Nautical Nursery

Nautical is the hype these days, so naturally I went to town on it with my little man's nursery. I thought I'd post a few photos of his crib (literally) and a few other fun goodies in his room. Enjoy!

 

  

Party Essentials Checklist

Wow, the time has really gotten away from me since having my little boy 8 weeks ago. Time really does fly! I'm really absorbing these little moments while he is small because I know it will be over in a flash, then he will be off to college. :0(

Over the last few weeks I've been compiling a big checklist of party essentials. There are a few parties that I'm hosting this summer and I always find myself scrambling for last minute things.

I seached the internet for a few checklists (I think I got this off of The Nest?) and combined it with the items that I use pretty much every time and came up with the following below. I'm planning to make a checklist for decorations too. Yes, that's a WHOLE other checklist!  Feel free to copy this or add to it. I'm sure there is something I'm forgetting, but in the meantime, this should help you out.

FOR SERVING

• Wine glasses
• Wine coasters
• Serving platters
• Silverware
• Water glasses
• Water pitcher
• Breadboard or basket
• Bread plates
• Decanter
• Dessert plates
• Dinner plates
• Salad plates
• Steak knives (if applicable)

FOR COCKTAIL HOUR

• Assortment of cheeses
• Assortment of crackers
• Cheese knives
• Cheese twists
• Crudités
• Cocktail glasses
• Flowers (fresh is best but faux are also good for display)
• Gin
• Grapes, sliced apples, or pears
• Hummus
• Lemons
• Limes
• Mixed nuts
• Napkins (if using paper, allow for 2 for each guest)
• Olives (pits in for eating, stuffed for martinis)
• Platters
• Playlist
• Salami
• Small canapé plates
• Soda
• Tonic (1 bottle for every 3 guests)
• Toothpicks
• Vodka
• Water glass (1 for every guest)
• Wine (1 bottle for every 2-3 guests)
• Wine glass (1 for every guest)
  
  

FOR DINNER (If this is a dinner party)

• Candles
• Centerpiece
• Napkins
• Place cards (optional)
• Tablecloth
  
  
  
  
  Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
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N & H Engagement - Stephanie Campagna Photography

I had the honor of photographing my brother-in-law and his fiance a few weeks ago. We had such a great time at a nearby park and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. I'm looking forward to celebrating their big day this September! Congrats Nick and Heather!

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Easter Treats

I've been thinking about what kind of fun treats I wanted to make this year for Easter. I usually do the standard cake or cupcakes, but I wanted to do something a little different. I heard of this company called Fatty Sundays and they make chocolate dipped pretzels.  I thought they looked amazing, not to mention easy to make, so I thought I'd try it out. And wouldn't you know, they are really easy to make! Shoot, I could start a company making these! There are a ton of similar tutorials all over Pinterest on how to do this so searching there is your best bet.

I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I have my in-laws coming into town this weekend and I was looking forward to sharing these with them. But let's be honest, I don't think these will last until tomorrow! Anyway, here is what they look like. Delicious!!

Happy Easter!



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Easter Basket Goodness

If you are anything like me, you are an organizer and a planner. I've been planning my daughter's Easter basket for quite some time now. I also did it because I was about to give birth to my son and I figured once he was here, I'd have no desire to put one together and do a half-assed job with it. So I went out in February, which to no surprise as soon as Valentine's Day was over, Easter goodies were out and I got all of her basket items. There are some great places out there that have fun stuff for toddlers. My toddler likes post it notes and mini flashlights, so I knew I had to get started early on the search (for the mini flashlight portion.)

Here are a few places that I found helpful to get my toddler some fun stuff. Are there any good places that you know about?


Dollar Store
Party City
Target (this is a given)
Big Lots
Paper Source
Oriental Trading
Michael's Craft Store (dollar bin)
Whole Foods (believe it or not!)


Also, here is a great site courtesy of Mom Endeavors that can help you with some more ideas for filling those baskets!

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Our Little Mister

I'm so happy to announce that I gave birth on February 28th to my son, Dominic. He was born at 1:24 in the afternoon, weighing in at 6lbs and 13 ounces. He was a very easy labor for me and all I can say is that he is an absolute DREAM. I still can't get over the fact that I'm a mother of two now! I feel so grown up! ;o)

He has already brought so much happiness to our new family of four. We are very lucky. Life is so good.

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Bridal Shower Ideas

Bridal shower season will soon be upon us. Over the holidays, my brother-in-law asked for his girlfriends hand in marriage. She said YES and that means party planning awaits!! I've been souring the internet for Bridal Party ideas and I came across this slideshow from Elizabeth Anne Designs with some fun ideas. Check it out for some inspiration! I'm particularly in love with the Perfume Bridal Bar.

