brunch bunch

As you may have noticed I am so happy to say that spring is here to stay, the days are getting longer and the weather is warmer.  What better time to host a spring brunch?  I love brunches, they are easy to pull together and it usually at a time when most people are free.

Buy some peonies or cherry blossom branches and place in mason jars as your centerpiece  I just love this yellow inspiration board from Snippet and Ink

inspiration board from snippet and ink

The menu should be simple, I believe that a fresh simple brunch menu can be enjoyed by all especially the hostess.

W Designs Brunch Menu

Bread basket- 

buy muffins and croissants or other delicious bread items from a local bakery  Arrange them beautifully in a basket or on a tray  Mix 1 tbsp. of honey, orange zest or strawberry jam with 1 stick of soft butter for a delicious spread

A Nice Fruit Salad-

my grandmother always has a nice fruit salad at any party (as opposed to those really mean fruit salads), she carefully cuts up melons, strawberries, pineapple, anything that is in season  It couldn't be prettier or more delicious

Photo via Mango Power Girl Flickr

Yogurt Bar-

display plain yogurt in a glass serving bowl with sprigs of fresh mint, granola, and honey nearby so guests can make their own yogurt parfait including some of that great fruit salad

Deviled Eggs from Founding Farmers

Breakfast Protein-

a traditional charcuterie plate would make a wonderful option for breakfast, 

your local butcher can recommend sausages, cheese and spreads.  add hardboiled eggs and bacon to your own charcuterie tray to finish off this breakfast spread

Photo via Maggie Austin

Spring Fling

I am itching to host a spring garden party and cannot wait until the grass turns green.  The first signs of spring are all around Washington, we have snowdrop flowers poking up and the temperatures are getting slightly warmer.  The sign for me that spring is really here is when the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin bloom.  The full event calendar can be found here, its only a few weeks away!

Until then enjoy these great photos from past years blossoms!

A few inspiring images to host your own Cherry Blossom party

via Sugar On The Rock

Resources: Cherry Blossom Sky found on flickr ~ Cake found onMartha Stewart Weddings ~ Cherry Blossom close up ~ Candles available at Bridal Favorites ~ Asian fan available at Favor Studio ~ Cupcakes made by Hello Naomi ~ Centerpiece idea found on InStyle Weddings ~ Cherry Blossom print lanterns available  atAmazon ~ Dessert Bar created by Amy Atlas ~

Photos via KHusley

Snow Tigers

I love snow....I think it is beautiful and fun to play around it.  It is great when you get off a day of school and you can play outside, go sledding with your friends, and come home and eat chicken noodle soup.

But this has got to end!  We have be pummeled by 24+ inches of snow in the last 5 days and I know you don't need me reminding you.  The news channels are running endless programming of snow conditions, snow reports, reports on power outages, reports on snowball fights, omg such and such place is open and delivering pizza, what a tragedy some idiot lost control of his car and is stuck in a snow bank.  I can't take it anymore!!!!!

On that note I know everyone has been stuck in their homes for the past couple of days and are going a little bit stir crazy.  But what a perfect opportunity to host a party!

I live in a condo community and the neighbors around here have each been hosting parties all weekend long.  Some of them were quiet elaborate with multiple courses.  Another was cocktails and appetizers and one neighbor had everyone over for bowls of delicious homemade soup and to sit in front of their fireplace and look at the beautiful snow from their patio windows.

So why not host a Chinese New Year party this weekend?  It is the perfect time to have your neighbors over and a fun tradition to celebrate.  Martha Stewart has some wonderful recipes on her site.  And 2010 is the year of the tiger- or in our case a snow tiger!

Martha Stewart.com

For your party fill your home with paper lanterns and candles.  The Chinese New Year is traditionally ends on the 15th day with a lantern festival.  This will work especially well if you are still without power!!  Anything red will invoke the feeling of the season.  Its fun to have party favors such as party poppers with little treats or you could break out the 4th of July sparklers for the end of the evening.

Other Chinese New Year traditions include: covering your windows and doors with red paper cutouts with themes of wealth, happiness, and longevity.  This seems like the perfect afternoon activity!

Chinese New Year is all about new beginnings.  It is a time to spend with family and friends and it is also a time to reconnect with neighbors.  I think one of the greatest lessons of Chinese New Year is that it is a time to forget old grudges and truly wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

Hopefully the snow will be melting away as you share your home with friends and family for your own Chinese New Year!

