The Grape Escape

Pumpkins, ghosts and goblins are all things one would expect to see a lot of during the month of October, but there are a multitude of other fine fall elements that often get overlooked in the quest to decorate for Halloween. For the next few Wednesdays, The Finer Things will be focusing on autumn entertaining ideas that are still seasonal, yet unique enough to set your party apart from the rest.

Grapes, for instance, tend to be thrown into the summer party spotlight. However, with the typical grape harvest time period in the northern hemisphere being between the months of August and October (with the grapes for some late harvest wines, like Reisling, harvested in mid to late autumn), this dazzling fruit is fabulously fit for a fall fete.

• To give your grape-themed party some fall flair, serve guests this mulled grape cider -- Taste of Home

• Grape tarts make for a sweet, yet savory, treat -- Martha Stewart

• Wear this gorgeous grape colored cocktail dress -- Ann Taylor

• For easy and effective centerpieces, place clusters of purple grapes in everything from silver bowls to glass hurricanes -- Project Wedding, County Living and Firefly Hill Designs

• Pour guests a glass of this medium bodied merlot to sip with the main course -- Wine Chief

• Use a simple, handwritten note to invite guests to a small dinner party (I love the grape colored ribbon on this card) -- FineStationery.com

• Cleanse your palate at the end of the meal with this gorgeous grape sorbet -- Martha Stewart

Don't Miss the Savings!

Stock up now to save 15% on Holiday cards and invitations from FineStationery.com.
(But hurry-- sale ends September 30th!)

To those celebrating Yom Kippur...

Best wishes for a meaningful and blessed day.

~From all of us at FineStationery.com~


* Artwork by Artscroll

Adorable Adornment

These ultra-girly headbands can help even the tiniest tot look super stylish. Pick one up for your baby's birthday bash, christening or a Holiday party.

CelesteandCompany

AndJane

BellasBowtique2008

Friday Linkfest

I'm constantly stumbling upon beautiful things in my search for the perfect mood-board additions, and this week there seemed to be an abundance of "wonderful" on the Web. Here are a few of my favorite finds:

Gorgeous yellow and grey tablescape at My Notting Hill

Cozy fire pit photos at Pure Style Home

Darling decor for a little girl's room at Spearmint Baby

A sweet and sassy dress (that I'm hoping will find its way into my spring wardrobe!)

A clean cut blue-on-blue color combination-- perfect for a classy affair

A subtle, but meaningful gift at Hip Hostess

Have a lovely weekend!

Belated Beach Wedding

Have you ever been to the beach after Labor Day? Early fall is such a wonderful time to visit the shore because while the crowds have all left town, the weather is still cooperative. If you're planning a wedding and love the beach, consider hosting your affair on the off-season with an evening reception. The natural color palette of midnight blues and sandy creams will help to create a bewitching, yet elegant atmosphere.

• Invite guests with this elegant, heavy-weight ecru invitation with midnight blue envelope -- FineStationery.com

• The natural backdrop of a midnight blue night sky creates a marvelous mood for your reception -- The Knot and Daughter of Design blog via Joanna Wilson Photography

• Hire a vintage gray and navy automobile as your get-away car -- Celebration Cars

• Wear a stylish, yet fun-loving short dress like this one from BCBG paired with a lace caplet -- Nordstrom and Etsy seller Toccata

• Hire a band for the sand -- Elfri Jolero blog

• Set up the dining tables along the shoreline -- Brides.com

• Decorate a cream colored cake with starfish and conch shells -- Agnes Lopez blog

Fireside Soiree

Host a fabulous fall bash right in your backyard that features fall foliage, a campfire and fireside snacks.

• Invite guests with this colorful fall leaves invitation -- FineStationery.com

• Serve a campfire supper featuring granola-ginger baked apples -- For recipe and full-menu visit Southern Living

• While the kids make s'more pizzas around the fire, serve the adults s'more cocktails -- Pizza Coupons and EveryJoe.com

• Set glass containers around your party space filled with natural items like leaves and acorns -- Pottery Barn

• Hang votive candles contained in glass jars from nearby trees for a soft and serene party chandelier -- Sunset magazine

• Set up a fire pit to fight off the chill in the air -- Country Living magazine

Preppy Baby

Host a stylish baby shower for a preppy momma-to-be using ribbons and argyle prints in beautiful shades of pink and green.

