So often, it’s the little details that take a party from ordinary to extraordinary…a tiny touch here, a pop of color there, and suddenly the entire fête is elevated to a new level. Take these brilliant versions of drink stirrers, for example. A twist of ribbon or a fluttering flag transforms something functional into something fabulous. See below for some of my favorite versions, and get inspired to DIY for your next summer get-together.

*Images: Snippet & Ink, Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Hello!Lucky

I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve seen photos from a wedding or party with the most eye-catching florals, only later to discover they were designed by the brilliant team over at Saipua (who else?!) These Brooklyn-based floral designers consistently put out the most lovely & innovative creations, and I’m particularly drawn to the way they use unexpected natural elements in arrangements. Each one has the most organic sense of movement and unique mix of colors. Which one is your favorite?

http://www.saipua.com/

Swooning over this destination wedding in Iceland (sunshine for 24 hours!) styled by the sublime Jillian over at 100 Layer Cake. So many steal-worthy ideas for crafting a completely original wedding or party, & the raw, natural beauty of Iceland couldn’t have been a more romantic backdrop. The beyond-gorgeous invites created by Sarah Hanks chronicled the couple’s love story and set the tone for a vintage-y wedding inspired by books & wordplay. A few of my favorite details…

The ceremony overlooked the ocean & lava fields, & natural elements from the land were incorporated wherever possible: The bride’s bouquet included bunches of wildflower gathered from the surrounding fields!

Such a clever idea for an escort card display: guests picked up their card, then had to find the seat with a corresponding phrase. (ie, the bride’s phrases were “I heart” and “Mark!”)

Scrabble pieces & faded books make delightfully unexpected additions to each place setting.

Exquisitely done, Jillian, & congrats to Christina & Mark on a beautiful start to their marriage. And thanks to all for the inspiring designs & total originality. And thanks to these images, I’ve definitely added Iceland to my wish-list of vacay spots…

*Credits: Event Design: Jillian Event Design, Flower: Jesse of Rountree Flowers, Photo: Kyle Hale

Lately I’ve been spotting lots of fresh, unexpected alternatives to table linens for summer entertaining. Like the one above: utilitarian kraft paper is such a modern canvas for a variety of tabletop looks. Go for a minimalist look by pairing with white dishes, or use as a clean backdrop for brilliantly colorful flowers & tableware. And what’s not to love about a table “linen” that requires no ironing, and is disposable to boot? A few other genius ways to turn humble materials into chic table toppers…

This resourceful bride transformed vintage grain sacks into rustic runners for her wine country wedding. (The couple also DIY’d the amazing chandeliers, &  repurposed IKEA curtains into pillows for lounge furniture. So crafty!)

Or how about a grass green runner made of astroturf? I love how the floral arrangements appear to be growing right out of the table!

Other ideas? I’d love to hear all of your stylish suggestions for unique materials to top the table!

*Images {from top} Style Me Pretty, Snippet & Ink, Remodelista.

As much as I love clean, modern design, today’s inspiration board appeals to the unabashedly girly side of my aesthetic. Soft shades of white with the faintest whispers of pink recall the organic blush of a seashell’s interior. Design a summer shower or wedding with details that evoke the graceful beauty of the ballet: chairs skirted with ruffly chiffon, a bouquet cascading with satin ribbon, invitations swirling with feminine calligraphy, & a place card perched delicately on the rim of a crystal flute. As ethereal as the images appear, several of these gems are surprisingly simple to recreate. Go here for instructions on crafting the celebratory drink stirrers; and here for the how-to on setting up a glam dessert liqueur bar.

*images: {row 1} ruffly chairs, style me pretty; liqueur bar & flowers & pearl image, martha stewart weddings {row 2} ballerinas & place cards, martha stewart weddings; cocktail table, style me pretty; placesetting, sunday suppers {row 3} stationery, martha stewart weddings; drink flags, shana faust; ballerina, snippet & ink; meringues, sunday suppers {row 4} cake, rebecca thuss; favors, snippet & ink; votive holders, style me pretty.

For recent parties, I’ve been loving the idea of making the bar a decorative showpiece, as well as a spot that’s as much about social mingling as beverage mixing. This gorgeously minimal martini bar spotted on Sunday Suppers accomplishes both goals to perfection, and it also spotlights the trend towards classic cocktails in a crisp, modern setting.

Guests mixed drinks to their liking with Vodka, Vermouth, soda, dirty water, & garnishes (olives, cucumbers, & lemons.) I love how the clear glass vessels allow the beauty of the individual ingredients to take center stage. Rustic elements like a tarnished silver ice bucket & stir sticks are a unique counterpoint to the modern glass, and provide a bit of old-world character to the set-up.

Images: Karen Mordechai via Sunday Suppers.

