Hosting a Dinner Party: Jams

This week Jayne and I thought it would be fun to plan an imaginary dinner party.  Hosting a dinner party is near the top of my to-do list, once I'm a "grown-up."  Still probably a long way off from being a grown-up, but maybe I can get my act together sooner and invite some friends over for a fun evening together.  I thought I'd start the planning off with some music suggestions to play during the party.  The music can really set the tone for the soiree, and I have a laid-back evening with a slightly "fancy" feel in mind.  The music will be kept low, unless someone's ready to dance after dinner!

Here are some albums I think would perfectly set the mood:

Madeleine Peyroux, Careless Love - I LOVE this album, for a dinner party or any time!

Norah Jones, Come Away With Me - A classic, you can't go wrong with this.

Michael Buble, It's Time - Any of his music would be great, and I highly recommend his Holiday Album for a Christmas Party too!

Frank Sinatra, Best of the Best

Louis Armstrong, All-Time Greatest Hits

Garden State Soundtrack

One Fine Day Soundtrack - One of my all-time favorites!

If you want to mix it up a bit, check out these awesome playlists:

• House Beautiful Dinner Party Playlist
• Food & Wine Dinner for 8 Playlist
• I-tunes Dinner Party Basics

We'll discuss other fun aspects of hosting a dinner party like decor and food throughout the rest of the week.  Any other great dinner party soundtracks out there?

IHWSH - Snail Mail

While we appreciate email for its speed and price (yeah, free is good), we don't think it's the supreme option for every bit of written communication between friends.  There is something so special about receiving a hand-written note in the mail - and we love every bit of it!  We love the stamps, the envelopes, and of course the message inside.  It's just such a great way to say hi and let someone know you're thinking of them.  We found some fun options to pick up and send - and make someone's day!  Do you love snail mail as much as we do?

Katie's Picks:
1. You're a Fox: Rifle Paper Co.
2. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Kate Spade
3. You Take the Cake: Target
4. Ikat Peacock: Paper Source

Jayne's Picks:
5. Blooms Stationery: Minted
6. Hello There: Etsy
7. I Choose You: Sugar Paper
8. Aviator Cards: Crane & Co.

Get a Life.

Etsy letterpress poster.

I am starting to look like a hunchbacked vampire because all I've been doing is sitting at my computer for like, the past two weeks straight it feels like. Not one big deadline - well, a couple big ones - but really just lots of little things at once that add up to me spending more time with my computer than my husband, or anyone else for that matter. (Dac has actually taken pictures of me sitting at my computer in the exact same position every night this week so far as proof.) So... that is all for today, so that I have one less thing that I'm doing while hunched at my desk and maybe get outside for a minute?

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Word (to your Mother)

Our Mom is pretty cool.  This is one of her favorite messages, and one I think is perfect for any occasion:

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This wall decal could be pretty cool, in the right place.  Maybe inside your closet door? Above your mirror?:

Available here.

 So, go do it!

 PS: A little more "mom" inspiration, a beautiful commercial that (of course) made me cry:

Tray Tray Tray Tray*

I stole that pretty little vintage mirror that I use as a tray from my mom before I moved to Dallas back in the day. It has been on my dresser ever since, filled with some of my must haves like:

• Favorite Perfumes: Currently loving Twirl, Daisy, Lola, Chance, and Wonderstruck (yeah, T.Swift! ;) ). I think it's a good mix of sweet, pretty and sophisticated.
• Special spot for those special rings: Pretty little Anthro soap dish from Leslee and Dru. This bunny dish they have now would be a good one too.)
• Hand lotion: Love these mini Lollia tubes... thanks Matsy for keeping me stocked in these!
• Bracelet bowls: I think there's no better use for pretty little bowls than organizing jewelry... especially my millions of wrap bracelets from Fossil. 
• Lip Balm: Always have to put something on my lips right after I brush my teeth before I go to bed. (Anyone else? They're always super dry!) Smith's Rosebud Salve is a good one!

Notice my favorite candle off to the side... Anthro Volcano candle will always be my #1. And now they update every season in new pretty colors of jars. (aka trick me into buying more)

Another tray on top of my dresser is this awesome gift from Katie via Tilly Maison. I am obsessed with all of her trays, and this pink and red stripe version is super adorable... not to mention perfect to help me organize more of my mounds of jewelry and watches!

*Side Story regarding the random title: When my family went to Ireland for my cousin Ted's wedding, Dac kept saying the time 3:33 in an Irish accent. (I think this stemmed from when Dru and Leslee - my brother and sister in law - were there and Dru asked someone what time it was, and that was their response.) So what do you get when you say 3:33 in an exaggerated Irish accent? "Tray, tray, tray, tray." I think about this pretty much anytime someone says the word tray. Another side note: Dac ended up asking my parents for permission to propose to me at one of our hotels in Ireland. It was in my parents room, which happened to be... 333.

Top o' the mornin' to you.

