I'm Baaaaaaaaack

Thanks for your lack of posting patience with me the last week or so! I had a good reason. Honest.

I had the pleasure of working on a gorgeous wedding this weekend that I can't completely show you just yet. A local St. Louis magazine gets first dibs, so until I can spill all the details, here's a sneak peek of two of the elements created by the fabulous Ginger O'Hara of Serendipity. She's as cute as she is talented. How's that even fair?

I'll be sure and post more pictures and details of the day as soon as I'm allowed!

Because She's Worth It

There are so many things I love about this Bouchon Bakery Birthday Brunch thrown by Wanwisa that it's hard to choose my favorite. If forced to pick though, it may just be the fact that she threw this party herself, for herself...because she's worth it!

Enjoy all the delightfully chic details from the invitations, the menus, the Macaron Croquembouche centerpiece, the delectable take-home favors in mini gable boxes from beau coup and the way every last detail is coordinated. ("Cookies and Milk" dessert of macarons and a side of "Milk" ice cream parfait served in tiny mugs, anyone?) All of these great ideas could easily be translated into a chic bridal shower or baby shower.

Visit Wanwisa's equally delightful blog Modern Vintage Designs for a complete overview of the event and her fantastic vendors.

Happy belated to Wanwisa and thanks for sharing your day and your photos with all of us!

Vintage Bridal Shower

Have I mentioned my love for all things vintage? Oh, I have? Well then, it only makes sense that ever since I saw these plates a few months ago I haven't been able to get them out of my mind. They are the perfect jumping off point for a vintage bridal shower (or any other girlie occasion) that combines vintage refinement with a little "wink."


These simple invitations from Wedding Paper Divas let guests know they're in for something ladylike. Little do they know the kitsch is around the corner. I think it would be amazing if you added a line to the invite asking your guests to come dressed in vintage party frocks. I.Would.Love.That.

I love the simplicity of this table runner from Target. Hurry though, it's on clearance online. (Bonus!) Run it over a simple white tablecloth and then use vintage purses, sunglasses, teacups and round hat boxes for your centerpiece items. Tuck fresh blooms inside the purses and teacups for easy floral arrangements.

If a new plate for each guest isn't in your budget, get a few for serving/decor and get the coordinating napkins instead. Place a napkin centered on simple white plates and you'll still convey the look for less. While you're getting serving pieces, add a couple of these chocolate brown serving platters to your stash. I adore these.

In lieu of regular placecards, get these sassy mugs and put one at each setting. Replace the tag on a teabag with a homemade nametag instead and place the teabag inside the cup. Placecard and favor all in one. Easy breezy, beautiful vintage girl.

Next up, we'll go 50's fun. I hear Elvis might even make an appearance. Stay tuned.

Her Cupcakes Bring All The Boys To The Yard

How sassy is that card above? Love it. In fact, I love everything about Cupcake Envy. Including the fact that it is NOT in St. Louis. I'd be a danger to myself. CE will ship though people, so don't fret. These brilliant little gems can be yours, too. Send some to someone special, order some for your next party, send some to yourself because you just finished a blog post. Oh wait...



Grab a glass of milk and head on over to their delicious flickr gallery and www.cupcakeenvy.com for more of the good stuff. Don't see that perfect confection for your next party? No problem. In their own delectable words, "Cupcake Envy is constantly creating new ideas for clients and welcome all themes, the more outrageous the better."

I Have Designs on You, Beau Coup

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for anything that reminds me of cute gift wrap. That's exactly what the labels on these adorable favor tins look like to me. I can just imagine sheets of some of these designs in my ever-growing gift wrap collection. A girl can dream, right?

With this many great designs, there's sure to be a favor tin to match just about any occasion. These are just the tip of the iceberg, so take a look for yourself. I bet you find something you need in your life on the Beau Coup site.

"Merci beau coup, Pee Wee."

"Merci, bleh bleh."

(Did I just show my age with a Pee Wee's Big Adventure reference?)

Glam On It.

Bachelorette Party? Evening Bridal Shower? Hip Baby Shower? An excuse to get the girls together? Make it a Hollywood Glam event!



Wanna kick it up a notch? Incorporate some of these ideas and you'll be a star.

• Ask your girls to come dressed like their favorite celebrity.
• Make sure and have a stack of gossip magazines on hand for everyone to dish over throughout the night. Frame some covers and pages from extra mags (or color copy some you've bought to read) and place them around the party site.
• Bring in someone to pamper your guests like superstars with manis and pedis.
• Play Scene It! Movie edition.
• Take paparazzi shots of everyone throughout the night (Party Guests - They're Just Like Us!) and compile the pictures in a mini photo book (kodakgallery, shutterfly, snapfish, mypublisher, etc.) and send one to the guest of honor after the party.

Fun Favor Ideas seen above: Hollywood Tank, Bochox, Diamond Paperweight

Other party items seen here: Hollywood Platter, Cups, Napkins, Cool Jewels Ice Cubes

Fab Find - Do Me a Favor

Do me a favor and run, don't walk, to Paperluxe Studio. Sarah's work has been in my "to post" folder for awhile now so if you'd run it would ease my guilt. Thanks in advance.

People always ask me, "Do I have to have party favors for my guests?" My reply, "No, it's completely optional." And by "optional", I mean "yes." Okay, okay, so everyone has different budgets and no one is going to FORCE you to give favors, but I do think it really completes an event. I don't even like to have friends over for dinner without sending them home with something extra. After all, it's the little things, right?

In the case of Paperluxe, it's the seriously cute little things. Sarah has taken the art of giving a favor and made it personal. She'll create personalized notecards for all of your guests. How great is that? She also has a growing collection of non-personalized cards and invitations that are perfection, too. See for yourself.



More great designs! Can't you just see the shoe design for a bachelorette party?

That's A Wrap!

They say presentation is everything.



A) Who are "they" and how do "they" know everything?
B) I agree.

Okay, while I won't say it's evvvvverything, I will say that it counts a LOT in my book. And by "lot", I mean, yeah, almost everything.

Doesn't a gift seem even more special when it's wrapped with attention to detail? Unless it's chocolate. Then just hand it over and no one will get hurt.

And while I don't recommend anyone obsess as much as I do over wrapping gifts or start planning their holiday wrap in September (I mean who would do that??? Ahem), I do suggest taking a little extra time to put thought into the presentation. Fab wrap is just that extra nod that lets your recipient know you think they are worth it.

Who knows? You may just be the next Wrap Star! Hey, at least I didn't entitle this one "Wrapper's Delight."

love makes the world go around

Want to take the bride-to-be on a fabulous journey but don't have the time or budget? No problem and no passport required!

Highlights of this bachelorette weekend/bridal shower combo:

crepes for breakfast
swedish massages
theme food stations from around the world
luggage tags in chinese take out favor boxes
tapas on the town for dinner
italian wines after dinner

love is in bloom!

Do the words "crepe paper honeycomb wedding bell" make you cringe? I thought so. Then why not give your bride a little flower power?