There are just 2 days left until Valentine’s Day and I’m ready to go!  I’ve got my family dinner planned and gifts ready to go.  There’s only one thing left to do…deliver a few Valentines to my Galentines.  If you’re needing a last-minute idea, I’m sharing this darling and simple Galentines gift idea.

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Years ago I started a tradition of stopping by my girlfriends’ homes and wishing them a Happy Galentines’ Day, on each Valentines.

I start by purchasing some clear gift boxes.  I prefer the 5″x5″ ones.  I can’t find them anywhere at craft stores, only the 2″ ones.  So I order the 5″ boxes HERE.

On the bottom I’d start with some cute shredded paper.

You can order or make Valentine’s cookies.  Then I would buy some chocolates and candies also.

Cut a ribbon and tie it around the box and add a tag or card if you wish.

I think it’s fun to put on a shirt or sweater with hearts or lips, something festive, and deliver these cute little gifts. We’ve moved around so much, until now, that it’s been fun to make a lot of different friends wherever we’ve lived and surprise them, since they don’t know about my fun Galentine tradition.  You don’t even have to do it every year OR it can be different friends each year, maybe just a few at a time.  But it’s something simple and thoughtful and they will always be surprised and grateful.

I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and hear about digital printables & freebies, as well as sales or new items in My Online Shoppe.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

The post Darling & Simple Galentine’s Gift Idea appeared first on Summer Adams.

In less than a month, Valentine’s Day will be here.  Yippee!  After Christmas, it’s my second favorite holiday.  I love pink and red, blush tones, heart candies, and all things love and romance.  I make a big deal of the holiday with my family, not only on Valentine’s Day but for the entire 2 weeks preceding it.  When February 1st arrives, I start the 14 Days of Valentine’s for my kids and it is the most fun tradition.  Make sure to check those posts out.  Today, I have a post to also help you get ready.  I’m sharing Valentine’s Day apparel and accessories, gifts and decor!  Ladies, you might want to forward this post to your hubbies and give them some ideas.

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.
Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I hope this has given you ideas!  When February 1st arrives, I wear heart t-shirts and sweatshirts, lip-printed blouses and sweater…I just love to be festive, in a fashionable way.

I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and hear about digital printables & freebies, as well as sales or new items in My Online Shoppe.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

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The post Valentine’s Day Apparel, Gifts & Decor appeared first on Summer Adams.

Hello friends!  How is your 2018 starting off?  Well, I hope!  All of our Christmas decor is put away and I’m getting ready to share more of our new home here on “Tall Trees Lane” with you.  The other day I started you off with Free 2018 Printable Calendars in 2 different styles so make sure to snag those!  But today I want to look back on 2017 with fondness because, while it was both a tough and wonderful year and a year of much change for our family, I’m grateful that so many of you visited over and over here on my blog and kept me going.  Welcome to those of you who are here for the first time!  I’m excited to link up with some of the best and most talented home and lifestyle bloggers to share with all of you, so make sure to click on their blogs at the end of my post below.  Ok, without further ado…here are my top 10 blog posts of 2017!

1. The Prettiest Vanities  I can’t believe how many readers have come from all over the world to read this post.  How fun!  One thing is for sure though….we women just love a pretty place to sit and get dolled up.  I even shared my own vanity.  So make sure to give it a read.

2. Welcome To My Bright White Kitchen  I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the enormous amount of you that came to see our new kitchen that I posted only just in November.  This was a BIG move for us and, here on the blog and also on Instagram, you were all so excited for us.  So THANK YOU for taking the time to celebrate this new chapter with us.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love being in my kitchen, baking and cooking for my family!

3. Blush Furniture & Decor At the beginning of last year, I knew my pink-loving heart had to share some of my favorite blush pieces with you.  It looks like you love pink as much as I do.  And stay tuned because I’m sharing my blush pink office here in our new home very soon!

4. Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night  We had sooooo much fun this night as a family and I’m so glad I decided to share it with you on the blog.  Not only did many of  you stop by to see it and pin it, but I received so many emails or tags of you and your families having your own fun 50’s-inspired Soda Shoppe night.  And THAT is why I share with you and have this blog!  The inspiration that I gain from my readers and vice versa is so rewarding.  If you haven’t thrown this party yet for your family or kids or friends or co-workers….do it!  It’s a blast!

