Since I will be in Boston this August to attend PodCamp Boston 4, I started a shopping list. I scheduled visits to stores that we do not have here in Montreal. I will go to Lekker naturally. Another store that I affection is Anthropologie. Their vintage, granny, Bohemian chic look is really distinctive.

I am a fan of their tea towels, potholders and mitts. I wish that their dishtowels were not as expensive. That Fleur de Lys pitcher is awesome. This Provencal pitcher is definitely on my shopping list.

SOURCING:
+ Tweeting Tea Party Dishtowel $24 USD
+ Painted Garden Serving Bowl $72 USD
+ Fleur de Lys Pitcher $28 USD
+ Yellow Birdie Bungalow Dishtowel $18 USD
+ Red Sea Potholder and Red Sea Mitt $12 USD each

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Since it is no more fashionable to serve bottled water, the trendy hostess needs to dish up the tab water. Last summer, I showed you how to serve a pitcher of water with fresh berries. The look was great but the taste of the water is not distinctively altered by the berries.

Cucumber water improves the taste of tap water. Spa aficionados already experience the benefits of cucumber water for improving the look of your skin. On top of it, this drink is simple to make at home.

Cucumber Water Recipe

In order for the cucumber to fully release its juice, you need to prepare it the day before your event.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, sliced and unpeeled + 6-7 cucumber slices for decoration
• 1 1/2 to 2 liters of water
• 3 mint sprigs + 2 mint sprigs for decoration
• Half a lemon, sliced and unpeeled
• Ice cubes

In a pitcher, mix the water, cucumber, 3 mint sprigs and lemon. Let it rest on the fridge for 24 hours. If you prepare the water at the last minute, cut the first cucumber in three or four pieces. Then, squeeze the cucumber pieces to release all the juice.

Before serving remove the cucumber slices used to flavor the water. Then stir with a wooden spoon, add some ice cubes,  6 or 7 fresh cucumber slices and the remaining 2 mint sprigs. Enjoy this refreshing drink.

+ Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

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With less than 2 weeks before the big game, it is time to finalize your design. You know me; I am going for a stylish look. So I compiled a mood board to get you started.

My best advice is to stay away from the easy and expected props to celebrate the Super Bowl. The trick is to find an inspiration and to harmonize the rest.

Vintage meets modern

My design kicked in with these cute vintage football plates. A glass set completes the series inspired by classic 1940s artwork. A new addition to the Williams-Sonoma catalogue, each set shows a quarterback, a cheerleader, a punter and a running back.

Some of your guests may be die-hard fans. A kicker can be to serve walnuts as a snack during the game. The dark wooden bowl is a two in one serving ware piece: the bowl integrates the nutcracker. I suggest you get an extra nutcracker so no one fight for one.

You can serve nuts in a carafe like I have seen at Westin Casuarina in Las Vegas. Very hygienic, the shape pours easily the nuts in your hand without touching the nuts.

It is also a great time to serve Almond Croccante and Peanut Brittle. Read my Homemade tricks and treats post for the recipes.

Football field Invitation and Centerpiece

This water color invitation by Oddballs sets the tone of your Super Bowl event. The same idea is translated into a playing field made of flats of wheatgrass covered with miniature plastic football players.

I took this Super Bowl theme centerpiece from the In Style Parties book. Instead of wheatgrass available at the florist, you could stop by the garden center for a sample of turf. Or even, use artificial turf as a reference to what they installed in most stadiums.

Each Football Guys package at Kaskey Kids includes 26 players, one referee and two goalposts. There is no need to over pack your wheatgrass field; use just enough players to look great. The washable felt field can become a thematic tablecloth. You may find a similar kit at a hobby store near you.

About the presentation

Have a signature drinks. I am in my margarita phase sine I went to Vegas. Drop ice cubes into the tube insert to keep your drinks cool with watering it.

For dessert, serve long tubular cupcakes. With a cap, cupcakes look more stylish. For details on how to make them, see my muffin presentation. Use raffia ribbons of the color of the opposing teams. The square cake stand carries on this most modern look.

I hope you get fun participating in this national pastime event.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Super Bowl party invitations by Oddballs at Fine Stationery – price:$83.90 for 30 custom prints, $33.90 as blank stock
Buy online: Vintage Football Plates at Williams-Sonoma – price:$29.99 for a set of 4
Buy online: Vintage Football Glasses at Williams-Sonoma – price:$24 for a set of 4
Buy online: Nut Bowl & Cracker at Williams-Sonoma – price:$75
Buy online: Football Guys at Kaskey Kids – price: $25.99
Buy online: Icing Pitcher at Williams-Sonama – price: $18
Buy online: Square Cakestand at William-Sonoma – price: small $48, large $65
Buy online: In Style Parties at Amazon.com

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Using colors is the easiest and the cheapest way to decorate a room or a table. The style, the shape and the motif of an object determine whether it is chic or not.

Colorful items look more festive. That is why I like to play with colors when I create a party design.

Each piece makes a strong statement on its own. If you put together these three objects, you will have the basis of an amazing tabletop.

1 | Design Hole

Instinctively, you see these stunning pitchers next to a modern dinner set. But beside bona china dinnerware, the contrast between the old and the new operates its magic.

The glass blowing artist and designer that created those pitchers is named Nicholas Kekic. The cheapest place where to buy his pitcher is iluren, at least from my research so far. On his Web site, you can get matching tumblers at $40 a piece.

Thanks to Jennifer of the always captivating Design Hole who first spotted these pitchers on the New York Times.

2 | Roomservice

The Tazana Stemcell Light collection and especially the Foilage Light caught my eyes. Its low price means that you can afford to hang a long row of 5 to 7 pendants. I discovered those through the blog of the Scandinavian woman behind Roomservice.

3| Pan-Dan

Nadejda of Pan-Dan introduced the Amar(ant) tablecloth by Isle Design. Here the designer pushed the envelope of traditional table cloth by coating elastic material. The motif is definitely inspired by traditional motif. This is a trend right now.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Glass Pitcher by Nocholas Kekic at iluren – price: $190
Buy online: Foilage Light by Tazana – price: $26
Buy online: Amar(ant) tablecloth by Isle Design – starting at 75 ?

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