Holiday Favorite

(Dress: Lilly Pulitzer// similar here, here, here) 

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the many occasions to dress up! I love any reason to throw on a party dress and a pair of heels. This one-shouldered dress is so whimsical, playful, and the perfect silhouette for a night out on the town or hosting a stylish soiree. I'm always drawn to bold colors around this time of year, and there's something so elegant about a cool blue flecked with gold. It just might become my holiday favorite this year! As social calendars begin to fill up, do you have a go-to outfit? What are your favorite trends this season?

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Crimson & Gold Christmas Party

I hosted this crimson and gold Christmas soiree two years ago, and never shared it on the blog! With all the festivities of the season in full swing, I thought it would be fun to bring it out of the archives to enjoy once again! For many years it's been a tradition to have a bunch of my friends over for a fun evening of good food, lots of catching up, a gift exchange, and a little glitz and glam. For this party, a little shimmer and hand-lettered touches were just the thing to pull all the colors together. The menu was quite simple, and guests got to enjoy some divine chocolate hazelnut truffles and mini vanilla bean cupcakes from my dear friend Leigh. We had such fun toasting with sparkling cider to happiness, friendship, and many adventures ahead. I just love this season...it's the most wonderful time of the year! 

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Fall Fête

Autumn is quickly arriving, and I've got a few fun ways for you to celebrate this cozy season!

Whether you're hosting friends and family for dinner, or a few of the girlfriends for a fun evening in, you'll want to check out these fall fetes I've styled! 

Autumn's Arrival Party

Fabulous Fall

Here's some stylish entertaining made simple...and don't miss my top 10 tips to hosting a perfect party!

Happy Fall entertaining, everyone! 

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Beach Bash

Guess what?! The Summer issue of Lydia Magazine is now live! Catch all of the details that went into creating this colorful and simple Bohemian-inspired Summer Beach Bash, as well as more amazing content from the talented Lydia staff!

Read it online HERE or order a print copy of your own HERE. 

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How to Host Your Very Own Oscars

I've got a special guest post from a friend of mine, that seems oh-so-appropriate for this upcoming weekend! Who is tuning in to watch the Oscars?? I love to see all the gorgeous gowns strutting down the red carpet during awards season, and this is sure to be another high-style moment for the fashion-forward community! This is also an excellent opportunity to host a fabulous get-together to watch the fancy frocks..and yes, the awards themselves! Ready to learn how it's done? Morgan is here to give you a few ideas! Enjoy!
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Hosting the Oscars is one of the biggest honors to have in Hollywood. Hosts are carefully selected for their wit and charm, and thoughtfully mulled over in their ability to command the crowd, address the audience, and simply make people laugh. With all of the Billy Crystal’s and Ellen Degeneres’s in the world, who’s to say that you can’t be your own host, of your own Oscars? This year, forget Hollywood and take the Oscars to a new level: to your very own home.

Throwing an Oscar party is no new idea, but turning said party into an actual Oscar competition will offer your guests an entirely new experience. Of course, watching the real Oscars is a necessity, but instead of leaving the night at that, you too can create your own awards for which your guests can compete. And here are some ways you can channel your creativity and make the Oscar awards your own.

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Best Costume (and Set) Design

No matter what kind of party you’re throwing, adding costumes always makes it more fun. Have your guests come up with their own costumes for you Oscar party, and encourage them to go outside of the box and do something unexpected. You can set a theme for your Oscar party (ie. Old Hollywood, funky fashion, movie-inspired), or just let your guests take the reigns and show up in something all their own. Throughout the night, your guests can vote on who is the best-dressed, and by the end of the night you can crown your very own Best Costume Design award winner.

Regardless of the theme, however, a tried-and-true tip when it comes to your Set Design, aka your entertaining and decor supplies, is to keep it movie-based when possible. My friends know me well and have gotten me some pretty classy stuff, my favorite being an “Admit One Ticket” serving tray from RedEnvelope. With touches like this, I don’t think your guests will argue against you monopolizing that category.

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Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Not unlike the costume category, makeup and hair can be a lot of fun, and a great way for your guests to express themselves while showing their film-inspired creativity. This can be its own award, and you can encourage your guests to show up with the most outrageous hair and makeup that they can come up with.

Best Sound Mixing

The sound-mixing category is always a fun one with film, but you can interpret this in your own way, by having your guests bring their own Oscar night playlists to be the soundtrack to your event. You can sample the different mixes throughout the night, ultimately picking one champion whose mix of tunes outplayed the rest.

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Best Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role

Throwing an extravagant party is no easy task, and you may want to call upon a few close friends to help you prepare. Use your party as an opportunity to thank your friends for all of their help, and highlight the supporting roles they have had in your life. It’ll be a fun way to show your gratitude, and a cute interpretation of this staple Oscar category. You can choose to showcase a few friends with a special gift, or take this time to acknowledge all of your guests for the roles they have in your life, and treat them to movie-inspired party favors like these as a way to say thank you.

Best Picture

Best Picture is the ultimate award, long awaited and highly coveted. For your Oscar party, you can use this category to showcase the big prize of the night, (last year I used and have some fun with how your guests can claim this award. If you’re feeling artsy and want your guests to join in on the fun, take the “Best Picture” term literally and have your guests draw or paint a movie scene of their choosing. The “best picture” of the bunch will win, adding another dimension to the Oscars, and giving your guests another friendly competition to take part in.

