All Things For All Parties

T.G.I.F. Pomegranate-Ginger Champagne Cocktails

Photo by 52 Mantels

I don't know when summer will end here in LA but I am ready for something cool...105 degrees on September 14th!!!  What's the deal?! 

On another note, I think I am finally ready to get back to work and today is my first post in weeks so I thought I would kick the weekend off with something chic and chill and since pomegranates are now in season let's get the party started with this delicious concoction.

 

Ingredients:

1 cup pomegranate juice
 1 tablespoon sugar
 1 1/4-inch-thick slice fresh ginger

 4 tablespoons fresh orange juice
 1 teaspoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
 1 750-ml bottle brut Champagne, well chilled

Preparation:
 
Boil first 3 ingredients in heavy small saucepan until syrup is reduced to 1/3 cup, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Cool.

Pour 4 teaspoons pomegranate syrup, 1 tablespoon orange juice, and 1/4 teaspoon Cointreau into each of four 6-ounce Champagne flutes. Fill each with 2/3 cup Champagne.

Recipe by Epicurious.com

 

 

T.G.I.F. BLACKBERRY-PROSECCO POPSICLES

Laa Dee Da!  These delicious frozen treats are perfect for any occasion especially if you are looking for a fun summer signature drink...easy to serve and fun for all!  Think Kir Royale and trade out the champagne for Prosecco, throw in some blackberries with a splash of lime, some zest and you have a super yummy popsicle treat.

Ingredients:

20 oz Prosecco
 1/3 cup of blackberries
 4 oz crème de cassis
 Splash of fresh lime juice
 2 pinches of lime zest

Instructions:

1. Place blackberries in a bowl and pour crème de cassis on top and toss to coat. Using a muddler or a rounded blunt end of a kitchen tool, crush berries into the crème de cassis. Add lime juice and zest, toss to combine.

2. Measure out approximately 1 teaspoon of berry mixture into bottom of your chosen popsicle form and pour Prosecco on top.

3. Freeze for about 2 hours or until mixture starts to solidify enough to hold a popsicle stick upright. Insert popsicle sticks and finish freezing popsicles overnight.

A few notes:

1. Do not remove from freezer until ready to serve, or plate over crushed ice as the carbonation in the Prosecco creates tiny air pockets that will make the popsicles melt faster.

2. Cordial glasses were used for the popsicles in the picture, but any form will work.

Find more cocktail recipes in Endless Cocktails

T.G.I.F. SPARKLING LIMONCELLO-RASPBERRY COCKTAIL

Photo by Bon Appetit

Kick-off this hot weekend with something refreshing to cool you off!  This Sparkling Limoncello-Raspberry cocktails is the perfect blend of bubbly wine, lemon liquer and fresh raspberries.  We are using this recipe for our signature drink at my friends 40th Birthday party!!! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. grated lemon zest
• a few drops of fresh lemon juice
• 3 raspberries
• 2 Tbs. limoncello
• crushed ice
• 1/2 cup sparkling wine
• lemon zest strip for garnish

Directions:  Combine sugar and lemon zest on a seperate small plate.  Dip a clean finger in lemon juice and moisten rim of champagne glass.  Dip rim into the sugar mixture.

In another bowl, muddle the raspberries with limoncello.  Transfer puree into the sugar rimmed champagne glass.  Place a spoonful of ice in the glass; pour in wine.  Garnish with lemon zest strip.

 

Planning the Perfect Birthday Party for Your Child

Balloons, streamers, and games galore are the hallmark of a child’s birthday party, but they aren’t the only components.  How do you plan the perfect event for your little angel?  By following these steps you can plan a party to be remembered.

Step one: Decide on a theme.  If your child is very young you can create a party around their favorite toy.  Another popular option for a baby’s first birthday is to match the theme of their party to the theme of their nursery.  As the child gets older they can help you decide what the theme should be based on what they like.  Once you have a theme, party details will start to fall into place.

Throw a Backyard Luau!

 

Break out the tiki torches and hula skirts because if there's one thing that brings out the Summer Fun in people...it's an island style Backyard Luau! 

