A lumberjack party filled with flannel and fun

We recently celebrated my best friend's son's first birthday. Of course, I want to lend a hand whenever Julia throws a party, but this one was extra special, because her son is also my godson. This is Julia's third child, and each year when one of their birthdays comes around, I always throw out themes I am dying to explore (because up until this point, I didn't have a child of my own).

This time around, I suggested a festive flannel, lumberjack party. Have you seen the endless amount of inspiration out there on Pinterest? With so many ideas to explore and it being a winter month, it seemed fitting. Plus, we can all get behind red and black buffalo check, right?

Here are a few shots her cousin, the photographer behind Ashley Robertson Photography, shared with me from the big day:

Julia found plenty of free lumberjack-themed printables online to use as cupcake toppers and party signage, and we ended up scoring big at Target's after Christmas sale. We discovered a full line of buffalo check items - tablecloths, favor bags, placecards, napkins, cups, etc. - all at 50% off. Plus, we were able to repurpose holiday decor items we already owned - think trees, garland, and reindeer. Additionally, I dug through my summer entertaining stash and pulled out some lanterns.

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A baby boy baptism

I thought I would share a few snapshots from Baby P.'s baptism. My goal was to keep this family party simple, using only party supplies I owned. Low budget, low hassle, because, frankly, baby are expensive and all-consuming.

I put my milk glass collection to use and incorporated grocery store flowers to whip up some basic arrangements. I also incorporated the collection of black and white gingham tablecloths that I had in the closet. I purchased them from H&M for our housewarming party and have used the heck out of them ever since.

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A recipe for Thanksgiving dinner design

Since moving into a home more suited for large-scale entertaining, I've taken over the Thanksgiving responsibilities for my mom's side of the family. While I don't cook, I do pride myself in serving up a mean dinner table design. I love pulling all of my supplies together to create a visually appealing tablescape, and enjoy picking up new odds and ends, ensuring guests can expect to find a different twist on decor from year to year.

When purchasing entertaining products, I tend to gravitate toward items that aren't occasion specific - ones I can continue to use time and time again. I thought I would share my go-to recipe for creating a well-rounded dinner display. Here's what you need to know:

Start with jewel tones 

Inspiration via 100 Layer Cake

Jewel tones on the table is no brainer, especially for fall. The rich, bold colors reflect the season and are easy to mix and match.

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A bun in the over and burgers on the grill: Highlights from a baby boy shower

On Simply Sarah Style, I often talk about how to pretty things up, but today, I thought I would share a manly approach to celebrating. My colleagues and I thought we would throw a "bun in the oven and burgers on the grill" shower for one of our designers and his wife.

Well when you discover your company grill no longer works, its time to take action. And by take action, I mean get in your car and drive to White Castle. I guess most guys love White Castle, so there's no shame in our last minute "catering" plan.

Since this took place at work during happy hour, we thought we would keep it simple with typical burger/picnic foods.

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A "ready to pop" baby boy shower

I'm excited to share a glimpse at the "ready to pop" shower my colleagues threw as a surprise for me and my baby boy shortly before my due date. They know I have a weakness for popcorn, especially all of the specialty varieties at Patty's Popcorn in Hyde Park, so they felt the "ready to pop" theme was perfect. Plus, I'd been feeling like I was ready to pop at that time.

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A look back on 2015

It's definitely been a memorable year...one full of many professional and personal milestones. I thank each and every one of you for sitting down with Simply Sarah Style to catch up on inspiration and life happenings. So here's the list...the most popular posts of 2015:

#10

Our gender reveal party

#9

A Betsy Ross American flag-themed bridal shower

#8

A quick and easy yard sale makeover with Krylon

#7

How I stumbled upon $40 chairs at Ballard Designs

#6

The Wedding Series: Part III

Access more of the wedding series: Part I, Part II, Part IV, Part IV and Part VI.

#5

This "My Kentucky Tee" can be your Kentucky tee 

#4

My 12 days of Christmas Home Tour

#3

Holiday gift giving with Hallmark Gold Crown

#2

One dresser: 3 different ways (Another Bargains & Buyouts score)

I'm excited to share that this Dwell Studio dresser will be making an appearance in Baby P.'s nursery! 

("What I didn't show you in my last Bargains & Buyouts post" and "Another reason to love Bargains & Buyouts" were also popular.)

