Hostess with the Mostess™

Just want to take a minute to thank you all for such amazing support in 2007 - and to wish you a very healthy & happy 2008…filled with lots of reasons to celebrate!

Jazz up your midnight toast this year with some festive, toast-worthy recipes from cocktailtimes.com:

• Lava Lamp Cocktail
• Junior Lava Lamp (Non-Alcoholic)
• Rising Star
• and this extremely yummy-looking Blackberry Bellini

*All recipes above except for the Junior Lava Lamp are champagne-based. To create mocktail versions of champagne-based cocktails, substitute ginger ale or lemon-lime soda for the champagne.

I love this “circle of friends” personalized confetti idea from Martha Stewart, which you can create using photos that have been shrunk down on your computer, vellum paper, and different sizes of circle craft punches. It’s listed as a New Year’s party idea on marthastewart.com (featuring photos of your party guests) - but I think this would also adorable for a bridal shower, engagement party or birthday party!

One of the great things about holiday decorations is that they can often transition nicely from your Christmas celebrations to New Year’s Eve soirées with just a few easy tricks! For example, my mom did a multi-color Christmas tree this year, using the exact same elements I used on the New Year’s Eve tablescape below {click images to view larger}:

The main part of the centerpiece is created from decorative sequin spray bunches, ornaments, and an ornament stand. To recreate, align the base of the spray with the stem of the ornament stand, then bind them together with elastic gold ribbon to match the stand. Hang ornaments in coordinating colors on the stand hooks, and you’ve got a very fun & festive centerpiece!

Next, set glass ball ornaments on both sides of the centerpiece, down the length of the table. Use tealight candle holders as a base for the ornaments to keep them in place. Varying the sizes of the ornaments will also make the design more interesting; both extra-large and regular sized ball ornaments are used here.

Tip: For a super-easy table-runner, just use gift wrap that matches your color palette!

Finishing Touches:

• Decorate napkins and the “table runner” with strands from the sequin spray or coordinating sequined gift wrap ribbon, as pictured here.
• Wrap the stems of wine glasses or champagne flutes with metallic chenille craft stems (pipe cleaners). This also makes for a cute bar display when all of the glasses are lined up together!

Product Resources:

• Ornaments, ornament stand, sequin spray, sequined ribbon, charger plates, white napkins, and giftwrap ALL from Target.
• Aqua tablecloth - $26.99 at Plum Party
• Metallic chenille craft stems - Michael’s
• Gala Wine Glasses - $3.95 ea at Crate & Barrel

Note: This design also looks great with a gold/silver, silver/red, or silver/hot pink palette!

Happy Holidays, everyone! I’ll be taking a much needed break for a few days in the coming week, but will be back before New Year’s with some fun new things to share. Hope you get to enjoy some time off and do lots of celebrating! Merry Christmas!

{This is one of my “kids” in the picture above, sleeping next to our Christmas tree.}

In case you’re looking for some last-minute In case you’re looking for some last-minute holiday recipe inspiration, here are some tempting treats from Everyday with Rachael Ray…{clockwise from top left} Saffron Scallops, Italian Cheesecake, Caramel Tower, and a new way to enjoy your pecan pie - a Pecan Pie Martini!

I’m really loving this White Christmas Party design from antiques dealer/party host Nate Turner. The fun, monochromatic dessert display would also work great for a winter-themed baby or bridal shower, engagement party, or New Year’s Eve party!

Everything on the custom menu Turner put together actually goes along with the White Christmas theme, and includes specialties like:

• Almond-Crusted Halibut
• Potato Leek Soup
• Eggnog with Meringue
• Coconut Snow Balls
• Meringue Topiaries

Click here to check out the full details via domino magazine. Happy Holidays!

There’s a great article in the December/January issue of Rachael Ray - and online! - about how to infuse your own vodka , then turn your homemade concoction into a fun gift by attaching a cute cocktail recipe that features the flavor of vodka you made to the gift bottle, as pictured above . This is an especially cute idea for a Host/Hostess gift - and a great alternative to the standard bottle of wine if you really want to get creative!

Infusing the vodka is quite simple actually… According to RR: "Just place 1 liter of vodka and your infusion ingredients in a large bottle and seal shut; let rest in a cool, dark place for 2 to 5 days, depending on your desired strength." Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the following vodka flavors:

Read more →

Add some sparkle to your Christmas or New Year’s table - or under the tree - with these golden beauties: {clockwise from top left} Gold Glass Table Turnings (on sale for $10 each at West Elm), Gold Electroplate Candlesticks ($70/set of 2 Rosanna), Iona 2-pc. Salad Server Set ($15 at Target), and Crustacean & Kelp Platter (porcelain plate with 23-karat gold design, $115 at Violet)

Here’s another shimmery holiday tabletop idea that would work for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve! Click here for the full scoop on how to recreate this Gold & Silver Shimmer theme.

Its always fun to serve food & drinks that match the colors or theme of your party, like this yummy fondue dip for an appetizer or Glitzy Chocolate Puddings from Nigella Lawson for dessert! And to drink, try something swanky like a champagne-based Ritz 75 served in festive champagne flutes.