Lights, Camera – Oscars…at Home: Tips on How to Throw a Viewing Party!

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Who’s attending one of the most glamorous nights in Hollywood, The Oscars … from your living room?!? Me!!! I am going to give you tips on “how to” throw a SIMPLE & EASY viewing party right from your home, but first let me rewind …

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For almost a decade I reported LIVE from the Red Carpet at one of the hottest Academy Award pre show parties and after show parties held at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. It was exciting and I learned how to throw a stylish celebrity filled event! Guests, PR agents, Celebs and TV hosts, like myself, were dressed in gorgeous formal attire, sipped champagne and whispered “who” had their vote – off camera of course!

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I don’t know about you but unless I am actually at the Dolby Theatre, the venue of the Academy Awards, or attending one of the parties I mentioned above I do NOT want to dress up in formal attire, especially in my own living room! I want to be comfy and I would imagine your friends and family do too … trust me the guys will thank you! To keep the evening festive but relaxed I would recommend everyone come dressed casual in black, white, silver or gold. Let’s be real, these colors will make your photos of the evening super cute as well. Personally, this means my trendy joggers will be making an appearance with a stylish off-the-shoulder gold or silver top.

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Now what to sip and snack on? Since the celebrities have more-than-likely been cleansing weeks before the BIG NIGHT, why not start your guests off with shots of green juice? I have a juicer and love to juice fresh veggies and fruit but you can always buy green juice from your local grocery store and pre fill shot glasses or juice glasses with the concoction. Next, what is an Oscar party without bubbles? Champagne or prosecco will be perfect. To add a little glam, rim your champagne glasses with edible gold glitter before you fill the glasses with the bubbly liquid. Even though it’s not “movie night” – popcorn is a must! Set out a “popcorn bar” – it’s easy to make and your guests can help themselves. I would suggest buying red and white striped popcorn boxes that can easily be filled with the corn. Place the pre-popped corn in a large bowl and add a scoop so your guests can easily fill their boxes. Last, set out various spices, candies and sauces to be mixed into the corn. Some examples are: truffle zest (Oprah’s favorite), salt, pepper, onion powder, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chips, caramel, white chocolate and chocolate.

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Oscar ballots are a fun way for you and your guests to keep track of the winners OR if you want to play a game by filling out a ballot before the show starts, Vanity Fair has made it easy by providing a printable version HERE. Many local bakeries will have Golden Oscar Statue cookies or cupcakes, which would make a great prize for the winner!

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If you would like to spice up the festive décor in your home for Oscars night think white flower arrangements, balloons in the black, white, silver and gold color palette and for a pop of color add a “red carpet” table runner or red butcher paper under your popcorn bar and bubbles!

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Who has YOUR Vote on Sunday? Do you have a creative idea for your Oscar’s party?  Please DO SHARE as I’d LOVE to hear from you!  I am always looking for new ideas!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

Let’s be social:

Twitter: @CortneyBailey

Instagram: @CortneyBailey

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Cortney Bailey

Super Bowl Menu that will have your Taste Buds saying: TOUCHDOWN!

613adlslr-l-_sy355_Football Frenzy Plates, Click Here for Details

Countdown to the BIG GAME aka SUPER BOWL is just a few days away and let’s face it, what you are eating and drinking is almost as important as the game itself … well maybe not the game but at least the halftime show!  Move over Lady Gaga because I’m sharing a show stopping spread that will leave your taste buds begging for more, please!

If you are entertaining at home or if you need inspiration on what to take to someone else’s party, I hope this inspires you! Also, when it comes to drinks no one wants to play bartender on game day, so I would recommend making one large batch of a specialty cocktail and putting it in a self-serve drink dispenser and set out a few other drinks options on ice (details below!)

All recipes have been pulled from Emeril, Rachel Ray and the Food Network which provide easy to follow instructions.  I LOVE to cook and my philosophy is if you can follow directions, you can cook! (Tweetable!)

