My sister Brynn and my friend Liz — with help from my Grandma J, cousin-in-law Jenna and my friend Erin — threw me the most fabulous baby shower a few days ago. It was low-key and fun and gave me a chance to hang out with some of my favorite people. I’m practically allergic to powder blue — which is kind of impossible when you’re expecting a boy — so Liz wisely went with an electric blue/leopard print theme that was right up my alley. I’ve been craving sweets desserts lately,

I keep seeing pictures on Pinterest of elaborate Super Bowl party ideas — tiny pigs in a blanket, elaborate cakes and tables draped in team colors. Meh. Why bother when the the entire point of a Super Bowl party is sitting around and staring at a TV? I just concentrate on what can be refilled quickly. Here are three of my favorite recipes for a lazy Super Bowl Sunday. Melt in a crockpot on low, on the stovetop or in a microwave safe bowl, stirring often Serve with chips (Se

I’ve heard it said that how you ring in the New Year sets the tone for the year to come. I’m not a superstitious person, but I love the idea of creating a party that sets the mood for the future you want. I’ve been in the party planning business in one way or another since I was 21, so I usually ring in the new year at a bar or a club, pressed tight against both friends and strangers. (One notable exception was the year there was a blizzard and almost everything was closed or

“If human beings had genuine courage, they’d wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween.” – Douglas Coupland I’m dressing up as a sugar skull, so what do you suppose that says about me? After 10 years on the Halloween club scene, I’m taking a different track this year, handing out candy to the neighborhood kiddies while putting my hair up in curlers and penciling in ghoulish white make-up so I’m ready in time for Crux of the Hollow Halloween Art Show: D

Now that the weather is cooler, I’m taking a mental vacation to the dreamiest wedding I’ve ever seen. Landon and Jenna were married on her family’s farmstead just outside of Carrington, North Dakota, among family, friends, vintage treasures and heaps of wildflowers. Here’s your inside look at the wedding of the year. Start off with a cold drink… …cool off with a program fan, featuring original art by the bride’s sister, Lissie Hoffert. Then join everyone on the lawn for the c

It is possible to throw a fun, chic, non-stressful Bridal Shower. I know because my grandma and I recently hosted one for my cousin’s intended, the lovely Jenna, and it was a blast. Here’s what worked for us. Start the party with a lot of food and barely any chairs: Showers have weird traditions that don’t exactly make for easy socializing. Would you make a bunch of strangers sit around in a circle and watch another woman open gifts under other circumstances? Not so much. An

My grandma and I are hosting a bridal shower for the lovely Jenna, my cousin’s fiancé, this weekend and we’ve had so much fun planning it. It’s actually a little strange how alike our entertaining styles are. We might have to keep finding reasons to throw parties together! Landon and Jenna are having a big wedding on her parents’ farm later this month, so we’re planning an elegant country lunch for the shower, with lots of sweet treats, vintage linens and mason jars full of w

The lovely and talented Mr. Hunnam was great fun too. He’s very sparkly in person. I made that term up right this second, but it’s equal parts great manners, laid-back charm and something just slightly naughty, that thing that makes you grin involuntarily and/or lean forward like he’s going to tell you a secret. (What you do depends largely on your sexual orientation, I suspect.) Seriously, watch him on SOA, Queer as Folk or Undeclared and tell me you don’t see it. 1. Meet a

Even non-runners get in on the action, with spectators, performers and volunteers lining the marathon route to offer encouragement, water and refreshments to the runners. The spectacle creates an almost electric energy. The biggest (and loudest) crowds are traditionally found in Downtown Fargo and in the residential neighborhoods just south, along 8th and 9th Street, from 15th Avenue South up to Main Avenue. The shady streets are atmospheric under normal circumstances, but wh

Ever notice how ‘What the hell’ is always the right answer? -Marilyn Monroe Marilyn, honey, I know exactly what you’re talking about. I will pretty much skip anything and everything I should be doing in favor of a great party. So when a friend offered me tickets to , one of the biggest fundraisers in town, I was all in. My first calls were to Liz and Robyn. In addition to being two of the most fun people I know, are also on the short list of friends who could have come up wit