Party Style

Make memories your children will treasure forever. As the creator of PartyStyle.com and editor-in-chief of Party Style magazine, Gemma Touchstone knows how to make children’s celebrations memorable. And with her help, you’ll want to find any excuse to party! Packed with easy and elegant DIY craft ideas, cool themes, and must-read entertaining tips, this book shows you how to party in style.

About the author:Gemma Touchstone is a leading authority on global party styling trends from the early identification of up-and-coming party themes, to premier event styling, food presentation and is an early adopter of the social media revolution in her field. She’s the publisher and author of two stylist industry magazines, a leading industry blogger and has been a regular stylist for Hollywood stars from the movies and TV. Gemma has spoken about global party styling mega trends, blogging and the social media revolution at conferences and business events around the country.

As a publicity expert Gemma has worked with business owners, stylists and international companies that want to leverage the free publicity in traditional and social media to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, promote new products, or get the word out about a favorite cause or issue.

My thoughts: I love this book! I've thrown several birthday parties this year (and have another one coming up this weekend!) and would of loved to have this book sooner.;) I like how it starts out with determining your party style and then goes into how to actually plan your guest list and menu. My favorite part is the list of ideas for party themes and the recipes! From main dishes in a jar to dips to crowd impressing drinks, this book is bound to become a go to for party planners! I know I am thrilled to have it!
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

Twenty Dinners

A photographer (who happens to be an ex-restaurant cook) and an indie rock star (who happens to be an avid home cook) show you how to slow down your life by cooking beautiful, straightforward, but sophisticated, food for--and with--friends.
When he's on tour with his band, Grizzly Bear, what Chris Taylor misses most about home is the kitchen and the company. With his friend Ithai Schori, he cooks dinner parties for four to forty, using skills Chris learned from his mom and Ithai picked up working at high-end restaurants. Their food is full of smart techniques that make everything taste just a little better than you thought possible--like toasting nuts in browned butter or charring apples for a complex applesauce--but their style is laid-back and unhurried. This is about cooking not just for, but with, your friends, and so the authors enlisted their favorite pastry chef, mixologist, sommelier, and baristas to write detailed material on wine, desserts, stocking a home bar, mixing drinks, and buying and brewing fantastic coffee. Through more than 100 seasonally arranged recipes and gorgeous, evocative photographs of their gatherings you fall into their world, where you and your friends have all day to put food on the table, and where there's always time for another cocktail in a mason jar before dinner.

My thoughts: This is such a fun cookbook for entertaining! I love a lot of their ideas on menus (though, I'm not into drinks containing alcohol, so I didn't really care for their beverage ideas), since there is a fun collection of diverse dishes. My favorite is probably the recipe for Lillie's Sticky Toffee Pudding (a favorite dessert of mine!), though I also quite enjoy their recipes for vegetables, since I usually lack creativity in that area.
Over all, this cook book is a fun addition to my kitchen! I look forward to planning parties with the recipes included!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Cupcakery

This book is so much fun! The variety of cupcake recipes are the perfect way to make any get together special, since there are so many fun flavors and combinations! I love that the book includes tips for you to look over before baking, showing fun ways to mix up the way the frosting goes on and the decorations you can put on and with the cupcakes. I look forward to using this book for upcoming birthdays! My only complaint (which, for most people, isn't a big deal) is that the recipes use box mixes. I like to make everything from scratch, so that is a turn off for me, but I think it does make the recipes a lot more doable. And, I know that most people (my BIL included) likes how soft cake mix cakes are. So, it just depends on your preference.
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.


1. 9in Milkglass Cake Stand - provided by Country SweetArt
Kitchen
2. 4 Piece Wilton Tip Set – Provided By Make Bake
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3. Mama & Madison Custom Apron – Provided By Make Bake
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4. Paper Straw Party Combo – Provided By Sweets & Treats
5. Sprinkle Prize Pack (assortment picked by sponso
r) – Provided By Country SweetArt
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6. $50.00 Credit to Sweets & Treats – Provided By Sweets & Treats
7. AmeriColor Gel Color 12 Pack – Provided By Country SweetArt
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8. 12 Ct. 12in Disposable Decorating Bags – Provided
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9. KitchenAid Measuring Cups – Provided By Make Bake Celebrate
10. Kitchen Aid 4.5 Qt Stand Mixer Winners Choice o
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11. 2 Pk. Pink Mini Spatulas – Provided By Make Bake
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12. Wilton 24 Cavity Cupcake Pan – Provided By Make Bake
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13. Wilton Filling Tip & Cupcake Corer – Provided By
Make Bake
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Baby Shower fun!

Over a week ago, my mom, sister, aunt, and friend threw a baby shower for A and me. I feel so spoiled by all the work they put into it!

It was a garden theme, which is kind of funny, since that was the theme for my 16th birthday party (eons ago, might I add. lol).

Kenna went to town with the cupcakes and cake pops.

I love how the cake pops looked like little flowers! The doughnut muffins were almost like dessert too!

My young cousin hand squeezed the lemon aid herself, then did up the adorable sign in the background.

This picture turned out a bit dark (I should of taken some pictures of my own! These are all ones that my aunt took before everyone dug in), but is shows the whole spread. The banner will go in A's nursery, over the front windows.:)
I felt quite spoiled by those who put on the party, and then everyone who attended!