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A Chinese symbol for immortality, the humble fruit is honored in this pear-y delicious martini.
2 parts Stirrings Pear Martini Mixer
1 part Ciroc Vodka
Garnish: Stirrings Pear Rimmer and pear wedge
Rim martini glass with Pear Rimmer. In a cocktail shaker, combine Pear Mixer and vodka with plenty of ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into rimmed glass and garnish with a pear wedge
I think when planning an event lighting is very important and one of the best things about lighting is that it can double as your decor. Lighting for an outdoor party can serve more then one purpose - It can be used to light a path that people will be using throughout the night so that no one trips.
One simple way to add color to your event is just by simply changing the shades through the course of the night - this will be a great effect for your event. For example, if your cocktail hour starts around sunset, you can splash your room with golden tones. During dinner, consider soft lighting that will mimic flickering candlelight. "As the party progresses, I would change the lighting to something a little bit more exciting, like oranges or reds.
Another way to make a bold statement is by using unconventional lighting fixtures. Some lighting pros are using dramatic, sculptural lights like large orbs, or rows of vertical poles of light that look like pieces of modern art. Another idea is to fill your centerpieces with clear glass marbles as well as small battery-powered lights to give a fun, interesting glow to each arrangement.
I went to a wedding recently where they hung chandeliers from the oak trees that hung over the reception location...it was truly jaw dropping. It had a rustic yet elegant feel to the event. It really was a first class party.
The bottom line is...don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Get creative! The more creative the more interesting.
Every princess needs a little sparkle so throw her a royal birthday party that she will never forget. Start with the perfect princess invitation to give guests preview of what's in store for this enchanted event.
Don't forget your glass slippers and tiara. Don't you think everything is so much prettier in pink?!? These pink runners and napkins are perfect for this party. Add these whimsical feather collars under each plate to help create this fairy tale story.
For the centerpiece, we filled an oversized, silver mint julep cup with pink tulips...so pretty and so simple.
And for the perfect ending to this fairy tale event, we filled hot pink favor bags with pink lip gloss and nail polish.
Magazines, books, and family will all tell you how to design your day. Surely, you can create a beautiful environment but there are other ways to take your wedding to the next level. Add personal touches that tell a story about you and your hubby to be and about the family and friends that are joining you on this day. The more your guests know about your union the more special the event will feel. I always try to interview my clients to see what they are into or if there is a particular theme interests them. Interview your fiancé and see what they like or dislike and find out what was the most memorable time of your courtship. You may find a thread to design the wedding around. Here are some ideas that I’ve broken up into two categories, traditional and twists on traditional ideas.
Slideshows. Traditional: A very popular way to show your guests who you are is a slideshow. Usually the bride or groom will collect the photos online and put the photos to music. Keep it short and sweet, about 3-7 minutes. Any more and your guests may be yawning at the table. Twist: Another idea would be too take photos of your guests arriving at the ceremony or reception. Have your photographer download them immediately the computer and show them on your projector during dinner. It creates great conversation and your guests will be looking for themselves on the big screen. Later you can show your dating photos before the cutting the cake. This takes the event away from just the two of you and shows everyone how important they are for coming.
Photos. Traditional: As your guests walk into the reception you can place photos from each side of the family near the guest sign in. You can also add photos of just the two of you from when you were a baby to now. Twist: I love unique ideas with place cards and table cards. One idea is to match each table with a photograph of you or someone in your bridal party/family. So instead of table numbers you use a photo to find your table. Plus using old photos is a fun way to add a retro touch to your wedding.
Toasts. Traditional: Toasts and/or roasts are very common in almost all wedding receptions. I recommend the toasts being kept to a minimum with some classic humor and a few touching stories. Twist: A toasting twist would be have your best man or maid of honor choose a few people in your guest party to tell funny or touching stories about the both of you as individuals. Then your guests try to guess who the story was about. Quick little stories with some punch work best. Look at this as a “This is your Life” moment. The things that come out are not only humorous but really tell a lot about who you are as people.
Favorite things. Traditional: Favors are a way for the bride and groom to say thank you for coming to the wedding. Some couples will give their guests a favor of their favorite thing, i.e., cookies, chocolate, first champagne they shared, etc. Attach a short and sweet note to thank them and why this is special to you. Twist: Instead of giving each person a favor give each person an experience. You love ice cream, so create an ice cream bar where your guests can make their own ice cream sundaes. Truffles are your weakness; have a chocolate tasting after dinner. The two of you took photos in a photo booth on your first date, rent a photo booth for your guests get a little goofy or if you met in high school have a professional photographer create a “prom-like backdrop” for photo ops for your guests.
Obviously, there are so many more ideas to explore, with so little time, I invite you do some investigating with your fiancé. Who knows, you might even find out more reasons why you fell in love.
Stir things up this Memorial Day weekend with these sherbet colored swizzle sticks. These not only liven up your mandarin and soda but also make a great gift for your host. Fill a glass vase with them to add a little extra pizzazz to your bar.
These Bamboo candles are the pefect way to decorate the table the next time you're entertaining - great for outdoors or in.
Tools and Materials:
Bamboo canes (4 to 6 inches in diameter)
Saw
Wax
Double boiler
Large wick with metal tab
Easy Instructions:
1. Saw bamboo canes to varying lengths with level bottoms and 2 inches above each shelf for safety.
2. Melt wax in a double boiler; pour in enough to coat shelf surface.
3. Insert a large wick with a metal tab; let wax harden.
4. Fill almost to the top with wax.
5. Let cool for 4 hours before using, and trim wick to 1/4 inch.
It's beginning to look a lot like summer...
