Sparkling Sips

Festive drinks for your New Years Eve Party.
Pomegranate Sparklers


Eggnog Punch


Wanna stretch your bubbly to make it last a little longer? Make it a extra yummy, add fruit juice to it! It will not only last longer, but it kicks up the flavor.

Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail


For a non alcoholic beverage, try
Apple Sparkler

Easy NYE party buffet ideas

Well well well, out with the old in with the new.. year that is! I can't believe 2008 is just about over. Where does the time go? Speaking of which, I need to get a move on my party buffet menu for tomorrow night. I am hosting a small shindig at my home to ring in 09 with family and friends. So let's see what can I whip up really quickly for a tasty way to ring in 2009. Since my guest will arrive after dinner, I'll serve appetizers and sweet treats. So far I have...

Cranberry BBQ Meatballs


Balsamic Cranberry Drizzle


Double-Quick Shrimp Cocktail


One more, I found this one over at Celebrations at home. It looks yummy!

Spinach-Artichoke Party Cups
1st photo


Any other ideas??

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
Enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones!

Too cute Tags for your gifts

Add a special touch to your gifts with these too cute tags.








Pics courtesy of Parents.com
Tag1
Tag2
Tag3

More budget friendly ideas

Speaking of budget ideas for the holidays, how about this unconventional gift wrap? The buttons were made to form a X-Mas tree, how cute!

Another budget friendly idea is to use materials that you can find hanging around your house for holiday decor. I put brown paper bags, paper towel rolls, and tissue paper to use, and created these party favors. I stuffed the rolls with candy that match the decor, and used tissue paper to dress up the paper towel rolls as party favors.






I also used tissue paper to create luminaries, by covering votives


I made napkin rings and place cards (please pardon my sloppy handwriting) from brown paper bag. The little twigs you see are from my backyard free of charge.


I also pulled some branches from the tree to create a festive piece, and yep the paper bag came in handy again.


The branches and bags are tinted with silver spray paint to make it more festive. I also filled additional bags with ornaments and prettied them up with bows.



So there it is, budget friendly ideas using materials you can find in your home and your own back yard!

Affordable Holiday Decor

This morning on GMA, Lifestyle expert and event planner David Monn demostrated how to achieve gorgeous inexpensive holiday buffet tables. He also gave a few tips on setting the mood.
From GMA
"To set the stage you need to engage the senses. The most important is your sense of smell. Find one nice holiday fragrance or add mulling spices to your stove and let the smell entice the guests as they arrive.

Play great music, dim the lights and let the party start.

Keep it simple. Choose one main color and one accent color and stick with them."

I was quite impressed with his ingenuity. The first buffet was a Wintergreen dinner buffet made from layered white burlap lattice work pattern over a green felt table cloth.


He made 12 24x24 burlap Napkins to match by simply pulling the threads from all corners to create a cut work design. The napkin edges were fringed about 1 3/4". To create the inside border, a ruler was used to measure 1 1/2" from the edge and pulled one inch worth of threads.



The next buffet set up was a Winter Wonderland Dessert Buffet
The table cloth is quilt batting with two white strand of Christmas lights under it. This is an old cut up birch log we used as the food levels. If you don't have a log you can also cover cardboard boxes. White boas from the dollar store and fake snow from Kmart complete the look.


Vist David Monn's website and blog to see his beautiful work and inspiring ideas.

Wow your guest from the door

The first impression is a lasting one. Deck out your doorway for the holidays, wow your guest from the door. Check out these impressive holiday doorways.







Have extra wreaths, and don't know where to put them? Stack em' up!


Doorway 1
Doorway 2
Doorway 3

Friday Favorites: Pedestals and Tiered Stands!

Oh how I love these….Not only for the practicality of them being a space saver, but aren’t they just darling?! I’m an avid collector of all types of tiered stands and pedestals. They will always add that extra flair to your buffet table.

I love the crisp clean look of these Martha Stewart White wear cake stands


Bamboo Tiered Server resembles a ladder, too cute!


Three Tiered Server


Can you get anymore elegant than these Crystal Epergnes?




