Party Planners

The ABCs of NYE

Scotch Mommy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:15:00 GMT

The most memorable nights out are often those sprung from total spontaneity. But, let’s be frank, at this time of year if you want to throw a smashing holiday or New Year's Eve party, you’ll have to get off your derrière and do a bit more than rely on a collision of the merrymaking stars. There’s no military precision or atom-splitting concentration needed here, just a dollop of basic planning that will set you and your guests on the path to a memorable affair.

There are a few key steps to be taken to ensure a brilliant bash, so get out your calendars, synchronize your watches and get planning.

Four Weeks Before: Select the date, theme, location and send invite

Gone are the days when a simple email sent round to your mates entitled "Party. My place. Tomorrow." would yield a good turnout and great party. These days people burdened with multiple commitments (jobs, kids, pets, in-laws – don’t read too much into the ordering) need a hefty amount of notice before scheduling a rendezvous with le toilet, never mind a social gathering. And in this season of competing fêtes, sending an invitation three to four weeks in advance is considered sensible (FYI: The Emily Post Institute insists on a month).

This would also be the time to choose a theme for your party. Let’s face it, nobody wants to be told at 11pm the night before the do that you’re actually holding a New Years Eve toga party. Such folly would find you awash in a sudden flurry of ‘sorry, I can’t make it, I just remembered my cat feels ill’ messages. So, save on postage (can you remember the last time you licked a stamp?) and email invitations that clearly specify the date, time, location and dress code for your party. In light of the current economic slump, some themes you might consider: Recession Chic or Recession not Depression. Ask all Recessionistas to channel their inner Scarlett O’Hara and advise them that dressing in their dining room curtains is A-OK. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Two Weeks Before: Think about the menu, music, decorations and drinks

It’s never too early to start thinking about food, music, décor, bevies and picking up a few odds and ends. If you’re having a smaller, more intimate gathering, you will probably want to consider a meal more substantial than ketchup-flavoured chips and vodka tonics. That said, dinner doesn’t have to be over the top; consider the theme and inject some humour into your choices. For example, with tongue firmly in cheek, serve Credit Crunchies (instead of Blondies) or Black Sundaes (Oreo cookie ice cream with chocolate sauce) for dessert.

As for the music, you’ll want to start getting your iPod or CDs in order and develop a play list. There’s nothing worse than a Celine Dion ballad suddenly popping up just after a thumping AC/DC tune, unless of course the aim was to get your tipsy sister to stop sliding across the floor on her knees. Therefore, include a good mix of music like the chill out sounds of Hotel Costes or Café del Mar, and upbeat music from The Ting Tings or The Black Kids to get your guests on to the dance floor. You might also consider asking your struggling musician/waiter friend if they’d like to get some exposure and put on a free NYE gig in your living room.

Get creative with drinks and decorations. Because one or two cocktails per guest might not cut it in this time of economic downturn and redundancies, lift the mood with a few good old fashioned retro punch bowls brimming with sangria. It will also be slightly easier on your wallet than spirits! Or ask guests to bring half the ingredients of a lager shandy – either beer or Sprite/7up. It will surely add up to plenty of shandy to go around once each guest turns up. And remember, it would be considered a faux pas to neglect the designated drivers in the crowd. Ensure there is a good mix of virgin cocktails on hand to get their minds off the fact that they’ll be the only people there not slurring their words or tucking their skirts into their pantyhose after a trip to the loo. As for the decorations, you’ve no idea how simple it is for a single disco ball to turn the hum-drum into a hoedown in seconds. Throw in mistletoe here, a poinsettia there, and splash around some left over Christmas tree tinsel and the décor is complete. Remember, this time of year provides us with license to be tacky and garish.

The Week Before:

Scan the number of RSVPs and ensure you have purchased enough snacks and the ingredients for meals if you are cooking. If you are not cooking, call the person that is catering the do and make sure all is on track. If all is not on track, you may now begin to drink heavily.

The Night Before:

Liberally tinsel-fy your home or party location. With sweeping movements, push all clutter, old newspapers, dirty laundry and dusty-tumbleweeds the size of John Wayne into closets and beneath beds.

The Day Of:

Relax, accept, enjoy. There isn’t anything else you can possibly do to rectify anything that has gone wrong at this point.

The Aftermath:

With the debauchery behind you and a stonking headache upon you, you have now been left with what seems like a week’s worth of cleaning up. So clear your conscience and call your local Molly Maid or, if you live in the Greater Toronto Area, hire the services of The Green Maid, a cleaning company that only uses biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products. If, on the other hand, the festivity has left you skint, and frankly, you are finding it hard to give a damn about the cleanup, well, like Scarlett, just tell yourself that you will think about that tomorrow.

Written by: Anne Marie Kirsten

Real Housewives of Atlanta Style

Guest Blogger — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:18:00 GMT

If you’re like most Slice girls, you’ve been counting the days until the return of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. New York may have its uptown divas, and the O.C. its golden tanned trophy wives but you’ve seen nothing until you’ve met the over-achieving ball-busters of Atlanta. Wealthy, beautiful and in demand on everybody’s social calendar, these women know how to party. To celebrate the return of Sheree, Lisa, DeShawn, Kim and NeeNee some good ol’ southern hospitality is in order.

Let’s throw a party these Georgia peaches would approve of!

Velvet Rope Time

Girlfriends, it’s time to make like the Real Housewives and put a shout out to your clique – THE party of the season is on the cards. Dare to pass up this occasion and fear being the subject of the most unflattering gossip! Add only the people you deem worthy and the most Housewives-esque to your exclusive guest list. With a cheeky nod to this reality series abd the bitching bonanza it’s famous for, send out your party invites as gossipy emails. Paper invites are so 2003 and bad for the environment – aren’t all Real Housewives charitable and forward thinking when it comes to parties, not to mention our planet? No? Well, if the only green they care about is related to counting Benjamins, I’m not surprised!

Party Central

Your party’s venue ideally should be the best looking and roomiest home amidst your clique. Only the best for your girls, right? With all the southern charm you can muster, sweet talk your friend with the coolest abode into turning their home into party central. In exchange for hosting this peachy bash, pledge to take care of all the prep so your designated hostess isn’t imposed upon. Southern ladies may be ultra competitive but they also know when to roll up their designer sleeves and help a girlfriend out especially when everyone benefits from the result.

With your location in the bag, it’s time to consider all the visual bells and whistles that shout out PARTY. On this occasion, you and your Prada wallet are in luck. Save your pennies and don’t worry about excessive festive decorations – you, party gals ARE the decorations! No need for tacky party store banners and coordinated embellishments, you and your girlfriends serve as the evening’s beautification. Make like the Atlanta housewives and vie to be the centre of attention. All eyes (and tomorrow’s gossip) will be on you – speaking of which…

Channel the Housewives

Southern belles know how to dress. Sweet and all Gone with the Wind demure? Couldn’t be farther from the truth! To party with the Atlanta in-crowd it’s hip and happening all the way. Leave behind your flats, comfy jeans and tees, and pull on that strapless gown and sky-high heels. Like your Real Housewives party idols, you must be on trend and look well-put together even if your outfit is not sit down-friendly. Tonight’s mantra: Fashion before comfort. Your aim is to out-chic everyone else in the room in true Housewives style. Do not be afraid to upstage your girlfriends. They’ll be doing the same!

Songs of the South

Atlanta is an eclectic hot bed for groove-worthy musical talent. Cat Power, TLC, Outcast, Gladys Knight, Ludacris, the Black Crowes, the B52s all hail from the Peach State’s capital. With such a stellar line up of musical gems, your bash will be buzzing with an on-theme soundtrack featuring ear candy for all musical appetites.

Southern Comfort – Food

For a true taste of the south, your Real Housewives of Atlanta bash must feature delicious edible delights. Time to leave your diets at the door, ladies! The backbone of Georgia cuisine – fried chicken and barbecue! Toss in biscuits, grits, plenty of fresh local produce and peach pie (a State fave!) to your menu, and you’ll have celebrity chef and Atlanta native, Paula Deen clamouring for an invite. Wash it all down with a famous Georgia Mint Julep. Designated drivers can imbibe an ice cold Coca Cola, a beverage with a long, illustrious Atlanta history.

Parting Gifts

Once the last slice of peach pie is devoured and the Mint Julep bar has run dry, it’s time to call this party a smashing success! Make sure that every attendee disappears into the night with a luscious goodie bag chock full of treats from your favourite cosmetics counter. What better way to keep yourself in their gossip good books than to offer up a souvenir that makes friends and enemies all look good.

Written By: Jackie Middleton

For more, please check out Jackie’s blog at www.losethatgirl.com/

The Real Housewives of Atlanta return to Slice for Season 3 Saturday, January 22, @ 8pm ET. Miss an episode? Be sure to catch it in the slice.ca video centre!

Your Very Own Green Birthday

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Surely, by now you’re recycling regularly and grocery shopping with an eco-friendly tote in hand, so it only makes sense that your birthday gets the same environmentally conscious treatment.

