Atmosphere Designed Fresh Daily

Staying in is the New Going Out

2009-10-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I had the incredible opportunity to celebrate Wedgwood's 250th anniversary in Washington D.C. with the amazing Jorge Perez. While there, I got to meet some fabulous, super-stylish bloggers, and dine at a 25 foot long table all set with Wedgwood's new Dynasty pattern.

Remember, this year, staying in is the new going out! Create a great home bar, and start a party pantry with funky napkins, place-mats, and dish ware. Choose a theme, get fresh, in-season food, invite all of your friends, and ENJOY!

Check out some of the blogger's who attended the celebration for more at-home party tips:

SheKnows.com

MomInTheCity.com

HomeMakerHero.com

Food for Thought

2009-09-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody!

Check out this fun video for some great entertaining tips and some of my favorite party recipes. Why wait? Let's celebrate!

Keep it Cool at the End of Summer!

2009-08-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I’m taking you behind the scenes as I talk about hosting a keep it cool party for late summer!

The heat at the end of the summer can definitely put a damper on home entertaining; you may not want to slave for hours in the kitchen, and your guests may not want the typical "hot" party food, which is why I recommend throwing a "Keep it Cool" late summer party.

With awesome, chilly items such as

Edy's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends and

POM Wonderful juice,

your party is bound to be a "cool" hit!

I absolutely love this POMtiki Smash recipe-

it's delicious and a great addition to any hot summer day!

2 oz. POM Wonderful- 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 1/2 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Orgeat or Almond Syrup
2 oz. Unsweetened Pineapple Juice

*Garnish with a pineapple wedge and mint sprig

Some of my favorite recipes for a late summer party from my latest book, Simple Stunning Parties at Home, are my Go-To Guacamole, Coconut Shrimp Ceviche, and Chocolate Abstracts (to decorate the delicious Edy's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends)

Go-To Guacamole
Serves 6

This is an instant homemade appetizer for any time. Serve it with a big bowl of good tortilla chips and Homemade Fresh Salsa or your favorite store-bought brand.

3 ripe Hass avocados
Juice of ½ lemon
Juice of 2 limes (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons chopped green chilis (optional-use them if you like it spicy)
Salt and pepper

Peel and mash the avocados in a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the lemon juice over the avocados to keep it from browning. Stir in the lime juice and chilis, if you like (or serve the chilis on the side), and season with salt and pepper to finish.

Coconut Shrimp Ceviche
Makes 16 bite-sized “spoon” hors d’oeuvres or 4 appetizer portions

Traditional ceviche is made from raw seafood that is “cooked”

by the citric acid in lime and grapefruit juice.

I’ve suggested cooked shrimp for this recipe in case you’re pressed for time,

but you can use raw shrimp if you prefer.
I suggest canned grapefruit because any skin ruins the texture of the ceviche.

¾ pound shrimp, peeled, cooked, and chilled
½ cup lime juice
½ cup canned grapefruit sections, cut into quarters
¼ cup coconut milk
¼ cup finely diced picked jalapenos
2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper

Chop the shrimp into small pieces. In a bowl, combine shrimp, lime juice, and grapefruit. If using raw shrimp, marinate for 40 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients. Add the coconut milk and jalapenos and toss together. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the cilantro. Allow the mixture to marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, then season with salt and pepper. Serve on Chinese soup spoons or regular tablespoons, garnished with the remaining cilantro leaves.

Chocolate Abstracts
Serves 6-8

The chocolate “abstracts” look very impressive and are easy things to make.

After you melt the chocolate, let it cool a little before making the abstracts. A plastic funnel will help you pour the chocolate into the squeeze bottle without making a mess.

4 ounces semisweet or dark chocolate chips
2 pints vanilla or coffee ice cream
¼ cup amaretto

Line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with parchment or wax paper. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe container and microwave on medium for 20 seconds. Stir and return to microwave for another 10 seconds. Chocolate burns easily, so check and stir every 10 seconds until fully melted.

Pour the melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle. Squeeze the chocolate over the parchment paper, making abstract shapes. Leave a bit of space between each shape, for easy removal. Place the tray in the freezer for about 2 hours. Once the chocolate is set, use a spatula to remove it from the parchment. Chocolate abstracts may be stored for several days in the freezer between sheets of parchment paper.

