Girls Night Out: SFGDiary Calligraphy Cocktail Party with Poppyjack Shop

I do declare – those girls of SFGDiary are just the cutest!!! And did I mention the MOST fun?

This group of girls was so fun! Some of my favorite femmes, including the ladies, Hannah from The Little Market, Allison & Rachel from LaurenConrad.com (and, yes, the lovely Lauren, herself), Stephanie from Styled by Noir, Mara from M Loves M, Courtney from Poppyjack and those sweet SFG girls, Jackie, Lauren and Valorie!

So, when they invited about 8 of us girls to head on over last night to Valorie’s for a calligraphy, crafts and cocktail girls night out with calligraphy expert, Poppyjack Shop, I didn’t bat an eyelash before promptly sending in my RSVP.

I arrived to the warmest, most welcoming tablescape,

Can you say, BEAUTIFUL??!

and to this cuteness:

The spread at the home of Valorie Darling of SFGDiary *Photo by Poppyjack Shop

And can you even believe how cute this is?

Popcorn with add-ons, including garlic parsley butter, vanilla protein powder and sugar and spice. LOVE this!

We toasted, sipped, munched and mingled for a bit, but then…it was time to get down to business. Calligraphy business.

We all had the same idea going into the night. We all thought that we were going to be calligraphy QUEENS. We were already preparing our speeches, “No, REALLY,girls! It really IS my first time. No, I’m not a professional. That’s so sweet of you to say. Oh, if I only had time for another career. Courtney of Poppyjack Shop is just an excellent teacher.”

Well, one thing about that little fantasy is true: Courtney of Poppyjack Shop is one uber-talented teacher. And her calligraphy? Well, let’s just say you’re welcome for the introduction to the calligrapher you’ll be using for all of your weddings, showers and soirees for the next 30 years.

But the students? Ummmm…well, we tried.

Trying. Really, really trying. And having a lot of fun doing it!

There were a few shining ones among us – I’m looking at you, Mara, Allison, Lauren Conrad and Rachel – but the rest of us, well, we just had fun.

Girls night out with SFGDiary - Let's learn calligraphy, shall we?

And I’m not at all ashamed to admit that I was by far the least gifted calligrapher. So much so, that I decided to celebrate it with the art form I, ahem, learned.

My main lesson learned? I'm not a calligrapher. But that didn't stop me from making a Christmas gift tag for Oprah. Oh! And did I mention I spilled ink on Valorie's tablecloth. I am the BEST guest. Ever. (Sorry, Val!!)

My takeaway? While I love the art of calligraphy, I now know that I do not possess that gift and the best takeaway of all? I know EXACTLY who I’ll call when I need it done. Instead of GhostBusters, she’s the PostBusters. Get it? Because she’ll create beautiful custom calligraphy for envelopes and invites and such?? Oh, never mind.

Thanks again, SFGDiary for a night of new and old friends, and talented and inspiring women who love creating, love to try new things, are willing to take risks, respect other girls, are good role models and are able to laugh at themselves throughout it all. It was so much fun that I’m already planning another girls night for December. Who’s up for cupcake decorating classes with Magnolia Bakery?

**Please check out the goodness of my fellow guests:
SFGDiary

Poppyjack Shop

LaurenConrad.com

M Loves M

Styled By Noir

The Little Market

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What “Girls Night Out” task should we tackle next?

Friday Funday: Wednesdays at Sunset at The London West Hollywood

To me, Summer 2013 will always be about rooftop Wednesdays at Sunset at The London West Hollywood.

On the rooftop of The London West Hollywood reflecting on all of the friends, fun and fine tunes Summer 2013 has brought into my world

I imagine I will forever think of that rooftop – set to the sounds of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” – as the frozen video of Summer 2013. And what a magical memory to have!

I have spent a few “Wednesdays at Sunset” at The London West Hollywood and each one has been better than the last. But I have to say the best one I’ve had yet was when I hosted a Rooftop Cabana Cocktail Party for my favorite blogger-friends a few weeks ago.

Hosting a cabana party for a few of my blogger friends at Wednesdays at Sunset at The London West Hollywood

 

Between the delightful conversation with my fellow bloggers, new friends meeting each other and delicious bites and cocktails, it was my favorite event of the year thus far!

The attendees at my Blogger Cabana Cocktail Party on the rooftop of The London West Hollywood

I get by with a little help from my friends...and with the help of the beautiful setting of The London West Hollywood

We snacked on seafood cocktail, BBQ chicken flat breads, the LA Street Dog and delicious marshmallow cupcakes and sipped Strongbow Mimosas which were DIVINE!

The delicious details at The London West Hollywood "Wednesdays at Sunset"

And with our soundtrack set to the spins of Infamous DJs, we were in summer heaven!

My guests included the Beauty Professor, Spoiled Little LA Girls, Skinny Fat Girl Diary, Jennifer Chan of E!, Rose Curiel of E!, Whitney Lader of hoopLA, Hostess Handbook, Elle contributor Ashley Terrill, Jessica Yudin of The Fetch Betch LA & FabFitFun and more!

 And everyone was delighted to receive L’Oreal Paris giftbags courtesy of L’Oreal Paris USA and Corbis Entertainment!

 

Jess Garvey of Hostess Handbook (on left) with her luxe L'Oreal Paris USA gift bag!

I want to extend a special THANK YOU to our gracious hosts, The London West Hollywood (of course!) and my fairy godmother, Gina Wade Creative. This wouldn’t have been possible without your imagination, generosity and amazing service  – not to mention – the most fab hotel, and rooftop, in town!

I'm always smiling at The London West Hollywood!

 

‘Til next time, my beloved London…

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What defines Summer 2013 to you?