The Invite
Browse Etsy.com for a variety of stationery, like greetings made from 100% recycled card stock by the Nifty Pear, or plant-able cards (that contain wildflower seeds) from Grace Graphics. Tip: Search on the keyword “ecoetsy” to find more sellers who are dedicated to reducing, reusing, and recycling in their products.

The Décor
Create a centrepiece with organic and fair-trade flowers from Eco Flora. Set the table with napkins made of hemp and cotton from Branch and bamboo placemats from Linens ‘n Things. Sound smart: Bamboo is actually a type of grass and is fast-growing and renewable, making it an ideal material for everything from fabric to flooring.

The Menu
President Choice’s PC Organics line offers cannelloni, cookies, and other good stuff that the company says are made with “holistic agricultural practices.” Or get your apron on and whip up something healthy by searching on the word “organic” at foodnetwork.ca. Sound smart: The meaning of the term “organic” in reference to food means no pesticides or additives were used in its production.

For dessert, sip coffee from Canadian fair-trade roaster Just Us!, while nibbling organic, hand-dipped truffles from the Kakayo Chocolate Company. Sound smart: Fair trade cuts out the middlemen and allows producers who might otherwise be exploited to receive a fairer price for their goods.

Party Favours
Aside from the planet-saving pat on the back guests will be giving themselves after eating organic chocolate, give them a little something to take home, like Herbal Lip Elixir from Pharmacopia’s line of natural body care. Or browse Ebay for vintage costume jewellery that can be given new life on a stylish friend.

What to Wish For…
Don’t get so caught up in helping the environment that you forget to ask for some gifts.

Your bookshelf: Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products and Services in Canada by Adria Vasil includes the best green products and services (available at amazon.ca).

Your beauty bag: FutureNatural.com is the organic version of an online beauty department store. Among other eco-friendly practices, the company uses only recycled packaging supplies and the product lines featured here give the scoop on their manufacturing processes.

Or browse though Sephora.com’s “Natural & Organic” product category, which includes everything from Stella McCartney’s Care line to Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Moisturizer.

Your closet: Heartonyoursleeve.ca’s collection of sustainable style, which includes clothing and bags, or Oqoqo’s line of organic clothing (created by Lululemon).

Your karma: Because it can’t be about you all the time. Ask for a gift card from Canadahelps.org to spend on the charity of your choice.

By: Christine Walewski

Sweet Reading

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Put together two awesome activities—eating and reading—for the best party ever

There’s nothing like using a get-together with friends as an excuse to eat. Add a book and you can explain away eating a lot of baked goods as being intellectual. Here’s a book club idea that’s sure to inspire conversation and satisfy everyone’s chocolate cravings.

The Recommended Reads
In your 20s: I Was Told There’d Be Cake is Sloane Crossley’s collection of essays on life’s embarrassing and entertaining mishaps. Get the discussion going with your own memories of why you’re glad you’re not in your 20s anymore. If you are in your 20s, a lot of this stuff is still happening to you so you’ll have plenty to work with.

And beyond: Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray is the story of a desperate housewife who bakes to relieve stress, but ends up using it to claim a long-neglected side of herself. Get the discussion going with what your next career would be if you decided to start your own business. The main character’s love of baking will also inspire you.

The Invite
Send out an e-vite a month in advance so everyone has time to read the book. Prefer snail mail’s personal touch? The “You Deserve Cake” card from Pepperina Press is perfect. It’s possible that not everyone loves carrot cake as much as you do, so list a few dessert options and request that guests e-mail you their faves. Or make it a potluck and ask everyone to bring their favourite dessert.

The Décor
The guest of honour in this case is the food so be sure to have dessert plates on hand, like Thomas Paul’s Doily Melamine plate set (about $45; fredflare.com) or Rosanna Inc.’s Cupcake plates (about $40; rosannainc.com). Serve goodies on Ikea’s 365+ three-tiered serving tray ($17; ikea.ca).

Movies to play in the background: Marie Antoinette (the queen of “Let them eat cake”), Waitress (a cynical waitress whips up goodies like “I hate my husband” pie) or Chocolat (great news: chocolate can cure anything!).

The Desserts
The best part! Look locally for treats to serve up and plan a couple weeks ahead just in case the bake shop you like requires you to pre-order cakes or cupcakes. Some spots to try where you live:

Toronto: Dessert Trends or The Cupcake Shoppe
Montreal : Crazy About Cupcakes or Pâtisserie de Gascogne
Vancouver: Cupcakes by Heather & Lori or Notte's Bon Ton Pastry & Confectionery Ltd.
Calgary: Buttercream Bake Shoppe

If you’d rather make your own, try decadent recipes from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O’Connor, Cupcakes! by Elinor Klivans, or browse through Foodtv.ca’s dessert section. Or cheat with Bundt cake mix or Sprinkles’ cupcake mixes (both available at williamssonoma.com).

Everyone will be in sugar overload so keep drinks simple: tea, coffee, and carbonated water.

The Party Favour
Once guests have had their fill, try to make them take home some of the sweets so you won’t be tempted to eat chocolate cake for dinner for the next week. And send them away with a little token like faux chocolates and truffles from Jenny B Originals or cupcake soaps from Tval Skincare.

If this article floats your boat, chances are you’ll like a lot of the other buoyant material we’ve got on the roster. Throw yourself a life preserver and hook it up with the slice.ca newsletter.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Sporty Vixen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Plan an over-the-top adult tea party

Sure, tea parties have a certain shabby chic, Queen Elizabeth-meets-your-former-five-year-old-self appeal but sipping tea, pinkies out, and acting prim and proper grows old real fast. With spring approaching, why not celebrate warm weather, blue skies, and little white rabbits with a rousing, wild version of afternoon tea?

The vision: Imagine what Martha Stewart might create on crack. I’m not suggesting that you take “high tea” literally, but use your imagination. Rent Alice in Wonderland if it helps!

The plan: Invite friends to your abode on a Saturday afternoon, post-lunch, pre-dinner. Light eaters can continue on their merry way and be fulfilled well into evening. Your ravenous friends can have a light dinner later.

This is not necessarily a ladies-only luncheon, although it can be. But with the boozy tea and kitschy party snacks, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is man-friendly for sure.

Drinks: No matter how far you stray from a traditional tea party, this is still a tea party so teapots and cups and saucers are musts, as is the beverage itself. But the affair wouldn’t be called “mad” if you just drank orange pekoe with milk and sugar. Be creative and definitely consider spiking the brew. Blueberry tea with amaretto and Grand Marnier is delicious as is English breakfast with Bailey’s and apple cinnamon with peach schnapps. The key here is to mix your tea with sickeningly sweet liqueur for a disgustingly delicious sugar high reminiscent of elementary school birthday parties.

Food: Finger sandwiches are customary at tea parties as are sweets and there’s really no need to stray from that theme. Try to recreate the look of the sugary delights in Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, if you can. And that doesn’t mean baking and icing and slaving all day in the kitchen. Buy pre-made cupcakes and mini brownies and decorate them yourself. Fill sugar bowls with candy and chocolate eggs. To offset the sweet, be sure to serve scones—with jam and Devon cream, of course. If you can’t find Devon cream, buy whipping cream and whip it yourself so it’s good and thick. And prepare a mix of traditional finger sandwiches like cucumber and cream cheese and off-the-wall snacks like mini pizza pockets. Everything should be finger food. It not only looks cute and festive but it cuts back on dishes you have to clean.

Décor: Again, the idea is shabby chic gone wild, like your crazy great aunt’s house. A slightly tacky floral tablecloth is a must. And if you can get your hands on doilies or, even better, crocheted place mats and coasters, you’re set. Paper napkins in a rainbow of pastels and brights will work as well. Buy big floral arrangements but not the real fancy stuff. Pick up lots of greenery and the biggest, cheapest flowers you can find. Combine them into vases around the room and add flair with out-of-place elements like peacock feathers, fake birds, and playing cards.

Guest requests: If you’re feeling greedy, or it’s a special occasion, ask invitees to buy you a cup and saucer. There’s something charming about a mismatched tea set—and that way, you know you’ll have enough cups for everyone.

A tea party is much more fun when everyone is dressed appropriately. Request that your guests show up in Wonderland-appropriate attire. Tuxedo vests, satin gloves, crinoline, and bow ties are very much encouraged as are top hats, of course.

Written by: Vanessa Grant

Landmark Birthday Party

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Make this one special

We’ve all been to a lacklustre birthday party or two. When the disappointment of a crappy party makes everyone feel uncomfortable, it’s a horrible way to celebrate a birthday, and it’s quite traumatizing for the birthday boy or girl, too. Despite what your mom might say, no one wants to celebrate her 50th without some fanfare, even if she swears that she doesn’t want a party. This is a trap, folks! If you don’t throw a party, be prepared for subtle guilt trips for an indefinite period of time. Whether your boyfriend’s almost 30 or your mom’s turning 60, here are some pointers on how to make their special days a memorable, un-embarrassing, guilt-free blast.

