When I checked the calendar today, I was shocked to see that Labor Day is quickly approaching…bookending the end of summer and welcoming the first hints of fall! Today’s inspiration board celebrates this national holiday with a taste of americana in red & white gingham, stars + stripes, & faded bandanas. It’s a weekend made for (what else?) a barbecue, but a down-home celebration needn’t mean mediocre hot dogs & store-bought potato chips. Tiny-sized burgers are made even cuter with bandana flag toothpicks; festive koozies make a humble bottle party-worthy; & a strawberry-topped tart is a gorgeous way to serve up the last tastes of summer. Mason jars work double duty as lemonade goblets and vessels for the homemade jam that guests tote home as a sweet remembrance of the day. Make your own favors with the darling labels found here.

*Images: {row 1} Barn, Gertrude & Mabel via Snippet & Ink; Boots, Photorange Photography via 100 Layer Cake; Sliders, Martha Stewart {row 2} Beer Koozies, The Lettered Olive; Parfaits, Style Me Pretty; Strawberry Tart, Martha Stewart; Matches, Photorange Photography {row 3} Tomatoes, Karen Mordechai via Sunday Suppers; Table, Gertrude & Mabel; Spread the Love, Miss Pickles Press {row 4} Strawberry Shortcakes, Jonathan Ong via 100 Layer Cake; Shoes, Gertrude & Mabel.

It’s so refreshing to see an invitation that’s truly original, like this one…and this one…and this too-cute-for-words circus-themed one that jewelry designer Caroline Armelle Drake designed for her son’s second birthday party. She created “polaroids” (in photoshop) of the birthday boy holding a red balloon and included them with the ticket-shaped invite. The final surprise touch was a red balloon printed with a secret “password” that redeemed a prize at the circus party- when guests blew up the balloon, the password was revealed! Told you it was creative! Take a look at all the darling details…

Definitely doesn’t hurt to have a fabulously talented designer in the family, especially when it comes time to celebrate an all-important birthday with a blowout party. Such was the case when Joseph rang in the big 3-0 last month, and his wife Kathleen (the uber-talented designer behind Twig & Thistle) designed the chicest invitations to spread the word about his surprise bash. Don’t you love the faux bois paper paired with a ‘brand’ that’s reminiscent of that on a big, juicy steak? So masculine…yet somehow still very chic. Take a look at all the yumminess…

Kathleen letterpressed the invitations in white ink, and folded kraft paper into envelopes that resembled meat packaged at the market…even sealing them shut with stickers from the meat counter at the grocery store (um, genius?) The best part of the story? Joseph was completely, totally surprised by the 50 guests who showed up to celebrate his special day.

*via Twig & Thistle

We all love inspiration boards & pretty pictures, but sometimes I just want to see them come to life in a real party! So I was obviously thrilled when Cassandra asked me to be a regular contributor on her amazing blog coco+kelley to do this very thing in a From Fantasy to Fête series. Twice a month, we’ll take some lovely piece of inspiration and infuse it into a real-world party with tons of steal-worthy details for home entertaining. Hope you enjoy…and if you’re inspired by this Picnic in Paris board, hop on over to take a look at the party!

Over the weekend, I tried out a new recipe for a watermelon salad with feta & arugula…Turned out delish, but while I prepped it I stole so many bites of the drippingly sweet melon that I almost made myself sick! Once I tossed it together, the bright juicy pink against peppery green arugula was such a cheery color combo, I realized it would be the perfect palette for a summer party. Icy melon snow cones to beat the heat, a grassy lawn for a croquet match, & whimsical sodas with colorful labels set a fun retro tone. Don a flowing coral dress that catches the breeze as you dash around the lawn pouring watermelon margaritas for friends.

*Images: {Row 1} Flowering Tree, Cannelle et Vanille; Poppy Cake, Martha Stewart Weddings; Corsage, Saipua; Macarons, Cannelle et Vanille {Row 2} Dress, Snippet & Ink; Snow Cone, Gemma Comas; Tequila Watermelon, Martha Stewart; Invitations, Ceci New York {Row 3} Watermelon Photo, Well Wed via Snippet & Ink; Table, Brabourne Farm; Sodas, Sunday Suppers; Watermelon Margaritas, Martha Stewart.

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.

