Holiday Housewarming

Earlier this month my husband and I entertained my old college roommates and a few city friends for a holiday housewarming party. It was our first time entertaining a large group in our home and since it is my favorite time of year I was very excited to decorate our home with lots of holiday cheer. Since college we have all moved to different parts of New England, some have families and some are just busy with life making it difficult for us to see each other as often as we would like. It was so nice to have new friends meet old and celebrate the Christmas season together. I will never forget this special night of having some of my favorite people all in one place. A few details of our little get together are pictured below. I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season with your friends & family! 

party invitations {address blocked out, white banner not on actual invite} // polka dot tape 

cheers letters 

shagreen octagon tray // candle // coasters // coffee table 

candy dish is vintage {similar here} // stockings // candle sticks // glass trees // candle 

menus // stands 

drink menu {other work can be seen here} // napkins // cups // stirrers // straws // bottle opener 

christmas carolers singing their hearts out 

catering by the fabulous sisters of Twin Tastes - everything was so delicious & only required a bit of heating on my end which saved me lots of time & stress

decorated our vintage bust "Francesca" with a sparkly necklace 

a simple festive wreath for our front door

even the guest room got a touch of greenery with this adorable holiday lavender tree that I put in a mercury glass vase

Rosé Season

While it feels a bit odd to be writing about wine at six am in the morning, I couldn't resist sharing a few favorites of summer's "It" drink. I feel it's safe to say that summer is no doubt rosé season. This delicious elixir is oh so refreshing on a hot summers days and nights, not too pricey and let's not forget that pretty pink coloration. Combine that with some stylish packaging and you have yourself a great hostess gift or something for you to enjoy at home. Just take a look at the little round up below. 

Charles & Charles Rosé // Summer in a bottle // White Girl Rosé // Underwood Rosé // Croteaux Sparkling Rosé & Regular Rosé // Chandon // Lucy Rosé // Pameplonne Rosé // Whispering Angel 

The Vodka Cleanse

Morning friends! I am back & hope you will forgive me for my very long absence from the blogosphere. I plan on doing a full "life lately" post later this week but I wanted to pop in today and share a fun little product I came across this past weekend on Shelter Island when I was home celebrating father's day with my family. 

I have tried lots of cleanses and usually quit within the first twenty four hours. Life without actual solid food is nothing this gal wants to be a part of. Hangry is a severe understatement of how I am when I am starving myself. So when I popped in one of my favorite Shelter Island markets this weekend and they were giving out samples for a new juice cleanse, I was all like "ugh, another juice cleanse Ill want to try, spend a fortune on and fail miserably at" then I saw the words vodka, tequila and party...my curiosity was peaked and I was suddenly sitting front row like a star pupil to learn all about this "cleanse". The company Clean Drinking is only in NY for right now but I am hoping with time they will be expanding, otherwise I will be silly bothering my family & friends back home to be overnighting me coolers of this magic elixir. Each juice is cold pressed, under 40 calories and is all natural. Some of the drinks are meant for mixing with your favorite alcohol to create a cocktail that is tasty treat without the caloric guilt that so many mixed drinks have. While the others are to help you feel revitalized on their own as a refreshing and hydrating drink, there is even one for the kiddos! I went to pick up some yesterday to bring back to Boston and they were sold out {insert sad face}, I fully plan on stocking up next time I am home. Oh and just for fun I put together a little round up of some cheery summer entertaining accoutrement to help make your next get together a little extra festive. 

Pretty Pottery

I have a major love for pottery, especially pieces that are topped off with a gilded rim. They look so beautiful displaying your meals and/or sitting pretty on your shelves. The china we picked from our wedding day is all white and pretty lackluster. I would love to amp up our table settings with more interesting pieces like these few that I rounded up from some stylish potters. The above set is from Suite One Studio which offers a slew of small batch beauties made right here in the good old USA. I first spotted this artist's work on the amazing website Food52 and was totally smitten as soon as I saw them. The lace pieces make such a beautiful wedding gift, don't you think? I also love that they above set coordinates so well with these small dishes that I featured in this etsy love post. 

The bowls below is from Studiomake under their "flawed" line which celebrates the beauty of imperfections. I personally love the soft colors and raw edges. They are almost too pretty to use...almost.

The trio below is a beautifully shaped set of dishes that can be used for catching keys to holding jewelry or for food.

Etsy is always a great resource for finding personalized pieces at great prices so when I saw these gold rimmed ring dishes in the prettiest calligraphy I knew I had to share. 

Shop some more gold rimmed treats for your home below!