Venue

Securing a venue is your first course of action, not only because you need to let people know where the party will be, but because you need to figure out how many people can fit in the space, what the costs will be, et cetera. Choose a location for the party that’s special and is a place that your loved one will really like. It could be at a friend’s place, your place, a restaurant she goes to on a regular basis, whatever. Just make sure you finalize your decision and book what you need well in advance. Please, please, please don’t choose a place where there are horses, duels and people throwing food on the ground whilst calling their servers wenches. One doesn’t really want to simultaneously eat dinner and smell horse manure on one’s birthday.

The Invitees

Go over the party list with the birthday girl or boy’s best friend or significant other just to make sure everyone who should be invited is invited, and those who shouldn’t aren’t. Let’s face it, it’s not a whole lot of fun to spend your birthday with people you don’t like – even if it seems impolite to leave people out.

The Invite

Choose an invitation that suits your friend/significant other/family member. This will get the invitees excited for the event and may even be something they’d like to keep as a memento. If your mom’s a real wise-ass, go to someecards.com and send a funny evite to all the guests. If she’s more traditional, get some proper invites and mail them out like they did in the old days, before Paris Hilton was old enough to get arrested for drunk driving. Either way, adding a personal touch always does the trick.

Food

Do your best to create a snack menu that includes a best hits assortment of your beloved’s favourite foods – this will absolutely delight the birthday girl or boy. If her favourite food is Chinese food, find a place that caters or try making some spring rolls and fried rice with your team of party planners. If your boyfriend is the birthday boy and his favourite meal is a tuna sandwich with barbecue potato chips sprinkled on top, make a bunch of miniature tuna-potato chip sandwiches for the crowd to enjoy. It might sound disgusting to you, but everything’s both easier to swallow and cuter to look at in small doses, and if you’ve used some quality ingredients (go for the fancy bread and the expensive potato chips), it may turn out to be tastier than you think. It’s not a bad idea to have a few things on the menu that have a broader appeal.

Music

Music is a very important player in the overall enjoyment factor of the party. Music will mask any kind of lull, and we all know how lame it is when suddenly all goes quiet at a party. No need to hear a pin drop, just crank up the tunes. And play your loved one’s favourites. You may not like the Bee-Gees, but it’s not your birthday, is it? It’s perfectly fine to throw some tunes in that you like, but remember, it’s her day.

Drinks

Again, stick with your loved one’s favourites. Her fave drink will be everyone’s by the end of the night. As with the food, it’s important to ensure there’s a little variety—not everyone likes a Rusty Nail. It’s also a good idea to appoint someone to serve drinks for the night. If you can, try to hire someone. That way no one will be bitter for having to stand around making chit-chat with Aunt Ramey about her goiter all night.

Remember: details, details, details

It’s all about the details and it’s the little things that count, especially on this big day. All the effort you put into the details of the party will mean more to your loved one because of the thought you put into it. And have some fun with it!

Written by: Sasha Bogin

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Guitar Hero Rock Band Extravaganza

Scotch Mommy — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Keep on rockin’ in the virtual world!

Unless you’ve been living in a Buddist monastery for the past year, you know that Guitar Hero and Rock Band are all the rage. But playing to your millions of fans is no fun without your trusty crew. So invite ‘em over for a rockin’ good time.

The Evite

No point shilly-shallying around with archaic paper invitations. Get on Facebook or evite.com (for you anti-Facebook Luddite types) and throw together a fun evite. Feature a picture of you rocking out on your plastic guitar or something equally enticing to get your friends to come—as if anyone needs enticement to exercise their inner rock star.

The Theme

This party is obviously going to be very rock n’ roll/geek chic. Marry the two better than Rivers Cuomo by decorating your rec room with Metallica and We Love Katamari posters (though we’re pressed to find We Love Katamari posters, perhaps some large hand-drawn robots would do).
Provide fun temporary tattoos, glitter wigs, and big plastic sunglasses from your local dollar store. If you’re inviting more than four people, you might want to have another area where those waiting to go onstage can chill. You can call this area “backstage” and have a separate refreshment area here.

The Food

Any geeky party needs an assortment of potato chips and orange pop à la my friends’ basements circa 1996. The rock star in you will need several kinds of beer and hard liquor strewn about as well. Your backstage area can be as decadent as you like, it depends on how far you intend to get in your game. If you’re making it all the way to the end, consider having room-temperature Evian (to bathe in later) and make sure you separate all your M&Ms by colour according to your diva band members’ preferences. Be sure to have fresh cheeses, chicken pot pies, and ribs (Mariah Carey will not perform if these aren’t backstage) and don’t forget yellow roses with red trim if any J Lo-like friends are stopping by.

Extras

Who doesn’t love a loot bag? While you’re picking up those temporary tatts at the dollar store, get a few gift bags and throw together some party favours for your friends. If you’re in a risqué mood, a little baggie with some icing sugar is sure to provide some giggles. If not, a bill for the destruction of a hotel room will do the trick. If you’re generous, little rock-inspired USB keys will surely be appreciated.

Written by: Nicolle Weeks

Red Carpet Roundup

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Diss and dismiss your least favourite celebs this Oscar season

Haven’t seen any of this year’s nominated picks? The red carpet pre-show is where it’s at anyway. Get together and critique celeb fashion faux pas in style.

The prep

Red carpet pre-shows usually begin two hours before the event itself, so have guests arrive accordingly. Place the invite in a white envelope with a red sticker sealing it, so it resembles an Oscar winner announcement.

Visit oscar.com to find out who the nominees and presenters will be. Print up lists of attendees along with space for guests to rank their style on a scale of 1 to 10 and have pencils on-hand.

Create name tags for guests that feature a photo of the Oscar-dressed celeb you think they most resemble. Be nice! Pairing someone up with Bjork’s swan dress may earn you a laugh, but it will surely knock you off their future Christmas card lists.

Make your space as comfy as possible for the mocking – make sure there are extra cushions to ensure guests can sit comfortably on the floor.

The pre-show

Keep guests entertained during commercial breaks with celeb trivia. Visit imdb.com for obscure quotes and facts from the movies nominated this year.

Keep the snacks coming. You don’t want guests to have to keep getting up and missing a moment of the evening’s festivities. Have food on hand that doesn’t require any heating up so you don’t have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Chips, candy, popcorn, dips, breads and soft drinks should all be within reach.

The prizing

Create a goody bag of knock-offs that resembles an awards gift bag. A dollar store cell phone, a gum ball machine pendant, you get the idea.

Send everyone home with a designer-inspired goodie. Visit thequeenoftarts.ca for a gingerbread version of Karl Lagerfeld, Betsey Johnson or Donatella Versace.

Collect everyone’s notes on the evening’s fashions on their way out.

The post-show wrap-up

Email guests the following day with photos of the top three best and worst outfits as voted by them the previous night. Include quotes from media critics who agreed or disagreed with them. Sometimes the results are surprising! A sure-fire winner in your books might be a ‘don’t’ on someone else’s list.

Written by: Christine Walewski

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The Non-Romantic Valentine Party

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Because love comes in platonic forms too

Don’t worry. This isn’t some love-letter-burning, ex-boyfriend-bitching, voodoo party. The non-romantic Valentine Party is about getting together with your girls to celebrate your love for each other (and possibly bitch a little).

The Date

Don’t throw your party on Valentine’s Day. Choose the Friday or Saturday of the love week so you and your guests can nurse your hangovers the next day – sugar or otherwise.

The Guest List

Be inclusive. This isn’t a sad Sally singles party. Don’t leave ladies out just because they’re coupled. Remember that you love them despite their relationship status. If they have plans with their lover, that’s okay, but you gotta throw the invite out there.

The Invites

If you’re keen and on top of your game, buy chocolate hearts and paper invites and mail each invitee a personalized love note. Request their presence and a bottle of wine or some goodies. Potluck makes the evening more interesting – and lets your guests show you how much they love you, too. If you’re a last-minute planner, an evite will suffice and will help keep track of who is bringing what.

Theme

Go traditional grade two Valentine’s party with doilies, red and pink hearts, balloons and streamers. If you have a cooperative bunch coming over, request that they wear red, pink or something printed with hearts. Plan party games. It sounds corny but after a couple of pink martinis, grade school games like pin the arrow on cupid can be fun, just don’t spin the tipsy girls too fast. Turn old board games (Candyland is ideal) into drinking games. If you’re feeling particularly corny, have your guests go around the room and share reasons why they love their friends – you in particular. Have movies like Pretty in Pink and Clueless playing on very low volume and prepare a play list of bubblegum pop music for a “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” vibe (put that song on the playlist).

Food and Refreshments

You can supply the fixings for pink martinis – cranberry juice, peach schnapps, vodka and gummy candies and pink sugar for rimming glasses – as well as snacks. Choose something fairly filling since guests will probably bring finger foods. Pizza is always an easy option whether you make it yourself with heart-shaped slices and toppings or you just order it. Ask guests to add to the bar by bringing wine or more martini ingredients or request that they bring a snack.