I Guess That's Why They Call It Window Pain

This is the window over our kitchen sink; as you can see, we enjoy a nice view of the backs of our neighbors' houses while we do the dishes.  Because that isn't my favorite view, I like to keep happy little trinkets on our windowsill.  Things are moved around a lot, but right now, the sill currently holds (from left to right):

My UNC drink coozie.  This is a close-up of the sea monster my good friend Martha drew on the coozie when we lived in Seattle together in 2004.

The "Happy Smurfday" guy that Dac gave me for my 30th birthday.

The penguin creamer I got this year in my Easter basket from Mom and Dad.

The Waterford Crystal Shamrock we got on our big family trip to Ireland for my cousin Ted's wedding.

We had the guy at the Waterford factory engrave it with "2009 - Ireland."

This is just a (Hallmark) greeting card I put in a frame to hang in my kitchen when I was in college because it made me laugh.  In case you can't read it, it says: "True Story: My cookbook says if I don't have 2 eggs, I can substitute with 3 egg yolks.  I don't think my cookbook understands my problems."

"The Friendship Oven Squirrel" that Jayne and I got for Christmas from Mom and a little Bluebird of happiness that Beep Beep (our Mom's Mom) gave me years ago.  The squirrel is so random, but has been useful and totally cracks me up!

The Tale of the Friendship Oven Squirrel:

"North Carolina folklore has it that the residents of the Pisgah Mountain range gave this squirrel to any new comer to the neighborhood as a sign of friendship.  It was to be displayed in their front window to signify that they had been welcomed to the neighborhood.  It also works great when you need to pull the oven rack out with his ears and push it back in with his front paws." (from the tag around his neck).  I'm not sure where she got ours, but it looks like they are available here: The White Squirrel Shoppe.

The roman shade on the window was made by a friend in Richmond, IN (we lovingly refer to her as "The Curtain Lady").  The fabric is Waverly "One Wish Blackbird" and I bought it here.

Thanks for checking out the most random windowsill collection...anyone else have fun objects sitting in their kitchen window?  Adding a "Friendship Oven Squirrel" to your wish list immediately?

IHWSH - Cheers

It's almost the weekend - always a good reason to raise your glass... which is why we picked out some pretty drinkware for this week's I'll Have What She's Having:

Katie's Picks:
1. Bicycle Glasses - Etsy
2. Indiana Glass
3. Little Miss Sunshine Mug
4. Tipsy Wine Glasses - Uncommon Goods

Jayne's Picks:
5. Pink Dots Party Glass
6. Color Pop Juice Glass Anthro
7. Knit Cozy Mug - Leif
8. Kate Spade Fortunada Tumblers

In the words of Rihanna... cheers to the freakin' weekend!

When Pigs Fly

I repinned this cute little When Pigs Fly piggy bank from Emily Henderson (just $18), but the link to it on Open Sky isn't working anymore... surely it's still somewhere out there but no luck yet! 

A few things I plan to have when pigs fly...

This "back yard":

Two or three of these together as a coffee table:

That light fixture - and maybe everything else in the picture (via):

Everything from Society Social:

This Closet (found here, but I believe it's actually Bailey's old closet):

Filled, of course, with anything and everything from Kate Spade, Anthro, Madewell, J.Crew, etc (feel like I would still like the same brands if I had limitless possibilities)...

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Obviously I could go on and on, and there are plenty of non-material things that would happen in my "anything is possible" world.

What would you have when pigs fly?

The Bold and the Beautiful

I've been out of commission the past couple of days with a terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad stomach virus (still not great today, but on the mend!), so wanted to post some bright, happy things to make me feel better.  I hope they make you feel better too.

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Chalk It Up to Fun

Dac and I had been talking about making a chalkboard globe for quite awhile, after seeing tons of vintage globes at the antique store in our neighborhood and - of course - a cool one I saw on Pinterest. His dad had an extra one he was going to get rid of, so we did a test run. We used chalkboard spray paint from Michaels:

We did this in terrible lighting in our apartment parking garage, so we didn't really notice that there were some awkward drip marks until later. (We can't wait for the day when - hopefully soon - we have our own garage or driveway where we can do stuff like this.) On a surface that you can't exactly lay flat, it may be better to use actual chalkboard paint rather than spray paint. Also, we know that for next time we definitely want to do a flat surface globe, because you can see the raised continents through the paint, and it made for a bumpy chalk job. We just used blue paint tape that we had left over to cover the stand.

Other chalkboard paint projects I have my eye on:

Paint a platter to mark items for a party. Found here.

Another clutch party idea, found here.

Or perhaps some placemats? Found here.

Or how about an entire wall of chalkboard? (via Pinterest)

My friend Abby (she is currently living in France, and she and her husband just jetted over to ITALY for her birthday the other week) did a small chalkboard wall in the kitchen of her charming little French apartment:

If you like the idea of a chalkboard wall but want to do it in a less conspicuous spot, I think the inside of a pantry door would be a great place to have a running grocery list.

Chalkboard/headboard is also a fun idea (via Pinterest):

And, love these spice jars from Anthro:

Elsie on A Beautiful Mess tells you here how to make chalkboard paint - in any color - using tile grout mixed with paint. How cool! 

Have fun chalkin' it up!