Family Summer Fun Guest Post on MomsFavorites!

 

I’m thrilled to be guest posting for Katie, at MomFavorites.com! As a wedding and event planner and stylist I usually blog about my events, entertaining and décor tips.

However, this post allows me to step out of my normal comfort blogging zone and talk about my personal life with y’all!

Come on over to MomFavorites.com for Summer Family Fun from our experience at Latta Plantation!

 

Grab a glass o’ wine and settle in for some good reads from:

• Gettin’ Fit Fab, blogger Renee Guerrero: Why I Started Running
• Ready Set Parenthood, blogger Kristen Kelly: Parenting Above Judgement
• Atlanta Mom of Three, blogger Valerie Holz:  Natural Childbirth: Not Just for Homebirthers
• Life with Amberly & Joe, blogger Amberly L.:  Sacrifices in Marriage
• Marc’s Treasure Basket, blogger Monica Cox: Honey Bee Quiet Book
• Paper & Fox, blogger Carmody Tisdale: Dipped Paint Brush Craft & Tutorial
• Feast & West, blogger Susannah Brinkley: Lavender Champagne Cocktail recipe
• Betsy’s Photography, blogger Betsy Finn:  Personalizing Your Family Photos
• Tales of a Homeschool Family, blogger Lisa Keva: I am Living in My Dream House
• His Mercy is New, blogger Candace Crabtree:  Journey to Hope Devotional
• Look! We’re Learning, blogger Selena Robinson: Homeschool Planning with Kids Underfoot
• The Thrifty Couple, bloggers Alex & Cassie Michael:  Our Personal Secret to Paying off Debt
• Sarah Sofia Productions, blogger Sarah Sofia Knepp: Wine Tasting Patio Party
• Squiggles & Bubbles, blogger Victoria: DIY Chammomile Playdough
• The Best Crowe’s Nest, blogger Kelley Crowe:  Not OK for My Daughter
• The Fabuless Wife, blogger Cate Hoepner: Dear NICU Mommy
• Crayon Marks and Tiger Stripes, blogger Stephanie Farley: Elf on the Shelf, Jesus Style
• All That Makes You, blogger Abbie Gale: I Almost Rendered Earlie Late
• Lazy Mom’s, blogger Joanna Grzeszczak: How to Know if You’re Ready for Kids
• Off the Eaten Path, blogger Chrissie Nelson: Midwood Smokehouse Review (Charlotte, NC)
• Artsy Craftsy Mom, blogger Shruti: 150 Children’s Books Recommended by Moms
• Anna Dusek Blogs, blogger Anna Dusek: How to Fix Cracked Rain Boots
• Beauty in the Mess, blogger Whitney Cornelison: How to Date Your Husband
• DIY Mom of Twins, blogger Alissa Walsh: DIY Refurbished Lamp

Brunch with the Girls: Summer Entertaining

I’ve always enjoyed being a hostess and brining people together, even before I decided to become a wedding and event planner!

Brunch is one of my favorite types of events because there is so much you can do, plus who doesn’t love a little sweet with their savory and some bubbly!

This past weekend was no exception, as a group of professional small business owners from interior design, to events, to PR gathered at my home for brunch.  It’s an eclectic group of women, some of us friends from before, some of us fast friends from One Room Challenge, and some of us friends via social media finally meeting for the first time to discuss our businesses, blogging and everything we find fun and fabulous!

Left to Right: Beth (Design POST Interiors), Ariene (Dress My Room Interiors, Kim (Legere Creativ), Malloy (Charming in Charlotte), Summer (Simple Stylings), Sarah (Sarah Sofia Productions) and Lory (Lory Cobb Interiors).

I’ve been dying to use more of my Oh Joy Spring Collection and brunch with girls was the perfect opportunity!

You know you’re in the right company when your guests notice the Oh Joy Collection and all the details of your event! Only DIY enthusiasts, interior designers, and bloggers alike would get excited and request a home tour with details on the DIY stencil in my daughter Charlotte’s room, listen to me talk about updating my daughter Sofia’s room again, and know the details of my One Room Challenge Master Bedroom!

