I'm still alive ;) & Wine party inspiration

Quick update: So the little guy (for newbies - I have an 11 week old sweet little boy!) has had "sleep regression" - a.k.a. won't sleep for very long at all, for the past 2-3 weeks. It finally caught up to me, not sleeping more than an hour at a time, and I collapsed from exhaustion. Luckily I wasn't holding him and I only suffered minor scraps/bruises. So, I apologize that the blog has been suffering as much as I have! Thanks for sticking with me as I find my groove (aka sleep) again!

So in celebration of what I need since I can't get sleep... let's talk about wine!!! Don't forgot about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a wine party here (link)
 

Create a beautiful display of nibbles - nuts, fruit, crackers, etc.  Use neutral serving pieces (white, woods, etc) to let the food shine! Source

Create a useful (and beautiful!) pairing board! If you don't have slate... improvise! Use kraft paper/marker, white serving platter with chalkboard labels, etc.  Source

Create fun munchies... like these prosciutto wrapped bread sticks! Source

Use wine corks as fun accents.  Don't drink enough to have many? You can buy them here (link).  Source

Wine and Cheese Party Ideas & Inspiration

So worn out this week! I am not sure where it went, but I am glad it's Friday! So in the for the week I have had... wine should definitely be the way to solve it!

So here is some ideas to Frost your next Wine & Cheese party. Don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a wine & cheese night here (link).

Set up different sized framed chalkboards for fun sayings, wine lists, pairings, etc.  Source unknown :o(

Make sure to set up your bottles with numbers and keeping the labels a secret! Source

Set up lots of finger foods like cheese and crackers, prosciutto and cheese sticks, etc.  Got to keep the belly full so you can drink more! Source

Set up bright and fun place settings with a chalkboard (aka black contact paper) runner.  Leverage pizza boards for displaying cheese and provide note pads for keeping track of tastings! Source












 

Happy National Wine Day!

HELLO?!? best holiday EVA! heehee...

Few dabs of frosting to commemorate such a fantastic national day!...

Paint chalkboard paint (that now comes in EVERY color) on to the bottom of your wine glasses (just wrap stem with painters tape first).  Perfect for guests to keep track of their glasses and fun too! Source

Love the idea of the broken pot with stamped cheese names! tuck this one away for a garden party this summer! Source

Turn cake balls into vineyard bites by piping on a "bunch of grapes" Source

Wine Tasting or Bar Party Ideas!

Whew! past few days have had too many irons in the fire! What better thing for that then a tall glass of wine! Here is some older (but still fresh!) frosting...

And here are a few new ideas...

Wine parties are not just about the wine! it's about great food too! You don't need too many decorations - let the food and wine be center stage! Arrange food so that no same color is touching and use different serving containers - this will give lots of visual interest and let your eye move around the table.  Source

I love this little setup - look closely... fruit used in the hurricane lamps! I love it! Great way to add a little touch without being overboard (and very inexpensive AND you can eat them afterward! lol) Source

How adorable are these customizable trays? Your guests will be wowed AND they are stinking useful! You can even have notes on each one for a particular wine to help people load up the right pairings! (So on my to do list!) Source and tutorial via luckylifeparties.blogspot.com/2010/09/cheese-palette.html

How cute are these little favor bags?!? You could fill them with little chocolates (or whatever you like) and just tie off with a cork! Source

TGIF! Time for some wine!

Some weeks you just think to yourself TGIF - time for some wine! It's been one of those weeks here and I am going with the rule that one glass of wine is one glass of wine - no matter how big the glass ;o)   Here are a few touches to put on our wine and cheese night (if you so dare to share your bottles of wine... well at least share the cheese... ;o)

This really beautiful wine party tablescape would be sure to impress the most sober of guest ;o)  Source

 I have come across a lot of cheese markers, but these are just darling! I was never a bird person until I moved to my current home that's on a pond... now I find myself birdwatching and naming all the birds!  Source

These tags are so simple but add such a great touch.  You could personalize them, put wine rating or characteristics on them, seasonal decoration or maybe just funny sayings.  If you are not crafty, you can purchase from Source

Wine YUM!!

first - note to self, never start a new blogging effort right before vacation! ...second, I think I'll start this blog off with one of my favorite things - WINE!  Here are a few things I have found that would be great "icing" to a wine and cheese party....

These would be fantastic for a dinner party, happy hour or even a wedding (like shown here)! I don't remember the source (sorry! has been in my clip folder for way too long!).  These would even be cute as card holder with description of an appetizer or menu item on your buffet.... now to get to drinking enough bottles to save up the corks! (the fun part!)

This was a great idea to put corks in a vase for holding flowers... and yet ANOTHER reason to drink more bottles of wine! ;o)  You could even but a long candle in instead!  source

These coasters would be the perfect craft project to add to the tablescape.  You can add all the party information and have them as keepsakes.  But don't stop there! You can modify the theme for any type of event.

Can't leave the "icing" off the cheese tray! ...little chalkboard cheese markers (sold here) or you could make your own.  Chalkboard paint is sold at every craft store now and little mini frames are easy to come by too!

 HELLO!?!?! How fantastic are these!?! Little toothpick holders that can hold a little card! $5 bucks for 100 of these little guys sold here:  link