Well my dears, today is a day of fun, relaxation & celebration…because it’s my birthday! And I must confess, I happen to love celebrating my birthday. For each one of my 26 years, I’ve awoken on May 29th with a feeling of such anticipation for the coming year; 365 unblemished days stretching before me that symbolize fresh beginnings & unexpected twists and turns. I also wake up anticipating the always-delicious birthday cake my mother makes for me…a special order of whatever sweets my heart desires. So to commemorate this favorite tradition, I’m sharing some images of the most to-die-for homemade cakes that I recently spotted on Project Wedding. Each has a bit of an imperfect homespun quality, but is undeniably gorgeous, too. Feast your eyes…I’m off to blow out my candles!

One of the most fun parts of attending culinary bootcamp in Napa is coming home & trying out new techniques on my friends. This recipe for pesto definitely tops my list of new favorites. I know what you’re thinking: It doesn’t get more simple than pesto! Which is why this version is revolutionary; it incorporates two key steps that I had never heard of in all my pesto-making days. And trust me: they make a world of difference! So, without further ado…

1. Blanch the basil (or other herb) first! (This locks the beautiful bright green color into the herb and prevents discoloration.)
2. Use poached garlic…never raw! (This eliminates the strong, funky flavor of raw garlic that can be overpowering.)

Remember those, and you’ll be whipping up the finest pesto you’ve ever tasted–perfect for slathering on crostini, drizzling on pizza, & swirling into soups.

I made my pesto with a combo of parsley & basil, & substituted walnuts for pine nuts. The basic recipe just uses basil, but feel free to use cilantro, arugula, watercress, or just about any other herb or green your heart desires.

Perfect Basil Pesto

Yield: One cup.

• 3 cups fresh basil leaves (packed)
• 1 tablespoon chopped poached garlic
• 1 -2 tablespoons lightly toasted & chopped pine nuts, almonds, or walnuts
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
• Salt & freshly ground pepper

Plunge basil leaves into pan of boiling water for 5-10 seconds. Immediately drain and plunge into bowl of ice water to stop the cooking & set bright green color. Drain & squeeze out all the water you can. Chop basil coarsely & add to food processor along with garlic, nuts, & oil & puree. Transfer to a bowl & stir in cheese. Correct seasoning with salt & pepper. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe

Today’s board was created for a bride-to-be in need of some color advice. Kara in St. Louis asked for a little inspiration for her fall wedding…She wants to use lavender herbs (and the color) as the dominant shade, but isn’t sure how to make this work for a cool-weather affair. To show how this palette can easily work for a fall wedding, I’ve paired rustic French country lavender with moody shades of grey to keep it from looking too summery. Tiny cakes garnished with fresh herbs are stacked on a wooden stand, delicate flowers are paired with rosemary & lavender to capture the romance of the French countryside, & guests are given boxes of dried flowers to shower the bride & groom as they depart. It all comes together for a look that’s classically sweet with a polished edge.

*Images: {Row 1} Favors & Cakes, Martha Stewart Weddings; Bouquet, Thayer Allyson Gowdy; Envelope, Style Me Pretty {Row 2} Desserts, Amy Atlas; Tablesetting, Jubilee Events; Stationery, Wiley Valentine via Oh So Beautiful Paper {Row 3} Sugar Cubes, Fauchon; Lavender Bouquets & Boxes, Style Me Pretty; Dress, Shana Faust {Row 4} Pinwheel Escort Cards, Snippet & Ink; Lavender & Figs, Sunday Suppers; Table Numbers, Style Me Pretty.

I arrived home from my culinary adventure in Napa late last night, and am positively bursting with stories and photos to share from the experience. We’ll get to all that, but first I wanted to start the week with a Monochromatic Monday based on the brilliant colors of our hot air balloon ride through the wine country on Saturday. Our balloon was striped in vibrant shades of crimson, navy, & butter (center photo), and the Napa sunrise made the entire landscape glow. What perfect inspiration for a May party, full of fantastical whimsy and a rainbow of balloons. Snow cones & lollipops hearken to long-ago summer afternoons, just-picked cherries make charming favors, and classic navy & white stripes are necessary attire for a leisurely-yet-elegant picnic lunch.

Images: {Row 1} Poster, Oh Happy Day; Cherries, ACE Hotel; Flags, Style Me Pretty {Row 2} Envelopes, Martha Stewart Weddings; Red Balloons, Black Eiffel {Row 3} Striped Top, Snippet & Ink; Cherry Favors, Rebecca Thuss; Hot Air Balloon photo taken by me; Rock Candy, Gemma Comas {Row 4} Table Setting, Martha Stewart Weddings; Candy Buffet & Snow Cones, Gemma Comas; Hot Air Balloon Invitation, Sesame Letterpress.