All Things For All Parties

A Toast to You!

 

Happy New Year's!!!  I can't believe 2008 is just hours away...what a year it has been.  I am not sure what you have planned for the big night but whatever you are doing I am sure there will be a toast involved at some point in your evening so I guess now is as good as time as any to go over toast etiquette.

The host of the party or event should always be the first one to start a toast. This person should also make sure that everyone's glass is full before the toast is performed. For a wedding toast, it is still very traditional for the best man to perform the toast.  A lot of people think the maid of honor should also toast but this is not true it is purely optional.  Although, I will say it will definitely make the bride feel very special if her best gal pal gets  up and says a few amazing things about her and her new hubby and their upcoming future together.

The proper way to get the attention of those around you is to stand and say something like "May I have your attention please?" or stand and quietly raise your glass high enough for everyone to see. Never hit your glass with a spoon or other utensil. This is highly improper and a severe breach in etiquette. Once you have everyone's attention remember to sit your glass down before proceeding with the toast. When you have finished speaking you may again raise the glass and sip from it. When you give a toast, you should be standing and you should rely on brief and sincere comments. This is not the time to reminisce about those good ole fraternity days or any other times that would paint a negative picture of someone.

After the toast, the recipient, if there is one, should not take a drink. This is construed by etiquette mavens as patting yourself on the back. Instead, he or she should stand and respond with thanks or by offering another toast. During the toast, if the recipient is already sitting, there is no need to stand unless the recipient would like to return the toast.

Although traditional, alcohol is not necessary to perform the toast. Sparkling fruit juice, punch or even pop may be used. Never make a toast with the water glass, coffee or tea.  In some countries to toast with water is considered bad luck. Also, It is worth noting that it is not considered customary to applaud toasts.

If there is a large group of people, it is not suggested to ‘clink’ your glasses when the toast is made. Instead, just raise your glass and take a sip. If it is a small group of people, you should always look the person in the eyes when you ‘clink’ their glass, and it is appropriate to add a verbal congratulatory like "cheers, skol, salud, etc." But, besides these, there are many common toasts from around the world including:

A votre sante – France
Alla Salute - Italy
Egé szé gé re - Hungary
Kanpai - Japan
Na Zdrowie - Poland
Prosit - German
Saúde - Brazil
Skal - Sweden
Slainte - Ireland
Wen Lie - China
Yasas - Greece

I would personally just like to wish you all a year filled with love, laughter, health and happiness!!!  Happy New Year's to all of you.  Cheers!!

SEND YOUR LATE NIGHT GUESTS HOME IN STYLE

Anyone who likes to party late night can attest to the late night munchies.  Diet-wreckers, hang-over cures, whatever you call them...they'll be sure to be calling you and your late night guests at a party some time soon.  So here is a great idea if you'll be hosting a late night soiree, like New Years Eve or any other party where you know you'll have a late night crowd.  AND...it is so easy that you can easily pull if off as a last minute addition to your fabulous agenda!

Send you guest home in style with something to munch on.  My favorite is by event planner Jo Gartin, who does a fabulous rendition of milk and donuts.    She packages them in adorable, yet simple recyclable drink holders.  You can find these at Smart and Final or any other office or restaurant supply company.  You can also just opt to use colored kraft bags, like the pink bags we carry on our site.  Package the donuts in clear cellophane bags, tie with a ribbon to coordinate with your party's color scheme and you'll have an instantly hip and sweet treat for your guests to nibble on when they arrive home. 

  Another fun spin on this would be an American classic, the PB&J with milk.  The sandwiches can be made in advance (preferably that day) and wrapped in wax or parchment paper and tied with kitchen twine or a fun festive ribbon.  As long as you make them the day of your party, they can be packaged in a bag and set aside.  As in the above donut idea, you'll want to be sure to refrigerate the milk and add it to the bag the minute your guest is walking out the door.

  Other fun ideas would be to do a stack of our mint tins, one with cashews, one with smoked almonds and one with chocolates.  Stack and tie with a ribbon and send home with a large bottle of water. Popcorn and root-beer are another fun idea.  Have the root-beer on ice.  Pop microwaveable popcorn as the party winds down.  Dump several bags worth in a large bowl and provide a scoop and popcorn bags that your guests can dish up as they exit.   Don't let them forget their cold root-beer and don't blame us if a popcorn fight ensues.

