Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Is that Edible?

Last week, I attended New York Magazine's Wedding event and the slew of participating caterers like Crave Catering + Events, R Cano Events and Sterling Affair put together fabulously inspiring presentations of treats and food so beautiful you wonder if they're edible!

For your next event, follow suit and forgo the normal cake and tea stand display. Instead,  "landscape" your buffet setup by blending your floral arrangement with hors d'oeuvres and sweets.  Use "natural resources" like banana leaves, a planter with some cut grass and nature-mimicking food items, like large sugar crystals that Crave Catering used to display their sugar-apples on.

For more on other inspirational wedding and party ideas I gathered from this event, please check out Modern Vintage Designs.

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.

Handbag Caddy

Personal Gift giving has always been traumatic, both to the gift-giver and the recipient. Yet when you see the perfect gift for a friend in need, it’s not as painful.  I always want to give a gift that no one would ever think of giving, is definitely unique, and would actually be utilized, and not re-gifted.  A wonderful, yet inexpensive gift, that I stumbled upon during Christmas is perfect for women who go out to dinner and have to place their purse, either on the floor, or another chair.  If you are like me, you hate the idea of putting your Kate Spade or Michael Kors on the restaurant floor, as some floors can be dirtier than others. Before I let the “cat out of the purse”, let me first ask you to ponder where you put your purse when you go out to a busy restaurant…on the floor or on the table?

Here it is ladies; I discovered the “Handbag Caddy”. Let me tell you, it is the best invention ever!

 

                                  

          

The Handbag Caddy is a very easy to use item; you just slide the rubber base over the table’s edge and hang your purse on the sturdy chrome hook.  Your purse is safely protected and held by gravity.  It’s so small; you just put it in your purse when you leave the table.

The Handbag Caddy is not only used for your purses, but can also hang umbrellas, backpacks and shopping bags up to 5 lbs…how great is that!!?  So, if you have a dilemma about what to give a girlfriend… check out the Handbag Caddy, it’s an ideal gift.  I’ll bet your girlfriend has never heard of it…. And better yet, your gift will always be used and never re-gifted.

Parisian Sweets

Here's a dessert that's been around for a while now but has yet to get the attention it deserves. Yes, it's the Macaron! And no, we are not talking shredded coconut here.

These Parisian treats, two domed cakey-cookies sandwiching a sweet gooey filling, are made in a variety of flavor combinations. They can be as traditional as chocolate cake with chocolate ganache or as innovative as  coconut cake with passion fruit jam center. 

Colorful and sweetly charming like cupcakes, Macarons make for great party and wedding dessert. They look chic displayed on tea-stands and precious when packaged as favors.

Order them online at L'Espicerie. If you're in NYC, check out Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center and, if you're in Beverly Hills, stop by Paulette's Macarons.

Hungry for more? Please check out my daily blog, Modern Vintage's posting for more on this delicious treat. (Btw, I am thrilled to be one of Create My Event's guest bloggers! I hope you enjoy this posting and look forward for more to come!)

Wedding Cupcakes…Trendy or Tired?

A recent conversation with a fellow wedding planner got me thinking about trends in our industry and how jaded we wedding professionals sometimes get. What we may deem as “LY” (Last Year) is just beginning to catch on in most of Middle America. Because trends tend to begin on the East and West coasts, we are usually ready to move on to “the next big thing" much faster than the rest of the country. But could I be wrong?

Take the cupcake craze. While cupcakes have been around since children and birthdays, the phenomenon of waiting in line for thirty minutes for a $3 cupcake totally took off after those fab girls from Sex and the City raved about the Magnolia Bakery in NYC. But that was back in 1997! Six years later, Martha Stewart featured the coveted and oh-so-ingenious Wedding Cupcake Tower on the cover of her magazine. Bottom line: Martha said: "It’s a “good thing”, and the rest of the country agreed. Shocker.

