All Things For All Parties

Gorgeous & Green! Global Green 3rd Annual Party

A very good friend of mine produces the fashion show for this event every year and it is definitely one worth sharing with all of you. 

If you are a supporter of the "Green Movement" (and who wouldn't be these days) than this is the event for you.  It is definitely one not to be missed.  Such a worthy cause and a great time.

Global Green 3rd Annual San Francisco Party:
GORGEOUS & GREEN

When: Tuesday, December 18
6:00 pm Festive Patron Dinner Party
7:30 pm Cocktail Party

WHERE:
Bently Reserve
301 Battery Street, San Francisco

FEATURING:
* Celebrity Hosts & Guests
* Eco-Fashion Show by William Good
* Delicious Sustainable Cuisine
* Organic Cocktails & Wine Bars
* Patron Dinner with Featured Green Table Designs
* Renowned Musician & DJ
* Live Eco-Auction
* Ecofabulous Product Showcase Suite with Gifts
* Delectable Desserts
* Gorgeous & Green Decor by Sillapere
* Spas
* Global Green’s Work in Schools & New Orleans
* Carbon Negative by Climate Clean
* An Eco-Friendly Party

TICKETS:
$250 General Admission to Party at 7:30 pm
$1,000 VIP Ticket to Cocktail Party at 7:30 pm (includes champagne & dessert service in VIP lounge areas)
$5,000 Ticket to Patron Dinner Party at 6:00 pm plus Cocktail Party

WHERE:
Bently Reserve
301 Battery Street, San Francisco

INVITATION & RSVP:

http://www.globalgreen.org/sf/

Cookie Baking Party means fun for the kids!

I am the proud Mom of two rambunctious rascals, ages 4 and 3, who are in ever need of a project.  One of our favorite places in our home is our kitchen.  This room has been a source of fascination for my children, pretty much since they could sit up.  The pots, pans, spoons and other utensils  provided them with endless hours of fun as babies and toddlers and now as young children I have made a point of incorporating them as much as possible in meal making.  My daughter, loves to help me make and pack lunches for pre-school, and my son loves to help make dinner. 

I was raised this way also, and found it strange in college that very few of my friends knew how to cook or entertain.  So I always knew that my children would not only be adventurous eaters, but would be so, not through my constant barrage of eclectic and ethnic menu choices, but because I planned on teaching them, just as my Mom and Grandmother taught my sister and I.

So the other day, while at Whole Foods, my kids spied a Gingerbread House, and instantly wanted it.  I said, "no, let's make our own."  And the response was a resounding  "Yeah!!!!"

All you'll need for this project is really your imagination.  We took the easy route and opted to just get a mix for the gingerbread portion, and then spent the next 20 minutes in the candy and cookie aisle, finding the most interestingly colorful and wonderfully shaped yummies that we could.

There was a little impatience when it came to making the gingerbread, so as the adult chef, you may want to actually make this part ahead of time.  You can either opt to use a mix, or you can make the gingerbread from scratch.  I found a fantastic tutorial with easy to follow instructions, pictures and a great template that you can print out.  Visit the King Arthur Flour website to find it, or simply click here.  Remember to have fun and be as creative as possible.

Ladies Who Launch Multi Designer Holiday Sale

Hello Everyone - I am proud to announce that our company, Social Couture, will be taking part in the Multi Designer Holiday Sale this Holiday Season.  We are very excited about this opportunity and would love for you to join us. I have included all the details below if you live in the area please come on down and feel free to bring your best girlfriends...We would love to see you all there!!!!

Temple Emanuel Hoffman Hall

                300 Clark Drive @ Burton Way Beverly Hills, CA  90211

Sunday, December 2nd, 10am - 3pm

Jewelry + Handbags + Clothing + Candles + Bath & Body +

Baby Clothes + Toys + Unique Gifts + Yummy Pies + Scarves +

Shoes + Beautiful Art + So Much More!!!