When styling any event I always mix lows and highs. Don’t wait until you finally host Thanksgiving or Christmas to bring out your good china, place settings, or silverware!  I love how my new Pottery Barn Rope Outdoor Dinnerware looks matched with my Homegoods costal dishes!

The napkins and multi-colored glassware are from Oh Joy Spring Collection along with the paper mini lanterns.  For the mimosa bar I had to bring out my Waterford champagne glasses, which adds a touch of fancy to any occasion!

After styling everything for brunch outside, I had to move everything inside due to the rain.  However, that didn’t stop us from having a good time.  We immediately started remincing about One Room Challenge and what room we are going to do for the next one! YES, we are THOSE girls!

As we ate my signature egg casserole dish, enjoyed biscuits and mini croissants with peach jam, fruit salad with mint, and sipped on peach or mango passion fruit mimosas, we had to talk about our latest design and DIY projects and of course the fun at Haven Conference that some of missed (including myself).

 

If you don’t know these women picture above you should. They are all talented in their own right!

Beth Barden, Design Post Interiors, is a Charlotte interior designer who I got to know through One Room Challenge! She makes it look easy juggling three kids and a full time business.  You will be impressed with her style and work, especially her recent work on the Home Depot Outdoor Games Style Challenge!

Ariene Bethea, Dress My Room Interiors, is a Charlotte interior designer, who has her own Etsy shop, and sells vintage home décor furnishings and accessories on One Kings Lane and Hunters Alley and  recently opened a booth at Slate Interiors. If that wasn’t enough Ariene launched her own handcrafted paperweight line and was thrilled to receive one of her pieces as a hostess gift!

Kim Loring, Legere Creativ, is another Charlotte interior designer who also has a booth at Slate Interiors and participate in One Room Challenge.  It was a pleasure meeting her for the first time and learning about her trade!

Mallory Fitzsimmons, Charming in Charlotte, is just as charming and stylish in person as she is on her life and style blog! Mallory shares her interior design, fashion and DIY inspiration on her blog with all her latest projects! We became fast friends through One Room Challenge and this girl did two rooms! If you missed  my post on my favorites from One Room Challenge, which includes Mallory, check it out here.

Summer Hogan, Simple Stylings, is one of those people you meet and you instantly connect and know you will be fast friends! Summer is an interior designer at hear like me and is always working on the next space in her home or design challenge.  Summer hosted some of us local Charlotte One Room Challenge participates on her finished deck, see details from my previous post here, and this group was formed! She is currently participating in Home Depot Outdoor Games Style Challenge and has some great design ideas!

Lory Cobb, Lory Cobb Interiors, is one of the first friends I made when moving back to Charlotte and has become a close friend.  Like me, she has two kids, and owns her own business, an interior design firm, here in Charlotte.  She is so creative and has been a great sounding board for me to bounce design ideas off of.  Not to mention Lory is usually my partner in crime going to furniture stores, flea markets, and High Point Market! One of my favorite design projects she did was of her daughter Hensley’s room with beautiful gold and blush stencil and trim work all around the room.

We missed Sarah (Matters of Style), Cheryl (Dwell by Cheryl) Bethany (Dwellings by DeVore), Jennifer (Pure and Simple Organizationing) and Converse (Converse Falcon Design).

Vendor Credits

Event Design and Styling – Sarah Sofia Productions http://www.sarahsofiaproductions.com

Floral arrangements – Sarah Sofia Productions

Photography – Sarah Sofia Productions

Food – Sarah Sofia Productions

Pop Fitz Clink sign – Sweetly Smitten https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetlysmitten

Sweet As A Peach Sign – A Taste of Everything https://www.etsy.com/shop/atasteofeverything

Rope Dinnerware – Pottery Barn http://www.potterybarn.com

Costal blue and coral plates – HomeGoods http://www.homegoods.com

Mini multi-colored lanterns, multi-colored glasses, and napkins – Oh Joy Collection at Target http://www.target.com

Turquoise chevron table runner – Fantasy Vintage Bridal https://www.etsy.com/shop/FantasyVintageBridal

Mini coral serving bowls – Target http://www.target.com

Serving dishes – Villeroy & Boch Mariposa Collection

Sterling silver silverware and flatware – Villeroy & Boch

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Inviting Summer Into Your Home: Front Entryway Ideas

Today I’m inviting you into my home via the front entryway!