All of a sudden this little frosted confection grabbed the attention of brides everywhere. But not just in the U.S. Gourmet cupcake shops started popping up everywhere including Glasgow and Tokyo, with brides paying upwards of $7 a pop to create this beautiful, unique alternative to what had become so commonplace. Sprinkles in LA and Magnolia in NYC and every little bakery in between upped the ante by turning the cupcake into a work of art, complete with fillings, curds, ganache, and frostings of every flavor imaginable. Who wanted to settle for some dumb wedding cake when guests could have their own little personalized desserts instead?

So here we are, ten years after Carrie Bradshaw reintroduced us to this nostalgic little sugary treat. One would think the idea of cupcakes at a wedding had gone the way of chocolate fountains and margarita machines. But have they? This cupcake train seems to have lost very little steam. Not that cupcakes will ever completely go away; just as the appletini and ABBA will always have a special place in our hearts, cupcakes will certainly always remind us of a simpler time, when Mom brought treats to school for the whole class to enjoy. But what in the world will replace Wedding Cupcakes as the Next Big Thing and are they really about to be replaced?  Could brownies be the new cupcake? We'll have to see what Martha has to say about that!

For more quips and daily insight from everything to event planning to fabulous gift ideas and everything in between, visit www.thepartygoddess.com/blog.

Sake Tastings

  Impress your friends and inject some Asian inspiration into your next cocktail party by having a sake tasting.

Sake is the alcoholic beverage from Japan that is made by fermenting rice.  This might make sake sound like its manufactured like a special type of beer, but there are no bubbles, which leads some to believe it is more like a wine.  But sake is truly in a category of its own. 

Sake has a relatively high alcohol content, between 15% and 18% but it contains no sulfites, additives or preservatives so there is very little to none of those pesky hangover feelings the next day ;)  My favorite website for information about sake is John Gauntner's Sake World which answers just about every question an amateur (or pro) could have on the subject of Japanese alcoholic beverages.  Did you know that premium sakes are served chilled on ice and that an older, aged bottle of sake is in no way better than young bottle? Hmmmm? Read on to find out more about the type of sake you can try and their tasting profiles. 

Look out for different types of sake that might be sold in specialty stores in your area or go on-line at World Sake Imports (US) or Ozawa Canada for some ultra premium sake.  Pictured above is my all-time favorite, Onikoroshi "Demon Slayer", a Daiginjo sake from Wakatake.

Have fun with family or friends over the holidays with Japan's most popular drink -Kanpai!

 

Mori Ex Cacao

MORI EX CACAO or “Death by Chocolate” would be my treat of choice this Halloween if I needed a luxurious and indulgent extravagance to compliment my decadent tricks.  The macabre chocolates come as intricately carved and painted skulls that contain delightful and dangerous combinations of flavors to tempt your taste buds.  Three different chocolate covered skulls await you in each black velvet lined and ribboned gift box including:

• Scorched Caramel - organic cream and sugar cooked until bronze over an open flame to create the center of these delicacies.
• Bitter Brandied Cherry – bitter chocolate, Kirsch ganache and liquor steeped sour cherries in a white chocolate shell.
• Curious Chili – the darkest chocolate combined with chilies and spices creates a treat with heat.

If you aren’t scared away by expensive self-indulgences, here’s the treat to top all of your tricks this Halloween!

Created in a partnership with Valerie Confections.

"Dead Ringer" Cocktails

I love a good drink, (anytime of the year!) and I really love new and creative ideas for every occasion, including Halloween.  Here are some "Day of the Dead" cocktails forwarded to me by a good friend who was working with Sauza Tequila during the Toronto International Film Festival.  These cocktails were served at the post-screening premier party for the new movie Diary of the Dead, directed by George A. Romero, and they were a smash hit!

Corpse Reviver

• 2 oz. Sauza Gold Tequila
• 1/2 oz. Anise Liqueur
• 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
• Club Soda

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well.  Strain into a highball glass over ice and top with a splash of club soda.