We hope you have a great party and if you have any other ideas and/or pictures about how you entertain your guests we'd love to see them and hopefully blog about them.

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STORING ORNAMENTS AND PACKING IT ALL AWAY

In constant effort to thwart the hording gene that is on my mom's side of the family, I am a constant figure at the donation center.  Even my 3 and 4 year old have become so accustomed to my moods that they have voluntarily told me that certain toys "probably should be donated."  They've even gone so far as to place me ratty slippers in the donation pile...a not so subtle hint!  So I think my husband thought I was a little obsessive on Christmas morning as I was sorting through the mountain of wrapping paper in my living room on Christmas morning trying to make sure that everything recyclable ended up in the right bag.  I can remember thinking how strange it was that my grandmother used to open her gifts so carefully as to not damage the paper and would carefully fold it up so that she could re-use it.  Now I kinda think she was on to something.

So now that the recycle bin is full, a donation pile has metamorphosed, and we've found new homes for new toys, I am left with the ever daunting task of  disassembling the decorations, taking down the tree and storing all the lights and other Christmas gear that made getting ready for Christmas so much fun.   

If you need some suggestions on the best way to do this, then the following should be helpful:

• Decide on a time frame.  Either commit an entire day to the process of taking everything down and packing it away, or spread it out over several days, designating one day to the Christmas Tree, one day to the lights, etc.  Otherwise you'll still have a half decorated tree by the end of January.
• For storing your Christmas ornaments, there are many ornament storage containers that you can  find at most mass retail chains, but because I like to recycle, I especially like this fab trick that the folks at Martha Stewart thought up- Martha Stewart Ornament storing tip.
• To protect delicate ornaments, it is best to use acid-free tissue paper.  Bubble wrap can stick, and the chemicals and dyes in newspaper can stain and ruin ornaments.
• If you've got a real Christmas tree, then you'll need to discard of it. Here is a link that will help you find a location nearest to you where you can drop off your tree:  Earth 911
• Christmas lights can be a particularly daunting project.  You have a few options.  You can either place each strand in it's own ziploc-style bag, or you can use old wrapping paper tubes or square pieces of cardboard.  Cut a slit in one end and hook one end of the light strand through the slit.  Wrap the lights around for a tangle-proof solution.   Trust me, next year, you'll thank yourself.
• Larger decorative items should be properly stored to protect them from dust, bugs and moisture.  A great recyclable option is to use the larger boxes that toys or gift came in.
• If you have a fake Christmas tree you might want to think about taking it outdoors and either spraying it off with an air hose to remove dust.  If you don't have an air hose, then a good shaking should do the trick.
• Be sure to thoroughly wash and clean all vases, bowls and serving pieces that were used. Nothing can be more frustrating then preparing for you next big event, only to discover that they all need to be cleaned.
• Polish all silver before packing it away and be sure to pack them with anti-tarnish packs to prevent damage.
• Be sure to store everything up, off the floor in a cool and dry environment.  Excessive cold and heat can cause damage over time.
• When storing outdoor decorations, be sure to thoroughly clean them so that they are free of dirt, mud, or worse.  It will be easier to remove the grime now, then it will be next year.
• A great way to recycle, would be to salvage any of the nicer ribbon that so beautifully adorned the gifts that you received. 

Good luck!

Post-Holiday Head Start on Next Year!

...what?  you say.

The parents have left, the nieces and nephews have packed their toys and the siblings have taken their birth order quirks to their own homes… the Holidays must be coming to an end.  But it seems to me that before we breathe a long sigh of relief that all is over, we should take one last prepatory look forward to next year.  Take a good inventory of Christmas lights that blew out, ornaments that broke, reindeers that lost horns and Santas that were chipped, now in the after-holiday fire sale season is the time to replace all these items at a fraction of the cost and all the while getting a jumpstart on next year’s craziness.  For heavily discounted items, check the major on-line sites for some of the best after-holiday sales like www.amazon.com and www.overstock.com These major online retailers function almost exclusively on inventory efficiency and carrying large unsold seasonal inventories is not in their business plans.  Also, worth checking is www.eBay.com for more unique unsold Christmas items, since smaller specialty retailers use Ebay stores to move unsold inventories, and you can find some very unique, non mainstream items at heavy discounts on Ebay. If you are a regular Ebay user, you are probably very much aware of the potential value that Ebay can offer; however, if you have never used or even rarely use the auction site, its worth cutting and pasting the item you find on Ebay into www.google.com to see if the item is in fact cheaper at another larger retailer is offering the item for the same price or that you may have a gift card to use for the purchase.  And always remember: Gift Cards, Gift Cards, Gift Cards: make sure you use them! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Here at Social Couture, we'd just like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! 

