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In our neighborhood we love getting together on game day for a good football party with food, a few drinks and a healthy dose of friendly rivalry, so last year for the big game we hosted a game day chili cook-off! We asked friends to show up with a crock of their best chili and passed out ballots so everyone could taste and vote on their favorites. This year I’ve teamed up with Uber to share some fun tips for hosting your own chili cook-off complete with really fun printable ballots designed by Erika Firm! Uber shares my passionate belief that it’s always better to be a #DesignatedRider over driving when you’re celebrating with friends, and I am an avid Uber user for that exact reason.

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This post was sponsored by Dr. Oetker Virtuoso Pizza. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make The Sweetest Occasion possible! In our town going out for Bloody Marys is a longstanding New Year’s Day tradition to the point where some folks skip New Year’s Eve festivities entirely in order to better partake in the Bloody …

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This post was sponsored by Keurig Green Mountain®. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make The Sweetest Occasion possible! When I think about entertaining during the holidays, I like things to feel really fun and special for friends and family, but not at the expense of my sanity. We have a huge family and …

Read More about A Spike Your Own Hot Cocoa Station for the Holidays

This post was sponsored by Eagle Brand. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make The Sweetest Occasion possible! Baking cookies around the holidays has a long, sweet history in my family. I remember gathering as a kid with my mom, grandmother and aunts to mix, roll, cut and bake cookies for an entire weekend …

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This post was sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make The Sweetest Occasion possible! This time of year is right around the time where I start getting a little antsy for spring. The glimmer of the holidays has long since faded, but warm weather still feels so far …

Read More about Hosting An Impromptu Snow Day Board Game Party

This post was sponsored by Skinnygirl® Cocktails. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make The Sweetest Occasion possible! Back in March when I was in New York at the Skinnygirl® Cocktails Influencer Summit along with a bunch of other awesome ladies, we had the opportunity to take a really fun cooking class and enjoy lunch together …

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Today we’re giving up on fighting winter and embracing all of her cold, snowy wonder by revisiting this real party feature from way back in 2010. This backyard ice skating party is one of the most popular parties I’ve ever featured! Created by event planner Kate of Beautiful Days, it’s all the things I love about winter. …

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I was so excited to see this gorgeous Valentine’s Day dinner party from Nicole D Photography hit my inbox, because it’s a whole lot of things I love. Drawing inspiration from the now ubiquitous Park & Rec Galentine’s Day party episode, Nicole went totally glam and girly when pulling this celebration together. It’s all about your best friends, …

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We’re ushering in the New Year with a look back at this colorful and festive New Year’s Eve party that Mindy Kaisner of Modern Mindy planned last year for a group of girlfriends. Mindy is an interior designer turned event planner, and with this party she was all about bringing the sparkle with a fun at-home party that’s …

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This post was sponsored by Kendall-Jackson. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that so generously help The Sweetest Occasion keep on keepin’ on! Last week I hosted an impromptu gift wrapping party and invited a couple of my best friends to spend an afternoon with me wrapping gifts, sipping wine and stuffing ourselves with Christmas cookies. …

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I make no secret of the fact that I love putting a non-romantic spin on Valentine’s Day. Remember how in elementary school Valentine’s Day was all about passing out little notes and candy to your friends? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. After sharing my take on a girlfriend-friendly Valentine’s Day with pretty DIY mini bouquets last …

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