Authentic "Hot" Chocolate

 

Lately, my kids have been really hooked on Hot Chocolate.  Tonight we decided to change it up a bit and had tea, but for some reason my mind kept thinking about the hot chocolate.  Maybe its because I was recently told by my doctor to stop consuming caffeine, even the chocolate kind...jeez, what's a woman to do?  Or maybe it is because next week,we'll be taking our kids to see the Polar Express in 3D?  Well anyway, back to the topic at hand...Hot Chocolate.  I did a little research and thought you might be intrigued to know a few facts about Hot Chocolate.

Chocolate actually comes from the seeds of a Theobroma Cacao, which means food for the Gods.  The trees, which stand about 40 to 60 feet produce yellow fruit the size of a small pineapple and the seeds are found within this fruit.

It is believed that the Olmecs, one of the oldest civilizations of the Americas (1500-400BC), were the first users of cacao beans.  They were followed by the Maya, who probably consumed cacao-based drinks.  "Chocolatl" was made from the roasted cacao beans, water and little spice.

Around 1517, Emperor Montezuma of Mexico introduced Chocolatl to Spanish Discoverer, Hernan Cortes.  When Cortez returned to Spain in 1528, he returned with riches including cocoa beans and chocolate making equipment.

Over the next several centuries, Hot Chocolate became sweeter and incorporated milk.  For hundreds of years after its arrival into Europe, it was considered also a medicinal treatment that helped everything from stomach upset to chest and heart ailments.

In Central and Southern Mexico, chocolate is taken with a layer of foam on top, which is believed to contain the spirit of the drink.  It is whipped until frothy, using a carved wooden beater called a molinillo.

So without further ado, here is an authentic Hot Chocolate Recipe, courtesy of whatscookinginamerica.net.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

• 6 cups milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 ounces unsweetened Mexican-style chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• Stick cinnamon (for garnish)

In a large saucepan, combine milk, sugar, chocolate, ground cinnamon and salt.  Heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate has melted and the milk is very hot. (Do not let the milk come to a boil)

Beat 2 eggs in a mixing bowl.  Stir in one cup of the hot mixture into the eggs, then return this mixture to the saucepan.  Cook 2 to 3 minutes more over low heat, still stirring.

Remove from heat.  Add vanilla.  Beat with a molinillo or a rotary beater until it is very frothy.  Pour into mugs, garnish with cinnamon sticks, and serve.  Makes about 6 (8 ounce) servings.

Perfect for sharing!  Bottoms Up!

   

Thanks Ladies Who Launch

For me the holidays are the time of year that I usually reflect on all the things I am grateful to have in my life. So, I would like to take this opportunity to say Thanks to the Ladies Who Launch because without this amazing group of women my business would not be where it is today; If you have never heard of this organization and have your own business or are considering starting your own business than now is the time to become familiar with who these women are. It will definitely be a decision you never regret.

Ladies Who Launch provides content and community to help women start and expand their businesses and creative ventures. Through their events, e-mail newsletter, website and in-person Incubator programs Ladies Who Launch provides a venue for motivated women to exchange products and services, ideas, and strategic relationships. Ladies Who Launch connects thousands of women to each other by giving them multiple forums in which to connect and ultimately propel their entrepreneurial visions forward in ways they may never have dreamed possible. Below is a menu of the various ways Ladies Who Launch accomplishes its mission:

Ladies Who Launch events and Speaker Series facilitate face to face connections and let like-minded, motivated women swap energy, ideas, goods and services with each other. Their events give women information and inspiration to move forward.

Ladies Who Launch Incubators give women the chance to activate ideas using a highly innovative and focused networking method that has proven results. Thousands of women have gone through the in-person Incubator in cities worldwide and have launched or grown their ventures substantially. In addition to the program and the in-person community exchanges, Incubator members have the unique opportunity to network online both locally and nationally.

Ladies Who Launch weekly email newsletters and in-depth case studies on successful women entrepreneurs provide the emotional support and psychological inspiration to get women started and keep them on the path to success. The Ladies Who Launch website provides the vital tools and resources to execute their creative vision. The newsletter has a total circulation of 25,000 viewers, including website traffic to specific newsletter articles as well as subscribers to the free newsletter. The newsletter's open rate is close to 40%, which is higher than the industry standard.

