Photographer Meg Baisden already hosted her Halloween party. And what a fabulous party it was! Her Halloween decorations were fun, festive and so sophisticated. It has just the right amount of glitter to suit an evening event.

You can add glitter to any objects. This allow you to buy less expensive props knowing that you can upgrade their look. It can be messy, so choose the right spot in your home.

The event was planned by Meg and her employee Jamie. I like how they integrated Meg’s home decor into their festive decor. When you host a party at home, it is an important consideration. By making them a part of your party decor, you send a warmer welcoming message to your guests. This is not always possible to accomplish. The easiest way is to consider the style of your home decor before planning your party theme and decorations.

Since they are professional photographer, it comes to no surprises that the pictures they took of the decor and the food are stunning. Since I envy the quality of her party photos, I feel inclined to mention it anyway.

MORE:
+ photos by Meg Baisden Photography

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I told you Friday that Halloween 2009 was about style. Home Sense did a table with skull and crossbone motifs that feel glitzy versus ghoulish. In fact, some of the items of the table, like the mirrored tray, could be used for New Year’s day. And to get this look will not make a huge hole on your budget.

Silver accessories are what bring style to this buffet table. It is time to bring back the inexpensive black wine glasses that were popular last decade. The damask and spider web print serverware is awesome and affordable.

If there is no Home Sense near you, capture the essence and try to find similar objects to design your own table. Check out the Eat, Drink and Be scary suggestions. You will find ideas for grown ups, kids and pumpkin carving templates.

SOURCING (no links since their catalog is not online):
+ Cobweb and damask print melamine serveware $4.99 – $19.99 CAD
+ Candelabra pillar candle $7.99 CAD
+ Black glass votives with skull detail $6.99  for 3
+ Skeleton hand napkin holder $9.99
+ Skeleton serving bowls small $6.99, large $9.99

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I scheduled brand new Halloween party mood boards for next week. But, in the meantime, have a look at what is still great ideas from previous Halloween. You could reinvent these ideas and use them as your starting point. I like those because:

+ It provides a warm welcoming with Bag-O-Lanterns. Find your own templates and you can craft the lanterns to fit any theme. Remember to use battery-operated lights, for safety reasons.

+ You can recycle these ideas for some many themes from the hospital to the obsessions. And it is super easy to make your own Candy favors in pill bottles. Simply glue a prescription tag to each bottle.

+ A Victorian Gothic feast is always fashionable. Plus, Halloween takes the stylish path instead of the scary road this year. You will see what I mean next week.

+ A Murder Mystery Halloween Party can lead to a fun game night.

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Weddings in a barn are popular. The Spring 2010 Chanel show in Paris will probably inspire many brides to be. Second to walking barefoot on a beach, I am curious to see if many brides and grooms will opt for walking the aisles barefoot in a hay path.

The gold basket could make an awesome container for the centerpiece. You could recycle the idea and make your own. I believe that the bride and groom must distribute one by one the party favors. Decorating a few baskets would add a fancy touch. It is more original than a tray.

To know more details about this fabulous presentation by Chanel, read what Garance Doré had to say about her experience at the fashion show.

October 15th, 2009 Update: you can see the construction of the barn in a video on Wallpaper. It took 6 weeks to create the concept of the barn and 38 men working full time for a week to assemble it.

+ photos: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters on Times Online, Garance Doré

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I recalled my excitement as a kid for Halloween. Going from house to house for treats was fun. But having a fabulous party at home with your friends is also great. Here a few craft ideas I gathered from Martha Stewart’s Halloween central. They will come handy for the school Halloween treats that your kid will bring or if you are hosting your own family-friendly Halloween party.

You can also go wildly fun like building a huge cat hole. Beware of the little kids who hide inside. As you can see, it is not that complicated to create a visual impact and set the mood for a great Halloween party.

Making an Impact with Simple Craft Projects

Cats, owls and pumpkins are classics that can always be reinvented. They are easy to make whether you cut a silhouette, shape them with food or stamp fabric. There is still plenty of time to craft these projects. Take a look at these for a head start.

Treat Bags

+ Creature Candy Dishes
+ Halloween Takeaway Treat Bags
+ Pumpkin Favor Pouches for Halloween

Party Decor

+ Bewitching Tree Decoration
+ Halloween Hang-Ups

Halloween Homemade Sweets

+ Invisible Lollipops
+ Halloween Lollipops
+ Black Cat Cookies

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It is unusual to bring flea market furniture and old TV sets in a wild forest for a picnic. This is part of the charm. Do not be afraid to put objects in an unexpected context. It can be as simple as that to spice up a party theme. These fabulous pictures were taken by photographer Roland Bello. You can see more inspiring food and lifestyle pictures on his Web site.