I enjoy restyling my home for the seasons, and your front entryway should be no exception!

Invite summer and your guests into your home with fresh blooms of the season. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers to arrange and come in a variety of colors.

Style your blooms in a white vase for a fresh and clean look. I scored this white porcelain Royal Haeger pitcher and basin for 25 cents! Yes, that’s right $0.25. Just one of the many items I’m sharing with you during my Summer Series on The Thrill of The Hunt.

I love how my entryway looks and feels like Provence to me! Call me old fashioned, but I still enjoy greeting guests at the front door when I host parties; inviting them into a welcoming space!

An easy update to your mirror is to do a DIY spray paint job. I used antique gold for this round mirror, which picks up the gold undertones in the accent table.

Adding a framed photo of your family and artwork finishes the look for the front entryway.  I cherish having a print signed by Max Agostini, a French Impressionist  painter.

Credits

Mirror – DIY Sarah Sofia Productions http://www.sarahsofiaproductions.com

Picture frame – Michael’s http://www.michaels.com

Accent Table – Hobby Lobby http://www.hobbylobby.com

Basket – HomeGoods http://www.homegoods.com

Royal Haeger Porclein Pitcher and Basin – Yard sale find, Sarah Sofia Productions

Small flower arrangement – Target http://www.target.com

 

Memorial Day Weekend: The Unoffical Welcome to Summer!

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us.  Time to celebrate those who fought for our freedom with family and friends.

While summer doesn’t offically begin until June 21, Memorial Day has become the unofficial start to the summer.  It’s been 90’s here in Charlotte and as we say bring on summer, patios, cocktails, and fun with family and friends!

I love using traditional patriotic colors, but also mixing it up with bright colors.  This tablescape from an event I hosted is the perfect combination of spring and summer colors.  You can’t go wrong with mixing and matching costal, pastels, and classic colors like blue and white.

Everything is in bloom, so use what you have in your yard as a floral centerpiece. You could even add a flower to each place setting as a special touch.

Guests were served shrimp cocktail with avocado and a cheese platter as starters. Then dined family style with grilled salmon, grilled squash, zucchini and bell peppers with roasted rosemary new potatoes.   Add fresh bread from your local bakery with a side of olive oil.

One of my favorite and easy summer time desserts is homemade cookie ice cream sandwiches! Adults and kids a like love this one.  You can find the recipe here.  Another favorite is any berry or peach cobbler. You can find my healthy and light recipe here.

The grilled salmon recipe is a family favorite created by my father, Zuheir Sofia, and modified over the years.

Grilled Salmon Filet – Serves 5-6 People

Ingredients

2 lbs salmon filet

1/2 cup Marzetti’s light slaw dressing

1/3 cup of Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon dill

1/2 teaspoon dry or fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon dry or fresh chopped parsley

1/2 teaspoon dry oregano flakes

Pam Olive Oil Spray for grill

Wash filet in cold water. Pat dry. Check for occasional bones in filet. Mix slaw dressing, Dijon mustard, and spices in a small bowl.  Then spread the mixture over the top of the filet. (the skin goes on the bottom).  Put fish directly on outdoor grill, which has been slightly oiled.  Cook over a medium heat for 8-12 minutes until fish begins to flake.  Do not turn.  Skin should peel off easily when filet is removed from grill.  Divide into individual serving and serve immediately.

Wishing everyone a happy Memorial Day Weekend and start to the summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cocktails & Celebrations

It was a pleasure being a part of cocktails and celebrations with the lovely women of the Junior League of Charlotte.  Two events that occur twice a year are for new members, Kickoff and Graduation.  Both serve a different purpose, but are similar in making the women feel welcome as new members of the Junior League of Charlotte.

