Holiday Entertaining

In another life I think I was a party planner. I love everything about planning a special events, creating invitations, deciding the menu, decorating the space, securing entertainment, I love it all, because party planning combines my two favorite activities, making lists and shopping!

One of my resolutions during my Dominican trip, was to plan and host more parties, so as soon as I returned I got busy working for the details of my Winter Wonderland party. I decided to have an elegant dinner party and not an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" Cocktail party (Click here for a planning guide). As a side note, growing up my three siblings and I always had matching outfits including Christmas sweaters, and my overzealous mother (whom I love and respect dearly) would often convince us to wear entire outfits complete with white turtlenecks and tights.


Thrift stores are great for everything and at affordable prices. Most thrift stores support churches and charities, and are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, by re-using an item that would otherwise be discarded. So for my party shopping, I scoured local thrift stores, where I loaded up on silver plated serving bowls, elegant winter themed dishes, assorted Christmas decorations, crystal and glass candle holders of all shapes and sizes and even some artificial snow.

M is for Mama, who does a weekly 30 Minute Goodwill challenge, notes that pricing has gone up due to the popularity of thrift stores, but sometimes you just have to know where and when to shop, have patience, and like she says "whatever you do, don’t reveal your secret thrifting treasure trove, or pretty soon it’ll be over-run and overpriced." Unfortunately I am failing at this since I am sharing all the goodies I got from the new Goodwill in Lansdowne.

When you donate stuff to your local Goodwill—a sweater, CDs, furniture or electronics—you support Goodwill’s mission to provide a variety of employment services to people in need in your community. This holiday season, we are encouraging everyone to donate goods to one of Goodwill’s 2,700+ locations throughout the country.

What have you found at your local Goodwill?

Winter Wonderland

I will admit that I went overboard...coffee filter snowflakes, garland, fake snow, hanging snowflakes, silver painted animals, silver serving dishes, homemade marshmallows, snowflake cookies, assorted candles (you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find taper candle holders), wall sticker trees, balls of yarn and string, vases of tree branches, mini evergreen trees, hanging pompons (thank you Free People on Walnut Street for the inspiration), twinkling lights, and a vintage aluminum Christmas tree. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Roundup

This is cool.

ALC available at Intermix

My life's mission is to find this!

 

Thank you Mr. Goodwill Hunting

MSGM and Toilet Paper

It's HERE!!!

Today's the big day; after watching with eager anticipation, hearing the local gossip. My wildest dreams are coming true...well almost, maybe not really, but the new H&M is opening today at noon on 69th Street in Upper Darby. Hope to see you there!

Weekly Round Up

These are to die for!

Rag&Bone Leather Overalls

Equipment does Python

Magic Lipstick brought to you by the daybook

Sydney Before Magic Moroccan Hare Color Changing Lipstick

Sydney After

I  love my city: Cheesesteak Tacos at Union Taco

Graphic Gray

Top: Theory, Pants: Robert Rodriguez, Shoes: Charles David

All Photos by Ivan Hicks Photography