When you are ready to serve dessert, scoop the ice cream into a bowl. Top with one of the chocolate decorations. Serve immediately, splashing amaretto over the ice cream at the table.

Throwing the Perfect Picnic!

2009-08-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Last Wednesday, I had the awesome opportunity to spend my morning picnicking with weatherman Mike Woods in Central Park on GOOD DAY NY!

The day couldn't have been more beautiful- and more fun.

Picnics are one of my favorite ways to enjoy a sunny day,
so here are some of my easy-to-do tips, enjoy!

- Remember to always be environmentally friendly- I love recycled plates and utensils from Whole Foods, and Verterra flatware, which are made from fallen leaves! Vazu vases are also a great way to decorate, they re-usable, easily packable, and stylish.

- When picnicking in a group, get already prepared food! DINOSAUR BBQ is delicious, and one of my personal favorites! Whole Foods also has a great selection of both produce and prepared foods.

- If picnicking for two, feel free to splurge a little! Bouchon Bakery has great tote bags filled with food (Either breakfast or lunch/snacks).

Not everything has to be already prepared, however, and
I love making some easy, tasty treats to bring along.

One of my favorites is my MUDDLED BERRY LEMONADE:
Serves 6-8

Try to get the best raspberries. Their tart sweetness will work beautifully with the lemonade.

1 cup fresh raspberries, rinsed and dried

1 cup fresh strawberries, tops removed, halved

1 handful fresh mint leaves, stems removed

1/2 gallon (64 ounces) sweetened pink lemonade (or substitute regular)

In the bottom of a pitcher, muddle the raspberries, strawberries, and mint leaves with a wooden spoon. Add the lemonade and stir. Serve over ice in sugar-rimmed glasses.

CHECK OUT THE SEGMENT:

2009-07-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Looking for tips to spice up your summer barbecue? Check out my article on the Daily News about hosting a budget friendly evening with great food, drink, and decor ideas!

Learn what's in season, and in style, for your summer get-together, and ENJOY!

Click here to see the article!

Check Out My Fabulous 4th of July Ideas on epicurious.com

2009-06-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Independence Day is only 2 weeks away--why not host a fantastic bbq at your place, with some great food and fresh décor ideas for the 4th! I'm the guest entertaining expert on epicurious.com, so Check out the recipes here. I put together a menu of tasty, simple dishes like chicken and ribs on the grill accompanied by My Sweet & Tangy Barbecue Sauce.

These dishes are all great for a backyard get-together or a picnic in the park! Happy celebrating and happy birthday, America!

La Petite Blog features Karen's New Book!

2009-06-18T09:01:00.001-07:00

Check out this great article from La Petite Blog which features four great books on entertaining, including Simple Stunning Parties at Home!

We've been so busy producing gorgeous events over the last few weeks--I promise I'll put up some great photos very soon!

Until then, have a party, and invite me!

Real Wedding: Nadia and Amit

2009-06-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few moments from the wedding of two of my close friends. The bride's mother brought us back traditional saris from Bangladesh to wear to the ceremony...there were three days of festivities, beginning with the Gai Holud, which is a light-hearted gathering for family and friends.

The photo below shows guests applying turmeric to the bride and groom's faces, a tradition that dates back to ancient times when turmeric was used as an ingredient in beauty rituals. We "beautified" our already gorgeous couple, and then fed them sweets from bountiful trays and bowls that were set out before them.

The groom rode in on a white horse...

The bride, accompanied by her own drumline...

Quite a bridal entrance, no? Nadia is dressed in the traditional Bengali colors, orange and green, and she wore flower garlands around her neck and on her hands, along with the mehndi or henna tattoos on her hands and feet.

More photos to come!

Good Fun with the Guys at Good Day Dallas!

2009-05-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

I was in Dallas last week for the wedding of two of my very close friends, and while I was in town I stopped by Good Day Dallas to talk about budget-friendly entertaining ideas. In spite of having to get up at 5am after the wedding ended at 1:30am, it was a blast!

Watch the video here!

These are photos of me with all the guys from the station. They get up at 3:00 in the morning every day to bring Dallas the latest news and they do it with a smile!!! Thanks guys!!!

