All Things For All Parties

Organizing Your Thanksgiving Table

This idea comes from Good Housekeeping and I think it is one of the best ideas I have seen for getting prepared for your Big Thanksgiving Feast.  Once you have planned your menu and before you begin baking and roasting the turkey, organize your table by first removing anything that's not Thanksgiving-related from your dining room. Then decide which plates, glassware, casserole dishes, and serverware you will be using for your Thanksgiving dinner, and try them out on the table. Put a sticky note on each platter-and-utensil combo marking its place and purpose (as seen above). Once you do this you can clearly see what works where, and whether you're short on dishes, glasses and servingware. Plus, you'll avoid that last-minute scramble for a slotted spoon. To cut down on cleanup, pick bakeware that's nice enough looking to go from oven to table, or dress up plain pots by wrapping a festive tea towel around the base.  Gobble, gobble!

Social Couture Named in InStyle's Best of the Web 2009

 
InStyle Magazine named Social Couture as one of their favorite website in this year's "Best of the Web" list. The magazine selected Social Couture as the best party decor & favors site. Check out the full list in the November 2009 issue.

Halloween Party Ideas

Halloween is almost here and I can't wait!!!  If I didn't say it before I will say it again, "I Love Halloween!"  Fall is my favorite time of year and my favorite time of year to throw a party - I love the autumn chill and the smell of chimneys burning - it just seems so festive.  So, if you haven't decided on your decor for your Halloween Party here are a few last minute ideas.  The image above comes from Pottery Barn's Halloween Party - the great thing about Pottery Barn is that you can get good staples that you can reuse for many other events to come.

Bring a little glitz to your holiday gathering with this Halloween Party by All You Magazine. I love how they added the Halloween crafts and decorations. How great is the centerpiece?!  Which is simple to make; Spray silk flowers then dust with glitter. Whatever you decide have fun with these devilishly clever decorations that can be used year after year.

This one comes from Better Homes & Garden - so fun!

Make a batch of spooktacular cocktails with Pottery Barn's Skull collection cocktail partyware.

I hope you enjoy these fantastic Halloween Tablescapes as much as I did.  We would love to see (and post) some of your Halloween decorations.

So What Will You Wear to the Halloween Party?

This year for our annual Halloween party we decided to do something different instead of having everyone come in traditional Halloween costumes.  These are a few of the ideas we have been kicking around.  We would love to get your thoughts on your favorite. 

 

Masquerade

This is a great alternative if you prefer to dress up not down.  It’s about sophistication.  Ask guests to wear formal attire and a colorful, fanciful mask. The masks add a level of chic and mystery. Center the festivities and food on this level of sophistication. Like the costumes, the food can make a subtle impact.  Decorate with candelabras and line the buffet table and bar with gorgeous fall leaves and berries.

 

Hats

Choose this if you prefer simple fun to silly traditions.  It’s a no-pressure party atmosphere, where the only things required are hats. So unless your friends have fangs or are prefer to parade around in glittery or ghoulish garb, this is more of a good ole party than a Halloween affair.  Since you’re not tied to strict Halloween rules, go for the setup that will make your life easy. Order a bunch of pizzas and put out some simple appetizers. The focus of this event is to hang out with friends and possibly get a good laugh from the hats people wear or create.

 

Paparazzi

Dress as your favorite red carpet celebrity like Lady Gaga, Beyonce or Brad & Angelina (plus 6).  Make your guests feel like stars when they arrive and roll out the red carpet.  Keep the cameras clicking as guests arrive.  Create your own step and repeat wall for guests to stand in front and take pose for the photographers. Applaud and clamor as each guest makes an appearance.  You can use the shots to create a mock gossip rag that will serve as next year’s invite.

 

TV Land

Dress as your favorite TV Characters like Gossip Girl, Mad Men or Grey’s Anatomy.  If you and your friends are tv junkies like I am then this is a really fun one; it’s definitely one of my favorites.  Decorate the house in the themes or eras from this year's hottest tv shows.  For Mad Men go with the early 60’s feel and for Gossip Girl - of course Upper East Side Manhattan and Ivy League all the way.  For Grey’s anatomy in keeping with the hospital theme serve a signature cocktail out of an IV drip bag and jello shots.  Play famous tv shows themed songs this inevitably gets everyone talking.

