Creative Entertaining

Colorful Labor Day BBQ Ideas

2011-09-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hi there, Creative Entertaining readers!

Yes, I know, it has been a LONG TIME since I last posted to CE. Life has a habit of getting in the way of blogging sometimes... The past year has been one of some big changes for me: moving to a new city, getting a new job, and navigating all things new during that transition. With that being said, I'm ready to get back to posting Creative Entertaining blogs for you on a more regular basis!

To celebrate the end of summer-- wait, what's to celebrate?? Boo! To mourn the end of summer on Labor Day weekend, check out my "Color Your Summer BBQ" article that I wrote for the Mermaids of the Lake summer issue. Although I want to mourn the end of summer, it's just too hard to want to don black, so enjoy my colorful tips for creating a low-key, high-impact, color-filled summer BBQ!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

I just want to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones! And remember, if you have any turkey questions, you can ask Butterball via @Butterball on Twitter or 1-800-BUTTERBALL or e-mail at talkline@butterball.com. You can meet the Turkey Talk Line experts here. The talk line will be open through December, so keep this information handy! :-)

Holiday Hostess Gifts

2010-11-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for parties! As you gather with family, friends, and co-workers to celebrate the holiday season, you no doubt have quite a few gatherings on your calendar. We all know how much work goes into hosting a get-together, and we all know just how stressful they can be on top of the holiday madness.

Quick Bread
Photo from MarthaStewart.com (link below)

I believe it's important to acknowledge the host's and hostess's hospitality, so consider bringing along a hostess gift to each of your holiday soirees this season. I particularly like to share handmade gifts, so if your schedule allows, handmade gifts add a special touch to the gift.

Cocktail Mixers
Photo from MarthaStewart.com (link below)

As usual, Martha Stewart and crew provide some great homemade ideas that make great hostess gifts. They also make it easy for you to make enough for multiple gifts, thus stretching your budget further (love it!). AND, you could even give these as small tokens to neighbors, co-workers, and your children's teachers.

Here are a couple of my favorite Hostess Gift Ideas from Martha Stewart:

Quick Breads - I love to bake!
Cocktail Mixers - Mmm!
Tea Sachets - Get crafty!

As you kick off this week with Thanksgiving, don't forget to share your gratitude with your dinner hosts! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

If you want more inspiration, please check out a previous Creative Entertaining blog post for Homemade Candy Gift ideas. These also work great as hostess gifts or even holiday party favors.
Do you have any great hostess gift ideas? Share them in a comment below!

Introducing Embellish Essentials

2010-11-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

Life has been a *little* busy for me the past couple of months. I relocated to a brand new city, started a new job, and added a new side business into the mix “for fun.” I wanted to share a little about that new side venture of mine both as a way of explaining my absence from the blog for a few weeks and to hopefully provide you with some new “creative entertaining” inspirations.

My new venture is an Etsy store that I’m running with a good friend of mine. Etsy is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell handmade goods. Never in my life have I seen so many amazing talents and passions lived out by so many people in one place! My passion is for special events, and my friend’s is for creative design. We are also recovering scrapbooking addicts, so what you get when you put the two of us together is a hybrid of fun, creativity, and functionality. Our store is called Embellish Essentials. We aim to sell handmade party supplies, décor, gifts, and much more. The Etsy store is a creative outlet for us, albeit one that consumes quite a bit of time and energy. :-)

What's in a name? Embellish Essentials was created with the philosophy that there are just some things you just can't live without, and when those things are in your life, they "embellish" it by adding a little something special...

So here's the exciting part! If you are interested in learning more and/or coming along on the journey with us, I invite you to participate in a giveaway opportunity from Embellish Essentials. Our giveaway runs from Sunday, November 14, 2010 from 1:00 PM (PST) until Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 1:00 PM (PST). Winner will be notified by 5:00 PM (PST) on Sunday, November 21, 2010. Winner will be randomly drawn from all entries and will win the fabulous Essentials pack shown below! (Sorry, at this time we are only able to ship the prize to addresses within the United States and outlying territories.)

Essentials pack includes Cupcakes recipe book, mini cupcake pan, polka dot cupcake wrappers, $15 iTunes gift card, $10 Embellish Essentials store certificate, ceramic travel mug, candy cane truffle coffee, Trader Joe's milk chocolate bar, Orbit gum, and pink and black tote bag... all of which happen to be things we consider to be "ESSENTIALS" :-)

You will receive one entry for each of the following actions:

-- Become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and add us to your favorites list on Etsy (if you have already done so, you are entered!) [up to three entries!]
-- Tweet about us (be sure to include @embellishinc in your tweet) [unlimited entries!]
-- Refer your friends; tell them to leave us a comment or message on FB, Etsy or Twitter telling us you referred them (one entry for EACH friend you refer!) [unlimited entries!]
-- Just for you bloggers, if you post this giveaway on your blog and leave me a comment here with a link to view it, we'll give you three entries PER POST [unlimited entries!]

Easy, right?? No limit on the total number of entries you can have. Good luck!!

This has been a labor of love for the past couple of months (yes, WHILE I was in the process of moving), so I really appreciate you helping me get the word out. Plus, the giveaway is just plain FUN! Who doesn't like free stuff?? :-)

Thank you so much for your support!

Pumpkin Carving and Fall Decor

2010-10-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is only a week and a half away (yikes, why is fall moving so quickly??) so I'm here to help you with the oh-so-important task of pumpkin carving. If you're anything like me, you may have a love/hate relationship with the task of carving pumpkins. I love the experience of going to pick out my own pumpkin (or two), and I relish the end product of whatever design I chose to carve. But I get lost around the part of trying not to lose any fingers while using sharp objects on a slippery and gooey pumpkin... and then having to clean up my mess. :-)

But I digress...

Pumpkin carving is an integral part of the fall season. And while some may attribute this tradition specifically to Halloween, there's no reason to not include carved pumpkins as part of your general fall/harvest or Thanksgiving decor as well.

Witch Silhouette by MarthaStewart.com

As always, the crew over at Martha Stewart has some great ideas for your carved pumpkins. They've even provided templates for you to help make the job a bit easier. And for those who are not so comfortable with carving a pumpkin (or for the little kids), browse through the templates and you'll find some that have been adapted for painting an image onto a pumpkin.

Haunted House by MarthaStewart.com

Some of the templates will serve you well as a centerpiece for a dinner or dessert table. The one pictured below is the Vine and Leaf Centerpiece.

Vine and Leaf Centerpiece by MarthaStewart.com

For those who are brave enough hosts, consider inviting others over to a pumpkin carving party. It doesn't have to be an affair just for the kids; it could also be a family party or an adults-only soiree.

Create My Event has a wonderful DIY project that I'm going to try myself, Haunting Halloween Hurricane Candles. I may have to adapt the project for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I do want to attempt this project soon. See the photo below...

Photo by Create My Event

Best wishes for a wonderful Halloween celebration!

Puppy Pawty

2010-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Amy of Stem Parties for sharing this party from Dinner Bells (click on the Dinner Bells link to go to the original "pawty" post).

I thought this party was so creative that I wanted to share it with you as well. What I love most about it is that a pet's birthday is yet another great reason to throw a party! :) Like you need a reason to throw a party...

Photos by Dinner Bells; collage by Stem Parties

Pictured above is Jack, the birthday puppy, along with some features of his party. The theme was tennis balls because that is Jack's all-time favorite toy.

Photo by Dinner Bells

I really love how Jack's mom incorporated party treats for both canines and humans, making this a fun occasion for all who attended. Check out the Dinner Bells link above to read a first-hand account of Jack's party and to see more photos and details of the pawty.

Punchbowl Halloween Contest

2010-10-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, you creative entertainers! I'm here to tell you about Punchbowl's Halloween recipe contest. It's super-easy to enter, and they are looking for FIVE winning entries to feature on Punchbowl! If you don't know what Punchbowl is, it's a party-planning website that let's you take care of all the details of your event in one place. Click the link above to head to their home page.

Here's how the contest works:
- Submit your most creative, scary, imaginative Halloween recipe.
- You have until 11:59 PM EST on October 25, 2010 to enter the contest.
- Recipes must include a list of ingredients and directions of how to make the recipe. You may also submit a link to a blog post about the dish.
- Winners will be recognized in a special pre-Halloween e-mail newsletter, and they will also win a free Platinum Punchbowl membership.

If you're interested in learning more or entering the contest, please click here. This will take you to Punchbowl's blog with the official details of the contest and how to submit your entries.

Good luck! :-) And if you are a winner, be sure to let me know!!

Tasting Parties

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was out of town two weeks ago and to kill some time one afternoon, I stopped by the local Pier 1 Imports store. I love this store because I always walk in and feel so inspired to entertain, and without fail, this visit created the same reaction. Or maybe it was worse this time. I. WANTED. IT. ALL. :-) In the words of Rachel Zoe, "I DIE!"

What's the big deal? See photo below. Pier 1 has a new line of tableware for tasting parties!

What is a tasting party? This concept comes from the tapas and small plate trends in restaurants. I would personally host a tasting party and either a) have an excuse to make a bunch of different recipes that I love, or b) invite others to bring along their favorite dish to share with the rest of the party guests.

What makes this a fun concept is that a tasting party is meant to taste... so the portions are smaller, unluck a traditional potluck event. So if I love food so much, why would I want to eat less?? Hello, annual holiday season weight gain! :-) I love the tasting party concept especially for holiday celebrations for a few reasons...