Hopefully you passed the time relaxing and enjoying the company of family and good friends.  Christmas day is a time of tradition and generally is filled with food, drinks and lots of goodies.  Here is a devine find that my sister brought over.  It comes from none other than one of my favorites, Martha Stewart.

FUDGE

Makes about 24 one-inch square pieces of fudge
RECIPE FOR THE FUDGE
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups mini marshmallows
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
FOR THE MIX-INS (OPTIONAL)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup crushed peppermints
TOOLS
9-by-5-inch loaf pan
Waxed or parchment paper
Nonstick cooking spray
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Medium saucepan
Wooden spoon
Kitchen timer
Chef's knife
DIRECTIONS
Line 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with strips of waxed or parchment paper;
coat evenly with cooking spray. Set aside.
Combine sugar, salt, butter, cream, and marshmallows in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan.
Set over medium heat; cook, stirring, until butter and marshmallows
are almost melted, 5 to 6 minutes.
Bring mixture to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat. Add chocolate chips and vanilla to saucepan.
Stir until chips are melted and combined. If you like, mix in 1/2 cup peppermints or nuts.
Pour hot fudge into the loaf pan. Top with remaining mints or nuts.
Cool fudge in the pan, at room temperature, 3 hours. Grip paper, lift out fudge,
and place on cutting board. Discard paper. Cut fudge into squares.

The fudge will keep at room temperature for ten days in an airtight container.

Twas' the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a @$*$&@*%.......... a Cat! 

The shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, the food is prepared so put your feet up and take a minute to breathe.  It's time to really start to enjoy this holiday season and celebrate!  After all, it only comes around once a year.  Happy Holidays to you and your families!!!   

BE TRUE TO YOUR HEART THIS YEAR

With 2008 just around the corner, you have probably been thinking a lot, about changes you're planning for 2008.  Maybe it's resolutions, like getting back to the gym or starting to eat organically, or maybe you are resolving to spend more time with your family or friends this year.  Whatever it might be, just remember to be true to your heart. 

From a pretty early age I think, the wheels of entrepreneurship were turning.  I can remember that I had a real workbench, complete with real tools and that my mom taught me to sew at such an early age that I was making outfits for my pets by the time I was 7.  In the 6th grade I had a teacher who called in my parents for a conference because I was making animals out of Elmer's glue on my desk and then peeling them off and giving them to my friends.  My mom thought it was funny and although to this day she won't tell me what was said during the conference, I know my teacher never really bothered me after the fact.  I am pretty sure it was something pertaining to me being bored in the classroom and that as a creatively adept child, I probably needed a bit more of a challenge. 

I say go big or go home.  There is nothing glamorous or admirable about not pursuing your dreams.  One of my favorite, more recent movie was the Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith.  His pursuit and sheer desire were really enough to see him through the toughest of times, even when it meant sleeping with his son on the floor of a Muni bathroom in San Francisco.  I have to say that I feel blessed and fortunate that my husband has been here to support me through my trials and tribulations in starting my own business.  He has continued to believe in me and support me, even when he didn't agree at all with the decisions I was making.

I hope that if you are reading this post that you think about what it is that you truly want in and out of life.  Are you dreaming big and taking action to move your life in the direction you want to take it? 

I had a mind-blowing and revealing conversation about 6 months ago with a woman who was in her mid 60s.  We were sitting next to one another on a plane and she was the chatty Kathy type.  For whatever reason I engaged in a lengthy conversation with her and at one point, she said, "you know at my age, well...I'm just to old to change my ways."  I was stunned and speechless.  Why, I thought?

