The fresh tulips were probably enough, but I tend to add a few extra layers to my tablescapes. 

What purpose exactly do the layers provide?

• Table runners provide an extra layer of protection from heat, moisture and spills while adding a “pulled together” look. They also a base for your centerpiece (source credit-premiertablelinens-blog.com)
• On the table, a centerpiece is a central object which serves a decorative purpose. However, centerpieces are often not too large, to avoid difficulty with visibility around the table and to allow for the easier serving of dishes. Centerpieces are often made from flowers, candles, fruit, or candy (source-wikipedia)
• Charger plates can catch pieces of food, and prevent spills and messes that would otherwise stain the tablecloth or flow onto the table. Chargers also help to retain the heat in dinnerware since they are placed directly underneath plates and bowls (source credit-webrestaurantstore.com)
• Cloth napkins are cute and functional. “They hold up way better than paper napkins. No one wants to use paper napkins that are going to disintegrate after a few quick hand wipes during a messy meal. A cloth napkin can stand up to the messiest fingers — every single time” (source- Kitchn)
• What is the purpose of the small heart plate?  My response is because it makes the table look complete, however, this is actually a dessert plate, which wouldn’t be on the table until dessert is served. Oops. “The dinner plate is the center of the place setting, and the salad plate is placed to the left. The dessert plate sits just above the dinner plate in many cases. When the dessert plate is not placed on the table before the meal, it arrives after the dinner dishes have been cleared (source-classroom.synonym.com)
• Party favors or sussy “A small gift, given for no particular occasion other than love and friendship, usually not wrapped and often not given directly but left as a surprise to find. A little inexpensive present given from the heart.”
• And most of all, they’re fun and pretty!!

So there you have it, lots of info that I doubt you really care about. My thought, is set your table however it makes you happy!! 

It’s fun to use unexpected colors on a table. Like black on Valentine’s day! I’ve also used black on an Easter Table before! Go take a look and let me know if you’re in agreement that black is a fun addition to a tablescape. I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull it off for 4th of July, but I might try. 

If this post has brought you JOY, please feel free to PIN this to your favorite pinterest board!!

Here’s my Red & Aqua Valentine’s table from last year.

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I believe in two things when it comes to setting the perfect table:

• First, keep it simple! No one wants to sit down at a table that is so cluttered (even if it is gorgeous) that they feel uncomfortable. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love a pretty centerpiece and beautiful dishes and linens, but I want my family and friends to feel at home. No linen on my table is ever too fancy that they can’t wipe a spaghetti face on it!! If it’s not washable, I don’t buy it!
• Second, use and re-use what you have! Or as bloggers like to say, “shop your home first.”  I’ll admit to having a lot of dishes, but if you follow my tablescapes, you’ll also notice that I use the same pieces over and over. I just mix and match and add in a new piece here and there to achieve the look I’m going for.
• Ok, lastly (even though I said two things), the food must be good! It doesn’t matter if you spent hours in the kitchen preparing a delicious home cooked meal, or ordered take out. Good food and good conversation around the kitchen table with family and friends makes for the perfect evening!

I love the layers and textures that I’ve included on this table and the details of the simple centerpiece is just enough!

My buffet was decorated like this all Fall. I change my decor seasonally, but rarely change it out during a season. Except for tablescapes! I do love playing with my dishes in my dining room.

I can’t wait until we can actually host friends again. So far, we’ve had some family over, but I miss gathering with our friends. I love this sign (from Oh Sweet Skye), it says what my heart feels! Amen!

Be thankful, and be blessed!

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Another love of mine are trays!!! This Steel Handled Slat Bottom tray was purchased from Curtis Creation. Susie’s shop has become one of my absolute favorites. Please go and check her out!!

This is a short and simple post, but I just wanted to share my buffet set up with you and I hope it provides you with some inspiration for hosting your next party!!

Please don’t forget to Pin this for me!! 

I often say, “if I can learn one thing or get one idea…..”, so with that, I hope the links below will provide you with a little inspiration for your next party or outdoor BBQ. 

Baby Shower and Tips for Easy Party Planning

Aloha Themed Couples Wedding Shower

Fiesta Bridal Shower

Bridal Shower Insiration!

The post Flower Market Centerpiece appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

Some simple cellophane wrap and a large ribbon was all that was needed to make this delicious treat an adorable little gift!

You can find my Homemade Rocky Road recipe with step by step instructions HERE. It is so easy to make and it’s always a favorite!!