The Plan

Have the girls arrive around 7 or 8, with booze and snacks in hand. You’ll have enough food that no one needs to eat dinner before but hopefully you won’t need cutlery, just a cheese knife and some paper plates and napkins (dollar store finds printed with hearts are ideal). Start with drinks and filling your faces then when bellies are being rubbed, introduce the games. When the games are played out and guests are getting antsy, call some cabs and head to a bar for more drinking and some dancing. If the single girls among you are still set on finding a valentine, there will be single guys on the prowl – which of course, isn’t the point of the party (but not an unfortunate addition).

Written by: Vanessa Grant

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Valentine's Day with the Kids

Raise Money for Charity in Style

Robotic Hottie — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:18:00 GMT

Mix goodwill and pleasure

There are several ways to raise money for charity: bake sales, car washes, and eBay auctions, to name a few. But charity events garner the most success and not only raise much-needed funds, but also raise awareness for a cause. And, as any Slice girl knows, parties are a lot more fun than car washes. Chris de Eyre, president of Tempus International, a charity that helps to develop literacy programs for underprivileged youth around the world, says, “Unfortunately, people don’t go to fundraisers for the cause, they go for a good time.” As unfortunate as that may be, planning an event for your cause celebre is a great way to build a team and help out an organization that you really believe in.

“I was one of those people who said, ‘Why go to an event? Why not just use all of that money towards the charity?’” says Tralee Pearce, co-chair of Buy Design, an event that raises money for Windfall Clothing Service, a charity in Toronto that helps shelters acquire new clothing for their clients. “An event connects the charity with the community and potential donors can come out and meet everyone.”

Now that we’ve established that it’s always best to throw a party, here are the expert’s tips on making your event a success.

Gather a great group of people

The people that help you plan the event are an integral part of having a successful fundraiser. Most importantly, you need to gather people who aren’t going to bail. Make sure the people that offer their help will be able to commit their time and help when they say they will. But, just like a business, everyone should have varied skills to make the event a success.

“We have a lot of media people that help us out,” says Pearce, “and fashion people who understand good aesthetics and are able to make sure that people have a good time.”

Other great team members: some people who are good with money, some who are great organizers, and those who are stars at dealing with people and delegating.

Pick a good time and venue

Timing is everything, so hold your party when you know people are likely to attend. De Eyre strategically planned his latest event, Can I Kick It?, in mid-November. “Not much happens in November,” de Eyre says, “Summer’s over but Christmas parties haven’t started yet. People are looking for something to do.”

Also, finding a great venue is important. Make sure it’s easy to get to, it allows for lots of space for milling, chatting, and dancing. Also, if you’re going to need kitchen facilities and a back room for caterers and servers, keep that in mind. A great venue might also help you decide on a theme.

Establish a theme

Most great charity events establish a theme early on – it makes planning the event, the invites, and the food much easier. Both de Eyre and Pearce agree that everyone (men and women) loves to dress up and don’t often get the chance, so that’s a start. Can I Kick It? was held at the Bata Shoe Museum and featured a prize for best shoes.

“A theme lends itself to cute details,” says Pearce, whose annual Buy Design event is known for its yearly period themes. This April, the party will be based on Studio 54 and feature a disco theme. “Last year, we did a 20s theme, so we had charity gambling, flappers, and bottles with Xs on them.” A theme allows people to dress up and who doesn’t love posting costume-y pictures on Facebook?

The guest list

Not that you don’t love your broke friends, but you don’t want everyone attending the party to be penniless. That’s why your guest list is integral. “I made sure that the committee was made up of people that could pull in a great crowd,” de Eyre admits. He had social butterflies help out and got people like doctors and lawyers inviting their friends so that the attendees would be more likely to bid on auction items.

Remember to market yourself properly. If you have a cousin that works at a newspaper or website, make sure that she’s working every angle to get your event coverage. If your mom has a well-to-do acquaintance who loves to attend charity functions, remember to send a well-timed email to him. Send out invites and place flyers and posters where they’ll be noticed by the right people.

The truth is in the details

Paying attention to music and décor is very important if you want people to hang around and buy drinks. Pearce has a great group of crafty friends who help to make every Buy Design event look like a million bucks – even though they can only spend a couple hundred. “It’s kind of like home décor,” Pearce says, “if someone has style, he can make things look professional instead of like a school project.” Last year’s Buy Design featured Bristol Board and other dollar store finds, but no one noticed because everything was done so well. Every detail counts.

Also, when you’re booking a caterer or renting glassware and tablecloths, make sure to ask the company you’re dealing with if they give discounts to charity organizations. It helps if you can show that most of the money you raise will be going directly back into the charity.

The silent auction

A great way to get more cash after people are in the door is to hold a silent auction – usually a table featuring items that people can bid on to take home. These are items that companies donate, so all the proceeds go directly to your cause. “Most people are really generous,” says Pearce, “Sometimes you feel like you’re going around with your hand out, but it’s a great way to get the entire community involved.” Always remember to go back to the people who made donations and let them know how much money you raised and how much you appreciate their contribution.

Another thing to consider is the styling of your silent auction table. Try to get away from the boring white tablecloth with piles of items stacked up and merchandise your items like a store would. It makes attendees feel like they’re attending a professional event and it makes your items more saleable.

Written by: Nicolle Weeks

Multidenominational Holiday Party

Scotch Mommy — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:20:00 GMT

Be extra inclusive this holiday season

Who doesn’t love the holidays? They’ve got everything anyone could ever need: rampant commercialism, excessive food and alcohol intake, family drama and, of course, Jesus. But what if you aren’t a Jesus-lover? What if you love Allah or Yahweh or you’re just godless? That’s no reason to not buy a lot of stuff or become a temporary overeating alcoholic (technically, Allah lovers can’t do the alcohol thing, but I know a few who do). There are lots of different people in this great land of ours and most everyone celebrates winter festivities. Having a “Christmas party” is so twentieth century. What you need is an inclusive fête that makes everyone feel equally awesome. Enter the multidenominational holiday party.

Theme
The theme is clear—Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Eid/Winter Solstice. Duh. To pare it down a tad, winter should suffice. Snowflakes, glitter, sequins—the theme is winter wonderland. But make sure to tell everyone that they are all welcome to come celebrating his or her particular winter celebration, be it the love of a little baby saviour or eight crazy nights… you get the idea.

Invite
If at all possible, invest in the help of your friends from different cultures and creeds. Design an incredibly gaudy evite featuring a snowman decorated with your favourite religious symbols. Or I guess you could be a little more politically correct and just use snowflakes on the front of a card or something. To be honest, politically correct is also pretty twentieth century.

Décor
The décor should be “winter wonderland,” one hundred percent. Do an icy blue, white, and silver theme, complete with retro hanging snowflakes and disco balls instead of mistletoe. Sprinkle silver confetti or sequins on the table under liquor bottles and platters. Put up silver garland and place candles around the party area for a warm glow. If you have a fireplace, all the better. Place branches in large vases on either side of your mantel and embrace evergreens. Fresh cut flowers are horrendously overpriced out of season and evergreens are an indicator of subtle class.

Food
If you’re not too good for a potluck (and who is, really?), ask guests to bring food that’s devoured at their respective winter festivities. If you know someone who’s great at decorating cupcakes, have her (or him) decorate some cupcakes with crucifixes, some with crescents, some with menorahs, and maybe a few with some snowmen. Very inclusive! If you refuse to ask your guests to bring food, then perhaps go to M&M and buy some appetizers. Or if you’re not lazy, try foodtv.ca for an array of hors d’oeuvre ideas.

Drinks
It’s always a good idea to have non-alcoholic options, so stock up on those. Aside from that, always have a theme drink when you have a party. A huge punchbowl with icy white liquor will be a hit. Try White Russians for a white drink or spiced eggnog for a traditional drink.

Music
Everyone knows that music makes a party. That’s why you have fond memories of college instead of thinking about horrendous vomit-stained couches. The best way to do a holiday party without getting too traditional is to use popular artist’s covers of kitschy Christmas songs. No Doubt’s “Oi to the World” is a good example and tons of other artists do contemporary winter-slash-holiday songs that everyone can relate to.

Written by: Nicolle Weeks

Lucky Escape

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:00:00 GMT

When you knew better than to stick around…

Engagements, weddings, baby showers…it seems every occasion is ripe for a party. While many people never get married or have babies, most of us have been involved in a break-up—especially the type that elicits a sigh of relief. If you’re relieved to have dodged what might have been, you’ve just had a lucky escape. It takes plenty of courage to realize that you’re better out of a relationship than in. Such fortitude is worthy of a stellar celebration. Let’s all raise a glass with tips on how to toast the brave individuals who knew when to make a hasty exit.

By Invitation Only
You want only people who are happy for your liberation…not your ex’s best mate glaring daggers across the room. Select your guest list accordingly. Any friends that were more his than yours should definitely be crossed off the invite list. Likewise, any Debbie Downers who repeatedly blurt, “I told you so!”—don’t include them. Yes, you may have had moments of blind stupidity during the now-dead relationship but now is not the time to relive bygone bloopers.

For your invite, choose something unique. Using a replica of the “Get out of jail free” card from Monopoly is a zany option. You’ve just escaped from the prison of bad love, after all. You can also list all the need-to-know party info on the back. Graduation party invites can also be hi-jacked. You’ve just graduated beyond the relationship to a better place. Bad relationships don’t define us, they make us smarter. Give the girl an A+!

