
Memorial Day is the perfect time to celebrate friendships. As the unofficial start of summer vacation {hooray!}, we plan to get the gang together for a modern BBQ.
The Menu, Traditional with a Modern Twist
Sangria {family recipe, see below}
Veggie burgers from My Father's Daughter {better than ANY veggie burger you've ever tasted. pinky swear.}
Locally grown, grass fed beef burgers {we go to Clancy's in linden hills! the best! ask for kristen}
Tomato + Mozzarella salad with Fresh Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Basil, Pepper + Kosher Salt
Ricotta Cheese w/ Fresh Berries
Sangria Recipe
Sancerre Wine
Sprite {1:4 Sprite:Wine}
Agave Nectar, 2 Tbsp
Squeeze oranges
Squeeze lemon
Squeeze lime
Sliced peaches
Sliced lemons
Hooray for May! From Mother's Day {May 8th!} to Memorial Day {May 30th}, we are mad about May!
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Ahh, brunch. A truly delicious type of party we love to host. Perfect for Mother's Day...or any day.
THE SETTING
Have a seat! Mix and match. Layer and layer. Planning the table setting is almost as fun as whipping up your signature dish.
THE MENU
One of our favorite dishes of all time...this delicious granola recipe. Pair it with grapefruit, eggs + a bubbly drink and you have yourself a lovely brunch.
THE TAKEAWAY
A party isn't a party without a little something sweet for your parting guests. Our latest thing? Gift sets of personalized, stylish recipe cards with your signature brunch recipe on the very first card!
Fabulous fashion inspires modern correspondence. When planning a party we love pulling inspiration from beautiful details, like Anne M. Cramer's fashion genius. When asked to help brainstorm fabulous elements for Anne's meet and greet, "Coco&Croissants," we were immediately attracted to her new line of Flynn skirts -- so fresh + modern. The best part? They easily translated to paper details. Soon invitations, name tags + stationery were born.
Look around + find inspiration. Let people, fashion + events inspire party details. We love on-trend designs + love how they can be carried from start to stop to create a cohesive + fabulous flavor.
{Love the name tags above? Print them here on your favorite 8.5"x11" paper + use them at your next gathering! It's a great + stylish way to break the ice.}
Meet Anne M. Cramer, an incredible designer {see her latest Spring line + copious press here} + impeccable hostess. When asked to describe herself she replied without missing a beat with
" I come from a very loving + quite social family. My grandmother made every visit special, she never hesitated {and absolutely loved} to put out her very best silver, linens + china. It was never stuffy, never overly formal + never forced. Her guests could tell she truly loved entertaining. And in that, they felt her sense of gratitude toward them. I have carried that with me my entire life and strive, in my day-to-day lifestyle, to give my friends and family that same sense of thanksgiving. "
She recently hosted an stylish + intimate brunch for her visiting sister, Coco, to meet some of Anne's nearest + dearest in Minneapolis. We asked her to share a few secrets from behind the scenes of this lovely event {appropriately titled "Coco&Croissants} and here's what she had to say:
RedStamp: Who/what inspired this fabulous soiree?
Anne: My sister, Coco {a name given to her years ago by our three boys} + her Valentine's Day birthday. She's been instrumental to the communications portion of anne m cramer + has been talked about by me to many of my good friends, for many years.
RedStamp: How would you describe the guest of honor?Anne: Coco, who is my "Irish Twin," and I are quite different in most ways, however, our sense of humor + flare for all things "fancy," unite us often. Coco's personality is down to Earth, fun-loving and adventuresome. She is the sort of sister one loves to show off!
RedStamp: And the croissants?Anne: I chose to host brunch in her honor because she and I often chat over coffee {and croissants} each morning. She is in our hometown of Chicago and I am here, in Minneapolis.
RedStamp: Describe your party details. How did you choose each part?Anne: Details are my passion. I could {and do!} spend countless hours on the little things. Coco&Croissants was inspired by my morning chats {via phone} with Coco so I designed an invitation {via RedStamp} where I could combine a color that reminds me of Coco {red-- for her Valentine's Day birthday} + my own palette {Tiffany blue, ivory + silver}. The invites were designed + from there, the rest of the planning was easy.
RedStamp: Tell us about your favorite detail.Anne: I decided {at the suggestion of RedStamp} to design name tags that coordinated with the theme of the brunch! They were actually my favorite details of the soiree because they added a bit of cheekiness to the more formal {though, never stuffy} atmosphere. They proved to be a great convo starter as well! {editors note...since the name tags were such a hit, check back on our blog this Friday for your very own free download of these fab name tags!}
RedStamp: In your opinion, what makes a party {any shape, size, occasion} FABULOUS?Anne: The people, first + foremost and then a consideration of the range of personalities in attendance. And, of course, picking a striking color + style theme.
RedStamp: What makes a thoughtful host/hostess?Anne: The best host is the host who loves her guest + makes them feel welcome, from entrance to exit.
Easter is on Sunday, April 24th. {i.e., Less than 2 weeks away!}
This year, we are hosting a little brunch / Easter egg hunt to celebrate. Here's what's on our plate. {Pun intended.}
Have ideas? Resources to share? Leave a comment + share below...we'd love to know!
What you'll need:
Dress up your precious model and show off how cute she/he is in their new outfits, with their new toys or wrapped in their cozy new blankey. Snap a couple of photos + text or email to the fabulous gift-givers. Have an iPhone, iTouch or iPad? Check out our new iPhone app {free in iTunes} - perfect for this occasion. DailyCandy Kids calls us their dream app for new moms. With our app, you can even opt to have us print + mail a paper postcard to the gift giver on your behalf for just $1.29, including postage.
It's not a handwritten thank you, true. But when you include a photo, your note becomes instantly charming and personal. And, if there was ever an occasion where you are allowed to buy yourself a little convenience...having a baby is it.
Break out the bubbly + celebrate le bebe! Whether it's a sparkling non-alcoholic elixir or fresh-popped champagne, make a toast to the new parents + their new bundle of joy. It's a thoughtful {+ fun} way to celebrate all things new!
Count every finger + every toe. This occasion is both casual + fabulous! An intimate, open house-style gathering for new parents to show off their newest addition to their nearest + dearest. An afternoon for friends and family to stop by to swoon over your new bundle of joy, catch up with the new parents + enjoy a nice array of snacks + refreshments.
While everyone is ahhing over the sweet new baby, it's a perfect time to casually sneak in a few practical items to pamper mama. The first couple of weeks {months} can feel a little overwhelming depending on how much sleep she + the baby are getting, so here are some tried + true suggestions from some of our favorite moms.