As you can tell, I have a few treats ready to hand out, but will making making a couple more batches as it get’s a bit closer to Christmas!

This was probably my favorite mug find ever! I found only one of these mugs a couple years ago. It was like a big soup mug and held lots of Rocky Road! It came with the jingle bell already attached, so cute! I would have bought these by the dozen if I could have!!

Another treat that I make every year are these POTATO CHIP COOKIES. They don’t look Christmas-y but they sure are good!! 

And of course, both Santa and the Grinch love these GOOEY SPRINKLE CHRISTMAS COOKIES! 

And, the little ones always love CHRISTMAS CAKE POPS! 

I’d love to hear some of your Christmas baking traditions!

Don’t forget to share and pin this Homemade Rocky Road!! 

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This beautiful bride-to-be is marrying my nephew next month. I’d say he’s a lucky man! Unlike most showers that I host, I didn’t know many of the guests, but loved getting a chance to visit with her family and friends and can’t wait to see them all next month at the wedding! Chelsea is going to be a gorgeous bride!

If you’ve read any of my other hosted event posts, you’ll know that from the moment guests arrive, I like to “welcome” them to my home. I start at the porch with a welcome sign and fresh flowers! As soon as you pull up, you immediately know that you’re at the right house.

Upon entry, I have a table which included the “Guess the Kisses” game, along with another welcome sign, and framed photos of the bride & groom (to-be).

Next up is to choose your beverage of choice. Today’s brunch included either coffee/tea or a mimosa (or plain juice if you prefer). Balloon arches are my new decoration of choice. Using balloon tape, they are very easy to make and are certainly a statement decor piece!

Once guests stepped outside (through french doors off my kitchen), they were able to start on their Make Your Own Flower Bouquets! SO MUCH FUN!! I flower shopped at a local wholesale flower shop a couple of days before the shower, choosing all the flowers I could find in the shower colors! Hello lots of pinks, yellows, whites, and greenery!

I set out everything the ladies would need to make their own bouquet:

• fresh flowers
• cutters
• vases
• ribbons (I cut them in yard lengths and filled a tin bucket with an assortment)
• tags
• I even printed up an “instruction” sign

Check out the gorgeous bouquets that everyone made! And this only about half of the beautiful bouquets.

This is the view right as you step onto the deck from the french doors. I love the way the hot pink popped against the green trees. There was a light fog when guests arrived, but it soon cleared and made for a beautiful warm sunny day.

Right before the guests were instructed to refill their beverages and find a seat, we set fruit/yogurt/granola parfaits at each place setting. Once everyone was seated, I welcomed the guests and we played a “The Price is Right” game, where guests had to correctly guess the prices of household cleaning and kitchen products. After the game, we headed into the dining room to serve up some delicious brunch food! We had two kinds of quiche, bacon, sausage, blueberry french toast casserole, champagne orange salad, and a bagel bar. You can find the recipe for the Blueberry French Toast Casserole HERE. I should have mentioned to the guests to save room for dessert!

With full tummies, it was time for another game, then Chelsea opened her gifts. During this time, we passed these amazing Tiramisu Chocolate Cups. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! There was also a Berry Chantilly Chiffon Cake and some mini tarts. All desserts were from Whole Foods. As I have mentioned before, take short cuts where you can. Sometimes semi-homemade is the way to go!

And of course, we had to get a few photos. First is Chelsea with her mom (on the right) and my sister, the groom’s mom (on the left). Next up is Chelsea with her Maid-of-Honor. And, lastly, one of the myself with my future niece).

And, please don’t forget to PIN to your favorite Pinterest Board!

Looking for more Bridal Shower inspiration??

How to Host a Fiesta Bridal Shower

Bubbly, Brunch, and Big Hats Bridal Shower

Aloha Themed Wedding Shower

Or, maybe some  Simple Party Planning Tips.

The post Make Your Own Bouquet Bridal Shower Brunch appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

As guests arrive inside,  I show them where they can set their purses and/or jackets, where to place their gifts, and of course show them where the restroom is. I also point them in the direction of appetizers and drinks. The large chalkboard below is used for every event! I wish I could take credit for the beautiful artwork, but I always call on a dear friend of mine. I have absolutely no talent in the art department. Drinks and appetizers are next up! For this Fiesta Themed Shower we offered a few drink options: Mexican Sodas, Topo Chico Sparkling Water, Corona Beer, and of course a Self Serve Margarita Bar! The sodas, beer, and waters were in beverage coolers on the other side of the deck. I purposely try to “spread” food and drinks out so that there is room to move around. I will admit the Margarita Bar was a crowded hang out at this shower! I made a simple sign (in photoshop) with simple “how to” instructions to make a delicious margarita! 

