MOTHER'S DAY COCKTAILS & CRAFTING PARTY

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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 — 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!

“A 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, Laurén LaRocca, Stephanie Nortman.

From left to right: Chase Beckerman, Laurén 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

Laurén's Dress: For Love & Lemons

Laurén's Braid: 901too

 

 

 

 

YEAH! POP-UP WITH PHARMACIE LA

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Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending YEAH! Furniture's pop-up speakeasy party with Pharmacie. The evening included a tour of the furniture line's stunning statement pieces (which I would like to own very much), fabulous craft cocktails from Pharmacie - in beautiful vintage glassware from The Hostess Haven, tray-passed delights from The Vetted Table and free oxygen from The Plant Library. It was such a lovely evening. Here's a photo tour. *Please excuse the shaky iPhone photos.

The first vignette. YEAH! describes their pieces as "classic mid-century design, reimagined with a modern California edge." I'm in!! Every piece was truly fabulous.

I love being greeted with a glass of prosecco upon arrival. How gorgeous is this champagne flute from Hostess Haven?

I concur!

Lovely view of downtown through the DJ set-up.

The gentlemen of Pharmacie.

The first cocktail of the night - "The Starlet" - A martini with fresh mint.

Delicious bites from The Vetted Table.

I became an instant fan of The Plant Library - you can rent their beautiful plants for events. GENIUS.

The "Italian Swizzle" went down reeeeaaaallly easily.  

Ended off the night with "The Confirmed Bachelor" - Pharmacie's take on the Manhattan. I'm tipsy and ready to buy everything. Thank you everyone for such a beautiful night! xx

BACON WRAPPED DATES

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This is a recipe I found and adapted from Saveur a few years back, while preparing for a cocktail party. Frankly, this is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. Learn how to make this well and you will never need to learn another appetizer recipe again (unless you are serving vegetarians, of course). It is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. It's even yummy enough to be a dessert. And you only need four ingredients! No seasoning or oil! The only thing I would say is use the finest, highest quality ingredients available. The main difference I have found between a good bacon wrapped date and a bad one, is the quality of ingredients. Since there are only four, make them all of the highest quality. 

For each single bacon wrapped date, you will need:

1 Slice of Thick Bacon

1 Date

1 Almond

About 1/2 Teaspoon Goat Cheese

Optional: Toothpicks (Makes for easy serving)

(When making them for a party, I would plan on 2-3 per person)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. With a small, sharp knife, slice one side of the date lengthwise.

Place an almond inside.

Fill the rest of the date with goat cheese.

Wrap a piece of bacon around the date and secure with a toothpick. 

Repeat the above steps until all of the dates are stuffed and wrapped, placing them on a roasting tray as you go along. Bake about 10-15 minutes, until bacon is completely cooked and golden brown. Cook a few minutes longer if you like your bacon extra well done. If you bacon is burning (looking more black than brown) turned oven down to 425. 

Your guests are gonna flip! xx