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Menu:

Appetizers

  • Pastrami Football Finger Sandwiches
  • Baked Jalapeño Poppers (I make these every year and they are AH-MAZING & NOT fried!)
  • Southwest Turkey Sliders
  • Salad on a Stick (Gotta get your veggies in + guys will still look like a sport’s fan while enjoying!)
  • Almost-Famous Green Bean Fries
  • Spanish-style Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Drinks

  • Fresh & Fierce Margarita (Specialty Cocktail)
  • Beer
  • Wine
  • Water
  • Soda

Pastrami Football Finger SandwichesunknownClick Here for the Recipe

Baked Jalapeño Poppers (AH-MAZING!!!)edited-poppersClick Here for the Recipe

Southwestern Turkey Sliderssouthwestern-turkey-slidersClick Here for the Recipe

Salad on a Stickunknown-4Click Here for the Recipe

Almost-Famous Green Bean Friesunknown-9Click Here for the Recipe

Spanish-Style Meatballs in Tomato Saucemtm2oti0odgzmtk5mja3mda5-2500x1667Click Here for the Recipe

Fresh & Fierce Margarita img_6838_ajfavClick Here for the Recipe

Estilo Double Beverage Drink Dispenser: Guests can self-serve their Margaritas! beverage-dispenser-stand-iron-double-hexagon-clear-glass-refreshments-stand-9275faec3f0c7ecde6c22ad3bbf82c55Drink Dispenser Details Here

Place Wine, Beer, Water and Soda in Ice for Guests

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What are your favorite game day recipes?  Please DO SHARE as I’d LOVE to hear from you!  I am always looking for new ideas!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

Let’s be social:

Twitter: @CortneyBailey

Instagram: @CortneyBailey

Pinterest: CortneyBailey

Facebook: Dream Design Dwell

YouTube: Cortney Bailey

SnapChat: cortney_bailey

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How To Style a Bar Cart 3 Ways: Bed, Bath & Bar + New Video!

I love to use home furniture in a nontraditional way aka “Thinking Outside the Box!”  The Bar Cart is a piece of furniture that can be used a dozen ways besides in the bar.  I am going to show you three ways to style a bar cart … two ways that are outside the box and the third is the traditional style.  Watch my webisode, above, to get more details!

BED

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The first nontraditional way to style a bar cart is in the bedroom as a bedside table.  Your bedside table essentials may be different than mine so you will have to style your cart with what makes you most happy at night.  Here are my must haves:

  • Beautiful lamp that is to scale with the cart
  • Bottle of water
  • Stack of books, journal & magazines
  • Framed photo
  • Candle for relaxing and ambience
  • Flowers (faux or real) to add that feel of nature + a pop of color
  • Cozy Blankets/Throws

BATH

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The second nontraditional way to style a bar cart is in the bathroom. This is a creative way to add a spa-like feeling to your bathroom.  Again, you will have to style your bathroom cart with what makes you feel luxurious.  Here are the items that make me feel pampered!

  • Large Container of Bath Salts (I love to use Epsom Salt!)
  • Luxury Soaps or Bath Gel
  • Body Butter or Lotion
  • Your Favorite Perfume or Scent
  • Whimsical Item (I love my giant faux gold perfume bottle!)
  • Crisp & Fluffy White Towels
  • Book or magazines
  • Relaxing Candle
  • Body Loofah
  • Flowers (faux or real) to add that feel of nature + a pop of color

BAR

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The third way to style the bar cart is what the cart was designed for … The Bar! When styling your bar car you will need to keep in mind who you are entertaining.  The bar cart in the photo above and in my wedisode was styled for a “Girls Night Out.”  However, if you are having a guys night, mixed company  or a themed party you will want to add the appropriate alcohol, glassware and non-alcoholic drinks. Here are the items I used to make my “Girls Night Out” evening a hit! (Again my webisode will give you additional ideas!)

  • Alcohol: Vodka, Wine, Champagne/Sparkling Wine & Tequila (other ideas: Beer, Whiskey & Scotch) 
  • Various Mixers 
  • Glamorous Decanter
  • Paper Straws (these adorable accessories come in all colors & patterns)
  • Glassware: Martini glasses, Champagne flutes, Wine glasses (Tumblers will need to be used for additional alcoholic drinks + cocktails.)
  • Flowers (faux or real) to add that feel of nature + a pop of color
  • Non-alcohol: Sparkling water, Still water, Soda, Fizzy juice etc…
  • Beautiful Ice Bucket
  • Shaker & Jigger
  • Bottle Opener
  • Bowl of Limes (or Lemons)
  • Cocktail Book
  • Wooden wine box to give height
  • Cocktail napkins 

Shop a few ideas here:

Bar Cart: Click HERE

Spa-like White Towels: Click HERE

Cozy Throw/Blanket: Click HERE

Champagne Stemless Flutes: Click HERE

I’d LOVE to hear from YOU!  How do you like to style your bar cart?  I’m always looking for new ideas! Leave me a note below or send me a photo (see social media below)!!!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

Let’s be social:

Twitter: @CortneyBailey

Instagram: @CortneyBailey

Pinterest: CortneyBailey

Facebook: Dream Design Dwell

YouTube: Cortney Bailey