Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

This month's challenge

Ahhh, Fall.  The chill in the air, the leaves are changing colors, the fireplaces are burning...it makes me want to slow down, bundle up and sip on a cup of hot cocoa.  However, we all know with kids back in school and the holidays just around the corner, slowing down becomes less of an option.  However, I challenge you to do just that.  Make a commitment to take time every month and enjoy a meal with friends.  This month's challenge: create your very own dinner club. 

After college, a lot of my friends moved away to different states.  I found myself not only having a smaller circle of friends, but also being really busy and not dedicating enough time to my friends (let alone making new ones).  So, I started a dinner club.  I chose eight women that I wanted to get to know better and devised a plan where two women would host a dinner each month.  The hostesses were in charge of everything (food, drinks, etc.) and the hosting pair would rotate, enabling us to all get to know each other better.  Now, four years later, we still meet monthly even with the addition of babies and the demands of school and work.  This has widened my circle of friends and has also made me take the time and have a girls night at least once a month. 

As a side note, my husband was a little jealous of the girl's night (and the fun that we had) so we started a couples dinner club.  A little over two years old, this dinner club is a hoot, hollering great time.   

Getting started (as the following suggestions may help the process):

• 8 is a perfect number, not only for preparing and purchasing food, but also for space.  Many of my dinner club friends can only fit 8 people around their dinner tables, so consider that when choosing your group. 
• Think carefully of who you want to include in your group.  Think of who you would like to get to know better, who is a great conversationist, who is new to town, etc.  This may leave some people out, so be careful when choosing your dinner mates and be clear that the group is small for reason: so that you all get to know each other better and that you don't break the bank when you get together.  Call and invite people to the group one by one and ask them to use discretion around friends you may not have included.
• Buy a stack of recipe cards.  If someone loves a dish, have recipe cards on hand where they can write down what was made for dinner.
• Schedule the dinner the same time every month (i.e. the second Tuesday every month) so that you all know to block that night out.  Also, it is best to avoid weekends.
• Create a rotating schedule where group members aren't paired with the same partner throughout the year.  Mix it up!
• Host the first dinner with someone that you would like to start the club with.  It is at this first dinner that you can coordinate schedules and set the dinners and hostess schedule for the rest of the year.

Don't let Fall turn to Winter and Winter turn to Spring without connecting with your friends. Let the dinner party celebration begin!

Morning Entertaining

Entertain with simplicity, ease and style at your next party - host breakfast!

The symbolism of the dawning of a new day can be reason enough to celebrate. Morning is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Party givers looking to depart from the usual may want to select the morning time to celebrate a birthday, someone's retirement or welcome a new baby.

Celebrity style maker, Colin Cowie says, "Breakfast is a wonderful way to entertain on weekends when you have the time to cook and enjoy leisure time around the house." Having friends or family over for breakfast in the early morning ensures you have the whole day to enjoy after the dishes are done.

Donna Leahy advises against recipes that are overly complex. The very nature of breakfast keeps things casual and from becoming fussy. The meal could be as simple as coffee and yogurt, fruit and granola parfaits or a continental breakfast of coffee, juice, pastries and jams. More substantial meals feature eggs and meat in addition.

Breakfast also lends itself to theme entertaining. A British or Irish breakfast has eggs, sausages, toast and tomatoes. Eastern European breakfast consists of cheeses, cold cuts, yogurt and muesli or other cereals. The Japanese have miso soup, grilled fish and pickled vegetables. Regional US preferences include lox and bagels in the Northeast, vegetable and egg white omelets on the West coast and biscuits and gravy in the South.

Consider the following for your menu:

Fruits - My personal favorite is to serve a fruit bowl with fruit of two contrasting colors. Cantaloupe with strawberries, for example. In season fruits served whole or halved are simple and delicious.
Cereals - Homemade granola is easy to make yet wows guests every time. Obviously, there are some great commercial brands available. Oatmeal or other hot cereal can be made ahead and kept warm in a low setting slow cooker or glass bowl atop a simmering pot of water.
Breads - We all have friends that insist on bringing something. Have them stop at their favorite bakery for items that would compliment the rest of your menu.
Spreads - Splurge on jams, honey and gourmet items such as Nutella or Dulce de Leche.
Eggs - Poached, boiled or baked eggs keep you from standing at the stove for your entire party.
Meats - Bacon can be baked or parma and serrano hams can be brought home from the deli.
Drinks - Coffee, tea, juice, smoothies, cocktails such as mimosas and bloody marys.

