Emerald Party Inspiration

You may have heard by now that Pantone named emerald the color of the year for 2013. It’s a bold yet sophisticated hue that (for some of us) may seem a bit intimidating to style into our wardrobes and homes. Don’t worry though, we’re in luck because emerald green is perfect for a St. Paddy’s Day celebration! 

emerald party inspiration from one charming life

balloons // cocktails // cake // garland // Dom // napkins

Shades of emerald will make any party lively and chic. So, for your next event, why not channel your inner Dorothy and take a trip to the Emerald City?

(Speaking of which… does anyone want to see the new Oz movie with me?) ;)

XO, Mariel

Aggie Game Day Treats

Football season. It’s a great time of year. The weather’s cooling down and the holidays are right around the corner. But first, it’s time to gather friends and family to cheer on your favorite teams. I love it. And of course, what every good gathering needs is a scrumptious selection of food and drinks.

As you may have learned from this previous post, I am a proud former student of Texas A&M. Which means that I’ll be serving up maroon-inspired snacks during the big ‘Bama game this weekend. :) While searching for the perfect game day treats, I came across these gems. Since I know many of you are Aggie fans, I wanted to share them with you!

texas a&m aggie maroon football party food and drinks - one charming life

Whether you’re a fan of Johnny Football or not, these recipes will work wonders at any fall game watching party. I cannot wait to try the Rum Glazed Pecans. One of our much loved traditions at Kyle Field is C&L Nuts. Bobby always grabs a bag of their cinnamon roasted pecans before we even sit down. Delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about them…

What’s your favorite game day treat? Enjoy the beautiful weather & football celebrations this weekend!

XO, Mariel

Sources: Red Velvet Fudge / Oatmeal Bars / Rum Glazed Pecans / Keep Calm / Cheerwine / Football / Bourbon Ginger Soda

Spooky Chic Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner… how will you be celebrating? Here’s a little inspiration for a grown-up, gilded fete to help you and your bests celebrate in style.

Happy haunting!

XO, Mariel

black and gold halloween party inspiration from one charming life

Sources: Chic Lace Mask via A White Carosel ~ Black and Gold Halloween Decor from Better Homes and Gardens, photo via Little Lovable ~ Ichabod Crane Pumpkin from Better Homes and Gardens ~ Cheese Plate from A Cup of Jo, photo by Jamie Beck ~ Glittery Gold Chocolate Cake from Desserts for Breakfast ~ Mini Moet & Chandon bottles on ice via A Bit of Bees Knees

 

British Tea Party

The past four days have been super exciting. I love watching the Olympics, especially our incredibly talented women’s gymnastics team. And who didn’t love the Queen’s entrance at the opening ceremonies?

As you gather with friends to cheer on your favorite athletes, you might find yourself browsing the web for creative ways to celebrate. I’ve seen so many cute Olympic-themed pins on Pinterest lately, but most of these adorable ideas have been geared toward the kiddos. Since I’m not quite there yet, I thought I’d put something together for us ladies and gents. If I was going to throw a party in honor of the games, this would be it!

Since the big event is being held in London, it’s only appropriate to throw a grown-up tea party in honor of Union Jack. Pick your favorite blend and serve high tea with these adorable chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies. You can’t go wrong.

If tea isn’t your cup of… tea (sorry, I had to), then sip on Pimm’s, a traditional English summer drink. Follow this link for an easy recipe. Or for more guy-friendly fun, gather beers from around the world to represent the teams (like Double Diamond from England, Guinness from Ireland, Corona from Mexico, and obviously your favorite home-grown brew too).

If you’re crafty, whip up some gold, silver and bronze decorations or purchase the darling garland below from Fabulously Handmade.

Alright… let’s get the celebration started! Cheers, and GO team USA! :)

British Tea Party in honor of the Olympics - from One Charming Life

Sources:  Union Jack Fruit Pizza from Betty Crocker ~ Shortbread Tea Bag Cookies from Le Petrin ~ Gold, Silver and Bronze Garland from Fabulously Handmade ~ Fleur De Lys Teapot from Anthropologie ~ “Go for the Gold” Pineapple Truffles from Kitchen Meets Girl ~ Pimm’s photo via The Handbook, you can purchase Pimm’s at Spec’s or your local liquor store.

Patriotic Picnic

July 4th is a special holiday for me and my husband. We love watching the HUGE firework display near downtown Houston. This year, I’m thinking this striped blanket from Williams-Sonoma would be perfect for us to lounge on. We’re currently obsessed with Izzes, so I’m sure we’ll grab two of those along with dessert from Whole Foods before heading out to watch the show.

With the holiday falling on a Wednesday this year, it’s going to be hard to get out of town. So if you can stand the heat, it’s a great time to pack up a yummy picnic and head outdoors to your favorite local park.

These adorable goods will help you get started. Don’t forget to pack your favorite foods and a kite or football to throw around while you wait for fireworks!

How will you be celebrating this fourth of July?

Chic supplies for a 4th of July Picnic

Sources:  sparkling blueberry Izze from Whole Foods, or Amazon, $5.99 for 4  ~  striped navy party straws from the tomkat studio, $4.50 for 24 straws ~  wooden utensils from Anthropologie  ~  picnic white dinner plate from Crate & Barrel Outlet, $2.95  each ~  rustic european picnic blanket from Williams-Sonoma, $29  ~  wire picnic basket from Pottery Barn, $99

Neon Fever

Neon colors are having a major moment right now. That’s why it’s the perfect time to throw a playful party inspired by these brights.

I absolutely love the idea of combining hot pink, bright yellow, neon green and electric blue for a cheerful summer get-together. To pull this party off, all you need is a few of these bright accessories paired with neutral white basics.

Check out the neon inspiration below. It’ll help you throw a party so bright, you won’t want to forget your favorite sunnies. ;)

neon party bright yellow hot pink candy summer trend shower