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Tips on how to be a perfect party host

I stumbled upon a great article for Tips on how to be a perfect party host: by Lauren Gottschalk-Scher. Hopefully this will get you moving in the right direction for the ultimate party you want!


Even with the pressure of blogs detailing every new food trend, Pinterest showing you carefully crafted decorations, and friends bragging about their perfect soirees on Facebook, you don't have to be Martha Stewart to throw a great party! Just follow these tips to be a “perfect” party hostess.


Plan Ahead
The perfect party host has a plan and sticks to it. If your party has a theme, plan how you will execute it through the menu, decorations, and party activities. Plan a schedule for every detail, from sending invitations to chopping onions. Test your recipes in advance to make sure you've allotted enough preparation time and everything turns out as planned. Plan your outfit and accessories in advance.

Consider the Menu
While you may enjoy experimenting with exotic food and drink, if your guests are children or “hamburger and beer” people, they may not enjoy it. If you are not an experienced cook, don't try to do more than you can handle. When working with a budget, plan food and drinks that you can comfortably afford. Look for sales on non-perishables and stock up ahead of time.

Prepare the Day Before
Tables and decorations should be set up the day before the party. Most baking and some cooking can also be done the day before and still remain fresh. If not, there may be preparations, such as chopping or assembling, that can be done the day before the party.

Don't Take on too Much
If you are planning a huge party, consider hiring a party planner. You can still do anything you really enjoy, but you won't be stressed about every detail. If you're expecting a large crowd, consider hiring bartenders and servers. If you are planning a small get together, know your limits and don't try to more than you can handle.

Get Up Early
Plan to get up early the day of your party. If you're rushing, you're more likely to make a mistake. Give yourself as much time to prepare as possible, as something unexpected is bound to happen!

Pamper Yourself
If time and finances permit, get your hair, makeup, and nails done before the party. At the very least, pick an outfit you love and reserve time to do your hair and makeup yourself. You will look and feel great!

Greet Guests
At a small party, greet every guest at the door to make them feel welcome and comfortable. At a large event, make sure you circulate and spend a little bit of time with each of your guests.

Offer Refreshments
Every guest should be offered a drink within ten minutes of their arrival. Same goes for hors d'oeuvres, if they are being served.

Introduce Guests with Similar Interests
Introduce guests with similar interests. When creating a seating plan, seat each guest with someone they know and someone new with whom they have something in common.

Plan Entertainment
You can't rely on guests making small talk to carry a party. Plan some entertainment, whether it's a party game for a small gathering, or a performer for a large party.

Join in the Fun!
Don't stress about the small things - your guests probably won't notice that you forgot to put out the napkin rings. Don't fight with your partner or yell at your kids in front of guests. Don't spend all your time in the kitchen. You threw a party to have fun, and your guests came to have fun with you.

Thank Your Guests
Be sure to thank you guests for attending your party. Send them home with a small party favor or leftovers.








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Host and Hostess Gift Ideas

I'm always finding myself looking for a great and unique hostess gift.  I LOVE gift giving so anytime someone has a party I'm out the door shopping for the perfect treat. I've compiled a list of a few things that I think are pretty awesome and that other host or hostesses might also love or find useful. If you need ideas, there is always good 'ol Pinterest or Google, but here are a few of my faves I thought I'd share. Are there any amazing ideas that you absolutely love to give?


Casserole Carriers:
http://www.vonny.com/
Take your dish in style with one of these super cute casserole carriers.  I received one of these as a Christmas gift and I LOVE it!! Sold by Vonny @ $45.00.

Wine Carryall:
http://www.builtny.com/two-bottle-tote-prod.html

Box O’ Macaroons: 
You can;t go wrong with delicious treats!
http://www.shopsucre.com/

Tapas Trays:
http://www.tapastrays.com/gallery

Ice Cream Bowl Set:
http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/Dining/tabid/977/CategoryId/109/ProductId/3864/ProductName/Ice-Cream-Bowl-Set/Default.aspx

Wine cork trivet:
http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/wine-cork-trivet-kit--personalizable-30056443?REF=REDSRCHgoogkwd_red+envelope_e_BRAND&PRID=SRCHribbon10&viewpos=28&trackingpgroup=rentr






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Hey, it's me again....

Whew! What a loooong break! The holidays took it's toll on me along with this PREGNANCY that I'm just about to wrap up! I'll be honest here, when you are pregnant, you really don't feel like doing much of anything! I have 5 more weeks before the little guy makes his appearance so I'm hoping that after he arrives and I get into a regular routine with a 2.5 year old and a newborn, I will be back on track. My posts my be a little sporadic, so please be patient with me! I appreciate all the emails that have been sent over the last few months over the parties I've thrown in the past. Please feel free to continue doing so, I love answering your questions. Until then, I hope you all had a wonderful new year and happy February!

