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15 In Books/ parties

How to host a Book Exchange Brunch

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Welcome friends! Today we’re combining two of my loves – books and brunch! Scroll down to see how to host a fun book exchange brunch with a free printable.

If you are new here, thanks so much for popping by! I’m Nicolle, a wife, mom to 2 boys, nurse by day, creator and homebody. I love being home and creating cozy spaces, getting lost in a good book with a cup of coffee and all carbs! If this sounds like you too, stay awhile and let’s become friends! You can follow me on Instagram @ourtiny_nest where I share more book picks and am currently doing a winter reading challenge!

How to host a book exchange brunch

I am happy to be joining some of my lovely friends for their monthly supper club. Thank you to Jen from Midwest Life and Style for inviting me to join this month! Obviously as a big book nerd I had to say yes! If you don’t know Jen, she is a wife, mom of 2, event planner by day and blogger who is from Nebraska. She makes the most delicious recipes, (check out her blueberry sour cream coffee cake, you won’t be sorry) and the most innovative tablescapes! So make sure to follow her!

And if you are coming from my friend Jen at Midwest Life and Style, welcome! I hope you will stick around!

I got the idea for this book exchange brunch from those little public library shares. The path where we go on our walks has one of those free little community libraries where you can take a book and leave a book. So I was inspired to do a brunch with a similar idea and have a book exchange.

Now the concept is, each guest needs to bring a book that they enjoyed to share and exchange with the other guests so be sure to include that in your invite.

The Tablesetting

Table Runner

I started by creating a table runner out of book pages. This was super simple to do. I had a bunch of used books from old book sales that I had on hand for crafts. If you don’t have a book on hand that you want to use for this purpose, check out your local Dollar Store. They have tons of books!

I ripped out the pages and started gluing them together to make a runner.

Some tips for creating the runner – lay out the pages first in the desired length and width. I did it kind of haphazardly which I think adds a little dramatic effect and no stress about it being perfect. Then glue the pages together and allow to dry.

The place setting

I wanted to keep the place setting simple and all about the books. At each place setting, I included this printout for guests to fill out about their book, why they love it and then put inside the book they were sharing.

I’m sharing my printable below for anyone that wants to do something similar, just click the link.

Click here to download the free printable

The Table Decor

For the table decor I stacked some books that I had. I think hardcover works best and I took the book jackets off to display the original binding. You can also wrap some books in wrapping paper so that it fits your color scheme. I did a little of both.

Then I added mason jars with fresh flowers to give a little pop of color.

In the middle of the table I placed a basket where everyone could place their books and choose which ones they wanted to exchange.

I’ll link some of my pieces that I used to create the tablescape and similar decor below

For the exchange

Have you guests go around the table and choose a book out of the basket that they want to read and guess who the book is from before opening and reading the card aloud. This is also a good way for the other guests to get ideas for books to add to their reading list.

You can check out the whole brunch menu here. It’s a pretty delicious lineup!

And if you’re looking to join a little virtual book club of sorts, check out how to join my Winter Reading Challenge! I’m also sharing some books to kick off 2023!

Now be sure to head over to the ladies at Simply 2 Mom’s, Anne and AnneMarie to see their ideas for creating a tablescape for a book club gathering. I love the color palette they chose, it’s so rich looking with blacks, greens and golds.

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Check out all of the beautiful tablescape ideas for hosting a book club brunch below

Rachel at The Pond’s Farmhouse

Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms

Michele at Vintage Home Designs

Jen at Midwest Life and Style

Ann & AnnMarie from Simply 2 Moms

January 26, 2023 By Nicolle

10 In food/ parties

Root Beer Float Bar

This root beer float bar is perfect for your summer family fun nights or BBQs.

When I think of some of my favorite childhood summer memories I think of nights at the drive-in, ice cream for dinner, swimming in the pool and catching fireflies. I long to get back to those simple times and give my kids those summers that I had. Scroll down to see my root beer float bar and more vintage summer ideas from some of my friends. Every Friday night we have our Friday night pizza nights followed by a movie. In the summer if it’s a nice night we will set up an outdoor movie on the deck. I made this root beer float bar for a special treat during our movie. It reminded me of being at the drive-ins!

