Savvy Weddings!

I'm a firm believer that everyone can benefit from Martha Stewart and her creative team's design ideas. If you're planning a wedding or if you're just looking for some beautiful inspiration (think centerpieces, Hors d'Oeuvres, decorations, stationery and gorgeous photography) for your next event, pick up a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings, Collector's Edition.

Savvy Inspiration!

Carolyne Roehm's A Passion for Parties is extremely inspiring. I love flipping through her books because I always discover an idea I didn't see before.

Savvy Drinks!

Cooking Light June 2005

Here's a fun drink just in time for the 4th of July, the Kiwi Colada. I love that it is served in a shot glass. Imagine offering your guests one of these when they arrive for your outdoor soiree! Very Savvy!

Savvy Paper!

I just love stationery! And I especially adore the Vera Wang Parasol (middle row, far right) collection.

Savvy Blog Post!

It's not always pretty paper and beautiful flowers that inspire my events. Take a look at this blog...I just love it! Here's one of my favorite posts. I can see hosting a wonderful garden party in late summer at this home... absolutely beautiful things: Nappa Valley Weekender.

Savvy Ice Cream!

Are you looking for a savvy way to serve ice cream? Williams-Sonoma has these adorable ice cream sandwich molds. They even offer a yummy recipe on the website. These would be perfect at a child's birthday party as an alternative to one big birthday cake!

Savvy Cakes!

For the "Do It Yourself" bride, Gail Watson is making it easy to bake and decorate your own wedding cake. With her Cake Kits, brides can select from over 15 different designs (my favorite is the Tara, of course) that come complete with instructions and all the necessary tools to complete the look.

Going Green Parties!

· Buy locally grown food products such as produce and dairy for your next event. Farmers Markets and gourmet food stores offer a wide variety of locally grown products.

· Select centerpieces that can be transplanted from the table to the garden. Instead of fresh cut flower centerpieces, consider purchasing topiaries or ferns for dramatic flair.

· To conserve paper, write your menu on small chalk tablets that can be placed at each table or strategically distribute large chalk boards around the room near clusters of tables.

· Print your invitation on plantable paper.

· Try organic wines as an earth-friendly alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages.

· Hosting a large event and concerned about all the excess trash? Encourage your guests to recycle by offering contains for all recyclable products.

· Consider having a composting bin for food scraps and coffee grounds. If you don’t personally compost, there are many organizations such as garden clubs and organic farmers that will happily take the items off your hands.

· Consider the energy used for lighting, entertainment, and food prep. Opt to host your event by candle or LED lamp light, have the entertainment perform “unplugged” or purchase your food locally to avoid extra carbon emissions caused by long transports.

· Use cloth napkins (make sure they're 100% organic cotton) as well as reusable place settings.

· Eliminate excess packaging by buying in bulk when possible. Think of all the items you will need including beverages, condiments and any items that would normally be wrapped individually.

· Buffets are a great way to eliminate excess and offer a good opportunity to use refillable or reusable containers.

· Need a cool “green” party favor? Try giving your guests a subscription to Green Dimes. This organizations helps you stop junk mail and plants 10 trees in your honor. Other options include a copy of The Lazy Environmentalist by Josh Dorfman or It’s Easy Being Green by Crissy Trask.

· Go for the “green” clean sweep and use environmentally friendly dish soaps and detergents for your party cleanup.

Savvy Napkins!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to fold napkins into beautiful shapes? If so, check out David Stark's newest book, Napkins With A Twist, an educational and visually stunning piece. The book features over 40 different napkin folds. My two favorites are the Ripple and the Gift Roll. Use this book to learn a new fold for Wowing! guests at your next dinner party

Kid's Party!

Summer is a great time to throw a children’s party. Here are a few tips for making it a savvy little soiree!

~ Invite children to an outdoor scavenger hunt. Remember, the invitation sets the tone, so get creative! One fun idea is to create an invite that looks like a mysterious note by using the font style Earwig Factory found in most Microsoft Office applications. To enhance the Wow! factor use a different color for each letter. Glue it to a bright piece of construction paper and cut into puzzle pieces. Mail the invitation in a manila envelope and address the front using the same font style.

~ During the party it’s important to keep the energy and excitement levels high. I love to set up entertainment “stations” and have an adult supervise the activities. Some options include craft stations (make sure the crafts are age appropriate), sack races, scavenger hunts, and a DJ booth.

~ Do you need a party favor that will be a hit with the kids as well as the parents? Everyone will love small photo boxes filled with craft supplies! Some of my favorite items to include are: stickers, notepads, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, chalk, markers, ribbon, rubber stamps, ink pads, erasers, and kid-friendly scissors. The best part, busy parents can make just one stop at a craft store and get all these items.

~ For a party favor that’s a bit more personal, monogram aprons for each child. The aprons can be purchased from the craft store for less the $5 each and can be monogrammed for about the same price.

~ Are you worried the little ones will mess up your new coffee table? Never fear, just stop by the local teacher supply store and buy some bulletin board paper to cover up your good surfaces. Most stores sell it by the yard so you can get as much or as little as you need. Put out a bucket of colored chalk (much easier to clean up) and watch the little Picassos emerge.