Brain Hemorrhage

• 1/2 oz. Sauza Silver Tequila
• 1/2 oz. Sourz Sour Apple
• 1/2 oz. Starbucks Cream Liqueur
• A few drops of Grenadine

Pour Sauza Tequila and Sourz Sour Apple into a shot glass and slowly add the Cream Liqueur on top.  Top with grenadine drops.

Smashing Pumpkin Martini

• 3 oz. Sauza Silver Tequila
• 1 oz. Amaretto
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tbsp Gingerale

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and gently stir.  Strain into a chilled martini glass.

If to see the pics from the TIFF Premier Party visit http://www.myspace.com/sauzatequila

BOO!

Music For Public Events

Picture - String Planet. They are a great concert band to work with and professional for any event or festival. Check them out at www.stringplanet.com! Photo credit - Jeanie Cunningham. The following story DOES NOT relate to String Planet, this is just a plug for these great musicians...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had an interesting situation arise the other day involving a non-profit fund raiser. There were plans for music at this event, both live performance and CD sales – by one of the non-profit's members - with CD sales as a part of fund-raising.

I am only marginally involved in project, so it was very late in the game when I finally became aware of the plans for music. I noticed that there were three kinds of music involved with the event - self-composed, public domain and copyrighted music.

I was fairly certain that the musician did not have a performance license and/or recording rights for the copyrighted music, because they are merely a well-meaning member of this organization and a hobbyist musician, not a professional musician. There were several indications that the copyrighted music was not covered legally.

Music gets used a lot in events both as signature moments and background. Music sets the mood and emphasizes a vibe at events. But event planners need to understand that music at events is, legally, considered a public performance of the work. Don't let the word performance throw you- here the word performance can be either live performance or played on transistor radio – it is the aural reception of music.

If it is music in public domain or self-authored, there is no issue. If it is copyrighted music- which most music nowadays is... then you are at risk for lawsuits and fines. The most famous case of this is the “Happy Birthday” song. A quick trip to Google will tell the tale: “The version as we know it was copyrighted in 1935...The company holding the copyright was purchased by Warner Chappell in 1990 for $15 million, with the value of "Happy Birthday" estimated at $5 million...Warner claims that unauthorized public performances of the song are technically illegal unless royalties are paid to them.”

ASCAP and BMI are initiating lawsuits in record numbers. People in the industry must be aware of this, and plan accordingly.

The definition of performing copyrighted music that is at issue includes playing music "any place where people gather," with the exception of small private groups. As long as it's played outside a direct circle of friends and family, it is considered a public performance. Music may be played through radio, television, CD or cassette player, computer, etc. or performed live. Party planners should also be asking their DJs about their performance license - because they absolutely should have one. It can put your organization at risk if they do not.

Back to my little non-profit's saga. Unfortunately, people associated with this fund raiser were not even aware of the potential concern. When it was brought to their attention, they mistakenly thought that the musician should be solely liable in the event that someone reported the infringement. This is not so. In the case of fines – which can be several grand per infringement- they will go after the organization that was planning the event. Whether you agree with this or it makes sense- it does not matter. And it does not matter that it is a fund raiser to help a little itsy-bitsy nonprofit. It would be a public embarrassment. Organizations like this need to be “above the letter of the law” and highly professional in order to keep credibility when they solicit support. Donors expect that.

Event planners need to protect the institutions and individuals that they work for. You should be reasonably aware of liability concerns for your client, because they probably have no idea. ALWAYS ask if the musician or DJ has performance license and/or recording rights for the music that they are presenting or selling. Always advise your client of the letter-of-the-law. If they chose to ignore you, you have given them fair indication of any risks they incur.

If you are a constant provider of musical entertainment, you should know of ASCAP and BMI and if you are an organization that requires a contract.

My suggestion for my little non- profit, which was well received, is that the music performed and sold at this fund raiser be limited to the musician's self-composed music.

Perhaps one of the byproducts of this litigation happy music industry will be that local grassroots musicians will have more opportunities for their original works to be performed as opposed to being begged to perform only covers of popular songs.

