Entertaining with Style: Sweet Lulu's Colorful Margarita Party!

Welcome to Spring and Happy Friday! When it comes to personal style, hosting and entertaining is the perfect opportunity to showcase your own unique style. As a thoughtful (and stylish) hostess, I always take care to ensure that the food is excellent, the decor is fabulous, and the guest list is filled with amazing people at my events! It's this level of care and style that I look forward to bringing you wonderful readers in my Entertaining with Style series.

Today I'm bringing you a colorful margarita party hosted by Shop Sweet Lulu, an online boutique specializing in high-quality & on-trend partyware sourced from around the globe. There are so many great ideas here! Enjoy!

I've interviewed Shop Sweet Lulu's proprietress, Jesse Senese, to get the details on this fun fiesta!

Jacquin: Hi Jessie!  Thanks for chatting with me today!

Jessie: It's my pleasure! 

Jacquin: What inspires your fun party decor creations at Shop Sweet Lulu? 

Jessie: We're inspired by so many things, and they're always different - it can be a color combination, a product, or a theme.  This particular party was inspired by the drink we served!  The margarita!

Jacquin: I love that Sweet Lulu has thrown a margarita themed party!  I've been wanting to show that brightly colored parties with all of the fun decor can still work for an adult get-together.  Sweet Lulu's party is the perfect example!  Share with us a bit about your inspiration for this particular party.  

Jessie: Once we knew that we wanted to serve margaritas, the menu and décor sprang to life.   We took a little field trip to a Mexican grocery store and stocked up on colorful cans of beans and other ingredients, which we used as containers for our flowers, and paired those with pretty pieces from our shop in vibrant colors.

Jacquin: How does your personal style come through in the parties and get togethers you host?

Jessie: For the margarita night, for example, I found a vintage wicker peacock chair (above) at a resale shop and created a flower 'crown' for it.  I also fancied up a bunch of glass jars with glitter - we hung these from the trees and used them as votive holders on the tables.  I always try to include a handmade element.

Jacquin: Share with the readers the decor elements featured in your party.

Jessie: We brought my kitchen table and chairs outside, and covered it with a fabric table runner and lots of potted flowers.  I also cut some fresh flowers from the garden and placed those in the glittery glass jars that we crafted.  As the night wore on, the big bulb lights hanging from the trees highlighted the tissue streamers floating in the sky and it was all magical.  We also tied little strips of fabric around these sticks DIY style to make drink stirrers (shown above). We wrapped the chic gold utensils in matching strips of fabric, as well.  A great way to customize your party!

Jacquin: What was the menu at the party?

Jessie: The Paloma Margarita was the star of the show!  We also had fresh guacamole and chips, and a few different salsas, but the evening was definitely about the margarita! I used this recipe for the Paloma, which varies from other margaritas I've seen in that the glass is rimmed in sugar instead of salt.  It was delicious!

Jacquin: For my last question, would you mind sharing one great party hosting tip with us?

Jessie: Keep it simple.  Don't over-think things, and execute a couple of things really well.

Want to source Sweet Lulu's colorful party supplies shown here?  I have all of the information for you!

• Square Dessert Plates in Pink, Green, Orange, & Hot Pink
• Colorful Napkins in Pink, Orange, Hot Pink, & Green
• French Bistro Glasses - Set of 4
• Wooden Candy Sticks - Decorate these with colorful strips of fabric like Shop Sweet Lulu did!
• Swing Top Bottles - Love these! Serve you beverages with style!
• Corrugated Geometric Dishes - Perfect for individual food portions.
• Pretty Plastic Utensils in Shiny Gold - Shabby-chic at its finest!
• Unique Tissue Paper Streamers in Yellow, Pink, Teal, & Magenta

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Artist Spotlight: Sally West of Australia

It is such a treat to feature Australian artist Sally West on the blog today. I love Sally's stunning beachscapes and unique, textured approach to painting. You'll find that her artwork has a special warmth to it, which Sally attributes to the lighting and sunshine in Australia. She has exhibited all over the world since her first showing in 1998, and has been awarded several honors along the way. I had a great time interviewing Sally and learning more about her creative inspiration and surprising painting technique.  

"Beach 2 - Plein Air", Oil on canvas, Sally West (2015).

Name: Sally West
Art Form: Oil Painter
Location: Sydney, Australia

Jacquin: I love your use of thick brush strokes in your paintings. There are so many layers to your artwork with your textured approach. It's really spectacular! How did you develop your aesthetic as an artist?