Days and now even months later, I can only thank this anonymous chatty Kathy because she reminded me that no matter how steep the climb, it's the journey that truly counts.  So as you embark on Christmas Eve and the new year, think about the following quote from Harold Mechert:

"Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain.  An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.  Climb slowly, steadily, enjoying each passing moment;  and the view from the summit will serve as a fitting climax for the journey."

  -Colleen Sprunk, Co-founder of Social Couture

IT’S YOUR WEDDING DAY CHOOSE GREAT VENDORS

You know the saying, a manager is only as good as the people he has working for him. Well, a wedding is only as good as the people you have working with you.

Most coordinators work with people they know for a reason. They are reliable and they know they do good work. When you are planning a wedding on your own it’s really a shot in the dark. You have to depend on other people’s recommendations and sometimes what they think is good for you isn’t always the case.

When I was getting married we didn’t have a lot of money. My friend recommended a friend of hers, a photojournalist, for our photographer. Now in theory I wanted a photojournalistic quality to my photos but the photographer, who had only shot one wedding before, didn’t know the shots to get. He staged nothing. So my husband’s family is completely missing from our wedding photos. It was a real bummer to us and we wished we had spent the additional $1000 to get someone who had real wedding experience.

Here are some things I look for when hiring vendors.

Details, Details, Details. When looking for a specific vendor always make sure you have all the details of the wedding at your fingertips. I like to keep the timeline, contacts, and even floor schematic available on my computer so I can email it to anyone I’m trying to hire. If I’m hiring a new photographer I’ll send them photos of past weddings that client or I liked. You don’t need to have everything set in stone but it does prevent future confusion if you do end up hiring a particular vendor.

It’s a job interview. Remember this person is going to be working with you side by side for 9 months to a year. Make sure you interview them. Ask them how long they’ve been in the business? Do they do weddings often? How many a year? How many hours are included in their price? Then just chat with them, ask them to tell you about the most difficult wedding they ever encountered. You can tell a lot about a person if they are frantic while telling you the story or are able to cope with stress and everything worked out.

Negotiate. Surprisingly, many people don’t realize that most pricing is negotiable. If you really want to hire someone and they are overpriced for your budget think about why the vendor would want to do your wedding. Maybe you have a lot of single friends and they could get future work. Or maybe you are having your wedding somewhere unique, such as a farm or a roof deck and the photographs will be fantastic for their portfolio. Sometimes it helps to just say you “I really like you but your fee is to much for our wedding.” If they like you they’ll most likely negotiate, at least 10%, if not more.

Go with your gut. What was your first impression of the company or person? Sounds a little ridiculous but a vendor you don’t gel with most likely won’t meet expectations. That can be stressful. If you like the person and they have good references hire him or her.

Kill them with kindness. I love the vendors I work with and the vendors love me. This is because we have a mutual respect for one another. I truly believe the more positive energy you put into planning your big day the more positive you’ll get back. So when things get stressful and mistakes happen (because they always do) and you feel you need to vent, go easy on your vendors, they’re trying to do their best job possible for you. You will reap the rewards of your kindness and you’ll get to pay back the favor to another friend that recommended the perfect vendor.

Chris Flitter is the founder of Twist an event planning company out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Formally an HGTV producer with over a decade of television experience, Chris followed her dream to start her own event planning business and uses her creativity and attention to detail in every event she produces. www.eventsbytwist.com

Kid's Christmas Party

You better watch out, you better not cry...Santa Clause has definitely come to town with this fun and festive Kid's Christmas Party.  This party is very simple to set-up especially if you choose to purchase our party in a box option.  The complete set comes with everything you need to set the table. Other than the food and the Jones soda, we can provide you with everything you need. 

I think this kid's party would also make a great kid's table for Christmas dinner.

Wrap-up fun, whimsical gifts to entertain the kids so they won't get restless while the adults are still eating.  Who wouldn't want to sit at the kid's table.  This year the kids' will definitely not feel left out if they can't sit with the adults.

I absolutely love these Snowman Appetizer Plates with the co-ordinating Snowman Napkin Rings.  It really doesn't take much too decorate or make something feel festive.  These plates and napkin rings are the easiest way to add a little holiday cheer to any table.  I must confess that I have actually been giving them as gifts to all of my friends and family that love to entertain.  People really seem to love them.  Happy Holidays!