Last Minute Creativity For New Years Eve

Need some last minute decor ideas for tonight's big celebration? Southern Living out-did themselves with this fabulous spread. Easy to do, but lots to love!

Start by filling your table with glass cylandars and vases. Then fill with water and a few drops of food coloring; add a few candles, and voila! The easiest centerpiece you will ever do...and a spectacular impact. If you have some clear Christmas craft ornaments, fill those with colored water also and hang them off some branches right from the back yard. Don't fill them too much so as not to be too heavy. Finally, string some Christmas lights around the branches for a beautiful glow.

Dress up your stemware with a little ribbon band and adhesive gems. Tuck in more branches to large vases, jugs, or bottles.

Also, if your main buffet is in the dining room, serve an appetizer in the living room to make sure people don't get stuck in one area. Remember to bring some coordinating decor to that space as well.

Quick and easy way to create a food pedestal: turn a shallow dish or vase upside down and wrap it with coordinating paper (gift wrap, scrapbook paper). The paper shown is great becouse it already has numbers (for the countdown to midnight) on it. You could get the same effect by using stickers or chipboard numbers.

Don't forget about the designated drivers (or women 'with child'). Serve a lovely mocktail with pretty garnish so they don't stick out like a sore thumb. Great recipes here from The Bump.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Here's to an 'event'ful 2010!!

What To Serve New Years Eve

I think New Years Eve calls for something different, something a little more special, something interactive even! How about setting up different serving 'stations' or 'bars'? We already know Champagne is a must-have. Why not kick it up a notch by setting up a Champagne Bar. You can't read this blog without knowing my love for the champagne bar! All you need to do is set out some small containers of various juices like pomegranite, cranberry, peach, oj....you get the picture. A few new recipes to try: the Tropical Tinsel-adding pineapple juice; the Berry Mango-adding mango juice. My no-fail recipe: fill the bottom of a champagne flute with an inch or 2 of the juice, then fill with champagne (sparkling wine). Some people like to add a sugar cube, but personally I've never found it neccessary. You can experiment with different juices or combinations of juices as well. Important to Remember: Use dry (Brut) champagne when mixing with juices.

Two more fun, interactive food stations to incorporate are cheese fondue, and a mashed potato martini bar. First of all, who doesn't love cheese or mashed potatoes?? It's comfort food! Cheese fondue is actually very easy to make and you can keep it warm with various pots on the market. And there is an old 'rule' about whomever drops their dipper in the pot has to kiss the person next to them...perfect for NYE! Perfect dippers are chunks of bread, slice apple, veggie sticks, and more bread chunks.

Remember a few years back mashed potato bars were all the rage? I think it's high time we bring them back! Serving mashed potatoes in a martini glass is just so fun! Your guests will think you are brilliant for thinking of it! Just whip up a larg batch of mashed potatoes (I am NOT opposed to using pre-made from the grocery store), and set out toppers of shredded cheese, bacon bits, sour cream, butter, chives, even gravy or sauteed mushrooms. Keep the potatoes warm in a crock pot on low, or chafing dish. Presentation is everything so serve your toppers in martini glasses, small glass square vases from the dollar store, or other coordinating dishes.

Hot cocoa may not be a traditional NYE drink, but it IS a cute 'bar' idea, and if you are having children, then this makes perfect sense. I love the presentation above and look how cute the glasses are with the marshmallows and candy sticks. Add-ins you'll want to have set out are grated chocolate, whipped cream, mini marshmallows, candy sticks, maybe even some Kahlua, Godiva liqueur, or Irish Cream for the adults.

Send your guests home with a New Years fortune (or prediction). There are several options for this. Set out a plate of fortune cookies for people to pick up at the party, or pre-bag a single cookie as a take-home favor, or create your own paper fortune cookies using paper to match your party decor. If you're serving real cookies, you can buy them pre dipped & drizzled, or you can buy them plain and decorate them yourself. Below is an excellent tutorial from Once Wed for the paper cookies.

I hope you will incorporate some of these ideas for your New Years party or any party in 2010!