A "Progressive" Halloween

Adults often get left behind at Halloween since they have to stay at home manning the door and doling out candy for all the little trick-o-treaters in the neighborhood.  If your neighborhood has few children or if you live in the city center, or in a condominium or townhouse complex,  you might not see many costumed children.  But Halloween is not over for you!  I suggest gathering some friends that live in your neighborhood or building and have a Progressive Halloween Dinner Party.

What you need is at least 3 homes within walking distance of each other and hosts with imagination - that's all!  Each host is assigned one course of the evening's meal and each house is to host the group for that course. Of course, costumes and decorations are mandatory!  Invitations should be sent in advance and can be designed like a menu with the location of each hosts house and any activities planned. One evening I heard about included 5 locations with the first serving cocktails and appetizers, the second serving soup and salad, the third was the main course and the fourth had coffee and dessert.  The fifth location hosted games and activities and was...

A few tips to help the evening run smoothly:

- Discuss with the hosts the number of guests invited and the timing of each course.  It is important that the whole group not spend too much time at one or two houses in order to allow enough time to enjoy each location.

- People can discuss their decorations and food with each other, or you can insist all ideas be kept a secret to ensure a big surprise at each stop.

- Choose locations that are no more than a 10 minute walk away from each other and encourage walking from house to house as people may be drinking and this lessens the need for a designated driver.

Some ideas include the use of candles and carved pumpkins for spooky lighting, using hay bales as seats in the back yard, tombstones and coffins for tables, costume contests and monster movie trivia games to keep people in the mood, even loot bags decorated with Halloween characters for everyone to take home...the list is endless.

Remember, nothing is too over-the-top for Halloween!  Using fog machines, "live" scarecrows and grim reapers as escorts, bubbling punch bowls, creepy music and outlandish costumes will only liven up the night and make this Halloween dinner party unforgettable!

Photos courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

Unusual People Have Events Too

Not everyone is traditional. When a non-traditional person starts musing over hosting an event, and when they are not pressured to conform to societal mandates - often something new, insired and exciting can evolve. As an event planner, this can be the most challenging, yet rewarding work there is out there.

Pressure them to conform to the pre-programmed expectations of traditionalists... and you have eliminated the possibility to get something new out into the world.

There are few resources to help non-traditionalists, partly because of the infinate complexity of the subject - and the fact that there is little opportunity for profitability for niche markets. I have located a few resources, and anyone is invited to add to the arsenal. Just send in your comments, and I will be sure to review and post them here.

www.uniquevenues.com hosts basic searchable info on non-traditional venues such as colleges, universities, conference centers, theaters, mansions, dining and entertainment venues, museums and castles among others.

At ethicalweddings.com they boast: ”Local, fair trade, organic, eco-friendly, recycled… these are a few of our favourite things at ethicalweddings.com, a searchable database of ethical wedding services and products which give you the chance to celebrate your wedding the way you want while giving others something to celebrate too.”

Offbeat Bride offers inspiration for the “aisles less traveled.” Author Ariel Meadow Stallings shares her own experiences that of dozens of nontraditional brides. Offbeatbride.com is the companion website for the book, with such unconventional categories as “Wedding Porn”... and it does not hold back. Reoccurring themes are: tattooed brides, red wedding gowns, groomsmen as bandmembers and veil alternatives. Warning: she drops the “f-bomb” on her site a few times.

To quote Ariel … " For me, the scariest part of getting engaged was feeling as if I were suddenly buying into an identity that wasn’t my own. I was having a bridentity crisis. Suddenly I was supposed to care about floral arrangements and classical quartets. Suddenly I was supposed to like poufy white dresses and showing off jewelry. Suddenly I was supposed to buy five-hundred-page glossy magazines and take a strong interest in decorative bows for the backs of rented chairs. I was a bride, but I wasn’t that kind of bride. I didn’t care about any of these things. I just loved my partner, Andreas, and I wanted to have a big party to share that love with our family and friends."

As planners, we can reduce pressure and try to buffer the stress for our client when resistance from family, society and traditional vendors arises. It is rewarding to assist people in realizing something new, something not experienced before, and somehing that truly reflects the wonderful person hosting the event.