Rain Rain Go Away

The Winter blues are here to stay. As I am writing this the weather has turned nasty, rain and sleet and everything terrible. It is the type of weather that makes you just want to stay in bed...FOREVER! And it is around this time of year that I start to feel really down, however its also a time when the little things can really brighten my day! Winter is a fabulous time to pick up on those projects that you didn't complete last year, filing photos, craft projects, recovering furniture. It is also a great time to do a little something for yourself, take a look at some things I have on my to do list for this winter!

Take a lazy Sunday!

Sit around in your underwear all day drinking cappuccinos, catching up on reading. Take a bubble bath. Make sure you have great easy food around, french toast for breakfast, fruit to snack on and perhaps a delicious seared tuna salad. The key it to eat light and relax, you will be amazed at how good you feel!

Discover new views!

Spend the day walking around the city/town in which you live taking photographs. There is nothing like rediscovering your home town in a whole new way. You will be amazed at the shots you can get from seemingly mundane subjects.

Play dress up!

This is the perfect time to purge your closet. Experiment with mixing and matching things you never thought would go together. Think outside the box and be a little daring with your selections. When you can't buy something new the next best thing is to make something feel like new! Its not a bad idea to invite a friend over to help you look at things with a different perspective and it couldn't hurt to drink mimosas while you work!

Throw a party!

Not only will the planning keep your mind occupied for a few days, but hosting a party will allow you to see all of those friends that you couldn't squeeze in during the holidays. Chances are they too are experiencing the winter blues! Encourage your guests to dress up and really make it a special occasion.

Make your own Paris Sidewalk Cafe!

Turn your kitchen or living room into your very own Paris Sidewalk Cafe. Serve coffee and pastries and watch your favorite French movies.

Whatever you do this winter to get through, just remember spring is right around the corner and it will only be a few more weeks until those first flowers come pushing up through the snow!

Overwhelmed with Christmas Spirit

I feel like I have abandoned you! I have been so busy in the last week getting ready for the impending holidays and on top of it all my cute little macintosh computer is having some major issues. It has decided that I should get a new computer for Christmas! So there goes my savings account!

Anyway, my cards are mailed cookies baked and presents are wrapped. I can't believe Christmas is only a week away and I really can't wait until I am free of work for a few days!

On Sunday I had a couple of girlfriends over for a Christmas cookie baking party. It was a ton of fun and so simple to throw together last minute. I served a delicious eggnog complete with Irish Whiskey, an assortment of cheeses and veggies and a friend made a fabulous Cidercar drink!

Here are some photos of what I have been up too!

Eggnog is so delicious. Check Martha's reciepe here.

The infamous kitchenaid mixer. A must have!

My Christmas wrapping! The brown paper came from my office and the cute birdy paper from Paper Source, so economical. For other wrapping ideas go here!



We made Gingerbread houses at work.
Being architects we went all out, yellow snow and all!

Our completed rustic cabin. For more gingerbread construction ideas you should buy the book The Gingerbread Architect

A very talented colleauge recreated a famous SOM building in gingerbread.
The Airforce Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs.

Cocktail Party Part Deux

Okay, so hopefully you read my previous post where I mused about becoming the hostess of the century, throwing lavish parties and pulling together casual soirees with the flick of my wrist at a moments notice.  But seriously, we should continue where I left off. 

I hope you have set up and stocked your holiday bar by now with all of the essentials.  Now you need to serve those cocktails.  There are all sorts of rules and thoughts about what glasses are appropriate for each type of drink but I don't think it needs to be all that complicated.  You should own, at a minimum, some all purpose wine glasses (about 12), some low tumbler glasses (old-fashioned glass), taller high ball glasses, beer glasses (pint) and if you want some cocktail glasses.  

I was out shopping the other day and I went into The Hour Shop  in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  They sell a great assortment of vintage & new bar ware, glasses, trays, tools, etc.  This would be a fabulous place to pick up a gift for that hostess / friend who has everything.  I would relish anything from this store (hint, hint)!  

So back to your spectacular party, no bar is complete without the tools to make your lovely libations.  A beautiful bar set makes another great gift and is essential to the home bartender.  However, buyer beware, this is an area where you may want to splurge for something that is well made and will stand up to heavy use!  I trust almost anything Williams-Sonoma sells so I am recommending these bar tools and this shaker.   I am also partial to Design Within Reach so I would recommend this as well. 

