Party – Francois et Moi

A Fitger’s Affair

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 13:00:39 +0000

This past weekend Ken and I stopped in at Fitger’s while in Duluth for an obligatory (ha!) growler exchange at the Brewhouse. (Have you tried their Apricot Wheat Beer? It’s crazy good.) On our way out of the complex, we passed through the courtyard where we held our wedding reception 2 years prior and saw there was another wedding reception underway that evening. It brought back such fun memories of that night, so I thought I’d post a few photos and share our experience in case anyone is considering tying the knot in Duluth. Just over two years ago, we held our wedding reception at The Fitger‘s Brewery Courtyard which overlooks the great Lake Superior, and the idea was to host a classic and elegant dinner party–not too fussy and overdone. Instead, focusing on simple elements to set a relaxed, but thoughtful tone. The Brewery’s distressed exterior brick created the perfect backdrop, while oversized cafe lights dressed the Courtyard providing an ambient glow as the sun went down. We were concerned that the weather might not cooperate, but it was a beautiful Duluth evening–no wind or misquitoes to speak of. We really lucked out! During the cocktail hour we served Fitger‘s Brewhouse pints, grapefruit mojitos, and a mix of antipasti hors d’oeuvres. Ice cream cones were scooped from a vintage ice cream vendor cart while […]

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5 Ideas for Throwing an Al Fresco Dinner Party

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 13:07:28 +0000

Summer is fleeting us. And it’s about this time every summer that I start to freak out a little. Fall is just around the corner, yet it feels like summer just got here, and it becomes painfully clear there are tons of things I still want to do before it turns cold. Anyone else feel the same? Relishing summer nights with good friends over good food is one of those things I can never quite get enough of. So I thought I’d share a few ideas and inspiration to throw one last al fresco dinner party this summer, whether it’s in your backyard or a pop up party in a park. Let’s make the most of these last few weeks. Cheers! Position your dining table under a tree, and use the branches as a framework to string cafe lights. Keep the tablescape simple (and easy!) with a single type of plant or flower, and of course candles. Layer hard surfaces with blankets and pillows for a cozy effect. Focus on fresh simple ingredients that can be prepared ahead of time. This way you’ll spend more time outside with your guests and less time in the kitchen. Keep the vibe laid back and playful with prosecco + popsicles for dessert! Imagery: Lights | Tablescape […]

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2 Years Wed

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:05:06 +0000

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is to love and be loved in return. [Unforgettable]” – Nat King Cole 2 years. And oh have they flown. Happy 2nd anniversary to KenFrancois, my partner, my rock, my comic relief, and my love in this crazy life. Cheers to relishing each moment together! Ken’s Suit: Banana Republic Gingham Tie: Ben Sherman My Dress: Custom Photography by Eric Lundren.

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Seize the Summer: Drive-in Movies

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:56:29 +0000

When Ken suggested we go to a drive-in movie last Friday night, my initial thought was no short of nostalgic. What lept to mind were rows of Cadillacs, girls in poodle skirts with dainty scarves adorning their pony tails, silhouetted soda-pop bottles and buttered popcorn for days. My second thought was, ‘Do we even have one around here?’ The last time I’d heard anything about a drive-in movie theater was a few years ago when many of them seemed to be closing their doors: a by-gone chapter in America’s history it had seemed. Well much to my surprise, drive-in movies are very much still a hoppin’ summertime event! Almost a subculture of families, groups of friends, kids on dates (even married ones like us) all gathered for a triple movie feature beneath the evening dusk sky. We pulled up to Vali-Hi Drive-in’s ticket window about 45 minutes before the first movie began to find the theater over 3/4 full and bustling. Though the tangible era markers have changed, the heart of the drive-in movie is every bit the same. The concessions are still serving up the usual menu of popcorn, pop and ice cream, the black and white photo booth is still snapping away shots behind the drawn curtain, […]

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How to Take Spectacular Long Exposure Sparkler Photos

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:31:43 +0000

Happy 4th of July everybody! If you plan to celebrate with sparklers tonight, bring your camera along and capture some long exposure graphic sparkler shots while making memories all at the same time! It’s easier than you might think, and One Good Thing by Jillee breaks it down for us. Thanks Jillee! Have fun and be safe! Photo via One Good Thing by Jillee.

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Anchor(age) Away!

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 13:25:37 +0000

Uffda, it’s been a busy week! Tonight Ken and I fly through the night to Anchorage, Alaska, to celebrate my cousin Julie and her husband John recently tying the knot! And while we’re at it, we plan to also celebrate the 4th of July with family and explore America’s last frontier–we’re going whale watching! It’s our first time up there, so if you have a favorite restaurant, brewery, hiking trail or local shop, please let us know–we’d more than love your suggestion! And with the 4th of July just 2 days away, here are three star-spangled links to get you party ready: The House That Lars Built has some pretty rad handmade projects to help make your Holiday a festive one! Especially the American Flag Bunting and the Picnic Blanket. This gorgeous and simple angel food cake from A Beautiful Mess would make a great addition to any Independence Day spread. I’m loving this 4th of July outdoor bar + white sangria recipe from Everyday Occasions!

