- 2 0 1 3 -

Ever since viewing The Great Gatsby trailer (original release date scheduled for Christmas), Ashley and I have been dreaming up the possibility of a 20's themed party. Not the kind with flappers and costumes, or fake rhinestones and plastic hats... the kind of party where you immediately feel like you've entered into the time era that makes you wonder if Gatsby might really be there.

So when some of my best college roommates / friends Jenny, Andrew, & Larry officially purchased their tickets for a Chicago style New Year's reunion... Ash and I knew it was our golden opportunity for putting our ideas into play... to ring in 2013 with the jazz & class we had dreamt of for so long. We busily went to work on invites (the design and brilliance of Miss Peters), addressed, and wax-sealed them off... made lists and grocery runs and pinterest boards... clipped pages of Design Sponge, devoted hours to DIY projects, and texted each other tirelessly with new ideas.

"Gatsby believed in the green light,
the organic future that year by year receeds before us,
it eluded us then, but that's no matter.
Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther..."

Invites off to the USPS!

In an attempt to create a speakeasy lounge out of our dining room, we knew the only way to go is gold walls... so we made a last minute run to Home Depot and came out with gallons of olive green paint & metallic gold. Our ideals were quickly dismissed with the onset of logic reminding us to be semi-future minded. (Because let's be honest, we really wouldn't have the energy or time to "paint it back" as we hoped.) So, olive green is the new gold. And DIY gold wallpaper in the living room is the new lounge.

The yellow we have lived with for too long...

You know it's a real party when walls are being painted for it.

From all corners of the house you can hear the slow hums and whistles of Auld Lang Syne lyrics... (often mixed with bridges of Les Miserables tunes... because after seeing that movie, who can help it?!) as we steadily work on readying our home for our 50+ guests. As we painted, we recounted what a lovely year 2012 has been... favorite memories, quotes, ideas... as well as resolutions for 2013. What a perfect way to ring in the new year. It's been a lot of work so far - with more to come - but I wouldn't have it any other way. My friends arrive tomorrow and really, that is the best part.

New Years Reunion for 2012.
Excited to welcome in 2013 with these best friends again.