Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Ugly Ornament Contest

This is serious. I know you have one (or maybe two or three).  You know those ornaments you see when you are out shopping or flipping through a holiday catalogue and you think to yourself "Really? "  I certainly have a collection of them because I have a little thing with my dear friend every year when we try to find the most random ornaments we can find and give them to each other.  So far, she has given me a reindeer who is also a fairy (I know...) and an ornament of an RV.  I have something special in store for her this year because I found a six by six inch ornament of a beetle that is painted to look like a lady bug.  Yes...someone actually thought it would be a good idea to manufacture that in bulk!
I got so excited to show off my ugly ornaments that I jumped at the chance to play along with the Moggit girls who have declared December 1st Ugly Ornament Day!  To show off  yours or just view others, sign up to follow the Moggit girls on Twitter and get ready to laugh!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Holiday Party Etiquette


Chances are you mail box will be filling up with invitations to holiday festivities and office parties soon! Here are a few of the things I learned from Etiquette and Protocol Expert Colleen Rickenbacher at our Feather Your Nest Luncheon last week!

-Always reply to an invitation with in three days of receiving it!

-Arriving fashionably late has gone out of fashion!  Never arrive right on time but try to enter a party about five to fifteen minutes after the starting time.

-Obey the 45 minute rule for cocktail parties.  Be sure that you appear for at least 45 minutes at a two hour party.  It is perfectly fine to "party hop" but make sure you spend enough time at each event.

-It is a known fact that most guests at a party first hit the bar, then the buffet, then their own friends.  Make a rule that you will always greet your host before you go anywhere else.

-Always carry your glass in your left hand so that you can shake hands with the new people you meet!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Time to Trim Your Tree



So many of my friends continue their family tradition of dining on left-overs and trimming their tree the day after Thanksgiving.  I love decorating our tree!  Here are some tips to make Tree-trimming a bit easier:

 - Start by putting on the lights.  It should always be step one!  After the lights are up (and working!) you can add garlands and then the ornaments.

 Tip: Keep your empty wrapping paper rolls this year and use them to store your Christmas Lights.  Simply cut a notch into the end of the cardboard roll and stick the end of the lights there with the plug tucked inside of the roll.  Then wind the lights around the roll and tuck the end into the other side of the roll!  It makes for easy storage and easy unwrapping next year!

-It is always easiest to work from the inside out with your lights.  Wrap the inside of the tree first and then move to the outer branches of the tree.

-Separate your ornaments in to special show-stoppers and basic fillers.  Start by hanging your basic fillers on the "inside" of the tree to add depth and dimension to your decor.  Finish the tree by hanging your special ornaments on the tips of the branches.  Consider tying them on to the branches using a pretty ribbon to set them apart.

Monday, November 22, 2010

The Photo Stand



Can you tell that we had a lot of fun at Justin's fortieth?  The Photo Stand has provided lasting evidence! The Photo Stand is the perfect element to add to any get together and I must say that I am glad I took DJ Lucy Wrubels advice and set out some props for people to play with.  Each of the photos comes out of the machine 4x6 and can have a logo or date on it.  We also had the images flash up on a TV that was in the room.  It was so much fun!  The bonus is that we get a CD of all of the images as well as a web-gallery!!!  What a blast!  Too book ThePhotoStand for your next party check out www.ThePhotoStand.com

Friday, November 19, 2010

Seating Arrangement Tips!


I love these wonderful tips for seating arrangements from HousewifeBliss.com! Working out a seating arrangement can be one of the hardest parts for entertaining but it is also one of the most important!  I hope they help you with your Thanksgiving and Holiday seating arrangements! Click here to read the article.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Turkey Time for the Tots!

My crafty and talented friend Heather Centurioni just invited my son, JR, and I over for a play date that promises to knock the task of finding a meaningful gift for my Thanksgiving Hosts off of my list.  I absolutely love her party concept so just had to share it with you!  Heather is inviting a group of friends over to make Turkey Aprons with our little ones!  Here are her steps and suggestions:
1. Invite your friends for a playdate and ask each to bring an apron or two.  She suggests shopping for light colored aprons in both adult and child sizes at craft stores.  In other words, the party is BYOA!
2. Ask each person to sign up to bring a color of fabric craft paint.  Heather is going to provide the brown paint for the "turkey" but the feather colors will be brought by each of the guests.  Her guests will bring red, yellow, orange or any other colors that they feel should be added to the turkey!
3.  Heather has a "craft room" at her home so her party will take place there but you might want to clear a spot in your kitchen or rec-room to host your friends. Heather is also going to provide the "puffy paints" needed to accent the apron.
4. Here are the steps to make the apron:
-Lay out the aprons
-paint the palm and thumb of your tot with brown paint using a sponge or paint brush (this will be the body, head and neck of the turkey).
- paint each finger a different color (these will be the feathers!)
-press your childs hand down on the apron so that it "stamps" the apron.
-using puff paint, draw stick legs, beak, and wattle on the turkey.
-glue a "googly eye" onto the turkey.
-using puff paint, write the name of the "artist" and the date and any other you might want to include such as the recipient of your wonderful gift!

