Birthday Fortunes in a Jar
Tiffany Bird made her daughter a fortune cookie jar full of birthday fortunes, or wishes, from her loved ones. The fortunes are to be kept unopened until a later moment in time, like a child’s 16th birthday party. Similar to the concept of a time capsule. Tiffany chose fortune cookies because her birthday party was based on a Chinese theme. The intention is to set up a table where guests can write birthday fortunes to the birthday girl as they enter the party. If that doesn’t work for you, you can hit Plan B and have everyone email their fortunes for the special day. Supplies: 1. cardstock paper 2. glue 3. something circular as a template (3″ diameter) 4. scissors 5. rubber band (optional) 6. jar 1. Gather your paper. Use something circular and at least 3″ in diameter (depending on how big you want your cookies to turn out) to trace circles on the back of your paper. Something like a coaster works really well. 2. Cut out the circles and the fortunes. Print the fortunes then cut them into strips. 3. Make a crease at the center of your circle about 1 1/2″ with the wrong side out (the paper patterns are on the inside touching each other when you fold to make the crease). Don’t fold the entire circle in half, just make a crease at the center. 4. With the crease pointing at you vertically, put glue at the edge of the circle going only about 1/3 of the circle. Make sure your crease is at the center point of where your gluing. 5. Place your fortune paper, folded, in the middle of the circle. 6. Fold circle in half touching the no-glue side to the side with glue. But don’t press down at the fold. Use laundry pins to hold the sides down. 7. This is where the crease comes in handy. Puff up your paper by pushing down on the crease and it should bend in the middle at the crease line. And it will open the holes at the two corners (see second picture below). Continuing to bend the crease until the paper takes shape of a fortune cookie. 8. If your cookie doesn’t hold it shape, put a little bit of glue at the middle of the crease line...
Read MoreMocktails, Preggatinis and More!
Non-alcoholic beverages are a must have option for any party and are necessary for Considerate Entertaining. There are a myriad of reasons that your guests may choose not to “drink,” ranging from being responsible to health concerns. Most of us do provide soda, water or juice as an alternative, but how many times do we go a step further and treat these guests to something special by offering a sophisticated and special virgin cocktail! If you are going to offer “with” and “without” alcohol cocktail options at your party, pick one that works both ways (the Mojito Recipe below is great for this). This will save you time and money! Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, a trend-setting mixoligist, editor of TheLiquidMuse.com, and the author of “Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-To-Be” has taken mixology to a new level and proved to her industry that cocktails can be alcohol free. Below is her recipe for a Mamarita. It’s perfect for Baby Showers, playdates with the kids, family gatherings and entertaining in general. In addition, I have included two more “hot” recipes that are great for summer! Mamarita Ingredients: 1 ounce agave nectar 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 ounce orange juice 3 ounces organic limeaid 1 lime wheel rimming salt Directions: Rim a margarita glass and set aside. Stir agave nectar and lemon juice in the bottom of a mixing glass until nectar dissolves. Add orange juice, limeaid, and ice, then shake vigorously. Strain into the margarita glass, and serve with a lime wheel on the rim. To see more wonderful recipes or buy the book, visit her site at Preggatinis.com. Blood Orange Ginger Ice Tea Makes 6 servings Ingredients: 24 oz. Culinary Traditions™ Blood Orange Concentrate 32 oz. unsweetened tea 2 tbsp. Culinary Traditions™ Ginger Directions: Combine all ingredients with ice in a pitcher and stir. Store refrigerated until ready to use. Visit www.perfectpuree.com for more enticing recipes! You need to buy in quantities of three but you can freeze and save the concentrates, they are delicious and worth every penny. No Muddle Mojito Ingredients: 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 1/2 oz simple syrup 8 to 10 fresh mint leaves club soda 1 sprig of mint ice Directions: Place the lime juice, simple syrup and 8 to 10 mint leaves in a rocks glass. Muddle the ingredients in the glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice and then with club soda. Stir gently,...
Read MoreTop Ten Rules for Entertaining
1. Prepare as much as you can ahead of time. You set the tone at your party and a harried host or hostess is never a good thing. 2. Don’t try out a recipe for the first time the day or night of your party. Practice it before hand or use one you have down pat. 3. Simple but Special – Everything from the menu to the tablescape should be both. 4. Know your guests’ likes and dislikes. 5. Don’t stress, remember the most beautiful thing at your party are the people. 6. Set up stations or areas for the bar/beverages, food, appetizers in different locations. This gets your guests to spread out and creates a better traffic flow – and keeps them out of the kitchen! 7. Always have some type of welcome station set up. When your guests arrive, it’s wonderful to trade bags and coats for a refreshing drink and a warm greeting. 8. A keepsake or favor is a wonderful way to make your guests feel special. 9. Make sure never to plan a party during a time when your calendar is packed. Instead of having a Holiday Party in December during the weeks leading up to Christmas, have a Post Holiday Party that is relaxed and lets your guests show off their new gifts. 10. Never try to impress your guests. Instead address each guest and make your party a time to connect with those you love. For more ideas and inspirations on celebrating life, visit The Partybluprints...
