All Things For All Parties

Champagne & Chambord...The Perfect NYE Cocktail

 
 

Can you believe that 2010 is over?!  I think I am still in shock that this year is already coming to an end...Wow!  What a year it has been.  I think one of my New Year's resolutions for next year is to keep it simple in 2011.  I am going to stop over complicating things and get back to the basics because I truly believe that is what makes life less stressful.  I will prioritize the things that are truly important and focus on those things!  I am also going to let go of any old baggage or issues (including relationships) that have been taking up too much of my time and energy.

I am going to start my New Year's resolution tonight and toast to it with a simple cocktail...Champagne & Chambord!  What could be a better way to kick-off this New Year than with one of these yummy drinks!  Cheers to you all!!  Have a very Happy (and safe) New Year's!

Champagne & Chambord Drink Recipe:

•1/4 oz Chambord Liqueur
•Champagne Add Chambord to bottom of a flute and top with Champagne. Garnish with a raspberry.
Please enjoy Chambord responsibly.www.chambordonline.com©2010

Best & Worst Manners List 2010

 

As the year draws to an end, we are besieged by the endless lists of the best and the worst of 2010. From television programs to magazine covers, lists of every kind appear whether it’s in the form of a Barbara Walters special or a Time Magazine cover spread, you simply cannot pass through to 2011 without a proper recount of 2010. We certainly did not want to miss the boat, so we painstaking compiled what we thought were the greatest and poorest manners moments of the last year. Unfortunately, there was no shortage of entries for the year's worst contenders. Twenty-ten presented to us a fair share of politicians, celebrities and athletes who had clearly lost their way, but of course, we wished to also honor those special few that deservedly held a place at the very top of our list. So in chronological order, here they are...

1. BEST Conan O’Brien. In early January, when Conan O'Brien received the news that NBC intended to move him as host of "The Tonight Show" to 12:05am to accommodate Jay Leno whose "Jay Leno Show" would be moved to 11:35pm, he was definitely unhappy. Rather than begin a negative campaign against NBC or Jay Leno, Conan took the high road. He made the decision to leave NBC, but not without obtaining adequate compensation for his many employees who had moved out from New York to Los Angeles. Throughout the ordeal, he remained polite, patient and committed to his work. On the last night of his show he said these words, "Every comedian, every comedian dreams of hosting The Tonight Show and—for seven months—I got to do it. I did it my way, with people I love, and I do not regret a second [of it].... All I ask is one thing, and I'm asking this particularly of young people that watch: Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism; for the record it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." What a classy guy!

New Year's Eve Party Ideas by Lifestyle Guru Steve Kemble

 

 

I found this article on Yum Sugar and thought it would be a great one to share with you. Hope you enjoy!

1.Dim your lights and flood the house with votive candles. Candles are the most romantic and cost effective way to create a festive, sexy atmosphere! To make your candles burn longer, put them in a zip lock bag in the freezer the day before your party.
2.Buy pink bulbs at any local home store (for example, Home Depot) and swap them into your lamps for the night; you will be amazed at the difference it makes and the atmosphere it creates!
3.They may be silly, but people still love the traditional New Year's Eve party items such as noisemakers, hats, tiaras, boas, and horns. I always recommend putting these items on a platter or in a big decorative bowl and letting people grab items as they wish.
4.Ask all of your guests to give you their three favorite songs when they RSVP for the party. Create a custom CD from this list with all of your guests' favorites! Burn extra CDs for your guests with a custom cover created on your computer to give as party favors.
5.Casino setups are going to be all the rage this New Year's Eve. You can rent casino games from local vendors. Also consider creating your own special “play money” using your computer!
Continue reading for five more tips!

New Year's Eve Party Decoration Ideas

 
I can't even believe that the year is just about over...They're weren't kidding when they said, "Time flies when you're having fun!"   Anyway, we have been discussing what we are going to do to ring in the New Year and I think we have officially decided to host a little soiree of our own with our best friends and some of their friends.  Yippee!!! 

What are you going to do?  Do you have any resolutions yet?  I know I've been putting my list together of resolutions and sheesh it's long - I think I am going to have to narrow it down.

Well, if you decide to host a party of your own come check out our decor...we can definitely help you put on a great party and there is still time to get everything shipped to you.  Oh and if you wait until the very last minute - don't forget about our New Year's Eve Hollywood Glam printable party.  Our mini mirrored disco balls, horns and hats are a must to get this party started! 

Count it down....10, 9, 8, 7, 6.....Happy New Year's!!! 
 

The Holiday House

 

Winter Wonderland Wedding

 
 
Walking in a Winter Wonderland or at least that's what this snowy destination wedding looked like...so gorgeous!  An aviation theme in cool blue seemed to make sense for this couple's since the groom was a pilot and had been flying since he was 15 and Aqua was the bride’s favorite color.  I love how this couple ditched the typical beach destination wedding and opted for a snowy mountain locale and embraced a winter feel.  There is just something so pretty and pure about the snow (and white).

