Golden Birthday Party [Details]
A few things about me: I love birthdays. I love parties. I love hosting people. I love gold.
Thus, the golden birthday party was born.
As a birthday present to myself, I decided to host a birthday party at our house. It was my GOLDEN birthday after all. For those who don’t know what that is – it’s when you turn the age of your birth date, in my case 26 on the 26th.
I’ve been planning this party for months, even sending out the save the date in December. I’ll be posting a blog later with all my party planning tips, but for now enjoy all the golden details!
D E C O R
{These gold wine bottles were my favorite and I can’t wait to use them again. They were also insanely easy to make. Take the wine bottle, cover it using spray glue, then pour TONS of glitter on top. Voila!}
{More wine bottle decor and a beautiful banner from Etsy}
{Bathroom details – print from Etsy}
{No party is complete without a photo booth! Make sure to have lots of props (the more random the better), and clearly showcase the event hashtag so people remember to post their photos.}
{Gold spray painted and glittered snowflakes. Bought the wooden snowflakes from a local boutique, then DIYed them gold!}
{Birthday Wall! Probably my favorite thing of the night – hang black butcher paper and have gold sharpies for guests to leave you a birthday message!}
F O O D + D R I N K
{Of course there has to be a gold cake for a golden birthday!}
{and my favorite dessert – macaroons, dusted in gold shimmer!}
{Spray paint mason jars for straw and fork holders – so easy and chic. Napkins from Swoozy.com}
{Gold solo cups (obviously)}
Not pictured: Keg of Golden Ale + Gold Jell-O Shots
E T C .
{One of my favorite birthday gifts – a polaroid camera! to capture the night in a unique way}
{Dress from Rent the Runway}
{black and gold nails on fleek}
{and of course, my best accessory!}
xo xo
sunday inspiration
{simple fashion – stripes + army vest}
{capturing beauty in a wine glass}
{friendship}
{fall recipes – goat cheese + walnuts + honey}
{clean and classic decor}
{passionate love, humphrey bogart + lauren bacall}
xo xo
Pop, Fizz, Clink!
This will be one of the first years in recent memory I have not hosted my annual Oscars viewing party. Awards season is one of my favorite things ever and it all leads up to the Academy Awards. A good watch party includes friends, ballots, champagne and red carpet critiquing.
Below are a few photos from my first ever viewing party in high school. The attire was sweats (which back then meant we were all wearing Victoria’s Secret PINK), we traced our hands on a fake red carpet and we drank sparkling cider.
Last year I rented out the theater at our apartment complex and had a special cake made just for the event. You can see photos and read my post here. Unfortunately this year I decided not to host an event. As it turned out, mother nature affirmed my decision, as we’re currently in a thunder-sleet-pocalypse and I’m not sure how many people would have been able to attend anyway.
While of course I’ll still be watching (ballot and champagne in hand) I wanted to share some fun viewing party ideas I’ve seen around the web.
Enjoy your evening with the stars! xo xo
{Oscar nominated actor straws via}
{popcorn bar via}
{easy gold decor via}
{movie quote cupcakes – TDF via}
{custom labels via}
{confetti poppers via}
You might also enjoy: 10 Facts You Should Know About the Oscars, Oscar Noms Reviews: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Southern Glam
Saturday mornings are for daydreaming. Today’s topic: the perfectly decorated home. Here are some photos I’ve amassed via Pinterest onto my home board – Southern Glam.
Enjoy. xo
{office space}
{pool}
{high ceilings, large windows}
{outdoor getaway}
{lots of chandeliers}
{library}
{living room}
{movie room}
{secret attic}
{childrens room}
Pre-Weekend Pop Candy
I love pop culture. I love entertainment news. I love celebrity gossip.
So before we’re interwined in our own weekend gossip, let’s revel in some pop candy.
The young engagement? I approve. Aren’t they just dazzling? {Liam Hemsworth + Miley Cyrus}
Speaking of couples, here’s another cutie. Spiderman better not let me down. {Emma Stone + Andrew Garfield}
Okay, so this hottie is gettin’ all the buzz lately from True Blood to Magic Mike – but, who remembers him as bartender Owen from One Tree Hill?? {Joe Manganiello}
*sigh* Is anyone else dying without Revenge on Wednesday nights? Tidbit: the show is moved to Sundays in the fall.{Connor Paolo, Emily VanCamp, Gabriel Mann, Joshua Bowman}
Hot. Hot. HOT. As always. Blake is one of my girl crushes. Did you hear she and Mr. Reynolds just bought a house together in Bedford, NY? {Blake Lively}
How quaint.
Oh, just lunch in Paris for the famous Kimye. I still don’t approve, though I do enjoy reading about their lavish relationship. Check THIS out. That boy can spend money. {Kanye West + Kim Kardashian}
Until next time,
Travel Chic
How do you dress when you travel? Is it all about comfort? Style? Or in-between? I’ll never forget my mom telling me that my grandma was always dressed to the nines when she traveled – that’s how she was raised and that’s how she thought it should be. At first, I thought this was absolutely ridiculous, but as I grow older (and wiser, I hope) I’m starting to find a good balance between my grandmother’s legacy and my personal style for the airport runway.