Location, Location, Location
If you want to shout to the world that you’ve had the break of your life, by all means book several tables at your favourite restaurant. Many eateries will provide a more private corner of their establishment for a pre-booked party. Alternatively, you could take all the zany fun of a typical stagette and tailor it to your “I’m free” raison d’être. Why are such shenanigans saved for only those about to be betrothed? Single gals deserve such merriment too!

If bar hopping and male dancers in their skivvies aren’t your cup of tea, host a soirée at home. Some gals prefer a refined night in with their nearest and dearest, while others count a rowdy house party as their celebratory choice. Or go totally girlie with an old-school slumber party instead. Remember, this party is about you. There’s no longer any need to fret over where he would like to go. The venue and agenda is your choice, girlfriend!

Funk Up Your Venue
Unfortunately, Hallmark hasn’t come up with appropriate celebratory paraphernalia for the lucky escape bash. In lieu of such banners, you can use the old standard “congratulations” or configure your own banner. Try channelling Martha Stewart with some homemade decorations. A personalized message or two will really get the free agent smiling. Try “Good riddance to bad trash!” or something similarly ex-bashing! With colour printers and photocopiers, it’s easy to make your own placemats using photos or images plucked from the web. Be sure to check out your local party supply shop, too. They have all sorts of wacky napkins and trinkets to perk up your venue.

Soundtrack Smarts
Steer clear of any wallowing “I’m alone” songs such as Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” or Sade’s “No Ordinary Love.” Ladies, we’re celebrating our sister’s new lease on life! Music must be uplifting and inspiring. For example, try “I’m Free” by The Soup Dragons, “Freedom” by George Michael or “Breakout” by Swing Out Sister. The key is to set a positive tone. When in doubt, Sugababes are an excellent choice! And always have a copy of “I Will Survive” available for those end-of-evening drunken sing-a-longs.

Food and Drink, Yes Please
The sky’s the limit here. Have everything your little heart desires. No more controlling boyfriend telling you not to eat pizza or cake.

Speaking of all things frosted, some bakeries can personalize the confection of your choice with an actual photo. Using some crazy spray-icing technology, the top of your cake is an exact replica of your favourite picture. Find one of your ex—one that you haven’t destroyed—and give it to your baker. As a final touch, ask the cake decorator to put one of those red circles with a slash through it over top of his face! While you’re cutting up the cake emblazoned with your ex’s visage, raise a toast with a special Slice-ified cocktail. Cheers to a happy new life!

Say Cheese!
Make sure that at least one friend brings a camera. You will want to replay the unconstrained hijinks of your lucky escape escapade over and over in the weeks to come. Plus, if needed, you will have physical evidence to shove in the face of your ex to prove that you’re so over him.

Written by: Jackie Middleton

Throw a Low-Key Kids’ Party

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:00:00 GMT

Tips on having a blast and surviving to tell the tale

Okay, so having a house full of five-year-olds is never low-key, but there’s a huge difference between taking 30 kids to an indoor theme park and entertaining a bunch in your backyard. Kids’ birthdays are getting out of hand. But, rest assured, there’s no need to keep up with the Joneses. Kids can be just as amused with a little creativity as they can with pony rides and a magician.
Two moms with lots of party-throwing experience share their tips for cheap, fun parties.

Themes
“We like to have movie or reality television themes,” says Lianne Summers, who has three boys, ages 14, 8, and 6. One of her favourites was a Fear Factor party where kids had to taste gross foods like bloody worms (cold spaghetti with ketchup), maggots (cooked rice), and cow guts (apple sauce).
Once you have a theme, whether it’s dinosaurs, princesses, or some popular Japanese cartoon show, ask your kids for activity, food, and decoration ideas that fit the theme. They know better than anyone else what their friends like to do and eat.

Food
You might be tempted to slave over a hot stove for hours, creating tasty hors d’oeuvres for your mini party guests, but remember that when it comes to food, kids are pretty easy to please. Find out about any allergies your kid’s friends have from other parents. You might even want to include an allergy question in the RSVP request. But, generally speaking, pizza, hot dogs, and chips are party pleasers when you’re in primary school.
You can make the food fit your theme with a little creativity. For instance, for a Spiderman party, create spiders out of hot dogs. Cut two slits into both ends of the hot dogs, making eight “legs.” Don’t cut all the way through the hot dog. When you boil them, the legs will curl up and your hot dogs will look like spiders. For a princess party, order a party-sized rectangular pizza and cut each square slice into crown shapes. And when it comes to cake, if you’re not a prize-winning baker who just adores creating icing animals, just buy one from your local grocery store. You’ll find lots of choices to fit any outlandish party theme.

Activities
Last summer, Joanne Bero, who has a 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, threw her daughter a pedicure party. “The girls came over and while I got their food together, two teenage girls who volunteered brought tubs with soapy, warm water and gave the girls pedicures and then temporary tattoos,” she says. Both Bero and Summers say that scavenger hunts are always a hit. “When they were younger, it would just be a simple list and they would be in small groups with a bag to collect the items. As they got older, I created clues so they had to figure out the item and then go find it,” says Bero.
“I think the best activities are the outdoor ones for two reasons: less mess and less noise,” says Summers. If your kids are born in the winter and you can’t face a snowball fight, a cheap alternative is taking the whole crew to a bowling alley. “But watch out for fingers getting caught between the balls!” says Bero.
But, similar to the menu, kids are usually easily amused activity-wise. “Any activity from when we were kids is always a hit: hot potato, unwrap the present, carry the egg with a spoon, water balloon toss, apple bobbing…,” says Summers. And Bero adds, “Younger kids need lots of quick, easy things to keep them busy. As they get older, they come up with their own ideas and enjoy being able to do their own thing.”

Decorations and Loot Bags
Both Bero and Summers suggest the dollar store for décor and prizes. Balloons, streamers, party hats, and paper plates can all be bought on the cheap. If you’re afraid of all the banging and breaking that comes with normal balloons, spring for the helium-filled variety and let each guest take one with them when they leave.
Let your loot bags follow your party theme. “I try to fill other containers rather than a "loot bag," like a bug catcher filled with some outdoor activities and candy, or a sand pail filled with some sand toys,” says Summers.
Finally, Bero points out one of the most important party preparations: “Make sure that the wine is chilling while the party is going on so that it is ready to crack open when the last guest leaves!”

Written by: Vanessa Grant

Throwing a “Grown-Up” Party

Scotch Mommy — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:14:00 GMT

Beyond futons and chip n’ dip

Tired of stale chip n’ dip party fare and want something more, dare we say, mature? Here are some easy ways to take your events to the next level, that don’t take the fun out of funnel (beer is still welcome).

Theme It Up!
Sometimes the most memorable parties are the ones with an underlining theme: Halloween, New Year’s Eve, and birthday parties. But when you’re inviting the gang over for any old Friday night, give them a groovy idea to plan for. Not only does it substantiate your event, your guests will appreciate the effort you’ve gone into organizing and hosting the event before it even starts. Here are some ideas to start you off:
A Roman Party: Make Caesars for your guests, throw together some Caesar salad, and ask your friends to wear togas.
Winter at the Beach: Throw a beach party in the middle of winter where your guests wear sarongs, flip-flops, and you serve shrimp and mojitos.
Take You on a Cruise: Make it a cruise night for your guests with a Captain’s cocktail hour, buffet foods, and karaoke entertainment.
Guitar Hero-a-Thon: Get together as many guitar hero players as you can, team your guests up and have a competition for the best players. The cuisine can be similar to a rock star’s rider, with bottled beverages on ice, finger sandwiches, and power bars.

Focus on Decor
As convenient and crafty as cardboard boxes and dollar-store tablecloths might be, you’re ready for real serving utensils and accessories for your guests. Here are affordable areas where you can spend a little for maximum impact:
Serviettes: Forget passing the roll of paper towels (or, dare I say, tissue paper). Buy a box of proper serviettes for the appetizers and cocktails that match your party’s theme.
Dishes: No more slapping down the pizza box on the table and yelling, “Eat!” Invest in matching melamine or ceramic serving trays and bowls to showcase your dishes.
Centrepieces: It’s not what you put in the centrepiece, it’s that you made it that counts. A vase filled with lemons, candy, or a few floating flowers will do wonders for your table.
Bathrooms: It’s funny how you never remember the cleanest bathroom you’ve ever been in, but you probably remember the worst. Make a good impression with hand soaps, hand lotion, and freshly folded, clean towels for your guests.

