valentine's breakfast for two :: pretty in pink

After winning the Pottery Barn Mystery Box Challenge last month, I was given another opportunity to do some more styling work with Pottery Barn products. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I decided to do a romantic Valentine's breakfast for two. All the items from Pottery Barn happened to be pink, so I ran with that scheme and created a "pretty in pink" display. 

For starters, let me share with you the specific samples that arrived on my doorstep...

Items #1, 2, and 3: The Homescent Collection - Heirloom Rose 

(Botanical Pillar Candle, Candle Pot, and the Potpourri respectively)

Item #4: Nesting Heart Bowls

Item #5: Bird Cage Lovebirds Salt & Pepper Shakers

Okay, now do you want to create a table for your sweetheart on the 14th? Beyond the products provided, everything else I already had. I hope this little set-up inspires you to be creative with things you have around your house. I walked from room-to-room and found a few props - a shower curtain, my daughter's hair bows, a very old cake topper (more on this later) and scraps of vintage paper. Use your imagination! Also, don't stress about the food; it doesn't need to be extravagant. Since it's completely acceptable to carb-load on a holiday (oh, that's right, that's just my own justification) I included a large chocolate muffin and brown sugar cream of wheat and strawberries. Some form of chocolate and strawberries are a must to any Valentine's spread, right?! To drink, I made a sparkling cranberry juice.

On a personal note, I found more inspiration from a few items I have from my grandparents' wedding day. I love this photo of their young faces as they started their life together. Maybe even more cherished though is their cake topper. Yes, that is their original cake topper from 1947! How romantic, right!? (Now, is there anyone who wants to try a bite of the piped frosting leftover on the bottom?)  

{Disclosure: All design and styling by A. Party Style, LLC :: Products provided by Pottery Barn}

pottery barn :: winner

Yay! I'm grinning ear to ear... I just found out that I am the winner of the Pottery Barn Mystery Box Challenge.  Thanks to ALL who voted! When I was asked to participate, I never expected to come out on top.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

pottery barn :: mystery box challenge

I am SO excited to share today's post with you! I was recently asked by Pottery Barn (I know crazy, right!?) to participate in a fun little competition - a "Mystery Box Challenge". Along with four other bloggers also asked to participate, I received a box of Pottery Barn products to create a holiday entertainment display. It was so much fun!!!

When the box arrived, I was giddy as a little school girl! The UPS man was basically Santa Claus to me that morning. I opened, and opened, and opened.... Ornaments. LOTS of ornaments! The only rule - Use the ornaments (just some or all) in any way you like, just not on a Christmas tree. In addition to being allowed to use anything I already owned, I was also given $50 to shop for additional decor, fabric and/or food to make the display complete.

For my design concept, I had a few starting off points. I wanted to use what I either already had in my house and/or what I could find for cheap - or even better free! First, since Hurricane Sandy left us in the northeast with a windfall of tree branches, I used tree limbs as well as evergreen boughs to create an arrangement in a large urn from my front porch. Secondly, since a lot of the ornaments I received from Pottery Barn were purple and gold I decided to run with that color scheme - especially since that is the same colors I use on my main Christmas tree! Also, I knew I wanted to use my sunroom as the set-up area because nothing beats natural light when you are trying to photograph. (Speaking of the photographs, my friend Stephanie Anestis Photography took all the beautiful photos!) And lastly, you know me and my sweet tooth - I just had to incorporate some of my desserts. So, without further ado, here is my design...

I hung some of the ornaments from the branches in the urn but, I also used the Pottery Barn ornaments in three other creative ways.

1. I used color coordinated ornaments as focal points in my garland design.  In the center mirror, I used the Plum Finial Glass Ornament. Hanging from the garland are the Gold Ecelctic Beaded Spire Ornaments.

2. I transformed the Mercury Glass Ball Ornaments into standing holders - this idea can be used for both place card or food tag holders.  I used them as food tag holders. (If used as a sitting place card holder, the ornament could do double duty as a favor for guests as well.) To make, I simply used a hot glue gun to put three glue balls on the bottom to act as little gripper feet. After the glue dried, I also glued the food tag to the top of the ornament.

3. I used the Jeweled Oval Frame Ornament as a gift tag on a gift.  In addition to providing recipient and giver information for the gift, the ornament also serves as an extra little gift atop the present.

Here are some more pictures showing my holiday entertaining display...