5. How To Create A Fruit & Floral Arrangement  This was a really FUN one for me!  It was not the first time I put fruit and flowers together but this arrangement last spring turned out beautifully and was so easy.  I promise YOU could do it!

6. My Pink Christmas Kitchen  Again, we just moved into this home and I just posted my pink Christmas kitchen last month but so many stopped by to see it, it made me blush.  I think those pink gingerbread houses stole your hearts like they did mine.  I’m thinking they need to come back this next Christmas.  What about you?

7. Bright White Home of JS Home Design  2017 was the year I felt inspired to share with you my love for bright white spaces and create the series on my blog called the “Bright White Home Series“.  I featured designers and home owners and their beautiful spaces and it was a hit!  My dear friend, Sonja, allowed me to share her home first and I’m thrilled that you have all loved her home and loved this series!  Don’t miss her home or the others.  It’s full of dreamy inspiration of many different styles.

8. My Blush Pink Flocked Christmas Tree  In case you hadn’t noticed or if you’re a new reader, I love have an obsession with pink.  Did you know that I was born on National Pink Day?  True story.  June 23rd.  When I put up my blush tree in my office, I hoped you’d love it as much as I did.  Wow!  Your response blew me away.  I’m tickled pink!  I hope you find inspiration for your tree this next Christmas!

9.  Welcome To Our Bright White Living Room  This was the very first post I shared with you after moving into our new home and I’m still so honored by the amount of kind messages I’ve received.  There’s nothing more special than welcoming you into our home and feeling of your love and excitement for us!

10.  The Perfect Interior Paint Color & A House Sneak Peek  I giggle at the amount of people that have stopped by to read this post BUT if you’re anything like me….choosing the right paint color for your home is a BIG deal!  I guess I giggle because it was easy…I showed up to take pictures and that’s it.  There was no table to set, room to style, party to throw, or graphic to design….and you loved it.  So whatever project you find yourself in the middle of, especially if it’s painting a room or your entire home, make sure to read this.  I’m still obsessed with this color and soooo happy with the way it looks in our home!  Any time of day or night and any weather!

I wish you all knew how GRATEFUL I am that you stopped by today and every day that I share a post with you here on my blog!  It’s such an honor that you’d take time out of your busy lives to come and share a moment here with me and I hope that you feel uplifted and inspired.  Is there something else you’d like to see?  Let me know in the comments below!

Make sure to visit all my dear blogger friends (below) today and see what their top posts were because “talented” doesn’t seem to do justice in describing them.  You’ll love them all!

I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and hear about digital printables & freebies, as well as sales or new items in My Online Shoppe.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

TIDBITS | Finding Silver Pennies | Stacy Risenmay | Julie Blanner | Live Laugh Rowe

Maison De Pax | House by Hoff | Town and Country Living | Summer Adams | Unskinny Boppy

Zevy Joy | Decor Gold Designs | A Burst of Beautiful | Shabbyfufu | Seeking Lavendar Lane

Nina Hendrick Design Co. | Shades of Blue Interiors | Bless’er House | ZDesign at Home | Life on Virginia Street

The Wicker House | Cherished Bliss | Nesting with Grace | Place of my Taste | Simply Designing

AKA Design | Rooms FOR Rent | So Much Better with Age | French Country Cottage | Thistlewood Farms

Designthusiasm | Love Grows Wild | The Happy Housie

The post Top Ten Blog Posts of 2017 – Best of Summer Adams appeared first on Summer Adams.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….I LOVE “love”!  Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays because I get to show an extra amount of love, being extra conscious of telling and showing my family and friends what they mean to me.  I’m sure the commercial side of any holiday is profitable and loves holidays and encourages us to make a bigger deal of them for their sake, but I truly don’t care because after all….it’s the true meaning of the holiday that really counts.  So let’s celebrate L-O-V-E!  (cue song by Nat King Cole)

Some fabulous blogger friends of mine often get together on a monthly basis and share with all of you, whatever it is we are doing or celebrating.  Today we are giving you a tour of our homes all decked out with Valentine’s Day Decor.  We all have different styles and loves for certain colors and textures so I really love seeing what everyone shares.  There’s so much inspiration! So, WELCOME if you’re coming from Kim & Lacey’s blog Styled With Lace.  Aren’t their homes soooo dreamy?! I love everything they do!  Welcome to all my regular readers and I’m so grateful you keep coming back for more fun and inspiration! Come with me into my living room!