This fun Fiesta Themed Bridal Party was for my niece and I was honored to host it for her! My sister-in-law and I have hosted nearly all of the bridal showers in our family and as soon as my niece became engaged I knew I’d host this event. My sister-in-law hosted an amazing Brunch Shower for my youngest daughter about two years ago and I knew that when her daughters got engaged, I’d be hosting theirs. One down, two to go…..  Here’s the bride with her mom and two sisters (the bride to be is second from the right). I took a few shortcuts on the appetizers I served.  Mexican Street Corn is always a favorite when I make it and it knew it would fit the theming of this shower. Besides the corn, I served individual fruit/veggie cups with fresh lime and Tajin chili powder. I know of a little Mexican produce market and they sliced all the fruit and veggies for me. This was such time saver and the cost was about equal to what I would have paid for it uncut. I also set out tortilla chips w/salsa and guacamole (provided by my taco caterer).

After about an hour of mingling with Margaritas and appetizers, we moved down to our lower yard where I had tables set. I don’t have a picture to share, but before we moved down to the dining tables, these sweet little cousins (two are flower girls), led us all in the Macarena!! How could you not want to break out in dance with these four?? 

I love the way the table decor came together. I rented the tables, chairs, and black plates. The napkins and bright aluminum cups I purchased from Pier 1. I found the serape table runners and the mini maracas on Amazon. The centerpieces were simply empty Mexican branded cans filled with a few tissue paper flowers. I also added three mini succulent plants in terra cotta pots (that the flower girls painted), a few limes, mini maracas, and a bottle of hot sauce. Each table also had a bottle of cold Topo Chico sparking water.

The table for the little ones, included bright child sized plates, cups, and silverware, along with some coloring pages and party bags!!Once everyone was seated we did a quick welcome, shared some marriage advice, and gave a little blessing! I couldn’t have hosted this shower without the help of my daughters!! I don’t often do this, but I knew that our favorite Mexican restaurant (El Palomar) catered, so I hired them for the event. They do such a wonderful job of catering, including hand making their corn tortillas on site!
Next up, of course, was dessert!! We served Fresh Baked Churros rolled in cinnamon sugar, fruit popsicles served in a splash of champagne, and an assortment of cupcakes (purchase from my local cupcake store). 

I always find it helpful to have a “spot” designated for gifts before the guests arrive. We placed  a cute colorful outdoor mat down on the lawn and set a chair and little table next to it. The guests knew exactly where to place their gifts and the bride was comfortable and front and center to all her guests when she opened gifts. The table offered the bride a place to set her drink and, thinking ahead, I already had a trash bag for the wrapping paper, a pair of scissors, and a notepad to write down the gifts. 

Of course, these little ones loved being as close as they could to the bride as she opened her gifts!!Guests left with a party favor of a homemade frosted sugar cookie! Homemade by me, and decorated with the help of my niece (the bride’s sister) and one of my daughters. 

I think it’s safe to say that the bride-to-be had a great time at her Fiesta Themed Bridal Shower!

The bride-to-be with her mom and her soon to be mother-in-law. My three daughters (on the right) were very close growing up with these three cousins (the bride and her two sisters)! We spent a lot of time together as families and have multiple of pictures of our girls lined up together.  And here’s a lot more of their girl cousins!! I should have posted all the outtakes of this If the thought of hosting a large shower or party sounds overwhelming to you, remember that it’s okay to take a few shortcuts. Here’s a rundown of a few a took for this shower:

• Shop as far as you can in advance, saving just the fresh items to get the day before.
• Do as much kitchen prep as you can in advance. (I grilled the corn for the appetizer the day before, cut it off the cob, and placed in zip lock baggies. It only took a few minutes to finish the morning of the shower). Make any food you can the day before.
• Clean your house a day or two before (don’t worry about the rooms the guests won’t see).
• Remember that you don’t need to do all the food. Use a caterer!
• Purchase some/all of the desserts.
• If the party is indoors, you can do a lot of the set up the day before, including setting the table, setting out serving dishes, etc.
• If it’s outdoors, re-arrange any outdoor furniture, pull out ice bins, etc the day before. The morning of set up tables & chairs. I typically wait until a couple hours before the party to decorate the tables.
• Accept help! Either co-host the event, or, don’t be afraid to say yes if a friend offers to bring something or come over and help. I enlisted the help of the flowers girls (they painted the succulent pots), the bride’s sister came over and helped decorate cookies, and my family all pitched in the day of.
• And this is one of my favorite tips – Hire kitchen help for a few hours during the party so that you can enjoy the party!