 

Trick or Treat!

 

International Birthday Fun

Here in the good ole US of A we pretty much do the same song, cake and candles routine for all our birthdays but have you ever wondered what they do in other countries for birthdays.  So, why not incorporate some other cultures traditions into your next birthday bash.  Here are a few unique ways that other countries celebrate birthdays...

In Germany, German children play a super easy but noisy party game called pot hunting.  One at a time each guest is blindfolded and given a wooden spoon, then he crawls around the room banging on the floor until he hits a metal pot.  A little prize is hidden underneath for each round.  (My 1 1/2 year old son would go crazy over this game).

In Israel, kids don't just say, "Happy Birthday."  Instead they offer creative blessings such as, "May you have a year filled with lots of fun and laughter" and "Wishing you lots of cake!"  Another custom:  the birthday child sits in a chair and the adults lift them overhead one time for every year of their life and an extra one for good luck.

In Scandinavia (also in Norway, Sweden & Denmark) the national flag is hung prominently from a window of the birthday child's house to mark their special day.  When neighbors see it, they stop by and offer their congratulations.

I am sure we all know the Mexican birthday tradition of breaking the pinata. This is one tradition that has been integrated pretty well into American culture.  I don't know of any kid that doesn't love this Mexican tradition. 

No matter where you are from or what your traditions are there is one thing for sure - everyone loves a birthday party. 

Paper & Cake Throws a Pink Party

I love it when companies make throwing a party easy (i.e. Social Couture - sorry had to say it) and I also love this printable partyware - so simple and absolutely adorable. This printable partyware collection includes everything from place cards to invitations, charming napkin rings to wine glass tags and so much more...Wow!  What could be easier. 

As many of you are aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My mother-in-law is a cancer survivor (she was one of the lucky ones). I have lost too many people over the years to this horrible disease and every day I spend with my family I am reminded just how important finding a Cure is.

Paper and Cake are doing their part in fighting this cause by donating 50% of the proceeds from each "Pink Party" sold straight to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.  So, do your part and throw a party!

You will find everything you need to throw a wonderful event In this gorgeous "Pink Party" collection.

PRINT • CUT • PARTY!

How to Throw a Wine Tasting Party

 

The Harvest is upon us!!  Winemakers have already begun harvesting their grapes but no matter what the harvest forecast I think it's time to get in the spirit ourselves and throw a Wine Tasting Party in honor of this year's harvest. Here are some quick pointers on how to throw a kick-ass wine tasting party.

Since there are so many wines to choose from start by choosing a theme and by theme I mean type of wine. Choose a particular country or region like “California Pinot Noirs” or if you want to keep it simple you can just have a “White Wine” or “Red Wine” party.  Have each of your guests bring one bottle of wine priced between $10 and $50.  Put each bottle in a simple bag and number each bag. Figure on about one bottle per 10 people—this assuming you’re going to only pour about an ounce or so per wine. When I say “tasting party”, I’m thinking that everyone will have a small taste of each wine, contemplate it, and discuss it with each other. Next pass out the score cards to each guest.  Have each guests score the wines and after you have tasted all the wines, collect the score cards and add up all the points and whichever wine has the most points is the winning wine of the evening. Give out a prize to the person who brought the winning wine. 

A few extra thoughts.  Serve UNSALTED crackers (I like Carr’s Water Crackers, as opposed to Saltines), an array of cheeses, and maybe a simple veggie plate. You don’t need to go crazy with the food. Keep the finger foods simple, not too spicy or salty, so that the main focus is on comparing the wines. At the same time, you’ll want to pick certain foods and try them with several different wines, to see what goes with what. After all, that’s the whole point of a wine tasting!

Get everyone to talk about what they’re smelling, tasting, and feeling. Be sure to ask questions like, "does this wine smell spicy or fruity”. Continue with questions like, “what food would you pair this with?” Before you know it (and definitely after a few wines), everyone will be discussing all kinds of things they smell and taste in the wine. Or, everyone will get hammered and start complaining about their spouses/significant other. Either way, it should be a fun time.