I kept my living room pretty bright and white, as usual, and kept the blush tones.  I also kept all my gold and silver mercury glass candle holders and sparkly candles out from Christmas, to keep that ambience of romance and glam.

I removed my large piece of art with warm tones and replaced it with a lighter piece.  I also removed the leopard pillows that I love and put them somewhere else.  I wanted to keep this room light and soft.

I wish I could find this wooden heart wreath for you somewhere!  I always get asked about it.  I found it at Target a few years ago and still love it.  It has a touch of gold glitter (I should have gotten a close-up).  You can find the Vintage Letter Banner (I also used HERE recently) in my online shoppe and spell out any word or phrase.

It’s always a nice, pretty spot to sit and relax and write “love notes” or watch an old romance movie.

Shop this room below:

In the kitchen nook, I decided to keep my vintage tea cart here in the corner after our Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night that we threw for our kids one night.  I like it here!  It’s fun to decorate and since I always keep a candy bar or sweets out this time of year, it’s the perfect place to display it all.

This “rose gold” or blush love mylar balloon I bought last year is the cutest addition for this little corner.  My friend Tanya at A Darling Daydream has the same balloon and when I saw her use it above her cute cart, it inspired me to use it the same way. Her entire party she threw for her family was out-of-control gorgeous and you need to go see it!!!  Then, Amy at Pearl & Jane sent me THE CUTEST garlands!  Here’s how I used one of them.  This mini gold sequin XO garland is the perfect thing to hang right below this fun love balloon.

It’s still cold some days here in Dallas (in between all the fabulous warm ones) so I keep the hot chocolate and mugs out to make a cup whenever anyone desires.  Gumballs, heart biscuits, rock candy, vanilla meringues…

…and some mini angel food bundt cakes make this the perfect place to take care of that sweet tooth.  Sweets for my sweets!

Of course, I had to add lots of pretty rose sprays!  Roses make everything prettier!

Shop this room below:

Let’s head on over to my Dining Room!

This is such a bright space with the bay windows and I like it staying that way instead of getting too busy.  So, all I added was the simple glitter “love” garland and miniature faux rose wreath on my china cabinet.

That being said, I love to set a really fun table for Valentine’s Day for my family!  It changes every year but it’s always fun and festive.  We celebrate together on Valentine’s Day and have a really great night together.  It usually involves a heart-shaped pizza, a chocolate fountain with all sorts of delicious dippers, and other yummy things!  Oh, and presents!  I love to wrap and give them fun gifts.  I feel like it’s a mini Christmas.

This year’s table was inspired by those adorable garlands by Pearl & Jane.

My dear friends Ashley and Susan shared them in their Valentine’s posts and I had to have them.

The little pink felt lips, gold sequin hearts, felt ball and heart garland, and rose gold sequin XO garland were just all so so cute together.  It added that fun element I wanted since this is our dinner with the kids.  And of course…it sparkles.  Win win!  I love that I can use these banner throughout the year for occasions other than just Valentine’s Day.  I’ll use them for baby or bridal showers, birthdays, our anniversary, or even in Brooklyn’s room.

More fresh roses and these ones smelled OH SO GOOD!  This gold vase was a fun DIY.  It was a clear glass vase from Home Goods that had some faux flowers in them with that clear resin that looks like water.  Well, I needed the faux floral in them for something else so instead of getting rid of this and tossing it, I just sprayed it gold.  I needed a gold vase so it was the perfect solution.

I used my blush chargers with gold flatware, or “goldieware” as I like to call it.  I grabbed my blush sequin runner and gold mercury glass candleholders too and do you see those leopard pillows in the background? I told you I moved them from my living room and into here for a fun accent.

But these blush sequin dinner napkins, from my friend Nicky Sinclair and her adorable online shop called Composition Lane, were the icing on the cake!  They are to die for and they compliment the garlands and chargers and runner and everything so perfectly.  My kids walked in the door from school and started saying how “awesome” and “fun” and “cute” this table was and their friends’ jaws were on the floor.  It was cute.  And let me just say…..yes there’s sequins and sparkle and shiny mercury glass here.  But this was so so simple to put together.  I love buying pieces throughout the year that I know I’ll use often and then mix and match linens and serve ware and home accents to create totally different looks.

