Chalkboard Containers

I stumbled across these great selections of chalkboard cups and containers while breezing through the latest Pier One catalog. The jars would make great containers for a candy or popcorn buffet (see previous postings here and here).

When the party is over you will have practical storage containers for your flour, pasta and cereal.

I'm all for re-purposing items!

For a smaller scale candy buffet, these cups and carafe would be perfect.

A decor trend in wedding design is using a chalkboard/bistro theme. These chalkboard mugs at only $3.00 each can double as a place card and a favor. Have you ever been to a party and the host has given you a glass charm only to forget which charm was yours? if you are like me and a party with plastic cups and a permanent marker are essential in reducing waste and after-party cup pickup, then a stack of these stemless glasses and some colored chalk would be the perfect investment. I'm sold!

love.joy.laughter

Favor Baskets For Cookie Lovers

I'm a homemade cookie fan and I especially love bite sized cookies. When I was recently introduced to Auntie Nalani's Cookies, I knew I had to share the goodness with everyone. Nalani puts together fabulous wedding favor baskets filled with cookies made from her family recipe. I'm not talking about a couple of cookies but approximately 40 bite sized morsels. Now that's a favor that guests will remember! Her lauhala baskets are a generous size, much bigger then you would expect and everything is customizable. Here are a few selections.

You choose the color of ribbon, shell or orchid type and the text for the label and Nalani does the rest.

Favors can add a lot to the decor of a wedding as shown below.

What an unexpected treat to find a gift basket on your ceremony chair.

I often hear from couples that they want to give a favor that their guests can use and that won't get thrown away. What better gift to give then one that can be enjoyed immediately (cookies) and used in the future (basket). They are the perfect complement to an island, beach or tropical wedding.

love.joy.laughter

Popcorn-Party Food

One Christmas season I decided that I wanted to make green and red popcorn balls to share with family, friends and neighbors. I stumbled across a microwave recipe that I thought would be the perfect solution for making mass quantities in minimal time. Somewhere between the melting corn syrup, gooey marshmallows and red and green food coloring, my project went terribly wrong. I ended up with blotchy popcorn blobs and bowls of indestructible goo. Although I haven’t mustered up the willpower to try my hand at popcorn balls since, I do enjoy a freshly popped bag of popcorn from time to time. When planning your next celebration, consider renting a popcorn cart and having a popcorn attendant pass out freshly popped bags of goodness to your guests for a fun and unexpected treat.

Found Here

Found Here
Candy buffets are all the rage but what about a popcorn buffet?

Found Here

Found Here
Your very own personalized popcorn bags, cellophane bags or Chinese takeout containers allow guests to pick the popcorn of their choice and munch on their merry way.

My bag would be full of cheddar cheese flavored popcorn. I stay away from the sticky sweet variety-bad memories.

love.joy.laughter

Grey and Yellow Wedding Design

Grey has really taken off as a color option for wedding decor. I've been wanting to create design boards that bring in pops of color using grey as a neutral background. Here are a couple using yellow, grey and white.


Top to Bottom: Headband: Telsa via Etsy/ Flowergirl: Martha Stewart /Invitation: Passaipaperie via Etsy/Cake Topper: Red Light Studio via Etsy
This yellow, grey and white design board takes a whimsical look at this color palette. Birds are everywhere in wedding design and they can be subtly incorporated into the theme of your wedding. If you choose to embrace the bird trend, there are many options that I will post about later. Flower girls are just so cute and isn't this flower girl adorable!

Favors: Beaucoup/Necklace: J Crew /Invitation: Social Circles via Etsy/Bouquet: Brides
This yellow, grey and white palette takes on a more sophisticated and elegant feel perfect for an evening ceremony and reception. Bright pops of yellow are toned down with the coolness of grey.

More color palettes incorporating grey to come....

love.joy.laughter

Sensational Shells and Starfish

This past weekend I headed to SoHa in Ward Center to check out their wonderful selection of baskets, one of my favorite organizational tools, and I discovered that they are moving and everything in the store is 30% off. Before I could get to the baskets I discovered these amazing shell displays.

How stunning would this look as a centerpiece! Use a different variety of shells at each table and mix up the vase heights for added interest. For an extra "wow" group three vases of varying heights at each table and fill them up as they did.

I love starfish, especially the sugar variety little guy on top. Add one to each guests place setting for an extra fun surprise.

love.joy.laughter