Easy Tablescape

Home Decor.

I saw this tablescape on Pottery Barn’s website and really liked so many aspects of it. I love the fact that it shows that you can use a number of different styles; cast iron, aluminum, porcelain and wood and bring it all together for a cozy farmhouse brunch.



They added color by using fresh vegetables, cabbage leaves for napkin rings and a potted plant. The brown paper brings in a natural element and is much more economical than a tablecloth. Also, check out the website for an up close look at the silver bucket utensil holders. These adorable buckets can be found in many stores for around a dollar and can easily be used for outdoor picnics as well.

This is a great depiction of how you can pull various items from around your home and really create something special.

Specialty Bottle

Favor Supply Source.

One of the benefits of being an event planner is that I have an excuse to look at Bridal magazines over 2 years after my own wedding has passed. When I was flipping through the Martha Stewart Wedding Spring issue, I kept dog-earring pages that featured glass bottles from Specialty Bottle.



Specialty bottle is one of those sources that I love for event favors. They have a ton of different bottles in all shapes and sizes that are just begging for a little creativity and customization.

And that's the secret to creating something interesting and unique of your own for an event. Instead of spending hours upon hours trying to find a beverage company that's labeling works with your theme, just create your own label and slap in on one of these bottles. All of the control and a lot less research.

So what kind of projects would you do with these fun bottles???

Strawberry Agua Fresca

Drink recipe.

This looks like the perfect, refreshing Spring beverage. I love the beautiful color and strawberries just hit the markets and grocery stores in full effect. This would make a fantastic addition to a mother’s day brunch or add a little tequila for Cinco de Mayo. Check out the recipe at Eat, Live, Run.

Date Night

Planning.

I saw this idea at find joy in the journey and it really got me thinking. The goal of the above project is to put 12 date night ideas into envelopes. These date nights are pre-planned and pre-paid and opened at the beginning of each month so that a date can be set on the calendar.



The pre-planner in me loved this idea but then I started thinking, would I still be interested in doing something in August that I planned in January? Maybe or Maybe not.

My husband and I are pretty good about seeing a new restaurant or bar and checking out the scene. We also do a fair amount of planning for activities, especially in the summer months. However, we don’t have a lot of “date” nights where something is on the books and requires me to actually think about how I might wear my hair, get my nails done and definitely buy a new pair of shoes.

Plus I already give my husband a categorized spreadsheet when we get to the grocery store based on a divide and conquer system. I know, I know…but it really does get us out of the store in about 20 minutes. So, a part of me thinks that if I come to him with planned out dates, I might just get an eye roll.

Fellow Hip Hostess’, help me out, is this a good idea or not?

Link Love.

Tuesday Inspiration.

This is Glamorous
What a lovely drink service!



Glamourai
Mason jars and flowers. A Hip Hostess favorite.



ReNest
A DIY Table…with succulents. Love!!



Sweetapolita
Such a great idea…letting your child decorate their own cake with edible decorator pens. And a rainbow cake at that!!

Psychobaby

Baby Gifts.

Not every future parent is all into cotton candy pink and baby blue. Some are a little bit more Rock 'n' Roll. For those parents, you should most definitely check out Psychobaby.

Amidst some great boutiques on Damen Avenue in Chicago, Psychobaby elicited more squeals of delight from yours truly than a killer sale on a Helmut Lang jacket across the street. And that's saying a lot.

Here are some of my favorite items that are all available on their very user-friendly website:

Single Uncle Onsie
Personalize this for your future niece or nephew, and you have an instant wingman!



AC/DC inspired pacifier
Because you don't want your baby screaming like lead singer, Brian Johnson.



Rockabye Baby CD
Soft lullaby versions of your favorite tunes. My friends like the Nirvana version the best...




Johnny Case Onesie
Who doesn't love the Man in Black??

Mason Jar DIY

Mason Jar.

I have kind of a thing for Mason Jars. I use them for vases, yogurt parfaits and I pour my leftover coffee in one and store it in the fridge for ice coffee in the summer. I also use them for coin jars and glassware for lemonade in the summer. Whenever I run across these jars and the older the better in my book I always have a struggle…do I really need more…but they are so handy. Well, recently I have been leaving the little beauties on the shelf because I don’t need anything else to store without it earning its rightful place in the household.



That is until I ran across this DIY from Blissfully Content. A Mason jar soap dispenser! We’ve been invited to a couple of rustic beach houses this summer and I have been searching for something that is a little more personal to fill the last spot in a hostess basket. Not only am I ahead of the game with my hostess gifts and I have a reason to shop for Mason jars again.

Sparkling Summer Shandy

Cocktail Recipe.

Yes, I am aware that it is not Summer. And yes, I am also aware that the weather in pretty much all of the Unites States has been less than lovely as of late. But...I like to use any sunny day starting in April as an excuse to drink Summertime drinks...even if it is Sunny and 45 degrees.

Photo courtesy of Gourmet Patio.

Summer Shandy's are light, delicious and everything that I like about warmer weather. This mixture of beer and lemonade can be bought pre-made by many beer manufacturers, the most popular being Leinenkugel's version. And they are delicious.

But to bring up the "fancy factor" a bit, why not make your own at home? Here's a recipe for a Sparkling Shandy that is just as easy to make as it is delicious. Enjoy!

Sparkling Shandy

Serves 4

2 lemons (1 sliced thin for garnish, 1 for juicing)
1 16 oz pilsner beer

2 cups sparkling lemonade

1. Line a glass with with lemon slices and then add ice.

2. Fill halfway with beer, and top with lemonade.

3. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve.

Giveaway: Weddingish

Giveaway.

Attention all Brides, Bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride, and the like...this is your chance to win a fabulous prize! Weddingish.com, the online bridal emporium of fabulous apparel, accessories, favors, bridal party gifts and more, has been generous enough to sponsor a giveaway for our HH readers...a $25 gift certificate to use on their site AND free shipping for your order.



Here's how you enter:

Option 1: Facebook
1.Visit Weddingish.com
2."Like" Weddingish on Facebook and leave a comment on any post
Bonus: Opt in to Weddingish's Newsletter

Option 2: Twitter
1.Visit Weddingish.com
2.Tweet about Weddingish on your Twitter Account
Bonus: Retweet Weddingish’s tweet about this giveaway

Option 3: Blog
1.Visit the Weddingish Blog
2.Leave a comment on any post
** Bonus means that your name is entered in twice.

Then leave a comment on our blog, telling us which option you chose as well as an email to reach you if you win. You have until Thursday April 28th at 8PM EST to enter. We'll announce the winner on Monday, May 2nd.

To tempt you to enter, here are just a few of the fun wedding items that you'll find on Weddingish...

Modern Twist on the Easter Egg

If messing with dye is not your thing but you still want to have a little Easter Egg fun check out this tutorial. All it takes is a sharpie! Grab a black tablecloth and some egg cups and you have a totally modern tablescape.