There are many different “sweet 16” traditions around the world, but here in the UK, our celebrations tend to be small family celebrations. When Holly turned 16, it was a school day, so her Mum had organised a small family tea party for her, her best friends, and her closest Aunts and cousins for when she arrived home from school. Like most older teenage girls, Holly adores all things pink, chic, and floral. So of course, the party required that theme! The table was covered with a floral tablecloth, and complemented with a variety of gorgeous pink party items like the we heart pink napkins, pink plates, and other glossy chic decorations! Vintage floral glasses were perfect for delicious mocktails served from drinks dispensers! The girls loved helping themselves! For delicate parties, you need delicate nibbles, so some little sweet treats such as meringues and biscuit stars were set out on a pastel cake stand. This stand is so versatile and comes with interchangeable toppers depending on your party type. On this occasion, I used the plain gold Happy Birthday one. A large pretty pink and gold bunting spelling out Happy Birthday was strung over the drinks and cake tables and really brought the whole theme of the party together. To add some flash to the drinks, some pink and white striped paper straws were placed next to the mocktail dispensers. I absolutely loved baking Holly’s cake – it was a meringue mountain with some little freshly baked biscuits popped in between some of the meringues; the long slim we heart pink birthday candles in pink, white and gold added some more height and elegance too! The afternoon was so relaxed… just a perfect way to mark this milestone for Holly and all her girls. They all left with some little heart biscuit favours each which were so cute when placed in the pink organza favour bags. A perfect ending to a perfect party. The post Holly’s Sweet Sixteen appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/kids-birthday/teen/hollys-sweet-sixteen/
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Get Festive With The Family!Christmas is almost upon us and there’s much to do! Decorations, presents, wrapping, dinner, food… it’s easy to forget the real opportunity of Christmas; spending time with loved ones! To help you with some ideas, we’ve put together some quick tips to help you get into the festive spirit with the family! Christmas in your CommunityWith online stores like Amazon and eBay offering everything you’d ever want, it’s easy to miss what’s just outside the house! Grab the family and head out to discover what’s happening in the local area! Christmas brings out the local Christmas markets, and with them, some of the most gorgeous, unique items that you can’t find in some of the giant online stores. Homemade items, from handmade foods, to little Christmas crafts, and local businesses selling their best. It can be a great day or night out with the family! Sure, you’ll need to wrap up warm and brave the murky winter weather, but head on down the high street and you’re bound to find plenty of stalls selling food and drink (mulled wine season, here we come!) to warm you up while you browse what’s on offer. Marvel at the twinkly streetlights, enjoy the atmosphere and the satisfaction of supporting local businesses, and take part in plenty of activities going on in the local area. You’ll likely discover Christmas markets and shops, Santa Grottos, reindeer petting zoos and plenty of truly unexpected surprises that’ll get you all giggling! Deck the Halls!Christmas decorations. A phrase that sparks off pure excitement (and a slight pang of fear for those ones clumsily climbing into the loft to find them)! Quite simply, Christmas decorations are an ideal opportunity to have some fun with the family at home! Kids ADORE getting involved with the Christmas tree, and there’s something about twirling tinsel around the home that everybody (even a teenager) enjoys! The Christmas tree is the centrepiece of any decoration, and it’s a great way to get everybody involved. Hand out some baubles, tinsel, ornaments, and grab that super spangly Christmas star or angel and go to town! It doesn’t stop there either, make sure the rest of the home get’s the tinsel treatment! Add candles, bunting, tinsel, LED fairy lights, holly sprigs and the always important Christmas wreaths! Get the kids to grab the decorations and let them go crazy. It doesn’t matter if it looks too much or too little. It’s about what those decorations mean to you and if a crazy mismatch of coloured tinsel and baubles makes everybody happy, so be it! Oh, and for those with pets, be mindful where you place the decorations. You don’t want holly prickles in paws, and cats rarely understand why they can’t punt your super fragile glass baubles across the floor. Get Baking!Let’s be honest. Yes, Christmas is about spending quality time with family, giving gifts to loved ones, and spreading goodwill and cheer, but you’re also secretly looking forward to stuffing your face with the best food you’ll find all