We all tend to groan at yet "another" holiday party.
It will enable you to provide food for your guests without stressing over the party budget.
It provides a variety of options for every palate.
Since you will not be providing a full meal, you can host a tasting party at alternate time (like afternoon) which will help ease the stress for guests who have multiple holiday party invitations for the same evening.
You can elect to pair the food tasting with a beverage tasting as well. Try out some new concoctions or wines you've been wanting to try. Or, invite your guests to bring their favorite beverage to share since you'll be providing the food.

Photo courtesy of Pier1.com

What might possibly be the most fun part about a tasting party is the miniture dishware that Pier 1 Imports now offers for your convenience.... and just how CUTE are those mini spoons?? Click here to browse through Pier 1's online store to check them out for yourself.

Photo courtesy of Pier1.com

You don't need to limit yourself to hosting a tasting party solely during the holiday season. Use this concept for a chocolate tasting, a night with the girls (or guys), a child's birthday party, or a viewing party for the big game.

Masquerade Party Inspiration

2010-09-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have some party inspiration to share with you! I was scrolling through some previous Hostess with the Mostess blog posts and came across this wonderful Sparkling Drink Station concept as part of a "Festival du Bebe" celebration.

Photo from Hostess with the Mostess

The sparkling drink station is a great concept in that guests can select from provided ingredients to mix their own beverages. This is a great way to satisfy many different tastes and also provide an interactive activity for your guests. The whimsy of the masquerade-inspired theme you'll see in the original post (click the link above) makes this concept a fun one to try for your own special occasion!

The link to the sparkling drink station above is Part 2 of the Festival du Bebe overview. Click here for Part 1 which shows the party decor (shown below).

Photo from Hostess with the Mostess

Also, you can purchase the printable party accents here. Yay!

Planning Ahead: Hostess Gifts

2010-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Photo from Soul of the Rose

I want to share with you a new discovery: Soul of the Rose Gifts. The photo above is of some gift items I received from them recently. The photo below is the super cute and fragrant packaging those gifts came in (they included a beautiful sachet that I could smell before I even got the box open!).

I highly encourage you to check out the link above to the Soul of the Rose blog. From there, you can visit the online shop, become a fan on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter. When you visit the shop, click on "Gift Boutique," then select "Hostess Gifts" from the left hand sidebar. They have a variety of unique hostess treats that will surely be appreciated by any hostess.

Bookmark Soul of the Rose on your web browser. As you get into the busy holiday season, you'll appreciate having a go-to shop for your hostess (and holiday!) gift needs. :-)

Margarita Cupcakes- Tasted and Approved!

2010-08-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

In a recent post, I shared with you some birthday inspiration in the form of margarita-flavored cupcakes. Well, my friend and I got together to make some of these treats, and LET ME TELL YOU... they are DIVINE!

We used a recipe found on the Homemade by Holman blog. Click here for her Margarita Cupcake post. We didn't follow the icing recipe exactly because we experimented with some other icing options, but the end result was delicious. We topped off the icing with yellow and green sugar crystals and a lime wedge... ole!

Here are some photos of the end result...

Twitter, what?

2010-08-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've been on a mission to make some updates to this blog recently, and I hope you've noticed! Please feel free to leave comments/ideas/suggestions if there's anything you would like to see.

One new addition is your ability to share this blog and specific postings you like on various social media outlets (over to the right). Also added on the right side of your screen is a link to follow my personal Twitter account (@jaime_events). If you have a Twitter account, please leave me a comment, and I would love to follow you too!

Ode to Cupcakes

2010-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday, and I'm taking three whole days to celebrate this year! Why? Well, because I feel like it. :-)

I started the celebration yesterday with my best friend. There is a new cupcake boutique in town called "Celebrations." Isn't that a cute name? Here's a photo of our cupcake selections.

On the left is the lemon cake with raspberry filling and lemon buttercream frosting, and on the right is a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and a little chunk of a Reese's on top.

If you've followed my blog for awhile now you know that I ADORE cupcakes. Seriously adore them, and I'm convinced that cupcakes make every problem better. The world will eventually be a better place because of delicious and CUTE cupcakes.

So, I set out on a quest to find my ultimate birthday "must-have." I searched through blogs for anything that might inspire me and trigger the "aha!" response. Well, I finally found two birthday must-haves... and they are both cupcakes. :-) I'd like to share them with you.

(Photo courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess)

The first must-have is margarita cupcakes with lime frosting. This inspiration came from Hostess with the Mostess. I'm so curious if a cupcake can truly taste like one of my favorite blended beverages.... I'm very lucky to have a best friend who will be making me her own version of margarita cupcakes today. Mmmmmm, I can't wait to taste them!

(Photo courtesy of Bakerella)

The second must-have is Aloha Cupcakes by Bakerella. Just by looking at them, I want to stop and have a luau on the spot! And, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, the pineapple cake with mango frosting? I'll be lucky if each of them even makes it out of the mixing bowl!

I definitely have a fruity cupcake theme going on here, but hey, we've gotta get our "fruits" and vegetables somehow, right? ;-)

Well, I'm off to enjoy the rest of my day. Enjoy those cupcakes!

End of Summer Celebration

2010-08-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Did I just say that? The END of summer? Well, try as I might to deny it, the end of summer is quickly approaching... so, what is there to do about it?? Throw a party, of course!

(Photo from Skip to My Lou)

I came across this awesome and very easy idea from Skip to My Lou that I wanted to share with you. I just love the simplicity of the Shrimp Boil concept! Click on the link to read about it. If you must, add a few decorative elements, but I like the fact that this concept is so laid-back, just like summer.

So, take a look, pick a date, and gather a group of family and friends to celebrate another fantastic summer.

Wedding Theme Idea

2010-08-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Hostess with the Mostess)

I. LOVE. THIS. IDEA! Check out a recent post from Hostess with the Mostess. She shares her concept for her upcoming 10th wedding anniversary, a "Wedding Hangover" theme. Click on the link to find out the details.

I also think this could be a fun concept for a "morning after" brunch after the wedding, as a way to relax with family and close friends while reliving the memories of the big day. Or, for the adventurous folks who will have a Vegas wedding, this theme could be incorporated all in the name of fun!

Paper Pans

2010-06-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Uh-oh.

I need an excuse to bake. Well, I guess I have one since it's been raining here for what seems like AGES. And it's supposed to keep on raining, for DAYS, so maybe firing up the oven would do a soul some good! :-)

So why do I have the urge to bake? It's Bakerella's fault! She shared a new discovery with the world, paper baking pans!

(Photo by Bakerella)

They are so pretty... and FUN. What's almost more fun is her Yummy Bananaberry Muffin recipe.

(Photo by Bakerella)

Check out her blog post here for more information about the paper baking pans and to get her Yummy Bananaberry Muffin recipe.

"What Will It Be?" Baby Gender Reveal Party

2010-05-23T22:14:00.000-07:00

(Photo by The Nature of Grace)

How CUTE is this party?? Check out The Nature of Grace blog for a bee-utiful baby gender reveal party concept. Click here to go directly to the blog post and read about the wonderful DIY projects that brought this concept together.

Fun Giveaway from Hostess with the Mostess

2010-05-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hostess with the Mostess posted a fun giveaway. Hurry, enter to win on her blog! These fun Persona gift pail kits make great gifts, party favors or take-home party favors. Check out Persona Gift Pails here.

Eco-Friendly Grad Party Inspiration

2010-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through MarthaStewart.com to find inspiration for spring and summer celebrations. I came across an Eco-Friendly Graduation Party concept from Martha Stewart Living's editorial food director Lucinda Scala Quinn, who coordinated this party to celebrate her son's graduation from the University of Vermont. Below are some photos (credits: MarthaStewart.com) to pique your interest. Click here to see the party details and more enticing photos of this event!

Inspiration to the 50th Degree

2010-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

I recently completed a fundraising auction/dinner for a non-profit organization. It was a fun event because the organization was celebrating a significant milestone of 50 years of service to the community. I thought I would share with you some of the elements of this event.

Concept

This year was the organization's 29th annual auction, but since they were celebrating the 50th anniversary, we decided to ditch the traditional Irish theme of the event (it is held in March every year) in lieu of incorporating elements of a "golden" anniversary. We traded the green decor for black, gold, and cranberry. The whimsical was elevated to classy, and party beads were exchanged for gold and glitz.

Champagne flutes featured a custom 50th anniversary logo; guests who purchased a glass were entered into a drawing to win a beautiful diamond bracelet.

We also had chocolates on the tables and gorgeous rose centerpieces with gold floral accents.

In a fun twist, the desserts even color-coordinated with the colors of our event!

This was an all-around inspirational event that reconnected donors to the mission of the organization. The hard work of dozens upon dozens of volunteers helped make this event possible!

Oh! The Places You'll Go!

2010-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

My favorite Mermaids recently asked if I would write another article for their e-zine, Mermaids of the Lake. This time they asked for a graduation party concept. My inspiration came from Dr. Seuss' book, Oh! The Places You'll Go!. Check out the article here.

Happy 2nd birthday to the Mermaids on the Lake! :-)

Have an Egg-cellent Easter!

2010-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

This post is just a quickie today to wish all of my readers a wonderful Easter!

Annnnnnnnd, since I can't wait to share this with you, here's a peek at what I made to bring to a potluck Easter dinner tonight. These Rice Krispies egg-treats are fun for kids and adults alike. They were super-easy and fun to make! Check out the Rice Krispies website for fun and creative ideas.

