I don't know about you, but every April I look forward to seeing my Instagram feed fill up with hazy shots of people in the desert at Coachella, hanging out with their friends, listening to amazing bands and just soaking in the atmosphere.  It is pure escapism, and who doesn't love all the outfits, the sunshine, the music and, of course, the flower crowns?!

The festival was my inspiration for my Bohemian Dream party box.  I wanted to bring a little bit of that desert vibe to the east coast, and create a box of party decor for both children's and adults alike.  

So what makes the perfect Boho party?  For me, I always start with the color scheme. And candles - lots of them!  All the table decor in my Boho party box is based on one of my favorite color palettes; coral, mint and gold.  I like to make my party tables as whimsy as possible, with floaty linens, patterned prints and tealights in small glass jars dotted all over.  Handmade gold vases hold big, fluffy pink peonies, which go so well with the gorgeous flower crowns at every place sitting.  For children's parties, I like to use upturned oversized crates as the tables, and scatter cushions all around for some relaxed seating. Dreamcatchers and huge confetti balloons add to the feeling of festival ambience.

And what is a festival party without the music and the selfies?!  What I like to do before every themed party is get each guest to send me two or three songs that they think will go down well with all the guests.  I then upload these to a playlist and have it playing when everyone starts to arrive.  It instantly puts everyone in a party mood and saves you scrabbling around throughout the party trying to think of what to play next!  My Boho party box includes the use of an Instax Mini Camera and photo props, as wearing a flower crown seems to bring out the selfie in everyone!  And the photos make such a personal touch when placed in each of the custom goody bags.

So there you have it - my idea of the perfect Bohemian Dream party!  This party box contains lots of little extras such as handmade festival-style games and a teepee for lounging in.  Perfect for the long and hazy summer days ahead of us...

Peace and love!

​Afternoon tea is a very serious business in my home country of England. Often referred to as a ‘Cream Tea’, it’s a much-loved tradition amongst both young and old to sit down to a pot of hot tea and a scone served with jam and clotted cream. With the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now just a few days away, homes and gardens across the UK are getting ready for the tea party of the year! I myself will be hosting a little celebration with friends here in Connecticut, and I’m so looking forward to styling my deck up with décor from my High Tea Party Box and serving everyone this traditional afternoon treat.

​This got me thinking about the great scone debate that has reigned in England for literally centuries – what should be spread first, the cream or the jam? My first job as a teenager was in a little tearoom in my home village, and I can still remember being fascinated at how deeply our customers felt about the order in which these should be spread! This seems to be felt the most in the two southern counties of Devon and Cornwall. Those in Devon believe that the clotted cream comes first, followed by jam on top, whereas the tradition in Cornwall is to spread the jam first, and top it off with a nice dollop of cream. Having spent years being unsure myself which order I preferred, I decided in the end that there was only one person who could settle this for me – Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Whatever she thought was the correct order, that’s what I was going to go with. And luckily, with the Royal Family’s increased presence on social media this year, I got my answer! A former chef to the Royal Family recently revealed on Twitter that the Queen prefers jam first with clotted cream on top. And if that’s how tea is going to be served in London on May 19th , then I’ll be following suit at my own garden party that day too! However you plan to spread the jam, cream and love that day, I hope you have a wonderful time with your nearest and dearest. Bottoms up!