+ photos by Roland Bello
+ via English Muse

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On August 20th, 2009, there was an outstanding picnic party in Montreal. The Dîner en blanc (White Dinner) was imagined by François Pasquier 20 years ago. He ran 20 editions so far in Paris. His son Aymeric, who now lives in Montreal, organized the first edition in Montreal. A bid crowd invaded a large place in the city that is kept secret until the last minute. The goal is simply to pass a good time around a good meal in an unusual urban place.

For this chic affair, guests bring their picnic with a or two bottles of wine. In France, many people bring Champagne. Everyone must wear white clothes and people should dress up. If you own a gorgeous white hat, you should wear it. Besides the guests, the tables and chairs are all white.

Dîner en blanc encourages people to bring white china and to carry their food and drinks in a white basket or bag. Do not forget to bring your wine glasses, white linen napkins and a few tea votive candles for candlelight dining.

I love the concept because it is an elegant party where everybody pitched in. This is a true experience. Everyone that went was thrilled. As I discovered how they organized this large-scale picnic, I thought you could recycle the concept for a big outdoor reunion.

Set Up the Tables and Chairs

A bus brought the guests to the location. This process ensures a steady flow of people, which is key to the set up of the tables and chairs. In France, people bring their own chairs and tables. In Montreal, they were supplied.

The guests reserved as a twosome formed by a man and a woman. This is because the event design implies that you need to be accompanied by someone from the other gender.

Every pair/couple gets a specific place (row and number in the row). Each twosome received an overall floor plan to locate their row and a detailed plan of their section. Then, an orchestrated ballet started. Men picked their folding table and 2 chairs. Women grabbed the white tablecloth. You eyeball the location of your table in the row and as your table neighbors arrive you move to the right or to the left until the long communal table is built. It sounds complicated but it is not. 1200 guests were ready to sit down in less than 20 minutes last week.

All the men sit on one side while the women sit on the other side. The event design is based on symmetry. It is beautiful to see the alternating rows of people all dressed in white.

Fancy Food

The food that people bring is fancier than at a typical park picnic. If you do not wish to make it yourself, you can always ask a caterer to prepare the food for you. This way, it is already package to be carried around. With picnic basket on wheels, you can go the extra miles. I saw a Parisian couple who brought their cast-iron fondue pot to eat a cheese fondue.

Like I said, everyone that went to Montreal 2009 White Dinner had a fabulous time. I think that recycling their concept for your party in a park would be a hit. Watch this TV report from Radio-Canada about the first Dîner en blanc that happened in Montreal. Even if it is in French, just watching the images would give you a good idea of the event.

MORE:
+ Images from the Facebook group of the Montreal’s Dîner en blanc
+ Montreal’s Dîner en blanc

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No need to get fancy fondant cupcakes to make a lasting impression. You can go a long way with figures, stamps and creativity.

How This Mom Did It

Look at the impressive party realized by swishersweets80. I applauded that this mother got her supplies from several stores. Therefore, the result is not too matching. She nicely decorated the cupcake stands simply using red, blue and green gift wraps. Her stands could be used for a circus theme. They become Mario stands when she added the accessories. Video games, especially the ones from Japan,  are great because you can find a whole range of branded items that you can use as party decorations.

For favors, you can find soda drinks, candy boxes and figures at video games stores. Her favor bar included Rainbow Colored Barber Poles, Mario Bros. Band-Aids found at Urban Outfitters, Red and Green Caps and Fake Mustaches purchased at OrientalTrading.com, Coinboxes filled with Chocolate Coins and Gum Coins, and Mario Themed Mini-Stamps found at Amazon.com.

Games

You can play Mario games on the Wii. I suggest Mario Kart Wii with a Wii wheel or WarioWare: Smooth Moves which is a bunch of mini-games. You can play Mario Kart with the standard Wii controllers. A Wii wheel cost about $10. For an extra $30, everyone can drive with its own Wii wheel controller. Or you can ask a few friends to bring their Nintendo DS so you can host a tournament of Mario Kart.

This theme is not just for children. I know that my husband would like it for his birthday party. Remember the old arcade theme I did for him last year.

MORE:
+ photos by swishersweets80 on Flickr – rights reserved
+ learn how to make your own cupcake stands

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Many people, including couples who are getting married, opt for a rustic party theme. These are good reasons for that. It is style that is inviting, that feels warm and cozy.

You may have heard that Starbucks opened a new store concept, the 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea. Despite the design controversy, there are decor ideas that you can reclaim for your next rustic decor party. What caught my attention are in details. As you know, details are what transform an ordinary party into an extraordinary adventure.