Ok, one of my favorite things for this simple but FUN Valentine’s table are these keys. Last summer I went to my friends’ barn sale and bought a ton of fun vintage treasures, including a handful of brass skeleton keys.  They were so cute and I knew I could use them so many different ways.  But, being the hopeless romantic that I am, I immediately thought of using them with this “You hold the key to my heart because…” saying for Josh and the kids at each place setting.  On the back of each heart, I’ve written what they do that just melts my heart.  For example, Beckham just turned 9 years old but he still grabs my hand in the parking lot as we walk into the store.  I die.  EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.  I hope he does that for a while longer.  I think they’ll like the sweet expressions of love I wrote down for them and hope they understand how much it means to me.

It’s the simple things we can do that make such sweet memories and unforgettable experiences.  My mom had 6 of us kids and, while I know it was very hard to do and she couldn’t do everything she would have liked to do for us, she was brilliant at making holidays magical and special. Best mom ever!  I remember walking into the house each Valentine’s Day after school and seeing red and pink balloons, flowers, the table set with china and everything looked so fancy!  Some of our dishes were in a heart shape and we each had the cutest wrapped gifts on each of our plates.  We absolutely LOVED Valentine’s Day each year!  Mom was too cute.  I hope my kids look back on these days with fondness and a smile as I do.  I enjoy it all so much!  Especially our “14 Days of Valentine’s Tradition” that I do for them.

Shop this room below:

Do you have any special traditions or things that you do for Valentine’s Day?  Do you do a lot of decorating or just something simple?  I’d love to hear!  And for more inspiration, please head on over to my friend Joan at 2 Ladies & a Chair next.  She’s so talented and I always love to see what she’s up to!

Make sure to visit all of my other friends joining me today also:

I Don’t Know How She Does It
Maison de Cinq
Crazy Chic Design
Lindsay-Hill Interiors
Happy Happy Nester
Home & Fabulous
Meme Hill
Styled With Lace

Thanks so much for joining me today!  I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest posts.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!  Hope to see you soon!

Wishing you the happiest and sweetest and most memorable Valentine’s Day ever!

xoxo,

*Affiliate links used.

The post Simple Valentine’s Decor appeared first on Summer Adams.

As soon as I take down Christmas each year, I always enjoy the clean slate of my home and a fresh start to a new year.  But then I get the itch to start decorating and planning for Valentine’s Day.  It’s my second favorite holiday because I love LOVE!  There’s nothing better than celebrating the ones that mean the most to me and making an extra effort to tell them just that.  Josh and I love celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family with our children each year.  Just like my mother did, I make a big deal about this special holiday and try to make it extra special with a big dinner, tons of decorations, and gifts.  Last week, I shared a fun Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night that we did with our kids.  But today, I’ve gathered a few of my talented blogger friends to bring you “5 Ways To Wine & Dine Your Valentine.”  I decided that since I have the family celebration planned, I would also plan a romantic Valentine’s table for two and surprise my sweet husband with a very special dinner.  We did this a couple of weeks ago and was also a 2nd dinner and continued celebration for our 13th anniversary!

I’m so excited to have those of you who are here for the first time and coming from Courtney’s at French Country Cottage.  Can you believe how talented she is?  Everything she does is magical and she leaves me wanting more and more.  Such an inspiration!  To my regular readers, I love you for coming back over and over!  I love having you here and LOVE your comments and feedback.  It means so much to me, so thank you!

We moved back to Texas this last year and so we take advantage of those warm winter days in the 60’s or 70’s between January and February and sit out in the sun to enjoy the fresh air.  So that’s exactly where I wanted to create my romantic table for two.  We live just blocks from a beautiful nature preserve with so many trails and ponds and even a zipline course.  It was easy and accessible and had lots of private, cozy areas to set up in.  I grabbed a girlfriend and my kids and had their help to set everything up.  It good to have a partner-in-crime to help you pull this off if you’re making it a surprise for your Valentine.

Over the years, Josh has become soooo good at surprising me and sweeping me off my feet. I was really wanting to surprise him so I told him to meet me at this one spot at the beginning of the nature preserve on his way home from the office.  It’s right where you turn to come down our street so it really is just couple of blocks away and I love being this close to it. This is what he saw!

A surprise, remote, candle-lit dinner was not what he expected. He was so shocked and just loved it!  The sun was starting to set so it was perfect and romantic.  I grabbed a small patio table for 2 people and added my linen table cloth. This was a small table so I used my basic white beaded salad plates and a fun polka dot plate for dessert later.  It wasn’t a five-course meal or anything so it was just the right size.