My last breakfast celebration was a birthday party with a Parisian Cafe theme. I served french roast coffee, watermelon juice and sparkling wine, platter of triple cream Brie and Red Grapes, bowl of Blueberries, Asparagus, Ham and Swiss Cheese quiches and Paula Deen's French Toast casserole with Maple Syrup. The dishes were simple enough that everything that served was homemade. Guests arrived at 9 and departed at 11.

Most of us have grab and go meals in the morning during the week. Trust me, morning entertaining with a hearty breakfast shared with loved ones is the way to.

my new favorite things

i stumbled across this website this morning, and i am just loving all this fun, funky melamine stuff!

as the mother of a very energetic and rambunctious almost 4 year old, we like love unbreakables. in my house, i don't get to break out the fine china as much as i'd like to, but we always have nice family dinners at the table every night. however, i always feel like my daughter isn't completely 100% included since she uses different dishes and glasses then my husband and me. i love my every day ceramic dinnerware patterns {i have so many to chose from, i never get tired of them!}, but our daughter has a few boring plain melamine dishes.

i guess my using different dishes always makes me feel a little incomplete. i doubt she cares, but maybe she does. now that i have found french bull melamine i really don't have to worry about excluding anyone. i love this stuff!!!!!

how much do you love this set? it's perfect for you and your kids, but you could even break this stuff out when you have a late summer backyard BBQ as a great alternative to boring, environmentally UN-friendly paper plates.

i just ordered this set to use for a little sweet girl's 5th birthday party. i can't wait to incorporate the pattern {which has served as my inspiration for this "sweet" party} into all the "sweet" design elements we're using for this. how cute will candy and cupcakes look on these adorable plates?

i think this one is my favorite! i love that the bohemian paisley is coming back. my neighbor's 10 year old little girl is such a little fashionista, i just know she is the next SJP, and she has given me her seal of approval on these fabulous plates.

she is having a back to school bash and has requested demanded that absolutely no pencils or apples be included in the decor, so these will be perfect for this little trend-setter.

i also think they'd be perfect for my 'say goodbye to summer' party as well.

and that is what is so great about these sets. you can use them for your kid's parties, your parties, and everyday dishes.

i also ordered this utensil set for myself as well as gifts fr 3 of my great friends. what a great gift to give the chef who has that funky, child-like spirit.

this last one is a bit more elegant. i think these would be perfect for those more grown up outdoor parties. maybe an evening garden cocktail party. i love the weight the pattern gives each plate. i can see my favorite 'fancy cocktail party' recipe!!!

slow-roasted beef tenderloin

1 beef tenderloin, between 5-8 pounds
1 bottle soy sauce
1 bottle worcestershire sauce

use a big ziplock bag and pour both bottles of sauce over the tenderloin in the bag. seal the bag and marinate for at least 24 hours.

slow roast at about 225 degrees until the meat reaches your preferred level of 'done-ness' i am a huge fan of very rare steaks, so i usually take this out when it reaches an internal temperature of about 140.

slice very thin and serve with artisan rolls. put out horseradish, dijon mustard, and an assortment of sliced cheeses for these delicious, gourmet cocktail sandwiches.

send me pictures of what you do with this stuff!!!!

have fun and happy eating!
allison@occasionsandstyle.com

What to bring your hostess? Great wines under $15

As a Southern girl, I believe that good manners will open any door one needs. Good manners are crucial for success in every arena one enters. Emily Post is a household name and long standing authority on etiquette. Her wisdom has served me well throughout my entire life.
As an event planner, I have been a part of many different social occasions, and I have noticed many people struggle with what to bring their hostess. Hostess gifts can be tricky. What do I bring if I am invited to a casual dinner party? A backyard summer BBQ? A party at my boss' home? Each of these situations warrant different types of gifts.

For instance, my husband's boss throws lots of parties throughout the year. Christmas parties, summer parties, his children's birthday parties, etc... Each party is different, each hostess is different, so each hostess gift must be different.