• Pink argyle invitation -- FineStationery.com

• Argyle baby leg warmers -- BabyEarth.com

• Seersucker placemats with whale motif -- The Preppy Princess
  

• Preppy ribbon-tied favor boxes -- The Knot

• Ribbon topped cake -- Preppy in Pink
  

• Seersucker table cloths -- The Preppy Wedding
  

• Hot pink peony centerpiece -- The Knot

• Pink polo infant dress with bloomers -- Ralph Lauren

• Argyle cupcake liners -- A Dozen Eggs blog

It's A......

I had the honor of attending a baby shower over the weekend and one of the highlights of the party was when the mother and father-to-be cut the baby shower cake.

The couple had decided to not find out the sex of the baby at the time of the ultra-sound, instead opting to find out at the shower. They asked the technician to write down the sex of the baby and put it into a sealed envelope. The mom-to-be then handed the envelope to friends planning the shower who arranged with a bakery to tint the inside of the cake (pink for a girl, blue for a boy). What a delight it was when the happy couple cut the cake to see blue-- and everyone was able to share in their excitement (while also allowing the couple plenty of time to plan ahead and paint the nursery).





*Cake image via Venus Cakes.

Unleashing Holiday Cards for Man's Best Friend

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and now your dog can play a big part in the festivities. FineStationery.com is proud to be working with the AKC® to provide dog lovers with a collection of breed specific cards especially for the holiday season, making it easier than ever for man's best friend to join in spreading holiday cheer.

The AKC® holiday card collection contains more than 150 card designs featuring the top 25 AKC® registered breeds. Each card is printed on high quality heavy weight paper and many of the cards come with exquisite, lined envelopes.

From modern bone-borders to traditional red and green plaid and fun reindeer line-ups, the collection offers a card design to fit every holiday style.
Customers may also choose to customize a card with a photo of their pet for a more personalized greeting.

To browse through the card selection and to place your order, please visit http://.akc.finestationery.com.

Love: The Spice of Life

Whether you prefer sweet or savory, a spice themed wedding presents a color palette that is quite tasteful for fall.

• Serve spice cake instead of traditional wedding cake -- Country Living

• Fill glass containers like these up with your favorite spices and set them at each place setting as a favor for guests -- Handmade Treasures

• Use spicy colors for your decor like the paprika hue of this curtain -- Brides

• Continue to use spice colors for everything from your floral arrangements to your bridesmaid dresses -- Fiori Belli and The Knot

• Instead of floral centerpieces, fill wooden bowls with a variety of spices for your guests to use with the meal, careful to label each one -- Country Living

• Send guests this cinnamon and paprika colored invitation -- FineStationery.com

• Serve spiced apple cider with dessert along with your normal selection of coffee and teas -- MyRecipe.com

Polished Pinstripes

According to Style.com, classics like double breasted jackets, tweed and pinstripes are back in full force for fall. Add this essential to your wardrobe for a poised and polished look that is both stylish and timeless.

• Stately gray thank you note with pinstripe liner and personalized pinstripe note card -- FineStationery.com

• Pinstripe scarf in navy or charcoal -- Nordstrom

• Sultry, yet sophisticated pinstripe dress -- Guess

• Pinstripe china -- Wedgewood

• Charcoal clutch -- Etsy seller Thirdwillow

• Pinstripe bobby pin baubles -- Etsy seller EliNOpus

• Chalk board pinstripe pillows -- Ralph Lauren Home

• Pinstripe wool tie -- JCrew

• Suit by Yves Saint Laurent -- Style.com

Early Bird Savings at FineStationery.com

To see all sale items click here.

Halloween Costumes for Kids

Halloween is such a great opportunity to try out your costume creativity. I am certainly not saying you have to be a perfect seamstress and sew an entire costume by yourself, but I do love when parents take the time to create something quirky and original for their little ones.

