Real Parties: Swap 'til You Drop!

A few weeks ago, I hosted a clothing swap at my house and a great time was had by all. Friends were invited to mix and mingle and enjoy a cocktail or two while they "shopped" for items donated by friends with similar styles. Not only was it an excuse for good friends to get together, but it was an opportunity to lend a hand to The Salvation Army. Leftover clothing was donated to the annual style show luncheon put on by the organization. There are many pictures to share, so get ready...

These ottomans served as inspiration for the invitations and all of the paper goods to follow.

The play area for my kids was transformed into a boutique style atmosphere.

As guests entered the house, they grabbed a card from the tree. Inside was a number which let them know when it was their turn to swap.

Yummy spiked pink lemonade was the drink of the afternoon.

The girls grabbed guilt-free meringues as they left the party.

The current economy is hard on us all and this was a small, but wonderful opportunity for a group of girls to update their wardrobe without spending a penny!

All images by photographer Ellen Johnson

The paper goodies were made by Hayley Hardcastle

if it ain't baroque...

i had so much feedback on my mod-baroque tablescape produced for the last issue of bride and bloom magazine i just had to do a post on where it can be seen throughout the blog-o-sphere!

as seen on coco + kelley!!!  it was SUCH an honor to be featured on a design blog, and one of my favorites no less!  it means the WORLD when other creative people, not just those in the wedding industry, can be inspired by my work!  to read the feature click here...

it was also featured on a really cool blog i now officially love...lots of fun finds at high street market!  to read the feature click here...

another design-inspired blog called my modern met picked up the tablescape...to read the feature click here...

the adorable jen from green wedding shoes blogged it as well...jen has been such a great support to me this past year and i cannot thank her enough for always believing in my work!  to read the feature click here...

and this last one was a first for me!  i had never been on 100 layer cake before so it was a treat to have them blog about it...to read the feature click here...

thanks again everyone for the support!!!  i can't wait to show the next couple of tablescapes i designed for bride and bloom's soon to be released issue!!!

Favorite Party Planning Books

I have LOTS of real parties to share with you this week! Coming up -- the clothing swap, an airplane birthday, a "tiny" party and an Elmo party done right. But for now, I wanted to share with you my favorite go-to party planning books. I have a big collection, but these are my favorites which are filled with lots of great details.

* David Tutera's books are filled with great party tips -- Big Birthdays, America Entertains, The Party Planner

* InStyle Parties

* Celebrations by Real Simple magazine

* Harrison & Shriftman is a PR firm out of New York and LA. The two founders have published two great party books which I love -- Party Confidential and Fete Accompli

Real Parties: A Progressive Birthday Dinner

All photography by MD Turner Photography

I love the idea of a progressive dinner to celebrate a milestone birthday! The guest of honor's sweet family and friends put together a SURPRISE progressive dinner for her 35th birthday! Carrie thought she was going over to her parent's house for a company party. Here Dad had fake invitations made that he sent out! Little did she know her nearest and dearest would be waiting to surprise her! After a few bites and bubbly, they headed to two different houses for dinner and then dessert.

Happy Hump Day: Back to School

Happy Hump Day and happy back to school week for many people!

That's right, summer has flown by and there are many in some form of back to school mode this week...parents of school age kiddos, teachers, other school administration etc. Where did our summer go???

As I mulled over the blog post topic for today, I was reminded of a conversation that took place between my husband and I just this past Sunday.

We had run a quick errand and passed a group of young boys playing basketball in our neighborhood...various bikes and scooters lay in a haphazard pile where their owners eagerly let them drop as they hopped off in anticipation of shooting some hoops. On our way back home a short time later, there were no boys or a single bike in sight. Sheldon (my husband) wondered out loud why they had all gone home when it was still fairly early in the evening. Knowing school started the following Monday for a lot of districts I replied "They probably had to go home to get ready for the first day of school."

Silence.

Sheldon: "I really hated this Sunday night growing up".

LG: "Really?? I loved the first day of school!!!"

That's the truth. I loved, loved, loved the first day of school...more accurately I suppose, preparing for the first day. New Clothes. New Supplies...notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, markers, map pencils, and more! Finding out what your new teacher was like, who was in the same class, who had your same lunch period...these were all things I looked forward to. I still love to wander up and down the aisles when stores put out their back to school merchandise. Which brings me to this question, HH and I LOVED back to school, did you?

In true HH Design House fashion we have much available for this occasion:
Stampers & Labels

Enclosure Cards

Water proof labels for sippy cups

Family stationery for notes to the teacher

Teacher notepads for notes to the parent

Cute napkins to spice up your kiddos lunchbox

Scroll down to enjoy our "back to school supplies"!

Also, with school back in session, don't forget about your child's fall birthday party! HH Design House is here to help with those party invites too!

So, get out your "to-do" list you neglected all summer and send us your projects...consider it your first Homework Assignment of the Year!