While the aprons are drying, you can have a cookie decorating party too!  Check out these amazing cookies that Heather shared with me.  She came up with the idea because she had so many candy corns left over from Halloween! For more of Heather's ideas and inspirations, check out her blog.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Can your dog sing like Katy Perry?


If you had the Woofer it could!  This hilarious contraption was created by Matthew Baron of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania so that your dog could add more joy to your life than it already does. The Woofer is a dog coat with speakers that lets you play your favorite songs from your Ipod or other MPS player.  Each one is hand made to order and the website even includes a sizing chart.  You can share your music with friends during your next party, jog or doggie play date in the dog park.  It would also be an easy solution to Christmas Carols!
I met Matthew at the Texas Pet Expo last weekend and he told me that most fun feature of the Woofer is the wireless microphone hook-up you can request.  You could send your dog around and hide in the bushes and talk to people through the speakers!
Check out TheWoofer.com to order or call 323-314-2305.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Our Black and White Night

I had so much fun working on my wonderful husband's fortieth birthday party.  He had so many ideas about the type of party he wanted to have so I was quite disappointed when he told me that he wanted to take a trip instead of have a party.  When our plans for a trip fell apart, I decided to surprise him and combine all of his ideas and tie them together with a Black and White theme. Here are a few of the highlights:

Our friend Lyssa enjoying the view from the terrace at the W.
Black and White flowers greeted the guests with a guest book and candle.
Our guest book table featured black and white photographs of Justin throughout his life.
One of Justin's original theme ideas was a Geisha Theme!  I hired this model to dress as a Geisha and ask the guests to write Justin a message in the guest book.


The Photo Stand was a hit and the props I set out really helped our guests loosen up for the pictures!




I interpreted Justin's idea of having birthday burgers in the backyard by having them made served as mini-burgers on modern sparkly silver trays. 



Justin suggested a break-dancing theme at one point too!  I had a break dancer escort his cake out and then he did an amazing performance!  He made Justin get out there with him.
The servers at the party wore black and white and aprons with childhood photos of Justin in black and white.

As our guests got off the elevator, they saw black and white photos of Justin "wallpapering" the walls.
My uncle and my dad had a lot of fun with the photo booth and props!

That is a sign that our guests had fun right?
Our amazing dj Lucy Wrubel kept the Monday night party going! 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Beautiful Bridesmaids



Picking the perfect bridesmaid dress is not an easy task.  There are not a lot of styles that suit everyone and chances are, not all of your bridesmaids have the same body type or coloring.  Here are few tips to help you make the right selection:

-Start with the color.  Pick a color that will complement the season and time of day of your wedding.  If you are getting married in the morning or afternoon, a lighter color is appropriate.  If you are getting married after dark, a darker and more dramatic shade will look great!  

Here are some seasonal favorites:
Winter - Silvers, blues, holiday reds and greens.
Spring - light pastels
Summer - vibrant hues like bold oranges and lemon yellows
Fall - browns and rusts, red and black

-Select style and length. The big trend now is to dress your bridesmaids in cute short dresses.  I love that look for an informal wedding but I also love a long gown for a black tie wedding.  Ask yourself what the style of your wedding gown will be and make sure the same word could describe your bridesmaid dress selection.  Is it traditional, formal, informal, edgy, trendy, classic, preppy, sexy, beachy, or fun.

-Uniformity is key. Uniformity is important but that doesn't mean that all of your bridesmaids need to be in the same dress.  You could do the same color and let each bridesmaid select her own style.  You could also do the same style in a variety of different shades.  You should also ask yourself if you want them all in the same shoes, same jewels, and same accessories.  

-Organize the purchase. Send each of your bridesmaids a letter telling them how excited you are. Include as many details about the wedding as possible.  Send them hotel information, schedule details and a sentence or two about each one to introduce them to each other.  You should also include a list of everyone's names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers so that they can connect before the big day.  Also send them a sheet with the details of the dress and the information for ordering it.  Remember to include some specific deadlines for them so that they remember to get it done!

-Don't worry about them wearing it again! They never will.  That is why I love www.ruffleswap.com  It is so clever!  Two sisters got together and started it so that bridesmaids could sell their like-new gowns to other gals who would not remember it as a bridesmaid dress!  

