Party Invitations, Party Planning & Event Ideas

4th of July Entertaining Ideas

A few great ways to show your entertaining style this 4th of July. Southern Living has created this easy table with a mix and match set of red, white and blue dishes, star buckets hold all the table accessories and make these festive straw drink tags.

Better Homes and Gardens has created these patriotic ideas that look great even using paper products as you see in this tablescape - just a mix and match of patterns looks great. Simple baskets hold the utensils, paper cones hold the fresh fruit and paper wrapped glassware provides a place to write the guest names.
Enjoy the holiday!
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Quick and Easy 4th of July Appetizer!

Have you had a hectic week at work and are scrambling with what to bring for the upcoming holiday weekend celebrations?  Whew!  I sure am!

     
I stumbled upon this recipe by accident, but it is the perfect 4th of July appetizer!  I had a ton of feta in our fridge, and googled feta appetizers.  The Hot Feta, Artichoke, and Roasted Red Pepper dip from AllRecipes.com came up. 

While I was preparing it last night, I realized that it is the perfect 4th appetizer, as the white of the feta and the red of the roasted red peppers go perfectly with blue corn tortilla chips! 

Hot Feta, Artichoke, and Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Ingredients

• 1 (13.75 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 (7 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
• 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix together the artichokes, peppers, feta, mayonnaise, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl; spread into the bottom of a shallow baking dish.
3. Bake in preheated oven until bubbling on top, 20 to 25 minutes.

Hope you all have a happy 4th!

To friends, family, and fireworks,

Hip Hostess Gifts in a Hurry

Need a gift in a hurry for the hippest of hostesses?  Last week, I blogged about the amazing poolside baby shower my friends threw for me.  For their hostess gifts, I wanted something that perfectly complemented my friends' gourmet cooking talents while tipping a hat to the theme of the shower. 

The end result?  Dainty (but oversized, mugs filled with a lemon thyme plant, and accessorized with a cute little cocktail umbrella.  The final product was delightful, and reminded me of a tiny little patio, perfect for fairies and teeny sun-seekers.

I failed to take a picture of the mugs in their final form, but the following is montage of the supplies I used.  This is a great summer hostess gift, and the lemon thyme is an unusual but very versatile herb that can happily grow in its mug, while sitting on the windowsill of the recipient's kitchen.  Practical and pretty!

Lovely mugs from www.anthropologie.com.

Cocktail umbrella + Mug + Herb = Easy and unusual hostess gift!

Parasols and party planners,

DIY Father's Day Place Card

I created this simple DIY Father's Day Place Card that will surly make any Dad feel special. This is fun for the guy who loves to spend his day "on the green". Read below for the DIY.

I created two versions - one with an irregular shaped green.

And one with a round green.

Here is what you need.

A piece of floral foam.

A few pieces of grass printed scrapbook paper. Technically golf greens and tees have very short cut grass on them - Joann Fabrics has scrapbook paper that looks just perfect!

Golf balls and golf tees.

X-acto knife and scissors.

Small round containers. I had these green votive candle holders, but it would also work with any small round container. I also tried it with the white Ramekins.

Spray adhesive or glue.

 

I turned the containers over tracing the shape on the back of the paper.

 
Cut them out with scissors. I cut an extra strip of the grass paper to wrap around the inside of the glass container to hide the floral foam.

Cut a piece of floral foam to fit inside the container - wrap paper around the foam if needed.

 Determine where you want to place your golf tee on your "golf green" and make a small X with the X-acto knife. This will allow the tee to go into the paper without tearing.

I printed out bands of color tags with names on them and cut them into flag shapes. I wrapped them around the tee after applying a little spray adhesive.

Happy Father's Day - This would also be fun for any golf event or golf themed children's party!

 

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Coordinating Your Drinks to Your Party

Happy Tuesday! EventLucky is back to share another event planning tip with you! I hope you enjoy-- and I would love to hear from you! 

I love it when people match a drink to the decor of a party. Whether a signature cocktail or a few thoughtful choices, it shows that the host took the time to consider her guests preferences while making stylish choices. And, as a host, it can manage your costs.  Good deal, all round!

For a night time event, pick your favorite cocktail and have some pre-made on hand. Or, coordinate by color. 

 

If you love the look- and taste-- of martinis Martha had a great suggestion of using more curved glasses with a stem. Kinda of fun and retro, and less dangerous for spills.

For daytime or more intimate evening events, its nice to have a signature drink deconstructed for the most options.  For an example,  if you wanted to have this Pomegranate and Citrus drink, you could have pitchers of both juices, as well as seltzer and the liquor of your choice (champagne, vodka, or rum).  Even if the signature drink is most dramatic and beautiful, guests can make a drink that best appeals to them. 

You can spruce up your drinks by adding spice (like saffron and vanilla), infuse drinks with tea, or infusing your vodka. Or, the easiest-- adding fresh herbs. This spring of mint makes this cranberry drink special.

Lastly, decorating the bar--

or the glasses can create a party atmosphere.  Paper butterflies, parasols or ribbons make these drinks so festive.