Being such a small table, I didn’t have much room for anything else but some pretty flutes and a small lantern.  These flutes are so pretty and dainty that I used some small pretty blush heart napkins I found in the checkout line of Home Goods a few weeks ago (that’s where they always put those little irresistible pretties that I have to throw into my cart last minute).  I served a fruit platter (not shown as it hadn’t arrived yet) and made us mini heart chicken pot pies.  That’s one of Josh’s favorites, being a Texan boy and loving those hearty home-cooked dishes. We toasted with Sparkling Cider, another one of his favorites.

Since our table for two was so small, I also brought our smaller folding table to set other things on. I kept the color scheme very neutral with linens and white roses but I couldn’t help myself and added a couple of hints of blush.

I found these blush mercury glass vases last fall and they were the perfect choice to hold these gorgeous white roses.  I kept dessert simple and light, as we are trying to make healthier choices, and went to Whole Foods Market for some rose and vanilla macarons.  I love them and they’re so pretty.  I won’t tell you how much I wish they were big slices of chocolate shake though, haha!

On the other end of the table, I placed a picture of one of our church’s temples (in Salt Lake City) because this is where we first saw each other back in 2001.  We still remember that exact moment our eyes met from across the room.  I’m so glad it was in this lovely place because if it had been in a McDonald’s or somewhere less beautiful, we would probably have that framed here instead ha!  We are silly and sentimental like that.

To the left of the table, I decided to bring an A-frame chalkboard that I embellished with some faux blush roses and green branches, blush and white striped ribbon, and this beautiful quote written.

We have loved this quote because, for those that know our love story, we knew for a long time we wanted to get together but waited a couple of years (as I was in Portugal and he was in Guatemala as missionaries) until we were both back in the USA.  Also, after being married for some years and hearing friends say that they “weren’t sure they picked the right one” or weren’t sure if they “married their soulmate” we felt completely opposite.  We have always known that we were meant for each other AND that we made the right choice.  It’s like that saying, “Forever, for always, and no matter what!”  There’s just no doubting for either of us.  Ok….enough sappiness (for now).  Moving on…..

When I went to light the candles just as he was arriving, I stopped to admire the perfect backdrop that was just behind us.  That sun peeking through the trees was just icing on the cake.  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

To the right of our table, I set up a little cozy spot for us to sit and snuggle together after dinner.

I used the Vintage Glitter Letter Banner from my online shoppe to spell out “ALWAYS”.  I like it more than “forever”.  We know we are forever, but we want to like each other always, love each other always, be best friends always, be united and connected etcetera always!  So that’s more about the significance of that word for us.

I threw down some faux fur throw blankets, a pretty blush throw blanket, and a lantern next to this lovely box.  A present for Josh?  Nope.  Inside was a stack of just some of our letter we wrote back and forth to each other, from Portugal to Guatemala, for 2 years.  There were soooo many experiences we shared in those letters.  Hard times, the best times, really funny times…..and it’s through those letters that we got to know each other and become best friends and start to fall in love.  If our house ever caught on fire, I’m grabbing my kids and those letters!!!  They are priceless.  We laughed and rolled our eyes at some of the memories and even had some very tender moments. This was the most PERFECT way to celebrate 13 years of marriage AND have an early Valentine’s date.  This is also where we ate those delicious macarons.

The night couldn’t have gone better or been more romantic.  This is such a fun idea and really so easy.  Besides baking the Chicken Pot Pie and making my fruit platter, the only other thing I made was the floral arrangement.  The extra bodies to help set-up were very helpful but if you don’t have help, you can still do this so I encourage you to plan this surprise outdoors table for two!

These blush sequin pillows are new to my shoppe!  They are matte sequins on one side.  And if you use your finger to “draw on the pillow” and flip the sequins up, they are shiny on the other side.

That is how I made the heart on one pillow and the “S+J” on the other pillow.  So fun right?  You can also leave the all down for the matte look or switch to the all shiny side.

I’m providing the links of what I used (or something similar if not available) to create this special evening just below, for your shopping convenience.