Sally: I used to live in the country. It was beautiful. There was so much wildlife and I had a little cottage/studio to myself. I never felt lonely because I had painting. I had paintbrushes and limited access to supplies. Over time the brushes became stiff and a bit like working with stumps. I found an old palette knife lying around and figured it would tide me over until I got new brushes. I have never used a brush since and my paint application has become thicker probably because it’s just so much easier to load paint onto the palette knife.

"Mum's Birthday", Oil on canvas, Sally West.

Jacquin: What is an average day like for you?

Sally: I get my kids to school. I either collect flowers or buy flowers, then go to the studio to start painting them. Sometimes I drive around and take shots of street scenes, which I also like to paint. If I’m going plein air painting, I pack the car when I get to the studio, drive somewhere (after stopping along the way for coffee), arrive and then setup for painting. Then I paint. Afterward I wrestle my wet canvas into car, pack up, drive back to studio, wrestle wet canvas into studio, unload gear, go home, shower, pick up kids, feed them, put them to bed and then have a drink! 

Studio days are less hectic. Less fast paced. I set up the flowers and paint them leisurely, listen to music. I don’t feel as rushed. This is neither better or worse. I like both experiences as much as the other. And I get bored when I only do one. I can not seem to spend extended periods of time indoors and it’s not realistic to paint outside everyday.

Jacquin: What's in your tool box? Do you have any favorite or especially usefool tools right now?

Sally: I love my Leatherman. Apart from all my paints and painting gear, it is the one thing I take everywhere. It holds almost everything you would carry in a toolbox. I use the Leatherman's plyers, saw, screwdriver, and nearly everything on it everytime I go out painting.

The other thing that I definitely cannot live without is baby wipes! I use about a packet per painting to wipe the palette knife clean before applying a new colour, it keeps each stroke clean and prevents muddying the colours.

"Highview Road Flowers in the Olive Jar", Oil on canvas, Sally West.

"The Beach - Plein Air", Oil on Canvas, Sally West (2015).

Jacquin: What advice would you give to a developing artist?

Sally: There is no other way to develop in my mind, apart from just painting. The more you paint the more you learn through the actual experience. I don’t believe you get that from a classroom.

Jacquin: How does life in Australia influence your work?

Sally: Australian life is about the outdoors. A lot of my work is painted outside. I love nothing more than standing out in the elements and responding to the environment. The colours and light of Australia are obvious in all my work.

"The Windmill - Plein Air", Oil on Canvas, Sally West. FINALIST 2015 Outback Art Prize.

"Tuggerah Parade - Plein Air", Oil on canvas, Sally West. FINALIST 2015 Warringah Art Prize.

Jacquin: What has been your most memorable moment as an artist so far?

Sally: That’s such a tough question. Probably the first time I won an art prize. I have won a few since, but that first one was important in building my confidence and helping me to believe I really was on the right path.

Another time was the first time I went plein air painting. An artist friend convinced me to go with her and another lady. I took all my painting gear in my little rundown car and drove up the side of a mountain in order to see down the Australian coast. I remember sitting on the grass after we’d finished painting, discussing our works. It was beautiful. I remember thinking, why haven’t I done this before! I never looked back.

"Fresh Water Beach - Plein Air", Oil on canvas, Sally West (2014).

Learn more about Sally West's original artwork on her website or follow Sally on Instagram. 

I am introducing a NEW "Art" page on Interiors by Jacquin blog. You can access all of the previous Artist Spotlight features through the new "Art" tab located at the very top of the page or click here. Go enjoy some artwork today!

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Beautiful Backyards and Terraces to Jump Start Spring

With Spring just around the corner, I want to encourage you to start thinking about enjoying your home's outdooor space again (or for the first time!). Even if you're living in an apartment with only a small patio, you can still decorate the space and enjoy the fresh outdoor air while at home. One of my absolute favorite things to do on a warm, sunny day is dine outdoors, and these homes are certainly equipped for al fresco dining and enjoying the warm weather in style. 

A Chicago family's Manhattan Penthouse by design firm Dufner Heighes, Image via Architectural Digest, Photography: Nikolas Koenig

A Chicago family's Manhattan Penthouse by design firm Dufner Heighes, Image via Architectural Digest, Photography: Nikolas Koenig

Marrakech, Morocco, Image via Luxury Accomodations Blog

Suburban Sydney, Australia home of CEO Ann Sherry & husband Michael Hogan, See the entire tour on The Design Files

Suburban Sydney, Australia home of CEO Ann Sherry & husband Michael Hogan, Image via The Design Files

Suburban Sydney, Australia home of CEO Ann Sherry & husband Michael Hogan, Image via The Design Files

Isn't this Australian estate and garden beautiful? It really does have a grand appearance along with perfect landscaping. It's quite impressive to say the least. I would host outdoor dinner parties all the time if I lived here!

