Weekend Reads 8.30.13

Raise your glasses friends. It's time to celebrate. What you may ask? Anything you wish! As you know, it's been a busy couple of weeks around here. But, today I'm finally feeling a bit rejuvenated. With a clear schedule that started yesterday, I got to engage in some activities that really help me clear my head and refocus for work such as creating for the blog, working on LPF Mag and enjoying lunch with friends. Just one day of relaxation has already lifted my spirits and has me wanting to celebrate every little thing possible. So today I have gathered up my favorite reads from the week that are full of celebration and fun. I hope you all have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend. Enjoy the links...


1. Gold Tasseled Napkins by Freutcake as seen on The Glitter Guide

2. (End-of) Summer Iee Bucket by Fabric Paper Glue

3. Mexican Inspired Beach Wedding as seen on 100 Layer Cake

4. Flamingo Cocktail Invitations by Amy Moss of Oh Happy Day!

5. Shooting Star Piñata by Confetti Pop

Color Me {Confetti Fun}

I've been finding it more and more difficult to locate good confetti. It's really a shame as confetti is probably one of my favorite party decorations of all time. It's such a nostalgic touch that really takes a bash to the next level if you ask me. That's why I'm officially declaring this week confetti week! How excited are you? Hopefully as much as I am! We're starting the week with a little confetti inspiration that is making me want to grab a big pile and throw it in the air. By the way, I'll show you how to make your own confetti thrower a bit later this week!

I can't think of a better way to lift spirits after a long work week last week and a rainy weekend. Let's celebrate the start of a new week and toss a bit of confetti for fun! Have a happy Monday.

Color Me {Blush & Gray}

Hi there! How was everyone's weekend? We spent it celebrating Rob's 25th birthday and it was actually quite relaxing. Per the birthday boys request we spent Friday and Saturday just sitting and relaxing, something that, given our busy schedules, rarely happens. It was nice because when I got tired of sitting (it happened often) I was actually able to get a lot of December prep work done for the blog and plan ahead for this week's trip to Tennessee for my friend Kayla's wedding. Today's post is actually inspired by her classically beautiful colors. Kay has gone with her favorite blush pink (or pig pink as I call it because that's her favorite animal) and paired it with my new favorite neutral, gray. The combo is wonderful because 10 years down the road it will have the same (not dated) impact. I love how elegant but fun and totally girlie it is. I can't to see her vision come to life and celebrate the happy moment with her this weekend!

Have a great Monday!

Center of Attention {Hot Air}

This centerpiece sure does give new meaning to the term "full of hot air". Always on the lookout for creative new ideas, this eye catcher takes the award for quirky, fun, and tasteful. I love the incorporation of buds that drop over the side with the thin netting capturing the balloon. This hot air balloon centerpiece replica give the feel of floating on air and what more could you want for your next gathering?

Color Me {Coral & Mint}

I think this might be one of my favorite color combinations of all time. It's bright, vibrant, and makes a big impact. The eye catching combo is perfect for any summer soiree portraying a feeling of fun and relaxation. I'm a big believer that the color scheme sets the mood for the event. Black and white fairs for formal affairs, deep purples and browns are wonderful for fall, and sunny colors are ideal for summer fun. Mix in metallic gold to keep it modern and add an extra punch.

With coral blooms in abundance, place them in gold vases atop mint linens to carry out the color scheme. Drop bits of green and blue food color into cocktails and encourage guests to dress the scheme.  It makes such an impact when every aspect of your event is in the color combination of your choosing. 

What's your favorite color combination for a party?

Poppin' Bottles

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when I showed you the cigar save the date? And promised you a companion for this invitation that was not quite so masculine? Well here it is! Individual champagne (or in this case mini blood orange mimosa) bottles wrapped in a custom label, let your guests know your wedding is bound to be a fun one! Want to make it happen? Find a save the date design you love and see if the designer can scale it down just a bit. What I have found works best is to purchase your save the date through a site like Etsy where they email you the file instead of printing and mailing it to you. This will allow you to print on standard labels and apply to bottles. Securely wrap in bubble wrap, mail, and wait for the enthusiastic responses from guests!

Let's Celebrate {Birthday Weekend Recap}

In case you missed last Friday, I proclaimed my true love of birthdays. While I've always had this infatuation with the big celebrations, I must say that this past birthday is probably one of the best I have ever had. It was relaxing and full of love and laughter celebrating with friends and family. I wanted to take today to share some snapshots of the weekend with you. Sometimes it's not about the big party, it's about making memories and having fun! 

What's your favorite birthday memory?

