Innehållsförteckning för Celebrate Easy Party Ideas 2014 från Southern Lady

We at Entertain Decorate Celebrate love to travel. In fact, during most Monday morning meetings, we talk about what we did the weekend before and what trips we have planned—for work and for play. The first warm rays have us all yearning for the beach, the lake, or even our own backyards. It’s the right time to host a dinner party or mark a special occasion. Salute the patriotic observances with a charming outdoor gathering like the one on page 47. Serve easy, portable food like burgers and hot dogs, and display beautiful flowers to make this Memorial Day or Fourth of July a red, white, and blue success. It’s also time to honor this year’s graduates. Whether you are hosting a party for graduates of kindergarten, high school, or…

SEA CELLARS House salt and pepper in recycled oyster shells. Clean shells thoroughly, and then soak them in bleach. Coat with food-safe shellac, and let dry completely before using. Fill with salt and pepper for a beautiful table addition. TIDAL TAGS Make wineglasses unique by creating tags out of shells. Select distinctive shells, then drill a small hole in each one. Use jute to tie them onto the stem of each wineglass as a beachy tribute. COASTAL CHARGER Give each place setting a seaside feel. Just gather shells in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and secure them to a charger, using hot glue. Layer with a simple white plate to complete the seasonal and beautiful look. SEASIDE LIGHTING Let shells bring a warm ambiance to your party by…

INFUSING TIPS Trying different flavor and liquor combinations is easy! Follow these steps to come up with your own concoction. You can create large batches or make one cup at a time—the choice is up to you! ONE Pick your base liquor. Aim for a midlevel- priced bottle—you won’t be able to conceal the horrible flavors of a rotgut liquor. Spirits with less flavor, like vodka, work well. TWO Pick your infusion. Don’t mix more than two or three flavors. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs are fairly easy to work with, if it's your first time. THREE Pour the spirit into an airtight container, and add the flavoring ingredient. If you are choosing more than one ingredient, put the mild one in for the first day or two, then add the…

After reading only a few posts on her popular blog, Joy the Baker, you feel as if you’ve known Joy Wilson forever. With each delicious and innovative recipe, she shares a story with an honest voice and a sense of humor that simply draws you in and keeps you reading. Joy took time to share with us her inspiration and her journey, as well as a few favorite recipes. HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN BAKING AND COOKING? I’ve been interested in baking and cooking ever since my first craving for brownies. My parents were big health-food fanatics. In the early 1980s, health food wasn’t super delicious. The fig bars my dad brought home from the grocery store just wouldn’t cut it, so I had to raid the baking pantry…

If you are visiting a friend or going to someone’s vacation home, simple courtesies make the experience pleasant for everyone. As a houseguest, it is important to show gratitude for the hospitality. These simple tips will make your stay most enjoyable, for you and your host. Begin by bringing a gift to show your appreciation. It does not have to be elaborate or expensive—a bottle of wine, a treat from your local bakery, or a candle are all thoughtful gestures. If you cannot bring something in your suitcase, treat your friend to lunch or dinner at a favorite local spot. Be careful not to behave as though you are staying in a hotel. Keep your room tidy by keeping clothes off the floor and making the bed. If you are…

create the look ✓ Throwing a fun and out-of-the-box shower is easy! Start by picking a theme, like the kitchen, and let that dictate the décor. ✓ Plan the shower for one to three months before the wedding. When you send invitations, include a recipe card for guests to fill out with a favorite dish, as well as put words of wisdom on the back. Guests who cannot attend can still be part of the fun by mailing in their cards. ✓ Save on the cost of flowers by integrating kitchen utensils into the centerpiece. We placed arrangements of dusty miller, hydrangea, seeded eucalyptus, and spray roses alongside a cream utensil caddy filled with cooking essentials. ✓ Set the table with soft hues and wooden accents, and place cookie cutters…

1 These planners will make sure that tests, homework, and activities are all scheduled. Best of all, you can customize them to match the graduate’s personality. Find them at erincondren.com. 2 Set the grad up for success in school with a bright desk organizer. Fill it with highlighters, sticky notes, pencils, pushpins, and other office supplies. 3 Keep up with the freshman year with a Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 camera. It prints out photos immediately, so decorating a dorm room or creating a scrapbook is as easy as point and click! Find them online at amazon.com.…

