Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn Celebrations 2014 i Southern Lady

Fall leaves, pumpkins (to carve and to bake with), Halloween costumes, tailgating food, and crisper, cooler temps—these are the things I love about fall! When there are so many great reasons to enjoy this season, it is really hard to choose just one. I can tell when autumn is on its way in my area. The leaves begin their beautiful color transformation, and you can smell an aroma in the air that makes you want to unpack sweaters and get ready for Halloween. I love wearing a costume. (You are never too old!) One of my fondest childhood memories of this special day is of me dressing as a witch. My mother let me wear green makeup and put a little black dot on my nose to resemble a wart.…

SEASONAL ADORNMENT Instead of flowers for your focal point, display a pumpkin on a rustic cake stand. Surround the stand with other gourds in varying shapes, sizes, and colors. LAYERED DÉCOR A new use for your serveware! To create an autumn accent piece, fill a three-tiered stand with miniature pumpkins in shades of green, white, and orange. RUSTIC DISPLAY Fit as many miniature pumpkins and gourds as you can into a glass lantern. Then place a few outside the container to enhance the appearance of your outdoor tablescape. COUNTRY BASKET Bring elements of the countryside into your fall décor. Toss pumpkins into a large, seasonal basket, and complete the look with foliage, pinecones, and maize.…

1 Consider the guests you invited when planning your dinner menu—design a menu that will please all involved. 2 Planning a great party includes arranging for good conversation. Think about place cards at your tables—having the right people sitting next to each other can really help the comfort level, especially if you invited guests who do not know each other. 3 If you are not having tables for everyone to sit at, then make sure you do have lounge or alternative seating for your guests. Depending on your menu, most guests do not like to eat standing up. 4 If hosting a party at your home, don’t forget to place flowers or a fragrant candle in the bathroom, as well as hand towels. Your guests will notice the details! 5…

COVER Funkins EDITOR’S NOTE Page 6–Western silk shirt, white; button down cardigan, navy, Joe Fresh; Thanks a Bunch necklace and Hammer Time chain bracelet, Charming Charlie CELEBRATE THE SEASON Page 11–paper package, Hester & Cook; copper charger, Chickadee; dinner plate and bowl by Craven Studio, Table Matters; square glass bottle with clamp stopper, World Market EASY RESTYLE Page 17–location, The Great Pumpkin Patch; pumpkins, The Great Pumpkin Patch GATHER TOGETHER Page 31–feathers wrapping paper, faux bois wrapping paper, happy birthday typography wrapping paper, Paper Source; birthday cards, 1canoe2.com; Tilton napkins, Sferra; linen textured salad plate and dinner plate, West Elm; palace trellis glass in purple, Anthropologie; votives, BHLDN READY. SET. SERVE Page 63–wood spoons, Hobby Lobby A HOUSE OF LOVE Page 91–Photographer: Stacy Richardson Photography; Planner: Anita Kanellis; Floral…

What better way to celebrate fall than by hosting a Halloween party? You’ll surely find yourself in festive spirits as you get creative with spooky décor and tasty treats. Start by sending the perfect invitation. Make sure to include all pertinent information so everyone will know what type of fun to expect. You don’t want to leave your guests questioning whether they should or should not dress in costume. Also, be clear whether children are welcome or not. Consider having a kid-friendly party to make it easier for parents to attend. With interactive games, yummy treats, and great party favors, the little ones won’t want to leave. Set the scene with appropriate lighting. You don’t want your guests feeling as if they are in a dark, haunted house. Make sure…

create the look ✓ Move away from the traditional fall color palette by bringing in white tones for a clean and simple look. Use natural elements to maintain a stylish autumn tablescape. ✓ Place large, white pumpkins on square cake stands, and surround each with light and airy baby’s breath. Continue the theme by adorning the table with miniature pumpkins and other gourds. ✓ Let place-card holders serve double duty as edible takeaways for your guests. Fill Mason jars with a sweet treat like white chocolate–covered pretzels, and place a piece of burlap over each one. Secure the lid, and attach a handwritten name tag to each jar with a strand of jute. ✓ At each place setting, put a homemade flatware holder. To make, cut a strip of burlap,…

PARTY ART Download, and print out our Monster Bash paper package at celebratemag.com/party-art. • Invitation • Tent Cards • Treat Bag Faces • Monster Cutouts create th e look ✓ Along with traditional orange and black, choose colors that pop, such as green and purple. This will set the tone for a fun—not scary—celebration for young children. ✓ Gather a variety of pumpkins, and paint them in your color palette. Stick on googly eyes to fit the monster theme. ✓ Tie ribbons to the stems of a few of the pumpkins for added detail. ✓ Fill glass cylinders with candy, and insert colorful monster cutouts into each one. The kids will love these cheerful friends. ✓ Bring in a bold pattern. Use polka-dot fabric for a table runner to add…