The bride's bouquet was made up of a wintery mix of roses, peonies, gray berries and baby pinecones.

A table displayed luggage tags, each with one letter, spelling out “thank-you.” Next to the letter, the couple wrote the corresponding aviation phonetic alphabet word in glittery letters.

An edible airplane peaked its nose out through a cake shaped like a cloud. 

 
Even the champagne was blue thanks to splashes of Curaçao.

You gotta love the aqua colored Uggs...the perfect touch for this bride's walk down a snowy aisle.

The couple attached bronze diecast airplane pencil sharpeners to aqua thank you cards that guests picked up as they left the reception.

In lieu of the typical rehearsal dinner this couple opted for a hot chocolate social instead. The guests left with coffee mugs engraved with the couple’s names, the wedding date, and an airplane graphic.

I love all of the personal touches this couple added to their wedding...it really is great how this couple chose to share a little piece of themselves with their friends and family.

 

 

 

Cream Cheese Appetizer with Peppers

 

Ok, so Christmas eve dinner is at my house this year so I have been scouring the internet for festive appetizer recipes and I think I just hit the jackpot with this one.  Try this merry appetizer to hold over your guests until the main course is served!

Culinary Tools:

◦Chef’s Knife
◦1-quart Milk Warmer
Ingredients:

◦4 (8 ounce) cream cheese bricks
◦1 cup red bell peppers; diced
◦1 cup green bell peppers; diced
◦½ cup white vinegar
◦1 cup sugar
Procedure:

Wash and removed the seeds from the bell peppers.  Using the Chef’s Knife, dice them into small pieces.

In the 1-quart Milk Warmer, mix vinegar and sugar; add diced peppers.  Cook the mixture at medium heat for about 20 minutes or until it thickens.

Allow syrup to cool, pour it over the cream cheese bricks and serve with bread toast, saltine crackers, or bread sticks.

Chef’s Tip:  For a more festive look, cut a bit of bell pepper into small dices (1/4” each).  Just before serving, remove cream cheese bricks from the refrigerator and connect them to simulate a gift box.  Decorate with pepper polka dots and pour the syrup on top.

Thanks to Dinner4Two.com for the yummy inspiration.

Snowman Cupcakes

 
I found these adorable cupcakes in the All You Magazine...so fun and perfect for the kids!  The best is that they are super easy to make - keep it simple and buy store bought cupakes then dress them up as cute little snowmen. Dip frosted cupcakes in sparkling sugar. Use M&M’s for eyes, candy orange slice halves for noses, gumdrops and licorice for earmuffs and pink sprinkles for cheeks...Ta Da!  Isn't that easy?!

T.G.I.F. Raspberry Cheesecake Martini

 
I don't know about you but I absolutely L-O-V-E cheesecake!  A few years back my husband went through a cheesecake phase he was determined to become an expert at making cheesecakes and I definitely think he mastered it with his oreo cookie crust cheesecake...Yikes!  It was  a little piece of heaven so I think I am going to make-up a batch of these this weekend in honor of his cheesecake making days!  They would also be perfect for my friend, Sara's bridal shower. 

Ingredients:

1 part Finlandia®Vodka
1 part Chambord®Liqueur
1 part heavy cream
½ part sour mix

Directions:
Shake ingredients over ice, strain and serve into a martini glass.

 

4, 3, 2, 1...Happy New Year!

 
I know, I know we haven't even celebrated Christmas but we have to start thinking about New Year's eve otherwise we will be left without a plan...so here's a plan, "host your very own New Year's Eve Bash!"  It will be great plus you don't have to worry about drinking and driving - you just need to make sure your friends find their way home safely (in a cab if they've been drinking).

Social Couture (us) and Anders Ruff collaborated to bring you this chic New Year's Collection with  a Hollywood Glam theme in mind - mixing in elements of black & white vintage flourishes with contemporary patterns... so hip yet so fun!

  
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

The Printable New Year's Design Collection Includes 29 Formatted Pages:
2 Sheets of Square or Circle party Logos (4 logo designs)
2 Sheets of Drink wraps
2 Sheets of Favor Tags (2 designs)
1 Sheet of Flag Labels (5 designs) – Cheers
1 Sheet of Mini Candybar Wraps
3 Wine/Champagne Bottle Wraps
2 Sheets of Square fill-in Tags - tent style (4 designs)
2 Sheets of Personalized Food Tent Labels (4 designs)
5 Sheets of Patterned Papers
6 Sheets of Circle Banners - "Happy New Years!" and "Cheers!"
1 Sheet of Coasters - "2011" and champagne bottle graphics
3 Sheets Party Hats (or can be used for signs)

Once you purchase, the party package file will be sent to your email address within 24 hours!

 Pink Votives (set of 4 - $12)

Silver Mirrored Balls (Small, Set of 12 - $6.00/Large, Set of 6 - $6.50)

Black Candelabra ($75)