I can’t WAIT for you to hop on over to Kelley’s blog at Kelley Nan and see what she is doing to Wine & Dine her sweet Valentine!  Kelley always has the best ideas and quite the hostess with the mostest so you’re in for a real treat!  Please make sure to also visit my 3 other talented friends listed below.  These ladies are a constant source of inspiration!  Make sure you’re saving all these fabulous ideas to Pinterest!  You could even text these links to your Valentine if you think he might appreciate the ideas.

SheLeavesALittleSparkle |  KelleyNan  |  BoxwoodAvenue

RandiGarrettDesign  |  FrenchCountryCottage

Thanks so much for joining me today!  I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest posts.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!  Hope to see you soon!

xoxo,

*Post contains affiliate links.

The post 5 Ways To Wine & Dine Your Valentine: Table For Two appeared first on Summer Adams.

It’s almost February which means my next favorite holiday will arrive soon after…Valentine’s Day! I’ve said it for years….I love LOVE! I love celebrating those that I love and mean so much to me. Josh and I are really good about going out on dates regularly, meeting for lunch, and taking vacations alone (in between family vacations with our children). But on Valentine’s Day, we make sure to spend it with our children and celebrate as a family. So many parents I’ve talked to say that it sounds like a fun idea but are not sure how to make it a fun family tradition. Well, today I’m solving that problem and bringing together some of my favorite Interior & Lifestyle Bloggers, that also happen to be some of the sweetest and most talented mothers, to share with you 11 Kids Valentine’s Party Ideas to do at home. What a FUN tour, right?! Make sure to get your fingers ready to tap and pin each of these posts to Pinterest.

Welcome to my friends who regularly visit AND big welcome to those of you visiting for the first time and are coming from Erin at Sunny Side Up. Didn’t you just love Erin’s ideas? She is darling and always so creative and talented. I love the warmth and love that oozes out of each blog post of hers.

Today I’m sharing a fun idea we had to go a little retro and have a “Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night”. I had something completely different to share with all of you and THEN my son, Beckham, said something about Mommy growing up in the old-fashioned days and wondered if we had colored TV’s. You should have seen the look on my face! I was born in the late 70’s so….yes, we had colored television. I told him that he was referring to the 50’s and since he clearly didn’t know much about the 50’s, one of my favorite eras ever, it was a no-brainer what this Valentine family night’s theme needed to be. You bet your bottom dollar that I turned on Grease and played the soundtrack as quickly as I could. It was swell! ;-p

I wanted to use everything we had and not spend much. I only purchased a few little fun things. We had poodle skirts (I’ve got them ready to go at all times ha ha), we had a vintage tea cart and soda glasses, and we had some vinyl records from another project I did. So we just needed food and music and games and we were set! And instead of using our Dining Room, I decided to keep it quaint and stay in our kitchen nook, on our little round white table. It seemed more fitting somehow.

Oh, I should point out that even though all 4 of us were present, my husband passed on the photo ops for this party and stayed with me behind the camera and, while I had my poodle skirt on, I opted out of being photographed because I’ve got a horrible cold and it shows. You’d thank me, if you could only see me ha!

I grabbed some old vinyl records that I’d purchased at The Salvation Army a while ago for $1 each and used them as chargers. I’ve had red and heart plates that I’ve collected over the years and heart napkins as well. I kept this party simple and ran to Whataburger because I thought that the whataburger menu was better than most of the other fast food places around (it’s a Texas favorite but you can also choose In-N-Out). I grabbed some burgers and fries, just the way we like ’em.

I used a small cake stand from the Target Dollar Spot for the middle of my table to act as a pedestal for my retro diner menu and salt & pepper shakers.

I’m sharing this FREE PRINTABLE I created on Photoshop for this retro diner menu with you (for personal use only, copyright laws apply). I found the sign for less than $2 at IKEA and they always carry them.

One of the things I had to order (because they added so much and were just sooooo cute) were these Classic Pink Cadillac Party Food Boxes and placed a box of chocolates in them for each member of our family. You could also add cookies or popcorn or candy, etc. They are so fun, aren’t they?! Included is the cute checkered tissue paper.

No 50’s diner would be complete without Coca Cola bottles and milkshakes. While I had intended to make strawberry milkshakes, we had some strawberry Fanta soda and vanilla ice cream so I just made these yummy Strawberry Soda Floats. Easy peasy and sooooo yummy!