First, let me share a taste from one of my new absolutely favorite books of all time that sums it all up perfectly – Classy by Derek Blasberg “Because if you’re not a lady, chances are you’re a tramp.”
Though it’s too small to read, you get the picture. At the airport (and life, of course), we want to be a lady, not a tramp. So here are a few celeb examples I think wonderfully depict airport fashion:
{Rachel Bilson – my go-to style girl. Simple, modest and chic.}
{Lauren Conrad – keeping warm in an oversized sweater, but pairs it elegantly with comfortable black boots and tights. And of course a hat, because you may not have time to fix your hair, but can still look classy.}
{Kim Kardashian – huge fan of her, huge fan of black, huge fan of leopard. Fabulous, fun outfit.}
{Cat Deeley – though the shoes are too odd for my taste, again love the all black ensemble with a statement bag – modern and comfortable.}
{Beyonce – while this isn’t exactly my style, it’s worth sharing. Her oh-so-comfy outfit is updated to more than pajamas with the cardigan, jewelry and heels.}
{Kim – I couldn’t resist a second picture that is a great example of how to update jeans for a classy airplane ride.}
So please share, what is your airport style?
Spring [Fashion] is in the Air
As a tribute to March and a prayer for warm weather (and no more snow, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.) I’ve decided to start my spring fashion list of hot trends and must-haves. And what better way to begin than by my favorite Oscar 2011 fashion look, Mila Kunis.
This look exemplifies everything I want for spring: sexy, lacy, bold, confident, unique.
To be honest I wasn’t sure what I thought about this dress at first glance, and then it just hit me. I think it’s reminiscent of love at first sight — I was unaware of it at first, because I’m not sure if I believe in that sentiment, and then I just realized, this is the one.
For those of you non-fashion lovers out there this probably sounds very cheesy, but for those of you like me, you know exactly what I mean.
Anyway, this Elie Saab dress is stunning in so many ways and will provide the basis of my spring look book.
Lace
Though I’ve never been much of a lacy fan, I’m reconsidering it for spring. My problem with lace has always been one of too much femininity. It’s romantic, delicate, girly, sweet — none of which I’ve never used to describe my personal style. But this trend saw a lot of diversity at the spring fashion shows and is bringing a new generation of lace that I can definitely get behind — sexy and glamorous.
Bold colors
Let’s turn to another example from the Oscars to prove the power of bold.
This was the first dress I saw on the red carpet and it nearly took my breath away. I didn’t even know who this woman was. Now I know. Twenty-year-old Jennifer Lawrence from Winter’s Bone. 20 years old! Can you believe that? Studies have shown that red is the sexiest color for girls and guys to wear. And doesn’t she look sexy AND confident?
Bold colors should be worn head held high. They make a person stand out in a sea of safe LBDs. And though I am often guilty of choosing the safe black route, which will always be a classic, if you want to turn heads this spring stick with my mantra: Go for the bold!
Michael Kors
Accessories: Gold & Lucite
Gold has always been a favorite of mine and seems to be a hot accessory for winter and spring. Gold accessories come in such a wide range they can make a simple outfit more elegant or a party dress more funky. The gold metallic perfectly complements the spring break tan and bold colors, showing off the body’s natural shimmer.
Though lucite was really a big trend last spring, it’s still hot for 2011. Lucite is a solid, transparent plastic, seen everywhere from necklaces to earrings to bangles to high heels. The fun look is a mix of sophistication and innocence. (Aren’t these similar to the plastic bangles I wore growing up?)
Add the two hot accessory trends of gold and lucite together, and you get some amazing modern jewelry.
2010: my year in pictures
What a year 2010 has been. As I grow older (I’m almost 22!) I’m losing my memory rapidly, and I would love to use this blog as a scrapbook of sorts. So, let’s begin the year’s highlights with one of the most memorable moments of my year. My 21st birthday party.
Fake snow, lots of friends, dancing the night away, cops (X 3), and a fight in the middle of the street. Could I have had a more memorable 21st?
And the best birthday present? I got to go see my favorite singer, Taylor Swift, in concert in LA with my mom!
This summer, I was in my first wedding as one of my dearest friends from high school got married in Virginia. It was a beautiful ceremony at her parents’ house, and truly an international wedding as she married a charming man from Belarus. (And this year that same weekend she will be in my very own wedding!)
Which brings me to…. my engagement! By far, the best memory of my 2010 was Sunday, September 26. I am so very thankful for my incredible fiance and can’t wait to finally call him my husband this year! What a very special day this was that he had planned out so perfectly, first spending hours together in the park with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, then with a surprise (and I was VERY surprised) engagement party on the patio of Noodles. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
Of course I can’t go without mentioning all of the awesome trips I’ve been on this year. Vegas, for business and pleasure. Minneapolis, for business (and we threw in some pleasure.) North and South Dakota, a unique spring break trip. Harry Potter World, more amazing than I could have even dreamed. And ending the year off right in Florida, a final trip with just my parents.
2011, you’ve already brought me a trip to New Orleans and the promise of a marriage to my best friend. I can’t wait to see what else lies ahead.
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m.davis xoxo 
