V-day is around the corner and whether you’re single or attached, we think it’s the perfect time to celebrate your love for the ones who are always there for you – your ladies! Planning get-togethers can sometimes feel intimidating and time-consuming but they don’t have to! Today I’m sharing some tips to make hosting your own Galentine’s Day party as easy as 1,2,3!

The Décor

First things, first, let’s talk décor! One of my personal favorites about Valentine’s Day (besides the sweets!) is the décor and it’s the perfect place to start when you’re planning your party. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Create a focal point
Living in a studio in NYC, my space is pretty limited so I have to pick one corner of my apartment to decorate, but the same concept applies for no matter where you live. Pick one table, a bar or a bar cart to highlight your party décor.  You don’t have to decorate your whole place to be festive. Pick one spot and do it right!

Tablecloths are a party’s best friend
Tablecloths are one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to transform a space from every day to party-ready. Plus they make cleanup a breeze.

Shop for props
The dollar bins at Target and Michaels can go a long way for your Galentine’s Day party! In fact, almost everything I purchased for my party was from both stores. I love the dollar bins because they always have the cutest holiday décor and you know it won’t break the bank. Here are some of my favorite options to pick up:

• Banners – One of my favorite ways to decorate for a party is by adding a banner. Often you can find these in the dollar bins either that are already festive or plain, allowing you to decorate them just the way you want.
• Napkins & paper plates – Skip the dishes and grab some cute options in the dollar bins for your party.
• Stationary – Cute stationary is always one of my go-tos for goody bags. Another way I like to use them is by laying them out on your table for decoration or using them as place setting cards.
• Paper straws – This classic item adds an extra dose of cuteness to whatever you are drinking.
• Confetti – Add a little confetti to a table and it already looks like a party!

The Sips
Because a party isn’t quite a Galentine’s Day party without something to drink!

It’s all about the hot chocolate bar
Take a break from mimosas and bellinis for this party and host your very own hot chocolate bar. Perfect for the winter season, a hot chocolate bar is a fun way to celebrate and very easy to put together. I suggest mixing up some hot chocolate in a crockpot so that you can make a large amount and keep it warm throughout your party. The great thing about creating a toppings bar too is everyone can customize their own drink just how they’d like.

Here are some ideas to create your toppings bar:

• Marshmallows
• Flavored syrups
• Candy hearts
• Chocolate chips
• Sprinkles
• Whipped cream

Want to add a little booze to your hot chocolate bar too? Add in some of your favorite liquor and even try out arecipe or two.

The Bites
Valentine’s Day is all about the treats so this Galentine’s Day party will have no shortage of sweets! Here are some easy ideas to put together.

Create a donut decorating bar
You don’t have to overcomplicate things either! If you don’t have time to bake your own donuts, buy a box of plain ones at the store and focus on the best part – the frosting! For this party I whipped up some classic whipped cream frosting with a touch of food coloring. Pick your favorite frosting recipe or even just pick up a can at the store. The fun is in the decorating with a variety of sprinkles!

Sugar cookie or cupcake decorating bar
If donuts aren’t your thing, you can try the same concept with sugar cookies or cupcakes. Whatever fits your fancy, it will all be tasty!

Add some sprinkles to your popcorn
Another fun snack idea is Valentine’s Popcorn. Add some white chocolate, a little salt, and sprinkles and you’ll have a delicious treat in only a few minutes! Add it into some cute paper bags, and your quick snack will look all sorts of festive.

Now that you have some inspiration, it’s time to plan your very own Galentine’s Day party! Have fun ladies and happy Valentine’s Day! 

Guest Blog originally published on CarryLove Designs

Well hello everyone! I'm so excited about today's post! Now that the sunshine is here to stay (it's been in the high 80's all week) it's officially balcony season. I moved into my apartment at the end of last summer in August so this is going to be my first full season with outdoor space and I'm so pumped about it!

If you've followed any of my home decor posts in the past you probably know that I LOVE color -- bright, fabulous, bold colors! I'm also a big fan of patterns and definitely not afraid to layer. So it probably won't surprise you when I tell you that my goal for my outdoor decor was to have one of the brightest balconies in the city. And while I haven't seen every patio and balcony in the city, I'm going to go on a limb and say I think I nailed the color part ;-)

Something I had been looking forward to all winter was the second the weather turned for the better so I could pick out new flowers for my planters. So as soon as it warmed up I headed to the farmer's market as fast as I could!

