2011 Registry Trends

Most of you will be attending at least one wedding during the next few months.  According to bridal magazines, here are some ideas of trendy items on the couple's registry list!  Some of these would also be perfect for hostess gifts for any social events or parties you may attend!

Kitchen Gear – colorful high-quality pots & pans and appliances

Entertainment – game consoles, movie and music collections, even board games

Sporty Stuff – hiking and camping gear, mountain bikes, tents

Green Gifts – organic towels and linens, garden-related items, home-composting kits  

Local Boutiques – one-of-a-kind artisanal gifts like sculptures, photos and handmade rugs

Please add to this blog by indicating what type of trendy item you have given or plan to give this year as a wedding or hostess gift!

Have a great day!
Lexi

Wedding Trends of 2011!!

According to http://www.brides.com/, here are some of the wedding trends of 2011!

Showpiece "save-the-dates" -- be supercreative when announcing your wedding.  Personalize it -- print on fabric, style it like a movie ticket, vintage postcards!

"It" hors d'oeuvres include: bite-size fish tacos, mini gourmet mac-and-cheese tubs, baby lobster rolls, zucchini fries in cones, asian slaw salad with mini California rolls.  "Everything's petite!"

Entrees -- no-meat dishes, offer something like asparagus risotto.

Using fresh and locally grown food.

Fresh catering -- food trucks offering such things as Korean BBQ, Indian curries, waffles, omelettes, grilled cheese are big either at the rehearsal dinner or parked outside the wedding, offering late-night snacks.

3 Fun Wedding Cake Colors -- Aubergine (eggplant), Sapphire, Deep Turquoise

The Groom's cake is back -- create his cake to look like a record player, race care, fishing boat, golf course, whatever his hobby!

Candy station alternatives -- Fried-to-order donuts, Shots of infused vodka or tequilla, Ice creams and sorbets, Scotches, Fruit Crisps (blueberry, peach, rhubarb, strawberry, whatever is in season!)

Photo Op -- have guests get their pictures taken in front of a whimsical backdrop, a quilt, a hand-painted canvas, bright fabrics

Flower of the year -- Peony

Color of the year -- Purple -- any shade!

Invitation color of the year -- A sophisticated dusty blush, combined with charcoal gray or silver

Tablecloths with pizzazz -- lush florals, black lace, artsy prints, vibrant colors.

Table centerpieces -- a single type of flower in multiple containers of all sizes and shapes.

Hotter than ever -- seated dinners, but at a variety of tables.  While older folks sit at traditional tables, younger ones lounge on couches or dine at high tops.

Class cocktails (ask your bartender for details!) -- Bee's Knee's, Brown Derby's, Sidecars, Old-fashioneds, Manhattans, Gimlets

Signature drinks -- a mixologist is the party's rock star, creating signature, speciality drinks that you like for all your attendees to enjoy!

Couples are also offering guests speciality non-alcoholic drinks!!

Band or DJ? -- Instead of choosing one or the other, couples are hiring musicians such as conga players or saxophonists to play along with the DJ.


What fun and exciting ways to really personalize your wedding!  All of your guests will enjoy it and will remember it as one of the best weddings they have attended!!! 

Super Bowl Party Tips!!

Now that the playoffs are over -- it's time to make arrangements for your super bowl party to cheer on the Packers or Steelers!!  Here are some tips to be sure your party is tops!!

1. Invite your guests as soon as possible so they can mark your party on their calendars!

2.  Serve sofa-friendly foods that are hearty, fun and casual!  Make as much as you can in advance so you aren't in the kitchen during the game!  Some ideas include hot wings with pineapple glaze and/or creamy blue cheese dip, sweet & spicy parmesan popcorn, chili, chilled cocktail shrimp, and wraps.  If you will have kids at the party, don't forget kid-friendly foods such as pigs in a blanket, cut-up fruits and veggies, macaroni & cheese, and chips and dip!  For dessert serve something easy like cupcakes and/or football shaped cookies.

3.  Be sure to have a variety of drinks to include beer, wine, water, and other non-alcoholic drinks.  Don't forget to get ice to chill the drinks before your guests arrive!  Plan on 3-4 drinks per person.

4.  Play some music to get your guests fired up for the game -- anything by Bon Jovi, Queen, Garth Brooks -- whatever your taste in music is!  Include noisemakers to pump up your attendees so they can make some noise when their team scores!

5.  Decorate your game-viewing space with the colors of the team you are cheering for.  Use those colors in your plates, napkins, cups, and other decorations.  Personalize cupcakes with little flags of those  team colors.  Going to your local dollar store for these items will help you have a budget-friendly party! 

6. Create a trivia contest/challenge to be played during commercials and/or half-time.  Research some facts about the Packers and Steelers and their players, championships, and statistics.  Play individually or form small teams and have your guests write down their answers.  Tally the scores and announce the winners before the 4th quarter begins!  You can find inexpensive super bowl themed prizes or create your own certificate for the "Supreme Super Bowl Team Trivia Challenge Champion of the World"!