Keep water on hand for drinking and rinsing—both the glasses and the palate.  Encourage people to drink water - keeping hydrated is important and also helps in preventing hangovers. Your guests will thank you in the morning.

Don't forget to keep the phone numbers of your local taxis on hand just in case some of your guests can't drive home.  You definitely want to make sure everyone gets home safely. 

 

The Autumn Harvest Is Here!

Bring Fall flavor to your dinner table!!

There’s no better time in the Napa Valley than the autumn harvest! This year, bring California gourmet food into your home with these quick and easy autumn harvest recipes – and celebrate the season with Made In Napa Valley!

When the leaves begin to turn orange and gold and the outside air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to share a cozy treat with friends and family. Head out to the orchard for a day of apple picking and a look at the fall colors – or just stop off at a local farmer’s market or grocery store – and wind down with a fantastic fall dessert. Best of all, autumn harvest recipes don’t have to be complicated to be great. Check out some of Made In Napa Valley's favorite autumn appetizer recipes and fall dessert recipes below.

Autumn Appetizer Recipes:

Mulled Wine
There’s no autumn harvest recipe better suited to the Napa Valley than a steaming cup of mulled wine! Here’s a simple way to give it some oomph.
½ gallon red wine, or 2 bottles (zinfandel or syrah are nice choices)
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole cloves
2 allspice berries or whole nutmeg
½ orange peel and ½ lemon peel, cut into strips
Pour the wine into a large stainless steel pot (crock pots or slow cookers are best). Place spices and peels into a cheesecloth. Drop the cheesecloth into the apple juice. In a regular pot: Heat to just short of a boil. In a crock pot: Heat for 2 hours. Remove cheesecloth and serve. Garnish with a cinnamon stick for fun.
Variation: replace the wine with apple cider

Rubbed and Roasted Party Nuts
At Made In Napa Valley, we love this snack any time of year – but we add pumpkin seeds to make it one of our favorite autumn harvest recipes.
1 large egg white
2 tablespoons of any of our Rubs and Seasonings
1 teaspoon salt (preferably Kosher)
3 cups roasted almonds, pumpkin seeds or mixed nuts
Olive oil spray
Whisk the egg white until frothy. Add the rub and the salt. Add the nuts and stir to coat well. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil and spread nuts in a single layer. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm.

Fall Dessert Recipes:

Caramel Apple Fondue
After your day in the orchard (or at the market), enjoy your picks with this delicious treat, one of our favorite fall dessert recipes.
2-3 large tart apples
1 cup Made In Napa Valley Vanilla Caramel Sauce with Chardonnay
¼ cup chopped salted peanuts (optional)
Cut apples into slices. Heat sauce in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or until pourable. Serve sauce in individual small bowls, then sprinkle with the peanuts. Surround with the apples slices and serve. Yum!

Pumpkin Cake
This cake is anything but spooky. It’s a great way to get into the spirit of Halloween.
2 lbs. canned pumpkin
12 oz. evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1-½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ginger
3 eggs, beaten
1 (18 oz.) box of spice cake mix
¾ cup butter, melted
Grease the bottom of a 9-by-13 pan. Mix together the first six ingredients and pour into the pan. Sprinkle, then pack, cake mix over the top evenly. Drizzle butter over the entire cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or caramel sauce.

For even more great autumn harvest recipes and other dishes, visit the Made In Napa Valley recipe section – you’ll find something for every meal, every season.

Labor Day BBQ

It's hard to believe that Labor Day is already here even more surprising is the fact that it signifies the end of summer (wasn't it  just Memorial day?!).  Where did the time go??  I guess it's true what they say, "Time flies when you're having fun!"  It's definitely been a really fun summer.  I say let's not go out without a fight or at least a BBQ. 

This Labor day call everyone you know that's in town and invite them over for a good ole fashioned end of summer party/Labor Day BBQ.  What's great about this weekend is that everyone considers the entire weekend a holiday so with that in mind pick any day of the weekend to throw your BBQ.

