Celebrating Friendship {Julep & Minted}

Hi Friends,

Every now and then I get an overwhelming urge to entertain.  I love opening up my home to friends and family.  I love planning the table, figuring out the menu, and making the decorations.  I love pulling out my wedding china and good crystal.  Entertaining is a joy.  

The seed for my urge is usually planted when I am inspired by something lovely.  I can't rest until I put my own spin on that loveliness.  I find inspiration all over the place.  Sometimes it's a color scheme that catches my eye, sometimes it's a lovely floral arrangement.  Sometimes I find an invitation and I think, "I need to build a whole party around that invite."  Oftentimes, my inspiration comes from a blog.  More often than not, that blog is Julep.  The whole blog is gorgeous--the photography alone makes it worth checking out each day.  Julep is more than just gorgeous photos, though, it's full of fun & fabulous craft ideas and all kinds of fantastic party ideas, for both children and adults.

The first three photos were taken at a summer wedding shower featured on Julep.  I love every single detail featured in those photos.  The whole table just says, "sweet, lovely, and elegant" to me.  

As soon as I saw those photos, I knew they would serve as the inspiration for my next party.  It's been a while since I've gathered all the incredible women in my life together for a dinner party.  I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many fabulous girlfriends.  I'm going to bring them together and celebrate friendship.  I found this invite on Minted, and knew it would be perfect (isn't it gorgeous?): 

I've already started planning some of the party details.  How cute would these typography cookies look sitting on each lady's plate:

And I love these little tea poms.  I really think it's the little details that make a party special.

And it wouldn't be a Vicki party without a little party favor to take home.  In the past, I've given warm, colorful socks (your friendship warms my heart) and little baskets of cookies (friendship is sweet).  I love the look of these little potted herbs (your friendship adds spice to my life?)--I think they would make the sweetest party favors:

Hooray for girlfriends.  Hooray for inspiration.  Hooray for Minted & Julep!

XO,
Vicki

PS  Did you know that Minted also has a line of completely wonderful original artwork?  I especially like both of these book-inspired prints.  

PPS  This post is sponsored by Minted, but all of the opinions are definitely my own!