in the spotlight

  • Caramel and Cream Layer Cake

    Treat your holiday guests to a gorgeous concoction of gooey caramel, buttery cake, and whipped cream!

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  • Twilight Party Ideas

    Celebrating the release of New Moon this week? Check out ideas for a movie screening pre-party here!

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  • Easy Sweet Potato Bake

    Cornflakes and mini marshmallows add a sweet crunch to this Thanksgiving side-dish classic!

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  • Autumn Spice Thanksgiving

    Dried flowers, cinnamon sticks, and stylish scrapbook paper make for a surprisingly cool & affordable Thanksgiving tablescape!

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  • Real Parties: Wild Rumpus Birthday

    If you love “Where The Wild Things Are” – check out this fun, whimsical Real Party inspired by the book!

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20 Nov

Book Review: Simply Elegant Flowers with Michael George

categories: Simply Stated, books

Simply Elegant Flowers with Michael George

Today over at RealSimple.com- check out my review of Simply Elegant Flowers with Michael George… a truly fabulous book and a great gift idea for party lovers, hostesses, and brides-to-be. Added bonus – lots of eye candy!

Simply Elegant Flowers with Michael George{Photos by Brie Williams}

19 Nov

Gretel: Pretty Modern Design

categories: dinnerware, home accessories, serveware

modern kitchen dining home accessories

Oh, boy…someone hide my credit card! Just discovered cool & contemporary online shop: Gretel {via Oh Joy!} and immediately fell in love with their entire collection!

The funky-chic red and yellow pedestal servers by Iacoli & McAllister are a little outside my price range, but soooo very cool… They’re made from refinished vintage candlesticks and topped with a hand-finished Corian round. (Due to the vintage/hand-made nature, each pedestal design is unique.)

Many more favorites from Gretel are pictured below… starting with porcelain Marie Antionetta serving bowls by DMK, and the Vitamin Container Bowl by Muuto, which features “three separate spaces meant to hold different fruits and vegetables (and their vitamins)”.

modern kitchen dining home accessories

Colorful melamine serving trays by Isak: Read More…

19 Nov

Elegant Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

categories: decorating ideas, thanksgiving

Elegant Thanksgiving Table Ideas

These Thanksgiving tablescape ideas from Country Living are so elegant & inspiring! I love the sense of warmth conveyed in this first look, which features pretty sepia & brown tones and lots of natural textures

Elegant Thanksgiving Table Ideas

The sentimental touches are wonderful too – especially the lovely photo centerpiece idea (pictured below), and the handwritten names & phrases applied to the linens, place cards, and even the wine goblets! Read More…

19 Nov

Deal of the Day: Royal Jelly Soaps

categories: fabulous gift ideas, hostess gift ideas

gianna rose atelier royal jelly soaps

Today’s Cambria Cove Deal of the Day (day 7 of 7!) is this exquisite Royal Jelly Soaps Set by Gianna Rose Atelier.

From the website: “Treat your guests royally with these opulent little soaps from Gianna Rose Atelier. Each luxurious bar in the set of 4 is embossed with a bee wearing a crown to indicate its distinguishing ingredient—Royal Jelly. Combined with shea butter, this creates the richest possible soap to pamper your skin. Packaged splendidly in a deep brown box with an elegant gold design.”

USE PROMO CODE: hostess7 TO GET 20% OFF! (Expires at midnight tonight!)

18 Nov

Fun Baby Shower Theme: Food Cravings

categories: baby shower ideas, inspiration boards

pregnancy cravings baby shower theme

Here’s a peek at the Cravings baby shower theme that I worked on for Parents.com last year. I have yet to actually put this to use for a friend, but am hoping to bring it to life one of these days… don’t you think this would be as much fun for the guests as for mom-to-be?!

Who wouldn’t love a good excuse to indulge in salty & sweet favorites… it’s just for one day! I love the idea of an entire “comfort food buffet” featuring mini bites like grilled cheese squares, fried pickles, and individual servings of oven-baked fries and mac-n-cheese… YUM!

pregnancy cravings baby shower theme

Centerpieces would be old-fashioned sundae glasses & cake cones filled with “fluffy” flowers like peonies, styled to look like ice cream cones! Read More…

18 Nov

SURPRISE GIVEAWAY: PosePrints

categories: paper love, reader giveaways

PosePrints holiday giveaway

We have another fun Holiday Stationery giveaway today! This one comes from PosePrints – a great company that specializes in unique stationery that features not only your name & message – but your likeness too! You can design and preview your cards in real-time on their website!

This week at HWTM, PosePrints is offering up TWO sets of 50 Personalized Holiday Cards ($100 value each). The 2 winners can pick the PosePrints design of their choice.  Personalized holiday recipe cards are available too!

PosePrints holiday giveaway

(More designs & details for HOW TO ENTER after the jump…) Read More…

  • BadaBadaBaby
  • Quirky Bird Designs
  • Project Wedding
  • Charming Cards
  • Gifts Define
  • Magnet Street Weddings
  • Lollipop Events
  • Hostess Jo
  • BadaBadaBride
  • Tiny Prints
  • The Celebration Shoppe
  • Peach Prints
  • Hello Lucky
  • Busy Bee Lifestyles
  • Vintage Paper Parade
  • Royal Design Studio
  • Design Dazzle
  • Wicked Good Dinner
  • Shades of Light
  • The Puppet Store

recipe box

  • Pot o’ Gold Brie + Salad
  • Basil Grande Cocktail
  • French Onion Soup
  • Better-than-Classic Butterscotch Pudding
  • Read More

wish-list

  • Trellis Travel Mug
  • Cheeky and Cheerful Occasion Cards
  • Tipsy Toes Ice Cubes Set
  • Eat, Drink & Be Merry Tags
  • “Happy it’s Happy Hour” Flask