The other bloggers participating need no introduction - they are amazing and I'm honored to be included in such great company - but just in case you don't know one or two of them, here is the list.

Chris Nease, Celebrations at Home

Cyd Converse, The Sweetest Occasion

Kelly Lyden, The Party Dress Blog

Shelley O'Donnell, Divine Party Concepts

Okay, so go vote for your favorite design!

(Insert shameless plug here - I would love for you to vote for my design! I'll be your best friend!)

I know I was lucky to be selected to participate, but now you can be lucky, too!  All you have to do is VOTE! One lucky voter will receive their very own Pottery Barn Mystery Box. So again I say...

Go vote!

Right Here on Pottery Barn's Facebook Page 

Disclosure: I was not paid to participate, but did receive products on behalf of Pottery Barn.

{All design & styling by A. Party Style, LLC. :: All photos taken by Stephanie Anestis Photography}

xmas in july :: winter's night dessert table

Last year, I donated a dessert table to a fundraising event at my daughter's school. The event was held right after the holidays, but I thought I would still share photos as part of the "Christmas in July Series" since the event theme was "A Winter's Night". In addition to my dessert table, guests were spoiled with delicious food from Park Central Tavern, drinks from Cork & Barrel and top-notch entertainment including music, dancing, comedy and poetry performed by parents of the school. There was also a silent auction with terrific items. It was a first class evening and will definitely sell-out again this year!

In addition to my donation, I was also asked to decorate the tables for the event. Given the limited budget, I thought the venue looked really nice all aglow with white, ivory and blue. The fact that we had several inches of snow fall the same day as the event, was so apropos.

xmas in july :: tree decorations

Today I want to share the rest of the creative idea and detail pictures I took from last years Ronald McDonald House Trees of Hope event.

A cupcake inspired tree... If I had a bakery/store front, this would definitely be how I would display items for purchase! Sprinkles, liners, etc.

Here are a couple of tree topper options I thought were pretty cute...

In addition to a chef's hat, I might have to add the wooden spoons to my kitchen tree this year.

I like this flag idea if you have a region specific tree or as a way to share your heritage around the holidays.

Not that I was crazy about the "Cars" umbrella, but I think the idea of using an umbrella as a topper could be very theme-fitting on some trees. What about a Spring/Easter tree!?

Feathers will never get old as tree toppers. This was a very naturalistic tree and the pheasant feathers fit beautifully.

Now for some overall themed trees... So whimsical

Giddy Up! A cowboy tree complete with a hat and red bandana.

Definitely the most unusual at the event had to be this tree. A true forward thinking fashion tree.  Pretty creative wouldn't you say!? They pushed and pulled branches until it resembled a body shape. Then proceeded to dress and accessorize her to the max. 

I enjoyed the bounty and detail of this school themed tree. Kids would LOVE to help with the whole process. Designing, buying, making the pieces (ruler star topper, paper chain garland, etc.) and of course decorating the entire tree. This would be a great way to support a school or church program for charity.

Woodland creature trees have become very popular in recent years due to Pottery Barn, Pier 1, Restoration Hardware, etc. selling rustic animal ornaments. I thought the fence detail on this woodland tree was adorable. The fake snow definitely adds a nice little touch too. 

And finally, a unique way to add detail to christmas tree lights. Do you have a beach themed tree? A beach house? This is for you! 

Enclose each individual bulb with seashells. Watch with wonder as this craft takes you back to the tranquility of the beach where you picked up the shells. Even if it is in the dead of winter!

easter :: restaurant decorations

One of my continuing jobs is decorating a bar/restaurant for various holidays. This past weekend it was time to decorate for Easter. (If interested, you can look back at what I have done for the same place at Halloween and Christmas.)  Like at Christmas time, sticking to the neutral palette of the venue was very important to me. When I saw these nest and natural colored eggs wreaths at Joann's, I was sold. Not only did it fit the cream and browns in the space beautifully, but it also picked up some of the muted blues in the stone work of the restaurant's front facade. For the front windows, I used two wreaths back-to-back so they would be visible both inside and outside the restaurant.

Using the color palette from the wreaths as inspiration, I arranged little bouquets to embellish the lights along the bar. This decorating technique works well here because it is still prominent, yet keeps the bar clear for food and drink service. 

With a left over arrangement from the bar lights, I created a little table centerpiece by adding more eggs to a glass vase as filler.