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Yummy Links: From Keanu Reeves to Jamie Oliver

partysugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:50:43 -0700

Inspired by famous French chef Herve This, Keanu Reeves wants to become a chef. - Eater SF
Tips for cooking pizza on the grill. - Serious Eats
Joey Chestnut wasn't the only one to compete in an eating contest over the weekend; so did a group of elephants. - The Feedbag
Calling all maids of honor: be inspired by this Parisian bridal shower. - Hostess With the Mostess
A day in the life of Spanish chef José Andrés. - Gourmet
Must make: tequila shrimp and asadero quesadillas. - Chow
To promote his upcoming book and television show, Jamie Oliver dressed up like the Village People. - Eat Me Daily

Party Foul: Not Greeting Your Guests

partysugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:30:42 -0700

At female-centric events like baby showers or bachelorette parties, it's easy for cliques to form and cattiness to flourish. Recently, my sister attended a bridal shower where the majority of guests went to the same high school. However some girls, despite knowing my sister, were cold and unfriendly. To make matters worse, the hostess did not say one word to her! While I understand that everyone present may not get along, it's totally unacceptable for the hostess to ignore her guests. It's up to the hostess to ensure that gossip and grudges don't ruin the party. This means that she must put aside any hard feelings and greet everyone equally.

Have you ever been to a party where the hostess made you feel unwelcome? Please share your stories below!

Source

DIY: Vibrant Pom-Pom Napkin Rings

partysugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:50:44 -0700

After helping one of my friends with the flowers for her big day, I was asked by another friend to put together the festive napkin rings for her wedding. Rather than waste money on buying 60 rings, we made these flower-inspired pom-poms to adorn each napkin. These pom-poms can easily be customized to suit any color scheme. While mine were for a wedding, the fun napkin rings are great for any special occasion, be it a baby shower, engagement party, or dinner party! To learn how to make them and check out my step-by-step photos, read more.

This idea was adapted from something I saw in Martha Stewart Weddings. To make the pom-poms, you will need colored tissue paper, floral wire, and satin ribbon.

Cut four sheets of tissue paper into five- by 10-inch rectangles. Make 3/8-inch accordion folds.
Fold a 18-inch floral wire in half and wrap around the middle of the folded tissue paper and twist.
Trim ends into a rounded or pointed shape.
Carefully separate the layers of the tissue papers, pulling each layer toward the center.
Use the extra wire to make a loop on the back of the pom-pom. Insert a 12-inch piece of ribbon through the loop.
Tie ribbon around the napkin. Voila: a fabulous flower-like napkin ring to dress up any table!

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Come Party With Me: Bridal Brunch - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:14 -0700

Pretty pastels make for a welcoming and elegant look at a bridal shower brunch. Since people will bring gifts, designate an area away from the buffet for them to place the presents. Cover the tables with a floral printed cloth.

Serve the frittata on a round white serving platter and the smoked salmon on floral printed ones. Layer the parfait in a large trifle dish. Fill glass pitchers with citrus juice and arrange pink tumblers nearby.

Don't forget napkins and at least one bouquet of beautiful roses.

Source

Come Party With Me: Bridal Brunch - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:51:02 -0700

For a casual, sunny brunch consider setting up a drink buffet along side the food. This gives guests the freedom to make their own drinks and provides the hostess more time to mingle. At Ronda's bridal shower, our female friends can choose from three types of fresh squeezed citrus.

Place vodka, Champagne, and sparkling water beside the juice. If the girls want to sip a spiked beverage they can stir in the spirit that floats their fancy. Brewed coffee and hot tea are welcome additions. Don't have time to juice a million oranges? Use your favorite store bought juice to create the refreshment bar. For the easy recipe, read more.

Fresh Citrus Juice Bar
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

10 juice oranges
10 blood oranges
6 ruby red grapefruits
Lime and orange slices, for garnish

Directions

Juice citrus separately; pour into pitchers. Serve with ice; garnish with citrus slices. Leftover juice can be refrigerated in airtight containers up to 2 days.