Always a great thing to bring at any time is a nice bottle of wine. However, many people do not realize that one can buy a very nice bottle of wine that doesn't cost a mortgage payment. Here are a few suggestions for great wines under $15!

Since red wine is not usually chilled, Winter is the best time to bring reds as hostess gifts. My absolute favorite red wine is either Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Malbec, or Zinfandel. I love red wine!

So, Cabernets are pretty trendy, and many people who just started to try reds often get turned on to cabs first.

Try these Cabernets:

Bonterra
Bonterra is a California red, and it is one of the few wines that is organic.
This Cabernet offers aromas of Bing cherry, currants and raspberry, with spicy notes of cedar and dried cranberry, with slight vanilla notes (French Vanilla, insists Christian). In the glass you’ll find juicy red berry flavors, and a very approachable, rich and full mouthfeel with a lingering, thoughtful finish. Good structure, polished yet soft tannins promise an ever more pleasing wine to come, with lively acidity and subtle spice.

Wente
I absolutely love this cabernet. It's aged for an entire year in French and American oak barrels and has black tea, black cherry fruit aromas. It's subtle and has well integrated vanilla oak aromas. Black olive aromas. Powerful, yet silky tannins with a fruit filled mouthfeel. Balanced acidity, smooth yet lingering finish.

Bogle
Bogle makes a fabulous Merlot. Concentrated aromas of earthy spice and summer cherries surround the senses, while the first pleasant sip is a delightful wave of fresh red fruit and soft garden herbs. Mere hints of pipe tobacco and spicy oak lend depth to the finish, reinforced by firm, assertive tannins.

White wines, since they are served chilled are perfect for summer and spring.

My two favorite white wines are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Bonterra makes my absolute favorite chard. It's so creamy and oak-y and buttery. I just love it.

Most of the grapes for Bonterra’s Chardonnay are harvested along a 12-mile corridor near the banks of the Russian River, and year after year offer characteristic green apple, baked apple, pear and citrus notes in the wine. There’s a touch of vanilla from the dollop of new French Oak. An initial impression of rich, buttery cream quickly turns to aromas of honey and lightly toasted almonds, followed quickly by tropical aromas of pineapple, citrusy lemon and Crème Brûlée.
Barboursville makes my favorite Sauvignon Blanc.
Effusively fragrant, crisp, juicy and bright with distinctive pear and passion fruit flavors. Hints of citrus appear on a gently herbal frame.

A sustaining complement in food pairings, this vintage is equally elegant and refreshing as an aperitif in lieu of sparkling wine.

I truly hope you can find these wines with ease. They are typically available at your local market.
I love bringing wine to smaller gatherings. There is nothing better than being able to share your favorite wine with good food, fascinating conversation, and great friends.

Check back for my next post where I get into other creative hostess gift ideas. And don't forget to check the recipe section for suggestions on what wines to pair with different foods.

Thanks Y'all!
Allison@ occasions&style

Hey y'all! I'm Allison Templeton CEO and founder of occasions&style.

I am an event designer in Norfolk, VA specializing in weddings, corporate galas, social events, and just really cool parties. I am so excited to be a guest blogger here at Create My Event. Create My Event has long been one of my absolute favorite blogs, and I have gotten so many fabulous ideas for my work here.
I truly hope you can use my ideas to help create your perfect event!
I love to write my own recipes, so don't forget to look in the recipe section for some of my creations.

Herbalicious Spring Party

We had an exceptionally mild winter here on Long Island and almost all my herbs, with the exception of basil, survived. That gave me an idea for my next bash. How about a herb-themed party?

I will decorate the table with small pots of different herbs: marjoram, oregano, thyme and sage, and tuck a few springs of lavender into the napkin rings.

Make name tags from brown paper and twine or buy these Garden Delight Gift Tags from etsy to tie around pretty jars of herbs that the guests can take home later as a memento of the evening.

