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Redefining Domestics

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Chic Birthday Party Decorations

March 2, 2016 Callie Cagney
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Spring is a very popular time of year for birthdays amongst my group of friends (and myself included).  Since it has been a while since my last look at birthday decor and celebration ideas (see here), I thought I would share a few of my latest finds that have really upped my birthday celebrating game.  These birthday party extras are both sophisticated and fun, making these items perfect for celebrating almost anyone at any age!

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For the Cake

Whether you are baking a cake from scratch or buying super fancy cupcakes (which I am definitely guilty of doing on occasion due to time constraints), no birthday is complete without candles and the traditional happy birthday song!  Once I hit my teenage years, I was over having my birthday candles reflect my age, primarily because it overwhelmed the cake and distracted from the cake's pretty aesthetic (I also didn't need to be reminded of my ever-increasing age).

I prefer to have either a few candles or even a single candle on my cake.  While nothing beats the traditional mini birthday candles sold in most grocery stores, since I tend to opt for few candles I want to make sure that they are special.  Recently, I have discovered Target's Gold Birthday Candles and TOPS Malibu's Big Golden Star Sparkler Wand and absolutely adore these candle options!  The added metallic glitz from these candles makes for a unique and chic addition to any birthday cake.  *To really take the presentation over the top, light the candles with these adorable birthday matches.  

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Wrapping Birthday Presents

It can be challenging to find a gift wrap print that is appropriate for an array of gift recipient types (ex. age, gender, relation to you).  Often I find myself housing a ridiculously extensive collection of wrapping papers because I have bought papers based on a single recipient instead of finding a paper that could work for many.  Fortunately, I had my "Ah-ha!" moment a few months ago and have been obsessed ever since!  

Caspari's "Party Animal" line of paper products is a current favorite of mine when it comes to gift wrap, wine bags and gift enclosures.  The sophisticated wild animals decorated in whimsical birthday flare, makes this line of high quality gift wrap ideal to use on both adults and kids.  Caspari has also extended this line to paper tabletop products, which are equally fabulous and another birthday entertaining favorite of mine!

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Party On!

If I am going to host a birthday party, then I am going to do it right.  Meaning, I'm  pulling out all of the stops (birthday party essentials), like party hats and confetti! 

Traditional party hats are a thing of the past in my opinion.  They are just too bulky and basic.  Ever since my discovery of the mini santa party hats around Christmas time, I have been totally in love with the concept of jaunty mini party hats worn stylishly tilted to one side of your head.  These Meri Meri Mini Party Hats (pictured below), paired with these super fun and reusable Confetti Pops (pictured above) are fun twists on traditional birthday party accessories that will give any party a fresh and festive vibe.  

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Cocktail Time

In addition to outfitting my birthday parties with Caspari's Party Animal paper products, I also love using these "YAY!" Cocktail Napkins.  Not only do they scream FUN, but they are also a pleasantly unexpected/refreshing change from the traditional "Happy Birthday" and "Celebrate!" signage typically printed on birthday party paper products.   

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Refreshing my birthday party repertoire with these chic and whimsical additions has me chomping at the bit to host my first birthday celebration of the season.  Simple updates to your party accessories can make all of the difference when it comes to putting together a fun and festive event.  I have always been a fan of birthdays because in my opinion, they are perfect opportunities to single out and celebrate those special people in your life.  

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In Entertain Tags Meri Meri, Caspari, The Paper Source, TOPS Malibu, Happy Birthday, Party Hats, Confetti
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4th of July Tablescape

June 29, 2015 Callie Cagney
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This year I am hosting friends at our home for the 4th of July.  In the past, my husband and I have spent this holiday in a variety of locations (Beach, Mountains, Bay, DC) with both formal and informal settings.  While I love the idea of grilling on the 4th of July and creating a chic picnic scene, from my experience picnicking in July tends to be most enjoyable when the weather is below 80 degrees and the humidity is at a reasonable level.  Maybe this is just a personal preference, but it is really hard for me to work up an appetite and have an enjoyable dining experience when it's sweltering hot outside (like say, in DC in the dead of summer).  In preparation for Saturday's festivities I want to be mindful of tradition yet still provide my guests with a level of comfort, so I plan on grilling outside and serving dinner inside.  

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When creating this tablescape, I wanted to incorporate a level of sophistication since we will be eating inside, but also incorporate a few festive whimsical touches.  I opted for a solids as opposed to patterns so that I could, a) use materials that I already owned and b) keep the table with a classic Ralph Lauren vibe (since he is the epitome of sophisticated American decor).  Here is a breakdown of what I used to create this tablescape:

  • Table Cloth: Ballard Designs
  • Placemats: Williams-Sonoma (or Similar here and here)
  • Rattan Chargers: World Market
  • Dinner Plates: Pillivuyt Basketweave
  • Napkins: Pottery Barn Hemstitch Linen, Cranberry (love these napkins too!)
  • Steak Knives: Laguiole 
  • Party Hats: USA Party Hats, Set of 4 (*Recommend Wearing at a Jaunty Angle)
  • High Ball Glasses: Reed & Barton
  • Champagne Coupes: West Elm (or similar here)
  • Wine Goblets: William Yeoward
  • Coasters: Chilewich
  • Centerpiece: Tiffany & Co. 
  • Flowers: Locally Grown Red Tulips and Red African Roses (2 Bouquets of each)
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Menu:

  • Entree: Grilled Marinated Flank Steak
  • Salad: Ina Garten's Panzanella Salad
  • Side: Bobby Flay's Perfectly Grilled Corn
  • Dessert: Patriotic Berry Trifle and Fresh Cut Watermelon
  • Cocktail: Blueberry Ginger Bellinis

Prior to creating this tablescape, I spent a significant amount of time on Pinterest (see my 4th of July Pinterest Board here) trying to figure out how I wanted to go about creating this table setting.  In the end, I realized that I could use a bunch of staple items I already had on hand to create this scape.  The party hats, red flowers and napkins were the only new additions.  **Note- Red Napkins are a great staple to have on hand for entertaining (4th of July, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc…), but it can be challenging to find that perfect shade of red (Cranberry not Cherry Red).  

After dinner, we plan to head down to monuments to enjoy the fireworks.  While I am going against the norm by hosting an indoor dinner, I am still keeping with traditions through my menu, tablescape color scheme and post dinner field trip.  This evening will be a perfect combination of festive and comfortable (2 entertaining musts for me).  I hope this post has given you some inspiration for ways to celebrate the 4th of July with your friends and family.  Happy 4th of July everyone!

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In Entertain Tags July 4th, Summer, Tablescape, Red White and Blue, Patriotic, Party Hats
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