Monster Mash

You’re dressed up in costume, the jack-o-lantern is lit, and you have candy waiting by the door for the trick-or-treaters to fill their bags with. Perfect night? Well, good enough. You know what would be better, a monster mash themed party. The great part about this theme is that you can transform it into a Halloween gala or a flock party. It even is so versatile sit can be adults only, kids only or a family party.  Forget the traditional orange and black color theme for this party, we’re going purple, green and black for this monster mash. 

 

 

There are a wide variety of snacks and treats you can use for your Halloween themed monster mash party. To replicate the picture above dip Oreos in white chocolate and then drizzle more white chocolate again for some mummy pops. Some other great chocolate and cookie ideas come from treats my mom makes every year, except this year, mine must have gotten lost in the mail (I know you’re reading this)! Dip Oreos (the orange center ones are the best) in orange chocolate and draw in milk chocolate your scariest jack-o-lantern faces on them, once you’re done with those use Nutterbutter cookies and dip them halfway in white chocolate and draw two eyes and a mouth, there you have yourself a ghost. These treats are easy to make and simply delicious, something your guests will go crazy for. Add some Halloween themed music and you have yourself a monster mash!

I can’t share more with you, I have to run…the trick or treaters are here! Have a safe and Happy Halloween! 

p.s. stay tuned for my next post on the biggest party city in the country. can you guess it?

party on xoxo,

jd 

Hayrides and Pumpkin Pies

It’s that time of year again when Starbucks adds Pumpkin Spice Latte to the menu, you start unpacking your cozy sweaters, apple picking trips are on Saturdays agenda and football takes up your Sunday afternoon (whether you like it or not). Autumn is one of my all time favorite times of year, especially when the weather really starts to become crisp and you can hear the leaves crunching under your Uggs. It’s also the perfect time to throw a party, a harvest fest to be precise. 

Think apples, pumpkins, hayrides and cider to get this party underway. You can really take this type of party in a few different directions, it would be absolutely perfect for a Saturday afternoon party ending with a campfire or an evening party in the house. If your going with the afternoon harvest fest I have some ideas that are going to be better than your pumpkin spice latte. Set the yard/deck/barn whatever area you have to work with as a rustic fall theme, to do that I would suggest getting a few barrels of hay as your seating for your guests. If you have the access to some picnic tables that would help add to the theme as well. If you really want to go all out see if you can get your hands on some whiskey barrels to make some really creative high top tables for guests to enjoy their cocktails and food at. Speaking of food and drink, I just tried a new fall drink…apple cider sangria, DELICIous!!

 

Here is the recipe I tried and fell in love with: 

• 1 btl pinot grigio (standard size of)
• 21/2 cups apple cider (fresh)
• 1 cup club soda
• 1/2 cup brandy (ginger)
• 3 apples (honey crisp, chopped)
• 3 pears (chopped)

Oh, how sweet it is. Food-wise be creative, and think pumpkin, and apple for dessert. How about setting up a apple dipping bar? Cut apples into wedges, put on popsicle sticks and have dipping stations with carmel, chocolate and any other sauces you may want your guests to indulge in. 

 

Once you’ve served food, cocktails and played some games (think cornhole) setup a nice campfire and let your guests FALL in love with your party. 

Party on. xoxo,

jd 

 

I party with Gatsby

I recently rented the new Leo (. movie, The <a class="zem_slink"
title="The Great Gatsby" href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-

F-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/0743273567%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0743273567″ target=”_blank” rel=”amazon”>Great Gatsby, at first I was not to sure if it would be something I would enjoy – turns out I watched it twice in one weekend and am itching to see it again. Maybe it’s because…”I love large parties, they are so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy” (one of my many favorite quotes of the movie).

On a serious note, I am beyond excited to share with you my Gatsby themed party ideas…the next party I have is going to be right out of the roaring 20’s. Let’s start with our snail mail invites…grab a thick gold marker and some nice white black postcards and hand write your invites in Venetian style script. Remember, not just everyone gets invited to party with Gatsby. Your guests will love this little touch from the movie. Make sure you add a note to your guests on the invitation, dress to impress. You wouldn’t show up to Gatsbys New York style mansion under dressed and not ready to party, would you? I think not.

You can really play with the theme here to get your guests feeling like they’ve just stepped into the 20’s. Set your tables with dark table cloths and add gold accents and centre pieces to add a pop of class. Throw up a few strands of lights to soften the mood and add to your theme. Make sure you have plenty of champagne flutes to go around because no Gatsby party would be without the bubbly. If you want to get real fancy and fun start a champagne tower for guests cause at Gatsby’s it’s always time to grab champagne and head out to the dance floor. Speaking of drinks, I have a few other bar menu items you may want to try to mimic the time period. Offer a nice Old Fashioned (whiskey, seltzer, angostura bitters & sugar cube), let your guests sip a Sidecar (Cognac, Cointreau, fresh lemon Juice with a sugar rim) or sweeten them up with a Mary Pickford (White Rum, pineapple juice, grenadine) – all of these bar menu items are 20’s approved and made to impress.

Food-wise, think fancy finger foods…shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, you get the idea. Allow your guest to have something to pick on throughout the night. If you’re leaning more towards a sit down dinner make (or cater) your favorite chicken dish and name it probation chicken. Creative, I know.

I could go on and on and on about some great ideas for this theme party, maybe after I have my own I will blog about it again. But for now, take my thoughts and ideas and add some of your personal touches. All you need are some finger foods, bubbly, some great music (I HIGHLY recommend the Gatsby movie soundtrack!) and an atmosphere where your guests think they’re at a true speakeasy.

From the words of Jay Gatsby…A little party never killed nobody.