New Years Eve Inspiration {x 3}

With New Years Eve 2 days away, I couldn't let it pass without sharing some ideas with you. Are you in the mood for an elegant dinner with friends? This beautiful table setting has all the sparkle and shine for New Years without going over the top. Originally set as a "Modern Chanuka Tablescape (from Laura Gross)" in the Holiday Entertaining contest at HWTM last year, I think it translates perfectly to NYE with it's sparkly placemats and shiny star ornaments.

If you'd like to increase your guest list, try this adult soiree from BHG. This feels very casual but still celebratory. Serving appetizers and cocktails to a crowd is much easier than serving a full dinner.

I know there are lots of folks out there that like to include the kids for the big celebration as well. The solution?....Set up a kid friendly party with seperate tables for the adults and kids. This party from BHG has all the color and creativity that appeals to the young ones, as well as the festive feel the adults crave.

Whichever style of party you decide to undulge in, have a fabulous and safe New Years Eve!!

Centerpiece Idea

Here is a fun centerpiece display from JP Parker Flowers blog. This is great inspiration that can be used for any color scheme. Just gather several heights, sizes, and styles of glasses and glass vessels, fill with colored beads and/or colored water, and float a larg flower head on top. Submerge small lighted cubes in some of the vessels to give it a glow, and use risers to add more height where needed.

Easy Christmas Craft For Kids

For Christmas Eve we will be hosting a casual get-together with different friends who for whatever reasons don't have plans with relatives on this night. So for the kids, I thought this easy little project would be nice for them to make and take! I love this idea of candy Christmas trees! I will, however, be using white icing....just to be on the safe side...

All it takes is a sugar ice cream cone, some canned frosting, and an array of candies. Same idea as gingerbread houses but with less hassle. My kind of craft! : )

Have A Very Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Food & Drink

Wondering what to serve the masses at your next cocktail gathering? Here are 2 tried-and-true recipes that should satisfy the taste buds as well as your need for prepping early and easily.

This Open House Punch is a classic thirst quencher, and I've never met anyone who didn't love it.
1 regular size can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed and undiluted
1 regular size can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted
2 1/2 cups Bourbon
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 (2 liter) bottle Sprite, chilled
Combine first 4 ingredients and keep chilled if you are making it ahead. Add Sprite just before serving. Garnish with sliced orange, lemon, or cherry if desired.

These Sweet & Sour Chicken Cups are a delicious finger food.  Prepare the filling ahead of time and then just scoop them into the filo cups when ready to serve.
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 TBsp Vegetable oil
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2/3 cup jarred sweet & sour sauce (from the Asian cooking isle)
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 TBsp light soy sauce
2 packages frozen filo cups
Sautee red bell pepper and onion in vegetable oil over medium heat until tender.
Combine vegetable mixture with chicken, sweet & sour sauce, almonds, and soy sauce.
Refrigerate filling until ready to use.
To serve, heat oven to 400. Fill filo cups with filling and bake for 8-10 minutes or until filling is hot. This recipe easily doubles.
Note: I use the canned chicken breast from Sams (Members Mark brand). This is a premium canned chicken unlike that which you get at the grocery store.

"Winter Candyland" For Kids

Just look at what Brandy at Simply Creative Insanity did for her daughter's kindergarten class party! I'm sure those kids (and parents) were blown away when they saw this "Winter Candyland" display. So many cute details and perfectly executed. See more here.

Clever DIY Treat Cans {Freecycle!}

Every so often I see a clever idea that just blows me away, and I wonder what creative genious came up with that!! Today's post is dedicated to such. Found via Room Remix, this amazingly cute treat holder is (1)Adorable, (2)Freecycled, and (3)Easy! Head over to Not So Idle Hands blog to see the tutorial on how to make these fabulous pop-top-cans-turned-treat-holders.

File this away for Christmas gifts, Hostess gifts, Birthday & Shower favors...

Create A Focal Point ABOVE The Table

You've gotta love this idea from Country Living! Hang a large tree branch above the table (make sure there's no chandelier in the way) and hang Christmas balls from it. Instant chic on a budget, no less! Use a branch that's not too thick or heavy and 3M Command strips should hold it up. Just attach with string, twine, or ribbon.