I've always loved Gerbera Daisies so I decided they were a great choice for my planters! I've never had much of a green thumb but I also decided to give my go at a little garden this year too. I picked up romaine lettuce, strawberries, basil, mint, a mini tomato plant, and some lilac! 

I had to plant things a little closer because I was tight on space but I got a really great deal on plants so I decided it wasn't too bad of a spend if I ended up killing everything. I mean I've killed succulents before.. so I wasn't setting the bar too high.

Without further ado, onto the decor! I switched things up a little this year to make the space a little more functional for the way I like to use it.  

That included buying a couple of lounge chairs to make the space a little more comfy! I love coming home and just relaxing outside and these chairs are perfect for that. Plus I can easily fold them up and slide them aside when I want a little more open space.

Right now I have 3 distinct little areas. My lounge chairs, my bench and then my table. Also not pictured are my BBQ and fire pit in the far left corner.

Here's both chairs in action when Chris is out on the balcony with me! Good news too! My plants are killing it!

And guess what! My first strawberries came in and I cut some of my lettuce and have used it for a couple of dinners! Just call me urban farmer Anna ;-)

I can't wait for many more nights out here this summer! Hope you guys enjoyed my space!

Coming off of the end of my moving series it only seems appropriate that I shared a little decor inspiration, right?! That’s what I thought too! Which is why when the crew over at Chairish reached out to me with a design challenge, you know I couldn’t say no! 

Living in a rental can be a little challenging with design sometimes because you have more restrictions in terms of what you can do. Simple things like painting and fixtures are generally out of the picture so you have to get a little bit more creative with your furnishings to highlight your space. Not to mention you don’t always want to buy pieces that might not work in a future space. 

So what’s a renter to do? Focus on the things you can customize and have fun with your space! Whether you’re going to be there a year or 5+, I think it’s so important to make a space your own and make it really feel like home. There are so many awesome ways to get inspiration these days too! Whether it’s blogs, design magazines (like my favorite HGTV magazine), TV, Pinterest, there are so many great options to get ideas from for a starting point! Take a look around and get a good idea of what really is or isn’t your style.  

My advice is to find some key pieces that are versatile. I love color and pattern, but I’d prefer to buy a neutral couch that I can jazz up with different pillows than something too crazy that I might not like as much a few years down the road. By mixing neutrals in with statement pieces, you can really make a space your own.

My style tends to be bold and colorful. To me, there’s nothing better than walking into a fun and brightly decorated space. For this reason, I picked out some fun key pieces from Chairish’s Mid-Century collection for my inspiration board to bring out color as well as some texture. Something I really like about mid-century design is it’s pretty structured with clean lines, which makes it easy to work into your design no matter what your style is. 

Atomic Geometric Print | Tufted Sofa | Industrial Painted Bar Cart | Bar Stools | Mori Shizume- New York Skyline Silkscreens | Yellow Ceramic Pendant | Vintage Liquor Bottles | Lucite Barware Set 

I picked the neutral blue couch because I love the tufting on it along with the color. Pair it with some fun throw pillows and a faux fur along the back and the couch would be the perfect spot to get cozy on! Plus, it’s big enough to double as a bed if you’re living in a studio like I am in the city. Next up, I picked the awesome geometric chair. I love the coloring and pattern on this one and think it would be the perfect statement piece for a living room. With bold throw pillows and the chair, I’d probably suggest rounding out the space with simple coffee tables and a neutral rug.

Another trend I refuse to get over is bar carts. My bar cart continues to be one of my favorite pieces in my studio and I love the industrial flair that this one from Chairish has. Bar carts are so much fun because you can display fun glasses (which I totally have a glass buying addition – yes, that’s a real thing) along with all of your party essentials. I just think it’s such a fun way to display your things, no matter what they on such a timeless piece.

My last set of choices include the bar stools, which are perfect for city living. Space is tight and chances are you probably won’t have room for a full dining room table so bar stools can be perfect for your built in bar or if you have a pub table. Wrap it all together with some other fun mid-century accessories and your apartment is already on its way to looking colorful and fabulous! I hope this sparks a little home decor inspiration for you or gets you thinking about your style!