Party Style | House of Earnest

Category: Party Style

September 18, 2012

Fall into Figs

Before this week, I’d never laid a hand on a fig. I saw them in the grocery store and thought they were some sort of upscale fruit I shouldn’t bother getting to know. I always wanted to be the kind of person who was like, “oh yes, I just adore figs.” But I wasn’t…

…that is, until now. I was walking by the figs on this trip to Trader Joe’s and thought that I should definitely pick them up. I went home, cut one open, and bit into it. I decided that something tangy and creamy should accompany the fruit and settled on a tart with goat cheese, carmelized onions, and rosemary. I followed the carmelized onion ‘how-to’ from Victoria’s kitchen basics post and piled it all onto a store-bought pie crust.

It makes such a pretty presentation and the colors are just perfection.

I’m definitely not a whiz in the kitchen, but I wanted to learn something new and felt that figs, with their deep indigo color and hearty fruit, would be a good fit for an early fall appetizer. They’re on the tail end of peak season, so snatch some up on your next trip to the store and impress your friends with a little tart.

Have a FIGGY Tuesday!

8 Comments

September 11, 2012

Have & Make: Harvest Hanky Bunting

in have, make, Party Style with 7 Comments

What a beautiful time of year for festive outdoor dinners! I’m prepping for a harvest themed dinner in late September, early October to take advantage of the beautifully colored trees we usually have in our yard around that time. I’ve begun to put together some ideas, and this easy bunting features handkerchiefs that you could already have on hand. If not, your local craft store would have a bunch of colors for around a dollar each. The process is simple:

ONE cut the hanky into quarters, TWO fold diagonally around a piece of twine or rope. THREE secure with a few staples.

Repeat as necessary with all of your handkerchief quarters, or throw in some vintage scarves or tea towels to add more pattern and color. I’m able to carefully remove the staples from my vintage hankies later and keep them relatively unscathed.

There will be more details of the dinner to come! I’ll show you each little bit along the way, and then the big picture after the party! This would be so cute in team colors for a tailgate, or in all vintage for a shower. Happy Harvest!

7 Comments

September 10, 2012

Golden Treasures + Weekend Antiquing

in Party Style with 19 Comments

I’ve been lusting after the sets of gold flatware that seem to be popping up everywhere lately. From the beautiful Diane von Furstenberg set to the more economical West Elm set. With my love for everything gold, it’s literally been haunting me.

This past Saturday, I got myself a pumpkin spice latte and cruised up to one of our little suburbs, Powell, known for it’s antique shops. I was ecstatic to find (in the very last little room, of course) this set of Dirigold flatware made in Sweden. It was a little rough looking, but I thought it might clean up nicely, so I promptly bought 4 place settings. Before I even got to my car, I was googling about its origins, what it was made of, and how to clean it.

I don’t know too much about it, but I’m still investigating! I also bought a brass bottle opener (which I used last night and it works flawlessly), and this cute mustard and navy striped tea towel.

I was giddy with excitement over my finds. I left behind the teaspoon and salad fork of the dirigold at the antique store, and I am contemplating my return to snatch them up too.

My mind is already designing fall and holiday inspired tablesettings using my new flatware!

What would you pair them with?

19 Comments

September 6, 2012

A Chic Idea for Breakfast Entertaining

in Party Style with 18 Comments

Having overnight guests can leave you wondering what to serve the next morning that is easy, quick, and allows for time to linger over a cup of coffee and chat rather than cleaning the kitchen.

Fall is usually the time of year we get house guests, and although I do love making breakfast from scratch, sometimes I cheat by using premade cinnamon rolls, presented in a homemade way. Using parchment squares tucked into individual ramekins comes off like I spent the morning carefully making dough from scratch, but it’s really all in the presentation. Plus, everyone loves an individual treat.

The best part of the whole thing? There’s no cleaning a pan with sticky icing. Just pop out the parchment and run them through the dishwasher.

I hope you’ll use my little trick, either with something you’ve made or something store-bought! Enjoy!

18 Comments

August 31, 2012

Friday Faves 8.31

in friday favorites, Party Style with 4 Comments

ONE A thermos for hot chocolate – $15 from Bewildered Amusement, TWO football tailgating just isn’t the same without hot grilled anything. This small charcoal grill is perfect for a party on the go – $79 by Bodum; THREE perching perfect doesn’t have to be a style compromise on game day – $25 from Bluejays Workshop; FOUR throw out all of your old beer koozies and buy this cute, and simply stylish knit version… plus, drinking from a mason jar is much cooler than a red solo cup! $8 from Knotty Monkey; FIVE show your school spirit in vintage fashion. B’more Unique sells vintage pennants starting at $30; SIX don’t forget a blanket. Even if it’s too hot to cover up, folding it beneath your tush on hard stadium seating is a wonderful use. $30 from jacklom3.

Living in the midwest, the end of summer has always signified the beginning of football season, and I really cannot wait. I love spending saturday mornings getting geared up, drinking bloody mary’s and meeting up with friends for the big game. Tomorrow we’re heading to a friend’s house for a big bash to kick off the college football season in our town and I’ll be there with bells on (and maybe some of the above fare).

