Thanksgiving Kids Table

I love hosting adults, the cheese plates, the wine, the no nap-time constraints. But if I am honest, truly honest with myself, I love hosting kid parties much better. Even incorporating kid elements into adult parties are my favorite parts. I thought I would share my kid table for Thanksgiving and share a few of my tips for getting kids to sit down and their menu. 

The kid's table 

My son is 3 and he loves reading his name and find it written on anything. So I took felt stickers and added the kids names to the jack'be'little pumpkins at each seat. I also wrote the kids names on the chalkboard labels on mason jars. I love the little mason jar lids. I stuck an upside down cupcake wrapper in a coordinating color. Each mason jar was held up in a pumpkin shaped cupcake holder. I made a turkey crayon holder out of some construction paper, googly eyes, and plastic cups. For the plates, napkins, and flatware I used disposable products from target. I just chose a color palate I liked and thought was appropriate for the theme. I covered the table in white butcher block paper, and then used printed construction paper as place mats. To make the table a little more exciting and to keep the place mats in their spot I added a few owl stickers.  

A few tips to help kids sit down 

The most important aspect of any event is free, and it is timing. To help children sit down at the table we planned for the families to come over around 5 and that kids dinner would be hosted at 5:30 and adult dinner at 6. This gives everyone a chance to come in, get a drink, and take their coats off. The parents can mill about helping the children start their meal while they nibble on cheese and drink wine. 

I covered the table with "kid bait" to get them to sit down... i.e. a teaspoon of M&Ms and goldfish. It is not enough to fill them up, but it is enough to get them seated. 

I also had the kids seated close to the grown-up table and close to the television. I chose Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It is perfect for a dinner party because the jazz music is lovely, it is interesting to the kids but the music and voices are not distracting. 

Kid's Menu

Roasted Turkey, diced and cooled

Steamed Carrots, cooled

Cheese Sticks

Apple Slices

Grapes, cut in half 

Cranberry Apple Juice cut with water

All in all it was a great kids party. They had a wonderful time, and they ate something too... 

NYC Rooftop Party Styling

The hubby and I are off to NYC this weekend. His brother and fiancee are throwing a swank Rooftop Party in Manhattan. I wanted to go against the grain, and dress down, comfortable, but still pay respect to the hosts. 

When it comes to beauty, I think manners and kindness matter so much more than what you wear or who did your hair. Just being authentic and interested in others is what people will remember. Whenever I write a fashion or a beauty post, I always want to remind myself that the most important thing a woman can wear is compassion. 

For my dress, I chose this long sleeve black tee-shirt dress Velvet By Graham & Spencer, which I bought at Nordstorm Rack for under $150. I'm not going to wear any nylons, because it is not really worth hassle, as long as your legs are shaved. 

Accessories: I am going to go with a nude pump because they make your legs look fantastically long, my pair are from Sam Elderman. I love the D'orsay style because they fit my feet and you can stand and walk in them for hours, I literally do, these are my pumps I wear to work. I love my Moda Lux nude clutch with gold detailing. When you hold the clutch low, it has an elongating effect to your silhouette. To compliment the gold detailing in the clutch, I choose my gold Marc Jacobs watch and some understated but elegant Kendra Scott earrings. 

Beautywise, I'm not doing much. I am currently on a no makeup kick. I like my freckles and my tan, I don't want to cover that up. It took a lot of beer drinking in the pool to get it, and I am proud of that. I do love the way my hair feels and looks after a blow out so I am going to get my haircut and highlighted on Friday. Because, I think second day hair looks better. 

Scent, I am loving the sexy vanilla scent BYWAY eau de parfum. It is a sweet fragrance with warm notes of caramel, wild rose, vanilla candy, honeysuckle. To me it smells like amber moonlight, it is both fun and sexy. Also, it is made in the USA, which is exactly what I am looking for these days. 

More than anything, I'm just excited to celebrate a wonderful couple's engagement and a have a fun night out with the hubby. I can't wait! Congratulations Jeff and Cara!