Hostess with the Mostess™

Have a few summer soirées on the calendar? Check out my post at Simply Stated: Celebrations today For some think-outside-the-bottle (of wine) ideas for saying thanks to your favorite hostess with the mostess – like the fabulous expandable vases by Jill-able pictured above – or to contribute some creative ideas of your own!

These adorable Dress Place Card Holders would be darling for a bridal shower or anytime girls night dinner party or luncheon! Another cute idea for using these with a gathering of close friends: Read more →

These cleverly-packaged, contemporary coasters were inspired by the conventional 6-pack, but come with an unconventional twist - they’re made from recycled rubber! Talk about the perfect gift for your favorite eco-chic hostess!

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These ultra-contemporary tea towels by tikoli™ will add a splash of modern design to your kitchen in a snap! Influenced by Japanese prints and mid-century modern design, and printed on 100% cotton. $8.50 each at tikoli.com

Good news for those of us with "not-exactly-green" thumbs! GroBal and GroBal Baby are stylish, ultra-modern planters with a unique watering system that does the work for you… just check the water filter indicator and refill when needed! Thanks to GroBal designer Karim Rashid, my houseplants might stand a chance at staying lush and green after all. Read more →

I’m really excited to kick off this week’s giveaways with fabulous jewelry and stationery from Cristina Ashley Designs . Cristina’s jewelry designs include contemporary, yet feminine creations like this cool Flower Cluster Necklace (6th image down in the linked post) , as well as hand-stamped sterling silver jewelry that can be customized with any name, word or phrase you want (I especially love this one! ) – which makes it a great gift idea for bridesmaids, moms, daughters, and really any close friend or loved one…including yourself

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Tea-lover or not, who wouldn’t want these adorable characters to make an appearance at their table! Pictured from top: Earl Grey Elephant Tea Pot, Chamomile Camel Tea Pot, Hippo Sugar Bowl, and Zebra Creamer. Throw in some animal crackers and you’re all set! (Fabulous gift ideas too!)

When Callie Micks found herself surrounded by great dishes, cookbooks, and kitchen gadgets - but couldn’t for the life of her find a great apron that fit her style, she did what any determined, entrepreneurial-minded girl would do… created it herself! Relying on past experiences as a corporate retail alumna for The Gap and Levi Strauss, Callie created her own cool & contemporary line of fashionable, eco-chic aprons.

I’m loving the modern minimalist feel of these aprons and the contrast of bright blocks of color against dark neutrals. (And the half-aprons look cute enough to wear out of the kitchen!)

Special Deal: Get 10% off at CallieMicks.com with promo code “HWTM”.

Umm…how ridiculously cool are these scrumptious-looking macarons from haute Beverly Hills-based bakery, Paulette ?! Fun flavors like caribbean chocolate , sicilian pistachio , and violet cassis , and many more - morphed into cool pint-sized confections that look as good as they sound! $1.50 each, or $18/gift-boxed set of 12.

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Have a case of the winter blahs? These hot-hued finds from Urban Outfitters should help to put you back in the party mood… First up: this super charming Spectrum Chandelier ($36) and fun-n-funky Rainbow Candelabra ($48) are both just begging for a cocktail party!

Clockwise from top:
Who would’ve guessed that something named “Chevron Barbeque Belt” could be so fabulous?! This colorful cotton waist apron is super cute, only $14, and sure to be the life of the party!; jewel-toned Diner Cups (5 for $10), an adorably bizarre (or bizarrely adorable) Octopus Juicer ($14); and ceramic Souper Bowls in candy-coated colors ($5 ea or $15/4).