Stripey Straws

Their are tiny things you can do to add some charm your party or to your drink! Check out these nostalgic Sippy-Straws from Jack and Lulu!

These Earth Friendly Straws are perfect for your next summer soiree. $6 for a pack of $20, visit Jack and Lulu to learn more.

Dazzle Pops

Add a little dazzle and a lot of edible glitter at your party. Dazzle pops have a glitter coating on top of over-sized lollipops, in 24 different colors you can mix and match to party colors. These unexpected treats are just plain fun, anything with glitter is better, go ahead add some sparkle to your day. Items are available at Bedazzle My Bonbons.

Papered Accents Jazz

Add some class to the trash, and many other items, with scraps of vintage wallpaper. You may find only a roll or two of a vintage print (ebay is great for this), and a single roll of paper is more than enough for these small-scale projects. Jazz up Table Tops, Umbrella Stands, Pencil Holders, Notebooks and Lampshades. Use good-quality wheat-based wallpaper paste and then seal and protect them with a spray lacquer for a finishing seal. For a table, simply cut paper to fit, and set glass or Plexiglas on top. Its simple and adds a lot of personality.

Bandana Luncheon Napkins

Get rowdy with bandanas luncheon napkins! A great new look for your guests especially summer backyard barbecues. Mix and match it with your cutlery and accessories to create your own cowboy look. These cute bandana napkins are available in red or blue jean and make a great decoration that could not be cheaper .

Bandana luncheon napkins $2 for 20, Target stores nationwide

Mae Mougin - couture ceramics and porcelain

A house is not a home - not until, that is, it's been graced with one of these fabulous finds. Meet Mae Mougin, couture ceramics and porcelain maker in Southampton. Her pieces are very simple and pure, she uses a lot of common typed text to label the plates always including her signature finger tip and paddle mark edges. Her one of a kind pieces have found homes amount celebrites, artists and select retail stores. Think of Mae when you need to order a unique gift for a trend-setter or commission a family heirloom.

Non-Floral Floral Centerpieces

Flowers can be expensive! Begin to get really creative and think of using non-traditional items as centerpeices. You can use oversized branches in large containers, unique ceramic bowls filled with nuts, or a composition of seasonal fruits or tons of candles. The sky is the limit.

One of my favorites is using paper to create flower like arrangements. In this image we created paperflowers, and then arranged the flowers. Its very unexpected for your guests, and you can create these pieces well in advance and they wont die!

Fire and Booze!

I love practical party favors. You can't go wrong with a custom branded bottle of Single Malt Glenlivet Scotch, attach a custom box of matches and call it a party (favor)!

Check out Your Gift Label to learn about how to place your order for FREE personalized labels from Glenlivet, Kahlua or Chivas. The bottles are gonna cost you, but its nice that they let you tack on a custom label at their cost.

Despite all sorts of cigarette banning laws popping up across the country, I find matches handy, and like mine in the pretty variety! So check out Pyro Maineiacs for some premixed unique pretty match boxes.

Accessories for Napkins

Anyone who knows me, knows I am obsessed with accessories: headbands, bracelets, large cocktail rings… the more obnoxious the better. Infact, I think one of the greatest ideas is to add accessories where your guests can easily reach them. Its just plain fun. Adds pop to the table and eventually the more your guests drink the more jazz they want to accessorize themselves with. They dont have to break the bank. We recently planned a destination event, seaside in Belize we used very inexpensive local seashell souviners as napkin rings. Every guest was infact still wearing thier necklace the next day. We have used slap bracelets around champange glasses during a toast for an 80’s theme party. Glass evil eyes on ribbon for a Greek themed event. Or take it to the extreme with a frost yourself table filled with NYC fashion district findings.

Soft Napkins

There is nothing worse than an over starched napkin, but these hand screened floral prints on super soft linens - won’t let you down. Plus even such a simple design such as this can really add a big pop of jazz to the average dinner table.

Napkins are 2 for $38 and available from Flowie.

Dinner Plate Designs

We came across these unique dinner plates online and cant wait to try them out on the table. Check out the website for Christopher Jagmin Design and find other interesting patterns such as silhoutes which you can customize to your own personal profile. They carry a line of recycled plates with modern designs. As well as a versatile holiday pattern that can easily work year round!

Colored Plasticware

If one has to use plasticware it might as well be fabulous. How fun (and unique) is this set of plastic forks, knives and spoons… it even has the little designs that real silver would have, and at this price it should have little designs! A four piece set runs about $30. Even without an outdoor picnic, and the hefty price tag I am putting this in my apartment. Its simply too fun to pass up.

Available for purchase from Pandora Designs.

Eggling

Remember those relaxing summer gardening days when you would take the whole day to plant a bed of flowers or a patch of green grass? Neither do we! Who has the time or even the space in New York City to plant a garden or bed of flowers? That is why these little Egglings are so cute and perfect for any apartment or office. It reminds us of Kindergarten when everyone in the class had their own bed of soil to plant seeds and watch a patch of grass grow. How simple and fun!

Egglings have become extremely popular in Japan where they are made. They look and feel like real eggs, but crack the top and you will find a miniature garden inside. Growing is easy! The seeds are already sown into the soil so all you have to do is crack the top by tapping on it with a spoon. Then add water and place in a bright spot. The plants grow for up to five months in the Eggling, after which it can be planted directly into soil. What a perfect party favor!