#1

Breakfast entertaining made easy with Yoplait Plenti

Thank you for your continued support of Simply Sarah Style. Here's to 2016!

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Sensational Celebrations with Just Simply L Party Studio

You know I'm such a sucker for standout party goods. I love to make celebrations extra special by enhancing the visual experience. And I always have a set of go-to supplies in my party pantry. (True story...I do have a party pantry. Don't laugh.)

Without a doubt, I know you can take a table from drab to fab with a few key elements. Party confetti is definitely one of those elements. Just sprinkle across the surface and you can create a festive vibe in seconds. I love it, because 1) it allows you to infuse key colors at an affordable price and 2) you don't have to stress on perfect placement. Just sprinkle and scatter. The more inconsistent the placement, the better.

I was delighted when I discovered Just Simply L Party Studio on Instagram. Talk about a party planner's dream! Lourdes, the shop owner, offers an expansive collection of supplies, including my go-to confetti in a variety of gorgeous color combinations. From clever balloon designs to stationery, straws and stickers, she has it all in her Etsy shop!

Here are some of her products that caught my eye:

Confetti-filled Balloons

You'll have to browse all of her color combinations, plus the preprinted balloons (think bows, cute sayings, hearts and more)!

Cupcake-toppers 

How just are those bows and the snowflake?!?

Pillow Boxes

Imagine these as your base for wrapping gift cards or small holiday baked goods.

Ice Cream Spoons

You can even consider these for a hot chocolate bar!

I'm in party supply heaven with Just Simply L and have already incorporated a few of her products into Thanksgiving setup.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! I'm so thankful for each of you who continue to join me in my journey to add a little bit of pretty to every aspect of life.

This post was was sponsored by Just Simply L, but all opinions are my own.

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Our gender reveal party

He or she? What will our little pumpkin be?!?

A few weeks ago, we held a gender reveal party to share our big news with family and friends. I struggled on selecting a concept and color palette. Since our party was the night before Halloween, I thought we should stick with a fall theme, and because pink and blue would be easy, we went that direction too.

I only decorated a small portion of our house...essentially our sunroom. I infused a few fall touches (painted pumpkins, candy apples, etc.) and tried to make several of the goodies myself.

Because we were entertaining a group of 40 people, we kept it simple with just drinks and dessert. I knew that I could not prepare a full dinner for a crowd this size after working all day.

As you can see, Katy from Spoonful of Sugar Cookies never disappoints. She is my go-to resource when it comes to a custom cookie.

My mom and I decorated apples with Candy Melts from Michael's and quickly cranked out some Rice Krispie treats.

God bless my dear goddaughter for volunteering to dig through the massive barrel at Fresh Thyme to pick out all of the blue and pink taffy! And for the record, the blue taste far better than the pink.

We gave out these adorable candy wands from Lisa Frank as party favors. Yes, I said, "Lisa Frank," but this is a different Lisa Frank...You should totally check her out on Instagram. She puts together the most adorable party packs!

On the spot, we asked our parents to the do the honor of cutting the cake. 

They were so surprised and delighted to be heading up the unveiling. 

And I think they were even mores surprised when they cut into the cake!

So we'll be welcoming a baby boy to Team P!

Love something you saw? Here's the source list:

• Cake: Home Grown Cakes
• Cake Topper: Confetti Mama
• Party Favor Candy Wands: Hand Crafted Parties
• Cookies: Spoonful of Sugar Cookies
• He or She Banner: Oh How Charming
• Sequin Tablecloth: Designer Shindigs
• Taffy: Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
• Balloons: Undercover Hostess

A very special thanks to our dear friend Steve from Brookside Photography for capturing this milestone!

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Celebrating 5 years of blogging with gifts and giveaways: Day 3

Have you entered the Day 1 and Day 2 giveaways yet? If not, be sure to click-though for opportunities to take home a handful of goodies or win Simply Sarah Style services.

Now let's talk Day 3. I'm excited to share a collection of bar cart and party supplies that are perfect for the girl who loves to entertain. If you know Simply Sarah Style, then you know I love to have a bar cart that's always fully stocked.

