Beautiful Life and Style

Tag Archives: Parties


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Hats on Parade

OK- here we go- DERBY WEEKEND… AND a fun post to get us back to lighthearted blogging around here. I’ve never been lucky enough to attend the Kentucky Derby- but lets just say its extremely high on my bucket list- if for no other reason than to have an excuse to get my extreme prep on and to buy a most ridiculous hat!

derby hats

I’ve decided to round up a few of my favorites from around the web- full disclosure that some of these are OBSCENELY expensive. But you know it would be worth it. I”m having a hard time deciding between the red feathers and the GIANT blue bow as a favorite…

Derby Hats Galore!

And as an added bonus, one of my coworkers gave me his favorite recipe for a Mint Julep so I’m sharing it with you here. What really sets it apart I think is the minted simple syrup- so worth the extra effort! I hope you make several this Saturday because, I mean- can you really drink anything else on Derby Day???

Proper Mint Julep

mint-julep

  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
  • 1 oz. of minted simple syrup
  • 2 bunches of Kentucky Colonel Mint (crucial – not spearmint or peppermint)
  • 1 thoroughly chilled julep cup

Minted Simple Syrup

First, make your simple syrup. In a heavy medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, stir together 1 cup of sugar and one cup of water until dissolved.  Increase heat slightly and simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, add 1 bunch of Kentucky Colonel mint leaves, and let steep for 15 minutes.  Strain through a cheese cloth, bottle the syrup, and refrigerate 3 hours before using.  This will keep for up to 1 week, so you can prepare it ahead of time.

Making the Mint Julep

Add 1 oz of simple syrup, then 1 cup of the crushed ice, then 2 oz. of Woodford Reserve bourbon, and a splash of water.  Add enough of the remaining crushed ice to almost fill the cup.  Stir well and garnish with a sprig of Kentucky Colonel mint.


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Easter Recap

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! I am exhausted today after hosting my first real dinner party in my apartment yesterday! It was really fun to pull out the fancy tablecloth and set a proper table, and of course to spend the day cooking! And then eating!

Easter is one of my favorite holidays, mostly because it signifies the true start of Spring. So I really wanted to celebrate that! I tried to keep things fairly simple, but of course ended up going a little overboard. The table was a theme of blues, pinks and greens. I folded the napkins into cute rabbit ears and used hard-boiled eggs as placecards- then used napkin rings to prevent them from rolling off the plate. The result was whimsical but elegant:

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For the food, I probably bit off a little too much to try to cook AND serve in my tiny kitchen. I went with a nontraditional choice of Brisket over an Easter Ham- but it ended up being a huge success. And everyone LOVED the chocolate Mouse- with freshly made whipped cream and raspberries.

The Menu

White Lillet Cocktails

Frisee, Radicchio and Fennel Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Braised Brisket with Bourbon Peach Glaze

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Mustard Mashed Potatoes

Chocolate Mousse

As you can imagine we were STUFFED by the end but it was all so worth it and the festivities lasted late into the night. Once everyone had gone I had a little time to unwind- finishing up the wine and tidying up the kitchen. I’m not gonna lie that the triumphant feeling at the end of the night is very addictive- I can’t wait until my next excuse to plan a party.

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I was planning to write…

… but a mob got in my way. Really. I was PLANNING to write today about the Restoration Hardware opening that Nick and I attended last night. The new “RH Gallery” has completely transformed the space once lived in by Louis, Bonwit Teller and the old Boston Society for Natural History (aka what is now the Museum of Science).

Well, if you follow me on twitter, you might have seen my rantings about the relative MAYHEM at the party.  This one ended up being shut down by the police- and not in a “oh how cool” sort of way. Honestly, the space was AMAZING- but there were so many people we could barely move. I couldn’t find one drink, or tasty snack and while the singer Edei was good- I’ve been less pushed around in “mosh pits” at metal concerts.

I’m over being disappointed, so I’ll leave you with my ONE picture. (note that its of the only good view I had- the ceiling) I’ll have to visit this weekend to better view the architectural renovations. Stay tuned!

Restoration Hardware Boston


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Late-Winter Party Looks

Who knew February/ March was such a busy social season? Nick and I have a bunch of parties coming up in the next two weeks- but no complaints here- I love a good excuse to go shopping and get all dressed up! The tough thing is- its a hard season to dress for. Glittery Christmas dresses are starting to look silly, but so is wearing a full out Spring look. You also never know if the venue is going to be too warm or too cold- and dress codes start being all over the place if it starts snowing. To avoid being too casual or too dressy, a long sleeved cocktail dress is always a good go-to.

I’m in love with all four of these looks- the first two styled with a classic vibe and the second two more ELECTRIC- and each is wearable right into warmer weather. (They are all lightweight materials) Which is your favorite? Any tips for dressing up when its AWFUL outside?

Winter Cocktail Looks

Keep an eye out on twitter and instagram to see what I actually pick! Spoiler alert: it won’t be the $900 Missoni :(


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A Valentine’s Table

I know I sound like a broken record saying this, but I”m sorry I have been so horrible about posting! I don’t know what my problem is- I’ve been so busy! Its a good thing I suppose, but I feel like I blinked and this week is Valentine’s Day! I mean, weren’t we talking about New Years Resolutions just last week???? I’m going to blame the snow.

While there are a lot of mixed emotions about this holiday, I’m going to say that I find it incredibly FUN to have a day devoted to eating candy, wearing pink, and feeling loved. I’d been toying around with the idea of having a little Valentine’s Brunch this weekend- but it seems like most everyone I know is going to be out of town for President’s Weekend. Oh well. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t think about some great ways to set the table:

Valentine's Table Valentine's Table2 Valentine's Table3 Valentine's Table4 Valentine's Table5

There are soooo many variations on the Valentine’s theme- but I really find myself drawn to the place settings that aren’t an overload of red. I’m sure you’ve seen a few examples that are overly cheesy or too red and severe. I think by mixing in an unexpected color like gold or purple or blue it freshens up the theme in a way that isn’t too literal. Here’s a quick interpretation:

Valentine's Day Table
So what are you doing to celebrate the holiday? Avoiding it completely or jumping right into a chocolate fountain with your love?
Inspiration via: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5
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