When a close friend visits and loves to celebrate, a festive brunch is the perfect way to spend the day. Last week Ashley from Sugar & Cloth stopped by Los Angeles for work, and together with Lowe’s we hosted a lively Wednesday brunch for our favorite blogger and entrepreneur friends. Since Ashley and I both adore cacti—and Lowe’s offers a wide selection—we centered the event around a cactus theme and paired it with tacos, donuts, and macarons for a bright, fun spread.
We set up a “Prick Your Poison” sweets and sips bar stocked with themed treats and simple cocktail options. California Donuts helped create avocado-shaped donuts—complete with a sliced donut hole for the “seed”—and Ashley hand-painted cactus designs on delicate macarons. Guests mixed their own paloma-style cocktails by adding a splash of tequila and a squeeze of lime to grapefruit soda for a refreshing, DIY drink station.
For the centerpiece, we potted a variety of small cacti from Lowe’s into white planters and metallic gold bowls, and mixed in soft pink florals for contrast. Ashley created a watercolor placemat and matching menu to tie the table together; printable versions are available on her site for anyone who wants to recreate the look. A playful DIY detail filled This Is Ground cord tacos with crepe paper “lettuce” and placed one at each setting—an easy way to add personality to every plate.
We used Lowe’s plant stands in a creative way by turning them into stools—adding simple grips to the bottoms—bringing unexpected texture and pattern to the tablescape. The result was both functional and visually striking, and quickly became one of the favorite details.
We brought the outdoors in with a cozy patio-style seating area for pre-brunch cocktails, giving guests a relaxed place to mingle before the meal. The casual layout encouraged conversation and set a friendly tone for the rest of the event.
Guests left with a handmade cactus favor planted in PVC end caps—a small keepsake from the day. After the event, Ashley and I took a moment to celebrate our hard work and enjoy a shared laugh, which summed up the collaboration perfectly.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
A big thank you to the creative women who attended—the energy made the brunch feel effortless. For more details and Ashley’s free printables, see her post. The event produced lots of Instagram-ready moments and easy ideas for anyone planning a similar gathering.
Product Resources
White tablescape planters, Allen + Roth white ceramic planter, PVC end caps for favors, white plant stands (used as stools), Allen + Roth watercolor pillows, Allen + Roth sling chairs, Allen + Roth end table, all cactus plants sourced from Lowe’s.
Vendors
Florals by Shindig Chic, donuts by California Donuts (designed by Studio DIY), macarons by Lette Macarons (designed and hand-painted), taco lunch by BS Taqueria, menus and placemats by Sugar & Cloth, cord tacos from This Is Ground, gold and pink bowls from CB2.
This post was created in partnership with Lowe’s. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help keep Studio DIY’s parties going. Read more about editorial policies on the site.