Real Party: New Year's Eve Dinner & A Winner!

Happy 2013 Blogland! 

The holidays were a whirlwind. After Mia's 1st birthday party, we were pulled into the whirlwind that is the holiday season, and time just flew.  I am barely catching my breath! 

What a magical thing the holiday season is with a little one!  

Just a few quick shots of the a-maz-ing dinner I was lucky enough to eat on New Year's Eve...

This was a rare baby-free night out for Dan & I. Our friends Patty & Dan (another one!) hosted a small dinner party.  

On the menu? 

Pork Porchette

Bacon brussel sprouts

Green salad

Mashed potato bar (not pictured)

 Yum, Yum, Yum. 

I made a deliciously rich flourless chocolate cake for dessert.

Thanks for the amazing dinner Patty & Dan! 

Happy New Year everyone!

And, thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway from BoomBoom Prints! 

I used random.org, and the winning entry is...

Entry #10, Reiko! 

I'll be contacting you to coordinate getting your print!

New Year's Eve Potluck Recipes

Last year's New Year's Eve party was epic.  Please check it out!

With so many new babies in our group of friends, this year will look quite different. I'd be surprised if we even last long enough to see the ball drop.

But if you are headed to a house party...you've got to check out my latest post to get some recipe ideas! 

Have a tasty, safe, and fun New Year's Eve everyone! 

Real Party: New Year's Eve

Our New Year's Eve Party this year was a blast.  I did not want it to end! Lots of fun details to share...

I love the way the table looked! The centerpiece was really fun & easy to make and definitely had that 'wow' factor! 
The food was quite simply amazing.  My girlfriends and I decided on the theme -- mini comfort foods -- quite awhile ago and divided up the work. 

 My beef & cheddar sliders and Katie's mini pizzas

 Drea's mac & cheese cups and Lindsay's mashed potato bar

Lindsay's mini corn dogs and Leslie's poutine and grilled cheese sandwiches

 For desserts, we stuck with the mini theme. 

I made some cake pops, and Drea made mini cupcakes -- champagne and red velvet flavored. 

I made some little signs for the two bars. 

We had some glowsticks, which made for really fun dancing pictures. 

I finally got to make a photo booth, which I have been wanting to incorporate into a party for a long long time.  Ours was simple, just a sheet, NYE banner, and some props.  Our best prop was the little white board.  The writing on the white board became sassier and sassier as midnight approached. ;) The photo booth was definitely a hit!  

Thank you Drea for donating your old NYE hats!

And lastly, my party favors...

Blueberry muffins for people to eat for breakfast the next morning, with a little tag on the bottom. 

Inspiration for the party came from lots of places...including some of my favorite blogs: 

My tags, signs, and labels are from TomKat Studio. 

My centerpiece was inspired by this post by Kelly of WH Hostess and The Party Dress. 

The food theme was inspired by this post by of Stephanie of Couture Parties. 

Drea's champagne cupcakes were inspired by this post by Shauna Younge of Shauna Younge Dessert Tables. 

The muffin favors were inspired by this post by Chris at Celebrations at Home.  

Sneak Peak: New Year's Eve Party

I am still recovering from our New Year's Eve party...still vacuuming confetti, washing dishes, and trying to catch up on sleep.  You'll have to wait a little longer until I organize all my pictures so I can share all the details of this fun party with you all. 

Until then, a sneak peak of our food table...specifically my centerpiece -- which was cheap, easy, and beautiful -- 3 of my favorite things!

Check back for more details this week!

I am loving 2011 so far...Hope you are too. :)

Inspiration: Snowflakes & Sparkle New Year's Eve

My next Tiny Prints-inspired New Year Eve inspiration is called Snowflakes & Sparkle. 

(Click here to see the metallic inspiration board, and here to see the clocks inspiration board.) 

Fun, modern snowflake New Year's Eve invite from Tiny Prints. 

Martha's mantle decor features sparkly blue snowflakes, baubles, and some white candies. 

Snowy cupcakes with pretty beaded snowflake toppers, from Country Living.  

Snowflakes, champagne, and noisemakers make for a pretty table. 

The beautiful paper snowflakes, which I originally spotted here, were made by Nicole Wills of Tradewinds Tiaras. Lucky for us, TomKat Studio recently featured a tutorial on how to recreate these.  

Sparkly snowflakes from Target -- can't beat that price!

Cute sign from Etsy -- New Year's Eve kisses!

Inspiration: Clock New Year's Eve

My next Tiny Prints-inspired New Year's Even Party inspiration is clocks!  Perfect for counting down to 2011!

(Click here to see my metallic inspiration board)

Classy clock invite from Tiny Prints.

Martha's festive clock mantle display would work as a centerpiece also.

Cute clocky cupcake toppers from Etsy -- buy them and the wrappers here. 

Blue & silver clock table setting from BHG.

Vintage clock plates from Pottery Barn.

Crafty clock tray from BHG -- get DIY instructions here.

White & silver clock table setting from Taste of Home -- look closely to see the wrist watch napkin rings!

Inspiration: Metallic New Year's Eve

We all love Tiny Prints for invitations. I thought I'd use some of their invites as inspiration for New Year's Eve Parties this week.  

I'm starting with gold & silver...

Love this Dazzling Confetti Invite from Tiny Prints! 

Vintage metallic baubles on a silver tray are a beautiful display for the entire holiday season. 

Martha's streamers are made from re-purposed wrapping paper! 

This festive gold tablescape sets the stage for a classy evening. 

This wrapping paper would make a great background for a candy bar, paper "placemats", or candy wrappers -- the possibilities are endless!

Martha's fun countdown champagne flutes are perfect for a New Year's toast. 

I am Loving: Confetti System

I am completely in love.  These are the most beautiful party decor items I've come across in a long time. Sure, you could make something along these lines yourself, but I'd argue that the the artistry of Confetti Systems would be difficult to recreate. 

Pinatas

Garlands

Amazing for a shimmery holiday party (or wedding!), no?

Do yourself a favor and click here to see some of this gorgeousness in action. 

New Year's Eve Cakes

Here's some sweet New Years Eve inspiration for you!

Cute and festive Confetti Cake

Sparklers will jazz up even the most bland of cupcakes for the holiday

A countdown clock is a classic choice.

(Did you see the cupcakes at Papery and Cakery today? Cute!)

This one has the New-Year baked right in: Pink Champagne Cake. Yum!

Cheers!

I am Loving: Disco Balls!

This will be a low key New Year's Eve for me.

But, if I were throwing a party...

...I'd definitely be decorating with disco balls this year! (image via flickr)

They are flashy, sparkly, and fun - all the things a New Year's Eve bash should be!

Those are all the things a New Year's Eve bash invitation should be too! This one, from Wedding Paper Divas, would be perfect. 

I would scatter them around my table, as Social Couture has done here.

And place them in vessels.  Don't you love the light reflecting off of these beauties? 

A cake with silver balls (aka silver dragees) would be perfect for this party palate.

Did you know that these pretty little morsels that I remember so well from childhood are controversial?  You can't buy them in the state of California! I'll have to smuggle some in guess...after my next visit to out of state family?  :) 

And these cupcakes are so cute! They almost look to real to eat! 

Can you imagine this mirror behind the food display? To.Die.For. 

I'd need one of these to wear.

(But a version that isn't c.z., of course.   ha!)

Hope you have fabulous, sparkly, New Year's plans!