Design Sample--Hamptons Beach Club Wedding

2009-05-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

For every party we create, our team produces a "design sample" to give clients the opportunity to approve and/or edit each element on the tabletop. For this wedding, the bride wanted a kind of easy elegance in the tablescape. We created three different versions of this type of arrangement, so that at the party, the room will have texture and light on many levels. This is a photo of the design sample meeting, which in our case, takes place about a month before the wedding. Isn't the color story beautiful?

I love the blowsy blue and green hydrangeas paired with the more exotic orchids, and the submerged woven steel grass in the vase adds an oceanic vibe.

We based our color story around a very chic, muted khaki pintuck tablecloth in taffeta, and added an amber goblet as an accent to the club's simple, but lovely glassware.

To add more interest at eye-level, we nestled resin (ecofriendly) coral, vases filled with white blooms, and blown glass votives in varying patterns, as well as taller floating candles. There's no such thing as too many candles! The effect will be breezy and effortless, and the addition of just a few of these tall pieces within the room will work beautifully with the soaring ceilings in the club. The verdict: everyone loved it! Can't wait for the wedding!

The bottom line: if you're planning a big, important celebration such as a wedding, make sure to include a design sample meeting in your contract. This way, you'll make sure everyone is on the same page, you'll have a chance to voice concerns or just approve the overall design, and you'll avoid surprises on the big day!

On the Air with Radio Legend Joan Hamburg

2009-05-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

Joan Hamburg is AMAZING. She's one of those rare people who knows so much about so many topics, and is passionate to discuss and share what she knows. I have been a huge fan for years, so when she invited me to join her on the air at a remote live broadcast of her show on WOR, I jumped!

We talked about flowers, weddings, parties, and the recipes in my new book.

Listen to the interview here, and check out the recipe for My Tropical Rose Sangria, which is perfect for summer barbecues and al fresco dinner parties! Cheers!!

Baby Shower in Bloom--Fresh Ideas!

2009-05-30T10:56:00.001-07:00

I was asked to design a simple, at-home baby shower recently. Now as everyone knows, I love a theme, and I was inspired to think "in miniature" for all the party elements. We envisioned the mom-to-be and all her friends and family gathered in the living room around a big coffee table, so instead of a big centerpiece, I created "baby bottles in bloom"! This idea was not only fun and fresh--it was budget-friendly, too. I bought colorful baby bottles and sippy cups and filled them with flowers in bright yellow (baby's gender is still a surprise).

If you look closely, you'll also see that I added tiny bumble bees on wires to the vases, for a whimsical touch that also coordinated with our color story.

We had twenty guests at the party, so we made twenty unique arrangements of just a few flowers each, and ladies took them home at the end of the night. Aren't they festive? I gave the tops of the bottles to the chef to place on hors d'oeuvres trays as a fun accent.

And speaking of hors d'oeuvres, we served everything in miniature. Bite-sized "piglets in blankets," mini, mouthwatering, melted croque monsieurs, and tiny fruit tarts, for example.

In the entrance foyer, I arranged a display of simple flowers (just one type in each vase), and nestled gifts for baby here and there. Stuffed Pooh Bears, receiving blankets, and some wonderful books, like Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" which always makes me cry.

To personalize the party, we displayed photos of the mom-to-be when SHE was an adorable baby... and of course we organized games, such as "Name the Baby Animal" and "Guess How Many Animal Crackers are In the Jar." We gave out DVDs of "Knocked Up," "Mamma Mia," and "Baby Mama" as prizes. So much fun!!!

Summer Entertaining Ideas on Woman's Day Radio

2009-05-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out Woman’s Day Radio yet? It's a really cool daily program that features a different topic each day. Money, food, fashion, you name it!

I recently chatted with fabulous editor Annemarie Conte on the "In the Kitchen" show about ideas for summer entertaining. We talked about setting up a party pantry, saving money, what to serve for a party, and just having more fun in general! Listen to the podcast here!

Harper's Bazaar Names Simple Stunning Parties as Their Pick for Mother's Day!