For as long as Sara can remember, her family has been celebrating major events at their beautiful log house in Alabama’s rolling hills. The house was a dream of her parents’ that became a reality when Sara was a young girl. And as one of her favorite places in the world, it made sense that she would marry there, surrounded by family, friends, and wonderful memories. Sara and Clay met in college, and their friendship eventually blossomed into love. The couple had been dating for more than a year when Clay asked Sara to marry him. With her sister’s help, Clay planned a scavenger hunt in a local garden. Sharing letters from his prayer journal, the hunt eventually led to a proposal. Sara said yes, and although she knew…

AUTUMN INSPIRED The patterns on these paper products from Hester & Cook always put a smile on my face. From the table setting place cards to the beautiful bird designs on the note cards, each piece offers a fresh look for the season. See the selection at hesterandcook.com. HARVEST FARE Mix fall décor into your appetizer platter by using hollowed-out acorn squash as serving dishes. To make these, cut the tops off three squash, scoop out the seeds, and then clean out each one thoroughly. Serve hummus, marinated mushrooms, and a mixture of feta cheese and olives in each homemade bowl. SILVERWARE STORAGE Create a charming flatware holder by hollowing out the center of a colorful pumpkin. Place a glass cylinder in the hole, and add forks, knives, and spoons.…

create th e look Make the dinner festive with a seasonal color palette suitable for all ages and both genders. (We chose natural colors with an accent of gold for our fall birthdays.) ✓ Bring subtle pattern to the table setting with linens, like this printed leaf design from Sferra. ✓ Keep decorations simple—sometimes the birthday cake can serve as your centerpiece. ✓ Make birthday hats for use as place cards. Download the template at celebratemag.com⁄ party-art. Then, using kraft paper, cut out and secure the edges with tape. Attach gold-glitter letters to spell out guests’ names, and glue a gold pom-pom to each hat. ✓ For small, additional decorative touches, incorporate greenery and candles. ✓ Pick gift wrap and bows that complement each other. Arranged on a table, the…

PERFECT PICK Finding the best pumpkin is half the battle. 1 Be sure to fully inspect the pumpkin before selecting it. Look for uniform color and a smooth, firm surface. 2 Steer clear of ones with cuts, soft spots, mold, or bruises as these could spoil prematurely. 3 A stem is a good way to tell if the pumpkin is fresh. A green stem means it has been freshly picked, while a brittle stem shows the gourd is older and should be avoided for carving. 4 Test your pumpkin to see whether it can sit on a flat surface. ALWAYS BE PREPARED Pumpkin carving can get a little messy (OK, very messy), so be sure to plan ahead to keep it to a minimum. If possible, plan to take your…

ASIAN SHRIMP AND RAMEN SOUP Makes 6 to 8 servings Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 20 minutes 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 bunch green onions, chopped, green parts reserved 1 (8-ounce) package sliced baby portobello mushrooms 3 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger 1 (32-ounce) carton Thai ginger– infused broth* 2½ cups seafood stock 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 pounds (31-35 count) medium fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 (3-ounce) packages ramen noodles, broken, seasoning packet discarded ONE In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, white parts of green onion, mushrooms, garlic, and ginger; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Stir in broth, stock, and soy sauce; bring to a boil, reduce…

Party planning wasn’t always a part of the life goal for Mindy Weiss. She started out designing custom invitations, but before long, friends and clients had convinced her to take her talents to the next level. She began creating and throwing custom events, applying her stylish ideas and spot-on attention to detail to every aspect of the process. Mindy fell in love with creating parties, and she never looked back. Now, more than 20 years later, Mindy Weiss Party Consultants designs celebrations all over the world for an eclectic mix of clients. From star-studded sophisticated weddings to intimate and personal baby showers, Mindy creates thoughtful and unique parties for each of them. Here, she lets us in on where she finds her inspiration, gives tips for throwing…

PROJECT SUPPLIES: • Felt jack-o’-lantern decoration (can be purchased at many dollar and craft stores) •18” pillow insert • 1 small scrap of lime-green fabric, large enough to cover all the features of the cutout jack-o’-lantern face • 18x18” piece of black-and-white houndstooth fabric for the pillow front • 12x18” pieces of coordinating fabric for the pillow back panels •Coordinating thread • Basic sewing supplies: machine, shears, iron, pins, etc. INSTRUCTIONS : Place the scrap piece of lime-green fabric face up on a work surface. Position the felt jack-o’-lantern so that the fabric piece shows through the eyes, nose, and mouth cutouts of the piece. Pin into place. With a sewing machine, carefully stitch around the outer edge of the facial features to secure the two pieces together. Center the…

CANDY CORN CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW FROSTING Makes 1 (13x9-inch) cake Prep: 5 minutes Chill: 1 hour Bake: 30 minutes Cool: 1 hour 2 (15.25-ounce) boxes white cake mix* 9 drops liquid yellow food coloring, divided 3 drops liquid red food coloring 2 cups unsalted butter, softened 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 (16-ounce) container marshmallow creme† 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Garnish: candy corn ONE Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with baking spray with flour. TWO Prepare cake mix according to package directions; divide batter among 3 bowls. Stir 5 drops yellow food coloring into one bowl. Stir 3 red drops and 4 yellow drops food coloring into second bowl, making orange batter. THREE Spoon yellow batter into prepared pan, spreading to an even thickness. Freeze for 30 minutes. FOUR Spoon orange…