#SpeakSoon

I am a major sucker for good packaging. You could pretty much wrap a muddy twig in something beautiful and I will likely buy it. So when I saw the gorgeous labels of Speak Wines, I was instantly lured in to discover more about the wine behind the artistic bottles. The company was started over what else? A glass of wine. Combine that with their genuine love of sweet sayings and style and you have a fabulous formula for a great product. What I am really loving is that while the packaging sure is easy on the eyes, they really do focus on the wine being stellar and at a friendly price point. I just ordered a case and will happily reporting back my findings. In the meantime I also put together a little round up of my favorite entertaining pieces that go coordinate brilliantly with the beauties above. 

cheese board // brass wine bucket // bottle stoppers // cheese knives // corkscrew {free monogramming} // wine markers // wine bottle coaster // table runner // wine bags // monogram cocktail napkins // wine aerator // wine glasses & carafe set // gilded bar stand

Holiday Gift Guide - For the Host/Hostess

Morning friends...I have been busy pinning away tons of fun gift ideas over here but wanted to start off the holiday season with my annual gift guide series. This time of year is for hosting parties and dinners with your nearest and dearest. So even though Thanksgiving isn't even upon us yet, saving the dates for the slew of holiday festivities is, which means you need to get your gifting game on. Whether the soiree thrower is a guy or a gal, any of the gifts below would be sure to make the recipient feel super appreciated!

one - I love games, especially ones that keep my family or guests around the dinner table longer. So I adore this idea of bringing elegant little glass vials that read a fortune to each guest.

two - I'll toast to any drink made in this glam shaker.

three - Who wouldn't fancy another on this playful tray?

four - Crack open another brewsky with this adorable pretzel bottle opener.

five - This is my kinda plant, succulent sculptures that are painted and gilded in the cutest geometric planters.

six - Pop, fizz & clink cocktail napkins are a welcomed place to put your drink on.

seven - Tis the season for all things peppermint and this cookie collection is no exception. Instead of bringing a typical store bought dessert, bring along some pretty and tasty cookies that boast the taste of the holidays.

eight - Who knew salt & pepper shakers could be so chic? Love these danish designed grinders available in a bunch of well coordinated colors.

nine - A bottle of vino rarely isn't finished in our home, but if we had leftovers, I would love to top them off with these gold geo bottle stoppers.

ten - I nearly died when I read this little pebble dish was replicated from a stone picked on my beloved Shelter Island {love when our little community is getting noticed}. I love that it can be used for food or trinkets & I adore the ability to mix the metal finishes together.

eleven - Is there anything better then olive oil and bread, I think not. Especially served in this cute little serving set and coordinating dishes.

twelve - I am seriously smitten with these festive bubbly bottles. I may need to order a case & gift to every house party I attend.

thirteen - J.Crew has added some very cool home items and this star cutting board is definitely one of them.

fourteen - Sometimes you just need your drink to go and it doesn't get cuter then this "break the ice" Kate Spade tumbler.

fifteen - Give your guests a stylish holiday guest towel set  for display in their home.

sixteen - Who doesn't love a candle burning during the holiday season? Gift them with some chic matches and you have yourself a stellar gift. 

Tory Burch Home

We all know Tory Burch for her comfy flats and incredible fashions that make mixing prints so effortless. This top designer has pretty much dabbled in everything from handbags to beauty so it should come as no surprise that she has extended her empire to include home decor. This collection of stemware, tabletop treats as well as home accessories is just as good as I would imagine coming from the well known brand. I personally love that the few items she is offering are shown with an image on how to decorate it a la Tory along with her signature packaging which is almost as pretty as the goodies itself. Oh and the blog offers some fun entertaining ideas and recipes to host your next get-together in style. Take a look below at some of my favorites along with her gorgeous styling suggestions.   Which items are you loving???

cocktail napkins // stemware // pillows {1 & 2} // platter // box // tray // frame // bottle opener // nutcracker // pitcher 

{see the entire collection}

all images via Tory Burch

Boston

My friend Amelia had a great idea to start a group Pinterest board with some other fab bloggers and friends to help map out our favorite spots in and around the Boston area. I personally loved this idea as she is always filling me in on the newest hot spot in our little city. The best part is that the list is literally mapped out thanks to foursquare and is a great mix of high end dining and cheap eats as well as some fabulous little boutiques. I know I love trying somewhere new and look forward to visiting some local eateries and stores that maybe I would have otherwise tried. Where is your favorite place to dine and shop in this little urban paradise???

Secret Spaces

There is a certain element of romance about traveling to New York, getting all dolled up and heading out to an elegant dinner with your special someone. I personally love that the massive city is always boasting a new place to try and or discovering hidden {literally} gems that are simply just new to me. Top all of that with a secret entrance and a swanky speak easy vibe and you have completely peaked my curiosity. Enter Beauty & Essex, this lower east side institution boasts a faux pawn shop at it's entrance of which when you pass through turns into a chic modern restaurant with some seriously stylish eats and drinks. I mean they serve bubbly in the ladies room, what is not to love about that! I can just imagine the incredible private parties that take place in their glamours spaces. While I haven't personally been to this sexy New York eatery {yet}, I have been to it's sister restaurant Stanton Social which was amazing. This is definitely on my list to try on our next trip to my beloved city!

want more secret storefronts in NYC - check out this article