The past couple of weeks have been insanely busy and filled with fun activities. I'm not making excuses, I promise...I'm just saying!   I've helped my husband paint our basement, assisted Alice Hendry with a couple of weddings (the picture below is of a wedding that Alice coordinated at Cheekwood) .... check out the incredible flowers arranged by Village of Flowers on the hanging chandelier!


One Sunday afternoon I floated down the Harpeth River in a tube alongside a group of friends...
and somehow I managed to find time to relax with friends, and keep my sanity.
With that being said, let it be known that I have not entirely abandoned my blog or my love of parties! Think of it as a summer getaway.  Stay tuned next week for more party inspiration, fun summer entertaining ideas, and all kinds of exciting random bits of knowledge.

My husband and I recently hosted an engagement party in Monteagle for some of our friends.  It was a very casual get together, but we wanted it to feel special nonetheless.  One of the guests of honor brought over a beautiful wildflower arrangement that we placed on the food table.  She and her mother-in-law to be arranged the flowers earlier that morning.   What a special treat! 
2 C. Sharp Shredded Cheddar
2 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese (softened)
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1/2 C. beer
1 jalapeno, diced
Dash of seasoning salt or garlic salt (optional)

Mix together all ingredients until well blended. Chill for several hours before serving. Can be made the day before.

Tips: It works best to mix the first 3 ingredients together and then add the beer. We like it best on Fritos Scoops, but it is also great with wheat thins, Triscuits, etc. Can be easily doubled for a crowd.

It is a tradition in the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly to celebrate recently engaged couples with engagement parties over the 4th of July weekend .  Since so many people come into the Assembly for the 4th of July, it is an ideal time to gather many friends from across the country.  Groups of friends will join together to host a party to celebrate several engaged couples at once.  When we were engaged a couple years back, it was so much fun to have these parties thrown for us, so we are excited to be able to do the same for our friends!

My hubby and I are co-hosting one of these parties this weekend for several of his childhood friends and their fiances.  Here is the invitation that I designed for this fun occasion.  More to come next week on the outcome of the engagement party. Stay tuned!!

The 4th of July is approaching fast, so I wanted to share some craft ideas that you can incorporate into your celebration.  Whether you are spending the holiday with a picnic, backyard barbecue, or perhaps on a boat, any of these festive flourishes will be a nice addition to your 4th of July activities.

• Adorable DIY red, white, and blue garland from Martha Stewart
•  Free printables from The Party Dress (cupcake toppers and food tent cards) for your 4th of July party
• Stars and Stripes Drink parasols from Martha Stewart
• Loving the patriotic stripes montage from The Finer Things
• Fabulous red white and blue Napkin Rings from Martha Stewart

And for those of you who love finding inspiration for your party decor, here's some eye-candy for you.




I love incorporating colors of the holiday into the food that is being served at the celebration.  4th of July calls for cold dishes that feature homegrown tomatoes from our garden, so I think I will probably make a tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella salad for the 4th of July picnic. 

This Sunday is Father's Day. I have been racking my brain trying to think of how I should celebrate my Dad. He loves to go fishing, read books, and grill out (lucky for me and my family!). Maybe it would be nice to treat Dad to a cookout, or better yet -- grill some fish!

So it's time to brush up your grilling skills then stop by the meat counter at your local grocery. 

• Epicurious.com has a feature article on marinades, rubs and sauces that peaked my curiosity 
• Head over to Bon Appetit.com to find out how to grill seafood dishes for dinner
• Grilled brined pork chops from the Food Channel look delish too
•  If you're looking for grill accessories to outfit your Dad (or perhaps give him an upgrade to the worn-out tools he's currently using), check out the recommendations for Grilling Gear at Epicurious.com