Drawing from the fresh blooms of spring, I used pinks and oranges for a clean and bright feel throughout the graduation cocktail party, which celebrated the newly active members of the Junior League.

Inspiration for the fall kickoff event held in late August came from one of my pink and blue nautical Lilly Pulitzer dresses.  Using a nautical theme, we had pinks and blues throughout the cocktail party.

Summer Cocktails

Summer is one of my favorite times of year to gather with friends outside and enjoy a refreshing cocktail.  While summer is winding down, that doesn’t mean the fun has to!

Make use of the bright, fun colors of summer and use those as your theme for your cocktail party.  I used my favorite colors, coral, pink and aqua blue.  The invitations were designed with a summer feel, and with my colors.  Make sure your guests know it’s a cocktail party and if including appetizers that it is clearly stated.

The key to a successful cocktail party is to have a signature drink, and a few other drink options, which will make being a host much easier.  Plus your guests will be impressed.

For this summer party I made a fun and flirty spiked pink lemonade cocktail, which was a hit! Here’s the recipe modified from Southern Living:

Ingredients

• 4 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 9 (12-oz.) bottles light beer chilled
• 3 cup vodka, chilled
• Ice
• Garnishes: fresh strawberries

Preparation

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

Other elements to a great cocktail party are using fresh fruit and flowers that are in season to tie your theme and colors together.  I always get mine from our local farmers market.  To make it easy on youself and your guests serve finger foods and appetizers that don’t require utensils.  Make a few items yourself that you can prepare before the day of the party.  Serve a few items you can warm up quickly and put out right before guests arrive such as cheese and vegetable plates, and spanakopita .

I Scream You Scream We All Scream For Ice Cream Sandwiches!

Homemade ice cream sandwiches are the perfect dessert for kids and adults on a summer’s night or for a festive party!  Bake your favorite cookie, one of mine is Tollhouse Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal, and let them cool.  Turn cookies over and add two scoops of vanilla or coffee ice cream to the bottom of a cookie and place the other cookie on top to make sandwich.  Add sprinkles for a dash of color.

Light Summer Desserts

Summer is the perfect time to be creative with your food and make delicious but healthy choices.  Two of my favorite desserts that we had this past week while enjoying some R&R on Lake Norman are peach and blueberry cobbler (shown above) and grilled peaches.

Peach-Blueberry Cobbler

Ingredients: Serves 20

• 5 peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (make sure they are not too ripe)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup of splenda, divided
• 3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• Pam cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup light butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups fresh blueberries or 1 container
• 2 tablespoons of splenda for top

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place peaches in a large bowl.  Drizzle lemon juice and add 3/4 cup of splenda, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons flour to mixture and toss.  Spray Pam on 13 x 9 inch backing dish and pour mixture evenly.  Combine 1 1/2 cups of flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and baking powder in a bowl, stirring with a whisk.  In another bowl, place the remaining 1/4 cup splenda and butter and beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).  Add eggs one at a time to mixture; stir in vanilla, then add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture.  Stir in blueberries.  Spread mixture evenly over peach mixture; sprinkle top with 2 tablespoons of splenda.  Bake for an hour or until topping is golden.  Less than 200 calories if cut for 20 servings.  Serve with low/reduced calorie vanilla ice cream.  Note, you can use sugar instead of splenda.

Grilled Peaches

Ingredients: Serves 8

• 8 peaches, peeled, pitted and halved (make sure they are not too ripe)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon light butter
• 1 1/2 tablespoons splenda brown sugar blend
• 2 teaspoons water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat grill to high then reduce to medium/low depending on grill.  Combine lemon juice and butter in a bowl and add peaches.  Toss to coat.  Place peaches on a large piece of tin-foil.  Stir together splenda brown sugar blend, water, vanilla, cinnamon,and salt.  Brush over peaches.  Fold foil to form a packet, crimping edges to seal.  Grill covered for 10-15 minutes.  Slice peaches and divide among 8 bowls.  Top with low/reduced calorie vanilla ice cream.  Note, you can use brown sugar instead of the splenda substitute.