely worth the little extra effort!