party plans

Dinner parties are my favorite type of party to host. Intimate, relaxing and fun, a dinner allows you to really visit each of your guests and highlight your culinary skills.
I just got back from a trip to Spain and have not had a chance to see all of my friends yet. That's why I've decided to invite 7 of my closest friends over this Saturday for a winter themed dinner party. As always, I'm making and sending my own invitations. To see what I've got in mind, read more

After I've taken out the trash, wiped down the counters, and washed the dishes after one of my parties, I like to take a moment to sit back and reflect on everything. Was there enough food? Not enough food? Did the wine pair well with the meal? Did the guests enjoy what I prepared? Did my surprise activities go as planned? Would I consider the party a success? These are all questions I ask myself after hosting an event. If I found out a friend has an allergic reaction to shrimp at my seafood extravaganza dinner, I'll make a note in my hostess diary to remind me not to make shrimp the next time said guest returns to dine at my house. If I receive a bottle of wine as a gift and we throughly enjoyed it during the meal, I'll write down the vintage and make of the label for future use.

Also, if you took the time to create a party plan, save these notes in a manila folder or special diary. Trust me, if you threw an awesome Valentine's Day fiesta last year, referring back to your plan and after party notes will only make this year's party that much better. It's a good idea to discuss the flow of the party with your partner or friends a few days later because they can offer you important tips and interesting insights that you may have overlooked. So remember, following your upcoming soirée, make it a point to reflect on all that happened at your party, good and the bad.



Having a special little book that you specifically use for making after party notes is a great way to motivate yourself to reflect. You can get the above diary (which I have!) at Shop Intuition for $16.95. Aspinal calls their hostess diary, the dinner party book, and comes in an assortment of colors including my personal favorite pink. A simple red leather hostess book is available at Amazon UK and a who ate what when mini hostess book can be found at William and Son for £68 (about $130).

Next Monday, I'm throwing a small Golden Globes Viewing party for me and my girlfriends. It's quite simple to plan a television/movie viewing party if you take it one step at a time. Each day this week I have been working on a different piece of the fiesta. Monday I sent invitations, Tuesday I chose a menu, yesterday I paired drinks with the menu, and today I have to figure out how I am going to decorate my house. To learn what I have up my elegantly armed sleeve, read more

Although I'm all for getting creative and making my own homemade invitations, when it comes to something as important as your wedding, it's best to let the professionals handle it. The ideal situation is to work with an invitation maker to design a personalized invite. Elegant letterpress invitations are very in right now and if you are planning a wedding or hosting a large event that calls for professional invitations, you should consider using letterpress. Letterpress is a five centuries old printing process that now combines old-school printing techniques with digital layouts for a traditional yet modern result. Designs are created on the computer and then turned into pressing plates.

All the type and images are raised up on the plate and form the printed image. The ink is applied to these raised places, and then the plate is pressed onto the paper much like a rubber stamp. Letterpress printing imparts an unmistakable impression in the paper, giving a vivid, three-dimensional appearance that is incredible chic, stylish, and sophisticated. If you are interested in working with a letterpress design team to produce your ideal invite, I recommend Dauphine Press or Bella Figura.

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The Golden Globes air next Monday, January 15 (check out BuzzSugar's post on this year's Golden Globe nominees). You know how much I love to throw a party, so I've decided it's another opportunity to gather up the girls to gossip about the best dresses while we savor some good food and tasty drinks. Since the party will be on a Monday night, it will be very informal and relaxed. First things first, I have to invite my girlfriends. To see how I plan on inviting them, read more