Became My Own Event Planner

I threw a birthday party or as my invite said: Nana's Birthday Soirée. The theme was a cocktail party, tagline being 'come dressed to impress'. I confirmed the theme after I bought and tried on the dress I ordered, of course. I had a vision for it, did a ton of prep in advance and made it come to life! I felt like an event planner getting all the specific things together in hosting this. It honestly did take up quite a bit of my time. A lot of comparing prices, looking up items, pinning on Pinterest for ideas and going on errands to gather all the things I needed. I wanted a particular vibe and certain things.. and I learned a lot, it was my first time doing something like this and being the host. I was definitely a bit on edge and anxious the day before and day of getting everything in order. Shout out to my sister for dealing with me and helping me SO MUCH - I got things done way quicker with her help setting up.

I had a lovely and very creative friend who offered ideas as a sounding board. My sister also took care of things during my party. Myy friends offered help in unanticipated ways such as tagging along when I was running party errands, sending me cocktail recipes, and renting out a speaker! I'm really glad I had this party because it was worth it to celebrate with my friends.

I LOVE the cocktail menu I created! I think astrology can be fun and I have to admit that I love being a Libra, so I'm proud of coming up with these libra inspired cocktail names! The cocktail menu on display is not up to date because I made bigger batches and some changes the day of so this is the correct cocktail menu and the recipes for 8 oz:

Nana's Cosmic Cocktails

Triple Libra

~Lychee Martini

3 oz lychee juice, 1.5 oz elderflower liquor, 2 oz vodka, 1.5 oz lemon juice

Optional: 3 lychees on a cocktail pick

Ruler of Venus

~Bay Breeze

3.5 oz cranberry juice, 2 oz pineapple juice, 2.5 oz vodka

Optional: strawberry on the rim, edible glitter in the drink

Golden Scales

6 oz pineapple juice, 2 oz rum

Optional: edible glitter on a small pineapple chunk on cocktail pick & in the drink

The edible glitter was SO fun! I loved that detail, my friend came up with the idea and decided to order it for me to use. The Lychee Martinis were a big hit! Everyone loved them - for good reason because it really was DELICIOUS. I bought 20 plastic martini glasses and 20 plastic cocktail glasses from party city. My sister is a saint and superglued the bottom that attaches of all 40, it could've been fine I'm sure but I was just a bit nervous and paranoid since I didn't want an accident to happen if the bottom came off. I made enough to fill 24 martini glasses (I had 4 actual glass martini glasses) and extra that went into a pitcher. I made 10 each of the 2 other drinks to fill the cocktail glasses.

I bought a black sheer chiffon table runner to go across my glass table to help set the fancy mood. I set up a charcuteries board that I borrowed. I already had the fake candles to help light the table as well as everything else I put on the table. I bought the display stand at Target but can't find a link for it.

Counter Organizer

Cocktail Picks

I moved everything and re-organized my living room, moving furniture to my room so it could be an open space. I left my dining table and I also had a little bartender station with alcohol, juices, and a cocktail shaker set so people could make their own drinks. Over the bartender station area is where my kitchen light is so I switched out the bulb for one that you can change colors on an app, I wanted the lighting to be moody and red. I don't have that link because I bought it at costco and forget the brand but should be a quick and easy google search. I had a string of lights (gifted) on the bottom floor of my hallway leading to the bathroom to keep the low lighting and vibe going, with a few of the LED candles on the bathroom counter.

I hunted for a spotlight stand! Of course, I had a Pinterest board where I was pinning inspiration for this birthday soirée and I loved the idea of having a spotlight for photos. It worked great, you're able to adjust the neck, change the brightness and even adjust the spotlight to make it smaller, all without having to connect to an app, which would've been fine but sometimes it can be a hassle. I liked that you can adjust everything directly on the product. I do wish you could change the warmth of the light and it would've been cool if you were able to change the color like with the sunset lamp.

I LOVE the photos my friends and I all took by creating this lighting and mood.

I had such a good time - I'm so happy with all my friends who came and celebrated with me. I felt so much joy when each person trickled in. I have to say, it was a successful event planned and executed according to my vision.