Globe-it-Yourself!

So, let's face it - I'm not really into the award ceremonies themselves as much as I really am the gowns! Every year as the Globes, Emmys, Grammys, etc. come around, we really just love to see what everyone is wearing. Although there's always a fair share of stars who get criticism for what they wear, I'm usually not as harsh as the critics but this year I was surprised at how many dresses I didn't like. Although, we won't mention any names (Lea Michelle), I want to focus on the gowns I loved and the affordable options you can find for yourself. I don't usually stumble upon a lot of need for a gown this formal but maybe if you're young enough to go to prom, or have a special event or gala - this could help! I hunt for most look alikes on edressme but give it a few weeks and some of these knock off gems will be seen everywhere!

*Celeb pics courtesy of People.com

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci Premier

Love the sparkle? Try this

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Reese in Zac Posen

Always fierce as a lady in red

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Salma Hayek in Gucci

If you loved the geometry of Selma's:
see here

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Jessica Biel in Elie Saab

This dress was inspired by a past Golden Globe-r
but reminded me of Jessica's delicate lace!

                   
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Michelle Williams in Jason Wu

For extra sass, sleeves and a killer back check out this Scala gown

Hosting Part 1 - Planning

As mentioned in previous posts, my oldest sister Lindsey recently celebrated her 30th birthday, and I was lucky enough to host the special even at my house. It was pretty intimate group of girlfriends, whom I knew very well, so planning the menu and drinks was fairly easy since I knew what each of them liked. Below is a step-by-step process I followed for planning the big day.

#1. Write it Down.

I'm a huge advocate for writing everything down or storing an electronic list on your phone. For some reason I feel like I remember it better if I physically write it down but whatever works for you, be sure to store a list somewhere so you don't forget all your ideas. Real Simple offers this party planning checklist which lays out what you should do week by week before the day.

#2. Pick a theme.

This was an easy choice obviously since it was a 30th birthday party. After you pick a theme, make an invitation and decide how you're going to invite your guests. Since ours was a smaller party size, I opted to make this electronic invite using Picnik and uploaded it to a Facebook event. 

Find a template you like and upload it to Picnik. Add text and graphics and there you have it!

#3. Plan a menu.

When you know your party size, plan the menu and drinks. Like I said, I knew the group pretty well so I was able to decide on a menu. If you have an open group of friends with ranging tastes, plan some fun/different dishes (but make sure you test drive them before serving to your guests on the special day!) I planned my menu around my sister - it is HER day - and opted for an array of appetizers she liked - all with different dips (who doesn't love to dip?!) Also, if you can plan to prep some of your dishes the day before, it will relieve a big headache the day of.

Incorporate some classics into the menu! These Middleswarth chips are a hometown favorite. I had my sister bring some down from PA.

Here's one preview of a menu item: Pumpkin Trifle. I modified this Paula Dean recipe. I prefer to search on Food Network's site for recipe ideas!

#4. Prepare the House.

Make sure your rooms are prepared for the party.  We got our tree a week before so I had already rearranged the furniture the way I wanted, but if you think there's a better layout for guests - try it out! Since most of the girls stayed the night, I also stocked up the guest bathroom with a basket full of essentials - razors & shave gel, face wipes, first aid, and lotion! Most blogs, websites, or people I've talked to prepare to clean a whole week before - which I will do for the guest room and bathroom - but with our hectic schedules of school & work, the living room never stays tidy so I'll clean two days before.

A more comfy layout for guests to sit and chat

Guest bathroom essentials - basket from Target.

Party Planning: Start to Finish

A preview of Lindsey's birthday night

Party planning, and especially hosting, requires a lot of hard work and thought - not to mention creativity. As I mentioned Friday, this weekend Shayne celebrated his birthday and Lindsey celebrated hers - both with opposite events.  As always, I started planning each event by making a list of what needed done and who needed to be invited for Shayne's, and a menu, supplies, and guest list for Lindsey's.  Both nights ran pretty seamlessly but I thought I'd share the outcomes of the events this week with a Party Planning guide. Since I hosted Lindsey's party at the house, it will mostly be a breakdown of what to do as a host. Shayne's birthday was celebrated as a night out on the town but there was still some things I could've planned better that I will share. What is your favorite event you've gone to with friends/family? Did you host? And how well did the night go? If there's any questions or comments on what you'd like to hear - please leave a comment so I can incorporate your questions into each post.