year. It’s okay. We all feel that way. So make it a family thing! Kids love baking, so get the little Gordon Ramsays together and fill the air with sweet and savoury Christmas treats! Cakes, mince pies, stollen, gingerbread houses, and cinnamon and cloves on everything… it’s a great opportunity to teach the little ones how to make simple fruit and fairy cakes, and to just generally make a mess! If you’re looking for some extra food inspiration, we’ve got loads of fantastic Christmas recipes on our blog. Go take a look! Seasonal Games & ActivitiesIt’s easy to focus on the stress and hard work that planning Christmas brings, but you can counteract that feeling with some festive games and activities with the family. The Elf on the Shelf trend is a hilarious way to make the family giggle. Get a little elf character and put him in mischievous Christmas scenes for the kids to discover. Great for generating some giggles! Advent calendars are a great way to build the excitement up too. We’d agree that the dodgy chocolate-filled ones are boring though! Go for something a little higher end instead! Not only does it cut down on that burst of sugar each day, but there are some fantastic alternative advent calendars out there that add that personal touch! You could also do an advent treasure hunt. Simply give them a clue each day and let them discover where you’ve hidden a little treat! Alternatively, grab some Christmas games and get the family involved. We’re not talking about that miserable 6-hour long trudge through Monopoly either. There are some fantastic new board games out there that’ll have the family pulled away from the phones and spending time with one another. Getting into the Christmas SpiritChristmas is a time for reflection and spending time with friends and family around you, but it’s also a time to think of others out there who may not be so lucky. At Party Pieces, we support local and national charities all year long, but individually, it’s nice to do something that’s personal to you too. Donating unwanted toys and clothes to a local charity is a good way to unclutter the house and make way for new gifts before the 25th and it’s as simple as putting things you no longer want into a bag and popping down to the high street. For some, those items can make a real difference. Alternatively, donating some food and drink to a food bank can transform a family’s Christmas too. After all, the real spirit of Christmas is to give, and there’s nothing better than giving a helping hand to those people who need it the most. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!There are our tips on staying in the right frame of mind during the Christmas run-up! Got a fun tradition that you do with the family each year? Let us know in the comments! The post Getting Set For Christmas appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/themes/holiday/christmas/getting-set-for-christmas/ Am I the only person in the world who hasn’t started decorating for Christmas? It feels like it. The only thing I’ve done is hang a plain evergreen wreath on my front door. That’s it. I suppose I should get busy. Yesterday I was out and about looking at some holiday decor, specifically greenery. The lighted fir garland I use for my stairs is looking sad, it’s over 10 years old. Last year I layered it with real cedar garland and eucalyptus and I admit it looked amazing, until 10 days later when the gorgeous evergreens had dried to a crisp. They still looked pretty for the photos though. :) It’s that age old debate, do you decorate with faux or the real thing? Or both? I’ve always used both, although as the years go by I’m leaning more toward collecting really nice faux pieces since they last longer and can be reused. I still prefer the look of the real thing and scent is what makes the season special, but I’m limiting my use of it more and more. My sister went full faux with her Christmas tree, and she loves it, but I haven’t done that yet. I still get a real evergreen tree because my teens love the outing where they pick it out, but at some point I’ll invest in a really nice faux tree someday. I reason the Christmas smell can always be captured with a nice wreath and some fresh garland strung up here and there. Favorite fauxs in my collection include a boxwood wreath (seen here) and some birch trees (seen here, purchased here). I rounded up more realistic faux versions for your consideration. larch tree / flocked pine wreath olive leaves wreath / crimson berries eucalyptus garland / frosted pine stem pine with white berry garland / magnolia wreath . from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/natural-looking-faux-greenery/ Happy Cyber Monday everyone! Today is the last day I’ll be posting gift ideas. I’m sitting in my coziest PJs (I buy all of mine from Soma I love them), and checking off all the gifts on my list today. It feels good to be (mostly) done with my shopping. I much prefer doing it from the comforts of home then braving the cold weather and crowds in the stores (unless it’s a local brick & mortar boutique in my hometown). I present the very last of my gift ideas of the season: gift ideas for ladies. These are some of my personal favorites from the season, I want one of all of them. ;)