Party on. xoxo,

jd

Annnd They’re OFF…

I desperately wanted to post this last Friday, but it has been such a busy weekend I am finally able to sit down and type away. This past Saturday was the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Track – a big deal for all the white linen suit with Vineyard Vines bow tie, Lilly Pultizer pink and green dress and oversized hat wearing individuals of the northeast. The 2 minute race creates a buzz for the entire weekend from who will win, who’s in town and of course whose party to attend. I thought I would dedicate a blog to a horse party – these ideas can be used any time of year and are especially popular for the Kentucky Derby. What I LOVE LOVE LOVE about a horse race party is that the race is short, and the party is long. It’s not like a Superbowl party where you have to have the TV on for hours and everyone is glued.

First we need to invite our guest – I found some creative invites (http://www.invitationconsultants.com) that you can snail mail to your guest (see above). Use “post time” as the date and time of the event, “trainers” as the hosts, and “track” as your address. These horse racing terms will get your guests excited about your upcoming party. And, don’t forget to remind them big fabulous hats are a must!!

The ambiance is the biggest factor for a horse race party, you not only have to set the stage but make sure you and your guests are dressed to impress for this all star event. Without exception the drink of the evening is the Mint Julep – no exceptions. The drink has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby for more than a century and on race day 120,000 drinks are served (just because we’re celebrating the Travers, Belmont or Preakness doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the Early Times drink). Here is the official recipe:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Enjoy & Drink Responsibly!

If you’re not a whiskey drinkerand don’t want to serve the Mint Julep, may I suggest some Champs with a dash of raspberry syrup. Ok, lets get to the food – finger foods are best at this type of party . But for dessert how about a rose covered cake or cupcakes to resemble to roses draped over the winning horse. You can be creative with the food – if you’re planning on have a millionares row party, incorporate fancy finger foods, if youre planning on an infield theme go with some bbq for your guests. You can really be creative.

I prefer the fancier horse race party – draping table cloths to go with the jockeys colors, covered in rose petals of course, with a giant winners trophy as your centerpiece. Enhance the night with the “best dressed”, “most creative hat” or other winning categories for your guests to compete. To make the event even more fun have you guests bet on the winning horse, you can even give the winner a prize – guests will really get competitive.

Be creative & enjoy.
I
xoxo jill

Orange you glad…

…I didn’t say banana. So you probably know, green is the color of the year but I bet you didn’t know that lovely color between red and yellow on the color wheel is the color of this coming fall. Now you know, so welcome orange. A color that radiates warmth and happiness is going to be popping up all over the fashion, designer and party world this fall. With autumn quickly approaching I thought I would give you a sneak peek at some great party ideas for the end of summer soiree you are planning or a head start for your harvest fest. 

My number one favorite way to incorporate orange into any party is simple, fun & makes an impact. Who lovesss orange soda? (brings you back to your childhood, doesn’t it). Serve some ice cold, old fashioned bottles of orange soda at your party – throw in an orange and white striped straw and you’ve got your non-alcholohic drink for the evening.

 

I can’t get enough of the enthusiasm that orange brings to a room, it sure is a color full of life. In fact, the color orange relates to social communication, stimulating two way conversations – it gets people thinking and talking leading to a great party! 

So add some pink to your orange theme or some pumpkins to your centerpiece and you will have a party that pops and that your guests will love. Now you tell me, do you think you’ll fall for orange? 

 

xoxo Jill 

Home Sweet Home

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend – we sure did! Saturday night our friends had a housewarming party to celebrate their new, gorgeous, and chic house in Saratoga. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. They moved up here from the south and have some great hospitality – the night consisted of a bunch of friends, hanging out by the fire, grilling and enjoying each others company. You truly can’t beat a laid back atmosphere with friends. To make the night even better, they had some of the best desserts I have ever had – coconut and chocolate pudding with raspberry or toasted almond toppings, yum! 

As a small gesture I put together a little basket of goodies for the hosts – Kentucky meets Saratoga. I purchased a nice decanter with the first letter of their last name monogramed on the front from potterybarn.com , some Bourbon infused caramel  squares and a limited edition Kentucky Derby bottle of Bourbon (can you guess, big Bourbon fans – aren’t all southerns?) and threw it together in a basket I picked up at the craft store. It was a big hit, what do you think? 

Loved the party, meeting new friends and they even sent out an invite through old fashion snail mail (bonus bonus- I love it). Here’s to a great week. Enjoy! xoxo Jill 

Please Mr. Postman

Okay, so it’s time to plan your summer BBQ – how are you going to invite your guests? You can instantly press a button and invite them or take the time to lick some envelopes and reach them a week later. Decisions, Decisions.

I am a huge advocate of snail mail for special events of all kinds (pig roasts to formal weddings). I get enough e-mails, texts, twitter notifications for a small army. I don’t want your Evite or Facebook event to get lost in the shuffle. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE to snoop on who is and isn’t attending and who is a maybe going to grace the party with their presence. By the way, “maybe” attending is not proper etiquette – not pinky’s up kind of proper but eating with your hands at the Ritz proper – you just don’t do it. Either inform the host if you are or aren’t going to be there, stop waiting to see which of your friend, enemy or secret crush is going. Back to my point, sending snail mail has a way of making us feel important. It could be the feel of the paper, the look of the ink or the shape of the envelope, there is no way to compete with fine stationary. Some of my favorite sites for ordering printed invitations are tinyprints.com and minted.com (although they mostly focus on wedding invites they have some fabulous styles). For all of you tree huggers out there – don’t worry I am still not a complete downer on the digital invites, evite.com just launched some new designer designs that can add some elegance to your inbox.

Bottom line is, send the invite however your heart desires but just make sure there’s a party going on.

xoxo Jill