party planning

Easy Baked Brie Thanksgiving Appetizer

November 22, 2016

This Thanksgiving my husband and I will be hosting family at our house. 10 adults and 2 toddlers under one roof can be overwhelming enough, but add in cooking, meal prep, and cleaning? It’s enough to make anyone go slightly insane. The last thing you need is hangry guests hovering in the kitchen watching you peel 20 potatoes by hand. To keep those growling tummies at bay, I’m sharing an easy appetizer (with wine!) to ensure everyone is happy. Baked Brie is my go to appetizer because you can buy everything pre-made. There is no chopping or prep work involved. Place in the oven before your guests come over and pop open some Merlot to ensure you can cook in peace!

Baked Brie with Cranberry Jam

Ingredients

1 tube of refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 round of Brie cheese (do not remove rind)

2 Tablespoons Cranberry Jam

Honey for topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F

Line baking sheet with parchment paper

Roll out crescent dough and divide into two

Place brie rind into center of dough & top with jam

Fold dough over the brie and wrap with remaining piece

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes

Drizzle honey on top before serving

Add some crackers, apple slices, honey for dipping and voila! You have a simple appetizer that your guests will love. This baked brie pairs perfectly with Wente Vineyards Sandstone Merlot. To learn more about Wente Wines and to find out where you can purchase, go to their website here. If you live near the Bay Area, you can visit their vineyards too!

Do you have a go to appetizer that you love? Share it in the comments below!

Happy Fourth of July!

July 4, 2016

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend. We’re in Charleston visiting family and despite the heat and humidity, it’s been so fun. Sidetone: How do girls wear face makeup here? I can hardly step outside without sweating immediately so I’ve been rocking the top knot and mascara only look for a few days. I wanted to give you a little table inspiration this morning in case you’re hosting family or friends today. Creating a table scape for a party does not have to be stressful or extravagant. Even though there are tons of fabulous homemade recipes out there for holiday themed food, I recommend going to the store and buying pre-made desserts and food that don’t require much prep. Target & Publix were my go to for decor items and food and all I had to do was plate the goods! While you’re shopping you can drop off balloons to have inflated which add the perfect touch to your gathering. These adorable bomb pop balloons are from an etsy shop which has a ton of great mylar options. How cute is this hot dog balloon for a summer cookout? I added this rag garland to the front of the table but it would also look cute draped along a wall for a backdrop or Photo Booth. So, grab some beers, brats and cupcakes and get your Fourth of July party started today! buy alphagan online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/alphagan.html no prescription

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Have fun and be safe today everyone! xo buy amaryl online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/amaryl.html no prescription

TMNT 4th Birthday

June 28, 2016

I cannot believe Henry is FOUR today! It feels like each year goes by faster than the last and it’s always so bittersweet. I usually spend the night before my kids birthday ugly crying and carb loading. Year three was our hardest as parents of a wild boy, but the last few weeks are showing some signs of change so we are hopeful that this threenager is behind us {fingers crossed}. When Henry told me he wanted a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party my first thought was “How in the hell am I going to make this look cute?” Luckily it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Our backyard is ideal for entertaining so we took full advantage of it this year. We already have a play-set, sandbox, water table and two power wheels. For the party we rented a TMNT bounce house which was a huge hit with all the kids and if you are having an outdoor birthday, I highly suggest renting one!

The set up of the party was a lot of fun and easier than previous ones. Since the entire party was outdoors, I only had 2 main tables: a dessert table and a goody bag/party accessories table which also doubled as the food table when the pizza came. When guests walked up to the party they immediately saw the table which had foam nunchucks, face masks and turtle shells for the kids to wear.

The amazing cake was created by Natalie at Cake Envy. She also designed Henry’s third birthday pirate cake and every year I get wowed even more.The cookies are also from another Atlanta local, Debbie, from Whimsical Designs. She is my go to cookie lady and I use her for all my parties and any party I’m planning for a client. You may remember her cookies from Evelyn’s first birthday and Henry’s second. I love that I can send both of these ladies a picture of what I am envisioning and they can bring it to life.