The first item that I noticed is the old style teakettle. I think it is gorgeous. Setting an area outside for guest dogs to drink water is a nice touch when you are having a barbecue at the cottage or a long drive from home.

Another design idea that is worth recycling for a big party is the self-served counter. It has the charm of the general stores. Think how you could use that concept to serve food instead of setting a predictable buffet table. It is simple to reproduce the look. Visit flea markets to get your hands on vintage wood boxes. Secure them at an angle.

MORE:
+ Via PSFK – they took the photos with a phone
+ Press Release of 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea

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The super talented Kathleen of Twig & Thistle has designed the cutest party celebration kit for the Fourth of July. Her design is modern, festive and elegant. Build your party around these elements. You could print a second batch of sparkler cards to glue on handmade paper cones. Use the cones to serve cashews, popcorn or fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Kathleen provides the templates with easy to follow instructions on her blog. Basically, you simply print, cut, tape and you are ready to receive big Awe! from your guests. I absolutely adore it!

If you can remove the words “Fourth of July” with Photoshop or add a white rectangle on top to hide the unwanted words with MS-Word, you could print a second batch of the sparkler cards, matchbook covers and straw tag for when you host other summer parties.

MORE:
+ DIY 4th of July on Twig & Thistle

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When my friend Eden Spodek of istudio asked me if I would like to host a party at home for tasting True North’s eco-certified farm salmon, I immediately said yes. We cooked more often fresh salmon fillets on the BBQ than we prepared burgers. Plus, it was a great way to launch my outdoor entertaining season.

I invited a good of foodies within my friends. I kept it small so we can all sit down comfortably at my outdoor dining room. The theme was eco-chic BBQ. The food and the fact that I did the party on the World Environment Day led to that concept.

It was a casual event. Not going overboard and using what I already known seemed more appropriate with the party theme. I invited my friends using a private event on Facebook.

I did not use placemats and we ate on my wooden table. I felt more natural. I put on my table my real china, glassware and flatware. No need to get an outdoor dinnerware set. You save money and space.

My florist designed two centerpieces that were elegant but carried a wild-flower vibe. We went with Hyacinths (jacinthes d’Hollande) that look amazing and smell wonderful. I usually stayed away from flowers with a noticeable perfume when I am indoors but outside, it does not matter.

My Menu

I originally thought of a first course that I could serve with wooden plate. My husband was craving for the seared scallops and crispy prosciutto with roasted tomatoes and smashed white beans by Jamie Oliver. The recipe is on The Naked Chef Takes Off cookbook. Therefore, I made it.

This is a tasty and unique recipe that everyone adores. You never tasted something like that. Beware that although the technique is pretty simple, they are many steps to make this recipe. I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the recipe before a party, unless you are an experienced cook.

We served the grilled salmon with an assortment of grilled vegetables. We do not marinated the vegetables; we simply put a light coat of olive oil and grill them on each side for 4 minutes. Put more olive oil on the asparagus and the zucchini slices. We prepared a typical French dijon vinaigrette to go on top of the cooked vegetables. It is a classic side dish at our barbecue party.

A guest brought an Opera cake (it was the birthday of his wife) that we savored with a sparkling wine. We served white tea to finish the night. The party was a success. Everyone loves the food and the company.

In part 2, I will talk about the eco-label and the goodies I received from True North Salmon for making this party a reality.

CREDITS:
+ Shown of the pictures are people active on Twitter : @JoseeStAmand of lilyecolo.com, @simonrivard, Nathalie Rivard (@indigonat), Laurent Maissonave (@zelaurent) and @ihoule
+ You can see the body of my husband @jeromeparadis. Follow me on Twitter @kimvallee

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Add creativity to your desk with the exotic file folder set. It is part of the India collection, a PS design. The line includes flat cards, note cards, journals, wrapping paper, rubber stamps and colored glass tea light / votive holder. A good starting point to design a party.

The Papaya Lotus Lotus journal harmonizes well with the India pieces.

Summer Craft Projects

Paper Source just launched a blog. So far, I read inspiring craft projects that would be fun for entertaining this summer. I recalled that we learned in school how to make similar paper lanterns. They are easy to make.

For a picnic or a bike ride, create your own pinwheels. Rubber stamps adds character to solid paper. Both ideas would add a festive touch to any birthday or a baby shower.

SOURCING:
+ Gift Wrapping Paper – sheet $2.25 USD, roll $7.95 USD
+ Jaipur Block Print File Folder Set $27.95 CAD
+ Papaya Lotus Garden Journal $16.95 USD
+ For your handbag or next to the phone, keep a Papaya Simple Pink Bird Notepad $7.95 USD

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