Summer Party Planning

I'm a hostess by nature. I LOVE throwing parties and having people over for dinner, but there's something about spring that really isn't conducive to entertaining. I mean, we're so busy during the holidays that I suppose it only makes sense to take a few months off after the new year, but I've been itching to get back into things. 

This upcoming Monday is Memorial Day, which is the unofficial start to summer, and I couldn't be happier! I'm so excited to spend more time outside and with friends, drinking margaritas and BBQing. Though summer isn't my favorite season of the year (that would be fall, of course), there's just something about this season that makes me so...happy. 

So, when I was asked to throw a summer party with Pier 1 and Spotify, all I could think was is this really my job? And then I emailed them back and said YES! Of course I would throw a summer party for my blog!

I've had a few weeks to think about what I'm going to do, and I just can't wait to see it all come together! One of my dear friends has an incredible backyard, and she was kind enough to offer it up for my party. I knew from the start that I wanted to use bright colors, so the blooming bougainvillea that grows along her fence is the perfect backdrop. Combine the fuschia of the flowers with some cobalt blue and a little tangerine for good measure, and I think I might just have a vision. 

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Side note: It's part of my job, sure, but it's still so difficult for me to put together design boards sometimes. I just have this vision in my head that hasn't been brought to life yet! That's not a bad thing, I suppose. It just means this is my chance to create something new. 

I'm still in the beginning stages of planning my party, but I have a basic overview of what I'd like to do. I want it to be casual and fun, with good food and great company. I think I might just be on my way!

For those of you creating your own summer party, I put together a little Party Planner for you to print and plan with! Download it by clicking the link below.

Get the Party Planner here!

And because no great party ever started with boring conversation (or a salad), I've put together a little summer play list to share with you as well! I'm one of those people who associates songs with moments of my life - almost every season has a song to go along with it. I knew that my summer playlist for 2014 needed to be a combination of all my summer playlists for the past...13(?) years? Enjoy!

Compensation was provided by Pier 1 via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pier 1.

Find what speaks to you.