{ Posts Tagged ‘party planning’ }

how to: set-up a truffle bar for your next party

Believe it or not truffles are actually quite simple to make! To create your own truffle bar, whip up some simple old-fashioned truffles (see recipe below) and set aside.

truffle2 how to: set up a truffle bar for your next party
Pick at least four toppings you think your guests would enjoy. I chose cocoa, confectioners sugar, crushed hazelnuts and coconut. Display each topping in a small bowl, with a miniature spoon and a little tag.

truffle1 how to: set up a truffle bar for your next party
Place the “un-dipped” truffles on a cake stand or some type of platter with toothpicks or tongs close by. Use the mini spoon to help roll the truffles around to make sure they are extra coated in your topping of choice.

truffle3 how to: set up a truffle bar for your next party
We all know how rich truffles can be so it’s nice to have some milk out. I put out regular and chocolate, in case there are any chocolate addicts (like me!) attending my party!

truffle4 how to: set up a truffle bar for your next party
The small details are what bring the bar to life and leave your guests feeling impressed.  Simple flower arrangements, charming paper straws, twine and even the all-white bowls and platters will make a huge difference in the aesthetics of the bar. As an extra touch, at the end of the truffle bar, have some mini white boxes and twine available for the guests who want to package them up for a late night treat.

Here is the truffle recipe I used from the one and only Ina Garten:

truffle5 how to: set up a truffle bar for your next party

Ingredients
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 oz bitter sweet chocolate chopped
4 oz semi sweet chocolate chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon Grand Marnier (or hazelnut extract)
1 tablespoon prepared coffee
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1 Heat the heavy cream just under boiling, it will boil quickly so put it to simmer until it’s hot.

2 Chop the chocolate and place in a glass bowl. Pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate to melt the chunks.

3 Add the vanilla, hot coffee and Grand Marnier.

4 Mix until melted and refrigerate for 45 minutes.

5 With a small scooper or spoon, place little balls on parchment paper. They don’t need to be perfectly shaped, as truffles are usually not exactly round.

6 Place on a platter and let your guests dip away!

Eden Passante is the owner of Sugar and Charm, a boutique event design and planning company, focusing on creating the most charming, unique and sweet events. Photography by Zan Passante.

5 party rules to live by

This past weekend I held the first party in my new house, even though I moved in last June {hey, I like a house to look nice before it’s ‘warmed’}. I’m a little detail-oriented {read: obsessive-compulsive} when it comes to my home and having people over, and I like everything to be perfect — lighting, music, food and all-around vibe.

Below are five rules I follow for making a soiree a surefire hit — actually, four tips for the host and one very important tip for the guest.

christmas party drinks 5 party rules to live by1 Serve a signature drink.
Even if it’s just a bit of bubbly, make sure your guests enter your party with a drink waiting for them. My guest list was made up of 12 close girlfriends, so I picked up some great PC Home stemless wine glasses {$9 for 4} and filled them with frozen cranberries, sparkling Wolf Blass, and a little bit of sparkling pomegranate juice. It’s a great way for everyone to feel relaxed and settled upon entering your home, rather than buzzing about the kitchen, trying to get a drink.

christmas party fruit 5 party rules to live by2 Keep dietary needs in mind.
There is nothing worse than going to a party whilst being on a diet — it’s a nightmare. Keep in mind that some of your guests may have dietary restrictions, so try to create a menu that accommodates them. It doesn’t mean you have to stray away from making buttery shortbread or scrumptious pastries, but introduce some non-dairy and low-fat options as well. I made a big bowl of fruit salad, but I’ve also just discovered Baskin Robbins’ BRight Choices ice cream, which are creamy sorbets and ice creams that range from 90-160 calories per serving and have dairy-free options as well. And they are good — think Butter Almond Crunch and Raspberry Cheese Louise.

christmas party bathroom 5 party rules to live by3 Keep your bathroom fully stocked.
You want your guests to feel at home in your house, so ensure that the bathroom is fully stocked with any toiletries they may need. Set up a display on the vanity or a small table including items like hairspray, gum, hand cream and anything else your guests might require. I like to leave a bottle of perfume {that pretty gold bottle is Twirl by Kate Spade — my new fave} and a little shimmer to freshen up {that pretty pink bottle is a subtle powder shimmer from The Body Shop — also my new fave}. And please — please! — don’t forget to stock your bathroom with toilet paper. There is nothing more embarrassing for your guest than having to pull their host aside and ask for some TP. Mor-ti-fy-ing.

