Have you all seen Kevin Sharkey’s cocktail housewarming party? It was in the September issue of Living and now has a gallery on Martha’s site here. Some of the details were ridiculously over-the-top and almost nauseating (hundreds of Hermes boxes stacked in the shower? Using Chanel lipstick as markers?), but others were chic, charming, and easily replicable.

I loved that the only decorations were massed white and silver balloons with trailing strings:

And I thought turning the dining room table into a ping pong court for the evening was brilliant:

But my favorite takeaway of all was the Oreo cake. I actually don’t like Oreos, but I have several friends who love them, and I can definitely see this idea being pulled out for a future birthday! Milk shooters would be the perfect accompaniment.

What did you think of Kevin’s party?

Okay, okay, just one more. This image from Martha’s Bedford kitchen gave me a sudden urge to find a heavy garden urn, find a fern, and put the one in the other. In fact, the urge was so strong that I struck out for the flea market the next morning, but alas, came home empty-handed. I’ll let you know if I have any luck!

P.S. Reminds me a bit of this arrangement, which I also love:

{via This is Glamorous}

On the topic of Martha’s September issue, I also fell in love with this basil centerpiece featured as a Good Thing. As someone who had a lot of extra basil this summer, I think this diminutive arrangement is such a good idea. And the chocolate cosmos, astrantia, and geraniums are perfect bedfellows!

J and I volunteer in our church’s community garden on Saturdays, and this weekend was the sweet potato harvest! If you’ve never dug for sweet potatoes before, I’d highly recommend — it’s a treasure hunt!

Apparently sweet potatoes take about six weeks to “cure,” so we’re thinking they’ll be ready just in time to contribute to something delicious at Thanksgiving. What did you do this weekend?