I have to give a huge thank you to Dominos and New Belgium Brewing for providing the pizza and beer for the party. The beer was so refreshing and a must when Dad’s are attending a party and everyone raved about how delicious the pizza was. Be sure to check them out when planning your next party or get together!

I loved seeing Henry have such an amazing time at his birthday. It makes all the long days of planning totally worth it. Since my kids parties are always a little hectic with a lot going on, it can be hard to remember all the moments from the day. This year I decided to have a video shot by a local videographer and I cannot tell you how much I am obsessed with it. Leila was so sweet and professional and the kids loved her, which meant she had no problem getting amazing footage. I don’t know why it took me so long before jumping on the video bandwagon but there’s no turning back now. I’ve watched the video probably 100 times and it’s so nice that I can share it with family who couldn’t make the party. Want to see the video? Click here!

A special thank you to my sweet friends Jessica & Kelly for snapping pics, my mom for watching Henry and my amazing husband for always helping with set up and prep for these crazy parties I throw. Here is a full list of all the incredible vendors, without which I could not have made this party happen.

Pizza – c/o Dominos

Beer – c/o New Belgium Brewing

Cake – Cake Envy

Cookies – Whimsical Originals

Bounce House – Jumptastic

Number 4 – c/o Swanky Party Box

Felt Pizza Banner – c/o Little Lion Lovelies Co.

Splinter Cupcake Toppers – Toad Hollow

Custom Pizza Box Labels – Type Meets Paper

Brick Back Drop – Amazon

Green Gable Boxes – Amazon

Raphael Print – Big Chris Gallery {I purchased the digital file & had them printed larger}

Turtle Shells – DIY Instructions here

xo,
Chanel

A Floral Themed Baby Shower

May 25, 2016

From the second I found out that my best friend was pregnant with her second daughter, I knew I wanted to throw her a beautiful shower to celebrate baby #2! The whole saying “April showers bring May flowers” came to mind since the shower would be in May. Once I had a theme in my head, I went to work on sourcing unique items to make the party special. Etsy was my go to, as usual, because I love supporting small shops selling adorable baby girl clothes and finding one of a kind items.

The dresser and vanity are from an antique store which I found over 6 years ago and have been hoarding ever since. I hoped one day that I’d have a daughter and use them for her big girl room. This is the first year where I have been able to add them into party decor. I love the feminine touches that paired with the theme so well. They also have not been re-finshed so they have a vintage look. That amazing blue couch was my mothers and I have used it several times this year. It makes for the prettiest back drop!

Any get together with a bunch of women should always include a mimosa bar. They are so easy to set up, inexpensive and are always the first stop guests make. All the juices I served were from Whole Foods and I reused the Mimosa Bar sign from Evelyn’s first birthday.

The food spread consisted of pasta salad, garlic shrimp, assorted cheeses & crackers, sandwiches and a vegetable platter. I made some blueberry & lime infused water and also had plenty of non alcoholic drink options for the pregnant ladies who attended. I used vintage napkins that were my grandmothers to wrap silverware in. This was my first time using cloth napkins for a party and now I’m hooked. (If you need me I’ll be scouring Ebay for napkin lots). buy wellbutrin online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/wellbutrin.html no prescription

Adding personalized touches to any party or event is key to make a wonderful lasting impression. The favors for all the ladies attending were mini Pinot Grigio wines with custom labels that had the mother’s name to be and the date of the shower. If you are looking for an easy way to incorporate the guest of honor, these are perfect. I also used Gardenia Labels for a friends 30th birthday party last month.

Stay tuned for a special giveaway on Friday for your chance to win all the items, plus some, in her amazing gift basket! If you are expecting a little girl soon, then I have all your floral themed needs covered 🙂 buy zantac online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/zantac.html no prescription

Photo Booth

Jumbo Balloon: Twigs & Twirls

Floral Wreath: Alison Michel

Flower Pennant Banner: Honey Crown

Ampersand Embroidered Hoop Art: The Kitschy Stitcher
Coneflower Embroidered Hoop Art: Udel Made
Small Floral Embroidered Hoop Art: The Cotton Thread
Small Floral Embroidered Hoop Art: ISewpose

Mommy to Be Pin: Beth of All Trades

Dessert Table

Fabric Garland: With Love Event Decor

Cake Topper: At First Bloom

Cupcake Toppers: Grainy Day Creations

Isn’t She Lovely Print: Stop Growing Up Prints

Felt Flower Box: Sadie Bug Styles

Burlap Table Runner: Hot Cocoa Design

Balloons: Mod Party

Mimosa Bar Table

It’s A Girl Print: Garvin & Co.