Let's start with your table setting.  Since Labor Day honors all of the working people let's get back to the basics when it comes to the decor.  For your centerpiece, fill an old wooden box or galvanized bucket with wheat grass and throw in a few American flags in honor of all those hardworking Americans.  Check out the local scrapbooking store or craft store to find bandana paper then roll it into cones and serve popcorn or homemade fries.  In keeping with this theme use a bandana as a napkin to hold silverware at each place setting pair with rattan chargers and simple white plates.  Sunflowers double as placecard holders and definitely add a pop of color to your table. 

Keep it simple when it comes to the food (hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, steaks, chips, pretzels, and festive summer drinks). If you are trying to keep your costs down serve a signature cocktail rather than offering a full bar. 

Whatever you decide to do - Have fun!  After all, this is the last hurrah of the summer.

Once Upon A Time There Was A Lazy Host...

OK, I went to a party last weekend that a friend of a friend's hosted and I have to say I was shocked...If I had to guess I would have thought it was one of my husband's fraternity brothers who was hosting this event.   So I decided to write today's blog in honor of all the lazy hosts I have ever met - so pay attention if your idea of hosting a party is opening a bag of chips and throwing them in a bowl.  Oh and of course we can't forget my favorite red Solo cups which definitely says, "Gee, we went all out for you."  So let's be honest unless you are one of my husband's fraternity brothers, this kind of hosting is unacceptable - nor does it make your guests feel special.

The key to hosting a fun party is to make your guests feel like they were your first thought when planning the party.  When they arrive they should feel welcome and honored to be a guest in your house (not an afterthought). 

I have put together a list of some quick tips to make your minimal efforts look like your are the Hostess with the Mostess. With touches this cute, you might even be able to talk your friends into cleaning up afterward.

1. Forget the Flowers
Flowers are the standard go to centerpiece but they can get pretty costly very quickly.  I like to use fresh fruit or vegetables; such as artichokes, pomegranates, apples or lemons.  Buy what's in season.  Simply stack them in a bowl or vase.  If you are having a dinner party you can use a sharpie to write each guests name on an apple for example.  

2. And now starring..."Ice"
Make ice cubes for the party, but add mint sprigs, berries, marachino cherries or edible flowers to the cavities before freezing. Then you'll have pretty and fun ice cubes to impress your guests.

3. Dress up a drink
Add a theme or ID to glassware with simple embellishments.  Drink umbrellas, metal stirrers or stickers can be used to dress up your drink. They can also serve another purpose by marking whose glass is whose.  Garnishes like colored sugar or salt, shaved chocolate or edible glitter on the rim are also a great way to dress up your drink. Invest in a citrus zester so you can make long lemon or orange curls from the rind.

4. Serve it up, baby
Even if you buy an already made appetizer tray at the market be sure to take it out of the plastic tray that it came in and put it on your own serving tray. Serve your drinks and food on trays this makes people feel like they are really being catered to. You can pick-up inexpensive serving trays from just about anywhere - Ikea has some great inexpensive entertaining items and there's always your local consignment shop for fun finds. I have a friend who has the most interesting collection of china - it's absolutely gorgeous and not a single piece matches. 

5. Turn down the lights

When the lights go down you know the real fun is about to begin.  Candlelight is an inexpensive and easy way to set the mood.  You can also buy different colored light bulbs to help set the mood of the evening.  I had a Sex & the City party and we replaced all the white bulbs for pink ones.  You can usually pick these colored light bulbs up at your local hardware store.

Bonus Tip:  Have your guests participate!!  For all of you lazy hosts - this means less work for you.  You can actually assign guests to help you with something.  For that shy friend, have them help you refresh guests drinks - this gets them mingling and not sitting on your sofa all night.  For that control freak, have them let you know when it's time to take something out of the oven, tell people where to put their coats or let you know when the cd needs to be changed.  I know this seems crazy but the more people are involved in the party the more fun they tend to have.

Don't be shy...Share some of your low-maintenance party ideas!