For those of you with smaller spaces, there are so many inspirational patio and terrace designs that maximize limited outdoor space. The key is to bring in an abundace of potted plants to create a magical ambiance on your very own patio. Take a look at how these small patios have been decorated to maximize the home's outdoor space.

Designer Timothy Whealon's Manhattan apartment, Image via Elle Decor (Outdoor furniture from Harbour Outdoor and Restoration Hardware)

Image via Keltainen tallo Rannaalla blog

Architecture: LB Architecte, Interiors: Mlinaric, Henry, & Zervudachi

March is the perfect time to begin sprucing up your patio or backyard so that you can fully enjoy your outdoor space when warmer weather arrives. 

So, now that you've been inspired, what can you do to improve your own home's outdoor space? 

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Tips for Entertaining with Style (and with kids!)

London Interior Designer and Mom, Karolina Barnes has joined us today to share her lovely backyard BBQ along with her TOP 5 TIPS for entertaining in style... and with kids!  As a mom she's mastered juggling hosting preparations with looking after the children, all with ease and grace.  Not to mention, she's a designer too so her backyard BBQ is both stylish and infused with vibrant colors!  Karolina's tips aren't just for those of you with children though, but really for everyone.  Take a look at this family-friendly BBQ filled with loads of English-charm and plenty of color, hosted by Karolina Barnes of London. 

1. Approach your outdoor decor in a same way as your indoor. 

This means starting with a colour scheme of at least 4 core colours and working around them. In my case I started with the outdoor Ikea rug which added fuchsia pink and yellow. I also included green and blue décor as accents.  I managed to pull those colours together through the cushions on the seats and dinner plates.

2. Use textures and bold patterns.

I like using colours, textures and patterns to inject some personality into the space.  Bold colours in particular go really well against the greenery in your garden. 

Mixing patterns such as stripes, chevron and ikat (on my cushions) also makes the space more vibrant and individual.  I purposely didn’t want to create a matchy-matchy feel so I used different cushions on each chair but in the initial colour palette I started with.  

3. Use layers in table dressing.

If you have kids around, keep your table setting to its minimum. I like to start my table with a white table cloth since it provides a nice clean, elegant backdrop which is very easy to build upon.  Use flower pots and urns as a centre piece.  It will be a very nice touch.  Also, if your kids are old enough, get them involved in your preparations and special event.  They can help prepare the food, set the table, or even just pose for great family photos!

Think practically. In my case, instead of placemats, I used table runners which I layered over one another in crosses. To make my table more interesting, I used two different types of the table runner.  One was plain blue in glazed linen running through the centre of the table, and the other two were in bolder green cotton with fuchsia pink dots running vertically on either side of the table.  A lovely way to spice up your dining table! 

4. Invest in quality outdoor furniture.

I would recommend investing in the best quality outdoor furniture you can afford (see above).  Teak, eucalyptus and other hardwood can withstand harsh weather conditions throughout the year.  Teak in particular is very durable and hard-wearing.  Teak’s initial honey colour gradually changes to light silver grey, which has absolutely no effect on the longevity of the furniture.  If you prefer keeping it in the nice honey colour, use teak sealer to revive it once in a while.

5. Forget about perfection and just enjoy it!

Entertaining with kids is not always easy. Especially when you have to be the host, while manning the kitchen or BBQ grill and looking after the kids at the same time.  It can get very stressful. But my advice is, don’t try to make things perfect.  As long as the food is good and everybody is having a good time, you can give yourself a pat on the back.  

As a bonus, Karolina has shared her daughter's recipe for Strawberry Meringue Nest, which she served at her recent BBQ.  I've included her delicious yet simple recipe below. To learn more about Karolina or to check out her UK-based interior design services, please stop by her website here.  Happy Friday!

Strawberry meringue nest with cream  - super easy summer dessert!

Ingredients:

• Ready prepared meringues (similar to these or make your own)
• Fresh strawberries
• Whipping cream
• Superfine (caster) sugar - (You can simply blend regular sugar to make superfine sugar.)
• Fresh mint leaves

First gently cook your cut strawberries with one table spoon of caster sugar and one spoon of water until you have a nice thick sauce with soft strawberries pieces running through it.

After it cools down, whip the cream with a third of the strawberry sauce so that it’s nice and light pink. Spoon the whipped cream on the meringue nest and decorate it with the remaining strawberry sauce and a mint leaf.  Voilà! 

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