Felt Leaf Garland: Mint Envy

Custom Wine Labels: Gardenia Labels

Floral Paper Straws: Twigs & Twirls

Painted Milk Bottles: Oh Lola and Co

White Felt Flowers: Felt & Mason

Other
Invitation: KL Prints & Printable
Painted Rustic Mason Jars: Charming Tennessee
A special shout out to Sarah at Baker Blossoms for making all of the bowties and headbands for the party favors! buy zetia online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/zetia.html no prescription

A 30th Birthday Celebration

April 19, 2016

This past weekend some girlfriends and I got together to celebrate our sweet friend Jessica turning 30. I love any reason to party and get together with friends and I believe that everyone should feel special on their birthday. Planning parties and putting together goody bags is a ton of fun for me. Also, why is it that kids parties should only get goody bags? I think every party should have them. It was a nice change to make a few for adults and not children. Since everyone that came is a mom, buy nexium online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/nexium.html no prescription
I tried to compile items that I knew moms would like: champagne (duh), lip balm (you can never have too many), soaking salts (for those stressful days) and a cute hand painted wooden beaded keychain The gold lined baskets, straws and tissue paper were from Target, of course. I was able to try the soaking salts last night and it felt like I was in a spa. I was so relaxed! These would make a great gift for Mother’s Day.

No party is complete without dessert. Lots of dessert. The cake and cupcakes were from Publix, my go to for any event, and the beer mug and cake toppers are from Etsy. Getting a basic cake and/or cupcakes and accessorizing with cute toppers or fresh flowers is a great way to add a personalized touch and save a ton of money.

There is a great outdoor development in North Atlanta called The Avalon which is my go to spot. Plenty of shopping, dining, pampering and you can drink anywhere. Basically a mecca for a moms night out. Cru Wine Bar was our first stop for some prosecco on the patio followed by dinner at The El Felix, which is by far my favorite Tex-Mex spot in Atlanta (review coming soon!) Even though restaurants at the Avalon do not take reservations, the staff at The El Felix were so accommodating and helpful. I was able to drop off the desserts, balloons and goody bags ahead of time and request their best table. Our waitstaff were so attentive and our drinks and chips were never left empty. If you are having a birthday, girls night or date night and live in North Atlanta, you have to give buy paxil online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/paxil.html no prescription

Cheers to 30 years, Mrs. Garvin! I wish you the happiest of birthdays sweet friend!

Here are links to all the party shops listed above. Please check them out if you are planning something fun. They are all so friendly and helpful and I cannot recommend their products enough. Happy party planning, friends! buy plavix online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/plavix.html no prescription

Balloons – Mod Party

Beer Cupcake Toppers – Wedding Wishlist

Cake Topper – Chicago Factory

Champagne Labels – Gardenia Labels
Coasters – Francine & Georgia

Eat, Drink Sign – A Modern Soiree

Keychain – A Derring Do

Soaking Salts & Lip Balm – Herbal Moon Apothecary

Valentine’s Party Recap

February 13, 2016

This past week I hosted our small playgroup for Valentine’s Day. It was so much fun making the food and setting up the dessert table & photo booth for the kids. Needless to say all the sweets were the first to go and there were about 10 three year olds on one hell of a sugar high. I always say to people, “when in doubt, dip it in chocolate and add sprinkles” which is primarily what I focused on. The oreos, pretzel rods and wafers were store bought and then dipped in melted chocolate and topped with sprinkles. Depending on how many you make it can be very time consuming however it results in a festive holiday treat. I love that you can customize the chocolate and sprinkles for whatever holiday season. This was my first time making rice krispy treats and I don’t know why I always felt so intimated by home made ones (there are only three ingredients by the way).

