Party Prep…

I’m getting ready for an event coming up next month…one I’ve been thinking about for a LONG time!  Our house was built 100 years ago and I’ve been toying with the idea of a little celebration for about three years now…does that seem a little obsessive?  It’s just that my husband and I love living in old homes…there’s just something so charming to us about a home’s past and the wonder of who lived within its walls!  Even though it also means plenty of updating, repairing, repairing…did I say repairing?  There’s a constant flow of projects, big and small…some completed and some still on the “to-do” list.  But through it all, we’ve always chosen to live in old homes…and this current one is the oldest yet!  100 years…I think it’s a reason to celebrate so we will!  And since I’ve been thinking about it for so long, I’ve been able to prepare a little in advance which I find really helpful!  Over the years of entertaining I’ve learned that no gathering is totally perfect…it might rain or snow, a project might not be completed, an unexpected household disaster may take place hours before the guests arrive–but that’s life!  So even though I’m having plenty of fun dreaming about the decorations and the simple food I’ll prepare…I’m not going to sweat the stuff I can’t control!  So no matter what events transpire, whether my house is festively decorated or not, I’ll be able to fully enjoy my family and friends in celebrating this place we call home!  Today I’d like to share a peek at my party preparations, without giving anything away just yet…

the excitement of a plan…

over the last few months i’d sit with my sketch book whenever i had a spare second or two.  any moment would do…during my morning coffee, sitting in the air conditioned car during baseball practices, or in the few minutes before retiring for the night!  grabbing my note book and jotting down ideas for ANY gathering, party, or holiday is such a fun pastime for me!

and party inspiration can come from anywhere!  these vintage style fabric tapes i bought on clearance last fall were what inspired the colors and patterns i’d like to use.  shockingly, i haven’t yet changed my mind and i’m still in love with them!  they’re so dainty and old fashioned…just perfect for a 100 year celebration!

even though i still have plenty of time, i find it helpful to figure out what serving pieces i want to use…then i can stack them on a table in the basement until party time!  and when it gets closer, i sometimes take post-it notes and label each serving dish with what goes in it…a real time saver!  since i’ve got a vintage theme going on, i gathered my old silver and aluminum serving pieces with some dainty china mixed in…

some papers & fabrics…to create something fun!

and you know me, i can’t have an old fashioned celebration without mason jars…

i can’t wait to share more!  but until then, i have lots of time to tinker & dream about all the fun to come…and how blessed we are to live in this old house!

enjoying each minute of party prep!