All Things For All Parties

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!

 

Apple Cupcakes

 

Now that the kids are back to school and the year is in full swing - how about baking a batch of these for the kiddos when it's your turn for snack day - You will be the apple of everyone's eye with these delicious, adorable little treats.

Cake Stands

 
Have you seen our new Cake Stands?   

We have partnered with Sarah's Stands to bring you these gorgeous Cake Stands.  These cake stands are designed with a simple concept in mind, to be the stage on which the cake will shine. The classic pedestal shape elevates and enhances the cake making it the center of attention while the pop of color adds a modern touch. And, they are created specifically with larger cakes in mind. The sturdy base and strong top plate ensure that our cake stands can hold the weight of tiered cakes, while the proportions allow you to cut on them without worry.

Bonus:  These cake stands are completely constructed here in the United States. They are made of sustainable soft maple wood and turned by skilled artisans. They are then individually finished with a food safe paint. This process produces a top of the line cake stand that will truly make your cake stand out.

They come in various sizes and a variety of colors. 

 

 Photos by Sarah's Stands

Cake Pops are All the Rage!!!

 
What could be better than a cupcake?  A cake pop...of course!   Cooking blogger Bakerella, Angie Dudley has turned cake pops into a party extravaganza!!  Moms and women everywhere are going crazy for cute little cakes on a stick.  Starting from just simple decorated balls to more exciting designs such as bumblebees, clowns, farm animals, ice cream cones, and so many more!  

These adorable creations are the perfect bite-sized alternative to cake at any party or get-together. 

Angie appeared on Martha Stewart's show to demonstrate how to make these delicious little treats and now with a little help from her new book you can recreate these amazing treats right at home with her simple, step-by-step instructions and photos of more than 40 featured projects, as well as clever tips for presentation, decorating, dipping, coloring and melting chocolate, and much more!  So if you like to entertain as much as I do...go get a a copy of this adorable book, Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats. 

They are perfect for any occasion - birthday, wedding, bridal and baby showers, Halloween, Christmas...you name it!

Below are a few fun ideas you may find in the book...

 

 
 
 

Throw a Retro Hawaiian Luau

 
This tropical Hawaiian luau party is infused with all the elements that will be sure to get you in the mood for summer just [magine a tropical paradise...Hawaiian music, mai tais by the pool, and great big bowl of poi. This will be sure to be a luau to remember.

 
 
This Retro Hawaiian Printable Party comes complete with...

Class of 2011 Graduation Party

 

 
Hosting a Graduation Party, Senior Party or Prom?  Still looking for theme ideas?  How about celebrating the graduate in your life with this sophisticated and simple Black & White Printable Party...all you have to do is Print, Cut and Party!!!  What could be easier?!

 
Pop the champagne (or sparkling cider) and get this party started!!  You can print it on colored paper to match your alumni's school colors for a great grad party.  

 

Delicious Fondant Cupcake Toppers

 

 
 
If you are looking for a little extra something to make a big impression and add a little something something to your cupcakes...check these great fondant toppers.  They are very decadent especially when mounted on a scrumptious swirl of frosting. If you opt to make your own treats for your next kidde bash, baby shower or bridal shower whatever the occasion these are great way to keep party costs down and add a personal touch to the affair, wow your guests by icing your little cakes with edible cupcake and cookie cover embellishments. These designs by Etsy seller Cookie Covers, range in cost from $11 to $12 for a dozen, so you can fake fantastic fondant skills for less than a dollar a pop.

 

Unforgettable Cupcake Favors

 
 

Cupcakes in a Jar!  Cupcakes in a What?!?!  That's right cupcakes in a jar and oh how heavenly these yummy take home treats look.  If you are looking for something different to serve-up at your next party than this is it!!!  They are perfect for your next baby shower or bridal shower or kid's birthday party or wedding or I think I could just go on and on.  They are definitely a great party parting gift or just a very delicious dessert. You decide.

I found these sinful little cakes on Cakies Blog...thanks Cakies!  I am definitely going to give these a trial run this weekend because let's be honest I am really just looking for an excuse to give these a try (event or not).

T.G.I.F. Memorial Day Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

This weekend officially kicks off the summer festivities. The weather is finally nice enough to invite a few friends over for a good ole fashioned B-B-Q in the backyard - you definitely can't have a Memorial day BBQ without the lemonade!  Today's drink is a non-alcoholic recipe but if you want to turn this into an adult beverage than just add vodka.  
 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Start to Finish:  About 3 hours

Makes:  24 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (10 oz each) frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed
• 2 cans (12 oz each) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 2 cans (11.5 oz each) frozen raspberry juice cocktail concentrate, thawed
• 12 cups water
• 4 cans (12 oz each) lemon-lime carbonated beverage
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Into 2 ice cube trays, carefully spoon raspberries with syrup. Add enough water to just cover raspberries.  Freeze about 3 hours.
2. In very large glass or plastic container, mix lemonade concentrate, raspberry juice concentrate and water. (Or mix 1 can of each concentrate and 6 cups water in each of 2 large pitchers.) Refrigerate until serving.
3. Just before serving, stir carbonated beverage into lemonade mixture. Place ice cubes in glasses in glasses; pour lemonade mixture over ice. Garnish with lemon slices.

Tips:  Mix the lemonade, raspberry juice and water up to 2 days ahead of time.  Garnish lemonade with fresh mint leaves.

Time after Time!

If you’re like me you’ve been using your iPhone for just about everything.  We’ve all become married to this sort-of-timepiece/phone/internet/calculator/crossword puzzle/calendar/aye yae yae everything machine, and of course, if you’re like me, you can never find that slick/slippery iPhone in your oversized bag when you either need to answer the phone or just want to see what time it is!

Last week was the final straw when I was literally running through LAX in my Manolos, juggling coffee in one hand, clutching my boarding pass and my luggage in the other, and of course my iPhone pinned between my shoulder and my ear as the weight of my fully loaded purse tryed to pull me toppling down on the moving walkway.  I was quite a sight, but one thing is for sure as I was running to make my connection, I said to myself,

“Self, maybe it’s time to reconsider the convenience of having something at the end of my arm that does one simple thing – TELL TIME!”

Little did I know that I had over 20 minutes before my flight was even boarding and clearly knowing how much time I really had would have given me the simple confidence to sip that coffee calmly sitting down like a human being and making that all important call with a full breath and all my thoughts completely together.

So now I never leave the house without my Movado or Manolos!

I love how Movado watches not only keep me on time but they also keep me stylish.  These gorgeous watches marry style with class, and who wouldn’t want that?!?!

Now I always know how much time I need to make my flights, when it’s time for me to get ready for yoga (6:30am), when to get the gals together for wine o’clock (5:00pm), and definitely what time “The Real Housewives of NYC” starts (10:00pm).

Soon, you won’t have an excuse to be tardy either, becuase Movado will keep you moving.