Root Beer Float Bar Fixings

Root Beer
Ice Cream (you can make your own homemade ice cream too! Click here for my recipe)
Whipped Cream
Sprinkles
Hot Fudge
Cherries

Some other fun and different root beer float variations:

Make a boozy peanut butter float peanut butter cup ice cream and with peanut butter flavored whiskey.
For the coffee lover use coffee flavored ice cream!
For a healthier option if you like bananas, freeze some bananas then blend with a little bit of milk of your choice until an ice cream consistency and use for your float.

I added some decor I had around the house just to make it feel a little more fancy, like my chalkboard and cake stand.

Some tips-

If not making and enjoying right away, you may want to have a galvanized bucket of ice and keep the root beer and ice cream on ice.
Use small bowls for things like sprinkles, nuts, marshmallows and chocolate chips.
For the sauces, whipped cream and cherries, just put out in their original containers or jars.

Enjoy!!!!

I love to see if you make any of my recipes. Be sure to tag me in your photos on Instagram @ourtiny_nest

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For more summer inspiration, check out my friends ideas below

More Old Fashioned Summer Inspiration

For another fun snack click here to check out my Banana Split Apple Nachos!

And click here for my summer bucket list

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July 11, 2022 By Nicolle

7 In family/ New Years/ parties

New Years ideas for kids

Now that Christmas is over, I’m sharing some of my New Years ideas for the kids. Gone are the days of getting all dressed up and going out for New Years. We’re all for staying home in our jammies and hanging out with the kids, trying to stay up until the ball drops. But let’s be honest, I’ll probably be in bed by 10pm.

Here are some fun ideas on how to ring in New Years with your kids.

(Plus download my free printable interview for your little ones)

Make some noisemakers

We recently made these little noisemakers and they were so easy to do together.

You will need :

– A plastic bulb ornament. ( I got mine from the Dollar Store).

– Glitter (got these on Amazon)

– Beads (I had found these on Amazon to make bracelets)

– Tape

– Super glue

To make:

– Take the top part off of the ornament.

– Fill with beads and glitter.

– Cover the top with tape and put the top back on, super gluing (is that a word?) the rim.

– Tie a ribbon at the top and shake!

Interview

I saw this idea floating around on Pinterest to do every year on your children’s birthday but I think it could be done on New Years Eve too! I created this fun little interview to do with your kiddos. It would be fun to look back over the years and see some of the highlights.

Click the link below to download my printable version.

Download the printable here

Fun snacks

New Years Eve we usually just do a bunch of snacky foods so we can pick throughout the night.

We love to make fun charcuterie boards especially for the kids.

I also love this idea for a milk and cookies toast at midnight with your little ones! So fun and they will feel like grown ups too!

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December 27, 2019 By Nicolle

0 In Birthday/ Events/ parties

Maxwell’s 3rd birthday on the farm

Somehow this little boy turned 3 years old last week. (I swear it feels like just last year we were planning his first birthday!) To celebrate him, we threw him a birthday party with all of his friends at a local apple orchard and farm. Scroll on down to see all the details from Maxwell’s 3rd birthday on the farm.

When I found out that my due date with Maxwell was Halloween, I was so excited and hoped that he would inherit my love of all fall things. And it turns out, he did. For those of you who are local to the Capital District, Indian Ladder Farms in Voorheesville is our favorite place to be in the fall. Not only do they have great apples, but they also have an amazing biergarten for the adults! So it only seemed fitting to have Maxwell’s third birthday party there. (BTW this post isn’t sponsored by ILF we just love it there that much!) From feeding the farm animals to a hayride and painting pumpkins, the kids had a perfect fall festive morning.

I made these invitations on the Canva app

When we first got there, the kids all played in the sandbox while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then we were off to see all the animals. They provided us with little buckets of fresh fruits and veggies for each child to feed the animals.

Next we took a hayride around the farm and then went back to the party tent for some pumpkins, donuts and cider.

I had gotten some little pumpkins for each kid to paint and take home. Trader Joe’s is a great spot for pumpkins (I found these little paint palettes, paint brushes and washable paint all on Amazon).

And it wouldn’t be a fall themed birthday without a giant donut cake and some apple cider. (We skipped out on singing “Happy Birthday” to the Dude though because he doesn’t like all the attention).

The timing was from 10-12, which I think is perfect for a toddler birthday party. The fresh air tired all the kids out and Dude napped real good afterwards 🙂

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated my favorite little pumpkin!

Linking some party supplies below!