Wednesday, May 25, 2016

5 Tips to throw a Beautiful Bash!

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Happy hump day, Blog Family! You've made it halfway through another week and can you believe it, May is almost over. This month there were so many celebrations and parties, some of which were for my college graduation, and some of which I hosted for birthdays. One of my favorite things to do is to give gifts to those I love and to have people over our home. I put together a cozy birthday party for my friend Shannon (all pink, everything!), and it got me thinking about what makes a celebration special. I'm sharing my top 5 tips on how to throw a memorable bash for those you cherish!

1.  Guest List- Decide how many people you can comfortably accommodate. You want to invite people that will enjoy this special time with the celebrated person or event. Also keep in mind what said person would appreciate. For myself, the more the merrier! But for someone like my husband, less is more ;)

2. Decor- Pick a color scheme of approximately 3 colors, and stick to it.  For this party I chose Pink, White, and Gold. Shannon absolutely loved it and appreciated all of the small and big details. Decorations don't have to break your bank, try to use items you already have and maybe purchase one centerpiece item that the person will love. In this case, it was the numbered balloons and they were such a fun touch! For the cake decor I used sprinkles and a heart shaped cookie cutter that I already had. Get creative!

3. Edibles- In my opinion, homemade is always the better choice if you have the energy and skill. If not, don't worry, surely they will appreciate any goodies you provide. For this party I made a white box cake with homemade raspberry buttercream frosting. The frosting is really the party maker, which is why I spent more time on it (Thank God for the Kitchen Aide). I also had ice cream in her two favorite flavors available.  

4. Planning & Preparation- Prepare as much as possible in the weeks or months leading up to the party, depending on size and what needs to be done. I baked the cake Thursday, decorated on Friday and put the finishing touches out right before the party on Saturday. This way you aren't feeling stressed during the event and can really enjoy it. I plan to do this same type of prep for my husband's birthday next month because it's only two days after my wisdom teeth removal surgery (wahhh :( ) so I want to have everything ready in case I'm not feeling up to par yet. 

5. Gifts- Thoughtful gifts encompassing who that person is. I remember last year for my birthday, my sister and Shannon got me a cart full of baking supplies. It's a dear hobby of mine and I truly loved that they spent such time and care picking out those gifts. A lovely gift idea is to give a meaningful card or something you have crafted just for them.












I hope that this post is helpful for you 
& thanks so much for dropping in!
-ash

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Bohemian Beach Getaway!

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Happy Ash Wednesday & here's to hoping your week is going well!  I started summer classes on Monday so my schedule is picking up again, but for the past two weeks I have been enjoying time off.  For the first part of vacation, my husband and I spent a few days with his parents at the Tradewinds Island Resort. Funny thing is, I used to work at the front desk before David and I ever met. We have stayed there a few times and it's always so much fun at the beach visiting with old co-workers and enjoying the grounds. They have multiple pools, restaurants, hammocks, and even a little paddle boat river that runs through the resort!

Here are a few photos of what I wore upon arrival. Comfort and breathability is key when it comes to  going to the beach and that's exactly what this dress and shoes afforded me. I felt a bit dressed up but was still to walk the property comfortably.

P.S- A fashion trend that always makes me feel super chic is matching my shoes with an accessory like a purse or belt, give it a try ;)






 DRESS: Ross-similar & under $35 here and cute summer blue here / SHOES: Steve Madden /
 BAG: Love this one


Thanks for stopping in!
-ash

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

A White Graduation!

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Another Ash Wednesday (see what I did there?) is upon us! It's been a beautiful week thus far, completely due to myself and husband being on official vacation from school and work as of Monday. I was lucky enough to have my entire immediate family and my in-laws at my graduation ceremony and celebration. We ended up leaving the ceremony early because it was soooo long! P.F.Changs was calling to us, so we headed out and enjoyed the afternoon of food and family. I wore this adorable white dress for the occasion. It's actually the same one I wore to my bridal shower over a year and a half ago, so it also has sentimental value. In my opinion, light girly dresses are best for graduations so that they don't show through whatever your school color gown is and you don't get as hot. Plus, you can wear them again for a spring/summer date or special event. Windsor has so many cute options right now and I linked my favorites below!





How cute are my siblings?

WHITE DRESSES: two-piece here / gorgeous watercolor here and under $40! / lace tunic here / classic style here 
FLORAL WEDGES: (pair perfectly with white dresses) Fergalicious pair here / Inexpensive and low wedge here / comfortable brand here

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