spread the love…and the pesto

This summer, I’ve been obsessed with fresh basil. I’ve always loved it, especially fresh pesto. Basil has been one of my successful herbs in the garden this summer, so I’ve experimented with pesto recipes, and since this week is all about the garden, today I’m sharing a pesto recipe and how to make it a lovely hostess gift, or party favor. Because who wouldn’t love fresh pesto and an easy, already-prepared dinner for a gift?

{Sandy’s basil plant}

Basil, Spinach and Walnut Pesto
yields 1-2 cups
{I usually make Pesto with basil and pine nuts, but since I was out of pine nuts and I wanted to add Spinach for the kids, I modified it}

Ingredients
2 1/2 cup fresh Spinach
1 1/2 cup fresh Basil
1/3-1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup walnut
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

How To
Add basil, spinach, garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a food processor, then add salt and pepper.
Puree until smooth.
Find a cute mason jar or small container for your homemade pesto, and if you want to dress it up a bit, add a bow and a label or Kraft paper like I did with ‘grazie’ stamped on it.

 

Other DIY Garden-Inspired Hostess Gifts
Give an upcycled mini herb garden.
This Lemonade Summer Cooler idea is absolutely adorable.
Personalized Coasters is a lovely gift and a fun DIY project for fresh drinks from the garden.
We love this hand-tied bouquet, wrapped in a nice tea towel.
Hot pads with fresh baked bread is yummy and useful.
DIY homemade Lavender Linen Spray sounds blissful…and necessary for my bedtime routine.

{images via Tutto Bella}

breakfast at tiffany bridal shower

Audrey Hepburn. Her famous quotes. Her style. Her beauty. Her grace. Her movies. When it comes to Audrey Hepburn, we love everything about her. Jenna has loved her forever, and my love affair is more recent. Seriously, we love her so much, I dressed my daughter like her for Halloween. She loved it, and still asks to wear her “Audrey Hepburn shoes and dress.”

So, when we saw pics of this shower, we were happy. Not only because it’s based on Audrey Hepburn and her fabulous Breakfast at Tiffany’s film and the precious teal-colored Tiffany box women swoon over, but because it had special touches throughout that made the day special for the lovely bride, Cori. And…I happen to know the pretty bride and her soon to be mother-in-law, and just love them!

Oh, and we also loved Cori’s dress, so if you want to know where to buy {like we did}, she found it at Urban Outfitters.

For all you future shower hostesses, take note of why this shower was so special, and how you can make your future shower unique. The party tip is in bold, and the details of this shower follows.
Create a party theme, and carry the theme throughout the shower: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Ask guests to participate in the theme of the shower: Guests wore their best little black dresses and pearls like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Guests also bought gifts related to the couple’s honeymoon, which were creatively placed in new Tumi luggage {a nice new gift from Cori’s mom and mother-in-law}.
Infuse touches of family mementoes throughout the shower and incorporate your mom, mother-in-law and other family members/traditions throughout the shower: A friend’s wedding gown was draped from the ceiling for decor and the delicious Quiche, fruit skewers and mandarin green salad was served on special china, crystal and silver serving pieces.
Incorporate the brides food preference/diet restrictions into the menu: Dessert was a gorgeous gluten-free dark chocolate cake filled with strawberries, covered with fondant in the shape of a Tiffany box. And, for those non-gluten-free gals, the hostesses served lemon-filled cupcakes with white icing and chocolate polka dots {provided by Shamane’s Bake Shoppe in Boulder.
Add a customized touch: Favors given to guests were cellophane bags filled with personalized M&Ms, Cori+Alex, R&R 08-24-13, and LOVE, in blue, white and silver. And, a photo of the bride and groom 7+ years ago when they first began dating was on display.
Don’t forget the small details: Breakfast at Tiffany was scrolling silently on the tv. And, a large canvas painted in Tiffany blue and tied with a white satin ribbon, with a tag saying, “Here comes the bride, darling” was displayed in the gathering room.
And for all you brides/mother of the bride/mother of the groom, remember to thank the hostess/hostesses: Andy, mother of the groom, gave the hostesses a small porcelain box from Tiffany for their rings.



There’s a really cute Breakfast at Tiffany invite at Fleur de Lis, a paperie on Etsy available now. Check it out here.

{images via Andy, mother of the groom}

mojito mania

One of my BFF’s just recently asked me for some ideas for a mojito-themed bridal shower. The fabulous bride-to-be didn’t want a typical bridal shower, but loves mojito’s and accessorizing with jewelry, so the hostess {my friend} wanted mojito’s and accessories to serve as the inspiration.

So, here’s some ideas I came up with…{I’m not even a mojito-loving woman, but I wanted a refreshing mojito after doing a little party research for the mint flavored drink}.

