Inspiration Board: Fall Harvest

Eye candy anyone?

Inspiration Board: Yellow and Brown

I have two boys...teenage boys and they have the most depressing habit of using - just about the last drop but not quite enough for the next person - of everything. Today it was the mustard. All I really wanted was a sandwich with mustard. Instead we both got this inspiration board. Enjoy!

Twilight Inspired Wedding

I am personally on Team Jacob but you don't have to be a Twlight fan to appreciate this romantic wedding theme I stumbled on over at Hostess with the Mostess.

I love this menu! Want the look for less? Peek at my simple Bella Menu,  its perfect slipped into a clean folded napkin and adorned with a slip of ribbon. 

One of my favorite parts of this tablescape is the idea of carving fresh apples and inserting tea lights. So fresh, so beautiful and so inexpensive. Lambs ear is also an very inexpensive floral and looks so romantic  tucked into glass holders. 

Love the idea of using apples as place cards! Check the original post at Hostess with Mostess for more awe inspiring pics!

Fight for your right...to vote!

Today marks the 90th birthday of the legislation that gave women a voice in American government - the right to vote.

How to Throw a Wine Party

A wine flight party is a great way to discover new and unusual wines with an intimate gathering of friends. Supplies are simple, all you need are guests and wine. The essence of the party is the flight, or a two–ounce tasting/ pour of three or four different wines united by a common theme.

Invite like minded friends and as a budget booster and for added possibilities and undiscovered gems ask each guest to bring one bottle of their favorite red and white wine. It encourages experimentation, conversation and wine education. The following is a series of ideas to increase the fun:

Blind bottles: have each guest wrap their bottle in a brown paper bag, hiding the label and then have fellow guests rate the wine sight unseen. Give gift certificates to your local wine store to the winner.

Best Wine under $10: Our personal neighborhood favorite - have each guest bring their choice for best wine under $10 (or less). Encourages guests to be really creative! For an interesting mix double this with the blind bottle and have your guests really suprised!

The Flight: Choose a region for each category and then choose three Reds, Whites and Sparkling Wines from the selected group. Start with the sparkling wines, which are perfect aperitifs. The three different wines can be compared for fruitiness, minerality and yeastiness. Serve oysters on the half shell and assorted cured olives with this course.

Move on to whites. Serve with bacon–wrapped scallops and peppered peaches. Follow up with your reds. Serve with thin–sliced salumi or cold strips of beef and fresh mozzarella served with toasted bread.

Download invitations, place cards and bottle tags here.

Enjoy!

DIY Beverage Stand

From self-constructed lemonade stands to 'serve yourself' pre-mixed delights, you can create beautiful, charming and chic beverage displays for your wedding day. 

Pre-mix a few 'signature' drinks and set them up in glass beverage dispensers so that your guests may help themselves. These displays can be as rustic or elegant as you wish. Display groupings or trays of clear plastic cups or small glasses next to your drink of choice. For a more vintage look and feel, use mason jars. These ideas work especially well for outdoor receptions but there is a drink for all seasons. Pink or yellow lemonade is perfect for Spring,  peach iced tea for Summer.  Here are some ideas of which I am especially fond:

Created by Send in the Clowns Event Planning and Sweets Indeed featured at Bella Grace Party Designs.

image via brendas wedding blog

Top left: thesweetestoccasion Top right: oncewed

Bottom left: theknot  Bottom right: project wedding

Try an old fashion soda bar. Line tables with bottles of your favorite soda pop and for an extra-chic touch, offer drinking straws or stirrers. For an added touch,  you can personalize your soda bottles. Visit Eat DrinkChic and download the cutest labels ever! Or visit Jones Soda and personalize your pop labels. You can personalize your soda for about $29 for a 12 pack.

image via bliss weddings

via oncewed

via projectwedding

via Eat Drink Chic

via Bridal Party Tees

Fall weddings are a great occasion to try beverage bars stocked with apple cider and egg nog, or hot chocolate for Winter.

via meg perotti photography

via project wedding

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Wine, Cheese and Cocktails

Sorry! to have disappeared but two weeks without my kids (thanks grandma!) and you do manage to sneek off !  My hubby and I have been celebrating our freedom by having of our own personal restaurant week... okay so maybe its been WEEKS but are you really counting?

Anyhow, translation: Food, Wine and Cheese anywhere we could get a table! 

Are you a wine and cheese lover? If not don't be worried! There is a wine and a cheese for everyone.

Here are some quick tips:

• White wines match best with soft cheeses and stronger flavors.
• Red wines match best with hard cheeses and milder flavors.
• Fruity and sweet white wines (not dry) and dessert wines work best with a wider range of cheeses.
• The more pungent the cheese you choose, the sweeter the wine should be.

A Wine and Cheese Party 
You dont have to be a true cheese lover to dig this great how to from Pottery Barn. You can download great place mats, cheese markers, place cards, a easy to follow how-to-party guide and even download music. Check it out here.

all images Pottery Barn

A Tasting Party
Want to expand a little and add food? Try a tasting party! Small bite sized portions of foods along with wine and cheese. Pier 1 now has great tasting kits that include miniature dishes and recipe cards for your party.

Pier One

No food, no cheese...look out for my upcoming How to Have a Wine Flight Party.