Invitations Go Green!

In trying to make our everyday life more environmentally friendly, we are reading more, investigating more and trying out more tips, ideas and products to help make our lifestyle more eco-friendly.  There are many, many products out there now and my favorite on-line/paper reference greenliving Magazine gives great suggestions for beauty, fashion, home, kids...just about everything!

The latest issue gave a number of 'green' party tips including a eco-friendly source for invitations, Botanical Paperworks.  This company manufactures and prints invites and stationary on handmade-to-order paper and they have many fabulous ideas for invitations, paper party favors and cards.  My favorite is the handmade paper embedded with wildflower seeds which, if planted and given proper water and sunlight, will grow in 6-8 weeks.  Not only is this paper used to make invitations and cards, but reply cards, place cards, hand-bound guest books, thank you cards and wedding/shower/party favors are also available.  They have great ideas for baby showers, graduations, Christmas cards (spruce tree seeds replace the wildflower seeds) wedding showers, garden parties, birthdays, tea parties Easter, and all other celebrations you can think of!  They even sell supplies to make your own paper and can help you to personalize your eco-friendly stationary to fit every occasion.  Long after the event, your guests can remember and enjoy a gift of flowers in their garden or home.  What an elegant way to help the environment!

Photos courtesy of Botanical Paperworks

Fortune Cookie Favors

I recently heard about the idea to use personalized fortune cookies as party favors and I thought it was a really fun way to add a personal touch to any kind of party or celebration.  After some investigation, I found there were many companies out there which will make these cookies for you and insert a personalized message.  I looked at Fancy Fortune Cookies and the prices seemed reasonable and the pictures made my sweet tooth ache!  If you were to throw a large party or use these cookies as wedding favors, I think buying bulk cookies and having them made and shipped to you would be the least time consuming choice.  I also thought it would be fun for a dinner party or smaller gathering to make my own cookies and insert original quotes or personalized predictions for each guest.  There are many recipies on-line and in chinese cookbooks you could use, but kitchen novices beware - this could be time consuming and frustrating without the proper tools and loads of patience!

The following recipie is courtesy of Rhonda Parkinson and includes many useful tips on how to make tasty, personalized fortune cookies.

Search the web for jokes, riddles or Cool Quotes that will suit your guests' personalities or sense of humor, then just make sure you give each person the fortune that was created for them!

Good Luck!

Fortune cookies can be tricky to make - it's important to make sure that the cookie batter is spread out evenly on the baking sheet. Instead of using the back of a wooden spoon to spread the batter, it's better to gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth as needed. Wearing cotton gloves makes it easier to handle and shape the hot cookies. This fortune cookie recipe makes about 10 cookies.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons water

PREPARATION:

1. Write fortunes on pieces of paper that are 3 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 2 9-X-13 inch baking sheets.

2. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg white, vanilla extract, almond extract and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff.

3. Sift the flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar into a separate bowl. Stir the water into the flour mixture.

4. Add the flour into the egg white mixture and stir until you have a smooth batter. The batter should not be runny, but should drop easily off a wooden spoon.

5. Place level tablespoons of batter onto the cookie sheet, spacing them at least 3 inches apart. Gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth and from side to side so that each tablespoon of batter forms into a circle 4 inches in diameter.

6. Bake until the outer 1/2-inch of each cookie turns golden brown and they are easy to remove from the baking sheet with a spatula (14 - 15 minutes).

7. Working quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip it over in your hand. Place a fortune in the middle of  a cookie. To form the fortune cookie shape, fold the cookie in half, then gently pull the edges downward over the rim of a glass, wooden spoon or the edge of a muffin tin. Place the finished cookie in the cup of the muffin tin so that it keeps its shape. Continue with the rest of the cookies.