~ Who doesn’t love a game of Candy Land?! Create your own version by drawing out or masking off an area on the sidewalk. Be sure and offer prizes along the way as well as a grand prize.

~ Make the food fun, after all kids love miniatures of their favorite foods! Sam’s sells mini hamburgers by White Castle and you can make the french fries fun by placing them in colorful cones. Just take a sheet of construction paper and cut it into an 8 x 8 square. Roll into a cone shape and secure the seam with double sided tape. Add the fries and Wow!…you’ve got a fun kid size treat!

~ Every child has been to a party that has a candy bar full of assorted colorful candies. Why not shake things up and offer a popcorn bar at your next party? Just stop by your local popcorn shop or order 3-5 gourmet flavors off of the internet. Be sure to provide scoops and small lunch sacks for individual portions. Give the kids stickers to jazz up their bags.

~ Kids like to get in on the action so instead of one big birthday cake offer each child their own mini cake that they can decorate. Pick up some bright colored icing pens and lots of miniature candies. For less mess, put the first full coat of icing on the cakes yourself and refrigerate overnight.

Watch: Red, White, and Blue

Red, White and Blue!

The savvy party starts with a great invitation. Get guests jazzed up with a BBQ coaster invite from Plum Party.

If traditional “Stars and Stripes” aren’t your thing, stay true to the Red, White and Blue by using modern elements in your décor. When you’re planning your table décor, add some sass by using blue and white zebra striped plates from West Elm atop a “Snap-A-Party” plastic ware.

Don’t limit your creativity to just the place settings. Branch out with modern DIY floral centerpieces in monochromatic colors.

You can always spruce up inexpensive cloth napkins by having catchy words embroidered on the corner such as: Freedom, Liberty, Justice, etc.

Name each table after one of the Founding Fathers or frame patriotic quotes on each table to remind your guests of the reason we celebrate the 4th of July.

The 4th of July is a time for celebration so bring your “good stuff” outside by using your crystal, silver and china.

Champagne Toasts are a great way to kickoff any party! For the 4th of July, read a passage from the Declaration of Independence and then offer a toast. This is a great opportunity to tell your guests how much you appreciate their friendship and their coming to your home.

Place baskets of “city approved” fireworks around the yard so your guests can enjoy them when the mood strikes. Roman candles, sparklers, smoke bombs, and growing snakes are always good options. Be sure to provide plenty of lighters as well as buckets of sand so guests can easily extinguish fireworks. (It also makes the cleanup easy!)

Commemorate the occasion by giving guests a star-shaped ornament as a party favor. (Craft stores carry generic ornaments all year long.) Using a Sharpie pen, write the guests name as well as the date on the bottom of the ornament.

Watch: Father's Day Ideas

Father's Day Tips and Gift Ideas!

• Start by setting a masculine table with a few of his favorite things.

• Use luxe linens in dark masculine colors such as a navy satin table cloth and accent the place settings with manly napkin rings such as a metal link alligators.

• For the centerpiece focus on an outdoor theme using such rustic items as branches, twigs, and feathers.




• Keeps dad’s favorite drink choices close at hand by placing them around the centerpiece. Doing so keeps everyone seated and provides more time with the guest of honor.

• Men like to use the good china too! Make sure you pull out the heavy weighted crystal and more masculine china pattern. Anything too delicate with take away from the theme.

• To pull the look together use bamboo chairs and rustic menu cards.

Gift Ideas Dad Will Love

For the Hunter
• A monogrammed hunting bag from King Ranch

For the Big Hearted
• “Hidden Message” collar stays from Red Envelop

For the King of the Grill
• Monogrammed stainless steel grill set from Williams-Sonoma

For the Foodie
• Gourmet biscotti from Dunkluv

For the Gadget Guru
• A Slingbox from Slingbox Media

For the Adventurer
• Texas Driving Experience from Texas Motor Speedway

For the Athlete
• Nike+ Sports Band from Nike

For the Preppy Dresser
• Brown Crocodile Driver from Prada

For the Golf Lover
• Trophy Club Ticket to the 2008 Senior Open at The Broadmoor

For the Traveler
• Box set of City Travel Guides by LUXE City Guides

Staying Cool At Your Next BBQ!

• Offer guests iced towels to keep them cool. Purchase inexpensive washcloths in bright summer colors. Dip them in water and wring out the excess. Roll up and place in the freezer to chill. Before guests arrive transfer the small towels to a beautiful silver bucket with ice. Display near the drinks for easy accessibility. Be sure to provide a basket for guests to drop their used towels.

• For a backyard soiree rent small fans with misters. Place them behind shrubs and potted plants to reduce their visibility and add a soft “wind in the trees” effect.

• Offer plenty of nonalcoholic to guests. Bottled water and lemonade are very refreshing in the summer. Set up a drink station with festive garnishes such as lemons, limes, mint, and frozen berries. Don’t forget the drink umbrellas!

• Ask your guests to arrive at dusk/sunset. Everyone looks gorgeous in that light and it starts to cool down.

• Few things are more refreshing than homemade ice cream. Offer guests liquors as an alternative to traditional toppings. Serve in chilled antique brandy glasses.

• For BBQ party favors, give each guest the recipe for your homemade ice cream as well as the main ingredients needed, so they can make it for themselves at home.