2009-05-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is really a dream come true. Harper’s Bazaar , the most fun fashion magazine ever, picked Simple Stunning Parties at Home as a great find for Mother's Day. If you have a mom who likes to entertain, or if you fancy yourself a home party host, I hope you'll check it out! It has recipes for great food and drinks for cocktail gatherings, casual suppers, dinner parties, and more, plus decor ideas and inspiration--even playlists you can download to suit your mood. Order your mom's copy (and one for yourself) here...

Book Launch at Bloomingdale's in NYC

2009-04-30T18:46:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a night. Bloomingdale’s threw me an amazing party to celebrate the launch of SIMPLE STUNNING PARTIES AT HOME, and fabulously stylish photographer Roey Yohai stopped by to document the festivities--Roey, thank you so much for these beautiful pictures! With me above is KB Events Director (and all around wizard) Nicole Fazzini. We are still reliving the drama, the fun, and the behind-the-scenes stories of making this book come to life. Can you imagine we got to go "shopping" in Bloomingdale's for Versace china and Faberge martini glasses to borrow for the parties we created? Dreamy!

At the party, celebrity chef Francois Payard's catering team, Tastings by Payard, prepared bite-sized versions of recipes from my book, like the shrimp ceviche you see here. Isn't the presentation lovely on the white spoons?

They also served my scallop amuse-bouches with creme fraiche and caviar...which we paired with crisp, delicious, festive (and budget-friendly) Lunetta Prosecco.

The Bloomingdale's visual team created tables inspired by the parties in the book, like my Global Potluck Supper

and my Ladies' Zen Night get-together

A big thank-you to everyone who came out to celebrate with me, and a special mention to my book photographer, William Geddes, who brought all the parties to life in vibrant color. Hope you get a chance to check out the book and let me know what you think. Cheers!

Ribbons of Inspiration

2009-04-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

I love ribbon, don't you? Whether it's tucked neatly around a beautiful linen napkin or accenting a vase or package, gorgeous ribbon adds something so special. And there is no more amazing ribbon source than the 107-year old ribbon emporium on 38th Street in Manhattan--Hyman Hendler. I tried to call information for their phone number today and couldn't get it. I almost panicked thinking they had succumbed to the economic downturn but thankfully, I was wrong and it was just the 411 service that was lacking. I went there in person and was, as always, delighted at the inspiration I found on spool after spool.

I purchased just two yards of fabric to accent vases for a centerpiece, but while I was there I saw so many pretty ribbons, in gros grain and satin and velvet. These are antique ribbons, many made in France or other far-away places, and all more special than anything you can find at any craft store.

They now have a website. http://www.hymanhendler.com/

RECIPE: Rustic Lasagna al Forno

2009-02-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

It's comfort food season, and there's no better comfort food, for a party or just dinner (and leftovers!) than my delicioso Rustic Lasagna al Forno.

This lasagna can be made up to two days ahead, or you can make the sauce ahead and then assemble the lasagna when you’re ready. It gets better overnight! The sauce is a great meat sauce for any kind of hearty pasta—rigatoni, linguine, spaghetti, bucatini, for example—and can be made in large batches and frozen. It’s important to get the best quality ricotta and parmesan cheese—try a greenmarket or local purveyor of fine cheeses, for example. Also, the canned whole peeled tomatoes, when broken up into pieces, make the sauce more rustic.

This recipe will fill a 9X12 or 13 pan (I prefer a glass or foil baking dish) and will serve 8-10 people. Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad, and don’t forget the Chianti!

FOR THE RUSTIC MEAT SAUCE:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 ½ lbs organic ground beef (or can substitute organic ground turkey for all or part)
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
¼ cup roasted sweet red peppers (get the kind in a jar), chopped
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (optional if you like a little spice)
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large, deep skillet or stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground meat, season with salt and pepper, and brown. Transfer the ground meat to a plate lined with paper towels, and discard the extra fat in the pan, leaving just enough to coat the bottom of the pan.

Add the chopped onion to the pan and sweat till translucent (two or three minutes). Add the ground meat back to the pan with the onions. Add both cans of tomatoes, using a spoon or your hand to crush the whole peeled tomatoes as you add them to the sauce. Add the red peppers, garlic, and oregano. Cover the pot and let the sauce simmer over medium low flame for about 15-20 minutes, adding just a pinch of salt, until the flavors start to come together. Add the balsamic, sugar and hot red pepper flakes (if using), and stir in the parmesan cheese. Taste again for salt and add to your preference. Set the sauce aside.