leather charger roll up (multiple colors) / faux fur throw / cutest keurig ever personalized water bottle / jet setter jewelry trays (more options) / slipsilk anti-aging pillowcases monogram makeup pouch / tech (text friendly) gloves / iphone X/XS wallet case (more colors) plaid poncho (multiple colors) / SPANX faux leather camo leggings / leopard puffer vest sorel snow boot / poetry match striker / faux fur booties (several options) . And in case you missed them, my other gift suggestions for the season: Gifts for TeensGifts for GuysGifts for Pet LoversGifts for Home & HostGame Night Gift Ideas. from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/gift-ideas-for-her/ ‘Tis the season! And nothing gets me more in the mood for Christmas than gathering the girls together for a cosy, relaxed festive lunch. For my decor this year, I turned to nature for twigs, branches, and pine cones collected from the lane outside my house, along with some freshly cut eucalyptus from the garden. For everything else… Party Pieces! They’re my go-to shop for all such occasions and this time I chose the beautiful Festive Holly and Candy Cane ranges, along with some other little pieces such as the Pine Berries Christmas Pick and Candy Stripe Treat Bags! And what Christmas (or any) event is complete without fairylights? These cute little twinkly lights had foliage which completed the look beautifully! A rustic tablecloth with a red spidernet lace runner, log slice place mats and coasters, along with a long branch with lights twirled around it and the table started to come together! I added some depth to the decor with some huge pine cones I found on holiday, mixed in with smaller cones I collected locally, a great way to add some extra texture! For some height, I love to use dinner candles! I picked up some spotty and striped ones, placed them into glass candleholders of varying heights and they were just perfect! I slotted in some fresh eucalyptus (which smells amazing!) together with a few faux snowberries and finally, some twinkly tealights! The candy stripe straws and treat bags (which I used for a little shortbread biscuit, see below for the recipe!) matched in perfectly to the cute candy cane bunting. I strung this along the piano and added some simplistic seasonal chic by tying the Pine Berries Christmas pick around a wooden hoop using a red satin bow. They look fab propped against the piano! Together with all the gorgeous decor, scent of Christmas from the pine cones and eucalyptus we are all well and truly in the mood now for the festive season!
Scottish Shortbread
Soften the butter at room temperature for one hour – then using a hand mixer, cream together with the dry ingredients. Using your hands, slowly knead it all together to form a soft dough. Roll out and cut into approx. 30 pieces using a shaped cutter of your choice. Bake at 170 in a fan oven for around 20 mins – depending on your oven this may be slightly longer – remove onto a cooling rack and once cool, sprinkle with icing sugar, or just ice accordingly for your occasion. Enjoy!
The post Pre Christmas Lunch appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/themes/holiday/christmas/pre-christmas-lunch/ Today’s is the second to last of my gift idea posts, tomorrow I’ll share gifts for the ladies but today’s focus is on the men! They’re hard to buy for aren’t they? One thing I know is they like the stuff that helps them look a little better, or just a little cooler, and live a good life. :) I present a dozen gift ideas for the men in your life, there’s a little something for all of them, from the outdoorsy types to the music fans, the grillmasters and the handy guys, the travelers and the tech lovers.
leather iphone cases (multiple colors) / leather carry on bag / black denim grilling apron laser cut vinyl wall clock (custom avail) / scarf & hat set / scotch infused toothpicks leather charger rollup (multiple colors) / brixton decanter / hi fidelity vinyl turntable portable fire pit / rugged outdoor/travel cotton jacket / wall tool organizer
More gift ideas coming soon! from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/gift-ideas-for-him/ I’ve been invited to two holiday parties this season and I want to bring my friends something special beyond just a bottle of wine or baked good. I hate to show up empty handed, so with the continuation of sharing gift ideas this week, I present some ideas to give a host or hostess that they will use long after the season is over! Here are some favorite things for the home with suggestions for adding a personal touch: Insert gourmet coffee beans or mulled wine spice into these tiled monogram mugs. Add flavor to their life with a marbled salt keeper and specialty sea salt. Wrap homemade loaf cake in these metallic dot napkins. Pair an aged spirit with a set of these double old fashioned glasses.