The Ladies Who Launch case studies and teaching materials have already been distributed and taught by Ladies Who Launch founder, Victoria Colligan at the Hathaway Brown School for girls in Shaker Heights, Ohio, as part of a highly innovative entrepreneurship program that she has created for them. This program has been hugely successful and well-received just in the short time of its existence.

The Ladies Who Launch LWL network and Launch Pad List women online, allowing them to explore strategic relationships and to communicate with each other on a range of topics. There are close to 1000 members of the Ladies Who Launch VIP network and hundreds of testimonials from women describing the ways in which Ladies Who Launch has helped or dramatically changed their businesses through word of mouth communications, strategic partnership opportunities and exposure through the Ladies Who Launch website.

The Ladies Who Launch Search for Success is a bi-annual business idea contest, where the grand prize winner is awarded a package of cash and business services valued up to $40,000. During its first year in existence, the Search drew over 500 business plans from women all over the country.

Decorate for Christmas and let Social Couture help you out!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, you have either already pulled out all your Christmas decorations in anxious anticipation for the festivities that are soon to unfold, or you are seriously contemplating taking a Caribbean vacation so that you don’t have to think about it this year.

Well, at Social Couture, we’d like to think that we might be able to offer you a glimmer of hope.  We might not be able to deliver you a Christmas Tree this year, but we do have some great items that could dress up your pad and help you look like you’ve spent months putting it all together.

Let’s start with the table.  For a fun twist on the traditional, try our Christmas Table setting and let it set the mood for everything else.

You can use our mint julep cups along a shelf or your mantel and fill them with red roses or dahlias.

Our red candelabra can make a dramatic statement on a table or shelf in your entryway. 

Speaking of candles, we’ve got plenty of votives in colors that will sparkle just like your tree.

We’ve also got some cute little green cocktail napkins, perfect for having a few co-workers or friends over for some pre-shopping cocktails.

And of course don’t forget to continue to surf our blog for fun ideas, recipes and tips.

Have fun, and party on!

There's always an occasion for a Party...Thanksgiving Leftovers

Throw a Party!!  Invite some friends over for a casual get-together and serve dishes made with all of your favorite leftovers from Thanksgiving. My Mother-in-law always uses the leftover bread from the stuffing or biscuits to make bread pudding. My Mother (who hasn't left the kitchen since she got here...even though I did all the cooking) loves to make turkey soup, or turkey quesadillas the next day. This is an ideal time to entertain casually and in a relaxed way. Since you've already hosted Thanksgiving, your house has already been cleaned (and re-cleanded) and may need only a quick once-over before guests arrive.

Stay in the "green theme" of things these days by making your invitations out of "recycled" materials or you can use some of the fall leaves that have recently fallen in your neighborhood.  Although for an occasion like this one I just would make a few quick phone calls to invite everyone over.

Throw a log on the fire, light some candles and break-out the games.  Instant party! 

Here are a few quick ideas for using up some common Thanksgiving leftovers:

• Make crepes and use the cranberry sauce as your filling.
• Put on a big pot of Turkey Chili and left-over cornbread to serve as your main course.  What could be easier. If you choose this leftover favorite make turkey quesadillas as an appetizer to accompany the turkey chili.
• You can also use your leftover turkey and green bean casserole to make mini turkey pot pies...Yummy!!!!
• My Irish neighbor always invites us over for Turkey Shepherd Pie...Heck, you can use your entire Thanksgiving dinner and leftovers for this one.
• I can't write this without adding my husband's favorite...Open faced Turkey Sandwiches.
• One of my very favorites to do with Thanksgiving leftovers is to make turkey paninis.  Cut them up into small pieces, put on a tray and serve them up.  Too easy!!

Ta da!!  It really is that easy!!  Gobble Gobble!

Sale, Sale, Sale! It's a party when you love to shop!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you ate to your hearts content.  I know I did!  I also watched the Macy's Day Parade with my son and daughter (it was their first time... they are 3 and 4), and they loved the floats.  I hope in a few years to take them to see it live.  We also watched my Arizona Sun Devils lose their shot at the Rose Bowl...my husband was devastated.

