High Heeled Hostesses
The last you heard from us, Shop Girl and I were very tanned and off to the first summer fête of the season. And I'm not sure when Shop Girl and I have had such fun. Well, there was the time when we found Manolos at the Saks Outlet...but retailing aside, we certainly have not had more fun. After careful analyzation, I decided that the funness was directly related to our tanness. Tan girls are skinny girls (or appear to be more so), and skinny girls are happy girls (even if skinniness is just felt - Easter candy decimation did not leave me at my sveltest), and happy girls are the life of the party. Henceforth and in conclusion, fake tanning yields great joy. But I digress. The point is that Shop Girl and I have decided to become party throwers. With our calling cards (read: homes) in fine fashion and with our tans recently boosted, we're throwing our aprons in the ring and are determined to become known as the hostesses with the mostestes. (Am sure that's not a word.)

After pensive pondering of past parties and focused daydreaming of becoming a chic and crime-free version of a fashionable Martha Stewart, I concocted a game plan. All party details were approved by Shop Girl, though she was put in charge of our outfits and therefore had her hands full. Being the hostess is a surefire way to receive attention and at least a peck on the cheek from every man in attendance. As a result, your attire, make-up, hair, and most importantly, your shoes must be perfection. The primo, numero uno reason to throw the party is that you don't have to leave your house. Therefore, you can wear very high (and very glamorous, if otherwise impractical) heels. But back to the party.

In order to have a successful cocktail party and to reign supreme as high-heeled hostess extraordinare, you must address the following four elements:
1) I'm a big believer in the printed invitation. Though, Evites are quite efficient, I like the idea of people having my name on their fridge in the weeks leading up to the party. It's like free press. And with that in mind, I think your invite should make a statement. Go bold -- whether it be in its simplicity or its creativity. Good news is that there are plenty of options from which to choose without busting the budget before you've bought a single wedge of cheese.
2) Flowers are key. Flowers are life, and flowers are color. Your party, especially a spring party, should have plenty of both. Depending on the overall theme of your party, you can choose a monochromatic, sleek design putting, say, gerbera daisies in every room. Or you can create a more natural, laid-back environment with wildflowers brimming from Mason jars. Look into your local farmer's market for good prices.
3) Lighting and music set the mood of the party. So, depending on your theme, spend some time (and money) getting these details right. For spring/summer soirees, I love the outdoor torches or lanterns. Have them line the walkway to your door if you don't have a big backyard. And if you're BBQing, let them decorate your yard. On the inside, use candles. Even if your party is an informal one, scented candles in the guest bathroom shows great attention to detail. As for music, the range of options is long and varied. Think about your guests and theme and choose accordingly. But take note, you'll need more than just 5 discs on repeat. So have a stockpile ready and put someone in charge of changing them when they start to repeat.
4) I have two words for you: Signature Cocktail. The best way to keep people talking about your party after the fact is by making their cocktail a special one. (The more they drink, the more relaxed they'll be and the more memorable the party will become.) Be creative. If you're having a Derby Party, serve Mint Juleps but serve them in a special glass - or tie in the drink with a bet on a horse. For summer fetês, consider a fruity margarita/daiquiri party using fresh seasonal fruits and naming each option for friends or the guest of honor. For a lawn party, consider a potent rum punch. Other tried-and-true options:
a) Salty Dog - awesome during summer (grapefruit juice, vodka, salted glass).
b) June Bug - melon liqueur, pineapple juice, coconut rum - shaken over ice.
c). Sangria. (Very chic right now.) There are loads of varied recipes listed here.
A great read on the subject: Highballs High Heels: A Girls Guide to the Art of Cocktails

Basics not to be overlooked:

• A dirty/dusty/dank house will not do. Have your pad cleaned the morning of your party.
• Food. This really is an easy element. We're talking cocktail party, not wedding reception. At the very least, put cheese on a platter, crackers on the side and peanuts in a bowl. At the very most, slave for hours/days/weeks over little crepes and mushroom thingys. Whatever floats your boat. But this is a cocktail party, so attend to your fluids.

Bonus Points: Party favors. If you have energy on reserve after getting everything else together, consider party favors. This is tricky as you don't want to spend too much dinero, and often your creativity is spent by this point. However, it certainly speaks volumes for your inner non-criminal Martha. Some simple ideas include the following:

• Get a Polaroid camera and take photos of each person as they arrive/drink/leave. (Or require poses by the bar before they get their Signature Cocktail.) Post the pictures on a bulletin board by the door.
• Not to put too much emphasis on the alcohol, but you could always do a little hangover helper bag. Goody's, a Coke and pack of Nabs.
• Sweet treats. Especially if you didn't go nuts on the food, a simple cupcake or single Krispy Kreme donut (adorably packaged) is bound to leave your guests thinking sweet thoughts of you and your party.

Shop Girl suggested magazine subscriptions based on personality. Vogue for our best buds. O for those needing to be uplifted. Good Housekeeping for the sloths. Fitness for the fat. Fortune for the boring. I told her to stick with the outfit planning.

she she me sponsor: Daisy Notes + Paper
Paper is back and chicer than ever before. One visit to Daisy Notes + Paper and you're bound to return to the lost art of letter writing. And by letters, I don't just mean old school ruled paper, I mean adorable cards and chic notes.

Upon entering, you will quickly get the feeling that Daisy Notes + Paper is unlike any other stationery store around. And you couldn't be more right. With clean lines and a simple color palette, this shop lets the colorful products be the primary focus. Daisy Notes + Paper boasts unique lines such as Fontaine Maury, Jack & Lulu notecards, Real Card Studio, GFDG (Mother's Day card pictured bottom left), Prentiss Douthit and Vismara. On top of the cutest greeting cards ever, you will find vintage scarf journals by Pamela Barsky, colorful canvas photo albums by Pulp and sophisticated travel journals by Hable Construction. Truly the list could go on forever.

If you're in the market for custom printed invitations (alas the wedding season has started), you will love their fresh and sophisticated choices. Daisy Notes + Paper is one of the only places in North Carolina where you will find Page (wonderfully chic invitations), Mia Carta and Ablue. Brides, 'maids, and new moms can rejoice at no longer having to settle for the traditional ecru and black. Daisy Notes + Paper has several classically modern alternatives.

And if you're just throwing a casual get together? They've got you covered there as well. This pool party invitation (Rock Scissor Paper, pictured below) is cute enough to throw a party for with or without the pool.

Remember, you're only as chic as your stationery so why settle?

Daisy Notes + Paper 5826 Fayetteville Rd. Suite 105, Durham, NC 27713. 919.544.8491.
Daisy Notes + Paper will officially open to the public May 5th. Not in NC? Feel free to call the store for special orders.