Julie at Little One-of-a-Kind Design has some splendid ideas for super cute (and unbelievably simple) Halloween costumes for tots. Check out her site to read about a little bunny costume created from a tutu, tights and pink Chuck Taylor sneakers (how cute!) and a frog hatched from a totally-reusable, hooded Old Navy sweatshirt with ping-pong balls sewn on as the eyes.

TutuFabulous

Zappos.com

Have you ever made your child a Halloween costume? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Little Aviator Party

Host a birthday party for your little pilot that will leave him flying high:

• Set a vintage plane theme with this biplane invitation by Glad Tidings -- FineStationery.com

• Hang these planes around your room to make it feel more like an airport than an ordinary party space -- Pottery Barn Kids

• Serve airplane cookies -- A Dozen Eggs

• Present each guest with their wings -- The Costumer

• Aviator sunglasses for the guest of honor -- Crewcuts

• Dress the birthday boy in this adorable bomber jacket -- Future Flyers

• Reserve a few of these yellow jacket pedal cars and set up an airfield in your backyard -- PoshTots

Grandparents Day

Don't forget: Grandparents Day is this Sunday, September 13.

I could sit and talk with my grandparents for hours. I love hearing their stories and feel so blessed to still have both sets alive and well. My grandfather talks about his days as a soldier in WWII often, which never cease to amaze me, but I also love hearing the simple day-to-day stories of their lives-- at ages 75 and up, they have experienced quite a bit. Still, I know the day will come when I won't be able to hear these stories anymore. Which is why I love the idea of this book from RedEnvelope.com.



This leather, heavy bound book titled "The Story of a Lifetime" poses questions about the writer's life and leaves room for photos and mementos. When complete, it will be a priceless record of personal history that can be handed down from generation to generation.

Have a lovely weekend!

Reader Request: An Impressive Christmas Party

We just received our first Christmas related reader request of the year! Elena writes:

"I know this sounds crazy being we're just rolling into fall (which I adore) But we're planning our first Christmas party - newly married - new house - new friends & jobs. So we want to have a fancy fabulous impressive Christmas party that's making me nervous every time I start to think about it. Any ideas? Food decor invites theme - thanks!"

Elena, planning your Christmas party now doesn't sound crazy at all! Many stores, including FineStationery.com, offer savings on Holiday items to those who order early-- so you are smart to be thinking ahead!

For your party, I would suggest a White Christmas theme. White, when paired with silver and cream, helps to set the scene for an impressive party full of sophistication and class. Yet, this dazzling color palette will also help to keep your event feeling fresh and ultra-stylish.

Start off by sending guests an elegant, white invitation:

Sterling and Pearls Invitation

Pearl Elegance Invitation

Then, start planning your decor and menu:

• Decorate your tables with lots of candlelight using glass or crystal candlesticks -- The White Company

• Trim your tree with white ornaments -- 2 Green Thumbs Up

• Serve white hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and sprinkled with cocoa -- Sunset Magazine via MyRecipes.com

• Hang silver and white ornaments at staggered lengths within your doorway casings -- Decorating Diva (ornaments from Pottery Barn)

• Create a dessert buffet filled with snowflake cookies and white chocolate candies -- Fancy Flours

• Wrap gifts in white and set them around your party space for added ambiance (I also love the idea of the crystal ornament tree pictured!) -- Country Living

• Place a selection of white and silver ornaments on a silver tray for decor that is sure to dazzle -- Country Living

A Sweet Ending

Looking for something that will help your wedding stand out from the rest? Schedule a surprise ice cream truck stop during your reception. Your guests will love the opportunity for a sweet treat and you'll be rewarded with some great photo opportunities:

Above photos by The Wiebners

Gold Coast Ice Cream Truck

Pumpkin Carving Party

Even though the official first day of fall is not until September 22, it certainly feels like autumn here in Maryland. The air here has been quite crisp, especially in the evenings. Fall is definitely my favorite time of year, and what better way to get the season started then by hosting a Pumpkin Carving Party.

Many pumpkin carving parties are geared towards children, but I love the idea of inviting over a small group of girlfriends to share in the activity. There's nothing better than conversation, creativity and pumpkin pie martinis!