Makes about 3 1/2 cups of each juice.

Print recipe with images | without images

DIY: Tissue Paper Pom Poms

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:15:42 -0700

I spotted these great Paper Pom Poms on Etsy, and thought they'd make fun décor for a bridal shower, if you have a friend getting married. But, at three for $15, I think the prices are steep. It'd be much more economical to make them yourself, seeing as they're fairly simple. I like to craft small ones for gift wrapping. To learn how, read more.

Supplies:

Tissue paper (20 inches x 30 inches). Choose one to three colors, or similar shades of the same color, to keep things from looking like a circus.
Scissors
Monofilament
Floral wire. White, if you can find it.

Here's how:

Stack four to eight the sheets of paper on top of one another, depending on you puffy you want them to be.
Now, fold the sheets into 1.5-inch accordion folds, all the way across.
Prune the ends of the tissue into round shapes, to give them a petal-like look.
Cut about a foot and a half length of floral wire.
Wrap the wire around the center of the folded tissue and secure it by twisting.
Now the fun part! Pull apart each layer, separating it from the center one piece at a time.
Measure the length you'd like to hang your pom pom from and cut a piece of monofilament accordingly.
Knot the monofilament to the floral wire and hang!
Repeat until you've created a pom pom fantasyland. The more, the merrier!

Be sure to check out all of the Sugar network's wedding coverage here!

The Card Shop: Papeterie Bridal Shower Invites

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:00:44 -0700

At home, I'm a modern woman with the décor to match. But when it comes to weddings, I'm a traditionalist. No matter how laid-back (or wild and crazy) a girl may be, I'm all for elegance and sophistication on the big day. That notion applies to the bridal shower as well. Papeterie's Bridal Shower Invitations ($33.75-37.50 for 25) fit the bill when it comes to elegant stationery. Choose from an array of beautiful designs inspired by textile patterns, including antique roses, flower toile, garland, scroll, Moroccan patterns, and more. Beyond that, you can choose from 18 different colorways to fit your gal pal's personality. Since they're digitally printed, you won't pay the price of letterpress, but you'll still get the look, and that's key!

Create This Bridal Shower Table Setting

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:00:03 -0700

Why settle for boring floral arrangements when you can create a chinoiserie-inspired table setting instead? If you're in charge of hosting a bridal shower at your home this Spring, take inspiration from stylist Rebecca Thuss's look for this table setting. To re-create it, simply purchase bird figurines, vases, and branches. Alternately, you can take advantage of Spring blossoms and trim flowering trees or hedges to use, which will cut down on the cost of this look.

Feeling ambitious? You can also create a matching overhead light. The look is so seasonally appropriate, and would be sure to impress the bride, as well as the other bridal shower guests. Have you created a similar look at a bridal shower?

Source

Five Bridal Shower Theme Ideas

TresSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Bridal showers might not have the flair of bachelorette parties, but they should be just as fun! There's a lot of etiquette to consider when planning a traditional wedding shower, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun with it. Here are some theme suggestions that could make the event even more exciting for the bride and the guests. Source

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Yummy Links: From Epi's iPhone App to Swine Flu Cocktails

partysugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:50:54 -0700

Epicurious' just-launched free iPhone application makes me want to trade in my BlackBerry. - Epicurious
Roasted beef tenderloin and cheesy baked rice is the perfect Kentucky Derby meal. - Chow
Lavish restaurant openings have been replaced with low-key charity events. - Eater
Top Chef judge Toby Young was recently in a face-smashing bike accident. - Eat me daily
What is the ideal menu for serving at a bridal shower? - Simply Stated
Gourmet's editor in chief, Ruth Reichl, goes undercover. - Serious Eats
Troubled times call for drinks: consider mixing up a swine flu cocktail. - The Examiner