Serve

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Salsa Verde
Ingredients:
3 cloves garlic; finely chopped
2 cups parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon basil, thyme, sage, oregano
4 tablespoons oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper

Blend herbs and garlic in a food processor or blender until they form paste. Add the oil, a little at a time, and mix well. Add the lemon juice, and season with sugar, salt and pepper to taste.

and Lavender-Honey Ice Cream

with Mint Juleps or Mojitos to drink:

Mojito
Ingredients:
2 parts white rum
1 part fresh lime juice
10 mint leaves
4 teaspoons sugar or 2 tablespoons simple syrup
Club soda
Spring of mint

Muddle mint and sugar in highball glass, add everything else except club soda. Fill glass with crushed ice, add club soda. Garnish with sprig of mint.

The house should smell wonderful, too.

Blackboard Tags

Run, don't walk, to your local Pottery Barn! On sale now for $12.99, these mini chalkboard tags come in a set of six, chalk included. Available only in stores, grab a bunch of these sets and use them at your next dinner party. Hang them of wine bottles to let your guests know something about the wine your serving. Tie them around silverware and put your guests' names on the tag for a chic way to assign seats.

Go the extra mile and add more chalkboard details with chalkboard paint. For a shower, play a game of Jeopardy! Paint small 5X7 heavy paper boards (frame them in something pretty if you want - sans glass cover of course) and let guests use them to write out their answers.

For more chalkboard chic ideas, check out Modern Vintage.

Getting To Know You

Moving to a new neighborhood, means making new friends. I had clients who recently moved, that loved to throw parties. They wanted to know the best way to get to know all of their neighbors.  Fortunately, all of their neighbors had moved from other states and were in the same boat. Everyone was in need of an icebreaker.  Solution to the problem…”A Backyard Soirée”.  The backyard was converted to a cocktail setting with Japanese lanterns and fiery colored linens. There were two conditions given to the invited neighbors 1) was for them to bring their favorite libations and 2) was for them to pick a number out of a fishbowl that corresponded to where they would be seated.  Unbeknownst to the invited guests, the place seating was not in numerical order thus everyone sat next to someone with whom they were not familiar. The couples were seated across from each other as opposed to beside each other. Thus, the “getting to know you” factor was built in to the soirée.   The event was catered and the menu consists of:  shrimp cocktail, grilled vegetable salad, tomato mozzarella caprese, grilled filet mignon and chicken cordon bleu, and petite patisserie.

                                                                                                                                

            

It definitely turned out to be a beautiful evening; the neighbors have gotten to know each other, have become friends and look forward to the Annual Backyard Soirée.

The moral to the story; when in need of an icebreaker in the summer, a Backyard Soirée always fits the bill.

Lynette Barkley is Chief Events Officer (CEO) of  e² (elegant events), a Full-Service Event Production Boutique that produces spectacular events from Corporate to Weddings/Receptions

to Private Soirees. She can be reached via telephone at 410.428.6076 or online at www.e2events.net.

e²events...making Your Event Spectacular! *

When you care enough to hit send...

There are brilliant people over Some E Cards who have tapped a genuine hole in the market with their hilarious and comprehensive collection of unexpected e-cards.  If you fear being seen as a Kathy comic loving Hallmark-er, you will welcome a new generation of intelligent, dry, "what I'm really thinking" e-greetings that are worthy of your smart friends.  Browse through their enormous canon of situational cards over your morning coffee and you'll find yourself smirking happily all day long. 

By Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.

Cupcake Crawl

   

 

Our country's current cupcake craze shows no sign of slowing down - from New York's classic Magnolia Bakery  to Vegas's hard-to-beat Cupcakery and on to L.A.'s enterprising Sprinkles.  Recently, a friend in Brooklyn reported that she was partaking in a Cupcake Crawl across Manhattan. What better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon than collecting your best girls for a sampling of the local bakery's finest?   One for me...one for the box...one for me...  Forget the coffee date.  Bring on the Cupcake Crawl. 

by Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.

Custom Kleenex

Calling all allergy sufferers, wedding criers, and creative minds.  If you can believe it, there is an innovative and totally personal way to keep Kleenex handy.  Who wants a generic Kleenex box taking up visual space when you can opt for a custom conversation starter like this?  For $4.99 each, you can add your own photo, logo, or artwork. It's perfect for the powder room at a wedding or seasonally for the holidays.  Hilarious.  Check it out at www.mykleenextissue.com. 

by Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.