If you loved this post on How to Host a Fiesta Bridal Shower, you might also like this Aloha Themed Wedding Shower that I hosted. Or possibly this Baby Shower post.

Feel free to share the love and Pin the image below to your favorite Pinterest board.

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I shopped for Brawny Tear-A-Square Paper Towels at my local Target. This is my first time purchasing the Brawny Tear-A-Square Towels and I’ll never use anything but these again. I can’t wait to get back to Target and stock up on these paper towels. I love that I can use just what I need, 1/4 sheet, 1/2 sheet for full sheet. Less is certainly more when it comes to small messes and spills.

This table shows just a fraction of the actual BBQ that will be served on 4th of July! The backyard will be full of family, friends, and good food!! We alway’s start our day with cleaning off all patio furniture and giving the BBQ a good wipe down. Brawny Tear-A-Square Paper Towels are awesome for this big job! Full size towels are a must for this dirty job!! These towels are strong and durable! Once everything is cleaned, it’s time to set up, which is my favorite part!! I love parties and the fun decorations that go along with any themed event!!

The 1/4 size Brawny Tear-A-Square worked perfectly at the kids table! I don’t know about your kids, but my Grandbabes tend to wipe their face or hands, then in inevitably drop their napkin and need another one. The small size is perfect and they can use as many as they need without being wasteful. 

Now let’s get to eating and enjoy this MESSY meal!!

I had the greatest little helper (a.k.a. my Gigi Bean)! She was great at helping me tear the towels! And the best part, she worked for Watermelon!! 

Did you know that each roll of Brawny Tear-A-Square Paper towels has 256 quarter sheets. That’s especially perfect for messy little BBQ fingers!! Which size best fit your needs? 1/4 size, 1/2 size, or full size? #TearASquare #Brawny #TargetFinds

I gotta go clean up now! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a safe 4th of July filled with lots of family, friends, good food, and maybe some fireworks!! Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear what your traditions are on 4th of July!!

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Here’s why:

• Let’s start with the definition of 4th of July (Wikipedia), “Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.”
• I’m a sucker for anything red, white, & blue! And the American flag!
• We typically host a large BBQ with lots of family and friends.
• Our small town parade and FiReWoRkS!!
• This 4th of July Gift Basket!!

Knowing that I wanted to put a gift basket together for a special someone in my life, I headed to Target to see what I could find. Our town has what I refer to as a mini-Target and I often can’t find everything I’m hoping to find. I lucked out this day and found plenty of items for a great 4th of July Gift Basket, starting with the plastic tote.

I knew that I wanted this gift basket to be fun for both the kids and the adults. It only took a few minutes of browsing the aisles to find plenty to fill the basket. I topped it off with a bottle of wine and some flowers that I picked up at my grocery store. I already had the red crinkle filler and striped ribbon.

It literally took about 5 minutes to add everything to the “basket.” I love the way it turned out and can’t wait to drop it off! 

I know you’re going to love this post that I posted a couple of years ago. It includes my “must have” Baked Beans recipe and lots of 4th of July decor.

I’m not sure what our plans are this year, but I’ve been chatting with a niece of mine (who lives very close) and we’re talking about a “progressive” 4th of July Party for family and friends. I’ll host the BBQ (and possibly a bounce house for the little ones), then we’ll head over her house for dessert and watching our local fireworks. She should have a great view from her back deck!

What plans do you have this year for 4th of July? Whatever you do, keep it safe and if you’re a guest at someone’s home, how about putting together your own little 4th of July Gift Basket full of fun goodies that their family might enjoy!!

This post was NOT sponsored by Target, it just happens to be a store that I love and shop at a lot!

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 I couldn’t share the story, without sharing just one more thing. The groom-to-be’s last name……….Gump! Yes, our Jenny, is going to be Jenny Gump!! Of course, we can’t help but have a little fun with the name!

And, of course, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”

How awesome is this “make your own bouquet bar?” Thank you Erin, from Wind Acre Farm for all of the beautiful flowers and the fun “make your own bouquet.” I know the guests enjoyed it!!

