livin' la vida brooke

If I were a celebrity, I, too, would hire Amy Atlas to design a desert table for my little ones. I don't see that happening anytime soon, so alas, I'll live vicariously through Brooke Shields (table above for her daughter, Grier). Cute. Photo by Allan Zepeda.

polka dot party!

I've been smitten with I am Baker's polka dot party ever since spotting it on Project Wedding. SO many readers write in looking for advice on how to dress up a more generic-themed party and I can't think of a better set-up to look to for inspiration. Brightly colored dots adorn everything- cake, vases, napkins. I think you could take it a step further by doing circular lanterns in a coordinated palette, table confetti, and maybe a circular invitation to set the tone. For a more streamlined look, you could produce this look in a single color.

spring napkins

Spring is in the air (or at least it was this weekend). With that in mind, I'm loving these rick-rack napkins from Purl Bee.

woodland fairy party

I adore the centerpieces for Stephmodo's woodland fairy party! More details on her blog right here.

i spy: amy atlas-inspired tables!

Imitation is the best form of flattery, right?

Amy Atlas' name has become synonymous with highly-styled, fabulous, dessert-laden tables. The look has been copied around the globe. Did she 'invent' the look? What do you think? Martha Stewart Weddings has done brilliant 'dessert buffets' for years, but Amy has created so many gorgeous tables in this style that there is no doubt the look has become her own.

*If you guessed the top photo was Martha Stewart and the all-pink bottom photo was Amy's, you were right!

Tables above from: martha stewart weddings; scissors.paper.cake; sharnel/cupcake company; shauna young; baby lifestyles; amy atlas

book signing

I love this colorful tableau from Anna for a Kathryn Ireland book signing.

floral place setting

I love this table set up by Emersonmade. 

holiday table

I just love this table setting by Chelsea of frolic!

j'adore...

Who can resist these super sweet ideas from Parisian Amelie? Reading her blog - or at least, attempting to - definitely puts my high school French to the test, but no translation is needed for many of these great DIY ideas (including the pattern adorned paper plates). Much more loveliness to check out here and here.

quirky and loving it!

I love this quirky party tablescape- it's like a mad-hatter homegrown version of an Amy Atlas table.

via a field journal

birthday candle round-up

I've just starting brainstorming ideas for my son's November birthday, and have come across some very fun birthday candles. 

My favorites, above: Tag animal candles via lmnop; skinny candles (also available in sparkler version) from layer cake shop; birthday girl and animal toothpick candles from hey yo yo; number, taper and candelabra candle from plum party.

table love

I love the stripes, the scalloped ends, the colors, the single yellow bird in the 'tree' of this table...from here.  

clever table numbers

We went to a lovely wedding this weekend outside the Philadelphia area. So much thought had been put into every detail, there were even some beautiful flowers in the bathroom (bottom photo)! The best takeaway idea were the table numbers- each numbered table (it was a seated dinner) had framed photos that coordinated to the age of the bride and groom. Table 22, for example, had a picture of the bride graduating from college and the groom on a family trip with his siblings (at age 22). I only wish they had opened the seating area earlier so I could go around and look at all the other tables! I hadn't seen this done before, and thought it could be done stylishly in so many ways. 

60-second centerpieces?

That headline caught my eye on Real Simple's website (I always forget about their great entertaining ideas, I don't know why!). Anything in bulk in a similar color palette can be stunning, and this carnation centerpiece proves the point. For more '60-second centerpieces', look here.

pretty.

This table set-up by photographer Karl Juenson is so pretty, I think.

must see...

Chelsea is doing a fabulous series of tablescapes for Project Wedding- incredibly inspirational, even if you are on a budget. If you haven't already checked it out, look here.

in case you missed it...

I love everything about this wedding posted on OnceWed.

for the crafty types

I love this DIY oilcloth scallop table cover. Lovely!

via...twig & thistle

jewels of NY

This inspirational site is a feast for the eyes! So happy to discover...Jewels of New York.