On paper, everything pointed to a proposal. Tim and Johnice had traveled across the country from Boston to attend a wedding in California, and they planned to take a vacation during the trip as well. Tim arranged a private tour for the two of them of a beautiful vineyard in Napa at Castello di Amorosa, which appropriately translates to “Castle of Love.” Tim used this romantic getaway as a chance to propose. He did, and she, of course, said yes. Now it was time for the couple to make their own wedding plans. The couple, who met while working at Reebok, had been to many weddings together and wanted to pick a location that was unique. They decided that Newport, Rhode Island, with its New England charm and proximity to…

Q WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST MEMORIES OF BEING IN THE KITCHEN? A. The first things I truly remember are oysters by the bushels. That was when I woke up and thought, there is food happening and it being a big thing. Q. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WON’T EAT? A. No. I am an omnivore. I’ll eat anything. I encourage people to try things they told themselves as a child they didn’t like. As we grow, our palate grows, but sometimes we don’t grow with it. Moving around and growing up fostered it for me because my parents loved to cook and eat different foods. When you grow up with that and then leave the house, you realize you have to replicate it in order to stay happy. I didn’t know…

WHERE TO STAY: LINCOLN PARK GUEST HOUSE This bed-andbreakfast in the popular Lincoln Park neighborhood is within walking distance of many delicious restaurants, shops, the Steppenwolf Theatre, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. lincolnparkguesthouse.com HOTEL BURNHAM This boutique hotel in the historic Reliance Building has been beautifully restored and offers many modern amenities and comforts. (When it was constructed in 1895, it was considered to be one of the city’s first skyscrapers—it’s only 14 stories!) Guests can expect superior service from the welcoming staff . burnhamhotel.com WHAT TO DO: ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO The institute is home to more 200,000 works of art, and one of the must-sees is the famed American Gothic by Grant Wood. Other featured artists include Renoir, Monet, Manet, Picasso, van Gogh, and Cézanne. artic.edu THE FIELD…

LEMONADE-TEA MIX Makes 1 packet Prep time: 5 minutes 3½ tablespoons unsweetened iced tea mix* 1 (.48-ounce) packet pink lemonade drink mix† ONE In a large bowl, stir together tea mix and pink lemonade drink mix. Spoon into a small resealable plastic bag, and secure our downloadable tag to the top of the bag with tape. The recipe to make Lemonade-Tea Cooler is on the back *We used Lipton Tea. †We used Crystal Light Pink Lemonade. LEMONADE-TEA COOLER Makes 4 quarts Prep time: 10 minutes Chill time: 2 hours 1 packet Iced Tea Lemonade mix (recipe above) 2 teaspoons ground ginger 10 cups water 2 cups mint tea–flavored vodka* Garnish: fresh raspberries, fresh mint, sliced lemons ONE In a large pitcher, stir together 1 packet mix and ground ginger; stir…

Visit my new blog, theribboninmyjournal.com, where you will find creative tips, decorative inspiration, and beautiful photography— all geared to enhance our lives. SIMPLY SET Fish-shaped plates exude summer sentiments, while a galvanized bucket keeps napkins and utensils from blowing in the wind. Complete the look with a sand dollar that doubles as a place card. NAUTICAL NOTES I love the bright, summery prints in these products from p. press. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, giving a present, or hosting a lunch, the colors and graphics will make everyone happy. See the selections at ppresspapers.com. KIT AND CABOODLE Keep kids entertained while traveling by taking along a special box of fun items. Fill a little container with a travel journal, a sketch pad, crayons, candy, a disposable camera, and books.…

EDITOR’S NOTE Page 6–Hair and makeup styling by Alex Tino CELEBRATE THE SEASON Pages 11-16–paper napkins, gift tag, thank-you card, and invitation, P. Press; fish plates, Vietri; red suitcase, Shop Sweet Lulu; stickers, Hobby Lobby; linen, Pottery Barn EASY RESTYLE Page 20–candle wax and wicks, Hobby Lobby SHOWERED WITH LOVE Pages 23-25–Napoli Vintage Collection table cloth and linens in Sky Blue by Libeco, Tablematters; salad plate and dinner plate, Williams-Sonoma; place mats, At Home; mini whisk, World Market; Champagne glass, West Elm CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2014 Pages 39-46–Graduation M&M’s ALL-AMERICAN COOKOUT Page 49–place mats and linens, Patricia Spratt SUMMER INFUSION Pages 63-64–Stucco Wallpaper from York Wallcoverings 6 FABULOUS SUMMER STARTERS Page 71–square platter, Trouvé A SEASIDE SOIREE Pages 91-96–Wedding Planner/ Designer: Stephanie Frazier Grimm at Couture Parties; Photographer: Meghan…