MOTHER'S DAY COCKTAILS & CRAFTING PARTY

I co-hosted a (pre) Mother's Day Cocktails & Crafting Party with my friends and fellow nursery school moms Chase Beckerman & Stephanie Nortman, as a fundraiser for our school. Twink + Sis designed it, Chase supplied a flight of delish spring cocktails from Stillhouse Moonshine and Stephanie provided her stunning home as the venue. We had such a fun night and were honored to have the party featured on ELLE Decor last week. Now I get to share even more images and details with you on the blog today! All images by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography.

Since the party was in honor of our fellow moms, we wanted to make the decor really feminine, with touches of pinks, peach and gold. The vintage runner and gold candlesticks had a glamorous 1960’s feel that contrasted really well with the bare wood tables and marble serving platters. 

The original plan was to have the party outside but it ended up pouring rain that day! Luckily the modern farm tables and wooden bistro chairs (from Circa Vintage Rentals) worked just as well inside Stephanie's home. It was an indoor garden party!

Our friends at Makers Mess brought in the craft and all of its elements -- including an instructor who helped guide us through through the whole process. Each guest was greeted at their place setting with materials for seed bracelet making, including a gold or silver charm they could hammer with special letters or numbers of their choosing. A lot of us did our kids' initials!

Iris & Daughter created stunning floral arrangements in a palette of pinks, white, coral and yellow β€” using anemones, ranunculus, peonies and wax flowers. The modern white hexagonal vases were the perfect offset to the feminine flowers.

Pretty Rosaline goblets from Borrowed Blu.

Loved these gold and white hexagonal runners paired with the fuchsia-bordered napkins -- both from Hostess Haven.

The goal was to create a comfortable and intimate table where our guests could enjoy their drinks and conversation, while still being able to focus on their bracelet-making. Keeping that in mind, Whisk and Whittle created four delicious sweet & savory bites that we served right there on the table. 

Asparagus crostini with fresh ricotta, lemon zest & pink pepper.

Tomato & zucchini polenta cakes with roasted corn salsa.

Fig Crostini with goat cheese, truffle honey and fig jam.

Lemon tartlets with raspberry drizzle and fresh berries.

Stillhouse Moonshine created an amazing flight of spring cocktails for the evening. I loved the way the bar looked!

β€œA Sip of Spring” - A blend of Stillhouse Peach Tea Whiskey, organic fresh peach agave lemonade and fresh organic raspberries.

I obviously couldn't wait to get my paws on it.

"Pineapple Express" -  Stillhouse Coconut Whiskey, fresh pineapple juice, lavender and fresh blueberries.

"Mint Condition” - Stillhouse Mint Chip Whiskey  mixed with soda, chocolate shavings and fresh mint.

After the instructor got us acquainted with what we were doing, we got rolling with our bracelet-making!

If you are looking to host a similar party at home, you can! Makers Mess actually created a seed bead bracelet party kit with everything you need for your next crafting party. I included it here in my May Favorites

We did it! (iPhone pic by me)

From left to right: Chase Beckerman, LaurΓ©n LaRocca, Stephanie Nortman.

From left to right: Chase Beckerman, LaurΓ©n LaRocca, Stephanie Nortman.

Thank you to my beautiful co-hosts and all of the lovely ladies who attended!!

Happy Mother's Day!! xoxoxo!!

CREDITS:

Party Design: Twink + Sis

Photography: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Cocktails: Stillhouse Moonshine 

Craft: Makers Mess

Flowers: Iris & Daughter

Food/Dessert: Whisk and Whittle

Rentals: Circa Vintage Rentals

Glassware: Borrowed Blu

Linens: Hostess Haven

Candles: Yummi Candles

Candlesticks: Anthropologie

Platters: CB2

LaurΓ©n's Dress: For Love & Lemons

LaurΓ©n's Braid: 901too

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HOLIDAY SIP AND SHOP + PHARMACIE HOLIDAY COCKTAIL RECIPE

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

We co-hosted a Holiday Sip & Shop with our BFF's Beth Riesgraf and Marissa Ribisi, to benefit the local women's shelter in Downtown LA. I am so excited to share images of the event with you today! We teamed up with so many amazing artists and vendors for this event. It was truly a magical day. 