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Picnic Season

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:17:09 +0000

Though spring is really taking its sweet time getting here, it hasn’t stopped me from ogling all the fantastic picnic gear that’s out there right now. Packing a lunch, hopping on our bikes and having a picnic by one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes on a Saturday afternoon is one of my favorite things to do when the weather warms up. Here are a few picnic accessories I hope to incorporate into our Saturday afternoon repertoire this season! 1. Portable Radio | 2. Picnic Tote | 3. A French Picnic Menu | 4. Glass Beverage Bottle | 5. Wooden Picnic Flatware | 6. Lawn Checkers | 7. Ticking Stripe Merino Wool Blanket | 8. A Perfect Day for a Picnic

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Birthday Sparkler Source

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:14:14 +0000

A few people have inquired where I scored these crazy sparkler birthday candles for Ken’s birthday, so I thought I’d share! I had to do a bit of research to find these, because I wasn’t quite sure what they were actually called. I’d really only heard of them being served atop desserts in french restaurants for birthday celebrations, and wasn’t even sure they were sold in the US. In the end, I was happy to find them at Custom Sparx, a Florida company that specializes in custom sparklers. They’re available in a ton of colors, and I stocked up on a few extra gold ones for my party stash, so they’d be versatile for any event we wanted to use them for in the future. They don’t come with instructions, so we were a bit nervous when lighting this bad boy (which is why we lit it on a small table close to our balcony door!), but there was no need to be–they are completely safe for indoors. Just make sure the pointed end of the candle is securely placed into the cupcake or cake, light, and enjoy! The large flame shoots out of the tube, lasts for about 30 seconds and is quite […]

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A Few Key Sources: Part 2

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:51:55 +0000

I’ve been meaning to post Part 2 of the DIY projects we did for our friend, Megan’s Shower for a while now (see Part 1 here), and I’ve finally got it all pulled together, so here we go! I’m usually not a party favor kind of person for showers or weddings, but I came across this sweet flower favor idea over at Art Social. Have you checked out her blog? It’s pretty awesome. And Briony and I thought these would be fun for the shower, since flowers are something that can be enjoyed for a few days after the shower without adding long-term clutter to your home. To keep the flowers hydrated, I picked up water tubes from my florist friend, Molly Yee, of Studio Emme, but you can also purchase them on eBay (see link below). I assembled the favors the morning of the shower to make sure the flowers stayed fresh until the end of the party when we’d hand them out. With a little help from Ken, the 10 favors came together in about an hour, and seemed to be a hit at the shower. Here’s how they came together: Fresh Flowers | Water Tubes | Kraft Paper | Washi Tape Step 1. Trim […]

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100 & Counting….

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:20:40 +0000

Today’s post is a special one as this is Francois et Moi’s 100th post! It’s crazy to think that I’ve been blogging for 5 months already. I remember that cloudy Thursday morning when I hit “Publish” on my first post; I really had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I wanted Francois et Moi to be a creative space where I could corral my favorite things and share projects and inspiration. I feel like I’ve learned so much in the past 5 months, not only about blogging but also about myself. It’s been a wild ride leading up to the 100th post–can’t wait for the 1000th one! To celebrate this mini milestone, I thought I share the photo from my Twinkly Toast post that was featured on GoodMorningAmerica.com’s story, Everything You Need to Know to Throw the Ultimate Oscar Party on Monday. I’m so honored to be included! Have a killer day everyone!

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A Few Key Sources: Part 1

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:45:38 +0000

I thought I’d share some of our sources from the shower in case you’re throwing a shower of your own! Part One is all about the DIY Wood Blocks. Here’s what you need to know: The DIY Wood Blocks project is a great replacement for shower games and is a fun, extra little gift for the mom-to-be and baby. All you need are paint pens or permanent markers, unfinished wood blocks, alphabet stencils, scissors, and masking tape. Paint Pens | Unfinished Wood Blocks | Alphabet Stencils Prep: Prior to the shower, cut the alphabet stencil in between the letters and numbers, so that each letter/number is it’s own little stencil. At the Shower: Designate a “station” for block decorating. Use masking tape to hold the stencil in place while coloring it in. To prevent the paint from bleeding underneath the stencil, it seemed best to work quickly when coloring in the stencil. Then remove the stencil right away afterwards.

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A Showering

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 13:31:59 +0000

As I mentioned last week, Briony and I hosted a baby shower on Saturday for our friend Megan, who along with hubby, Thann, is expecting a baby girl at the end of March. I had such a fun afternoon celebrating the mama-to-be with an incredible group of girls! It’s obvious how loved Megan is; despite the crazy weather, she had friends drive from all over to be there: Milwaukee, Duluth, and one friend even flew in from Chicago! We served a spread of sweets and fruit and Briony made an amazing chai tea. In lieu of games, we decorated building blocks for Megan to take home, and we all pitched in to surprise her with the stroller she registered for. Then at the end of the afternoon, we sent everyone home with fresh tulips as a ‘thank you’ for joining us. It was such a happy day–thank you AGAIN to everyone who braved the elements to be there, and a heartfelt congratulations to our girl, Megan!

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