Gigi has a beautiful yard, perfect for outdoor entertaining!! I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit poolside, enjoying wonderful food, drinking bubbly, visiting with great family and friends, surrounded by over-the-top party decor, all while wearing a BIG HAT!! It seriously crossed my mind, that all we needed was the groom and a pastor, and we could skip the big wedding and marry them right then and there!!

As you can tell, Jenny was surrounded by so many women who love her!! Special thanks to her future mother-in-law, not only for her awesome son, but for driving up to the shower, and driving all the gifts back home for Jenny!

Gigi, thank you again for everything!! You went above and beyond! I look forward to someday (soon-ish) getting to shower your girls!!

The post Bubbly, Brunch, and Big Hats Bridal Shower appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

I absolutely love the details of hosting a party! Everything from the food & drink, table settings, invitations, and decor. Every detail is so much fun to plan! I like my guests to feel welcome from the first minute they arrive at our house, which means that my front porch always needs a slight theming and a bit of decor!And seriously, how amazing is this chalkboard? I wish I could take credit for the artwork, but guess who did it?? The Bride-to-Be! Yep, she’s my chalkboard artist! Check out some of the other fantastic boards that she’s done for me in the past. Here’s a post I did that you might enjoy, 7 Simple Party Planning Tips, that not only is full of great party planning tips, but it also shows a few more of Alyssa’s chalkboards.

The chalkboard itself was purchased at Pottery Barn years ago as a frame. When we moved into our current home three years ago, I knew that I had the perfect spot for it. I ordered a school grade chalkboard and attached it to the back of the frame. It now hangs above a long buffet that I always use for beverage service when I host parties.

Directly across from the buffet and chalkboard is my kitchen dining area. Although this Aloha Themed Wedding Shower was a backyard party, I decided, because of the heat to set the desserts up indoors. I ordered the cupcakes from a local cupcake shop, and boy were they ever delicious! The cookies, shaped as pineapples, palm trees, hearts, and hibiscus flowers were made by yours truly And my niece, I couldn’t do my cookies without the help of Addy! Not pictured were fruit tarts and also tropical fruit popsicles in a glass of bubbly champagne.

A set of french doors leads you right outside to our back deck. It’s here where I set up drinks and food. Again, once outside our guests were welcomed with a Lei and a Mai-Tai.Here’s a few detail shots of the food table along with the table set up down on the lower lawn. It’s hard to tell by the pictures, but I opted to keep the table center pieces simple. They were simply a candle set in sand and some shells. The food table is where I had fun, using fresh tropical fruits and plants, along with shells, candles, and of course some fun E A T letters and Mr. Coconut Monkey Man. I’m kicking myself now, but I don’t have any pictures of the food I served. What kind of food blogger am I? Seriously, not one picture. Let me tell you about it though, because it turned out pretty darn amazing if I may say so myself.

For appetizers, I served Coconut shrimp (thank you Sheri), and Grilled Sausage & Pineapple Kabobs, and of course set out a couple bags of Hawaiian Chips (Sweet Maui Onion and Luau BBQ).

The main course was Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Pulled Pork Sliders w/Mango Coleslaw, Blackened Salmon w/Mango Avocado Salsa,  Pineapple Rice, Caesar Salad, Macaroni Salad (thank you Grammy & Jeri), and Tropical Fruit Salad.

And then of course, we served dessert!

All 75 of our guests left with full tummies! Talking about guests, what an honor it was to have Grammy & Papa at our Aloha Themed Wedding Shower!! I’ve known this wonderful couple since I was a little girl and I love them to pieces! We always say that if you look up “class and style” in the dictionary, you’d see their picture. When I grow up I hope to be as full of grace as my sweet dear friend Norma!

And what fun is a party without a photo booth? I dare say this crazy engaged couple had fun with it! I wish now that I had all the phone pics that their friends were taking throughout the party! Need I say, it was a hit!I even managed to get in a pic with Alyssa & Orbie! 

If you’re interested in making your own Frosted Sugar Cookies, check out my post HERE! And just to tease you a bit more, here’s a few more pictures of the Aloha Themed Cookies!We’re not perfect at this by any means, but making and decorating cookies is SO MUCH FUN!! Above shows a little of the step by step process. The frosting is made in two consistencies, piping and flood. You start by piping the outline, then use the thinner flood frosting to fill it in. Once the frosting sets, you can do your decorating.

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