Read MoreBirthdays On A Budget
Go For it Mom and Dad! You CAN keep your sanity and plan a budget friendly, kid friendly, birthday party for your child right in your own home. Simply consider your guests, your available space, and your inventory. Here’s How… Who to invite? The guest list should include the friends your child chooses to spend most of his/her free time with. I recommend a guest list of no more than ten and aim for an even number. Know your guests! Kids love to be engaged and challenged and have fun as a result. They are some of the most creative creatures on Earth and tapping into this natural ability also draws out positive behavior. Even better, you don’t need a fortune to engage and challenge your guests. Consider your available space and inventory. Take some time to dig through your closets and garage. Perhaps you have a large backyard and enough equipment to run some organized games or silly races. Do you have equipment for free play such as hoola hoops, jump ropes, or hopscotch? A good size yard is also a great place to hold a scavenger hunt. Try to balance energy charged activities with quieter ones. Get out all of those board games (Operation, Twister, Perfection, Charades) that have collected dust since we’ve made a shift to technological entertainment. You’ll be amazed how much they enjoy playing these classic favorites. You can even challenge your guests to create new rules using the same playing pieces. Also on a quieter yet challenging note, provide your guests with straws or popsicle sticks, glue, tape, and string. Have them work in groups to build a structure strong enough to support a soup can or two or three… It’s quite a challenge not to get involved yourself! If a large backyard or playing area is not an option, perhaps you have a kitchen that could handle baking and decorating cupcakes or pretzels. Kids love getting their hands messy and sampling their own creations. Do you have a home with several rooms? You can have fun with your child setting up a miniature golf course. One challenging hole per room! A plastic vase makes a great hole and tupperware containers act as tough obstacles. Lastly, consider the talents of your friends and relatives. Does anyone know karate and would be willing to spend one half hour teaching some skills? Is there a...
Read MoreGreen Tips for Entertaining
Five for keeping the planet Alive when you party! 1. When planning your party menu try your best to incorporate organic ingredients you can buy locally (be a locovore!). Shop your local farmers market for fruits and veggies that are in season. Steer clear of imported items like cheese and wine and instead buy those that are sourced from your area. To spice up your menu, grow your own herb garden. Plant herbs, such as basil, mint, parsley, thyme, rosemary, cilantro and you’ll be ready at a moment’s notice to spice up any cocktail, dish or dessert. Fresh herbs have the power to transform simple meat, fish, pasta, produce, (whatever you have on hand) into a fabulously fresh dish. Whatever you do, keep it simple and let the freshness and goodness speak for itself. 2. Use fresh produce or flowering plants as your centerpiece(s). A day or two after your party, use the fresh produce. Plant the flowering plants in your garden/container garden or send home with your guests to plant in their garden as a remembrance of “good times.” 3. Purchase inexpensive glass or melamine plates that you can reuse party after party, instead of buying paper plates from the local party store or supermarket. You’ll recoup your initial investment after a few parties and you’ll avoid dumping a boatload of paper plates into the garbage. If you’re worried about clean up, don’t be. Scrape the plates, stack them and worry about them later if you can’t fit them in your dishwasher. If you want a happy medium especially for the summer, consider Bambu renewable plates. 4. Go green with electronic invitations. Avoid wasting paper, fuel, time and energy — think of everything that goes into mailing invitations! If you are sending traditional invitations, pick ones that use recycled paper. 5. Make recycling easy for your guests by putting out decorative baskets/buckets lined with clear plastic bags, label them “glass” or “plastic” and put them near your regular...
Read MoreTransform Your Outdoor Space for Guests
Summer is here so make the most of outdoor space. Whether yours is a petite apartment patio or a palatial terrace, create a place that is inviting and cozy for alfresco entertaining. You can find lots of products on the market that make this easy, and most are on sale this time of year. If you choose wisely, you don’t need to spend a lot to make a big impact. Here are six ways to give your plain space some panache! Flags and Fun: Hanging flags, pennants or bunting is a simple way to spruce up your party space. Bold, primary colors work great for children’s parties and add a festive feeling. For adult gatherings pick a color or colors that coordinate with your table and keep the pennants or flags small in size. You want to make your space look special without it looking like a circus. Outdoor Couch: Outdoor furniture doesn’t have to be hard and uninviting. Purchase a cozy love seat or coach made with Sunbrella® or weather resistant fabric. If you don’t have the budget to purchase new outdoor furniture this year, creating an outdoor couch is simple. Morph a bench, armless chaise or lounge chair into a simple couch by adding pillows and or cushions. Make sure if there is no back that you push the furniture up against a wall to create one and use throw pillows and cushions to make it comfortable. Tenting: Add drama to any outdoor space by tenting it. Canopies and market umbrellas serve as great shade and keep you cool during the day, but they can be cool at night too. Hang a string of lights or a few small lanterns from underneath and keep them up and open in the evening. For day or evening hang a swag of material up as shown in the photo above. This is perfect over a day bed and is a really chic setting for company to relax and enjoy conversation or for a romantic spot for two. Cozy Seating: Adding a few small touches to any outdoor chair can make it look fantastic and feel more comfortable. A pretty throw pillow or blanket will cushion a hard chair and make it cozier. Dress up plain outdoor dining chairs for guests by simply slipping a pillowcase over the back. If your chairs are too large, use fabric in the shape of...
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