Star's Favorite Things: Spruce Up Your Tailgate!

The time has come to bid farewell to our bikinis and flip flops and replace them with scarves and boots.  Today marks the first day of fall and with fall comes football.  I'm not so much a fan of football, but I love a good tailgate!  Especially when it is filled with gourmet food options, unique beverages and adorable decor.  Football season is already in full swing so I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite tailgate pics.  They put a fun spin on traditional tailgate fare, and will make your tailgate unique and just a little bit chic! :)

1. 1. This ice chest will keep your drinks as cold as the basic plastic ones, its just so much cuter! -  Peterboro Basket Co. 
2. 2. Package napkins and utensils in these adorable little chevron paper bags.  Brown and white would be cute (the colors of a football) or use your team's colors! - Etsy shop Cherished Blessings 
3. 3. If you are not a beer drinker, you can still sip your wine in (unbreakable) style :) -  Pinterest 
4. 4. I'f you'll be barbecuing at your tailgate, I don't think any other grill will do.  This one is both adorable and functional! -  Strauss Inovation 
5. 5. My love affair with paper straws has not ended (see previous post).  They come in every color so it is easy to match them with your team colors. - Etsy shop The Simply Chic Shop 
6. 6. No tailgate is complete without Cornhole.  It quick to set up and can easily be played with a few drinks in you :)  Love this retro design! -  Gifts.com 
7. 7. Keep those brewskies cold with these cute personalized koozies. - Etsy shop Happy Thoughts Gifts 
8. 8. I love these football cupcake toppers!  They'd also look great topping pigs in a blanket, potato skins, or any other tailgate delight.  - Etsy shop Cute and Useful

Beer is generally the drink of choice at a tailgate so you want to make sure you have plenty of it on hand.  In addition to a variety of frosty bottles, consider mixing up a signature "beer cocktail" as well. Virtue Feed & Grain in Alexandria VA serves up this delicious beer cocktail.  Its a masculine cocktail with a touch of sweetness for the lovely ladies.  With the little bit of maple syrup, it is the perfect fall beverage!

Photo courtesy of Honest Cooking

Shock Me

1/4 cup brown ale beer

2 tbsp. bourbon

1 tsp. Southern Comfort

1 tsp. pure maple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Gently stir for 10 seconds.  Strain into an Old Fashioned glass.  Makes 1 cocktail.

And for the perfect dessert - Blue Moon Cupcakes.  I shared this recipe last year, but I thought I'd mention it again because it is so delicious and perfect for a tailgate!  Click here for the recipe.

Lastly, I wanted to share the little surprise I made for my hubby on the night of his favorite team's (the San Diego Chargers) first game.  Inside was a new Chargers T-shirt.  He loved the gift and appreciated that although I am not into football, I still understand how excited he is that the season has started :)  Consider wrapping up a T-shrit or jersey for that football loving honey before a big game!

Happy tailgating!!

-Star

Color Trends Part One - Inspired by Emerald

We can't believe we've made it more than half way through the year without paying tribute to the Pantone color of the year (better late than never, right?!).  This year's color is edgy, luxurious, and unexpected!  For those of you unfamiliar with Pantone, it is the world-renowned authority on color across various industries.  Every year Pantone names a color of the year.  The process of choosing a color is a lengthy one as Pantone combs industries throughout the world (entertainment, travel, art, technology, fashion, decor, beauty, etc.) searching for inspiration and influence.

Emerald is the 2013 Pantone color of the year and for good reason.  According to Pantone.com, it is "Lively.  Radiant.  Lush... A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."  The color Emerald can be seen throughout history and it continues to sparkle and fascinate.  "Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world.  This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors." (Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute).

This stunning color was our inspiration for the tabletop we produced for the Girari Sustainable Event Furnishings' tabletop design event at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles last spring.  The entire look was placed inside a clear bubble structure from Casa Bubble.  For more information on this event, click here.

Our tabletop was described as "Edgy Emerald" when it was published in a recent issue of South Asian Bride Magazine 

Photos courtesy of Christopher Todd Studios

We are in love with this color because it oozes elegance and glamour (how could we forget Angelina Jolie's earrings at the 2009 Oscars?!); however, it can also be very earthy and sensual.  Its gorgeous for Fall!  This bold jewel tone exudes confidence and is so fresh and a bit unexpected at a wedding, which makes it so interesting!  Below are some of our favorite ways to incorporate emerald into a special event.

A bold color like emerald can quickly become overwhelming if overused.  This table is a beautiful example of how using just a bit of emerald can make a big statement and really showcase the color.  Emerald and metallic look stunning together and are a natural combination.  We like how the emerald is sprinkled in with blush pink, gold and ivory.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Branch Events

If you are not ready to commit to such a bold color, consider adding splashes of the color here and there.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Adding emerald through accessories is a way to incorporate the color into your big day.  These emerald shoes are adorable!

Photo courtesy of Ruffled Blog

This dainty little bracelet would add a splash of emerald to your wedding day ensemble.  It would be gorgeous for Bridesmaids as well!

Photo courtesy of Jewel Sugar

And ofcourse, the most perfect pair of emerald earrings...

Photo Courtesy of Hollywood Makeup

We've enjoyed paying tribute to the Pantone color of the year and can't wait to share some of our color predictions for 2014 in our next post, "Color Trends Part Two".  Keep an eye out for it!