Surprise a chef with edible flower seed bombs in a gold cylinder pot. Add a blooming amaryllis to one of these gray stripe planters. You can’t go wrong with an embossed olive oil bottle and a quality EVOO. Guarantee a lovely scent will fill their home with this iridescent capri candle.
Gift a trio of cheeses and an herb bouquet with this unique monogram cheese board. Partner any savory snack in a gift box with the rustic olivewood serving bowl. They will never be without a light with a chic mini ceramic match jar on display. Tuck a special vino with the clever wineaux sack towel inside a gift bag.
More gift ideas coming soon!
from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/gift-ideas-for-home-host/ Hello! I hoped you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving! I spent mine in Salt Lake City with my sister and family, and I’m headed back to California today. I’m sharing gift guides until Monday, a new one every day, and today’s topic is teenagers. Teens make me laugh, I love them so much. They are notoriously hard to shop for but I also find they’re the first to tell you what they want (if it’s anything other than money). I’ve got two in my household, and my nephews and my niece are teenagers too, so I asked them all what are the popular gifts this year. I present, this year’s gift ideas for teenagers: Teen Girlsglam glo mud set / wildflower phone cases / velvet scrunchies popsockets phone grip / mani/pedi lap desk / glossier boy brow set fairy lights / waterproof bluetooth speaker / herschel beanie
Teen Boysinkbox semipermanent tattoos / PS4 game bundle / gaming headset wireless earbuds / windproof ski/snow mask / hydroflask hat storage / champion sweatshirt / portable speaker . More gift ideas coming soon! from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/gifts-for-teens/ Hello pet lovers and lovers of pet lovers… today’s gift guide is for the people in your life who have fur babies! These gifts are for the fidos and felines, perhaps you’ll see one to gift and one to keep for your fur baby too. fur mama mug / dog water bottle / floral dog collars (multiple patterns) personalized pet harness / glass sleepy cat / modern cat bed knit cozy bed / puppy hoodie (3 colors) / canine dna test pet washer / ombre dog/cat collar / personalized dog treat jar personalized food mat / raised pet feeder (more colors) / pet carrier (2 colors) dog massager / waterproof car pad / dog pillow cover . More gift ideas coming soon! from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/gifts-for-pet-lovers/ Some of the best memories I have from last winter include nights spent indoors playing games with friends or family. We would play liar’s dice or funny card games while we all sat around drinking wine – that is my favorite way to spend a cold winter evening indoors. I’m kicking off a series of gift giving posts this week, starting with ideas for game nights because they are always so fun! I ordered several of these for my growing game night collection. From top left: Get to know people on a totally new level with Most Likely To. What Do You Meme? is the adult game for friends with no filter. When you’re waiting at the cafe for breakfast: the Game of Phones. Make your way through a series of beer challenges with Beeropoly. The Voting Game requires no shame! Learn your friend’s hidden flaws. Embarrassing situations happen, how will you react ? It’s Awkward Moment. Popular internet searches revealed in family friendly Search History. A classic game that looks good on the coffee table too: Chinese Checkers. Learn even more about the people you think you know with Never Have I Ever. Answer questions laced with innuendo in quick time format with Quickwits. Find the drinking game version of Battleship in the Battle Shot Game. Creative questions = personal answers = lots of laughter with Loaded Questions. . More gift ideas coming soon!
from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/11/game-night-gift-ideas/ |
About MeHi I am Albin Adamski from Brynrefail, I am 32 years old. I always surf web for buying antiques for home decoration. Archives
April 2019
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