The temperature hit 80 degrees yesterday and I’m now summer-crazed. It might be that we were a bit cooped up this winter with a newborn? Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m working for myself this year and know I’ll have a bit more flexibility to spend time outside. Whatever it is, I’m so excited for summer. Last night Mike and I were sitting on the couch talking about how we want to host a big clambake this summer. We also pulled all of our outdoor furniture out of the shed and got our yard set up for dining al fresco. Jane even had a little quality time playing on a blanket in the grass. Summer is the best. I have a few favorite tricks I lean on for setting up an easy, casual summer party, and as we gear up for Memorial Day weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to share a few of them!
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When I say hostess gift, what’s your go-to idea? I bet it’s wine! I love giving a bottle of wine when I get invited somewhere for dinner, or a bottle of bubbly for brunch. I was thinking recently about ways to jazz up this traditional hostess gift with something a bit more fun and unexpected. Warmer weather is right around the corner, and I love a glass of fruity, crisp white sangria. My DIY light bulb went off and I thought how fun it would be to make a sangria kit to bring along to parties.
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I have a stack of my favorite cookbooks out to brainstorm my menu for Mother’s Day Brunch this weekend. I celebrated early with my own mom last weekend (with a trip to Home Goods, the cornerstone of our loving relationship). So this weekend we’re having my in-laws over for brunch. I’ve been wanting to try several recipes from Joy The Baker’s new brunch book: Over Easy, and I am digging into my own site archives to pull out a few favorites. I thought I’d share 10 of my favorite brunch ideas to get you inspired too! Any bright ideas for your own Mother’s Day brunch menu? Share them with me in the comments, I’d love to hear them! 
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Spring can be pretty fleeting around here, we tend to go from cold, dark rainy days right into that warm, high-70’s weather that just begs for beach days and barbeques and ice cream. I have my sights set on Memorial Day weekend to officially kick-off summer! Last summer I got to partner with Better Homes & Gardens to share some recipes in their Summer Entertaining Guide. This year I’m excited to contribute a few more ideas from their annual guide and use some of the items they sent me in their Summer Party Box to create a summer to do list!
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I’m getting in the fiesta-spirit for Cinco de Mayo this weekend, because any excuse to pour a pitcher of margaritas is reason for celebration, right? Outside of this extra festive holiday, I think ‘fiesta’ is generally one of my favorite party themes. Brightly colored lapel picado banners,tissue paper fringe covered piñatas, and of course a Mexican-inspired menu are all key. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite Cinco de Mayo party supplies to help get those fiesta inspiration juices flowing. 
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This post was created in partnership with Keurig Green Mountain®; opinions are my own.
You may have noticed that I’ve been talking about brunch around here a lot lately. I have a newfound appreciation for this meal since it’s usually the time of day when miss Jane is at her best. Since taking the blog full time I suddenly have lots more time on the weekends – time that used to be dedicated to getting blog projects done — to appreciate brunch too. More than that though, this time of year seems to be chock full of baby showers and bridal luncheons and it’s-finally-spring-let’s-have-people-over brunches.
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It doesn’t always look like spring has arrived when you live in New England (this week alone I’ve gone through three different coats, boots, and ballet flats – make up your mind, weather!) but I still have big armfuls of bright spring flowers on the mind as we head into Easter celebrations this weekend. Over the winter I got a chance to watch Alice, from Alice’s Table, do a demonstration on flower arranging at an entertaining event. In just a few short minutes I picked up lots of great tips from her and thought it would be great to get some of her insight on arranging professional looking arrangements at home. I’m going to be using a few of these tips for adding flowers to upcoming Easter brunch, bridal showers, and sometimes just a pretty bouquet to add a little spring to our grey New England days!
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I peeked at the calendar and realized that Easter is less than a month away, and lo and behold, today is the first day of spring (though the patches of snow on our lawn don’t exactly make it seem that way!). With some optimism that this cold streak will break soon, I’ve got spring soirees on the mind and am pulling inspiration in an all pastel palette! To get you inspired too, I rounded up the prettiest pastel party supplies for spring parties and Easter celebrations. Those marble napkins and cups are my favorite, and how about the fun sayings on those plates? Shop all of the picks at the bottom of the post! 
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This year I’m extra excited for awards show season because I’ve actually seen a ton of the movies that were nominated. Thanks to a few extra weeks of pregnancy, we hit the movie theater quite a few times since sitting and eating were about all I could physically manage in the activity department. Since then we’ve been knocking off more movies from the couch with a newborn keeping us close to home most nights. I take awards show viewing pretty seriously, getting myself set up with a laptop and phone for reviewing red carpet looks and tweeting my expert analysis (you know, from my fashion throne wearing a top knot and yoga pants). I also make sure I assemble awards show snacks with the same discerning eye I give to reviewing couture ball gowns – the snacks are essential fuel for viewing!
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This post was created in partnership with Keurig Green Mountain®; opinions are my own. 
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I'm Kate, and I like to
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