Before:

After:

Spring Update

2010-03-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, where have I been?? The first four months of the year are usually difficult for me to maintain regular blog postings because that is my busiest season of the year at my day job. One major event down, two more to go! I recently completed a successful fundraising auction/anniversary celebration dinner, so I will post a recap of that event and pictures about in the coming weeks.

In addition, I'm working on getting some real life wedding stories to recap for you as well. I'll keep you posted on those.

Seeing as Easter is RIGHT around the corner, and if you're as busy as I am, it might have snuck up on you! I will be posting a couple of creative Easter ideas as well as some Spring decor and entertaining ideas for you.

First up: Eggshell Votives!

Photo courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

I saw the above photo and thought this was a festive idea as yet another way to incorporate eggs into our Easter celebration. Follow the link here to get instructions on how to make these votive candles. Quick tip: hot glue your wick to the bottom of the shell before filling the shell with wax (this will prevent the wick from floating in the wax).

Next Up: Chocolate Eggs!

Photo courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

This one's for the die-hard chocoholic! Warning: this project is somewhat labor- and time-intensive... but HOW can you resist the charm and beauty of your own chocolate eggs inside a REAL egg shell?? Follow this link to get the how-to from Martha. The instructions tell you how to create a chocolate shell within the egg shell so you can fill the shell with ganache (recipe provided). Be sure to read the comments for the instructions to get some good feedback and tips on how to make this project a little bit smoother the first time around.

**Both of these ideas can pull double-duty as table decor and favors. Consider making these as nice take-home gifts for family and friends by wrapping each in colored cellophane and a brightly colored ribbon.**

More ideas to come!

Photofetti

2010-03-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Image from Photofetti.com

CHECK.THIS.OUT! What a fun addition to your child's birthday, a wedding, anniversary, graduation, or other celebration... Photofetti is photo confetti that you can customize with your own photo(s). They will mix your Photofetti with colored accent pieces to match your event and voila, you've got a party!

Visit Photofetti here.

Valentine's Food Fun

2010-02-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Whatever your plans are for Valentine's Day, here are a couple of quick and super-easy ideas involving festive food for the occasion.

Pick up a metal heart cookie cutter at your local store and use it to make a heart-shaped breakfast for your sweeties. This works well for pancakes and eggs. You can also use the cookie cutter to cut hearts out of slices of toast. Don't forget to spray the inside of the cookie cutter with a little bit of cooking spray so the food doesn't stick to it.

Another fun food idea is cutting shapes from brownies and putting a dollap of frosting on top. Wilton has combo cutters in two shapes, "minis" and hearts. I used the minis cutter for these Valentine treats for my co-workers. You can find the minis combo cutter here and the hearts combo cutter here at the Wilton website (see photos below). These cutters are so easy to use, and the three...yes, THREE... batches of brownies I made were cut up in a snap!

(Hearts combo cutter and minis combo cutter. Photos courtesy of Wilton. Links to photos are above.)

Last Minute Super Bowl Idea

2010-02-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

I was shopping at Cabela's a few weeks ago (it's an outdoor sportsman's store) and saw a display that they had set up for the Super Bowl. I really liked the "football field" they created, so I grabbed a quick shot of it on my cell phone (sorry for the photo quality).

You can recreate this same idea on a green table cloth or table runner to make it a fun tablescape. Use your creativity to add goalposts and team spirit. Don't forget to leave room for the yummy finger foods! If you are still in need of some ideas for your game-time eats, check out my previous Super Bowl post here.

Stop and Smell the Roses

2010-02-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

This sweet display of roses is a sample centerpiece for an upcoming fundraising event I'm working on. We have such wonderful people who are sharing their talents with us to help us create a wonderful event. The inspiration for this event is the organization's 50th anniversary, so the color gold is being used to commemorate the "golden anniversary." Complimentary colors of red and black are also being used throughout the event.

As the event draws closer, I'm grateful to have this centerpiece nestled between my computer monitor and Rolodex. The roses make me smile, pause, and take a deep breath before I jump into the next task. I encourage you to take some time this week to stop and smell the roses... to relax and take a deep breath before moving on. :-)

Glassware

2010-02-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

In my day job I plan fundraising events for a non-profit in Washington state. We have a big auction coming up in a few weeks, so my days and work weeks lately have been looong. At any rate, I came across a really cool company in Oregon that is helping us out by printing custom champagne glasses for our event. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find someone who printed on glass. That was an interesting dilemma, and thank goodness we found a company, even if they are several hundred miles away from us.

Introducing: Tri-S. This company does some amazing print work for breweries and liquor companies (unfortunately, I am not able to re-post any photos from their website, so you'll have to click the link and check out Tri-S for yourself). As I was talking with them the other day, I discovered that they've also done custom print work for weddings and other personal celebrations. One couple had an image of their dog printed on beer glasses along with their names and their wedding date as favors for their wedding guests. I thought I would share the idea with you all and provide you with a quality, reputable, and environmentally responsible company that can handle the job.

Steal This Idea!

2010-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

Photo from No Fuss Fabulous; link below

Ok, maybe it's not nice to steal, but definitely BORROW this one! How CUTE are these Cupcake Doilie Skirts???? Click here for the original post, photos, and instructions from No Fuss Fabulous. How's this for a fun way to jazz up those Valentine's Day cupcakes or Pretty Princess party cupcakes?

Super Bowl XLIV

2010-01-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

We're still waiting to hear which teams are going to face off in the Super Bowl on February 7th, but it's not too early to plan your Super Bowl bash! I'm not going to bore you with the usual ideas of using team colors, pennants, jerseys, etc. to decorate. Instead, I'd like to offer you some fun and flavorful recipe and beverage ideas to spice up the party. No matter which team you root for, your party menu will be a winner! I'm a huge fan of the Food Network, so all recipes presented here I found on FoodNetwork.com.

Menu #1: Miami Flavor

Guacamole with Cumin Dusted Tortillas (Bobby Flay)

Caribbean Chicken Wings (Sunny Anderson)

Plaintain Chips (Tyler Florence)
Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Paula Deen)
Mojito (Emeril Lagasse)

Menu #2: Tailgate Sizzle

Macho Nachos (Paula Deen)

Mini Chipotle Burgers with Warm Fire Roasted Garlic Ketchup (Rachael Ray)

Black Bean Salad (Guy Fieri)

Tailgating Sangria (Guy Fieri)

Smore Pizza (Guy Fieri)

Menu #3: All-American Classics

Ritz Cheesy Football (Ritz Crackers)

Swedish Meatballs (Alton Brown)

Baked Macaroni & Cheese (Alton Brown)

Steak Fajita Chili (Aaron McCargo, Jr.)
Beer Biscuits (Sandra Lee)
Super Bowl Punch (The Neelys) [This is an adult beverage!]

I hope these varying menus help make planning your Super Bowl get together easy!

If you use any of these recipes, please leave a comment letting us know how you liked it/them!

Gorgeousness!

2010-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

I simply need to share with you some gorgeous invitations that I came across on Wiley Valentine's blog. You can see the original post here. I love the unique color palette and beautiful print work. Photos by Wiley Valentine.

This is a fun color scheme for a winter celebration or a different twist for your upcoming Mardi Gras party!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T11:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, CE readers! Thanks for your readership in 2009. I look forward to sharing more fun entertaining tips with you in 2010. Let's make this a great year for entertaining with loved ones!

Operation NYE Made EASY

2009-12-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... it's not even Christmas yet! So, why am I even bothering to bring up something that you may not want to think about for another 24 or 36 hours?? Well, you're probably going to need some help for your New Years Eve celebration, and I have just the thing to help you out!

MyPunchbowl.com is a "new" (relatively speaking) alternative to Evite. They want to say thank you for all of the support they received in 2009 and want to show new users just how cool they are. I admit to being an avid Evite user, but MyPunchbowl has piqued my interest, and I'm going to give it a whirl!

Here's the best part: You can give it a whirl too! FOR FREE. Because you are a reader of my blog, MyPunchbowl will give you a FREE upgrade to a Premium account ($30 value for one year) when you sign up and create a new account with them before December 31. Why not? IT'S FREE!!

The cool thing is that the MyPunchbowl Premium account (which is FREE to new account users for one year!) allows you to do just about anything you need to do to plan and execute your next gathering. In addition, you will have unlimited access to invitation and e-card designs, plus the ability to send advertising-free invitations and e-cards for one year.

Go on, check it out, and sign up. But you need to hurry because they are only giving away 10,000 Premium accounts! Go to this link and they'll know I sent ya. Show them some love; after all, it's the season of love, and give yourself the gift of EASY when planning your New Years Eve celebration!

Still More Last-Minute Ideas

2009-12-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hostess with the Mostess posted a wonderful collection of 15 peppermint desserts... and how hard is it to NOT want to make them all??

Photo from HostessBlog.com (link to photo below).

This is just a sample of the yummy dessert ideas. Click here to go directly to the post to find more!

Martha Stewart also has some awesomely creative ideas for those of you looking to put the finishing touches on gifts, wrapping, decorating, centerpieces, and more! Click here to visit MarthaStewart.com for more ideas.

Sweet Treats for the Kiddos (and Big Kids, Too!)

2009-12-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

I was looking for a fun, yet practical gift (that's the adult in me speaking) for some cool kids I know. I walked around the store a few times last night and was finally inspired to make each child a hot cocoa kit.

I had some Christmas-themed take-out style boxes that I filled with red filler. I then added a few packets of hot cocoa mix, a snack-sized bag of mini marshmallows, and some mini-candy canes. I'll finish them off with some fun tags (like the printable ones in this post!). Take this idea to the next level and make it a nice Christmas gift for your favorite family, your children's friends, neighbors, etc. who can enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate with the ones they love.