And since we are at it, I thought I'd pull out this example from a post I did last year. Don't just think about this for the holidays. Also use it for birthdays and showers!

Pretty Packages Under Your Tree

I LOVE creatively wrapped gifts! And when they are all coordinated under the tree together, all the better. All you need to do is start with a simple or solid color wrap, and then take a walk throught the isles of the craft store (or sewing store) for embelishments galore.

Ribbons tied with bows; Layers of paper or ribbon; Textured ribbons; Tulle; Added ornaments; Maribou feathers; Scrapbook monograms; Buckles; Buttons; Create "stripes" with ribbon....

Brown craft paper; Baker's twine; Photo frames; Stamps; 3-D stickers; RicRac; Pretty food packages...

Top Photo: brown, red, white gifts

Collage 1: gifts with red ribbon bows, pink & silver with stars, pink tulle wrapped, red & white 'santa' motif, red gifts with ribbon stripes

Collage 2: brown with red & green ribbon, gifts wrapped with bakers twine, red stacked gifts, small packages with red twine, assorted food packages

DIY Floral Arrangement

I don't care what anyone says, Carnations are Fabulous! Why would anyone want to downplay it's full fluffy head, and lacey edges?.....Just because it's Economical???!! I say 'don't hate, appreciate!' And create one or more of these adorable little arrangements for the Christmas Season. There is a great tutorial on Bliss Tree to get you started. These would look stunning in mass for a red and white party. Check it out.

Christmas Cocktail Party

Saturday night we hosted 40 of our closest friends for our 12th annual Christmas Cocktail Party. With good friends, food, fun, and even dancing(!) this has become, literally, my favorite day of the year!

I'm not sure which is smaller, my budget or my storage space for party supplies, so I decided not to spend much money on decorations but use what I have in some creative way. For the Dessert and Punch Table, I used ribbon (both 'new' and remnants) to add color and design to a white tablecloth. I created a focal point with my IKEA frame, and a few large 'ornament' wall stickers and more thin ribbon (for the hanger effect). The stickers also became my inspiration for the drink charms, and the candlestick/large ornament display. Click the pictures for a better look.

The Champagne Bar:

A simple and easy table arrangement using a tall glass vase, 'snow', ball ornaments, and feathers. Cute juice labels were made using the printable tags from No Fuss Fabulous.

The Buffet Table:

I reused the manzanita centerpiece from the party last week, and replaced the blue leaves with red balls. To add height and interest to the table I filled clear vases with 'snow' filler and ball ornaments and set platters of food on top. Flowers, candles, and plain white serving pieces round out the look.

The 'ho, ho, ho' flower arrangement was set on the bar table. I used small stickers again for the champagne glasses. I found that they come off easily if you soak the glasses in hot soapy water for just a few minutes.

For more photos check out Flickr or our Facebook Album.

After working on 3 parties in 2 weeks, I am going to relax!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This party was also featured on Hostess With The Mostess

Free Gift Jar Printables

Need an idea for a gift for your girlfriends or even an idea for a girl's get-together? No Fuss Fabulous has these free printables for you. You can make the cookie mix yourself to give away, or make an event out of it with your girlfriends, and have all the supplies ready for your friends to make their own.

Enjoy!!!

Food Topiaries

Presentation is everything. That's why I love to incorporate interesting food displays into entertaining. With one of the major holiday icons being a Christmas tree, what better tool to use than the foam craft cone, to create lovely food displays? You can begin with an appetizer tree. Who wouldn't want to eat their veggies when they are artfully presented as a Christmas tree? Display cheese truffles on a cone covered with cream cheese (wrap the foam first in plastic or saran wrap) and crackers. And how about a shrimp cocktail tree?!!

Moving on to dessert, you can present chocolate truffles, dipped strawberries, and donut holes on these cone forms. The donut holes and plain strawberries would be perfect for brunch also.

Finally, you may want to set out an array of candy trees for a fantastic kid's party or "Sugarplum Fairy" party. Attach hard candy, like peppermints, with frosting, stick lollipops into the ribbon-wrapped foam, or insert toothpicks into gumdrops.

