Hostess with the Mostess™

These personalized cupcake flags are a really cute idea for baby/bridal showers and birthday parties…there are several cool designs to choose from (click here to view), as well as several different ink and paper colors (click here to view). You could also recreate this idea on your own at home, but once in a while it’s nice to just make things easy!

You gotta love it when great things happen to great people…which is why I was so excited to get an email from Mel Lim today about her brand-new line of ultra-cool surface graphics available at blik! Mel’s signature design style is 100% present in her blik collections, which feature familiar “Joy by Mel Lim” graphics such as lucky koi, giraffes and happy geese. All of the designs are available in multiple color combinations, and sets run from $24 - $50. Congrats on yet another great accomplishment, Mel!

I pretty much decided in the span of a minute that one of these collections is going to be a necessary purchase! The only problem is how to ever decide on which one. Giraffes are my favorite animal, but I’m strangely drawn to the geese and koi for some reason too…which do you like best?

…here are a couple more reasons why I’m smitten with Joy by Mel Lim.

{pictured above} Giraffe Double and Giraffe Solo baby gifts, and Pink Giraffe and Raspberry Giraffe wraps + boxes,

I was browsing etsy today and discovered these gorgeous glass coasters & candles from gamiworks, a beautiful shop featuring a contemporary collection of Japanese chiyogami-inspired gifts and accessories. And at only $24/set of 4 coasters and $15/set of 3 candles, these pieces are definitely suited for gifting!

There are so many great books, magazines, and event planners out there - so I thought it would be fun to start a weekly inspiration segment every Tuesday to showcase some truly inspiring publications & events.

To kick this off, thought I’d share with you one of my favorite wedding designs from Simple Stunning Weddings, a gorgeous book from wedding planner Karen Bussen. Wedding books & magazines are actually a great place to find inspiration for any type of party you’re planning …and this particular theme does a great job of thinking outside the box - with unusual touches such as high-contrast colors, zebra print, and yellow feathers….all of which come together nicely to create a decidedly modern & chic atmosphere!

pictured above: monochromatic colors and modern minimalist lucite servers & glass arrangements create an impressive drink display. (**If anyone knows where to find trays like the ones pictured above, please let me know!)

pictured above: cattleya orchids with a collar of yellow ostrich feathers, and upside-down red heliconia submerged in water are sure to be conversation starters…

*side note: we’re actually creating an entire HWTM Christmas party theme based on this heliconia idea! The bright red and green colors naturally provide the perfect traditional color palette for a Christmas party, but the nature of the flower is a very untraditional element for the hostess that wants a fresh & unusual take on their holiday party

pictured above: zebra print place cards add an unusual design element to the table in a small enough dose as to not overwhelm, and Italian poppies add a bold pop of color to the otherwise neutral table setting.

For even more imagery from this wedding design and several more themes, check out a complete copy of Simple Stunning Weddings.

*Photography by Ellen Silverman

One of the best things about a the start of a new season is checking out all the great new merchandise at your favorite shops, like these cool entertaining products from Zanisa. I get a lot of emails asking about hostess gift ideas, and all of the products pictured below would make great, unique gifts for your own favorite hostess with the mostess or entertaining guru! (scroll down for direct links to each product).

{top image} {top image} Good Morning Set (perfect for breakfast in bed! - $55/set), Fluted Tea Set ($69/set) and Tumbled Stone Candle Holders ($14/set of 2 holders + 12 taper candles)
{bottom image} River Rock Markers ($16/set of 8 + markers) and Slate Markers ($15/set of 10 + markers)

I saw the cute Mouse Paper Towel Holder (pictured below) in the current issue of O at Home and went online to dig up some more info on the company that designed it. As it turns out, this company - “balé living” - has a slew of these super adorable, contemporary products - at very affordable prices! A few favorites are pictured here - and you can view the entire collection of balé’s products for your kitchen, bathroom, office & more at baleliving.com.

Thanks so much to everyone that entered the Cocktailvibe.com giveaway! (and apologies for the delay on posting the results - they were sitting in our office in SD while we were on the east coast…oops!!)

There were so many great drinks mentioned - some I’d never heard of before that sound particularly yummy - like the Watermelon Mojito from L.A.-based Katsuya that Anne mentioned, a “Rulolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that tastes like cinnamon and apples (yum!) - as described by Star, and the antibride’s mango margarita with real mango chunks, which is served in a cocktail glass rimmed with chili pepper powder and salt. Overall popular favorites seem to be mojitos & margaritas - in both traditional and unique flavors such as mango, raspberry, pineapple and more.

And now, for the draw results! The lucky readers that each get $100 to burn at cocktailvibe.com are…

1) Oh Happy Blog!, who said: “I would have to say that depending on the bartender… I love a good dirty martini… but will sometimes fall back on a gin and tangueray with extra lime…. and if I have too much fun over those- a bloody mary for brunch the next day…what lovely pieces… all of them!”

2) Alena, who said, “Oh wow, I simply must have those cocktail shakers! I love classic barware with a modern twist. My current favorite drink is a Dark N Stormy (ginger beer and dark rum), but I also enjoy mojitos, margaritas, and sidecars (although it’s hard to find a properly made sidecar…)”

Congrats, girls! Please send over your contact info with “I’m a Winner!” in the subject line so we can get your shopping spree set up! And for everyone else…more great giveaways coming this week

Hi Everyone - I’ve had so many reader questions sent in recently and it’s been hard to get to them while traveling, so I thought it would be cool to try something new and see if any of YOU would like to answer them or offer advice/ideas to fellow readers. Any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated! Just post your answer in the comments section! THANK YOU! Here goes:

Question A: ———-
For the holiday season this year, I would like to send out cards to our family and friends. Last year was the first year we were married and I did not send out cards because 1) I was not sure if I should mail a picture card out or if that is something you only do with kids and 2) I wanted to do something more creative than a store-bought holiday card. Do you have any suggestions to sending out cards this year that may be creative and nice? I am not opposed to sending a picture card out…I know I am being picky but I want to send out something to those family and friends we do not see often!

Question B: ———-
Can you point me in the right direction for the kinds of hostess gifts that would be appropriate for when you are staying a few days at someone’s house?

Question C: ———-
Aloha! We’re planning a Las Vegas themed bridal shower in October for a friend with the emphasis on bright lights and gambling. We’ve been playing with “bet on love”, “lucky in love” as quotes. Think you can help us out with some decoration/favor/set up ideas?! Thanks!

Looking for something to brighten up your table? How about these fun new melamine Rainbow dishes from French Bull…