Sis & I created a girly & whimsical holiday wonderland table filled with delicious treats by our fave, Whisk & Whittle. And we are truly still gasping from the beauty of the garland MV Florals created for us.

Our guests enjoyed their bite-sized treats and handcrafted holiday cocktails from Pharmacie, while shopping from so many incredible artisans and companies including Bare Collection, Beautycounter, Entertaining Elephants, Jen’s Pirate Booty, Lovelybird, Makers Mess, MB Surplus, Mariah O’Brien interiors, Michele Miskovich Photography, Odd Bird Company, Pade Vavra, Red Car Wine, SKJ Sunkissed by Jenni, Sweet Mary’s, Tracee Nichols, Tysa Designs and 901too.

Pharmacie served three gorgeous seasonal cocktails and I was particularly obsessed with their "St. Nick's Tonic" -- which I have lovingly renamed "THE MOST DELICIOUS HOLIDAY COCKTAIL. EVER." Founder, Talmadge Lowe, was kind enough to share his recipe for the drink with us today! Read on for all of the details...

We went super feminine with the copper, pinks, red and white palette. The fresh greens brought in that Christmas tree vibe that we all love. We went crazy with bottle brush trees, in a mix of metal colors, and glittery birds to amp up the "glamorous wonderland" feel.

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

PHARMACIE'S ST. NICK'S TONIC

Gin - 2 oz

Cinnamon Syrup** - 1.5 oz

Lime - 3/4 oz

Cranberries

Muddle a handful of cranberries in the cinnamon syrup. Add this mixture with the gin and lime and ice in a cocktail shaker.

Shake vigorously. Pour the entire mixture into a hi ball glass. No garnish. Let the muddled cranberries float in the gorgeous pink drink. OR, maybe put a tiny branch of fir in it!

**Combine equal parts water and sugar (I cup of each) in a small pot and heat until the sugar dissolves.  Add 8-10 cinnamon sticks to the syrup while hot and let steep for 2-3 hours. Always let it cool to room temperature before using. Refrigerating over night is preferred.

Tracee Nichols Jewelry. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Tracee Nichols Jewelry. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Odd Bird Company. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Odd Bird Company. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Beauty Counter. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Beauty Counter. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Bare Collection. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Bare Collection. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

MAKERS MESS. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

MAKERS MESS. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

MB Surplus. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

MB Surplus. Photo by Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Credits:

Designed by: Twink + Sis

Photography: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Florals: MV Florals

Linens: Classic Party Rentals

Cake Platters: Borrowed Blu

Drinks: Pharmacie

Desserts: Whisk & Whittle

Christmas Decor: Anthropologie

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible!! xx

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TWINK + SIS HALLOWEEN DINNER PARTY

It's spooky season! We were so thrilled to have our Halloween dinner party featured on ELLE Decor. Today, I'm so excited to share even more images and details from our Halloween celebration with you.

THE DESIGN: We wanted to create a stylish and dramatic Halloween dinner party for the adult set. Something fun and festive, without losing the beauty of a sophisticated dinner party. 

The first two key elements of our table were the black flatware and the Jarrahdale (light grey/green) pumpkins. Those two elements were actually the jumping off point for the whole design. 

We purchased the pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch and they really made the table. We knew from the start that we wanted to forgo orange and do something a little more unusual. We were completely in love with these pumpkins and just wanted to cover every inch of the table in them. 

Once we had settled on black and the pumpkins being key aspects, that dictated everything else as we moved forward. We added light grey plates, flowers in deep red/purples as another contrast to the lighter colors, and smokey brown (goblets) to finish it off. We also thought that using classic silver for candlesticks, vases and goblets, added a perfect moody touch. 

We have a rule to always use fresh elements, wherever possible β€” even at our kids' parties. Whether it be pumpkins, flowers or evergreens, having an abundance of fresh, seasonal items really creates the most beautiful effect.