Hot Honeymoon Trends

Perhaps one of the best parts of the wedding process is the honeymoon.  That sweet time where you and your new husband can unwind, relax and spend time not thinking about whether the double-sided satin ribbon you ordered for your programs is the right shade of plum.  While all-inclusive resorts can be a good option for some, they also the pose the dilemma of being impersonal.  Some couples arrive to find dozens of other newlyweds who had also tied the knot on their same date.  That tends to put a damper on "look at me, I'm the bride". 

In order to get a better glimpse into alternatives to the big resort choices, I asked Shannon Rice, the owner of Riso Studio, a boutique travel firm to lend her insight on the matter.  Here is some of what Shannon has to say about honeymoon planning:

What are couples today looking for on a honeymoon?
Today's couples are still looking to accommodate the basic ideas of a honeymoon: relaxation, romance, and simplicity. Yet they are trying to be adventurous, eco-friendly, and giving.  What couples need to remember is that their honeymoon, excluding their wedding, is the first experience they share together as a married couple. Some couples are taking this to heart and are signing up for a week of volunteering and then traveling around their location for another week.  Other couples are throwing in the towel on relaxing and are planning an 8-10 day adventure style vacation in remote mountain or jungle areas. For the green lovers there are new lines of luxurious green and eco-friendly boutique hotels.

What are some of the advantages for couples in getting off the beaten path?
The best part about taking a risk and trying something new for your honeymoon is that it makes the couple immerse themselves into a new culture and lifestyle. They can experience parts of a culture and location through staying in a small remote town, dining at the local hangout without getting stuck in a tourist trap, and staying at a five star family run hotel.  Meeting up with a translator or hiring a local guide or college student for a day of local fare can definitely make your travels worthwhile. If you like the off-the-beaten-path style, make sure you steer clear of the big chain hotels and research the small boutique or bed and breakfasts instead. You will get more personal attention while vacationing like a local. Trust me, there are still amazing family-run small five-star accommodations out there to keep the luxuries and romance going throughout this style of honeymoon.

What are today's hottest trends in travel?
A new trend in honeymoon travel is still staying true to the simplicity of an all-inclusive experience yet with a 5-star location with all the amenities. There is a new twist that introduces eco-adventure all-inclusive lodges. They are normally set in remote locations, and include all meals, lodging and an array of activities. The couple will still experience the 'community' like feel of an all inclusive on a smaller scale and not only limited to honeymooners. This style of travel can be perfect for the luxurious and stylish travel duo to the rough wilderness and nature lovers. Some of the lodges are eco-friendly and include very healthy gourmet meals. Adventures such as canopy tours, river rafting, deep sea fishing and rock climbing can all be included based on locations. They pride themselves on making your trip an “experience” in a beautiful natural environment and not just a vacation.

If you're planning your honeymoon, make sure it's special and uniquely you.  Boutique travel firms are a great resource for planning your wedding finale and the peace of mind knowing everything is on schedule is invaluable.

Happy Labor Day!

After football games, BBQs, going up to the cottage, coming back from the cottage and trying to squeeze every last drop out of my Labor Day weekend, I'm exhausted!  Long weekends are supposed to be a relaxing and mellow time to reflect on the summer and catch those final few rays of sunshine before looking forward to fall... but three or four days is still never enough.

I have one new bar accessory I spotted a few days ago at Bergo Designs in Toronto, NORDIC ROCKS ice cube substitutes.

As described on the design site Take2, these small cubes are carved out of 400 million year old pollution-free base rock in Sweden.  The rocks are placed in the freezer for about one hour and then used in the place of ice cubes to cool your summer drinks with out watering them down.  They are then rinsed and stored for later use.  That's a very COOL idea, indeed!

On-line ordering can be done from OXID eShop.

Give A Dinner

When you go to make your next reservation for dinner, consider this: stay home.  Invite your four favorite people over for Saturday night dinner and spend the evening cooking together and laughing as you make your way through a new recipe and a bottle of wine.  As you toast your efforts, tally up the bill for that same evening out at a restaurant and make a donation in that amount to a charity of the host's choice.  What a wonderful way to celebrate what we have and share it with others.  These days, dining out is out.  Giving back is in.