Here's another idea... a friend and I created a "hot chocolate bar" last Christmas after Christmas dinner was finished. The kids and adults alike enjoyed a steaming cup of hot chocolate and a selection of gourmet marshmallows that were dipped in chocolate and various toppings. Mmmmmm.....

Holiday Posting Blitz!

2009-12-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here.... and if you're like 98% of the world, you still might have some last minute tasks to complete. I'm here to help you out! I'll be posting several ideas today for last-minute additions to your tree, gifts, table, etc.

If you need some CUTE gift tags, check out these printable ones from Wiley Valentine. Aren't they fun??

Photo from Wiley Valentine blog (link below).

Click here to go to the Wiley Valentine blog and download from the post. Enjoy! More to come!

Counting Down to Christmas....

2009-12-16T13:07:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you, but I feel like the holiday season is FLYING right by me! That's a shame because this is one of my favorite times of year, especially for blogging. And that being said, I owe you an apology. I've been slacking on the blog posts lately, but I have good reasons! In my personal life, I moved over Thanksgiving, did a half-marathon the following weekend, and just started to unpack this past week after regaining movement in my legs. :-) Not to mention, I have a day job, and I spent the last couple of nights working on treats for my co-workers.... and totally forgot to take pictures to share with you!

At any rate, I found some neat inspiration today from an historical "legend" in my town. Check out The Davenport Hotel and Tower blog to see the results of a gingerbread house competition to benefit a local charity- amazing stuff!

Snow White House- winner of the competition

Photo from The Davenport Hotel & Tower Blog (link below)

I almost want to attempt the same level of creativity in my own kitchen, but I don't think time allows for that this year. Click here to see the post and additional photos.

If any of you have gingerbread house photos to share, e-mail them to creativeentertaining@gmail.com by Sunday, December 27 and I'll do a special post with your photos. I love seeing what other minds (and hands) create!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

May your turkey be cooked and your pie divine

Cap off the day with a nice glass of wine

Here's to you, the hostess, for on this day

You are truly the "mostess" in so many ways!

At the end of the day, it's not about the food, china, or tablescapes... it's about being with close family and friends and celebrating all you have to be thankful for. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and best of luck with your Black Friday shopping! :-)

REAL LIFE: Fall Fondue Party

2009-11-10T13:10:00.000-08:00

Fondue is one of my favorite things to do, and it's fun to invite "newbies" over to join in on the food fun. A few weekends ago I hosted a fondue party for a few friends. I like to do this a few times a year, usually as the seasons change and new inspiration hits me!

I have a tiny place that I call home, so squeezing a few more bodies in, along with multiple fondue pots, plates, and bowls of food, is sometimes a challenge. While I wanted to really be festive for the fall season, I stuck with the "less is more" mantra and maximized the decor by keeping it central to the dining area. This accomplished two things that I know you'll appreciate: my decor spending was unbelievably small, and my stress level for party preparations did not shoot through the roof.

I hit up a JoAnn Store and scored some key decor items on clearance for 70% off... YES! I then took a basket, a vase, and harvest-themed decor I already owned and put them to work. The results included simple, yet inviting fall tablescapes that did not get in the way of the fondue.

I got a little busy after my guests arrived, so I forgot to take pictures of the tables with food on them (which my guests were bringing). Every square inch was filled with delicious food!

A Good Cause: Operation Shower

2009-11-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

Photo from Operation Shower

Amy of the Stem blog is involved with a wonderful organization called Operation Shower. Operation Shower, a 501(c)(3) accredited charity founded in 2007, is a non-profit organization that recognizes and honors the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating baby showers and “showers-in-a-box” for pregnant and expecting military personnel and their families. It is currently run by a super-small group of dedicated individuals, and they NEED OUR HELP to keep this endeavor going and GROWING! Please check out the Operation Shower blog and consider how you can help them out this holiday season!

Double-Duty Harvest Decor

2009-10-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

There's still time to deck out your house for Halloween, but consider choosing a scheme that will celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving at once. It will save you time, energy, and money... things we all love to save! Here are some ideas that will do double-duty for you during the Fall season and allow you more time for other things... like planning your Christmas decor! :-) (just kidding!)

One idea I LOVE for this holiday season is using candlesticks to display small pumpkins or gourds. You probably have the candlesticks already in your home, so put them to use in an untraditional way. You can also use this same display idea for other holidays.

Photo by Mike Staff Productions (obtained here); Tablescape by Susan Keels of Royal Park Hotel

Martha Stewart comes through again with inspiration to create a fun fall garland out of dried corn. Add the garland to your entryway with pumpkins and gourds to create a warm welcome for guests. Instructions on how to make this garland can be found here.

Another idea from Martha Stewart that I find intriguing is a cornhusk wreath. Find instructions on how to make the wreath here.

Note the mantel display also in the photo. I especially like this because it combines the autumn season with a touch of Christmas, and you can easily swap out the gourds for Christmas items and leave the berries and candles in place!

One more favorite from Martha Stewart is this pumpkin wreath. How fun! Click here for instructions, and you can do a similar thing with a Christmas-themed wreath.

History of Candy Corn

2009-10-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

I came across this fun Halloween tidbit this morning and thought I would pass it along!

The following photo and information were obtained from MSN; you can find the original post here.

Candy Corn

First created in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company, the three colors of candy corn are meant to symbolize actual corn. Each piece is approximately the size of a whole kernel of corn, as if it fell off a ripe or dried ear of corn.

Candy corn is made primarily from sugar, corn syrup and honey. Working by hand, the original manufacturers first combined sugar, corn syrup and water and cooked them into a slurry. Fondant was added for texture, and marshmallows provided a soft bite. The final mixture was then heated and poured into shaped molds. Three passes were required during the pouring process, one for each colored section. Few changes have been made to the process or recipe, with machines now performing the tasks formerly done by people. Candy corn can be found at most popular grocery food stores in the United States.

Halloween Cupcakes

2009-10-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes are one of my favorite treats, and of course, no Halloween party would be complete without Halloween cupcakes!

Check out this idea from Michaels: Haunted Manor Cupcakes

Some more Halloween cupcake must-haves from Michaels:

Freaky Friends Cupcake Pix

Cupcake Stencils

Skeleton/Spider Cupcake Wrappers

Skulls and Scrolls Cupcake Stand

You can also check out more Halloween treat supplies from Michaels here.

Halloween Tablescape Idea

2009-10-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hi there! After a bit of a hiatus, Creative Entertaining is back with a CUTE Halloween idea for you. The best thing about this idea is that you can utilize items you already have around your home!

This tablescape design was created using the following items:

1. Tall glass vase with tall sticks

2. Lantern with candle

3. Ornamental ball

4. Antique lock and keys

5. Halloween card

6. Glass jar with Halloween candy

7. Scrapbook paper

8. Pumpkins

The scrapbook paper was used as a "mat" underneath the other items on the paper. In addition, Halloween-themed paper was used to create embellished tags that hang from the sticks in the vase and to embellish the candy jar. By gathering items from around your home and mixing them in with the Halloween items to create a fun and festive tablescape, you're reusing items you already have and you're saving money. This particular tablescape cost nothing, as all items were on-hand at home. How can you beat that cost for holiday decor??

Thanks to the Sporadic Scrapper for this wonderful tablescape!

Cookie Gifts: What's not to love??

2009-08-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is Bakerella. She just posted this amazingly ADORABLE and easy DIY gift idea, which I then translated into "hostess gift" or "party favor" in my own entertaining oriented mind... Be sure to check this one out because Bakerella has already done all the hard work for you, even providing downloadable tags to adorn your gift with.

Take a look; how can you resist giving these away as gifts?? Click here for her blog post.

Picnics

2009-07-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

Summer just can't be complete without at least one picnic! MarthaStewart.com offered up some tips on how to plan a picnic... which, truly, is not that difficult of a task but some really creative ideas are offered, including environmentally friendly tips! Below is a summary of Martha's picnic how-to, with my own suggestions interjected here and there.

1. MENU: Your best bet for picnic fare is going to be food that is made in advance without requiring ingredients that will make the food soggy (i.e., sauces). Also take into consideration the utensils and dishware that will be required to eat it. Foods simply requiring a fork or your hands might just be the best option!

2. APPETIZERS: Bring along bite-size snacks that can be easily divided up and handed to guests as they arrive. Martha suggests offering nuts as they are healthier than potato chips and are not easily crushed. I would also recommend dividing up the snacks into individual portions prior to leaving for the picnic, so your job is a bit easier.

3. MAIN DISHES: Martha recommends bringing open-faced sandwiches on a baguette or other hardy bread. That may require more work to travel with the sandwiches if you prepare them in advance. I personally enjoy the idea of a casserole (carried in a heat-safe tote, of course!) for a picnic option.

4. SALADS: Traditional leaf lettuce salads tend to wilt in heat, so consider making another type of salad. Pasta and bean salad are a good alternative, along with salads made of vegetables and grains.

5. PREP WORK: Do all of your meal's prep work at home (i.e., chopping, mixing, etc.).

6. CONTAINERS: Most of us tend to use single-use items like plastic wrap and throwaway containers for outdoor functions to simplify the clean up task. However, a more earth-friendly option would include using your own lightweight bakeware, tin containers, parchment, and twine. They will make a pretty addition to your table!

7. TABLEWARE: Pull out your camping or patio dishes and use them for your picnic. Lightweight enamelware or plastic break-proof dishes are a sensible alternative to paper or plastic plates, cutlery, and glasses.