Aside from the impending game, I’ve been struggling this week without any internet. Blog posts have been going up at a coffee shop or the office, and I hope you guys haven’t been too thrown off! I hope to get it back today (yay), and will resume regular early morning posting.

Around here this week:

No machine, no cook homemade ice cream (make it for Labor Day!)
A creative use for an old belt.
How I organize all of my design ideas.

Have a great long weekend out there, guys!

4 Comments

August 22, 2012

DIY Paperclip Namecard Holders

in Hand Made, Party Style with 12 Comments

It’s no secret that I love place cards for parties. They make people feel special and help you to manage who goes where, which doesn’t seem like a large concern until you have 12 or so people standing around staring at each other and trying to figure out where to sit!

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to use these vintage wooden spools for a while now and thought they would make a rustic and unique vehicle for a wire card holder. Making the wire coil was easy and just uses a paperclip! Continue reading for the full instructions!

12 Comments

August 20, 2012

Sunday Supper at Jorgenson’s Farm

in Party Style with 12 Comments

Last night, Matt and I went to a dinner at the nearby Jorgenson Farm for a CSA Sunday Supper. He had bought the tickets for me as a surprise, and we had the most wonderful time. The theme of the dinner revolved around the sunflowers that were in full bloom, and the vegetables, herbs, and fruits that were at their peak for harvest.

We had a tour of the farm, saw the chickens, lambs, edible gardens, and barns. The dinner was BYOB, and they had a basket full of empty glasses and wine openers upon our arrival with the appetizers.

To start, there were multiple stations, one had canapes, marinated olives, and tomatoes; another had local honeycomb, walnuts, and cheese. We then had carmelized onion flatbread, heirloom caprese, and a mint watermelon salad for our first course. Roasted chicken and lamb kabobs were served as the main course (but I was already so full)! We rounded out the night with homemade poundcake topped with blackberries.

You can tell by the photos what a beautiful place it was, and I cannot wait to head back for another dinner sometime soon. Each month has a different ‘theme’ and I hear the fall dinners are wonderful as well. They even have an upcoming event this weekend called “Mint Fest” that is in collaboration with Jeni’s Ice Creams. If you’re in the Columbus area this weekend, you should look into it!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! Here’s to another week!

12 Comments

August 7, 2012

Crazy for Quatrefoil: A Lenox Give-a-way

in Party Style with 125 Comments

Are you as excited as I am? August is ‘New Pattern Month’ over at Lenox and when they offered to collaborate on this style shoot and give-a-way with some of their new Quatrefoil china, I was thrilled. Not only because I got a chance to show both them and you how I would style it (which is super fun) but because one of my beloved readers gets two full 5 piece place settings of their very own! Awesome, right?

I love the modern new pattern, that is somehow still so timeless. I used it here for a pretty casual late weekend lunch paired with a lot of natural elements and cool blue hues.

When I got married, I really resisted registering for formal china. I thought that I’d never use it. I went a head a registered for it (my mother-in-law all but insisted) and I use it a lot now. Even if just a couple of girls are coming over for coffee or, like above, using the tea-cup for the ice cream dessert, there isn’t a reason why you couldn’t use it regularly. Guests love eating off of the ‘good stuff’ and I love breaking it out.

Enough about me, one of you gets to win some Lenox Quatrefoil Dinnerware!

Mandatory entry:

Leave me a comment below telling me why you’d love this Lenox dinnerware, or how you would use/style it!

For extra entries:

Like House of Earnest on Facebook and come back here commenting that you did so
Like Lenox on Facebook and come back here commenting that you did so
Follow House of Earnest on Twitter and come back here commenting that you did so
Follow Lenox on Pinterest and come back here commenting that you did so

Rules:

This giveaway is for two (2) five piece place settings of the Lenox Quatrefoil Dinnerware valued at $316.
It begins Tuesday, August 7th at midnight EDT and closes Tuesday, August 14th at midnight EDT
Max number of entries is five (5)
Open to US residents only
Be sure to leave an email address when leaving a comment!
Winner will be chosen from their order in the comment field via random.org

Best of Luck!!

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

P.S. Don’t forget! House and Earnest curators collection is on sale now on Joss and Main!

Click here if you need an invitation!

125 Comments

July 31, 2012

Late Summer Nautical

in Party Style with 3 Comments

square nickel lantern by Haus Interior; rope door mat from Brook Farm General Store; McClures bloody mary mix; nautical cutting board from anthropologie; swiss dot euro sham from west elm; beach blanket by pierrepoint hicks; teak chair from Brook Farm General Store; Farmer & Feast by Emily Brooks available at Anthropologie.

There is just something about this time of year that screams ‘nature’. The summer harvest is at its peak, around every corner is a farmers market or vegetable stand with its bold, fresh, ripeness just staring you in the face, and people just seeing hints of it all coming to a close, so we’re cramming every last summer moment we can into the month of August.

You can’t help but not be inspired to invite some friends over, kick up your heels and indulge in it all.

Have a BEAUTIFUL Tuesday out there!

3 Comments

July 26, 2012

Naturally Bound

in Party Style with 13 Comments

I love the idea of using both things that I have on hand, and things from nature in this quick and cute way to bind up a dinner menu (or a note card, or wedding program, etc). This simple project takes only a few household supplies and is super easy. Keep reading for the full instructions!

13 Comments