"It is around the table that friends understand best the warmth of being together." 

by Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.

Tips for a Memorable Reception

A few years ago, I attended thirteen weddings in one summer, and with the exception of a handful of them, went as a guest.  It was a whirlwind of bland chicken, dry cake and tepid punch in paper cups.  To be fair, not all the weddings were that way, but after a while they all seemed to run into each other.  Sound familiar?  Well, your wedding needn't be cookie cutter.  Here are five fun ideas to make your reception different and leave your guests with something invaluable - a great experience and even better memories.

1) Hire a live cigar roller for your reception.  Yes, there are actually people who will come out and roll stogies right at your event.  If that's a little out of your reach, consider placing a cigar at each seat as a favor.  The male guests will give you major brownie points for thinking of them, and as a woman, I can tell you I wouldn't mind one either. 

2) Channel your inner Europhile and serve up steaming cups of cappuccino from an espresso bar.  Baristas can come and mix up beverages just like they do in your corner coffee shop.  The extra shots will keep the energy levels up and the dance floor packed.  For an alternative twist, offer a post-dessert coffee tasting paired with chocolates. 

3) Skip the cake and serve ice cream, or opt for both!  Delicious places like Marble Slab and Cold Stone Creamery offer services where they bring their slabs and supplies and mix ice cream right in front of your guests.  If you prefer the sweeter, lighter options, check to see if your local gelato shop will do something similar.  Yum.

4) Have your DJ teach your guests a dance.  Since everyone will be learning it together, the awkwardness factor is cut way down.  Plus, you may be surprised to see that the guest you could never drag out on the dance floor is eager to get involved. 

5) If your guests will be valet parking, have the attendants place a Bon Voyage gift in their vehicles at the end of the night.  This can be a single flower tied with a thank you note from you and your fiance, a midnight snack of milk and cookies, or whatever else your creative mind may come up with.  Your guests will be thrilled you thought of them and will be impressed with your attention to detail.

Weddings are a celebration.  Have fun and don't be afraid to infuse some fresh ideas into your own reception!

Photo by Rhonda Lewis Photography 

Celebrate Mother Earth

April is the Month to Celebrate our planet Earth. Hello, Earth to readers did you hear that? April is Earth month and Sunday April 22nd is Earth Day. There is so much talk lately about global warming, reuse, and recycling...that sometimes I worry that all the coverage is so intense that people just glaze over it now.
Without getting political on you, I just think this is a good time to remind everyone that yes, indeed our home here on earth is in trouble. With it's amazing collection of people, places, plants and animals, we have not done our due diligence to make sure that we preserve what we have.
So here are a few tips on how you can celebrate April, in honor of our precious Mother Earth:
1. Take the family or friends on a good ol' fashioned hike and picnic. Seriously, when was the last time you packed a lunch, took a hike and found a place to sit and enjoy the scenery while you ate your food? If you plan this activity with children, have them all collect a few different types of grass or plant leaves. When you get home, you can research their finds and learn more about the plant life which is local to their area.

2. Grab a friend, grab a bag and hit the local park or beach to clean up some of the mess. Too bad we have people in this world who don't know that a trash receptacle is for trash. Too bad when you drive down the highway you see loads of junk littering our pretty streets... Maybe this month you can spend some time picking up trash and recycling the things that you find. It's actually another nice way to get outdoors.

3. Plant a tree. Visit your area's local website to find out which trees are indigenous to your climate and see if you can't plant a new one.

4. Check out Project Switch. Join thousands of others in switching out millions of inefficient incandescent light bulbs so we can save money, energy and the environment.