Stephanie

{DIY} Halloween Candy Treats

Yet another fun Halloween favor for you this year! Check out these cute little paper bag mummies you can make for your little goblins. You just use small white paper bags, white crepe paper, wrap/glue it around the bag, glue some googly eyes on them and fill with your favorite Halloween candy. How easy is that?! This is such a great project for your kids.

I've filled these mummy bags with delicious Mocha Coffee Lentil treats from Sugarfina. Sugarfina is a gourmet, online candy boutique that bring you the world's finest candy. I've learned that many of their candies can make great themes for birthday parties and events which is perfect if you want to get creative. These candies are so colorful for making some amazing sweets tables too. I've already ordered so many different candies from their line, it's hard to pick a favorite!


They even have a tasting bar! WHAT?!?!?!

See for yourself and check out their amazing lines of gourmet candy HERE and order them for your Halloween party...... or ANY party now!

 Your sweet tooth can stay updated with their latest candies via Twitter, Pinterest  and Facebook as well!




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{Freebie} Halloween Goodies Galore!

I've done a little roundup of Halloween freebies this year. I have pumpkin carving patterns, coloring pages, fonts, music, activities and masks! Check out the links below and enjoy Halloween this year!!




BHG Halloween Pumpkin Stencils

Disney Character Pumpkin Stencil

Nick Jr. Halloween Pumpkin Stencil

Martha Stewart Pumpkin Stencils

Halloween 8x10 Printable via I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Halloween Fonts

Halloween Sounds for your Party

Frankenstein, Dracula and Werewolf Masks

Make and Takes Halloween Coloring Pages

More Coloring Pages via Parents.com

Halloween Scattagories Game

Halloween Would You Rather Game

The Beach

I wish I had taken you to the beach a lot sooner. I'm so sorry little girl it's taken so long! It was fun to experience the great big ocean with you, even if it was only for a little while. I hope to be back soon with you so you can enjoy it a little more.

Happy weekend.
xo







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Halloween Pins

Happy Monday! I've gathered a few neat new Halloween pins via Pinterest this weekend! Check 'em out!


Itsy Bitsy Spider Invites via Etsy

Happy Fall Y'all Printable via Love the Day

Bat Vine Decor via Pottery Barn Kids

 

Pumpkin Oreo Spider Cupcakes via Cupcakes Take the Cake!

 

Cuteness OVERLOAD with this Star Fleece Baby Wrap by Not On The High Street.com

  

Snack-o-lantern via Family Fun

  

Cool Party Idea. Couldn't get the source from this pin, but it looks pretty easy to create.
Put treats in the balloons and then have the kids pop em! Better than a pinata.

 

Happy Pinning!!




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Baby Robert {Stephanie Campagna Photography}

I had the pleasure of photographing my dear friends new baby a few weeks ago. This is her first child and they are over the moon excited about their new addition. Here are a few sweet photos I got from our shoot. Congrats Abby and Chris!

 

  

Fashion Playtes

I am officially BACK from vacation! It was such an amazing time with my family. The beach, the zoo and eating was more than I had hoped for! It's sad that vacations fly by so quickly. : (

I wanted to share this cute website I came across this morning. It's a site that let's you Design Your Own Clothes, Unique Gifts for Girls, and Dress-up Games. I think my two year old is still a bit young to do this, but I know a lot of friends that have older girls that would love this! It's called Fashion Playtes and it could possibly lead your next fashionista into the designing world of clothing. You can check it out HERE.

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Adieu...

The family and I are off to the sunny skies of San Diego for a week. I'll be back with some new posts when I return. Have a wonderful weekend.

source

♥

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Abby and Chris Maternity - {Stephanie Campagna Family Photographer}

I'm a little late with this post, but I just wanted to share a sweet maternity shoot that I did for a dear friend about a month ago in Half Moon Bay. It was PERFECT weather and everything was just amazing! Abby and Chris have since had their little bundle of joy (which I will be sharing in the next week) so for now, here are a few photos from their maternity shoot.

Congratulations Abby and Chris!!

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Ruffled Cake Frosting Tutorial

Ever wonder how those awesome moms get those birthday cakes to look so professional that you think you don't have a chance in the cake decorating department? Fear not, you're in luck. I found a great Ruffled Cake Frosting Tutorial by My Cake School that can help your cake look like a professional did it. Maybe I'll try it this weekend!! Check it out.

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Featured: Kara's Party Ideas

I just wanted to blog a quick note that my daughter's 2nd birthday was featured on Kara's Party Ideas last week! I was so excited that she featured it and I just wanted to share! Hope you all have a great weekend!

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