FOR THE LASAGNA:

4 cups fresh ricotta cheese
2 egg yolks
1 recipe Rustic Meat Sauce (above)
9 ounces (or one small box) of lasagna noodles (I prefer the oven-ready/no-boil variety if you’re not making fresh pasta)
1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese
1 ½ cups grated parmesan cheese

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the fresh ricotta cheese and egg yolks. Set aside.

Spoon a small amount of meat sauce onto the bottom of your baking dish, to keep the noodles from sticking. Add a layer of lasagna noodles to your pan—it’s ok if they overlap slightly. Spoon 1/3 of the meat sauce on top of the noodles. Dollop 1/3 of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce, distributing dollops evenly across pan. Sprinkle 1/3 of the shredded mozzarella over the sauce and ricotta layers, then finish this first layer with 1/3 of the parmesan cheese.

Starting with another layer of lasagna noodles, repeat all steps twice, till you have a total of three layers of pasta, sauce, and cheese (not counting the small amount of sauce on the bottom of the pan). Cover the lasagna loosely with foil (the ricotta may rise a bit during baking), and place the pan on a cookie sheet in the center of your oven. Cook for approximately 50 minutes covered, then uncover and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is golden brown.

Remove from the oven, re-cover with foil, and let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. Buon appetito!

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ARE YOU GAME FOR A PARTY?

2009-01-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

Getting motivated to kick off a superbowl (or other sports-themed) party?

Click here to check out a site that offers inexpensive sports ticket invitations, with a quick turnaround time at a great price.

You can color coordinate your tix to match your team colors...now GO TEAM!

Finding your perfect wedding venue

2009-01-13T14:39:00.000-08:00

For all those couples who just got engaged and spent the holidays drinking champagne and celebrating, now's the time when you may have started thinking about dates and places. I truly believe that finding the right setting is the most important choice you'll make about your whole celebration. Why? Because where you celebrate influences how you celebrate.

What I mean is, place creates mood. So your party mood at a black tie reception in a country club or at a historic mansion will undoubtedly be different than a clambake on the beach. You'll eat different foods, dress differently, and just feel different.

Left is a very downtown reception I designed at Pipa restaurant... the space itself is casual, sexy, and spicy, just like the party!

Above, you can see the grand scale of the Puck Building ballroom, which set the stage for glamorous designs and oversized elements...and an outdoor reception on the lawn at Wave Hill in the Bronx.

The point is, before you dive into looking at the overwhelming number of different wedding venue choices, think about the mood you want to create. Make a list of adjectives that describe how you want your wedding to feel. "Casual and carefree," "Modern and Minimalist," "Classic and elegant..." choose words that will help define your priorities, look in travel and interior design magazines for inspiration--if you can find words and images that capture the spirit of what you want, you can much more easily target finding your perfect place to celebrate. Happy hunting! I love to hear from couples about great venues, so definitely let me know if you've found your ideal setting, or challenges you came up against in seeking a venue.

Elementally speaking

2009-01-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

For me, the inspiration for creating a party comes first from the chosen setting. From there I can bring the desired mood to life with color, texture, and details. In this natural environment, with its backdrop of green hills and trees, I focused on combining lights and darks in a neutral palette, adding pops of vibrant seasonal blossoms.

Dark rustic charger plates were accented with hand lettered river stones bearing each guest's name. Those served two purposes--a wonderful personal touch and a weight to keep linen napkins from blowing away in the breeze.

More than 100 windchimes hung from an arbor of willow we created at the tent entrance--the sound was so pretty in the breeze, as guests walked down to dinner from cocktails up at the house. Each windchime had a card with a guest's name and table number attached, and the chimes were offered as favors, since the honoree was a serious music lover.

At night the tent glowed with silk lamps we hung over every table, to give the space a more intimate feeling...

When you're thinking about your own party, consider the mood you want to create, and choose a setting that has at least hints of your desired ambiance. Then accent with color, texture, and a few surprises to delight the invited. Why wait? Let's celebrate!

I love long tables!