8. PACKING: So now that you have all of your food and supplies for the picnic, how are you going to transport everything? Martha suggests using two large totes; fill one with food that is okay at room-temperature and the other bag should be insulated to hold any items that need to remain cold. I would recommend bringing along other reuseable bags for miscellaneous supplies and dirty dishes.

Martha offers a good suggestion for packing your food: pack a layer at the bottom of the bag, then place a small cutting board (or similar item) over it before adding a second layer of food. This will give you support within the bag, and the cutting board can act as a "table" for items at your picnic area.

9. EXTRAS: Don't forget to bring along cloth napkins, serving utensils, salt and pepper shakers, extra tea/dish towels, and a large towel or blanket to sit on.

I don't know about you, but reading Martha's suggestions for a picnic have me thinking about planning one myself! To see the original article from Martha Stewart, click here.

*All photos courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

Entertaining Tips

2009-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

I love to bake and cook (in that order), and I've been looking to hone the craft a bit more. I usually don't really get into baking or cooking, though, unless company is coming over or if there's a special occasion. I recently discovered that my local Williams-Sonoma store offers weekly classes on various culinary topics. As I browsed through a list of the upcoming classes, I was inspired to share this tip with you.

Go check out your local stores for inspiration and tips you can incorporate into your special occasions or a regular dinner at home. Maybe an easier approach would be to check out those stores' websites to see if they have any entertaining resources you can access online whenever you want!

Here's a couple that I have found:

Williams-Sonoma Entertaining Ideas
This site offers yummy recipes, photos, and tips on hosting your own soiree.

Macy's Culinary Council
This site features well-known chefs (like Tyler Florence and Wolfgang Puck) and their amazing recipes, plus information on classes and tips for hosting your own gathering.

Countdown to the 4th!

2009-07-02T13:02:00.001-07:00

Wow... there are so many amazing ideas on the blogosphere right now for your July 4th celebration(s) that I thought I would offer you a highlight of a couple of my favorites! Be sure to check them out through the links below...

Everyday Celebrating: Tin Can Luminaries (how CUTE are these??)

(photo by Everyday Celebrating)

There are also some other easy and cheap decor ideas that you'll want to check out at Everyday Celebrating!

Simply Stated: 4th of July Cocktails (delicious and refreshing!!)

(Follow the link above to get the recipes and photo credits.)

Celebrations at Home: Last Minute Decorating

(Photo by Celebrations at Home)

Chris from Celebrations at Home posted great ideas on last minute decorating for your July 4th party on her blog. If you check out her blog, you'll also find some other inspiration for your patriotic meal!

Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!!

Have a Fruity Fourth!

2009-06-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of summer, in my opinion, is the variety of fresh local fruit available. One easy way to take advantage of fresh, in season fruit is to incorporate them in your summer festivities.

Pictured above is a Fruited-Cheesecake Flag, courtesy of Martha Stewart. Click here for the recipe. What I love most about this cheesecake is that it's perfect for large gatherings... did you notice that the slices are pre-cut?? AND, it also gives you and your guests the perfect excuse to have more than one slice of cheesecake... of course you need to try it with strawberries and with blueberries! Think of it as the opportunity to get in all your fruit servings for the day... :-)

More posts later with other July 4th ideas!

A Little Update

2009-06-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

I know I've been quiet in the blogosphere lately, so I apologize for that. Of course, the day job keeps me busy, so hopefully during some vacation time coming up I'll have the opportunity to put together some neat posts for you all!

In the meantime, if you have thoughts of posts you would like to see, please leave me a comment and I'll take them into consideration. Also, please enjoy the new look of the blog! I think the bright colors are fun for summertime, so go and be inspired! :-) Special thanks to Heather for pulling this design together for me.

Happy summer to everyone, although it's early... but who's complaining?

Two Favorites!

2009-05-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, I admit it... I have an obsession with cupcakes AND with fruity adult beverages! Imagine my excitement when I discovered Hostess with the Mostess' blog post about Margarita Cupcakes. YUM!!! Click here for the cake and icing recipes. What a great way to kick off summer!

Cupcake love!!!!

WOW- I'm Speechless...

2009-05-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

Everyday Celebrating recently featured a F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S. Mad Hatter birthday party created by Eventology Weddings in Houston, TX.

I can have a terrible sweet tooth at times, and just looking at those photos... mmm, I want it ALL!

This adorable Mad Hatter party is featured here, so go check it out and prepare to be inspired!!

Giveaway Winner!

2009-05-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

Thank you to all who signed up as followers of the Creative Entertaining blog!! I had fun putting this giveaway together and will be doing more giveaways in the future.

So, who's the winner??

The lucky winner drawn from the basket of entries is... KRISSA!!

Krissa, you have 48 hours to give me your contact information so I can mail you your patriotic party in a box!

If I don't hear from you by then, I'll have to select another winner... :-(

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Budget Friendly Ideas

2009-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Ritzy Bee blog posted some great budget-friendly wedding details. Of course, they don't just apply to weddings... I think these are great ideas to use for any type of shindig you host! Click here to read the post!

P.S. How cute is that "Nuts for Each Other" pistachio pail??

Giveaway Update!

2009-05-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Yay for free stuff!!! :-) And YAAAAY for a summer that's on its way!

What you are about to see is a preview of the first EVER Creative Entertaining blog giveaway...

The winner of this giveaway will receive a "party in a box" for a patriotic summer party! The box components pictured above are: a tablecloth, plates, napkins, star cookie cutter and star garland.

THAT'S NOT ALL!! This prize will also include patriotic must-haves for the fabulous cupcakes the winner will bake especially for her summer soiree. And if you know me, you know that I LOVE cupcakes or anything else that can be baked in a cupcake pan! :-)

I'm so excited that I want to have parties for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, AND Labor Day! See, I'm so thoughtful that I'm giving the lucky winner not one, not two, but THREE opportunities to use her party in a box.... so NO EXCUSES for not hosting a fabulous good ol' American shindig to celebrate the summer!!

So, how do you enter? Simply become a follower of this blog. EASY! If you don't see yourself listed in the "followers" box on the right side, then you haven't signed up yet and are not entered for this giveaway.

I'M UPPING THE ANTE! Each follower who ALSO posts this giveaway on her (or his) blog will get a second entry in the random drawing. If you blog about it, leave me a comment under this post with the URL to your blog post.

Deadline for entry is Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be announced A.S.A.P.!

Digital Bride Contest

2009-05-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Have you recently gotten married or will be getting married soon?? Create My Event is hosting a Digital Bride contest. Enter to win a pillow from 2Modern by sharing your comment about how you used digital media for your wedding (i.e., online invitations, etc.). June 20, 2009 at midnight (PST) is the deadline, so click here to go to the original post to leave your comment.

Good luck!

Inspiration: Playful Table Decor

2009-05-11T09:06:00.001-07:00

I was browsing the Michael's store website and found their wedding inspiration section. I saw this pinwheel idea for wedding favors/table decor and fell in love! It's a fun, whimsical idea for a wedding or even for a summer soiree (just change the paper you use). Follow the link here for instructions on how to make this yourself!

Click here to view the Wedding Inspiration section!

Rock Candy, a new fav

2009-05-10T01:12:00.000-07:00

My new favorite element to incorporate into an event is rock candy. It comes in so many colors that can match your color scheme and is instantly festive when displayed! Not to mention how delicious it is... :-)

The rock candy pictured above (sorry about the photo quality) was part of the "Beach Bliss" bridal shower theme I created recently. The handmade "ticket" tags say "Bliss" and "I Do" respectively, with the ticket number on the side being the date of the wedding (080109). They were embellished with tiny paper flowers and brads (found at any scrapbook supply store). I displayed them in a small apothecary jar (see below) for guests to take as favors.

You can read my article with full details on the "Beach Bliss Bridal Shower" theme here.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

2009-05-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

How many of you actually know the history of Cinco de Mayo? After doing a little research to refresh my memory, I thought I would share the info with you! Might make for some good bar conversation tomorrow... :-)

May 5th signifies the day on which the Mexican militia conquered the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 (the French were trying to take control over Mexico). Today, Cinco de Mayo is largely celebrated in the state of Puebla, Mexico, and is an increasingly popular celebration north of the U.S.-Mexico border (albeit a popular commercialized celebration)...

Now that you have your history lesson, I thought I would share with you some easy ideas for an impromptu Mexican fiesta if you're in the mood...

Chips and salsa. For super delicious salsa, make your own by combining white/yellow onion, tomatoes, tomatillos, fresh cilantro, salt, lime juice and your choice of peppers. You can't go wrong with this, so have fun and experiment with the flavors.

Guacamole. Make easy guacamole by mixing some of this salsa into mashed avocados.

Margaritas! One of my favorite concoctions, you can take the traditional lime-flavored margarita and add a twist. Jazz it up with an assortment of fruit flavors by adding fresh strawberries or mangos.

Flautas. These are softer versions of rolled tacos (or taquitos). The difference between taquitos and flautas is that taquitos are made with corn tortillas and flautas are made with flour tortillas. Both are stuffed with your choice of filling (like shredded beef or chicken) then fried in oil to a crispy perfection.

Spanish rice. You can't have a good dish of Mexican food without tasty rice to compliment the meal. Click here for a yummy and easy recipe from Chelsie Kenyon.

Dessert. Cut flour tortillas into triangle pieces and cook pieces in hot oil until lightly browned and crisp. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel. Dust both sides with cinnamon and sugar. Mmm!

