Happy Valentine's Day!

Last night, a few of the girls gathered for a little Valentine's Day fun! Yummy flatbread pizza, apps, lots of sweets, champagne cocktails, sangria and chatting -- it was LOVEly! I loved celebrating the holiday with Tess, Hannah, and Jackie!

A Feature & Holiday Cheer

Today, Alison of Long Distance Loving is featuring yours truly and the Mr. as part of her ongoing series {Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder}! I am so thrilled to be a part of her series. You can read the whole post here. For those of you who don't know, my husband and I have known one another since kindergarten. It's true! The 4th grade class photo on Long Distance Loving today proves it. A huge thanks to Alison for including us in the series, and putting together such a lovely post! Be sure to check out her blog for more great posts!

Last night, Danielle had a small holiday gathering at her place (which is fabulously decorated!) Liz and Danielle made yummy cranberry margaritas and a very festive baked brie. Alaina, Taylor, Anne and Farrah were there to join in the Christmas cheer. We ate lots of other goodies, played Apples to Apples and, of course, swooned over Buddy in his Santa suit.

Today I'm finishing up some work and getting packed up for our trip back east for Christmas. The Mr., the pup and I will be in the car for a solid 12-13 hours tomorrow. How many times do you think I can get away with listening to the N*Sync and Glee Christmas albums? We haven't been back east since moving to Chicago in July, so we are really looking forward to seeing the family!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Porch Party Cocktails

Summer days are dwindling, but I'm still enjoying our outdoor porch space for dinner or a cocktail. It's nice to catch a cool breeze and do a little people-watching on the street below. Here's a roundup of summertime cocktails that are perfectly refreshing and definitely porch party worthy:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 -- recipes and images via Martha Stewart

Candy Coated Bridal Shower

I love candy. Of all kinds. That is why this bridal shower, featured on Martha Stewart, has me head over heels. How fun is the color palette and theme? The candy display is so colorful and fun, along with the heart-shaped candy collage. The unique invitation with a strawberry chocolate bar is too cute, don’t you think?

All images via Martha Stewart

Testing Your Tastebuds by Oh Happy Day

Being a super picky eater, I'm not sure if I could easily make it through a "Test Your Tastebuds" dinner party. However, the idea behind the party (featured over at Oh Happy Day) is perfectly fun and unique! I know my foodie friends and husband would absolutely love to test their tastebuds by sampling different foods and guessing the ingredients! Do you think you'd be brave enough to try lots of new foods and then guess how they were made? Head on over to Oh Happy Day to check out the rest of the photos and read about the event!

15 Desserts in Jars

I love the look of, and the cute idea of, desserts in a jar. What a clever and fun way to serve dessert at a party! I stumbled across 15 recipes for delicious desserts in a jar, and had to share them with you. Check them all out {here}, and see two of my favorites below:

Neopolitan Cake

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes with Lemon Curd Filling

Pup Patterns and a Party

I am so in love with this pup patterned paper by Paper Source – how cute! I’m thinking of all the possibilities for crafts, now…

The paper was spotted in this Hot Diggity Dog party feature on Amy Atlas, which is equally cute. I adore the party hat and the rest of the styling.

Currently Loving... Ribbon Mobile

I spotted this gorgeous ribbon mobile on The Sweetest Occasion yesterday, and it's been stuck in my mind since then! I love the pale colors and romantic look. I think it would make a great decoration for a wedding or shower!

Currently Loving... Confetti System Garlands

What's not to love about these festive garlands? Perfect for a soiree, or just to hang in your home for a little inspiration and fun:

Equestrian Flair Baby Shower

Reichel from Copy Cat Chic is just so cute -- and she just had a baby shower that was just as cute! Check out some of the fun detail photos from her tea party baby shower that had equestrian flair, and then pop on over to her super stylish blog to see more!

 

Let's Skate!

This ice skating party, spotted at The Sweetest Occasion, just warms my heart! It's been years since I laced up skates -- mind you, it was always for fun, and I wasn't very graceful! These photos just make me want to hit the ice and sip hot cocoa on a cold winter's night.

Eco-Friendly Drink Glasses

I was so excited when I spotted Jelloware on bridesmaid.com. Immediately intrigued, I clicked over to The Way We See The World to read more about it. After learning more, I decided that Jelloware would be the perfect partyware choice for any eco-conscious hostess. These drinking glasses are made from a seaweed extract called agar agar, which is supposedly wonderful for the growth of plants. So... have your drink, and then toss your empty cup in the garden! The party hostess will thank you later!

Croquet, anyone?

I'm loving this rehearsal dinner that is also a croquet party! Doesn't it look like so much fun? The guests all dressed in white look so preppy!

Images via Style Me Pretty