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Top Posts of 2016 - A Well Crafted Party
Blog Maintanence

The Best of A Well Crafted Party in 2016

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One of my favorite things to do every year is to sit down and recap my year and think about how I am going to go forward. I gotta say… finding my life/work/blog balance has been hard this year. I didn’t get to all my plans for the year and certainly didn’t blog as consistently in the past. However, I am very proud of some of the content I created this year! I also did see about a 7.5% growth in my blog and that makes me feel like I am at least on the right track even if the growth was slower than I had hoped.

All in all the most popular posts for A Well Crafted Party are about cocktails or blogging. Parties and Parenting posts come in right behind.

The top five posts of the year on A Well Crafted Party:

2016 Blog Planner Announcement was the top post of 2016! The 2017 planner is coming soon!

Top Post Published in 2016: 2016 Blog Planner

2016 Blog Planner has been my most popular post that was published in 2016. Of course, the 2017 planner will be out before the end of 2016 so stay tuned!

My working moms series was the second most view post of 2016 - A Well Crafted Party

Second Most Visited Post Published in 2016: Working Moms Series

Working Moms: Pharmacist, Pregnant Mother of One was second up. The whole Working Moms series was a favorite of mine this year and several of the posts came in as the top posts for the year.

These Red Vines cocktails and NA drinks were among the most popular posts on A Well Crafted Party

Third Most Visited Post Published in 2016: Red Vines Cocktail

Halloween Cocktail & NA Beverage with Red Vines— Evidently candy and cocktails go together!

Cute and Casual Style for Boys — A Well Crafted Party

Fourth Most Visited Post Published in 2016: Brother Style

Brother Style: Kid Casual Style— I can see why readers like this one… the boys are pretty cute together.

Best of A Well Crafted Party 2016: Blueberry Tangerine Cocktail

Fifth Most Visited Post Published in 2016: Blueberry Tangerine Cocktail

Saturday Spirits: Blueberry Tangerine Cocktail— Tastes like Summer!

 

Most viewed post in 2016 was actually a post written in 2015:

For the Love of Amaretto

Top Posts on A Well Crafted Party: Love of Amaretto

Best Blogger Moments in 2016:

Sometimes I am in absolutely awe that I get to have the job that I do. I never in a million years would have imagined this life for myself when planning my future. I will always be grateful for the experiences I’ve been able to enjoy as a blogger and for the stories I get to share with readers. My top moments of 2016 include:

Holiday Party Tips on KATU Afternoon Live - A Well Crafted Party

  1. Working Moms Series: Interviewing and sharing the stories of working moms. This series meant the most to me. I really can’t thank the people that helped me pull it off and the moms involved enough.
  2. My work printed in a magazine! I loved that my story got featured in Momma Bear Magazine this year.
  3. I got to be on the radio and TV (twice)! I shared last minute Halloween tips on KATU in October, Thanksgiving tips on the Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving show on Simple Kitchen with Missy Maki in November, and  last-minute holiday tips on KATU in December.

My personal favorite posts of 2016:

Boy, I have so many posts that are on my top personal posts of the year. The working moms series is at the very top of that list. However, right after that I’d put my series on my 10th Anniversary Party. These posts didn’t get nearly as many pageviews as I first imagined they would… but, BOY it was the best party I’ve ever thrown and there were some seriously amazing photos done by photographer Mary Boyden.

Instagram Top 9:

jennibost best nine

Do you follow me on Instagram? If so you might have seen these top nine posts!

 

Are you a long time reader? If so, what was your favorite post (or topic) of 2016? Share in the comments! I’d like to bring that into the New Year!

 

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Holiday Party Tips on KATU Afternoon Live - A Well Crafted Party
Christmas

Last Minute Holiday Party Tips

11 Comments Christmas

The holidays are seriously right around the corner and I am a little bit shocked. I still have my stocking stuffer gift guides coming to the blog and lots of holiday shopping that still needs to be done. YIKES! This weekend will likely be a big holiday party weekend and I was thrilled to be asked back to KATU’s Afternoon Live to share my last minute holiday party tips.

Here is my spot! Scroll below to look for links to some of the items discussed on this clip.

 

Holiday Party Tips

Below are some of the tips I shared in my segment and some great links to more tips, recipes, ideas, and DIYs. I also snapped a few behind the scene photos from yesterdays shoot and have shared them below.

Think of people’s schedules. 

My favorite type of holiday party to host is an Open House style party so that people can come and go as they please and still make it to any other holiday obligations they may have. Brunch time parties, late afternoon, or early evening are great times for an Open House style party. Avoid dinner time as you would want to serve heavier foods and more people have plans during the holidays at dinner time.

Holiday Party Decor Tips - Behind the Scenes at KATU - A Well Crafted Party
The Holiday Party Decor Tips Segment Set-Up before rolling on screen!

Decorate with What You Have 

Use items from your own holiday decor or that will coordinate with your holiday decor to decorate for your holiday party. Use natural elements such as garlands and rosemary Christmas trees as decoration as well. (See the Natural Green & White Holiday Party for more ideas.)

 

Pick a color scheme and use it throughout the party.

Pick a color scheme that coordinates with the holiday decor items you are using and extend that throughout the party to make everything look like it goes together. (Use balloons on stemless beverage-ware to make your glasses stand out and coordinate. This tip has been on a lot of party blogs, but I think the first place I saw it was over on Hostess with the Mostess – click for her tutorial on balloon dipped glasses!)

 

Sharing Party Tips with KATU's Afternoon Live - A Well Crafted Party

Create height at the food buffet. 

