Valentines Day

Valentines Day is one of my absolute favorite holidays. To be honest not because of the romantic aspect (although that is nice) but because of the "girlieness"of the holiday. Pink and red, hearts, chocolates.... who can ask for anything more. If your thinking of throwing a Valentine's Day party here are some ideas you may be interested in.

Invitation Ideas

Address with vintage love stamps

Make your own envelope liners using glitter card stock or heavy wrapping paper

Tablescape

Flower arrangements 

Beautiful pink and red flowers in a gold vase. You can make the gold vases for very inexpensive if you dont feel like spending a lot. Take cheap glass vases (found in thrift stores or craft stores and use a metalic gold spray paint.

Gold Chargers at each persons place setting. Found very similar ones for $1at the .99c store. Cant beat that!

Gold rimmed glassware

Place settings 

You can spray paint any metal or tin mailbox the color of your choice (I would do pink) and use it as place setting. Inlcude a special message for your guests as well as blank Valentines for people to write messages and place in other guests' mailboxes.

$13.75 for 6 from Hanson Ellis

Favors

Pink Pastry boxes filled with homemade sugar cookies

These are extremely easy to make. You can buy the pink boxes on etsy and the doily and gingham ribbon at any craft store.  

Sugar cookies

I have been making these since I was 16 years old. They are always a hit and are absolutely beautiful. They do take lots of practice and can be time consuming. Definitely worth every minute! My favorite shape is the heart and this is the most easily found cookie cutter.Can be bought online here cookie cutters or at most houseware stores.

Recipe for the sugar cookie that I use is from Martha Stewart but any cut out sugar cookie with royal icing is fine.

Steps for cookies:

Photo prop 

Kissing booth

Valentines Drinks - Pink and beautiful

Pink Lemonade Martini Recipe

2 oz Absolute Citron

2 oz lemonade

splash chambord liqueur

splash cranberry juice

French Martini (my personal favorite)

1 1/2 oz flavored chombard vodka

1/2 oz chombard liqueur

2 oz pinapple juice

Red and "Kraft Paper" Brown Dinner Party

I recently hosted a dinner party at my house for 30 guests. The color palette was red and "Kraft Paper" brown. I was inspired from my own post back in March titled Planning the Perfect Dinner Party. I wanted to incorporate burlap table runners, candles, and red roses.

These were my Inspiration Pictures from Planning the Perfect Dinner Party.

My Party pics

For each persons place setting I first used a Kraft Paper envelope. Then I printed out each persons name on a self adhesive red round label. After the label was printed I used a vintage inspired cutlery stamp to finish it off. The silverware was tucked inside the envelope which was then wrapped in a red and white patterned napkin {tied with a bow of course}. The menu was placed behind the envelope and held together with a red and white twine bow.

I also used a vintage inspired "Bon Appetit" stamp for my menus. Again, never missing an opportunity for a bow :)

Party favors were homemade chocolate chip cookies. Cookies were placed in Brown Kraft paper boxes, wrapped with a red and white twine bow and a tag to tie everything together.

"Home Baked Love" tag to give people a hint as to whats inside.



Menu

Soup and Salad

Matzah Ball Soup Recipe Here

Strawberry and Spinach Summer Salad Recipe Here

Main

Cut up Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe Here

Brisket Recipe Here

Roasted vegetables Recipe Here

Tzimmes Recipe Here

Dessert

Fresh fruit Platter

French Pastries {Bakery bought}

Tea and Coffee

{Eric Shemtov Photography}

Toile elements for your party

If anyone knows me, they know I love toile. However, toile can be pretty overwhelming if it isnt done right. Here is a look at some toile elements you can use in your home, at your wedding, shower, tea party or luncheon. I think its a sweet way to put a feminine touch on your event.

Toile tablecloths with hydrangea centerpieces, cream napkins and natural color chivaris.


These serve double duty as table numbers. You can by self adhesive numbers online or at any craft store. White buckets can be purchased at any craft store, nursery, or home improvement store.

Want a little fancier? Beautiful brown urn with white roses, hydrangras and hanging amaranthus.

This is a cute choice for a twist on the traditional ring bearere pillow. If you want to incorporate toile why not let your ring bearer carry this loveley toile pillow from 5eizen.

I love lounge furniture at a wedding. Play it up by renting or purchasing a french inspired sofa (look at flea markets or craigslist) throw on some toile pillows for a punch.