christmas party giftbags 5 party rules to live by4 Don’t send your guests home empty-handed.
You want your party to be a success from start to finish, so when your guests are heading home for the night, surprise them with a little party favour. You don’t have to spend a fortune on elaborate gifts — just give them something that says ‘thanks’ for coming to your bash. I bought white paper craft bags and filled each with some chocolates, a piece of homemade shortbread and a lip gloss from Joe Fresh. Tied up in a pretty bow and a letterpressed gift tag makes it a sweet treat that your guests won’t forget.

christmas party banana bread 5 party rules to live by5 As a guest, always bring something for the host.
As a guest, all you’re required to do is show up and have a good time. Your host, however, has been spending a lot of time and money prepping for the party. To thank them, always bring a hostess gift with you, whether it’s a bottle of nice wine or something more personal {one of my friends brought a beautiful box of signature soaps from the Hudson’s Bay Collection, knowing I’d swoon over the packaging}. If you’re strapped for cash, head over to Loblaws and pick up a set of baker’s gift loaf pans from PC Home {$10 for 6}. These cardboard loaf pans are lined with silicone, meaning you can pour your banana bread or pound cake mix right in, shove in the oven, then tie up with a pretty bow to give to your host.

What are your surefire party tips?

xo,
Lauren

party planning – arabian nights style!

The current issue of STYLE AT HOME magazine — our Entertaining special — is all about party planning: sprucing up your space for guests, what to serve, and secrets for laying stylish spreads on the table. As always, there wasn’t enough room in the magazine to pack in all the party planning gems we came across in our scouting, and this in particular was something I knew I had to share on my blog…

party1 party planning arabian nights style!

Believe it or not, this is someone’s basement.

Albeit, a basement transformed into a magnificent Moroccan soiree by Nisha Chandra of Nisha Designer Events. How much FUN does this look?!? From the low cushion seating to the pierced metal lanterns, it totally takes you away… Nisha even installed a little lounge area off to one corner — complete with hookah!

party31 party planning arabian nights style!

Nisha actually called the look of this party “Spice Route” after the warm, spicy reds, oranges and burnt yellows at play. What an unforgettable dinner party this would’ve been!

Nisha Designer Events, 647-239-4626

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ravishing ribbon accessories

What do Steven Sabados, Peter Fallico and Samantha Pynn all have in common?

Well, apart from being style-savvy celebs with top TV shows, they all got their start in the hallowed halls of Style At Home magazine.

The latest of the S@H alumnus to make a name for herself is our former Design Department intern Alison Dawson, who you may recognize if you’ve ever dropped in at Mokuba, Toronto’s famed go-to gallery for luxe ribbon. (If you’ve never been, make it a point to stop by. We’re talking 27,000 high-end ribbons, trims and lace, here.)

Through her own business, Chapeau de Gateau, Alison takes gorgeous, Japanese ribbon from Mokuba, and elevates it to spectacular heights as one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, in a collection called “C’est Joli”. I’m nuts for these necklaces… The fluid shapes are simply stunning. It really looks like a flowing ribbon, frozen in time.

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And check out these laced-up bracelets… So pretty! They’ve totally got an Anthropologie vibe going on.

bracelets ravishing ribbon accessories

Alison also transforms ordinary ribbon into extraordinary custom cake-toppers (incredible inedibles, anyone?) for special events, hence “Chapeau de Gateau”. So delicate and unique, and a great way to make a style statement at a summer wedding…

cake1 ravishing ribbon accessories

You can keep up to speed with Alison and her beautifully beribboned bijoux on her Chapeau de Gateau blog here.

 

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halloween treats

sebastien1 halloween treatsLeave it to Eatertainment’s Sebastien Centner to come up with the hottest Halloween entertaining tricks… And treats! We hosted Sebastien at the High/Low Stage at the STYLE AT HOME Show this past weekend, and he shared some of his perfect party planning strategies from the November issue of the magazine to a packed crowd. Just in time for Halloween, however, he’s shared with me his recipe for “Lime Slime Eyeball Jelly Shooters” — sure to make your haunted house a hit on October 31st!

Lime Slime Eyeball Jelly Shooters

Yield: 6 shooters

Ingredients: 1 package lime Jell-O powder, 6 canned or fresh lychees, 6 maraschino cherries, 6 slices of black grape

Directions: Stuff a maraschino cherry into the lychee without breaking it. Cut slice from outside of grape and place over red part of “eyeball”. Prepare lime green Jell-O according to directions. To suspend eyeball in Jell-O, pour Jell-O halfway up in a square shot glass, large enough to hold the lychee with room around the edge and let set. Place the “eyeball” on the set Jell-O and pour remaining Jell-O into shot glass. Cover and let set.