What are your favorite drinks for a party? Do you choose by color or taste?

See you next Tuesday! xoxo EventLucky

Cinco de Mayo - Mexican Fiesta Inspiration

A Mexican Fiesta is always fun to plan. Cinco de Mayo is next week, but this festive inspiration can be used all summer long.

1. Edible Flag for Cinco de Mayo - Family Fun  2. Festive table and menu - Everyday with Rachael Ray 3. Tissue paper flowers - Fresh and Vintage 4. & 5. Beautiful destination wedding in Sayulita Mexico, near Puerto Vallarta - Evrim Icoz Photography.

Dessert recipe was removed.

 

Posted by Enterain Exchange - party inspiration.

DIY Festive Mexican or Cinco de Mayo Centerpiece

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, I thought I would share this easy DIY centerpiece. This is a festive DIY project that can be as inexpensive as one dollar! How great would these be to make for a Summer Mexican Fiesta or the up coming Cinco de Mayo. This is even something you could get your kids to help with.

All you need is a few glass cylinders or vases and a multi colored pack of tissue paper from the dollar store. I already owned the glass vases so my only cost was the tissue paper...a dollar!

This was kind of like making paper snowflakes. After cutting the paper to size, I then folded it accordion style, trimmed the ends to points and cut triangle or circle shapes down the sides. I placed a few color bands of tissue behind the cut outs...layering the colors. I attached everything together using small dots of Tacky Glue.

 

To make fringe...

1. Accordion folded the paper, but instead of folding the last side back, I laid it flat securing it with small pieces of tape.

2. Then fold that last side over top the edge and the tape.

3. Trim all the edges of the one side. (not the edge with the tape)

4. Cut in equal strips without cutting to the folded edge. Leave about a quarter of an inch. Then fluff and crinkle a little and attach with small amount of glue.

5. Attach the one side of the tissue panel with a small amount of tape, then bring the other side around and attach with small dots of glue.

 

Add tea light candles and you have instant and festive lighting for any Mexican Theme Party! Of course make sure that the candle flame can not come in contact with the tissue paper - you don't want a fire.

 

 

Another inexpensive centerpiece idea - I bought these hats last year at Dollar Tree and placed a few flowering potted plants inside. I tucked in a few sheets of colorful tissue paper around the pots. It doesn't get any easier than this!

 

See additional photos of this tablescape here.

 

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Easy Easter Entertaining

Well, Easter is a little less than two weeks away.  So, I thought I would share some super easy brunch ideas this week.  I have actually tried these recipes, so they come well recommended.  I used this menu last year and it was excellent!!  If I could only choose one of the items below to make again, it would definitely be the ham and potato bake.  It can be made hours in advance, and served at room temperature.  Honestly, I think it tasted even better after sitting a few hours!  Second place would be the mimosa punch.  Very YUMMY!!

Recipe Links:

French Toast/Fruit Kebabs

Ham and Potato Bake

Brown Sugar Bacon

Birds Nest Cookies

Corn Bacon Muffins

Spring Salad with Tangy Vinaigrette

Mimosa Punch

Real Party - Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

It started when I spied these plates at Michael's a few weeks ago....Valentine's Day stuff was on clearance, and that's when the wheels started turning...since both Easter and April Fool's is during our Spring Break, we had to have a 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish!' St. Paddy's Day playdate. I could get some sweet deals on anything 'kissy'! Plus, I have this great rainbow material that I knew would make a perfect tablecloth. I did a post on rainbow pasta and pom-poms and this is how my versions turned out... We made rainbow clings! The kids had so much fun, and everyone really focused on making them very pretty. In fact, even those who are notorious for not doing crafts were completely engrossed. Oh yes, rainbow kabobs! I always try to somehow balance out the sugar rush. I got a bargain deal for the lip cookie cutter and candy mold. I couldn't wait to make the cookies and the candy lip cupcake toppers. Some of the kids couldn't believe the toppers were edible abd thought they were plastic, until they bit into them! Another Valentine's Day score...gummy lips and green M&Ms along with extra cookies went home with our friends! I made the stickers from both TomKat Studios and Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dream downloads. Thanks to all our friends who came and the poor moms who had to take home very sugared up kids!  Not Just A Mommy!

Going Green For St. Patrick's Day

Everyone feels a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day. If not, these pretty green entertaining ideas will get you in the mood. Even when St. Patrick's Day is over, some of these green ideas will be lovely for any spring event. Green - the color of life!

1. & 4. Simple green ribbons can transform a basic white table into simply stunning. Martha Stewart Weddings

2. Love the horseshoe stamp on these party favors - for luck! Martha Stewart Weddings

3. A Shamrock Tea - as lovely as can be. The Par Tea Planner

  1. St. Patrick's Day crafty decorations. Martha Stewart

2. Use twine or raffia to make a rustic napkin ring. Embellish with a live or artificial shamrock. BHG

3. For a more elegant green table...skip the shamrocks and use rich fabrics and ribbon to create a beautiful spring table. BHG

4. St. Patrick's Day cupcake toppers. cupcakesdragonflies - etsy

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