5. Check out the official Earth Share website for tips on how to be green. Spring is always a time for cleaning. Here are a few home made cleaning solutions I took directly from the Earth Share website.
Some of the greenest cleaners are the ones you make yourself. Here are some sample recipes for simple, effective cleaners:
Drain Cleaner: Pour a half-cup of baking soda down the sink and add at least a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes, then rinse with a mixture of boiling water and salt.
Window Cleaner: Mix two ounces of vinegar with a quart of water in a spray bottle.
Silver Polish: Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a plastic or glass bowl. Sprinkle the foil with salt and baking soda and fill the bowl with warm water. Soak your silver in the bowl and tarnish migrates to the foil. Dry and buff.
Brass Cleaner: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt and rub the lemon on the metal. Buff with a cloth.
Rust Remover: Use vinegar to remove rust on nuts and bolts and other mineral deposits such as calcium deposits.

Enjoy the outdoors on Earth Day. Use mass transit or better yet, your bikes and legs. Try to give back every month not just April! It's time for everyone to share the work if we are going to share the Earth!

Go Green on St. Patty's Day!

You know, St. Patty's day ain't all about the beer...ok maybe for some it is but why not go "Eco" on your friends this day for green and really go green? I propose that each and everyone of you reading this blog figure a way to make St. Patrick's day about giving back to our environment and feel good about yourself. You know, this is actually a good alternative to waking up on the 18th with a tremendous headache!
Here are a few simple ways to go green this March 17th:

1. Plant a tree... Did you know that planting a tree can not only reduce sound and produce oxygen, but it also cleans the air, reduces wind and increases property values?

2. Host a St. Patty's day party in the dark... Use candles instead of watts to supply the light to your next party. Not only is this a mood setter, it's a trend setter. Tell your friends that this is THE next thing and 'everyone' is doing it! As a party favor send everyone home with a compact fluorescent light bulb. Remind your friends that if every household replaced one bulb in their home with an energy efficient bulb such as an Energy Star light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year. Holy Moses people. That is so easy to do if we all ban together!

3. Consume less and buy eco-friendly products. Try for one day to abstain from purchasing unnecessary products and if you must, choose products that are good for our Mother Earth such as organic foods and environmentally friendly household and outdoor products. It's easy to do. The labels will tell you so...

4. When shopping, BYOB... Not what you are thinking... remember, we are moving away from the traditional St. Patty's day pastime... I am talking about Bringing Your Own Bag! Did you know that big chains like IKEA are currently in discussions on ways to implement a program that will charge the consumer for the use of a plastic bag??? I love this..Way to go IKEA!!! Don't be mad at them! They are taking charge and making a difference. They are educating consumers and trying to contribute. It's really all we can ask of big name chains. The more they try, the more people are aware of how our consumption effects the environment.

5. Try mass transit for a day! Come on, look at it as an adventure! St Patrick's day lands on a Saturday this year, so why not use the old muscles and ride your bike everywhere you go that day... Even if it is to the local pub...

These are just a few ways to get you started on going green this St. Patrick's Day. There are plenty more. Try googling "Going Green" and see what you come up with. Tree Hugger is one of my favorite sites dedicated to being eco friendly. The writers are enormously educated in this field and the site offers lots of ideas, articles and links to others who are just as passionate about the cause.

Is that my drink?

You've said it out loud. You've thought it to yourself. And without a definitive answer to that famous party question, "Is that my drink?" you march straight to the kitchen or bar or cooler and grab yourself another tall cool one - one that's never-been-touched brand new and backwash-free.

These oh-so-charming wine charms from Bellaceti will bring new and exciting ownership to your drinks! Attach to your glass stem, place glass on table and walk away. Yeah, it's OK. It will still be there when you get back, and you'll be able to make a positive ID by the nifty candy-colored bead. Color coordinate with your party outfit and you're good to go!

And speaking of party outfits, if you're looking for a stellar piece of jewelry to wear to your next gathering, Bellaceti has you covered there, too with gorgeous rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings - all handmade by owner and designer, Linda.

------------------------------------------------------------
Post and images provided by the folks at Anna Bella Stationery: stationery & lovely things.

Totally Cool

Are you stuck in the 80’s?  Well you're in luck.. Trivial Pursuit Totally 80’s  is here!  The perfect game for after dinner, fireside entertainment, or your next 80’s party.  Also, a fabulously fun hostess gift.