So if you feeling like you over-indulged (did you know the average American consumes 6000 calories on Thanksgiving), you can be like one of the millions that plan to brave Black Friday tomorrow,  and walk it all off.  On the other-hand, if you are like me and you wonder...why on earth would you do that?  Why do that, when you could save on gas, save on parking, and best of all save time.  Tomorrow, I plan to do a long walk with my kids, and then hit my comfiest chair and shop on-line!

And that is what brings me to our wonderful company Social Couture.  We created Social Couture, for you, the on-line shopper, who thinks smarter not harder.  We have some amazing new products that will help you create a wonderful table setting for Hanukkah or Christmas, that will help you welcome your family with grace, elegance and most importantly... with ease.   Our motto, is point, click...party!  And for good reason.  We design every party with our customers in mind.  You don't have to spend a bundle either.  We won't ever try to be your local party superstore...who want to look like the next guy anyway?  Every party I design, better be worthy of my own dining room, backyard or fun destination site, whether it be a tailgate party or my best friends baby shower.  So this holiday season, make your life easier and take a few things off your list of to do's.  Tomorrow or the next day, shop our site, Social Couture, and see how we can make you life a little easier and your next party or get-together a lot more fun.  We promise you'll be happy you did!

Happy Holidays!

- Colleen Sprunk, Co-founder of Social Couture

Because Life's a Party!

Tis' the season to be jolly...fa la la la!  Throw a party with very little effort.  Entertaining during the holidays doesn't need to be a painful  process.  The only thing most people care about is getting together to share this time with the people they care most about so just make it casual, warm and inviting.  Don't go overboard.  My old boss used to say, K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) and I think when it comes to times like this he is absolutely right. 

Here are a few quick tips to make it happen:

Fresh flowers are one of the easiest ways to decorate.  You can pick them up just about anywhere for any price.  Grab an arrangement at your local market on the way home. Fresh flowers have a unique way of livening up your home.  They make your home feel clean & fresh. 

Candles are another very simple way to decorate.  I always have candles around the house.  I light the scented candles to give the room and inviting scent.  I always keep extra votives & tealights in my cabinets just in case unexpected guests stop by.  Once again it makes people feel like you really went out of your way to decorate when all you really did was dig deep into your closet.  Candles always create the perfect ambience.

Champagne!  Always keep a bottle in the fridge just for last minute occasions.  Everyone loves champagne.  Talk about feeling liking it's a special occasion...nothing makes someone feel more special than when you pop open a bottle of bubbly. 

Hors d'oeuvres.  I like to keep cheese and crackers on hand at all times.  Trust me if we don't get any last minute guests my husband will finish it off.  So now I just make it a habit when I go to the market to always get a few finger foods...just in case.  Good cheese, crackers, grapes or strawberries, mini quiches....whatever it is you prefer just keep it simple.  You really don't want to get anything fussy.  It is important to remember that it really doesn't take a lot to entertain.  So go ahead invite a few friends over and have some laughs.  This is the time of year that most people are so stressed so an invitation for a night of fun and friends is just what the doctor ordered.  You will be surprised if you follow these few tips how much fun you can have with very little effort.

Relish Tray for Thanksgiving

  Thanksgiving is just a few days away and you are probably already well into your preparations.  If you want a fun twist on the classic relish tray you will probably serve as an appetizer, then here is one that Michael Chiarello featured on his show, Easy Entertaining.  It's an italian rendition of an old favorite.  Your Grandma will be pleased as punch!  And do be sure to check out his site, because he has some amazing recipes.

1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt and pepper
1 large fennel bulb
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1/2 pound salami, sliced
1 can pitted black olives, drained
1 jar (5 ounces) pimiento-stuffed Spanish olives, drained
1 jar (12 ounces) baby kosher dill pickles, drained
1 jar pickled onions, drained
2 jars (6.5 ounces each) marinated artichoke hearts
1 jar (7.5 ounces) pepperoncini
1 tin (2 ounces) anchovies with capers
1 box artisan crackers or loaf of Italian bread

In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil. sherry vinegar, chili powder and parsley and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Slice fennel into wedges and wash cherry tomatoes. Roll salami slices into batons.
Drain all jarred ingredients well. Arrange all items as desired on a large platter. Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature with bread and/or crackers.