After they set up I cut them out with a heart shaped cookie cutter and, you guessed it, drizzled chocolate and sprinkles on top. There couldn’t be all these yummy sweets without something for the kids to wash them down with so I went with whole milk in miniature milk bottles with a sprinkle rim and donut on top (by far my favorite on the dessert table). This was such an easy and fun party to host and my love for hearts, red and pink made it that more enjoyable. The kids loved the photo props and by the end of the party the big red heart balloon was being used as a huge medicine ball by all the boys. I would say this party was a success, even with a sugar coma that lasted two days 🙂

Happy almost Valentine’s Day, friends!

xo,

Chanel

First Birthday Recap Part 2

January 14, 2016

I finally get to share the best part of the party: Miss Evelyn. I am totally biased but I cannot get over how freaking cute she looked in her pink flutter dress, cat shoes and custom party hat. Girlfriend totally rocked it. A lot of her friends came in their best cat themed attire and really got into the spirit of the party. All the little girls looked so cute sitting sweetly and eating together. Definitely different than any of Henry’s birthdays or whenever toddler boys get together. Come to think of it, I don’t even think I have ever seen Henry sit down and quietly eat a meal the way the girls did. It was really so heart warming! buy strattera online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/strattera.html no prescription

There were four crafts that I made for the party. The first was the chalkboard with the instagram hashtag. By no means am I a chalkboard artist and my three year old could do better at freehand writing than I could, so I took the route of indirect tracing. I followed this tutorial and chose my fonts, set up the wording in photoshop and printed on my everyday printer. Going back in and tracing each letter and filling them in took about two hours and I was able to accomplish it during nap time. buy abilify online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/abilify.html no prescription

DIY project two were the felt meow banners. There isn’t a tutorial I followed for this, and I think they are pretty self explanatory. I just looked at a banner we already have and loosely went off of that. Start with cutting your triangle then trace and cut out your letters. Glue those on (I used spray adhesive which is messy as shit so don’t buy that) and then cut the 4 short strips and 1 long strip to complete the side and bam: You just made a banner. buy Cymbalta online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/ no prescription

The goody bags were so much fun to put together. I bought the mini canvas tote bags on amazon (vendor list below) and had planned to iron on the letters. However I could not by the single letters I needed since they all came in a pack of 26 and who the hell needs 20 left over Z’s anyway. So I decided to stencil and paint them. I used the same stencil I did to cut out the MEOW felt letters above and then outlined them directly onto the bags using a fabric sharpie, followed by painting in each letter with black fabric paint. Since the bags were canvas they soaked up most of the paint as soon as I started painting, making it almost impossible to spread the paint easily. No joke, this project took longer than anything else but it saved me money and I love how they turned out.

Making the cat masks was new for me but after looking at a few pictures on Pinterest I thought I would give it a shot. I ordered a cat mask from Party City and used that as my template to trace out the mask shape. Using left over felt from the meow banners I cut out rounded triangles for the ears (I kept drawing the shapes until I liked one and used that as the template for the rest). Same goes for the glitter noses, except that is just glitter card stock, not felt. Not pictured is the elastic which hold the masks on. Using the original elastic from the party city cat mask, I measured my elastic the same length. Then I used a nail to make holes on the side so the elastic would feed in. Tie two small holes to keep it in place and voila! Super easy and you could do this for any kind of mask you wanted to make.

I hope you enjoyed all of my pink squares in your instagram feed these past 10 days! I will definitely miss that color all over the house but I’m sure my husband won’t 🙂 Be sure to check back in tomorrow to see Evie’s smash cake session and to enter a super fun giveaway for your next party!

Vendor List on this Post

Goody Bags:

Canvas Tote Bag

The Shy Little Kitten

Cat Rubber Duckies

Nail Polish

Cat Eye Glasses

Outfit:

Mini Party Hat: Little Blue Olive

Kitty Ballet Flats: Target, in store only

Pink Flutter Dress: Gap

Miscellaneous: