Christmas Decorating Ideas & Festive Home Decor Tips
Posted by Rae Lynn on 12/4/2013 to
Winter & Christmas

Whether or not you've caught the decorating bug yet this year, Rae Lynn has some Christmas decorating ideas & festive home decor suggestions that just might inspire you to break out the decor to the tune of a Christmas melody.
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Fall Trends - Home Decorating
Posted by Rae Lynn on 11/19/2013 to
Autumn & Fall
Fall trends work beautifully with modern interior home decorating schemes.
Furniture and walls painted in neutrals in shades of gray, black and white set the stage for colorful accents that can be switched out to incorporate colors, textures, and shapes of the season.

Trends we're following for the fall season include autumn colors, decorative critters, metallic accents and organics & naturals...
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas & Table Decorations
Posted by Rae Lynn on 11/13/2013 to
Autumn & Fall
The Thanksgiving guests have been invited, the rooms have been strewn with decorations, and the menu has been determined.
All is almost well, with the exception of the dining table centerpiece. Luckily, Rae Lynn has a few Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas to remedy this worrisome conundrum.

A great fall centerpiece incorporates seasonal variety to enhance the ambiance while remaining tasteful and low-key. These variations on three centerpiece themes are budget-friendly and sophisticated, integrating both natural and man-made elements.
Fall Dinner Party Menu & Recipes
Posted by Rae Lynn on 11/6/2013 to
Autumn & Fall

Here is one of our favorite fall dinner party menus, along with recipes inspired by the season:
Cocktail Hour Hors d’oeuvre Appetizer Soup Salad Main Dessert |
Fall Decorating Ideas For the Autumn Season
Posted by Rae Lynn on 10/31/2013 to
Autumn & Fall
October and November is the most dynamic time of the fall season as autumnal hues become more spectacular each passing day. It is a month of preparation for the holidays, the impending winter, and the closing of the year.
Planning and preparation are two of Rae Lynn’s favorite topics, especially when it comes to entertaining and hospitality. As the outside temperatures dip lower, people are brought indoors together for warmth, food, and fun, which coincidentally is the perfect recipe for a house party.

Whether you are planning a casual family get-together or to show off gourmet cooking and cocktails, simple autumn-inspired fall decorating ideas will elevate the occasion. These room-by-room themes work well together as a whole-home makeover or as stand-alone projects.
Three Easy Halloween Party Decoration Ideas
Posted by Rae Lynn on 10/17/2013 to
Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
Americans spend over $7 billion preparing for the Halloween holiday, with roughly two-thirds spent on decorative tricks and delectable treats.
What this means to aspiring hosts is that people have a lot of choices when it comes to decorating for Halloween.

Perfect party planning is always crucial to success, but even more so when you are wanting to stand out from every other Jack on the block. So, does this mean more spending on spectacular displays of phantasmagorical fancy or bust?
21 Strange and Wonderful Facts about College Team Mascots
Posted by Rae Lynn on 10/2/2013 to
Football & Tailgating
Today nothing beats seeing our beloved mascots run out on the field, bringing with them boundless team spirit and the promise of a big win.
That’s true whether they’re costumed characters, animals, vegetables, fruit, a color or even imaginary.

Read on for some fun mascot tidbits...
University of Miami's Mascot
Sebastian the Ibis
Getting In Gear For Your Tailgate Party - Tailgating Checklist
Posted by Rae Lynn on 9/24/2013 to
Football & Tailgating
Most parties take a little organization, but a tailgate party takes planning and then some. After all, you can’t just duck back into your house if you forget the corkscrew. That’s why it’s important to heed these words from the author A.A. Milne, who wrote one of Rae Lynn’s fave books:


Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. —Winnie the Pooh
The only things you want mixed up at your tailgate party are the drinks. For everything else, we have a solution:
Rae Lynn’s Handy-Dandy Tailgate Packing/Decorating/Setting Up Checklist!
Top Ten Reasons You Need to Celebrate the German Oktoberfest
Posted by Rae Lynn on 9/17/2013 to
International
Oktoberfest began with a wedding—and what a wedding it must have been. On 12 October 1810, Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. E
veryone in Munich was invited to the ceremony and celebration, which included horse races. The horse racing continued the next year, and a tradition was born.

Of course, it’s the food, drink and party atmosphere that continue today. The Lord Mayor of Munich will tap the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at high noon on 21 September and invite all visitors to quench their thirst.
Read on for 10 reasons why Rae Lynn celebrates Oktoberfest—and for Oktoberfest party ideas that will make your festivities royal.
Tailgate Food That Shows Your Team Spirit
Posted by Rae Lynn on 9/10/2013 to
Food
Tailgating food often revolves around the predictable: burgers, brats, chips, dips and a choice of beer, beer or beer to drink.
But that’s for tailgaters who want to warm the bench. If you want your tailgate party to score big and win fans, you need to step up your game.

One way to make your football tailgate food a standout is to take your cue from the local food movement sweeping the country. What cuisine reflects your region and your team’s traditions?
Seven Ocean-Themed Centerpieces for a Sun- Sand- and Surf-sational Soiree
Posted by Rae Lynn on 8/19/2013 to
Nautical, Beach & Sea
Some 123.3 million Americans--or 39 percent of the population--live in counties directly on the shoreline. Of course, that means that 60 percent of us are a county away, a state away or half a
continent away from the ocean.

And face it--even if you're nearby--it's always fun to bring a little beach home.
With the right bits and pieces, you can create your own shoreline scene and invite your friends and family for a beach party. Start with one of these ocean-themed centerpieces for your table, then build on the theme for a sun-, sand- and surf-sational soiree.
How to Host a Winning Marathon Party
Posted by Rae Lynn on 7/24/2013 to
Outdoor
Let's make one thing clear from the start--by Marathon Party, we're not talking about a really long event that lasts for days and leaves you wondering how Gatsby did it.
We're talking about a party that supports those crazy people who travel 26.2 miles without ever using a car.

Even if you, like me, never plan to run or even walk a marathon or half-marathon, we get a lift by supporting the people who do. So if you suddenly find your home on a marathon route, there's only one thing to do: Throw a party!
15 Must-Haves for Your Next Impromptu Party
Posted by Rae Lynn on 7/10/2013 to
Party Planning

What occasions call for a party?
21 Tunes for Your Patriotic Playlist
Posted by Rae Lynn on 6/28/2013 to
Patriotic

If you're like us, you've already started prepping for (or at least thinking about) celebrating our country's 237th birthday party.
To give you plenty of possibilities for 4th of July music, we're sharing 21 songs we love to listen to while we hoist the flag, chow down on burgers and light up the nighttime sky with fireworks.