With this package, one lucky winner will win:

• Chevron print cocktail napkins
• Decorative treat bags
• A gold coaster set featuring party quotes - "But first champagne," "It's always summer somewhere," "Peace, love & party," and "Be wild. Have fun."
• A polka dot bowl for garnishes (Think limes, mint leaves, cherries, etc.)
• A glass decanter
• A mercury glass to store straws, drink stirrers and bottle openers
• Party straws from Something Chic
• A glitzy J.CREW necklace for the party hostess

See the widget below to enter. Best of luck, my friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Celebrating 5 years of blogging with gifts and giveaways: Day 2

The Day 1 giveaway is off to a great start. Thanks to everyone who has participated thus far! Remember, each giveaway will be open for seven days.

For Day 2, I'm giving away a Simply Sarah Style party planning package that is chock-full of ideas and inspiration for the event theme of your choice. With this package, I will provide you with inspiration boards that outline invitation, decor and refreshment recommendations specifically tailored toward your celebration.

Wondering what exactly will be delivered to the winner of this giveaway? Click on one of the Simply Sarah Style party projects below.

• Super Hero Party
• Star Wars Party
• Baseball Party
• Candy Land Party
• Kentucky Derby Party
• "Sprinkle" Shower

Enjoy seven ways to enter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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A Star Wars Party for Jedi Joey

I collaborated with my dear friend and colleague to craft an out-of-this-world Star Wars party for her two-year-old son, Joey. Last year, she went with a baseball theme for Joey. This year, he's all about Luke Skywalker and light sabers. (You might also remember the super hero party we planned for her twins.)

My friend selected an adorable and age-appropriate Star Wars invitation from Etsy, so I used this design as a jumping off point for the inspiration boards. Here's what I pulled together:

Invite friends to join the Jedi 

Star Wars Invitations by KidzParties on Etsy / Tiny Prints Address Labels

Le Pens | Yellow Envelopes by Sugarhouse Ink on Etsy

Go galactic with on-point decor 

Jedi Traning Entry via Lemon Squeezy Home | Star Wars Printables by KidzParty on Etsy
Star Wars Balloons via Ebay | Black Lanterns via Oriental Trading 
Gold Tassel Garland via Shindigz | Light Saber via Target 
Free Coloring Pages | R2-D2 Chair via Ebay | Yoda T-shirt via Target

Fuel up the force 

Star Wars Cupcake Inspiration via Kara's Party Ideas | Free Printable Masks

Solid Color Napkins via Target | Black and White Plates via Target 

Silver Utensils via Party City | Star Tablecloth via Oriental Trading 

Star Wars Cookie Inspiration by The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle

Thank the troops with great goodies 

12" Gold Mylar Ballons by Celebration Lane on Etsy 

Jedi Stationery by Sweet Festivitiy on Etsy

Star Wars Bubbles by Funkie Treasures on Etsy | Star Wars Pez Dispenser

Blue Ribbon via Hobby Lobby | Cell Bag | Gold Crinkle Tinsel 

Star Wars Thank You Tags by Red Apple Studio on Etsy

Make planning magic happen with this go-to list 

Star Wars Action Figures via Walmart | Polka Dot Nut Cups

Two Candle via Williams-Sonoma | Red Striped Straws

Menu staging ideas via Pinterest, Catch My Party, and HubPages

I provided a shopping list outlining both online and local purchases and my friend went to town. Planning a Star Wars party of your own? Be sure to check out this Pinterest board which includes additional inspiration.

Here's to going galactic!

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Breakfast Entertaining Made Easy with Plenti Greek Yogurt

On a given day, you can find me entertaining at home or even hosting a group of clients for a breakfast meeting in the boardroom. Since menu-planning isn't a part of the entertaining equation that comes naturally to me, I lean on grocery store or take-out options that look impressive. I typically think of ways I can plate my store-bought snacks so that they look splendid.

I was delighted to discover that Yoplait is now offering Plenti greek yogurt that comes in an attractive bowl and is packed full with hearty ingredients. The combination of yogurt with whole grain oaks and flax and pumpkin seeds actually leaves you feeling full! (Find more about the ingredients here.)

With Yoplait Plenti greek yogurt, I can easily curate a bowl full of flavors and know they'll look great. Plus, it makes food prep and planning easy.

Since the new Plenti greek yogurt is extra filling, you don't need to worry about pairing this breakfast dish with much more when hosting a gathering or meeting with light refreshments. Consider adding a few mini muffin flavors along with drink options and you're all set for an easy, but attractive breakfast spread.