All these ideas can be easily executed using picks and frosting or cream cheese. Go ahead and create your own Christmas Food Tree!

"Let It Snow" Christmas Party

Let It Snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Friday night was our 3rd annual Ladie's Night gift exchange, and this year I decided on a "Let It Snow" theme with white, silver, and icy blue accents. Of course you can't have a 'snow' theme without snowflakes so there were plenty of those as well. This is pretty easy to do because everyone brings either an appetizer or wine to share. I provided the sweets with a dessert and favor bar.

The centerpiece for the food table was a manzanita tree spray painted silver and adorned with icicle ornaments and a few snow birds. I also added some blue 'leaves' just to bring the color up. White poms and carnations surrounded the tree and blue 'berry' clusters added more color.

A different snowflake sticker was attached to each wine glass to carry out the theme and help identify the glass.

This is such a fun night and a great way to kick off the holiday season before everyone's schedule gets too full. For more pics check out our Flickr Set, or our Facebook album.

Things Wrapped Up Like A Gift

Sounds like the old Pyramid game show, but 'things wrapped up like a gift' can be so pretty for Holiday decor... Create a floral 'gift' with blocks of floral foam, small simple flowers, and a big bow! Use pearl-tipped pins to hold the flowers in place and add extra detail.

Wrap an everyday pillow with a bow and you have holiday decor on the cheap. Hang a tassel for a special touch.

A pretty place setting gets dressed up for the holiday with a nice big bow! I think this is my favorite because it is so simple but has lots of impact.

Rustic Christmas

Postings this week have been light due to the fact that I'm preoccupied with prepping for a Christmas Party tonight, and a birthday party tomorrow night. Tonight is the "Let It Snow" ladie's night I mentioned earlier. Pics next week!

For now, I found some pretty inspiration from White Lace Wedding for a Rustic Christmas, or even a Wintery Dinner party in January or February. Three elements: bark, berries, and nuts!

Set A Pretty Christmas Buffet

This is the first official weekend of Christmas parties, and many a hostess will be setting up a buffet table for her hungry guests. Whether you're serving hors d'oeuvres or a meal, the table here is a great way to set the buffet in style. I love the pop of color used but any combination will do. Some easy ideas to take away are:

• Lay strips of wide ribbon crosswise on the table and hang an ornament at the end. You can hang balls, snowflakes, colored crystal 'jewels', a poinsettia. This dresses up the side of the table because that is what guests will see as they are walking up to the buffet.
• Wrap empty boxes as gifts and set them on the table. They can add height, symmetry, or even be used to set platters on.
• Use simple geometric patterns. Stripes, circles, and harlequin patterns add a touch of whimsy and feel less 'busy' to the eye than many of the Christmas patterned papers on the market.
• You know my love for 'party art'! Wrap panels with coordinating papers or fabrics and hang them as a backdrop to the table. You can do this by wrapping an artist canvas, foam core, even a shirt box.
• Use all white serving dishes if you can. It is very pleasing to the eye and it doesn't compete with the food presentation.

I hope you will use some of the ideas to make your buffet table more special!

photo source-unknown

Exciting News To Share

I can now say that "I am Published!" ...Sounds so cool to say that. A few months ago I began working on an excerpt about 'Organizing Holiday Parties', for Carmen Cocker's newest book, The Clutterbugs' Guide to an Organized Christmas! In the book, Carmen, a professional organizer, offers so much advice on getting ready for the holidays without losing your mind! From shopping and gift giving, to house guests and travel, there are tools to help you stay focused.

For my contribution, I give tips on creating an easy-to-do holiday party based on 12 years of hosting my own Christmas Cocktail party and family gatherings. I will tell you how to do things on a budget, as well as how to add some extra pizazz. From a no-fail menu, to do-ahead tips, to easy decorating, I will guide you through your party planning experience.

Two other contributors will cover Holiday Meal Planning, and Decorating Your Home for the Holiday.

If you'd like to get your own copy of this book, you can purchase it through the link in the right side bar.