Monday, November 8, 2010

Photo Perfect!


Taking a family photo worthy of a Christmas card is a difficult task so I turned to Kady Dunlap, a professional photographer who has certainly captured her fair share of precious kids, for some tips!
She gave me some great recommendations:
1. Orient your session around your children's happiest time of day! Pick a time when they are most alert therefore more willing to co-operate.
2. Be sure that your clothing selections are both simple (no crazy patterns or busy prints) and comfortable for you child to wear. Itchy or scratchy clothing will cause them to squirm.
3. Be sure your photo style is a match for your everyday lifestyle. Enlist a professional who works in your style casual and comfortable or posed and formal.
4. Location is everything. Select a location that is familiar to your children. At home, the park, your favorite location will make your kids feel more at ease.
5. Attitude is everything! Always be relaxed and flexible around kids even if they are rambunctious or not co-operating. When you have a professional photographer, be willing to leave the scene if necessary! Often the kids will behave better if the parents are not around.


Friday, November 5, 2010

Super Sample Sales and Holiday Shopping

Chi Omega christmas market

Hurry!  Today and tomorrow are the last days of the 33rd Annual Chi Omega Christmas Market!  The market is at the Dallas Convention Center and includes more than 180 merchants!  It benefits eight different charitable organizations including the Dallas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.  The Christmas Market has raised over $5 million dollars  with its distinctive juried show whose vendors are selected on a basis of quality, variety and uniqueness of merchandise.  You can shop today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information check out www.chiomegaxmas.org


DALLAS SAMPLE SALE
Get a jump start on your holiday shopping this year by visiting the Dallas Sample Sale at Market Hall.  I hear that this years sale is going to be bigger and better than every! They have everything from hostess gifts to holiday decor, children's gifts, clothing and much much more.  The prices are sometimes lower than wholesale and it is a great opprotunity to have access to the Dallas Market Center to see the items that buyers for your favorite stores are stocking up on! The sale will start with a preview on Thursday, November 11th from 6 to 9.  Tickets are $20 at the door.  The admission Friday through Sunday is free!  The hours are below. November 12-14th for the fun.
Dallas Market Center is rarely open to the public so don't miss this! For more information go to www.dallasmarketcenter.com/SampleSale or call 800.325.6587

Hours:
Preview Night: November 11th from 6-9 p.m. ($20 at the door)
Friday, November 12 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 13th 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 14th  11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Dallas Market Hall, Main Hall is located at the corner of I-35 at Wycliff.





Thursday, November 4, 2010

Astrtonaut Party

I didn't anticipate that I would enjoy planning children's parties so much.  It is such a fun extension of the  event planning that I had been doing for so long.  You can not imagine how discouraged I felt after JR cried throughout his first birthday party!  We skipped the second birthday party but I was thrilled when he requested a third birthday party!  He originally wanted a Horse-Frog-Firetruck theme for his celebration.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to pull that off with style so I took advantage of a moment when he was dressed in his favorite astronaut costume and suggested that we use that theme.  He was thrilled and the party was fun.  I hope you enjoy the photos!
Stickers from Anders Ruff were put at the door for the kids to wear.  I was originally going to use them on toothpicks to stick into cupcakes but we ended up doing solar system cakes instead.  Every kid loves a sticker so it was fun to greet them with these!



Pizzas from SuperFly Pies were a hit!  Owner Nathan Burke created nine fantastic flavors each based on a planet!  Anders Ruff created these fantastic tent cards so that our guests would know what they about to dine on.

Here is Nathan at his amazing portable wood burning Pizza Oven!


JR's sweet friend Sophia enjoying a sip from her space shuttle sippy cup.
Nine Cakes from Society Bakery represented each planet in the solar system.

Junior from the Garden Gate made three fantastic alien head centerpieces from flowers!  Isn't that amazing!  We framed them with a circle of "Moon Rocks" which are just marble chips from Pavestone!
I got a kick out of serving (and attempting to explain) Astronaut Ice Cream!
Personalized Napkins are a simple way to make a big impact.  We sell them at RSVP!  To order please call Carolyn at 972-404-7146.
Buzz Aldrin sent our little JR this autographed photograph when he was born.  It says  "Welcome to This World."  Isn't is neat to have grandparents with such a cool friend!
This is JR dressed up in an exact replica of the suits worn by Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong when they landed on the moon.  
These personalized cups had a spacey neon glow.
Our space station was made up of tents and inflatables
Luggage tags (for their future trips to the moon) from Anders Ruff and bags of orange and blue popcorn from I Love Popcorn were the party favors.  

 

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