Plenti greek yogurt comes in a full spectrum of flavors:

• black cherry
• blueberry
• coconut
• peach
• raspberry
• spiced apple
• strawberry
• vanilla

I picked up the full selection at Kroger and discovered that my favorite flavor is black cherry! I even found myself craving Plenti greek yogurt after an evening workout. 

In today's fast-paced world, I think we can all appreciate the things that save us time while also providing us with delicious goodness. 

Are you like me when it comes to entertaining? Love the art, but are often looking for ways to simplifying without sacrificing goodness? 

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A Betsy Ross American Flag-themed Bridal Shower

I recently hosted a bridal shower for my dear cousin Betsy. Since Betsy's new last name will be Rossi, we decided to host a "Betsy Ross" American flag-themed shower. (You know... since Betsy Ross was credited with creating the first American flag.)

I wanted to play up the red, white and blue in a glamorous way.

I set three tables: the dining table, our sunroom table and one long folding table. They each looked a bit the same, but also a bit different.

I worked with my favorite Fiverr artist to create an illustration of Betsy and her fiancé. (Be sure to check out the other illustrations this artist has produced for me. They're incredible. This girl is good!)

Here's my best budget tip for party-planning: Buy wrapping paper and use it as a table runner. (You can find my favorite sources for wrapping paper and all the ways you can use it creatively here.) I lucked out and found this textured navy and white wrapping paper at TJ Maxx for only $2.99. The roll provided enough footage to cover two tables. 

Another one of my favorite tricks: Give bottled water a custom look by removing the labels and wrapping the bottles with patterned Duct tape. Also, if you're going to buy Duck tape, I recommend using a Michael's coupon from your phone and getting 40% off a roll.

As far as the drink selection, we offered water, tea and strawberry lemonade. I used Crystal Light for a low cal option. I also stumbled across a patriotic bottle of vodka and had to buy it. So I said, "Let there be vodka lemonade!"

A first for me... I dropped $15 in candy just to fill an apothecary jar. I recently became obsessed with Party City's wall of color-coded candy, especially the Sixlets. They're so good and you can buy them in the color of your choice.

The Cheeky tableware (plates and cups) were some of my favorite purchases. I always love the Cheeky selection at Target. Plus, the company donates one meal to Feeding America per purchase. 

I've used the chevron cups on a couple of occasions and people always ask about them. They feature a vibrant design, plus are extremely durable.

For dessert, we selected a gorgeous "naked" cake, but it turns out "naked" cakes don't travel well. Our cake had a little sliding incident, so the baker showed up at my house to repurpose the cake-slide into individual mason jar treats. 

Here's what it looked like before we decided it needed to be broken down. Even with it's imperfections, it was still beautiful! 

It ended up looking just as stunning packaged as individual treats! 

My sweet mother made all the pie pops, and once she ran out of sticks, she made mini heart-shaped pies. She is so darn talented! I used the pie pops as party favors. 

To create a keepsake, I asked party guests to leave well wishes for the bride and groom on a large canvas letter. 

I even decorated the porch, although we didn't end up spending much time outside due to the heat.

Overall, it was a lovely day and I hope Betsy felt surrounded by love. 

A special thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate! 

Here's to a wonderful wedding and a lifetime of happiness for Betsy and Dom!

Source List 

See something you liked? Find the items here:

Caricture - Fiverr
Plastic Cups & Plates - Cheeky at Target
Striped Table Runner - Wrapping Paper from TJ Maxx
Red Berry Cartons - Michael's
Blue Gingham Paper Liners - Michael's
American Flags - Michael's
Metal "R" - Michael's
Denim Ampersand - Michael's
Marquee Ampersand - Michael's
Gold Chargers - Michael's
Metallic Paper Stars - Party City
Red & Blue Sixlets - Party City
Crystal Candle Sticks - Macy's (wedding gift)
Large White "R" as Guest Book - Hobby Lobby
Wooden Utensils - Ivana's Gifts and Things on Etsy
Striped Straws - Kirkland's
Pie Pops - My momma
Patriotic Paper Garland (not pictured above) - Snooty Blooms on Etsy
Party Invitation (not pictured above) - Bash Studio

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