BAR
Nothing seems more fitting than a Mix N’ Muddle Mojito Bar with these fixin’s suggested from Bon Appetit.
Create a sign for the Mix N’ Muddle Mojito Bar like this bride and groom did {found at Martha Stewart}, and fill old crates with bunches and bunches of limes….LOVE THIS!
Don’t forget to have a bucket or glass filled with green and white striped straws for your guests to decorate their cocktails.
DESSERT
Serve delicious mojito popsicles like these found at Sugar and Charm Blog.
Guests will be totally impressed with green and yellow jello shots like Loralee Lewis created for her recent party.
Mojito cupcakes topped off with a slice of lime.
DECOR
Fill vases at varying heights with limes and flowers.
Use a three-tiered centerpiece and fill with all things green, including limes and mint.
Hang green lanterns in a row above tables, or hang lanterns from trees throughout the backyard party space.
{If you’re creating family style seating, I love a long row of short centerpieces with hydrangea or white flowers. If you don’t have a cabinet full of empty vases, you could improvise and use mason jars, wine bottles or tin cans spray painted green or covered in decorative fabric/paper} to hold bunches or single bud flowers}.
Dress up the table and food/drink stations with lime green votives and acrylic lime glassware from Pier 1.
In addition to topping off drinks with a parasol, carry the parasol look over with an adorable parasol topiary.
Use vases, martini glasses and other forms of glassware for a chic jewelry display.
If you opt not to spend money on flower arrangements, a cheap and cute ‘green’ centerpiece is wheat grass. You can even grow it yourself a couple weeks before the party.
PLACECARDS/LABELS
Use limes for the base of a placecard, and insert a toothpick and flag to write the guest’s name. You can use green patterned washi tape for a festive toothpick flag found here.
Or, if you opt to use the limes as food labels, a great free placecard option is a paint chip card {with party coordinating colors} with the guest’s name typed on it. {I think this idea is so cute…I’m using it for an upcoming party of my own}.
FAVORS
Treat guests to a mojito muddler.
Candy rings and jewelry that will double as decor and a sweet favor.
Hope to have some pictures from the party soon.
If you plan to have, or have had or attended a mojito party…or any cocktail themed party…please send the pics our way. We love a good cocktail-inspired party!

they are adding to their nest baby shower

A beautiful, vintage iron birdcage from the Pasadena Rose Bowl was the inspiration behind this They Are Adding to Their Nest baby shower. Experts are telling me birdcages are the “it” thing right now in decor, so this birdcage, and all the details to go along with, really NESTled in with the trend beautifully. We adore the soft color palette, vintage china patterns, the beautiful invite, the bird bath centerpiece and as always…the chandelier.

Brooke of Brooke Merrill Photography captured the sweet details, and fills us in on the inspiration behind the photos.

Using square tables and chiavari chairs, Ellen and Brook {the mom-to-be’s inseparable best friends since elementary school} were able to maximize the space within the backyard and allow friends and family to sit with the guests of honor, Jodi and Travis.

According to Brook, “We also pulled in vintage china patterns, silver-plated flatware and a burlap table runner to complete the vintage, chic feel we were going for. The wow factor came from the regency-style, gold and crystal chandelier that we hung over center of the table so that it was the first thing guests saw when they walked outside.”

And, only as truly genuine friends would say, Brook commented, “When it was all over, Ellen and I both agreed that the best part of the evening was being there to witness our best friend with her best friend celebrating a new first adventure together…getting ready to welcome their baby.”

Well done ladies! Everyone deserves life-long friends like you.

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Brooke Merrill Photography

{images via Brooke Merrill Photography}

diy vase

I’ve seen people make beautiful handmade centerpieces with just about anything – bark, photos, candles, mason jars and of course vases. Today, we broaden our vase database with these adorable and chic ideas!

Cori Cook Floral Design, a sweet and creative Denver-based floral designer we ADORE, designed some cute DIY vases that would work for any party, especially a bridal shower or baby shower. I can’t wait to do this! Find her tutorial here.

The talented Beverly at Flamingo Toes made some cottage chic single-bud framed vases, and shares her fabulous how-to here.

Eden from Sugar and Charm shares her bright, DIY enamel-painted vases that is sure to impress, and easy to make. Visit her site for how-to instructions.

Hey Gorgeous transforms various-shaped milk bottles into a beautiful display of white vases with spray paint. Here directions here.

Add an antique touch to your table setting by using vintage tea tin cans as a vase. I love this look. The tea tins at Pearl River Mart would be perfect for this project.

{images via Cori Cook Floral Design, Flamingo Toes, Sugar and Charm, Hey Gorgeous, The Sweetest Occasion}