The plate decorations are actually chestnuts! We really wanted to have the flowers be a bit spooky and unusual. So when we came across these little brown monsters, we knew they would be the perfect unexpected addition to the table.

We loved the glass cloches. We placed some of the black birds, branches and the chestnuts under them. They created a great eerie vibe.

Make the most of your investment: Load up on heirloom pumpkins. Not only do they make great party decor, but they will keep your home festive all the way through Thanksgiving!

THE COCKTAIL: Our signature drink for the evening was β€œThe Darkest Night.” It consisted of fresh muddled blackberries, bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped off with sparking water. It was like a Halloween soda for grown-ups.

THE DESSERT: The cake was created by Whisk & Whittle. It was a two-tierd (gluten-free) chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. She created the spiders from marzipan and the web from spun sugar.

CREDITS:

Party Concept, Design, Cocktail & Florals: Twink + Sis

Photography: Sarina Cass of Red Anchor Photo

Cake: Whisk and Whittle

Tabletop sourced from: Borrowed Blu

Flatware: Classic Party Rentals

Candles: Yummi Candles

Skull & Blackbirds: Pottery Barn

Pumpkins: Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

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THE TWINK + SIS MARGARITA

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Last year we made a delish Blood Orange, Basil & JalapeΓ±o Margarita for National Margarita Day! We thought we'd share it again today in case you were so inclined to celebrate with this organic cocktail that packs a major punch! xx

This Sunday is not only The Academy Awards, but it's National Margarita Day! Now that we are pro-mixologists (see yesterday's post), we concocted the most delicious (if I do say so myself) margarita for you to enjoy on this special holiday.  And it's the perfect drink to serve your guests while watching The Oscars. I used pure, organic silver tequila with fresh squeezed lime juice, muddled basil and jalapeΓ±o and made my own blood orange simple syrup. Here's how it's done - 

For ONE serving you will need:

2 oz. Silver Tequila (I am really digging IXÁ, an organic, small batch tequila)

1 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

1 oz. Blood Orange Simple Syrup (recipe below)

3 - 5 Basil Leaves

2 Thin JalapeΓ±o Slices

Ice

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First, make the simple syrup. If you don't own an electric citrus juicer I highly recommend this one from Breville. I love it. 

Blood Orange Simple Syrup Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Fresh Blood Orange Juice (about 8 blood oranges), strained through a sieve

3/4 Cup Organic Sugar

1-1/2 Cups Water

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.

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To make the drink:

Muddle jalapeΓ±o and basil until fairly broken down.

Add tequila, lime juice and blood orange simple syrup. Add several ice cubes and shake vigorously for about a minute.

Pour the liquid through the strainer over ice. If you like my large spherical ice cubes, you can get the molds at Williams-Sonoma.

Cheers to the greatest National Margarita Day ever!!





SPRING COCKTAIL: THE PUCKERBERRY FINN

Photo by: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

I created this cocktail for our recent Spring dinner party. There is something about muddled blackberries and fresh, sour lemon juice that is super delicious and refreshing. It's the perfect spring cocktail, if I do say so myself! I have also become a big fan of gin lately -- particularly small batch, organic ones, like Peak Spirits' CapRock. It has a really lovely flavor. The splash of elderflower liquor adds a really nice fruity and flowery sweetness to tie it all together.

Huge thank you to Borrowed Blu for the gorgeous crystal cut and milk glasses and Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography for the stunning photographs.

We were thrilled to have this recipe featured on Domaine Home a few weeks ago. In case you missed it, here it is!

5 Blackberries

1 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 oz. Simple Syrup

1+1/2 oz. Gin

1/2 oz. Elderflower Liquor

Ice

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In a cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries. Add lemon juice, simple syrup, gin and elderflower liquor. add several ice cubes and shake vigorously. Pour through a strainer and garnish with an edible flower or blackberries (I froze mine to give them an extra special look). Enjoy!

Photo by: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography

Photo by: Jenna Elliott of One Eleven Photography