Decorations. Of course, you can't have a party without fun decor! Buy a pinata and fill it with candy. Fill glass vases with limes, lemons, oranges, or bright flowers to use as table centerpieces. Click here for instructions on how to make your own tissue paper flowers.

However you may choose to spend your Cinco de Mayo, please celebrate responsibly!

New Article & Giveaway!!

2009-05-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

It's official! The Mermaids of the Lake e-zine is one year old today! I was so excited to be asked to write an article for their newest issue, and you can find it here. (Thanks, Mermaids, for a fun opportunity!) If you are hosting a bridal shower during the upcoming "wedding season," I hope you will find some inspiration with this "Beach Bliss" bridal shower theme, plus other easy DIY hostess tips!

YAY!

Oh, and do you remember my post awhile back that mentioned a fun giveaway coming up in May?? Well, it's May 1st, so I'm going to spill some of the beans now...

...To celebrate the publication of my first article, I've decided to have a FIRST-EVER Creative Entertaining giveaway!! The only catch is that this giveaway is only for FOLLOWERS of this blog (you can see a list of current followers on the right side of your screen). If you add yourself to the list, you'll be in the running to win this giveaway. You have until Saturday, May 16th, 11:59 p.m. PST to enter. So don't run the risk of forgetting... just follow now!

So, what am I giving away?

Well, those are the beans I'm not going to spill, YET. :-) (I'm on vacation and I feel like holding up the suspense just a little bit longer...) BUT, what I WILL tell you, is that this will be a fun gift pack for the ultimate summer hostess!

Thanks for your readership...or is it followership? :-)

Easter Wrap-Up

2009-04-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

One of the blogs I follow, Bakerella, showcases Bakerella's claim to fame: cake pops! She made many styles of Easter cake pops, and my friend and I attempted to make some for Easter. I know that was several weeks back, but I wanted to share the fruit of our labor. They turned out cute!

We used chocolate cake mix (it was what we had on hand), chocolate candy melts, white candy melts, Good 'n Plenty candy for ears, white spice drops for bunny tails, and frosting pens for the face. We chose to make cake pop "truffles" because we thought it would be a little be easier to transport to Easter lunch (and they fit nicely in a glass dish). We did try one "pop" on a stick, but it promptly fell apart, so we stuck with the original game plan of not using sticks. One tip I would pass along to anyone who wants to try this is to use a light colored cake mix if you are going to use a light colored candy melt to dip the pops in (otherwise, you'll see the dark cake through the light colored coating).

Check out the Bakerella blog for cake pops for all occasions!

Giveaway- Quick!

2009-04-05T04:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that there's a very cool giveaway going on over at Embellish Essentials. You can enter between now and Saturday, April 11th @ 11:59 p.m. PST. The prize is for a scrapbook prize pack worth over $50! If you're a scrappin' queen, you know that's a lot of fun waiting to happen!!

I just so happen to know those girls running things over at Embellish Essentials, so tell them I sent ya! {wink} They are a start-up business, so keep your eye out for them if you're into paper scrapbooking.

Event Designing with Color Palettes, Part 2

2009-03-31T09:10:00.001-07:00

Several posts back I showed you some ideas from MarthaStewart.com about using different color palettes to set up your event design. I promised to post some photos of a real-life example I did. I don't have as many photos as I thought I did, but here are a couple so you can get the gist of the color scheme.

This was a "Golden Birthday" theme. For those who don't know what that is, one's golden birthday is the day when the age someone turns is the same as the day in the month he or she was born. For example, my golden birthday was my 21st birthday, since I was born on the 21st day of the month. The examples below were from a party I threw for a friend of mine on her 26th "golden" birthday.

I used the colors gold, black and white throughout the event. The colors are reflected in the invitation, tablecloths, table decor, and the cake. I also incorporated a Parisian theme as well, hence the Fleur de Lis on the invitations, table, and cake.

In case you're interested in the other details, I provided cheese, crackers and grapes for appetizers and the fixings to make croissant sandwiches as a light dinner. We had lemon drop martinis as the signature drink. Take-home favors included handmade chocolate (milk chocolate and white chocolate) candy suckers in the shape of the Eiffel Tower and a mini spa gift (white sugar body scrub with a white or gold loofah). As you can see, I kept with the color palette as well as the parallel Parisian theme with every detail of the event.

I apologize for taking so long to get this post up!!

Must Have: Wine Glass Lamps

2009-03-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

You have got to check these out!!

I was checking out the Everyday Celebrating blog and came across a post from a couple of months ago talking about these AWESOME wine glass lamps (click here for the original post). I immediately fell in LOVE, so I had to post about them!

How simple, yet so amazing at the same time! I am personally one of those people who loves candlelight as a way to set a classy tone for a social engagement.

You can buy these shades, called Gorgeous Helen, from WishingFish.com. They are sold as a set of three for $14.00. Click here to go straight to the Gorgeous Helen shades.

What do you think??

Chocolate Giveaway

2009-03-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Hey, check out the Mermaids of the Lake blog. They are giving away CHOCOLATE from the Chocolate Apothecary, a fun chocolate "pharmacy" in Spokane. The link to the post is here. You can enter the giveaway by posting a comment on that post, and while you're at it, tell the Mermaids I sent you! :-)

Easter

2009-03-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

Easter is just around the corner, and I came across this fabulous idea from Martha Stewart that I just had to share!

I love this concept because it is so simple and easy to do! Notice how the same bunny shapes on the garland are also used as cupcake toppers.... and notice how those same shapes were cut out of the paper used to make the favor bags. For instructions on how to make the garland, click here.

This is a versatile concept that can be applied to any theme or holiday. Pick your shape, cut it out of the paper used to make favors, and put those cut-outs to work as decor. Voila!

FYI- Easter is on April 12th this year!

Auction Success!

2009-03-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

I've been somewhat quiet in the blogosphere lately because in my day job I was putting the finishing touches on a large ($100,000+) fundraising event for the organization I work for. Events are a unique "beast," if you will.... I found myself using the phrase "it's just the nature of the beast" many times over the last couple of days, referring to last-minute changes, lost event supplies, volunteers, surprise guests, etc. However, I love the challenge of pulling so many unique details together to create an experience that others will enjoy. Posted below are some photos of this event, as I previously promised in an earlier post. I don't have the final tabulations done yet of the event financials, but preliminary figures are very promising. :-)

I apologize for the quality of some of these photos. I forgot my digital camera, so I tried to capture what I could during and after set-up before my camera phone died (go figure). I wish I had photos of the actual event itself with all of the guests there, but I'm glad I do have what I'm posting below:

Yes, we literally had enough stuff to fill this truck.

The mayhem of all of the auction items needing to be sorted into their sections.

The ballroom just waiting...

Hanging signs

Looking better!

The completed sports section

Just some of our many raffles

The local artist section

The celebrity section

Happy Monday!

2009-03-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

I won a giveaway over at Design by Kendall (check out Kendall's blog!) and the prize is $25 to Favor Affair (check them out too!). Thanks to both of you... This makes me want to throw a party!!

SURPRISE: Advance Planning

2009-03-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have a surprise giveaway up my sleeve... but I can't tell you what it is until May. What I CAN tell you now, however, is that this giveaway is only for my blog followers. Yes, only for Creative Entertaining blog followers.

So here's the deal.

If you sign up as a follower of my blog, when May rolls around, you'll be eligible for the giveaway. Simple and easy... LOVE IT.

Why am I planning this so far in advance?

Because that's what I do! I plan events for a living. This is an event, so I planned ahead! :-) You should plan ahead too, and follow this blog now! A word of caution: signing up for e-mail updates is not the same as being a follower (but you can do both!).

Did I mention that this will be the FIRST EVER Creative Entertaining blog giveaway??

Go. Enter. Now.

2009-03-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hostess with the Mostess is one of my favorite blogs. There's a giveaway this week that is SO FUN! I wanted to share the good news with you and encourage you to enter (let me know if you win!). This giveaway is from Garnish, an online supplier of packaging (I'm digging the cute name!). Why is that important? Well, presentation is everything, right?? Check out the photos below for fun ideas on how to incorporate packaging into your events, and then check out the blog post here for information on how to enter. Good luck!!

I won!!

2009-03-14T10:23:00.001-07:00

I'm super excited to share that I won a giveaway on the It's a Jaime Thing blog (no, that's not me... we just share a great name and love for events)!! I will be receiving an autographed copy of Christina Friedrichsen's Intimate Weddings book. I can't wait to see what advice Christina shares in her book. Thanks to Random.org for making me a winner! :-) Do me a favor and check out both sites and share some love!

Event Designing with Color Palettes, Part 1

2009-03-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

I love color! The colors you choose to incorporate into an entertaining affair will make your event come alive. The best part about designing an event using color is that it's easy to do!

Check out Martha Stewart.com. The website has four color palettes that are fun for home decorating, but I thought we could take that a step further and incorporate those same palettes into event designing. Here are the color palettes as highlighted by Martha Stewart (all photos courtesy of Martha Stewart.com):

Yellow and Orange
I envision a fun sunset or tropical theme party with this color palette.

Blue and Green
The colors blue and green always remind me of the beach, so I've been known to incorporate those colors for a beach or tropical theme. This is also a wonderful color palette for a special man or little boy in your life!

Red and Pink
This is a sophisticated color palette that's great for bridal showers, baby showers, spa parties or any others "ladies only" occasion.

