Creative bachelorette party gift idea

Bachelorette Party Gift Fun!

A super creative friend of mine is just starting the wedding whirlwind. You know, that period in life where it seems like you have anywhere from three to ten weddings to attend every year. She always comes up with the best gifts for her gal pals and this one’s no exception. I was so in love when I opened her text that I just had to share it with you. The wrapping pretty much takes the cake. Who knew you could make a simple gift bag so cute with a couple of bows and a cute pair “Mrs.” undies. She filled the bag with all of the usual naughty, gag gift items for a bachelorette. But that’s not all… She was also clever (and thoughtful) enough to get a nice travel bag and these Mr./Mrs. luggage tags. It’s a destination wedding, so there’s no doubt these will come in handy for the bachelorette. I mean, how many pairs of edible undies does one bride-to-be really need? FYI, these adorable luggage tags can be found here.

Nature inspired Christmas centerpiece

Nature Inspired Christmas Centerpiece and Glitter Dipped Pinecones

Mr. Rosy and I have a lot going on this holiday season. And for just that reason we decided that we wouldn’t be doing any traveling. It’ll be so much easier this way we thought. Then we decided to host Mr. Rosy’s mother and step-father for Christmas Eve. And his brother. And his aunt and uncle. And his cousin and her husband. And his cousin’s cousin and her boyfriend. And well, you get the picture. So we had a great big Christmas Eve dinner party for eleven. I promised Mr. Rosy I wouldn’t go overboard. Just a simple centerpiece with some fresh evergreens… Well, when he saw me hand painting each tip on a bunch of pinecones, he sheepishly inquired if I felt this was keeping things simple. But honestly, this table setting couldn’t have been easier. I wanted to go natural, using the cool log risers I had left from this 30th birthday party. Add some flameless candles (you don’t want to be babysitting dripping wax when you’re hosting a dinner party) and some evergreens and you’re set. For the most part… Because then it hit me, with this many people it’s a good idea to have place cards. I

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The Perfect Thing's 10th Anniversary Celebration

Guess who turned ten! The Perfect Thing’s Anniversary Celebration

I was so excited when the wonderful ladies at Wheaton’s The Perfect Thing asked me to help plan their tenth anniversary celebration. There couldn’t be two ladies whose hard work is more deserving of a celebration. To add to the fun, they completely trusted my ideas for the weekend’s events. Even the ones I thought may be a bit more outlandish. (Hiding 10th anniversary coins all over the store good for 50% off your purchase!?!? Proud to say this turned out to be a HUGE hit.) The wonderfully talented Elizabeth Tornabene designed all the advertisements and graphics for the weekend. They really spoke to the celebration and the refined pieces for which the Perfect Thing is known. The weekend’s celebration kicked off with a book signing by the incredible Judith Miller. Judith is not only one of the world’s foremost experts on antiques (having written over 100 books on the subject), but she is also an absolute doll to work with. I was thrilled that we were able to get her and The Perfect Thing on WGN Morning News! Click here to see the clip and get her tips on what to avoid when antiquing. The Perfect Thing also hosted

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Fore!!! Charity Golf Outing!

I had a blast working with the good folks at Cushman & Wakefield again on a charity golf outing to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. I wish I had better pictures, but suffice it to say the weather was beautiful, everyone had a great time, and we raised a whopping $50,000 for Wounded Warrior Project! It was such a great day, I only got pictures of the first half of things. (DOH!) You’ll just have to imagine a wonderful cocktail hour, dinners, and awards that concluded the day. Oh, and I must give a special shout out to the wonderful SMT Events. They helped us reach our donation goal by setting us up with a great silent auction, exciting scratch off cards, and fabulous on-course games with prizes worth more than $60,000! If you’re looking to host a charity event of any kind, I highly recommend you reach out to SMT Events. Vendors Venue: Harborside International Golf Course Caterer: Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants Fundraising Games & Silent Auction: SMT Events Transportation: Windy City Limo Hotel: The Langham Chicago

Martha Stewart Paper Strip Garland

Copycat Martha Stewart Paper Strip Garland

While trying to get through my perpetually growing magazine pile, I ran across this picture of Martha Stewart’s Paper Strip Garland: And thought to myself, I can totally make that! Well, you know what? This time I was right! I happened to be getting really into paint chip crafts for our housewarming party and I just knew they were the perfect medium for this knock-off. Not only are these so simple, but there are so many uses for them. Hang them off your chandelier or over your table for a unique and colorful hanging centerpiece. Try them on your front porch to welcome guests to your party. They’re a great decorative element to define a space (think gift table, bar area, etc.). I even think they could make a super cute mobile for a baby’s room! And don’t feel like you have to stick to rectangles. Get creative with your scissors or use hole punches to try a variety of shapes. DIY PAPER GARLAND KNOCK-OFF Supplies: Paint Chips Filament Wire Scissors Double-Stick Tape Instructions: Step One: Cut paint chips down to size and line up matching chips back to back. Step Two: Open the paint chips and run filament wire down the

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