This Week I Feel...Like Clowning Around

Who doesn't love a good carnival? For months now, I've been planning a huge carnival themed party for a client's 90th birthday. And this week, I'm going to tempt you with little carnival treats, starting with some carnival inspiration. Stripes, games, popcorn and tons of candy is just about all you need. Maybe. With this carnival, I wanted everything to quirky, fun, and a kind of over the top. While we are lacking a kissing booth, we do have a fortune teller, clown, and a balloon man! All the details are dripping in red, yellow, navy, and white. I'm getting excited for all the fun on Saturday and I can't wait to share more details with you throughout the week! Wait till you see what fun I have in store for you tomorrow....

Time to Get Creative {Guest Libs}

Weddings are typically all about tradition, the vows, the first dance, the cutting of the cake, the bouquet toss, etc. But, if you follow all of those traditions without the addition of anything new and fun, it almost becomes cookie cutter, just like every other wedding that your guests have been to. Except with different decorations. Well, it's time to bring something unique to your big day! And I'm not talking about doing the garter toss before the bouquet toss. No. I'm talking about adding mad libs for your guests. Hence for known as guest libs. Skip the guest book. You know you will never read it anyways. Instead, have guests play mad libs about you. Just think, it will be so much funnier to read that in 20 years than it will be to read a list of names! To make it even funnier, have someone read it to them so they can't see the paragraph and are inserting words that don't even really make sense! 

What unique element would you add to your wedding or party?

This Party Inspired By {Sprinkles}

Do you remember when you were young and a scoop of ice cream or a slice of cake wasn't the same without the sprinkles? It completed the treat. Well, the coolness of sprinkles has returned. I mean hello, do you see this cake that is embroidered with sprinkles? Talk about amazing! Or, look at that sprinkle bar. I love it! Seriously, I can't stop gushing. I love the idea of passing around shots of milk rimmed in sprinkles to your guests as the night is winding down. Add a warm chocolate chip cookie and it would be perfect! 

Images: (Row 1) 1, 2 (Row 2) 1, 2 (Row 3) 1, 2, 3

A Little Friday Lovin' {Calligraphy}

My mom has always written calligraphy and when I was little, I thought it was this old, ugly looking type of writing. Well, I guess as you get older, you taste gets better. Because now, I'm kind of obsessed with it. I've been coming across all of these beautiful images of handwritten calligraphy lately and I'm kind of obsessed. It makes me really want to learn how to write it! I like that something as simple as calligraphy can transform the outside of an envelope or even a snack bag to be fun and formal. What do you think of calligraphy? Fresh and new or old and outdated?

Have a great weekend! xo

Images: (Row 1) 1, 2 (Row 2) 1, 2 (Row 3) 1, 2

A Little Friday Lovin' {Streamers}

Do you remember when you were a kid and the only decorations you wanted at your party was streamers? You would twist them and hang them from the ceiling, hang them in the door way, or if you were like me, hang them on yourself. And then, as you grew up, streamers became surprisingly uncool. Well guess what, they are totally cool again! I came across this image (the one in the bottom left corner) and thought their use of streamers was genius. So, curious and excited, I started to search for other images of streamers. And low and behold, I have come across some of the cutest and totally non-cheesy, little kid, tacky ways to use them! They are so fun, quirky, and bright. They add that little element to you party that let's guests know that it's actually a party and not a stuffy let's be on our best behavior kind of affair. Let's put it this way, on my way home tonight, I may just pick up some streamers, just because I can. And I might even hang them all over my house just because it's Friday and I can! 

Happy Weekend! xo

Images: (Row 1) 1, 2, 3 (Row 2) 1, 2, 3 (Row 3) 1, 2

This Party Inspired By {Some AMAZING Cake}

So I have no idea what word to create to tell you this party is inspired by. Honestly, it's inspired by that image of that amazing cake right in the center. Some time last week I was perusing Pinterest and came across that cake image that someone pinned and I was sold. By the way, have you been on Pinterest yet? If not, I suggest you do. Right now. It's amazing. If you are looking for an invite, leave a comment below with your email, and I will be glad to send you one. Otherwise there is this stupid waiting period or something. Anyways, I feel in love with this cake, and then and there decided that it would inspire not only today's post but probably the next years worth of parties that I throw. I love the pop of gray as the neutral. It's softer than black but adds a little more punch than white. It's summery, bright, fun, and perfect! What do you think of the color combo? 

Images: Invites, Paper Lanterns, Dress, Cupcake, Cake, Present, Table Setting, Flowers

This Week I Feel...Pretty in Pink

So pretty, bright, and fun right? I got my original inspiration for today from the gorgeous pink hydrangeas I picked up the other day.  While I don't naturally gravitate towards the color, I have recently been craving to add hints of the vibrant shade everywhere! Try splashing it into flowers, cakes, drinks, linens, and even lighting. My personal opinion of pink, have it be your primary color and not mix it with others.  It's best used with neutrals when trying to make it a little more sophisticated and modern. How do you feel about pink?