Okay so your all set, right?!  Well if you are anything like me you are wondering what drinks to serve and how to make them.  I suggest that if having a small intimate party with friends you let them mix their own drinks, if your bar is well appointed then they should have no problem finding everything they need.  If you are having a larger party you may want to help serve drinks.  For this I would suggest picking one or two signature drinks of the evening and mastering these, before the party.  You could even let everyone know what you are planning to serve on the invitation, "Come Celebrate with Merry Christmas Manhattans."  There are about a million cocktail recipes I couldn't possibly begin to scratch the surface but according to the website Art of Manliness these are the top 5 classic cocktails that every man (and woman) should know how to make.

Riedel "O" Trio Wine Tumblers- 

These are great for red wine, when shopping for wine glasses pick something that is all purpose.

Set of 3, $30.00

Pottery Barn Essentials Wine Glasses 

These are great all purpose wine glasses.  Another important wine glass feature is the thickness of the lip, the thinner the lip the finer the glass and the more enjoyable to drink out of.

Pottery Barn Set of 8, $49.00

Crate & Barrel High-ball and Old-Fashioned Glass

A high ball glass is used for drinks with a liquor base and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer (think gin & tonic or jack & coke).  An old fashioned or low ball glass is a tumbler used for drinks on the rocks (with ice)

$6.95 each

Williams - Sonoma Dorset Highball and Old Fashioned Glasses

These have great styling and have a very hefty weight to them.

Highball Set of 4, $88.00  Double Old Fashioned Set of 4, $72.00

Pottery Barn - PB Classic Stemware Martini Glass

This cocktail glass, often called a martini glass has classic proportions.

Set of 6, $21.00

Pottery Barn - British Pint Glass

I absolutely love this pint glass, it has the measurement markings that are required by law in all British pubs!

Set of 6, $28.00

The Cocktail Party

Picture this....in a by gone era couples gather casually in each other's living rooms or front yards in their suburban neighborhoods, drinks in hand to gossip about the neighbors or compare golf scores.

Now I'm not advocating we all move to the suburbs, start a family, get dogs and start the inevitable heavy drinking - but I am advocating the return of the cocktail and the cocktail party. I often contemplate what it would have been like to live in the early 60's a la Mad Men. Would I have been a chic housewife like Betty or a working woman like Joan? Regardless of my career situation, my 60's fantasy always includes me as the ultimate hostess at my very own cocktail party. Dutifully freshening guests' drinks while laughing at witty stories among friends.

My 60's bar, complete with cigarettes and spam.

Then I snap out of it and wonder why young people don't get together in this way as frequently anymore? In this age of cell phones, text messaging & twitter updates are we just too busy to commit to something as concrete as (oh no!!) a relaxed evening with friends? Does it always have to be "hey, I might stop by so and sos bar tonight, if I'm not too overbooked that is."

Why don't you start a new tradition with your friends. Invite everyone over for casual cocktails on a tuesday night, or make it an event on a Saturday. All you have to do is create the perfect bar and set the mood. In the next couple weeks I'll post about all of the essentially for hosting a fabulous cocktail party! But if you need immediate advice don't hesitate to call.

Setting Up Your Bar

- Designate a bar area: you don't have to have a real bar but having everything you need in a beautiful set-up will make your like easier and impress your guests. A side table or even an area on your bookshelf could work well.

- Stock your bar with all the essentials. This is an investment to be sure, but you will be able to host plenty of small gatherings with this supply. Also, you could always ask your guests to bring something to share.

I love the idea of putting all the liquors in a large low basket. It keeps everything organized and can be a year round accessory.

Bar Essentials List:

Liquor

blended whiskey
sour mash whiskey
bourbon
brandy
champagne
gin
vodka
tequila
vermouth (dry & sweet)
scotch
rum
liqueures (coffee, orange, cherry)
sherry (dry & sweet)

Mixers

tonic
club soda
ginger ale
cola
fruit juice (pineapple, orange)
bottled water
sparkling water

A beautiful summery bar.

I picture this bar surrounded by deep chestnut leather sofas and a crackling fireplace.

Stay Tuned for Cocktail Parties Part II

Sneak Peak

Sorry this is a short post. I am working on something for tomorrow that I hope you will like. Here is a little hint...it has to do with the characters below and bringing back a party from the past!