Food 2.0
If you can locate your kitchen, you’re ready to graduate to cooking for your guests. Here are some twists to classic no-fuss foods that take your party menu to the next level:
Guacamole: You know it as “guac” and this avocado-based dip is both easy to make and highly impressive for your guests. Recipe courtesy of foodtv.ca. http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=7525
Salsa: Your days of opening up a can of expired salsa jars are over—nothing beats fresh, homemade salsa served with baked tortilla chips. Try out this tangy recipe courtesy of foodtv.ca.
http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=6939
Pizza Pie: This pizza pie recipe blends together familiar ingredients in a delicious pie form that tops pizza delivery any day. Courtesy of foodtv.ca. http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=6409
Beer Float Desserts: Here’s a novel idea that girls AND guys will love that combines two of the most important food groups: ice cream and beer. It’s easy to make and your guests will be pleasantly surprised by the combination of flavours. (Straws are optional.) Courtesy of foodtv.ca. http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=4649

Thirst Quenchers
It only takes a little prep work to organize a beverage area for your guests to mix and mingle. Here are some great tips to create a one-stop bar area that keeps people from bumping into each other by the fridge:
Map it out: Designate a table or countertop space just for drinks. Get a waterproof tablecloth to prevent spills from seeping into your furniture and remove any chairs or stools that get in the way.
Tool time: You’ll need to equip your drinks table with standard equipment so guests can help themselves throughout the evening. For this, you’ll need an ice bucket, ice, tongs, glasses (for wine, mixed drinks, and beer), serviettes, a garbage bin, big cooler with ice, straws, wine bottle opener, and beer bottle opener.
Pop cultures: While it’s a responsible and friendly gesture to equip your drinks area with an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks for those who prefer mocktails or water, it doesn’t have to be boring. Try lemon-infused club soda, old-fashioned root beer, and orange pop.

The Proper Goodbye
Throwing a grown-up party means you have to follow through from start to finish, ensuring your guests arrive and leave safely from your event. Keep a list of taxi numbers handy, escort your guests when they leave, and be sure to thank them for attending.

Written By: Melissa Jenkins-Gray

Dinner Party with His ‘Rents

Sporty Vixen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:00:00 GMT

Mom’s Got Nothin On You

The wedding is done and the honeymoon is over. You’ve officially settled into newlywed life, so now it’s time for you and your darling hubby to celebrate your new couple status. How? By breaking out the CorningWare and inviting the in-laws over for a divine dinner. No need to panic over this party planning! Our hostess how-to will have you throwing a fabulous fête.

Make the Call

How many times has your beloved mother-in-law asked you, “Why don’t you call me?” Too many. But our excuses for not calling are equally infuriating. So end the drama, dear daughter-in-law, and just invite the Mr. and Mrs. for dinner before they invite themselves. Give them plenty of notice (giving you plenty of time to prepare) and make them feel special by asking them what they want to eat. Parents love to have a say, so allow them to make suggestions. If you decide to take them up on it, the bonus is that there will (hopefully) be fewer complaints once dinner is served.

Enlist Expertise

We all know the adage “mother knows best,” and we bet your new hubby thinks his mother does too (insert rolling eyes here). Whether you agree or disagree, humouring him for by asking his mom for her dinner menu ideas couldn’t hurt. Nothing beats her home cooking, right? So ask her to pass on some of her secret recipes and feature her favourite dish at the upcoming feast. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t taste quite as good as hers (she’s had years to perfect it), you’ll still score some major brownie points for trying.

Plan of Attack

We’re all for trying new things. As tempting as it may be to test out your new tuna casserole recipe on your in-laws, it’s downright wrong. They’re your guests, not your guinea pigs. If you want them sauntering off stuffed, satisfied and singing your praises, serve up something familiar (not fancy) like lasagna. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep the spread simple. Yes, we know that you want to impress, but cooking a three-course dinner filled with red-wine reductions and sautéed fois gras is complicated and could be dangerous. For a completely stress-free feast (one that requires minimal organization on your part), we suggest playing around with foodtv.ca’s meal planner tool. This foodie resource will send you off with an entire meal and a shopping list to match. Could entertaining be any easier?

Prep Your Party

Once you have the menu chosen, plan some time to shop and stock up for your big soiree. You don’t want to have to make any last minute ice runs the night of. Set the table, arrange the appetizers, put on some mood music, decant the wine and clean the bathroom (you know his mom likes to snoop). Be dressed and ready to greet your guests when they arrive. Not only will prepping in advance relieve some pre-party pressure, you’ll show the in-laws that everything is under control.

Entertain and Enjoy

Like any good party guest, the in-laws are looking for a guaranteed good time. You may not think so, but this really is a night out for them. Dress up dinner with some delightful decor, enlist some entertainment to liven up the evening, and set a spirited scene with a little mood lighting and music. And if you’re really strapped for some stylish ideas, then pick up and peruse Kate Spade’s Occasions book to make your party with your new parents a night to remember. Above all, enjoy yourself and converse with your company. Entertaining isn’t always easy, but if you and your hubby have fun, it’s guaranteed that your guests will too!

Written by: Catherine Scolieri

The Summer Garden Party

Robotic Hottie — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:02:00 GMT

Tips for making the most of your outdoor entertaining space

Get the most from your backyard space this summer by transforming it into an outside oasis for entertaining. Let colourful flowers and fruits guide your inspiration. Here’s the low-down on how to transform your outdoor space into a vibrant garden oasis for guests.

Decorations & Accessories

Forget plastic garden gnomes, when it comes to garden décor, keep it clean and simple. Here are some tips to help plan your style and set-up:

Use flower hues in your garden to help establish a colour palette for your accessories like umbrellas, unbreakable cups, dishes, seat cushions, placemats and tablecloths. Popular styles include pastels, bright primary colours or patterned accessories like gingham and polka dots. Add whimsy with bug patterns like ladybugs or bees.
Look for weatherproof accessories that are durable enough to withstand unruly weather conditions and last more than one season.
Keep a large sealable and rainproof bin handy to store all your decorations for easy use. Include essentials like tea lights, a lighter, votive holders, citronella candles, bug repellent, tablecloth weights, mosquito coils and retractable fly nets to cover your dishes. You may want to include a hat, lightweight blanket and spare sunglasses so you don’t have to dig through the house when you’re looking for them quickly.

Easy Summer Feasting

When it comes to summertime food, seasonal veggies and fruits add flavour and zest. Here are some great ideas for tasty summer eats:

Use seasonal vegetables or fruits as a base for your summer salads – like a diced tomato or cucumber salad. Or try this refreshing watermelon-based salad that your guests are sure to enjoy, courtesy of Foodtv.ca.
If you decide to incorporate an herb garden into your outdoor planning, your food fare will take its cues from the spicy flavours you grow. Fresh parsley and dill make salads and main dishes more savoury without adding extra calories that creamy dressings and sauces include.
Become a grill master! Learn the ins and outs of barbecuing (whether you have a full-size range or a small coal apparatus) so you’re ready to impress on the grill. Arrange a kit with the necessary tools (include a BBQ brush, tongs, sauce brush and tea towels that you don’t mind getting dirty).
Many dishes can be prepared ahead of time (potato and macaroni salad is delish), giving you ample time to mingle with guests.
If you’re adventurous and want to create your own backyard vegetable garden, HGTV.ca has great tips on the best veggies to grow.

Cool Summer Beverages

Serve thirst-quenching drinks quickly is a fantastic skill every host should enjoy. Here’s how to keep drinks light and refreshing:

Maintain an ample supply of ice cubes. You may want to buy some cute new ice cube trays in fun shapes. Ikea has a great selection.
Club soda adds instant bubbles to fruit juice and transforms white wine into summer spritzers.
Mint leaves are great for garnishing summer drinks, and the extras can be used on top of whip cream and berry desserts, too.
Keep a ready supply of lemons and limes on hand to add zest to beverages. Practice your lemon rind swirl skills using a paring knife.

Moonlighting

As afternoon soirees turn to early-evening fetes, keep the twilight going with lighting. Luckily, there are lots of affordable ways to infuse twinkling lights in your outdoor space:

Candle votives grouped in odd numbers on tables or railings are great for illuminating food areas and outdoor perimeters. Try matching votives you’re your garden palette.
Candle torches in citronella are a great way to ward off pesky bugs when the sun sets. Set-up couldn’t be easier — stick the torch in the ground!
Candle lanterns are a great way to add a lot of light to tables and they protect flames from light winds, too.

Pulling It All Together

Ah, the final touch. Consider easy-listening music for hot summer events like Diana Krall or Feist. Test-run your music system and find ways to set up without leaving stereo cords loose where guests may trip.

Enjoy the fruits of your labour! Invite a few friends over to enjoy a summer barbeque or dinner party in your new space.

Written by: Melissa Jenkins-Gray

Plan a Girls' Night Out

Scotch Mommy — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:10:00 GMT

When You and the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

When it comes to the chaos of our daily lives, you know you can always count on your girlfriends. We share our clothes, good wine, tears, and gossip with these women. If times are tough, we depend on them. If times are brilliant, we gloat with them. So it’s absolutely imperative that we celebrate with them. Girl’s Night is the chance to ditch the “to do’s”, leave the man to bond with the remote control, and let our hair down. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Determine the mood.
Decide what sort of girl’s night you want to plan. You can choose anything from a tame movie or games night, to a more subdued dinner out with friends, to a fun pub gathering to late-night dancing. It all starts with your mood because, hey, it’s all about you.

