On the Rocks

Well, it's almost happy hour in my part of the world, and in honor of that little fact, I am dedicating this post to creative and fancy party cocktails!  No matter what type of event you're hosting - from a formal wedding reception to a backyard BBQ - every fabulous party needs a fabulous drink.  It is a fantastic trend showing up at weddings and events all over the place these days: the signature drink.  Hosting an open bar at an event can get very expensive, very quickly.  So, in order to keep the cost under control, many people opt to serve a very limited selection of beer and/or wine, along with a signature cocktail.  It can be anything, although many times the signature drink is something related to the theme of the event, the location or a favorite cocktail of the host/hostess. 

A great caterer I know (who has worked with the likes of Carrie Underwood!) gave me some great advice when my husband and I were planning our wedding reception: do not try to please everybody.  He said that when you are hosting a party and serving food and beverages, people are going to like it because, to them, it is free.  He said, "When it comes to choosing the beverages you will be serving, whatever you offer to host will suddenly become every body's favorite drink."  In order to offer a wide selection of beverage choices without having the added expense, most caterers and venues will allow you to have a cash bar at your event for little-to-no extra cost to you; however, when you are offering a limited selection complementary to the guests, most will choose to have what you are hosting.  All in all, the caterer said to keep in mind that it is your party, so serve what you like best.

The rule of the signature drink is definitely not only related to alcoholic beverages.  Serving a unique flavor of iced tea, juice or punch is always a great idea as well.  Cheers!

Lime Sorbet Margaritas (realsimple.com)

Strawberry Basil Margaritas (thekitchn.com)

Gin-Based Mint Juleps (baysidebride.com)

Peppermint Martinis (marthastewart.com)

Low Country Lemonade (vodka + lemonade + hint of blue food coloring)

(Southern Weddings book)

Champagne with fresh fruit pieces

(stylemepretty.com)

Pomegranate Champagne Punch

(eatingwell.com)

Raspberry Mojitos

(bystephanielynn.com)

Individual Patron Shots with mini tacos

(thecinderellaproject.blogspot.com)

Individual mini Champagne bottles on ice

(austinweddingblog.com)

Rhubarb Iced Tea

(thekitchn.com)

Riesling Strawberry Slushy

(thekitchn.com)

Fruit Water

(stylemepretty.com)

Jack Daniels "Tennessee Honey" Cocktails with honey stirrers and mint

(stylemepretty.com)

Seaside

This post doesn't really have anything to do with weddings or entertaining (other than it is a BEAUTIFUL place to have a wedding), I just wanted to share a little seaside inspiration with all of you.  For me, being near the water is quite therapeutic.  Whether I'm near the ocean, the lake or the river, I find the movements and sounds of water to be relaxing.  I especially love being seaside - for the vastness of it, the freshness of the salty air, the soft sand and the warm sunshine.  It is inspiring because it awakens and rejuvenates the senses.  Being near the water can spark creativity - it encourages us to dream and create new ideas.  The basic elements of seaside style are fresh, crisp and clean.  I love the nautical scheme that goes hand-in-hand with seaside style: it is neat, orderly and simple - with whites and blues, stripes and solids.

There is a strip of quaint coastal towns on Florida's northwest coast (locally referred to as The Emerald Coast and the Beaches of South Walton) that brings together all of the most beautiful elements of coastal and southern style.  With similar architecture (cottages constructed with wood siding, stucco, tin roofs, Mediterranean accents, expansive porches and wide shutters), lush vegetation and sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico, these neighborhoods are as picturesque as they are livable.  Each neighborhood village boasts plenty of restaurants (all of which feature fresh, locally caught seafood and lively ingredients) and shopping (more specifically: boutique shopping in which you can find everything from swimwear to fine art).  Bicycles and flip flops are the main methods of transportation through these towns, but by car, you can drive along scenic Highway 30-A from one town to the next in a matter of a couple minutes.

The beaches are made of pure, soft, sugary white sand and the water is a mix of the most vivid shades of turquoise, with streaks of sapphire and emerald.  This stretch of coastline is still quiet and quaint, a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of nearby Destin and Panama City. 