Oh So Dainty this 3 Tiered Porcelain Bowl Rack

Edible X-Mas Gifts

You don't have to spend an arm and a leg on Christmas gifts this year. Try one of these yummy goodies I found on Parents. Your friends and family are sure to love you for it!



From top left
Truffle Tartlet
Buttermilk Pralines
Cheddar Herb Bread Mix

From bottom left.
Chocolate peppermint sandwiches
Italian Nut Biscotti Sticks
Peppermint Sticks

Christmas Mantels

I know everyone probably already decorated their homes for the holidays. But if not, even if you did, you have to check out these gorgeous mantels I found on Parents.com. They are gorgeous, you may want to redecorate!






I absolutely love candles! I have them on my own mantel.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail

It's that time again... Holiday cocktails! How yummy does these drinks look!?

If you like warm apple pie, this is the one for you.

Positively Warm Apple Pie


6 oz. apple cider (heated)
2 oz. Tuaca liqueur
Whipped cream
Pinch cinnamon and nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick

Preparation:
In a glass coffee mug or heat-resistant goblet, combine your heated cider and Tuaca.
Top with whipped cream.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Add your cinnamon stick.

Mrs. McMullen's Appleberry Pie


2-1/2 oz. cognac (ask your liquor store for a good one)
2-1/2 oz. apple juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
5 red grapes
5 raspberries
3 blueberries
2 blackberries
3 blueberries and 2 raspberries (garnish)

Preparation:

Muddle all of the fruit in a glass cocktail shaker.
Add ice.
Add cognac and apple juice.
Shake and strain over fresh ice in a large wine goblet.
Garnish with a mix of blueberries and raspberries

Uncle Billy's Holiday Treat

1-1/2 oz. Bols Advocaat liqueur (creamy blend of egg yolks, aromatic spirits, brandy and a hint of vanilla)
1 oz. Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
1/2 oz. honey
1/2 oz. whipped cream
1 strawberry
Chocolate shavings

Preparation:
Combine the Advocaat, Kahlua, Frangelico and honey in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Top with whipped cream.
Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Ok last one... I love love love Sangria!

Spiced Pear Sangria


1 bottle chilled dry white wine
1 bottle chilled champagne (modestly good champagne will do)
3 oz. Damiana liqueur (herbal liqueur with citrus and vanilla flavors)
2 freshly sliced pears
2 apples (sliced and cored)
20 whole cloves
1 tsp. ground nutmeg

Preparation:

In a large pitcher, add the pears, apples, cloves and nutmeg.
Add the Damiana liqueur and stir.
Add the wine and stir gently.
Refrigerate overnight.
When you're ready to serve, pour in your champagne, stirring it slowly within the mixture. Serve in an ice-filled wineglass.

Check out Fine Living for more holiday cocktail treats!

Napkins

I recieved a lesson in napkin folding from the manager of a restaurant I visisted for an event. Who new there were so many ways to fold a napkin! Napkins will make your tablescape extra special. Check out what they demponstrated for me.








These are all really nice. It will certainly add A Flair Factor to the table.
He was able to fold the napkins so quickly, that I decided to try it myself. Of course I don't have the experience of the pros, but I tried anyway. I found instructions on additional interesting folds for you to try at your next event. Or maybe just for an everyday dinner with your family or your honey. :-)
The Fancy Silverware Pouch



The Bird Of Paradise Napkin Fold


The shirt fold



EfavorMart

Balloons or Paper Lanterns?

I love the look of paper lanterns! They can be just as festive as balloons, I think of it as the sleek grown up balloon. Balloons are cute, fun and makes your decor festive. They come in a huge variety of colors and shapes. You can find balloons to comliment almost any theme or decor for your party. And they can be cheap! Depending on the occasion, either one will be a great decor choice. I'm thinking of using paper lanterns for an up coming bridal shower. But I'm still tossed up between balloons(being the economical choice) or paper lanterns the "sleek balloon." Check out some of the great photo inspiration I found.


I love the paper lanterns with lit with LED lights.






paper lanterns can be pretty fabulous!!

You can do pretty amazing things with balloons huh...
Pretty!








photo credits
Paper Lanterns 1-3
4th Lantern photo
1-2 Balloon photo
23-4 Balloon photo