Pour Me a Cold One

The weather keeps getting nicer {except for today's rain...yuck} which makes me think of partys on the patio and delicious summer libations. Time to break out the pitchers and drink dispensers! I have several very lovely beverage decanters that get used a LOT. You may have noticed a picture or two in my recent post on J's Bridal Shower. People ask me all the time where I got it or if they can borrow it. So here's a little background: My mom has a pretty one from Horchow. My bridesmaids were going to borrow it for my bridal shower. They needed more. KH and I researched them and she found a good deal at some online store I'd never heard of. She bought one and I bought one. Ever since, they seem to always get used together. Either at an event that both of us are attending or one has to borrow the other's. Since my shower I've added to my collection {and still have to borrow hers!} and I'm sure I'll buy a few more at some point. They're relatively easy to clean and can be used for so many things!

The place I bought the original one from no longer carries them but this is the exact same one:

{and you can buy it here for $44}

And some others that are similar:

{Apothecary style for $49.95}

{24 inch Apothecary for $64.95}

And some that are different:

{Lismore style for $49.99}

{Crystal Dublin for $75.99}

{Savannah for $69.99}

{Georgetown for $69.99}

{Chantilly for $57.99}

Most of these drink dispensers are available in a smaller size ~ usually 1 gallon or the size of a water pitcher.

I'm heading over to check out the second issue of High Gloss Magazine which came out yesterday. I promise to report back ASAP on all the lovely I find!

That's all for now, friends. I have super-fabulous things in store for me this weekend {Sunday is kind of a big deal}. Hope you all have a little "super-fab" of your own!

J's Shower: Part II

Earlier I posted here about the fabulous food we had at J's shower in early March. One thing I did mention was that the shower was in Atlanta and neither myself nor my co-hostess lives in Atlanta - Logistical challenge numero uno. One thing I did not mention was that we {my husband, KH who was invited as a guest, and myself} decided to drive down from DC instead of fly. The main reason was to have the ability to transport everything I needed. We had serving pieces, plates, glasses, favors, prizes, crafts, misc decor, etc in addition to luggage for three people. We had originally reserved a Tahoe for the trip but decided it wouldn't be big enough and upgraded to the Suburban. Thank goodness we got it all to fit!

I didn't do a very good job of capturing images since we were running around to get ready and didn't have a charged battery for the SLR, but here's some of the lovely we had going on that day:

 

{sign: "Jamie loves her engagement bling and Jamie loves shoes. Pick the one you love the most and take it home with you!". The rest of those Kate Spade green stripe plates were in the other room displaying some of Lauren's yummy food}

{hand sanitizer: "I love BLING" and "I love SHOES"}

{the favors were shower loofahs and I suspended them from an actual shower curtain hanging on the wall!}

{tied to all the shower loofahs: "Thank you, with Love... from Jamie's shower to yours!"}

{prizes for the winners of the shower games}

{Everyone contributed a favorite recipe to get the bride started}

{this was used to display the "bling on a string" for one of the games we played}

{J is not known for being crafty but she helped make some POMS for my bridal shower, so KH and I returned the favor and made some. The hung in several places throughout the space but these were suspended over the corner of the couch where J opened all her gifts}

{J loves mimosas and they were the drink of choice for this afternoon brunch shower. So, my co-hostess Lauren and I stuck with the theme and gave J champagne flutes with her new monogram}

{very fuzzy picture, but some hot pink gerberas in bud vases made a centerpiece for a lot less}

J's Shower: Part I

So I've been talking for a while about J's bridal shower and gave you a little teaser here. There's just too much to share in one post so today I will rave about all the food related items. My lovely co-hostess, Lauren and I split the duties between us. I took decor and she took the food. And boy-oh-boy did she do a fabulous job. I'm definitely going to steal a few of those recipes!

{The complete food table}

Lauren worked super hard on all the yummy food with the help of her sister, Jenna who so graciously let us use her house for the party. {Did I already mention that neither Lauren nor myself live anywhere near Atlanta?!}. The menu consisted of Caprese skewers {love these and I love to make them even though I can't eat them}, Pimiento cheese sandwhiches, Turkey canapes with cucumber {stealing that one!}, Pizza cups {stealing that one too!}, Mexican roll ups {what a great idea!}, Deviled Eggs, Fruit Platter, Krispy Kreme bites {genius!}, and CUPCAKES!! You can clearly see "Pigs in a Blanket" written on the menu below but alas, there wasn't enough time to make them and there was nothing I could do about the menu at that point. Oh well. Everything was awesome!

I just printed the menu in green ink and framed it. Super easy and added a nice touch. Plus, if anyone wasn't sure what something was, they could easily deduce from the list! I did the same for the drink station too.

I heart my green kate spade plates and they went so perfectly with the shower decor!

...but I do have to admit that it kills me that the stripes aren't all going in the same direction. oops.

Those are the turkey bites in the middle and they were the bomb. Yes, I just said "the bomb".

My ladies made similar utensil packets for my bridal shower.

Fork, knife, spoon + luncheon napkin + cocktail napkin + ribbon = practical, portable, easy and PRETTY!

I used four different "Keep Calm" posters throughout the space. It went with the decor and they kind of tied the different spaces together. Genius. {If I do say so myself}

I'm just now realizing that I didn't get to taste a cupcake! Shame on me.

Okay this picture is so obviously not from the shower, it's from the Pottery Barn website, but I have a whole bunch of these Great White Mingling Plates and we used them at J's shower. They are the absolute perfect thing for finger foods and wine glasses when not everyone is sitting down or, people are sitting but have nowhere to set their drink down. I have some wooden ones too but these are simply my favorite for one reason: DISHWASHER SAFE. I think I might acutally buy more of them! Oh yea, and they fit the champagne flutes as well as the wine glasses {bonus!}

This pic of the drink station is a good example of why I wish I had taken a minute to take pictures before everyone showed up. Regardless, there was plenty of tasty drinks to compliment the delicousness of the food. Lauren and I kinda split up the drink duties. There was Champagne {extra dry which is ever-so-slightly less brutal than brut}, Asti Spumante {my absolute fav, and sweet champagne without the tart}, tropical punch {think pineapple and orange, not fruit punch} and Orange Juice to mix with the bubbly, and water with lemon slices {more for looks than taste}. We also had some of the mini cans of Coke and Diet Coke {we were in Atlanta, afterall} and you gotta love the green and white striped paper straws to go along with it all. I brought in big wine glasses and champagne flutes so that there would be enough matching glasses. I"m not a perfectionist or anything.

These decanters are the best things ever. KH and I each bought one right before my bridal shower and we used them both for J's shower. I have to tell you it's very convenient to have matching ones because they get used ALL the time! I also have matching 1 gallon versions but with us, go big or go home.

{I took this advice literally that day}

{Have I mentioned how much I love me so Asti? Seriously, if you haven't tried it you are missing out. It's champagne for people who don't like champagne.}

I'm seriously hungry after writing this post. Stay tuned for details on the rest of the decor as well as favors and prizes!