Vol. 3

The months leading up to May were consumed with party planning on my end. Just stick around and you'll see why in this edition of Currently!

Photos are by Hannah Lynn Photography.

Ghia

A few months ago, I got it into my head that I wanted to throw a mocktail party in May because who doesn’t love alliteration in late Spring? I should mention, I decided this at 9:30pm on a Friday night and immediately emailed eight companies that carried non-alcoholic cocktail bases or spritzes. Ghia, the creator of a grapefruit forward Italian style product, was the first one who replied and with a very generous gift of 12 bottles! I got to planning the traditional party details: venue, menu, bartender, furniture rental, florals, music, photography, servers, invite list etc. I hired Dustin from Molecule Mixology to decide on four mocktail offerings and he absolutely knocked it out of the park - the pink peppercorn drink was a crowd favorite. One of my favorite things to do is gather people in a beautiful environment and Ghia made that possible for the night.

Melon Salad and Palette Charcuterie Boards

When it came time to create the party menu, I knew I wanted foods reminiscent of both the Italian coast and May in the Midwest which is what led me to this cantaloupe salad! The raspberries and pomegranate seeds tied into the dark red Ghia color and the basil and mint connected with some of the herb elements in the drinks. And no Kelsie Barnhart party is complete without a charcuterie board - but this time I was intentional about creating a cohesive color palette! Even I was pleasantly surprised by how well the board matched the floral arrangement. A few pieces of advice: make sure your items are various sizes, try to include at least ¼ sweet items like fruit or sugared nuts on the board, and mix in at least one or two jars like jam or honey.

Flanagan House Lawn

I was silent when the manager of the Flanagan house in Peoria (owned and operated by the Peoria Historical Society) told me a full day rental was only $150. I was silent because I was in a good kind of shock. That is unheard of in the venue rental world. And what makes this location extra accommodating is that the far right door in the photo is a kitchen entrance which was super convenient for the wait staff. The two level back lawn, which was once the front entrance to the home, was also the perfect setting for three different outdoor seating arrangements and a badminton net. Guests were treated to breathtaking views (the home and the river) regardless of which direction they looked. I guess thanks are in order for Mr. Flanagan!

“An Italian Summer on the Coast of Portofino” Playlist on Spotify

You can have all the right drinks and backyard treats, the best views from velvet maroon couches, and fun games set up, but if you don’t have the right music, you’re party is not going to be a hit. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the variety of Italian coastal playlists on Spotify! After sampling a few and testing the volume outside, I landed on this one! It was the perfect tone-setter for the Ghia party and I subtly alluded to the playlist with a beach themed vinyl album cover laid out. Che divertimento!

Aritzia

Ok, so the good news is that Aritzia still carries the Babaton knit line. The bad news is that they don’t offer this exact tank top cut anymore. Even still, I am such a huge fan of this line! The quality you get for the price you pay turns out to be such a great value for something that can be worn in the warmer months or under a jack when it is cold. I am such a fangirl for the neutral colors and tight fit - it truly has not lost its shape despite multiple washes. You know what they say: run, don’t walk.

In so many ways this party was one of the hardest things I've pulled off, but also one of the most rewarding! Creating a dreamy outdoor environment for my friends to waste away an evening brought me a great deal of joy! And I couldn't have done it without the help of my professional movers aka parents, planning committee aka Hannah, and crisis navigator aka Leann from the Historical Society. 

You can read more about the party and venue on page 6 of the society's newsletter here.

See you next time, 
Kelsie