7.  For kids and adults -- have a football toss at your party.  Set up a football toss for indoor and/or outdoor fun!  Clear out the furniture and breakables in the most spacious room of your home that is out of the way of those watching the game on TV.  Hang a goal post of team color streamers from the ceiling.  Put the streamer posts close enough to make the game challenging.  Compete to see who can toss a SOFT football through the goal posts without touching the streamers.  Or hang a hula-hoop from a tree using team color ribbon.  Stand a good distance away from the hoop and toss a football through the hula-hoop without hitting it.

8.  To keep kids entertained, set up an activity station with poster board, stickers, markers, construction paper cut-outs, and football-related word finds and crossword puzzles.  Encourage the kids to create their own broadcast-worthy "Super Bowl" posters. If you've got some performers in the crowd, have the kids choreograph their own half-time show routine to music.  During the 4th quarter when the kids are getting restless, set up a "Super Bowl Sundae" bar with vanilla ice cream and a variety of themed toppings.

9.  For those who are looking for a low-cost way to host a party, make it a "pot-luck" party and invite your guests to bring their favorite super bowl game snack!

10.  Create small gift bags for your guests -- items to include could be pens and notepads showing your team's colors, M&Ms in the team colors, mini footballs, etc.


Most of all -- enjoy the game and being able to spend time with friends and family!

Thirteen Holiday Party Tips!

For festive holiday parties, pay special attention to your guest list – include a balance of couples and singles, new friends and old friends, and don’t make it too big – smaller parties are more memorable and will allow your guests to chat more with each other! 

Send  invitations - About a month before your selected date, create the invitation to convey the theme of your party – a must-attend event!!!  Send your invites out at least 2-3 weeks before your event. Be sure to include a start and an end time on invitations and clearly indicate the type of party you are having (cocktail party, dinner party, etc.) so your guests know what to expect.

When getting your house or apartment ready for the party, set up before you prepare the food and beverages.  SDCD – shop, decorate, cook, drinks, and don’t forget to get plenty of ice!   Use festive table cloths to transform your every day tables into beautiful serving pieces.  Add white Christmas lights to your front doorway, windows or the food tables; stack same-color holiday ornaments in large glass bowls or vases; hang colored globe ornaments from the ceiling with pins and fishing wire.

Be sure to have almost all of your preparations finished before guests arrive.  That way you will be able to enjoy yourself, and your guests will be happy to spend time with you!

For an intimate and relaxing atmosphere, keep lighting low and use plenty of candles (but not scented ones; the scent will interfere with the delicious smells of the wonderful food you will be serving!)

As your guests arrive, serve any of your stronger drinks right away.  Try creating a specialty cocktail!!! For your guests who will not be drinking alcohol, have colorful, festive non-alcohol alternatives available as well.

Have many bottles of sparkling water in plain sight. Not only are the bottles beautiful and luxurious, drinking lots of water brings people back down, and makes them feel better towards the end of the evening (as well as in the morning).

Encourage your guests to mingle and socialize with everyone by serving, tasty, easy, small food, such as cheese & crackers or toast points; prosciutto and salmon; fruit & veggie trays (be sure to have toothpicks!); olives mixed with toasted almonds, olive oil, thyme and a few sprinkles of salt (and set in bowls around the room), petit fours and small cookies, -- try edible presents, like brownies topped with chocolate icing and white icing bows you've created yourself.

Serve one visually dramatic item -- for example, fill clear juice glasses or clear plastic cups with brownies, custard, toasted almonds and caramel sauce for an original parfait. (You'll need spoons for this one.)  Also, be sure to visualize in your mind a good traffic pattern through your house or apartment -- have 2-3 areas set up for food, drinks, desserts.   It keeps people circulating instead of congregating.

Choose great music!  Your guests will mingle, yes, but be sure to have some music flowing through the evening.  Depending on the theme of your party, hand out the lyrics to your favorite holiday tune, play a recorded version on low volume and let the singing begin.  For a more intimate setting, set the mood of your soiree with all-time favorite tunes. Early in the evening, try the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas (a classic), then include favorite holiday songs.  Choose music that you know your guests will love. Music is also your best end-of-evening friend -- turning it off and flipping on the lights is a subtle signal that guests should head out on their way.

To close your evening, don't forget to raise your glass to toast and acknowledge your guests. One idea to end a party -- ask each guest to write a letter that describes his or her personal wish for the coming year and seal it in a self-addressed envelope. Then surprise and delight your friends by mailing the letters the following Christmas or New Year's. 

If you are so inclined, present each guest with a simple party favor:  a special ornament, candy canes, candies or personalized cookies wrapped in festive containers are items your guests can grab as they leave. 

But, most of all, Enjoy yourself.  If you do, your guests will too.  You're the host, so glam it up -- wear something fun and festive to set the mood.   You want to be jolly and jubilant when guests arrive!! Add a little fun and personal flare to your decor, be playful, make your home warm and inviting-- guests will know they're part of something magical.