Whites and Neutrals
Whites and neutrals are interesting in that you don't see them used too often as a color palette for an event. However, I like this palette because it can be used to provide a jumping off point for other brighter colors. Example: Have white tableware and tablecloths, then bring in eye-popping color through flowers and napkins.

Take a look at each of the color palettes above. Let me know your thoughts! I will post Part 2 in a little bit showing you a real-life example of using a color palette for a party.

Chocolate & Champagne Gala

2009-03-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

I attended a fundraising event this weekend called the Chocolate & Champagne Gala. I enjoyed the concept and thought I would share it with you as a theme to replicate for your own event, either at an event facility or in your own home. (I apologize for not having any photos to share; I was working for part of the event and the lighting was horrible in the photos I did manage to take!)

The event had several components: food stations, chocolate stations, silent auction, loud auction, champagne table, and dancing. The evening began with the silent auction and food stations. Guests had the opportunity to bid on fun gifts and sample delicious food! Food offerings included a fresh pasta station, fruit and cheeses, carving station with beef, pork, and rolls. The chocolate part consisted of many tables staffed by local vendors offering their chocolate wares for your palette's delight; chocolate covered strawberries and espresso beans, truffles, chocolate candies, pretzels, and coffee. The food stations closed just before a short program and loud auction began. Once the bidding was over, a local swing band played and guests stayed behind to dance.

So, how can you adapt this event to fit your next soiree? It's easy!

Food stations. Provide hot and cold food options for your guests. If your home or event space allows, consider placing food stations in different rooms (i.e., kitchen, dining room, living room, patio, etc.). This allows guests to mingle and will hopefully prevent traffic jams around a single food table. It also offers the option of providing different types of food without being too chaotic on one table. This can work well with a potluck event.
Dessert station. The event I went to offered chocolate-themed desserts, but you can choose another theme if you wish, such as cheesecake, mini desserts, ice cream sundaes, etc. Allow guests to pick and choose items that satisfy their taste buds. Offer your guests an after dinner drink to go with dessert.
Beverage bar. Allow your guests to mix their own drinks at a drink station. Provide the mixings for 3 recipes, and they can choose which drink to mix in their glasses. You can choose to provide alcoholic or non-alcoholic mixed drinks.
Donation station. Throw a party for a good cause! Consider incorporating a fundraising or other element to your event to give back to your community. Put together a small auction (silent or loud) by asking each guest to bring a basket for the rest of the party guests to bid on. Or, simply ask guests to bring non-perishable items or cash to donate to a local charity.
Dress code/theme. Most of us don't get the opportunity to dress up and attend a nice event on a regular basis. I'm one of those people who loves to do that, so I think it's a fun way to spice up an at-home celebration! You don't necessarily have to dress up in suits and heels, but consider choosing a theme that everyone will have fun with (i.e., Hawaiian, Roaring '20s, Safari, etc.).

I hope you enjoy the inspiration board above!

I am currently working on a fundraising auction for my "day job." I will be sure to post details and photos of the event once it is completed in a few weeks!

2009-02-26T13:16:00.001-08:00

Mermaids of the Lake is an online publication geared towards women based out of Liberty Lake, WA (just east of Spokane). They also have a blog, here, that is fun and whimsical. I like the "Mermaids" concept for a few reasons:

1. Going green. I can check for new stuff online when I want without having to stack up a bunch of paper magazines that wait around until I can get to them.

2. Creativity! You'll see they incorporate the mermaid/sea theme throughout the publication.

3. It's personal. The personality of the three mermaids (publishers) comes through the writing and features, especially on the Mermaids blog.

4. It's not just an eastern Washington thing. Readers from all over the country are fans of Mermaids of the Lake.

5. Inspiration. I find some great ideas and tips on the Mermaids website and blog that I can incorporate into my entertaining. They post some yummy recipes!

Go... swim fast... and check them out. Discover your inner Mermaid!! :-)

KUDOS!!

2009-02-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

I have to give an ENORMOUS shout out to Heather over at the Sporadic Scrapper blog for saving this blog!!! For those of you who check back frequently, the past few days might have been interesting for you as the blog was a different color every couple of days. That's because I've been trying different blog design templates to get one that would allow my comments to work again, and then another time I got too click-happy and accidentally deleted part of the template HTML code and didn't realize it. BUT, Heather came to the rescue and spent some time on it to get a design template that was fun, and she made sure there was HTML code that allowed you all to leave comments. Yay! So, please, leave comments!! Check out her blog and Etsy store and show her some love!

Have a great weekend!

What Kind of Hostess Are You?

2009-02-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

I saw this fun quiz on Martha Stewart today: "What kind of hostess are you?" I thought it's extremely applicable to the whole purpose of this blog, so I had to take the quiz and post the link here for you to take as well!

Take the quiz and post your results as a comment!

Here is my quiz result:

You are undoubtedly A Thoughtful Hostess.
You plan ahead to ensure that the events you host are special and that your guests feel welcome. Friends feel comfortable in your home and enjoy bringing signature dishes to your table. You're known for featuring unique touches without going overboard.

Overall results from quiz takers:

A. A Hostess Inspired by Martha! 7.43%
B. A Thoughtful Hostess 88.32%
C. A Casual Hostess 4.25%

So, I think the moral of the story here is that the majority of us hostesses are thoughtful people, that's why we like to show our family and friends a good time! It's quite obvious that very few of us can even hold a candle to Martha! :-)

Romantic Party For Two!

2009-02-13T21:04:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE this concept posted on the Hostess with the Mostess blog! In a guest post by Julie Mulligan of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, she presents a "Garden of Eden" Valentine's Day idea that you can do right at home. Click here to see the post! Plus, she offers an easy recipe for chocolate fondue, and that, my friends, is one of my all-time favorite entertaining activities! More on fondue another time...

Problems with Comments?

2009-02-12T14:23:00.001-08:00

It has come to my attention that, for some reason, people are unable to leave comments on this blog. I apologize!! I have double-checked all of my settings and I'm not sure what the problem might be. Please bear with me as I figure this out! I guess this means since you all can't leave comments, it wouldn't be fair of me to start doing giveaways now, huh? :-) I'll continue with my regular postings, but will hold off on the "really fun" stuff until I solve this glitch. In the meantime, feel free to become a follower, because I show special love to those folks from time to time!!

Cupcake Heaven

2009-02-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I absolutely ADORE cupcakes! Mini-cupcakes, regular cupcakes, fancy, plain... it doesn't matter. I love them all! This Valentine's Day, I've been mulling over many different ideas of sweet treats to make for friends and co-workers; among the many ideas I considered were cupcakes. If I love the idea of cupcakes so much, I thought others might too! Scroll down to view some yummy (and awfully tempting) cupcake treat ideas for Valentine's Day (click on the links to get the recipes, courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart). If you have an idea to contribute, please do so in the comments section!

From Better Homes and Gardens:

Brownie Surprise Cupcakes

Red Velvet Sweetheart Cupcakes

From Martha Stewart:

Strawberry Cupcakes

Apple Cupcakes

I hope these cupcakes inspire you to bake this week! Have fun!

Chocolate Tasting Party

2009-02-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

Host a chocolate tasting party as a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day... or a Girls' Night Out, or any other special occasion (bridal shower, baby shower, etc.).

Enjoy drinking chocolate, chocolate truffles, chocolate bars, chocolate dipped fruit, and more in your own home. Find a local store that sells a wide variety of chocolate. Pick out several types of light and dark chocolate, plus other varieties in-between. As you sample the chocolate, move from light to dark because the flavor becomes more complex (like wine).

At your tasting, throw in a chocolate trivia or a chocolate-themed board game. Check out these 50 trivia questions from brownielocks.com. Or, do your own research on chocolate and create your own game!

Don't forget to develop a creative ambiance for the party. Consider a color scheme like white (to show off the chocolate) or pink and brown. Have music playing in the background and some nice dessert wine ready to pour. In addition, you may want to provide other food options such as appetizers to help combat the sugar rush from the chocolate!

If you have additional thoughts or ideas to share, please do so in the comments section. Have fun!

An Ode to Valentine's Day

2009-01-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Just a few more weeks until the "loveliest" holiday of the year... Valentine's Day! To me, Valentine's Day is a day to show others that you care about them and that they are special people to you (of course, it's also about your sweetie!). Over the next couple of weeks, I'll share some neat ideas with you for Valentine's Day treats for your significant others, children, friends, and co-workers.

My personal favorite: Mini Heart Cakes (courtesy of Matt Lewis from Baked and Martha Stewart.com)

Here's the recipe for the cakes:

Ingredients (Makes six 4-inch heart-shaped cakes)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons red food coloring
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup melted dark chocolate, for decorating
Speckled Cinnamon Frosting (recipe below)

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees with rack in the center of the oven. Butter an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet, line with parchment paper, butter parchment, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, food coloring, and 1/4 cup boiling water. Set aside to cool.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and shortening on high speed until smooth. Add sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Stir buttermilk and vanilla into cocoa mixture. Into another medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. With the mixer on low, add flour mixture alternating with cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat until incorporated.
In a small bowl, mix together vinegar and baking soda until baking soda dissolves; mixture will fizz. Add to batter and mix until just combined.
Pour batter into prepared baking sheet, smoothing the top. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 20 to 30 minutes, rotating pan after 10 minutes.
Cook cake completely on a wire rack. Using a 4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 12 hearts.
Place 4 strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy susan. Place 1 layer on the cake plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the cake; top with another heart, bottom side up. Cover entire cake with a thin layer of frosting and transfer to refrigerator for 10 minutes. Repeat process with remaining ingredients.
Remove cakes from the refrigerator and cover each cake with a generous layer of frosting, smoothing as you go around to create a flat surface.
Place chocolate in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip; decorate as desired.