2009-01-07T02:15:00.000-08:00

This feast table was set in a tent in the summertime. Duppioni silk tablecloth, a modular centerpiece of greens, deep burgundies and chocolates, and a giant green chrysanthemum at every place setting.

I designed this vibrant, crisp Thanksgiving scene for Food & Wine magazine...

A loft wedding in NYC where every guest sat at the head table, which was nearly 100 feet long!

So many people tell me that for a party, they think round tables are better than long rectangles for conversation. I don't agree. In fact, whereas a standard round table for 8-10 people in a banquet or party facility is generally 60" or so in diameter, a long table might be only 36" wide, bringing you 2 feet closer to the folks you like. Unless you'd rather be farther away...hmmmm.

Sneak Peak at My New Book!

2009-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I am really excited because I've just finished my newest book, SIMPLE STUNNING PARTIES AT HOME. It's due out in May and if you've seen my Simple Stunning Weddings series, I'm continuing the vibe with this new cooking and entertaining book. It has 75 of my recipes for delicious food and drinks, plus 12 complete party plans, and great tips for stocking your home party pantry and bar.

You can preorder your copy now so you'll be the first to get it!

To help you kick off the new year right, here's a recipe for one of the 10 cocktails I think every great host should know how to make. It's called a Dark & Stormy, and although it originated in Bermuda it's perfect for spicing up a wintry night! Make sure you get ginger beer rather than ginger ale--it really makes a difference, adding a layer of spice and complexity to the drink.

Dark & Stormy
Makes 1 cocktail

2 ounces dark rum, such as Gosling's
Juice of 1/2 lime
4 ounces ginger beer

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour the rum and lime juice into the glass, then add the ginger beer and stir to incorporate. Cheers to a great 2009!

Holiday Fun on the Today Show

2008-12-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had a great time partying and sipping Prosecco Punch on the Today Show with gorgeous Hota Kotb and heartthrob Robert Buckley from Lipstick Jungle!

For those of us who've decided to ring in 2009 at home, I created a "frugalicious" New Year's Eve party--drinks, dinner, dessert, and decor for 6 people for under $100. Watch the segment.

And check out my “frugalicious” New Year’s Eve recipes: Prosecco Punch, Mini Smoked Salmon Sandwiches with Horseradish Cream, Fettucine with Seared Sea Scallops and Prosecco Cream, and Coffee Ice Cream with Chocolate "Abstracts" and Liqueur.

What is "frugalicious"?
In a frugalicious world, less really can be more. We can spend less and get more for our money. How? It's all about developing an eye for quality and learning how to maximize that quality for sumptuous, smart results. One example: my Prosecco Punch, which stretches a great bottle of bubbly two and a half times AND makes a delicious signature cocktail.

You can be a frugalicious fashionista, a frugalicious home decorator, or a frugalicious hostess--keep your eye on my blog for more frugalicious ideas on food and home entertaining!

Inspiring Gifts

2008-11-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

Last week at the Women's Leadership Exchange Summit here in New York City, I met Mary Schnack, founder of Up from the Dust.

(http://www.upfromthedust.com/)

Up from the Dust showcases beautiful handcrafted items from women artisans in Kenya, Guatemala, Mexico, India, Pakistan, and other countries. There are embroidered table linens and pillows, gorgeous necklaces, even some ecofriendly pieces like handbags made from soda can pop-tops and stunning bowls made from leftover cable. Yes, cable!

Mary, who is a communications expert, was part of the relief effort in Rwanda in 1994, and now lectures all over the globe. During her travels, local women artists would bring her their wares, and she found a business in helping them to create entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves.

Check out the site for holiday gifts or one-of-a-kind accessories for bridesmaids or mothers. I'm inspired by Mary and by the talents and resourcefulness of the women of the world!

Saving Money on Your Dream Wedding

2008-11-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Has your wedding planning been affected by the current economic crisis?

I've been getting plenty of calls and emails from couples who are looking for ways to save money while still having the beautiful celebration they want to create.

Today I spoke with WOR Radio host and fellow wedding expert Joan Hamburg to share some tips and tricks for economizing with simple stunning style.

Check out the webpage they created--you can listen to the interview and read more of my strategies for easy ideas to make your wedding planning easier on your wallet!

http://wor710.com/pages/3344881

Cheers to your simple stunning celebration!