Use platters and stands to create a food display at various heights. TIP: If you don’t have a lot of stands and platters fill a vase with holiday decor and set your platter on top. You can also make yourself an awesome (and inexpensive) cake stand with a glass, glue, and plate! (Check out my tutorial on EAT DRINK PRETTY for making your own cake stand.)

Serve bite sized appetizers and just refill your platters throughout the party. 

This not only looks better but it is safer than letting food sit for several hours. Keep platters prepped and in the fridge or in the oven on warm setting so that you can easily replenish. If you are worried about spending the afternoon replenishing platters instead of engaging with your guests farm that chore out to family and friends who ask how they may help. (Check out my favorite holiday appetizers .)

 

 

 

Holiday Drink Bar - Behind the Scenes - A Well Crafted Party

The holiday bar set up before its TV debut!

Set up a Beverage Bar! 

Don’t spend the entire party making your guests drinks. Set out a simple beverage bar or batch drink (punch bowls are totally back in style) and let guests serve themselves. For the holidays I recommend creating a Sparkling Wine bar with additions such as pomegranate seeds, sugared rosemary, sugared cranberries, and your favorite liquor. I love the Marrionberry Vodka from Wild Roots as a festive addition to a glass of sparkling wine. Pour 3/4 oz of Marrionberry Vodka into a glass and top (carefully, it will bubble!) with 5 oz of sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of sugared rosemary.

Holiday Party Favor Ideas - A Well Crafted Party

Yes, Give Party Favors.

Party favors are a way to extend your party in the memories of your guests. Give them something to enjoy after the party! My favorite holiday party favor ideas:

  1. Set out little holiday bags or boxes for your guests to fill with sweets. BONUS: Now you     won’t have a ton of leftover sweets from the party!
  2. Give your guests a small bag of stocking stuffers. They can use the ones that they want or they can use them in stockings at home so that they don’t have to go out and buy as much. I’d LOVE for someone to do me the favor of getting some of that type of holiday shopping out of the way.
  3. Give an ornament. Beautiful and small ornaments are a really lovely way for a guest to remember the party year after year.

Check out my NYE Ideas for a Holiday Game Night as well.

 What is the best holiday party that you’ve ever attended? Comment below, I’d love to know!

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Cheers! It's A Well Crafted Party's birthday!
Blog Maintanence

Happy Birthday to A Well Crafted Party

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Today my TimeHop app reminded me that it is a very special day for this blog… it’s our birthday!

Six years ago today I finished my blog designed, purchased www.awellcraftedparty.com and set up everything to publish my very first blog post on April 27, 2010.

A Blog Six Years Later

Six years! Holy cow. In the last six years I’ve published 853 blog posts with 2,471 comments and approximately 400,000 page views. I started the blog before kids were even really in our minds. I started it to be solely a party blog featuring my parties and DIY party items. It has evolved to be such a wonderful avenue for me to connect with people. It now is a lifestyle blog—still with plenty of party emphasis to fulfill that personal need— about everything from DIY tutorials to motherhood.

I feel so grateful for this blog and what it has brought into my life. I’ve made some of my best friends through this blog. My sons have been announced and celebrated here. I’ve experienced some seriously amazing experiences— such as this dinner at Urban Farmer— restaurants, locations and brands. I was able to stay home with my first son for the first two years of his life because of A Well Crafted Party. I owe my current job to the work that I did on this blog. I’m pretty sappy about it all really.

In honor of the big birthday, I thought I’d share some of my favorite (and your favorite) blog posts over the years:

Learn how to make an Amaretto Sour from A Well Crafted Party
Recipe here

Most Pinned Post – Amaretto Sour

My recipe for a classic Amaretto Sour is the top pinned post of my blog and is currently the top visited post. All I can say is my readers have great tastes because the Amaretto Sour is both delicious and EASY to make!

 

Most Popular Download – Free Printable Blog Planner

Hands down the most popular download I have on my site (and I have a lot) is the free printable Blog Planner. I love writing about blogging and working with other bloggers so much that I run (with a lot of help from the leadership team) a local blogging resource and community called Portland Bloggers. This printable was an idea that happened because of this passion around four years ago and I keep refining it and adding to it year over year.

 

 

very first blog banner for A Well Crafted Party
My very first blog banner…

Blog Design

My blog has changed designs quite a few times over the years… I’m already itching to change things up again! After my last redesign I really went through my past designs and my new goals for the blog. It is one of my favorite posts and often one that people stumble upon when looking for blog design ideas.

 

Hey Girl Party

 

Favorite Parties

I really, really can’t pick a FAVORITE party because there are so many that I like. I’ve done a lot of styled shoots over the years— and I feel so fortunate to be able to do that— but, real parties are where my heart is because I want people to get to enjoy an experience.

  • The Hey Girl Party will always be a favorite because it was such a fun theme and because it was for a dear friend.
  • My son’s second birthday party was a town-themed party where we created an entire town out of cardboard. Friends pitched in and helped to make it AMAZING.
  • I’ve had the opportunity to work with great brands that I’d never in a million  years think I’d have the opportunity to do. This tapas party with Whole Foods was such fun to help create!

Series on Working in Motherhood

 

I get to share people’s stories and write about things that matter to me.

I am pretty sappy right now about my blog and what this little space means to me. Part of that is that I have a space where I get to share about things that matter to me and that I think might matter to my readers. One great example of that is getting to write about working mothers. It means so much to me and I know it means a lot to the women out there that come across these stories while struggling with their own journey in working in motherhood.

thank you

Thank you for being a part of this party! Like great wines, this is only getting better with age!

I so appreciate you taking the time to read and share this blog. You’re awesome.

Image credits: Header, Featured and Working Moms Images by www.mommabearmag.com | Balloons Image by www.momentsbymacey.com | All other images by me unless otherwise noted

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