Speckled Cinnamon Frosting

Ingredients (Makes enough for six 4-inch cakes)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Food coloring, in desired color

Directions
Whisk together sugar and flour in medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add milk and cream and place over medium heat, whisking occasionally until mixture comes to a boil and has thickened, about 20 minutes.
Transfer mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until cool. Reduce speed to low and add butter; mix until well incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and mix until frosting is light and fluffy. Add vanilla and cinnamon and continue mixing until combined. Add a couple drops of food coloring while continuing to mix, until desired color is reached. If frosting is too soft, chill slightly and then re-mix to proper consistency. If frosting becomes too firm, place bowl over a pot of simmering water and re-mix to proper consistency.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes!

Re-Post This for a Good Cause!

2009-01-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

From Hostessblog.com:

Let’s Eat Cake, an amazing fundraiser hosted by the equally amazing Melissa Margarita-DiStefano, is coming up quick: Tuesday, February 17th at the Plaza Paramount Hotel! Let’s Eat Cake is a cake decorating competition with all proceeds going to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Learn more about the fundraiser right here.

In an effort to make sure we get the word out to everyone (and raise money), we are starting this chain-blog (Ok, not sure if that is correct terminology. But it’s like a chain letter so let’s just go with it, shall we?).

Here’s what we need you to do…Repost this post (or create your own new version) on your blog and ask others to post it on their blogs. Melissa will donate one dollar to the fundraiser for EVERY BLOG that posts on Let’s Eat Cake this week! With the power of the blogosphere, that can QUICKLY add up! Let’s make Melissa Pay! Once you have reposted it, leave a comment letting us know that you posted it along with the url to the blog. It’s for a great cause and it will be fun to see how far it will go! So lets do it… Lets blog it forward and raise money for a great cause!!!

**Kudos to Unique Designs for creating this fun chain-blog effort!**

P.S. Ok, Melissa… time to kick in another $1!

P.S.S. If any business wants to help out with a matching challenge, Melissa would love to hear from you!

Red Velvet Cake Balls

2009-01-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

I just came across this recipe for Red Velvet Cake Balls from the Bakerella blog (which is fabulous, by the way!). I love this idea and can't wait to make them myself! Click here to see the original post. Check out the comments to find helpful tips to assist you in making them.

Red Velvet Cake Balls (From Bakerella Blog)
This recipe is based on a mix, but I imagine you can follow the same directions substituting from scratch cake and frosting (I'll try that one day). You can also try it with other cake combinations.
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.) I also only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It's easier to work with when it's hot.

For additional photos to help you along during the process, check out the original post over at Bakerella (link above).

This recipe is great as a simple treat for family or co-workers. I think it's also a great idea for a princess party or an adult soiree (remember, you can customize the cake and frosting combination to suit your taste/needs). Any way you incorporate these pieces of heaven, you're sure to have a hit on your hands!

Holiday Greeting Card Survival Tips

2009-01-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but Christmas seemed to get a little bit away from me this past year. By that I mean that I just didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted to get done before the holidays...

One such project was Christmas cards. I am not a stickler for sending them out every year (it usually depends on whether I have the time to do them), but this Christmas I thought it would be nice to do them. However, there were two factors playing into my decision on how to approach my Christmas cards: time and money. I suspect those same two factors affected many people's decisions about sending Christmas cards.

(Christmas card above designed by my talented friend Heather over at Viva La Diva; she designed then printed these at a local store.)

Hare are some tips and tricks to managing the Christmas card situation.

1. Send a New Year's greeting instead. This allows you some extra time to spend on the other holiday madness and gives you something to do in the down-time that follows the Christmas holiday. Plus, you can include up-to-the-minute pictures from your recent Christmas celebration.

2. Use a photo-printing service to make your cards. Companies like Polka Dot Design, Shutterfly, Costco, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and more, now offer printing services. You can customize your cards, place an order, and have your cards ready in a short amount of time. If you are using an online service that will deliver the printed product to you, just be sure you've allowed enough time for ordering, printing, and delivery before you need to send them out yourself.

3. Create a mailing list to print mailing labels for your cards. This is a great idea that I've only seen one or two of my friends do. Keep a spreadsheet or database on your computer (in Microsoft Word or Excel) for family and friends' addresses. This is easy to update as needed throughout the year. When it comes time to mail out those cards, simply create a label mailing from your database, print, and have fun sticking all those labels to your envelopes. This is also a great time (and money) saver when sending out party invitations.

4. Send an e-mail card or letter. Once you decide to send a holiday card or letter, the second piece to that decision is the cost of postage. If you are planning to send a lot of cards, this can add up quickly. To save money, consider sending an e-mail card or letter to your family and friends. It will not only save you money; it will also save you the time (and hassle) of addressing all those cards.

5. Save money by purchasing supplies in advance. Do some post-holiday shopping and buy your cards, letters, and envelopes for next year on clearance. This can save you more than 50% of the original retail costs of those supplies! Just don't forget to put them somewhere where you'll remember them (write a date on your new calendar that will remind you pull out those supplies and start working on them!).

For those who prefer to use an online service, create an account in advance, then sit back and watch those e-mail coupon offers to determine the best deal you can get. From personal experience this year, by watching the deals starting in October, you can save more money by ordering earlier rather than right around Christmas.

I hope these ideas are helpful! If you have any additional ideas, please post them in a comment; it's nice to help each other out. If you'll excuse me now, I need to go finish my New Year's greeting cards.

Holiday Hiatus

2009-01-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all my readers out there! This is just a quick note to let you know that I took a holiday hiatus from posting to the Creative Entertaining blog. In a few short days, I will be back with new entertaining ideas you can use in the new year. --Jaime

Homemade Candy Gifts

2008-12-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

Another of my favorite holiday traditions is to make chocolate candy and chocolate-covered pretzels. You can find molds and chocolate melting candy by Wilton at any Michaels, Jo-Ann store, Wal-Mart or other party/craft/food store. Check out the Wilton link to find some very cute and creative ideas that you can do right at home. This year, we tried something new in additional to the pretzels- candy canes! See the results below.

Cocoa kits include two packets of Swiss Miss Cocoa and two candy canes. We dipped the hook of the canes in chocolate and added chocolate sprinkles. These are nice for stirring the hot chocolate and adding a smooth peppermint flavor along with a little extra taste of chocolate. Yum!

These minty treats were made in pinwheel candy trays. We used vanilla flavored candy melts and added crushed candy canes to the mix. The result was a WONDERFUL sweet, crunchy, and minty treat!

These ideas can be used as hostess gifts, holiday gifts, party favors, and party snacks. Customize them with your own labels and tags to make a fun and festive treat!

Holiday Entertaining Made EASY!

2008-12-13T13:12:00.001-08:00

I came across this article on FineLiving.com (click here to see the original article). What I really loved about the tips in this article is that they are super practical and some of them can easily translate into other social events besides holiday parties. Here are the ten tips for holiday entertaining:

1. Throw an Open House Holiday Party: Think your place is too small to host a large party with all of your favorite people? Consider an open house format, allowing your guests to drop by over a period of time. This should prevent too many people from showing up at one time.

2. Sending Invitations: Send out invitations to invite your guests. If your event is formal, send your invites four to six weeks before the event. If it's a more casual affair, two weeks' notice will suffice. Be sure to include the desired dress (formal, casual, cocktail, etc.) and a number or e-mail for your guests to RSVP.

3. Festive Finger Foods: Serve a wide variety of finger foods at your soiree. To minimize your time spent in the kitchen, pick foods that can be left out on the table for a period of time and don't require refrigeration. Check out the Food Network for delicious recipes!

4. Tree-Trimming Party: You supply the tree, and your guests provide the ornaments! You can "go green" with this concept and use a potted tree that you won't throw away after the season ends. The best part about this idea is that others decorate your tree for you- no stress!

5. Serving Beverages: To keep things simple (and classy!), consider having a signature cocktail for the evening and/or premixing your cocktails to leave more time to mingle with your guests. You may also consider asking a friend or family member to play bartender for the evening. You can have different people take shifts, and this can be fun for the guests.

6. Hostess Gift: Hostess gifts are not mandatory but they are a way to thank your host(ess) for their hospitality. You need not spend a lot of money on hostess gifts (especially if you have a full social calendar), so try thinking of the host's interests and bring along something they will enjoy, like a bottle of wine, wine charms, or a festive holiday plant.

7. Seasonal Spills: Be prepared for red wine spills on the carpet or water rings on your wood furniture. Be proactive by having carpet cleaner and coasters ready to use.

8. Go Potluck: Entertain without stress by inviting guests to bring their favorite holiday dish. This could make for a great meal by tasting different holiday favorites!

9. Holiday Scents: Welcome guests with the aroma of simmering mulling spices. You can steep spices in lowing boiling water so the scent fills the air or use the spices for mulling wine or cider to serve as a warm holiday beverage!

10. Decorate Naturally: Forgo store-bought decor; decorate simply with real boughs of holly, ivy, and mistletoe!

Welcome to Creative Entertaining!

2008-12-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

This blog is meant to be a resource for those who enjoy coordinating and/or hosting events of many types. I love discovering fun and creative DIY tips and tricks to create fun social events! Please check back often as photos, stories, tips, and other resources will be frequently posted for your personal use. If you have question or request for specific information, please leave a comment, and I will be happy to oblige. Welcome and enjoy!