Aloha!  Welcome your guests as they arrive with a lei...it's the signature way to say "hello" and "welcome to our home" in Hawaii plus it gets guests in the mood. 

Decorations are easy!!  Just add a grass skirt around your table and be sure to use colorful placemats and a rattan runner with island inspired tropical plates.  For a little something extra serve drinks from coconut cups and light a few coconut candles to create the perfect tropical tablescape.

Serve up casual platters of food either buffet or family style.  Start with some refreshing fruit salsa made with mango, pineapple and peaches and serve with some sweet potato chips.  For your main entree, bbq is definitely the way to go!  My husband loves grilled shrimp and I love pork and ham for this party.  You can also do burgers and add terriyaki sauce to the mix to give it that Hawaiian flavor.  If you want to make your own sauce, mix together soy sauce and pineapple juice for that perfect tropical blend.  For your side dish, you definitely have to do a Grilled Pineapple Rice. Yum!

Mai Tais and Pina Coladas are always a Luau favorite but why not try something new to wow your guests like this delicious Lava Flow. 

Ingredients:
•1 oz. light rum
•1 oz. Malibu® coconut rum
•2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
•1 small banana
•2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
•2 oz. coconut cream

Preparation:

Blend the 2 rums and the strawberries in a blender to form a smooth paste. Pour this mixture into a tall (Collins or Hurricane) glass. Rinse the blender. Blend the banana, the coconut cream, and the pineapple juice in blender with crushed ice until smooth. Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums very slowly and watch as the strawberry mixture oozes its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella.

One more thing...Don't forget the music!!!  My Mother loves music by Elvis or Don Ho for a luau and I love the Beach Boys. 

Oh and if you want to add a little extra fun for your guests, hire a Hula dancer and have her teach your guests a hula step or two.  Maholo!

 

All Things Preppy: Grosgrain Napkin Rings

Check out our online shop to find more great Grosgrain Napkin Ring Colors!  Perfect for any occasion (I just bought a set for my Mom for Mother's Day!)

Cake Pedestals Made To Order

Something Borrowed, Something Blue...Detail-obsessed brides, look no further! We love the colored cake stands, a choice for every palette. These Cake Stands are the perfect pedestals for any event - they will make your cakes, cupcakes and desserts look even more spectacular. They come in a wide range of sizes and colors and offers an endless variety of options for any palette!

Easy Easter Decorating Idea

Are you looking for a fun, simple idea to dress-up your Easter table?  If so, this is the perfect way to add a little something without a lot of fuss.  Even plain water bottles or glasses can be decorated for Easter!  How cute is this band with a friendly bunny face!

How to do it:
Draw and cut out the pattern, print the bunny stencils on pretty wrapping paper, then cut out. With a black marker draw eyes, nose, and a happy smiling mouth. Connect and secure the ends together with a transparent adhesive.
The ends can be of any length to fit for a vase, for example.

Easter Cake Pop Inspiration

!

Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail...Easter's on it's Way!!!  How adorable are these Easter Cake Pops by Bakerella?!?!  I just love Easter and I can't wait to make up a batch of these for my son's Easter Basket - he is going to go crazy for these adorable little treats.  Check out Bakerella for more Easter Cake Pop ideas and recipes.

BUT WHAT SHOULD I WEAR???

How many times have you asked yourself or your friends that question when getting ready to go to the party...ugh!! I was admiring my BFF the other day (as I often do)...she hosts a morning TV show and always looks so perfectly put together with the right necklace, the right earrings and the right bracelet and I always wear the same old jewelry so I decided "NO MORE!" I may not be on TV but there is no reason I can't look like I am!! I discovered Stella & Dot and I must confess I have fallen in LOVE; they have the most stylish jewelry at incredible prices and since I have started wearing it people stop me all the time to ask me where I got it...you can turn the simplest of outfits into something chic!! I can honestly say that it makes me feel so put together when I wear it with such a minimal effort. Who doesn't love that?!?!?

They are the perfect pieces for that baby shower, bridal shower or just grabbing dinner with the girls.