As far as milkshakes go, I grabbed some yummy cupcakes from my grocery bakery and added chocolate syrup, maraschino cherries, and cut off part of a red-striped paper straw to look like a milkshake. Milkshake cupcakes….that’s what we’re calling them and they were terrific.

This vintage tea cart has made an appearance over and over in our family parties and we use it often to entertain or to hold our hot cocoa bar (search hot cocoa bar or tea cart on my blog to see all the ways I’ve used it).

Iam so glad I had it for my Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night. After dinner, we grabbed those chocolate graham crackers off the bottom shelf of the cart and all the fun candies and we made…..

….LOVE SHACKS!! (cue music) Oh, and of course our “jukebox” (a.k.a. Alexa, our Amazon Echo) was playing all of our my favorite 50’s music that I created on a playlist. Mixing a little water with powdered sugar until it’s really thick makes the perfect “cement” to put together your Love Shack.

While Brooklyn was trying for a more traditional look, Beckham had had enough and went for a more adobe-looking Love Shack….like something we’ve driven past on our drives through New Mexico. Ha! Let’s face it…all they care about is finishing it so that they can pick off the candy or eat the leftover candy. But it was so fun.

While the game Twister may have not been invented until the 60’s, it was a retro game that I know my kids love and laugh hysterically over, as they try to cheat and knock over the other person. We had to bring it out. Please tell me if this sounds familiar!

Of course, NO party is a successful party in The Adams’ Home without a dance party. The sun was setting too so it was the perfect time for a sock hop!

Aaaaaaand….they are gonna kill me one day for sharing this, I’m sure, but I can’t help myself.

Our playlist for the night included the soundtrack from Grease and also many songs from this list I found online. Oh! And “Love Shack” of course! These 50’s tunes are PERFECT for a retro Valentine’s Party!

Here are the items or similar items used that I’ve linked below for your shopping convenience and to help re-create this Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night.

Thanks so much for joining me today! I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest posts. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration! Hope to see you soon!

NEXT PARTY —> Head on over to see what my amazing friend Annie at Zevy Joy has in store for you! Every post of hers just melts my heart and I always look forward to the next!

Make sure not to miss a single party! Here are all of the hosts below:

Summer Adams (me) | Zevy Joy | A Thoughtful Place
Kindred Vintage Co. | Eleven Gables | Pink Peppermint Design | Ella Claire
House Of Five | Elliven Studio | Craftberry Bush | Sunny Side Up

Wishing you the Happiest Valentine’s Day, celebrated with the one(s) you love most!

xoxo,

The post Soda Shoppe Valentine’s Family Night appeared first on Summer Adams.

Whether you’re single or not, Valentine’s Day has become a popular holiday to also celebrate friendships.  Women all over the world are celebrating “GALentine’s Day” with fun luncheons, brunches, girls’ nite outs, parties or just swinging by to say, “I love you and I’m so glad we are friends.”  I love it!  There’s nothing like having a good group of women that support you and love you and always have your back.  So of course, it makes perfect sense to acknowledge them as well.  I’ve rounded up a bunch of affordable gifts (mostly from $10-$50) from beauty and apparel to home decor and sweets in this GALentine Gift Guide to help give you some ideas.  Click on any image and it will take you to the store!

I absolutely love this new necklace called “You’re Making Me Blush”.

Our Large Rhinestone Bow Bangle is always a favorite and such a pretty gift to give a friend.

This gorgeous Pink & Khaki Plaid Blanket Scarf is a gorgeous gift and much more affordable than the Burberry original.

If you’re not getting anything for your Galentines, maybe you could make them a plate of cookies or send them a nice card?  I like to do this every year.

Excuse the iPhone picture from 2015, but you get how cute they are right?!

I ordered these ones and they came in these cute little boxes (I purchased a dozen).  I put on my soft lips sweater and spent a day delivering them to my girlfriends with a big hug and told them how much I adored them.  You should try it!  It is the most fun and it means so much to your girlfriends!

Here are some great cookie sources you can order from (scroll right to see more):

And some cute tops with lips or hearts too!

I hope this motivates you to do something fun this year.  If it’s not your thing, well then show yourself a little love and grab some of these cute things above for YOU!  Or you can even send this link to your significant other for some gift ideas…ha!

I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest posts.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!  Hope to see you soon!
Wishing you a very Happy GALentine’s Day and hope this gift guide was helpful!

xoxo,

The post GALentine Gift Guide 2017 appeared first on Summer Adams.