High maintenance or low maintenance?
There’s JLo or Mandy Moore. There’s Halle Berry or Renee Zellweger. Divas versus Dolls. If you’re going with a high maintenance Diva party, the details must be perfect, including gourmet goodies and glamorous fun. If you want a lower maintenance Doll party, think comfortable clothes, good company, and casual events. Just hope that all your guests are dolls rather than divas, or your evening could be filled with cat fights.

Mix and match.
If you want tame, call up your kitten friends, curl up with popcorn, and giggle away. If you want tawdry, then get your wildcat friends on board for a night of bar hopping and dancing. All your friends must match the theme to some extent or you’ll be spending the whole night with those two awkward individuals who can’t seem to get into the spirit of the evening.

Layer the evening.
Your evening doesn’t have to simply include one event. In fact, if you span it out you can include more personalities. Start at a cute restaurant where everyone can enjoy a good meal and great company. After, move to a more amusing locale such as a neighbourhood bar with a dance floor. Those who don’t like dancing can head home. Those who aren’t in the mood for a meal can come later. It’s a great way to incorporate both kittens and wildcats.

Try something daring.
Did you know you can round up your girlfriends and learn the fine art of the strip tease? Places like Flirty Girl Fitness in downtown Toronto offer the opportunity for fun and sexy lessons from lap dancing to pole dancing, complete with makeovers and feather boas. Test out your new-found moves at the clubs afterwards. For the tamer kittens, try something more akin to glow-in-the-dark bowling.

Travel in style.
What better way to spend a girl’s night out than with a limo chauffeuring you around? If everyone pitches in, a limo is actually an affordable option. Start at your place where everyone can get dressed up and enjoy cocktails. Arrive at the restaurant in style or simply enjoy driving around town. End your evening at an elegant bar or club.

Play on.
Games are a great way to release stress, get giggles going, and generally bond with your friends. From more risqué games such as Truth or Dare, to silly ones such as Taboo, it’s a great way to get to know your friends. Keep in mind that for such evenings, chocolate and other comfort foods are a definite must.

Beautify.
Don’t bother going to the spa: bring the spa to your home. With so many fabulous products on the market, having a night of manicures, pedicures, and facials is a fabulous option. Consider chipping in and hiring a personal masseuse for an hour. Call up a yoga instructor and enjoy some meditative exercises before relaxing. You’ll feel much better about indulging in junk food and wine afterwards.

Whatever you choose, remember that your Girl’s Night is about the girls. Just remember the three sacred Gs—giggles, gossip, and lots of goodies—and you’ll have fun no matter what.

Written by Robyn Burnett

The Ultimate Stagette

Scotch Mommy — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:08:00 GMT

The Ultimate Stagette

In addition to wearing a less-than-flattering chartreuse bridesmaid’s gown, you’ve been given the thankless task of throwing a bachelorette party (aka the stagette to us Canadian gals). Make it a memorable one with our must-have tips for planning the ultimate stagette.

The Theme

Firstly, decide whether you want a “go-out” night or to stay at home. Next, decide whether you want to be traditional or more adventurous. The classic bachelorette usually involves a night of bar-hopping, going to a strip club or playing drinking games like “I never.” Consider the bride’s comfort level: most likely, you’re a good friend, so you’ll know whether she’s cool with having a dancer shaking his money-maker in front of her or whether she’d prefer a girls’ gambling night.

If you’re staying in, choose a theme. The options are endless: you could have an at-home spa night, a lingerie party or even take a Pole Dancing 101 class. Or, you may want to plan an overnight girls’ getaway to Las Vegas. Pool your resources among your fellow bachelorettes and figure out what you can afford (including enough to cover the bride) before you get too far into the planning process.

The Invite

Before sending out invites, you might want to ask the bride for input on the guest list. After all, it’s her night. If you haven’t already discussed funds with the ladies, it may be a good idea to mention the cost of the night’s festivities on the invite. When it comes to the actual invite, I know lots of girls who get all Martha Stewart-y about it and send out fancy stippled-origami-decorative-scroll-motif invites. Phone or email is a totally acceptable, less labour-intensive option. Evite (evite.com) has plenty of pretty templates to choose from. Plus, it’s free.

The Food

If you’re going out, it’s a good idea to choose places where they serve food, 'cause there’ll be a lot of boozing going on. Plus, with a large group of girls, somebody’s bound to get peckish and you don’t want to have to deal with someone’s low blood sugar tantrums.

On the other hand, if you’re staying in, why not try Tapas? It could be anything from small cubes of meat and cheese to short ribs. Comfort foods are always a no-brainer and a great choice if it’s cold outside. Make it special with a fancy twist like macaroni and cheese with provolone and asiago sauce or a poutine topped with shredded lamb. If you’re no Iron Chef in the kitchen, call a caterer that specializes in event planning to help you create a fun menu.

The Drink

For those of you hosting at home, whip up a signature drink for the evening that plays on your night’s theme. Having a girls’ poker night? Mix up some Kir Royales with champagne and cassis for a James Bond-ish feeling. Or, if you’re having a slumber party, rent classic 80s flick Pretty in Pink and mix up a pink-hued cocktail like a Pink Lady. And you can’t go wrong with good red wine. Have a selection of drinks on hand in case some take a pass on the girlie drinks.

The Games

No stagette is complete without a few cheesy games. If you’re going barhopping, embarrassing the bride in public is par for the course. While at the bar, you could prepare a special scavenger hunt in which the bride has to work for her drinks as she hunts for items like condoms and toilet paper rolls from other bar patrons. Or, you could give her the task of having to beg men for money towards her honeymoon fund.

Meanwhile on the home front, a funny spin on a classic game is Pin the Organ on the Hoff – and this one gets even funnier the more drinks you have. Make your own game by going to Google images and downloading a classic David Hasselfhoff-in-his-black-Speedos beefcake shot. To get a good poster size, you may want to go to a professional copier place (be prepared for some strange looks when you tell them what you want). Next, all you need is some construction paper, scissors, and a dirty mind and away you go.

If all this makes you cringe but you want to host the party at home, you can up the cool factor by renting a couple of casino tables for a girls’ gambling night. Just look in the yellow pages or online to find party rental places, and they’ll deliver blackjack, roulette or poker tables right to your door.

The Décor

Again, let your theme dictate your décor. If it suits a certain colour, such as pink, for example, go with it. And why not buy balloons (phallic or not), candles and feather boas to match? And be sure to have some fun goody bags on-hand for your fellow bachelorettes. Oh, and don’t forget the penis-shaped piñata.

Written by: Kristen Vinakmens

Are You a Socializer?

Scotch Mommy — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:26:00 GMT

The art of social convening

My boyfriend is having a 25th birthday party this weekend. For half the year he lives in Stratford, Ontario designing costumes and sets for its well-known theatre festival and his big day usually falls during one of his first weeks back in the sleepy little town. This year, he decided to skip spending the evening at home with his cats and invited a Toronto posse up to Stratford to offend the locals with some big city hoopla.

For a born social convener like yours truly, this is a dream project. I picture a gaggle of rowdy city slickers invading Via Comfort Class with brown bagged bottles of cheap champagne and chugging into town for a weekend of backwater bar hopping. Imagine a grown-up slumber party complete with sleeping bags and the attempted late night kidnapping of one of the town swans that populate its Avon River.

The boyfriend is a bit more socially low key than that. He shies away from organizing stray friends into a party in the first place let alone pondering the legalities of train car BYOBs and whether swans waddle south for winter. I eventually convinced him that the fun is worth the minimum output of effort so now I’m organizing carpools (cheaper than the train) while he shops his local party store for a piñata.

Whether or not you are a proud social convener, there are tricks to leading a pack of friends, weighing different going out tastes and taking responsibility for an evening’s fun.

Keep the crowd fresh

My go-to expert socializer is The Globe and Mail writer Tralee Pearce. Whether she’s organizing her annual Buy Design charity gala or throwing an intimate Nordic-themed New Year’s dinner at home, she’s always cool, collected and surrounded by a smart group of people.

Her first friend corralling tip is to go outside your comfort zone and switch up the crowd.

“You constantly have to reach out to new people to keep things fresh and exciting,” she says. “I don't think I've ever regretted going out on a limb in that regard. Nothing's cooler than seeing an old friend hit it off with a new one.”

Delegate

“I love entertaining, but the only way a busy person can do it often is to ask for help.”

Tralee is an expert delegator. This can mean pot lucking your annual summer barbecue or leaving the planning of each portion of a night up to a different friend. One of you chooses the pre-drinking lounge; another, the restaurant and a third person picks the dancing spot. Everyone adds a little of their own flavour to the evening and if it sucks, you can spread the blame around.

Play it cool

As good a host as Tralee is, my friend Rani Sheen is an equally accomplished guest. As an associate editor at Wish magazine, Rani also attends her fair share of industry schmoozers and is proudly punctual and prepared to party. Just don’t pester her to show up.

“I don't like being bugged to go somewhere,” she says. “I feel pressured and it’s like I don't have a choice in the matter.”

The overly persistent organizer can quickly become a host-zilla. An invite and a reminder email are enough to get your plan across. There’s nothing wrong with a dinner party for 10 turning into an intimate get-together for four.