Beach Real Estate of 30-A

Seaside

 Seaside

Seaside

 Watercolor

 Watercolor

 Seaside

 Watercolor

 Seaside

 Seaside

 Seaside

 Watercolor

 Grayton Beach

 Grayton Beach

 Grayton Beach

Grayton Beach

Seaside

Seaside

Seaside

For local information or to plan a visit to Seaside, Watercolor, Grayton or any of the other Beaches of South Walton, visit the following sites for more info:
www.visitsouthwalton.com
www.seasidefl.com

Pretty Little Favors

Here are some precious little favor ideas - great for fall/winter parties and weddings.

photo seen on pinterest via s702photobucket.com

S'mores favors, all tied up with twine.  This is an easy and inexpensive DIY favor.

from projectwedding.com

Nothing says "fall" quite like a caramel apple.  Tie these up in clear cello bags and attach a little monogrammed card.  What a sweet way to say "thanks for coming!"  You can even do these yourself pretty easily, as long as you have loads of patience and some free time on your hands.

from brides.com

Send your guests home with a personalized bottle of mini champagne.  You can make your own labels to place on the bottle.  Just be sure to wrap them up with a pretty ribbon!

found on etsy.com

Send your guests home with a slice of cake in a cute box.

from cassandradyane.blogspot.com

Hot cocoa in a bag.  This is a darling favor idea!

seen on stylemepretty.com

Potpuri favors.

from stylemepretty.com

"Spread the Love!"  Fill mason jars with jam and top with a lace or burlap cover!

Hosting Tips & Ideas

Hosting a party soon?  Now that it is officially fall, the holiday season is quickly approaching.  This means parties, parties, parties!  Be the hostess with the mostess this season by getting prepared ahead of time, using a little creativity and thinking outside the box.  Here are some super cute ideas that will set your party apart from others this season.  Regardless of what kind of party you are hosting, use these ideas and expand upon them to dazzle your guests! 

from twigandthistle.com

Most importantly: every good hostess knows how to properly set a table.

seen on tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com

Obviously, buttercups are not fall or winter flowers, but I think this idea is great.  You can substitute the flowers with something bright that is in-season, use the burlap and a matching ribbon, and use a fruit that is in the same color family as the flowers.  I'm thinking red, orange or yellow flowers would look great with an orange ribbon and orange slices in the bottom of the vase!

found on pinterest via tumblr.com

Dress up that typical veggie tray by placing the veggies in clear glass vases.  Pour the dip into martini glasses and arrange down the center of a table.

from i-do-it-yourself.com

Save up empty wine bottles, because they are the perfect fit for candlesticks.  Remove the labels and place a candle in the top and let the wax melt down into the bottle.  It makes for a very pretty and memorable centerpiece when grouped together on a table.

seen on weheartit.com

Here's a fun idea: tie a bunch of helium-filled balloons to the backs of the chairs.  It makes a canopy of balloons!  This would be so cute for a Christmas party if you used red, green and white balloons.  You could really dress it up by using silver or gold balloons for a fancy fall/winter dinner party.

from marthastewart.com

Carve out a big, bright pumpkin and fill with ice.  Creative way to keep the beverages chilled!

from sidebyside.blogspot.com

Host a S'mores bar for dessert.  This is just as much fun for adults as it is for kids!  You can typically get these burners from party supply rental companies.

picture from fetefanatic.blogspot.com

Set up a hot chocolate bar!  Fill a large urn with hot water, and set up dishes filled with cocoa mix, marshmallows, cinnamon, caramels, whipped cream, peppermint sticks etc...  I've held one of these bars at a party before, and I can assure you it is a huge hit!  This can also be done as a hot cider bar instead, just put out cinnamon, spices and apple slices instead.

picture found on vivamore.tumblr.com

When you are attending a party, it is always a good idea to bring a gift to the hostess.  Here is a great idea: buy a bottle of nice wine or champagne, wrap it up in a new, stylish kitchen towel and tie with a pretty ribbon!