Every summer when I was growing up, my mother would take us to a nearby strawberry field where we would spend a blissful afternoon picking (and eating!) our weight in the juiciest fruit. Over the next few days, those berries would take many forms: jars of vibrant jam for gift-giving, sliced & served over yogurt, & (my favorite) layered between buttery shortcakes & whipped cream. For me, that very dessert epitomizes the start of summer, and its colors are the inspiration for this warm-weather party. Playful straws striped in red & white, pots overflowing with geraniums, & cupcakes crowned in meringue are festive details for a birthday party or bridal shower. Spread the Love by sending guests home with homemade jars of jam to enjoy at next day’s breakfast.

*Images: {Row 1} Apple Orchard, Elizabeth Messina; Ice Cream Sundae Bar; French Napkin, Vintage Weave; Tissue Flower, Martha Stewart Weddings {Row 2} Meringue Cupcake, Martha Stewart; Straws, Shoes, & Jam, Style Me Pretty {Row 3} Strawberry Shortcake, 100 Layer Cake; Stationery, Martha Stewart Weddings; Geraniums, Snippet & Ink {Row 4} Striped Skirt & Chihuahua, Snippet & Ink; Favors, Amy Atlas; RSVP card.

Today’s inspiration board is a saturated dose of vibrant color to welcome the warm days & balmy nights of spring. Usually I associate the word aquamarine with a soothing wash of watery blues…but this color palette is punched up with poppy details for a look that’s much more zesty than zen. A brilliant bouquet of balloons, carnival snacks like popcorn & lollipops and teal-toned macarons lay the foundation for a playful & outside-the-box party. The take-home lesson? Try mixing shades that may not seem like natural pairings; like this aqua-poppy combo, you just might stumble upon a match made in heaven.

*Images: {Row 1} Cake, Style Me Pretty; Table, Martha Stewart Weddings, Balloons & Pins, Snippet & Ink {Row 2} Cupcakes, Snippet & Ink; Popcorn, Style Me Pretty; Lollipops, Jamie Hammond; Favors, Martha Stewart Weddings {Row 3} Macarons, Style Me Pretty, Cake Stand with Candy & Invitations, Martha Stewart Weddings.

I’m continually ‘wowed’ by the creativity of escort card displays spotted on events across the web. This decor element has suddenly taken center stage as one of the most innovative ways to highlight a wedding or party’s theme, while serving a totally functional purpose. I fell in love with the muted colors on the minimalist cards above, but I’m equally enamored with the more elaborate versions below…

A super DIY bride made this rustic, moss-filled box to elegantly display her escort cards. (via The Bride’s Cafe)

For an incredibly personal touch, one couple found old pictures of each of their wedding guests, printed them to look like polaroids, and then strung on a clothesline with table assignments. For a springtime soiree, butterflies bearing guests’ names billow in the breeze. (via Martha Stewart Weddings)

This New York Stock Exchange-inspired display, created by Fete NYC, officially gets the Top Creativity award. Guests’ names & table numbers glowed on the screen…fitting, since the event was held in a former bank.

Of course, a display can be pure fun & games. On the left, guests are asked to “Count the hearts to find your table.” On the right, a display inspired by The Price is Right adds a whimsical touch. (via Martha Stewart)

*Top image from Style Me Pretty.

In this morning’s post, we started planning the invitations, menu, & festive Bellini Bar for a late-night dessert party to ring in Valentine’s Day. Now we put the finishing touches on this February 14th to make it one to remember, no matter what your relationship status.

Set the Scene:

Lighting is key to creating a romantic ambiance. Install pink light bulbs to cast a warm, flattering light, and place clusters of white votives on tables, buffets, and windowsills for an allover glow. Keep flowers streamlined: cluster different shades of pink blooms in low cylindrical glass vases and place on the bar, buffet, and coffee tables. For an added bit of intrigue, scrawl romantic poetry on heart-shaped cards (Byron, Shelly, and Keats are a good place to start) and leave “love notes” around the room for guests to discover as they mingle.

*Frugalista tip: instead of splurging on tons of flowers, buy a few large pink peonies and float them in low, clear bowls of water.

On the iPod:

A party this sexy deserves a sultry playlist with a lounge-y vibe. Think jazzy songstresses like Diana Krall (Let’s Fall in Love), Nina Simone (The Look of Love), and Ella Fitzgerald (My Funny Valentine.)

The Parting Gift:

Send guests home with a stylish token of affection. A luxurious bottle of Jo Malone’s Red Roses bath oil and a box of the sexiest chocolates (by Austin-based confectioner Delysia) are likely to spark some serious after-party fun.

The Recipes:

Handwritten Cupcakes

Fig Hearts

Coeurs a la Creme