And the beach is calling my name and so is this Perfect Picnic Set. I love the multi-patterned plates they are definitely some of the most stylish melamine I've ever seen. You can't go wrong with this set as it includes everything you'd ever need while enjoying cuisine at the park - four plates, four cups, utensils, cutting board, wine key, salt and pepper shakers, and a backpack that holds it all plus a bottle of wine, a large insulated compartment in the back, and a blanket to top it all off.
Check us out in this month's (June 2009) House Beautiful. Preppy is IN and our very own Social Couture is bringing in the look with our featured Grosgrain Napkin Rings. Hot sellers for the Hot Summer... check them out online:
1. You like to make a good impression on others. When you enter a room, you are (a) talkative and boisterous, you want to make sure you are heard, (b) quiet and reserved, you don't like to draw attention to yourself or (c) poised and confident, you are comfortable with yourself and put others at ease.
2. Nobody likes a close talker. In order to keep your distance and maintain that imaginary sphere of personal space, you do not get closer than (a) 12 inches, (b) 16 inches or (c) 18 inches.
3. You are attending a seminar and you're asked to wear a nametag. You place your name tag (a) in the middle of your chest, (b) on the left side or (c) on the right side.
4. The job market is tough and competition is fierce. You want to impress your prospective boss and offer to take him to lunch to learn more about the company. At the end of the meal, the check is placed on the table, you (a) wait for your guest to reach for the bill to pay, (b) pay the bill yourself with a credit card or cash at the end of the meal or (c) politely say it's already been taken care of because you handed your credit card to the host before you were seated.
5. Your best friend invited you to their family vacation home in the mountains. You had an absolutely wonderful time filled with nonstop activities, good food and great company. Upon your return home, you (a) go to the market and restock your fridge, (b) unpack your suitcases and reminisce about your trip or (c) write a thoughtful, handwritten thank you note of appreciation.
6. You are invited to dine at a restaurant with business associates and you accidentally drop your fork on the floor. What should you do? (a) Pick it up and wipe it off, (b) Leave it on the floor and take a fork from a nearby table or (c) Leave it on the floor and ask your server to bring you a new one.
7. You are invited to a very formal dinner party and you notice that there are no bread plates at the table, however, there is a dinner roll tucked into of the napkin of your place setting. What do you do with your roll? (a) Don't eat it, it is purely for decoration, (b) Remove it from your napkin and place it in the middle of your place setting or (c) Place it on the left side of your place setting and break bread as usual.
8. You have just finished interviewing for a job that you want badly, to make your best impression with your interviewer you should (a) say thank you in person and then pray they will call you to offer you the job, (b) say thank you and then follow up with a thank you email because we live in the technological age or (c) say thank you in person, then follow up with a thank you email and finally a handwritten note of thanks to show you really care.
9. In America, the most universal gesture for greeting another person is with the handshake. The proper way to shake someone's hand is to (a) extend whichever hand you write with and shake hands for as long as you like, (b) extend your right hand and shake lightly using the tips of your fingers only or (c) extend your right hand, shake web to web with two pumps and then release.
10. A champagne toast has been made in your honor, as the recipient of the toast you, (a) give yourself a big pat on the back, (b) raise your glass and drink a toast to yourself along with the others or (c) do not raise your glass, simply smile and graciously say "thank you".
RESULTS:
Here's how to rate yourself on this quiz: give yourself 3 points for each time you've answered (a), 5 points for each time you've answered (b), and 10 points for each time you've answered (c). Tally up the points. If you got:
Less than 40 points: You could use a little polish in the manners department. Drive to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of Emily Post's Etiquette book as soon as you can.
Between 50 and 80 points: You have some idea of what constitutes well-mannered behavior and can get by in most situations.
Between 80 and 100 points: Congratulations, you've aced this quiz. But don't think there isn't room for more learning or for improvement. Non of us is perfect and the more we educate ourselves in manners and etiquette, the more successful we will be in every facet of our lives.
Lisa Gaché is the President and Co-Founder of Beverly Hills Manners™, an education and entertainment company which promotes a “new school” approach to manners and etiquette for both children and adults. Lisa is passionate that good manners can be natural, spontaneous and fun. Her company has partnered with leading brand names to spread the word from American Girl Place and McCormick & Schmick’s to the famed Hotel Bel-Air and Hillcrest Country Club and a host of other Los Angeles-based private schools and social organizations. She is a sought-after lecturer and modern manners maven whose work has been covered everywhere from National Public Radio to the Huffington Post.
The most important thing for any celebration is close friends, delicious food and great decor! And, of course, it's usually the unexpected details that make your party the one to remember.
This party setting was put together by the always imaginative Pottery Barn team. Pottery Barn is a great place to buy your basics. You can truly design any themed party around simple basic settings.
Yards of pressed linens cover this table. Fashioned from a continuous bolt, the cloth actually covers four small square tables, creating the illusion of one very long table.
Splits of champagne are individually chilled in their own ice buckets and served with a straw.
Portrait place cards are snaphsots taken as each guest arrives (if you don't have an old polaroid camera - have everyone send you their favorite black & white photo) to guide them to their place at the table. Beaded lamp shades glimmer any time of day and cast a warm, flattering glow at night.
A murano glass cherry greets each guest as they arrive at the table and draws the attention to the menu (a menu always makes guests feel like you went waaayyy out of your way for them and they are so simple to do).
Clever gift totes are made by lining brown paper lunch bags with tissue and tying one to the back of the each chair with a length of voile ribbon. Fill them with whatever you like. Have fun and Happy Birthday to YOU!
For more great ideas like this one pick-up Pottery Barn's Dining Spaces.