• Invite guests with this cute jack-o-lantern invitation -- FineStationery.com

• Use this pumpkin pie martini recipe and offer an autumn cocktail to each guest -- Thoughtfully Simple

• Make this delicious pumpkin cream-cheese spread and serve with bagels -- Better Homes & Gardens

• Find pumpkin carving templates online and provide a stack for each guest to choose from -- Martha Stewart

• Be sure you're prepared with the proper pumpkin carving tools -- Improvements Catalog

• Make these nifty pumpkin candle holders using petite pumpkins, glass hurricanes and hairpins, and use them to decorate your table -- Good Housekeeping

Happy Labor Day!

*Labor day card by Inviting Company available at FineStationery.com.

Alice in Wonderland Party

Whether you're hosting a birthday party for someone who is turning 4 or 40, an Alice in Wonderland theme can make for a really enchanting party. It would also make another great Halloween party alternative.

• Suggest that guests dress up in costume and set up a mad-hatter tea party -- String Magazine Photo by Alex Ramon

• Set your tables or buffet with this checkered dinnerware -- Neiman Marcus

• Learn how to make these tissue roses and hang them around your party space -- The Long Thread Blog

• Invite guests with this appropriate pocket watch invitation -- FineStationery.com

• Decorate your party space with a red rose topiary like those from the Croquet Court -- Flowers On 56

• This pocket watch clock would look fabulous on any wall -- Pier 1

• Be sure to incorporate a game of crouquet into your party for the Queen of Heart's sake -- Fair Wedding Days

A Wheat Wedding

Brides seeking a unique spin on a harvest themed wedding might consider sticking strictly to wheat. Wheat sheaths have a simple rustic appeal. Pair them with a color palette of chocolate brown and low-luster gold to reap the beautiful benefits of an autumn wedding.

• Bride and groom in field -- Jessica Lynn Blog via Elizabeth Anne Designs

• Wheat candle stand -- Brides.com

• Wheat table setting -- The Knot

• Invitation by Crane & Co. -- FineStationery.com

• Wheat bouquet -- The Knot

• Wheat cake -- Karins Festive Foods

• Harvest barn for the reception -- Brides.com

Invitations: Why Order Early?

If you have been keeping up with The Finer Things, you might have noticed that we tend to talk about parties months before the actual holiday. For example, we’re trying to give you plenty of Halloween party ideas to ponder now, though the holiday is still two months away. Part of the reason we do this is so that you have plenty of time to pick out, order and mail your invitations before the event date.

All About Timing

In busy times like these, we suggest that you mail out informal party invitations 3 – 4 weeks prior to your event (formal dinners and parties are recommended at 6-8 weeks). In addition to this time frame, you also need to factor in the time it takes to process and deliver your personalized invitation order.

A lot of variables go in to estimating order delivery including shipping method and location as well as vendor processing time. Thankfully, FineStationery.com offers an easy-to-use “How Quickly Can I Get It?” tool, which appears as a link on each product page. Simply plug-in your zip code and the tool will give you an estimated delivery date for that specific invitation.

Have more questions on how to order invitations? Our customer care representatives would be happy to assist you! Simply call 1.888.808.FINE.

A Magical Masquerade

Instead of having a regular costume party this Halloween, consider hosting a masquerade ball inspired by Phantom of the Opera. With touches of candlelight and the mystique of masks, this event is sure to feel both glamorous and maybe even a bit magical.

• Send guests this silver chandelier invitation by Checkerboard to set the tone for your event -- FineStationery.com

• Require that guests wear a mask to the party or provide a selection for them to choose from -- Etsy Seller FlairDesigns

• Be sure to hang a grand chandelier within your party space and have music from the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack playing in the background -- Neiman Marcus

• Decorate each table and buffet with a variety of candles from taper to votive -- Events by Heather Ham (Heather has a ton of great phantom wedding ideas!)
  

• Red roses are a must for a true phantom party -- The Knot

• This pearl corsage gown by Redux Charles Chang is a little bit gothic, yet ultimately quite glamorous -- Berdorf Goodman

* Phantom mask photo via Winter Masquerade ball