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Read Morgan's Blog

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Snapshots of Life Lately

I hosted a little "Gal-entine's" Day party which was a girl's night in complete with all kinds of sweet things, bubbly drinks, valentine making, and lots of conversation! What a fun way to celebrate such a sweet holiday!

Got to enjoy Valentine's day all dressed up in pink with this girl! Love my sis!

 Completed my first 5k, and got first in my age division! Hooray! Can't wait for a few more in the next couple months ahead!

The weather says spring is definitely here, and I'm so thrilled to enjoy the sunshine, blue skies, and warmer weather! A peaceful weekend is one enjoyed outdoors in a gorgeous garden...total bliss!

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Happy List

We talk so much about the things that we dislike, don't want, wish were different, want to change, and so on..., but it's oh so much better to think & talk about what we love. One of the things that's helpful for me is to create a "happy list" of the things that make me smile, feel good, and enjoy life! I encourage you to do it too, as it brings such a great perspective. It's also a great way to cure a "bad day" because once you start thinking of a few things that make you smile, more seem to come to you, and sooner or later you're in a happy state of mind!

Here's 25 things in life that make me happy:

1. Sunshine-filled days

2. Beach days 

3. Coconut candles

4. Stargazing

5. Parties

6. Ice cream on a hot summer's day

7. fresh flowers 

8. a perfectly ripe peach

9. laughing so hard I cry...which is pretty much every time

10. a really good workout

11. travel

12. meaningful conversations with good friends

13. summer

14. books

15. beautiful view

16. a well-styled outfit

17. the right song at the right time

18. journaling

19. fireworks

20. coral lipstick

21. handwritten letters/cards/notes 

22. trying a new recipe

23. dancing

24. giving someone a sincere compliment

25. accomplishing a life goal

What makes your happy list? 

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Valentine Friendship Tea

As February gets into full swing, it's time to plan for Valentine's Day. Last year, I hosted a Friendship tea around Valentine's Day for some friends of mine, and thought it would be fun to share it with you! We spent the better part of the late afternoon catching up on each other's lives over sweets, sparkling pink lemonade, and raspberry tea. Everyone loves receiving a note of appreciation, especially around Valentine's Day, so after tea, we brought out the scissors, glitter & pink ribbons, and got to work creating a sweet note or two for friends and family! 

One of my favorite things about Valentine's Day is the fact that it's a great reminder to let those that you love know that you care! Whether you're single, or in a relationship, be sure to share a little love with others; it's surprising how much it blesses you! 

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Dockside Dinner Party

This week I was going through a bunch of photos, and reorganized some folders, and in the process, came across the folder from the party that graces the cover of this series, and realized that it was never shared on here. This gorgeous evening was a styled event that was done as a piece for The YouAre Project summer edition of their print magazine, and is one of my favorite parties to date! So, without further ado, here's a Summer Dockside Dinner Party. Enjoy! (Photographed by Alyssa Shrock Photography)

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Fête Friday

It's Fête Friday! We're talking recipes and menu planning this week.

Last week we talked all about how to plan out your menu, what things to pick up vs. making yourself, and speaking of making things in the kitchen, it seems only natural to share a few fun recipes that I've enjoyed for past celebrations! 

I happened upon this amazing recipe (and I mean seriously delish!) for a peach cake on Pinterest this summer, and when planning a summer soiree to celebrate my favorite season and birthday, it seemed only appropriate to use this luscious fruit. Not only was the cake moist and light, but the subtle sweetness of peaches mixed into the batter, coupled with the delightful whipped frosting made for a perfect combination of flavors that enchanted every guest! You'll certainly want to bookmark this one! It's easily tweaked to add any kind of fruit for flavor, hello possibilities!

Two of my favorite (and oh so simple) appetizers were my go-to for a sparkling NYE celebration. Most apps are high in calories, overly filling, and easy to feel guilty about later. Satisfy your guests with something sweet, savory and waistline-friendly (score!) that they'll talk about all night long! 

This comes together so simply, yet packs a lot of flavor. Thinly slice your pears, and sprinkle a handful of crumbled goat's cheese and a handful of dried cranberries on each piece. Finish with a drizzle of honey (if desired), and serve! You'll want to double or even triple this recipe depending on the size of your guest list. 

This tasty crostini is flavorful, rich, and a staple in my entertaining arsenal. It comes together with a few simple ingredients that you can quickly assemble into a savory snack. Begin by slicing up your french baguette into bite size slices (I tend to make these kind of thick because who can resist a big, warm slice of a great baguette??) and spread with hummus. There's many varieties of hummus flavors, but the roasted red pepper, lemon, or even plain tend to be great choices. Chop your celery and green onion (some grocery stores have this combination pre-chopped, if so, save time and pick that up!) and garnish each slice with a generous handful. (Note: you can also add a few chopped green or black olives to each slice) Drizzle with olive oil, and top with freshly cracked black pepper & salt for some extra flavor! This is an excellent addition to a cheese plate, or served alone, but make sure to prepare enough..you're going to want to go back for seconds! 

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What are your favorite party foods?

Have a favorite recipe? I'd love to hear it (or get a link to it!). 

Leave me a note in the comments below, or email it my way! 

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