Blumebud

Place cards have become the best accessory for any dinner party. They range from fun and creative to classy and elegant. We have found these super sweet place cards that will make any guest feel warm and welcome at your table. Blumebud, which can be purchased at www.blumebox.com, is a two-in-one bud vase / place card holder. It comes in four sophisticated yet fun patterns and six colors. Each Blumebud includes a reversible and easy to fold paper base, blank name card, and test tube vase. A Blumebud place card is mandatory for fun spring cocktail parties! This bud’s for you.

Comic Pop Art Appetizing Plate

We HEART these crazy comic plates! What a step up from plain white, and quite an unexpected statement at the dinner table.

These comic plates, pop art plates and serving trays are from the affordable CB2?! Funky and creative designs have an Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein effect that is sure to be a conversation starter. The plates are dishwasher safe and add a lot of punch to your table. Visit CB2.com to find out more

Bring the outdoors to your table!

We love eating outdoors, on a sidewalk cafe, by the beach or in the backyard. Even if you are not quite the entertainer and have limited supplies on hand to decorate your table, take a few minutes to just look at what is around you. Even the simplest elements added to your tabletop can turn into unique conversation starters. Use what you already have around you, throw it on the table and see what happens: rocks, funky glass jars, pine cones or leaves, small potted plants, tin coffee cans with flowers from your garden.

The worst thing you can do is repeat the same mistake twice!

Melon Flower Dinnerware

Its hot out and time to celebrate and bring the beauty of the outdoors in!! When guests are over, liven up your dinner party with this set of Melon Flower Dinnerware from Anthropologie ($8-$14). The pretty layered florals are perfect for an outdoor or indoor affair all summer long.

Custom Coasters

Add a shot of color and elegance to your table. We have discovered a genius idea will make any table look chic and sophisticated.

Known for their crisp patterns and vibrant colors IOMOI’s glass coasters, can dress up any table. Available with two or three letter monograms or up to 32 characters, you can personalize the glass coasters in a variety of ways. Prices range from $26 for one coaster to $95 for a set of four. The best part is that every purchase comes with a free chocolate gift box, yum!

You can use your personalized coasters for cocktail parties, to hold small items such as jewelry or keys, or give them as a gift when you visit friends. But more importantly these stylish coasters can be used for margaritas and mojitos!!!!

Velon Designs

Talk about high-end fabrics! Custom Tablecloths, chair covers, wall papery, drapery, and more. Their patterns are exquisite and perfect to customize a special event. Designers and customers have so many options and so little room.

The Color Printed Velon allows you to choose from over 20 exclusive printed velon design patterns and even select the combination of colors that work best for your event. And for those clients who require a higher level of event customization there is the Custom Design Velon. Our favorite designs are the “Opera Wall” and “Cherry Blossom”. So unique, so creative, and so perfect for your next big event. Visit: Velon Designs

Liquid Hott!

Liquid Fusion tabletops…have you ever heard of such a thing? What a way to get your tables noticed at an event. The holographic film manufacturers at Holo-Walls are now making these liquid-filled circular tiles which look similar to their dance-floor tile system. The tables are 30-inches round and are prefect as cocktail tables.

Guests are able to interact with the tables by touching the surface and applying pressure. The table shifts patterns and evolves into different colors. There are five color combinations available: orange-purple, green-blue, blue-dark blue, and violet-lilac. It makes us want to scream the word GROOVY!

We are beginning to see a trend with 60’s pop art décor, and we are loving it! Andy Warhol would be so proud.

Candy Cane Shot Glasses

Drink and be merry and get your sugar fix at the same time with these Candy Cane Shot Glasses from Plum Party ($9). This edible set of shot glasses will put you in the festive mood for sure.

Vessel Luau Portable Lamp

For that romantic walk on the beach, garden party or extra den lighting, the versatile Vessel Luau Portable Lamp, from Mod Decor ($250) creates a special ambiance no matter where you take it. Equally useful for both indoors and out, this elegantly modern lamp lights up automatically when lifted from the base, utilizes a dimmable LED light source and has a runtime of six to ten hours.

Chalkboard Napkin Rings

Your guests are sure to know their place at your next dinner party with these unique Chalkboard Napkin Rings ($65). Carefully crafted from lacquered and untreated maple, this set of four reusable napkin rings comes equipped with a slate pencil and sponge eraser.

Available at Moma.

Tea for One

Designing a grown-up tea party? Try this unique teapot designed to serve ‘Tea for One’ from Urban Outfitters ($24). The single-serving teapot stacks right on top of a pretty matching cup making it both lovely to look at and fun for your guests. Its a great conversation starter.

Stickers on the Wall!

Make a statement in one way and do it BIG with graphics! Blik offers custom vinyl stickers in various sizes made to apply to just about any flat surface, a wall, window, mirror, ceiling, tabletop or dancefloor - have them create your logo, your image, or your wording in any color or font. These stickers are then applied to the wall easily and removed without a trace of residue.

This is a quick and simple solution for the ultimate quick transformation to a blank room for a party or a quick change to your home.

Rigaud Candles - the perfect scent

Candles are a standard piece of decoration for most events, and there are thousands of different colors, shapes, styles and smells to choose from. Our favorite brand was created by a French Perfumery – Rigaud Candles.

These candles while they are a bit expensive are well worth their value in the scent they provide. The soft and powerful scents fill an entire room without that overpowering smell. The candles subtle but noticeable fragrance is just perfect to place in high traffic areas, such as a bathroom or foyer. We personally love the Gardenia scent while Jackie-O filled the white house with the Cypres scent! You will find these items within their signature zebra striped packaging in high-end gift shop or Saks Fifth Avenue.