Trust your personality

The last trick Tralee mentions is to decide whether or not you are the social convening type.

“If you're throwing a party because you feel you should, because you owe your friends, or you want to show off your fancy house and new party dress, it'll show,” she says.

Every get-together needs organizers and attendees. There’s nothing wrong with constantly falling into one group or the other as long as you’re up for a good time.

Written by: Andrew Sardone

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Rollin' on Retro

Scotch Mommy — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:53:00 GMT

We’re gonna help you party like it’s 1989

Retro… that trendy word that gets thrown around as often as Seinfeld quotes. Retro is the chance to relive our glory moments in the past, or explore an era that seems far more entertaining than the one we’re in now. It’s also an excuse for recycling ideas. So dress up, laugh over past fashions and ancient history and enjoy cocktails in the process. It’s also a fab theme for a party, so plan away.

Pick an era. While that sounds like an obvious choice, it’s often ignored. People throw retro 70s parties that have 80s written all over them. Pick one already and start doing a little research. You want to impress your friends, not have them nitpicking about your choices through the night. Think, also, about the vibe you want for the party. The 20s and 30s are going to be more glam than the 60s and 70s. Decide on your outfit theme then pick your era. Much easier.

Do some research. You want to impress people. If you know things about the era, you can make creative choices. If you don’t, make clichéd choices. Did you know marshmallows were huge in the 30s? They were.

Get funky with food. Decorations are easy. Recipes are more of a challenge and by far more interesting. Each era has its food trend. Fondue was very 70s. French food, very 60s. Barbecues, very 50s. Most retro parties are about costume and decoration. You can take it one step further.

Cocktails, dahling. Like the food, if you create retro cocktails for your guests appropriate to your theme, you’ll really blow their minds. Not that you have to blow your budget on booze, but you could offer one free drink. After all, you are a generous host.

Create the space. Sure, you could do the usual “newspaper articles” from the era deal. People might actually read all those carefully photocopied pieces, or they could just rip them down and write phone numbers on them before leaving. Instead, focus on the mood of your era. That includes appropriate music, décor and more. It’s much more fun to find some vintage postcards and create fun table cards or coasters. Even better – think of party trends in the era. Have a 40s tiki party instead of a 40s party. If you have a 70s swingers party, make sure you’ve got a good bowl for those car keys and some willing guests.

Dress it up. That’s right. Costumes. What is the point of having a retro party if no one is dressed for it? Aside from Halloween, this is an opportunity to really doll yourself up in fashions past. Finding retro ware is so incredibly easy nowadays, there’s no excuse. Try Vintage and secondhand stores. Make sure your guests know that they’ll be turned away at the door if they come sans costume.

Get funky with the details. This does not mean turn your house into a factual museum. In fact, that is a very bad idea. Instead, play with cocktail napkins and fun retro goodies.

Most importantly, play yourself. It’s a party. Relax. A couple hours into it, odds are most of your guests won’t remember the present era, let alone previous ones.

Written by: Robyn Burnett

SURPRISE!

Scotch Mommy — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:47:00 GMT

Plan a kickin' surprise party for your friend or foe

Planning a great fete is a challenge at the best of times. Planning a surprise party is an opportunity to really show off your skills. Just make sure to follow a few simple rules and even your co-workers will be congratulating you around the water cooler on your triumph.

Rule One: Make sure the Guest of Honor (GOH) actually likes surprise parties. There are ways to discover this information subtly. If she does not, then DO NOT PROCEED. Catfights have started because of less.

Rule Two: Make sure the date is free for the Guest of Honor. Don’t pick a date first and then try and get your GOH to keep it. Either personally arrange to meet with the GOH on the selected date, or get a mutual (and reliable) friend to take the GOH out to a special event that night as the designated “companion.” Make sure the “event” is significant enough so that the GOH doesn’t casually cancel at the last minute.

Rule Three: Be sneaky. Asking to borrow your GOH’s email list isn’t going to be subtle. Planning a truly successful surprise party means getting into true Charlie’s Angels mode. Be covert. Get a few trustworthy friends in on the planning. Just make sure to choose people who won’t inadvertently slip up and blow the event.

Rule Four: Be smart. Randomly sending out an invitation to everyone in your GOH’s address book could get very ugly. If you aren’t sure who the person is, seek clarification. Nothing is worse than having four exes show up at a birthday party.

Rule Five: State it loud and frequently. In your invitations, repeat at least three times that this is a SURPRISE party. That they should not RSVP to the GOH and should they have to cancel, call YOUR number. It’s amazing how many people actually fail to really clue into this fact and call up the GOH a few hours before to apologize for missing the party.

Rule Six: Make sure everyone arrives at one of two specific times. The first time should be at least 45 minutes to an hour before the GOH is scheduled to arrive. The second time should be at least 45 minutes to an hour after the GOH is scheduled to arrive. That way, hopefully no one will show up at the same time as the GOH.

Rule Seven: Consider an unexpected venue. Why not hold it at a restaurant in a party room? Or consider using the designated companion’s home? That way, it’s much easier to get the GOH there without being terribly obvious. It’s easy for the companion to come up with an excuse to stop by their own house. If the GOH lives with someone, you can arrange to use that space… just make sure there are people helping to clean up afterwards!

Rule Eight: Be aware of parking. One of the easiest giveaways of a surprise party is familiar cars lining the street. Ask people to park around the corner or in a less conspicuous place.

Rule Nine: Have a signal with the companion. Make sure whoever is with the GOH gives you a quick call before arriving so you can prepare everyone.

Rule Ten: Take pictures! After all of your hard work, it’s crucial to get those initial pictures of the shock on your GOH’s face. Not only are they a great memory of the occasion, but they can make for great gossip and giggles later on.

Written by: Robyn Burnett

The Black and White Party

Scotch Mommy — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:14:00 GMT

Hosting a fabulously fancy monotone party

We’ve all heard about Diddy’s infamous white party. And the kids from Laguna Beach had a Black and White party, too. It’s an easy theme and it screams elegance, even if you don’t have an elegant bone in your body. Each of these steps will help you to host your very own fancy black and white do.

The Theme

This theme is pretty self-explanatory. Robbing your senses of colourful stimulation definitely allows everyone’s natural beauty stand out. I attended a black and white party last summer (which my friend and I snickered about), but the visual effect of everyone dressed in black and white was actually quite stunning.

The Invite

Invitations set the tone for your party. My recommendation is to use a cursive font, which evokes thoughts of fancy times. If you want to be super extra fancy, you can actually print the invites out on black and white prints and mail them. If sending out an invite isn’t in your budget, you can say that you’re a very fancy person who is very invested in the environment. Since you’re discovering your newly-fanciful existence, mention the dress code of the party on the invite, as people might remember your last non-fancy party and dress accordingly.

The Food

Try to remember all the fancy parties you’ve been to and the finger foods that were served there. Some upscale markets will offer some good frozen hors d’oeuvres, but if you’re truly invested in the fancy Black and White theme (and I know you are), attempt making some yourself. There are some great recipes for mostly black and white hors d’oeuvres on foodtv.ca, which aren’t difficult to prepare at all.

Chicken Dippers recipe
Chewy Wine Shots recipe

One great party I attended (organized by professional party planners) featured a huge table filled to the brim with pink and red candy. A quick trip to Bulk Barn will achieve the same effect for relatively little cash. It also sets a tone of playfulness for your guests. Cheese is also a favourite, so splurge on some brie if you can. Black caviar is delicious and would also look lovely spread on some light-coloured crackers.

The Drink

Make sure you serve drinks that reflect your theme. The White Russian (one part vodka to one part coffee liqueur with a splash of cream) comes to mind for this party. Other fitting drinks: white wine, Bellinis (white peach nectar and sparkling wine or champagne), and why not some scotch, Johnny Walker Black Label? Be creative.

The Preparation

When the day of your fancy pants party arrives, go out and get yourself a massage to relax. Party planning can be very stressful, especially when you’re competing with the likes of professional Socialites. And those girls have their own party planners. After your massage, set up your party room like the diva you are, and then retire to your bedroom to prepare for the evening festivities.

The Décor

If you can, try to buy some pretty white flowers for the party. As the season allows, buy as many as you can. Nothing says decadence like decorations that will die within a week. You could even give flowers to your female guests as they leave as a pretty party favour. Aside from that, black or white tablecloths look chic on your existing tables (and no one will figure out there’s a card table underneath). If you have black and white prints, make sure they are visible. Try to hide any colourful accessories.

The Dress

You might have to buy yourself a fabulous new outfit for the occasion. You wouldn’t want your friends to think you’d wear the same outfit twice! As you reminded your guests on the invites, you want to dress fancy. Pick out a great LBD (or if you’re brave, a white dress), and slap on some ‘strappy’ sandals and sexy gloves to finish the look. Have a cosmetically-inclined friend come over and do your makeup for you.

The one thing that annoys me the most about house parties, especially fancier ones, is when the guests are expected to take off their shoes. If you’re wearing a dress, for instance, your shoes are an integral part of the outfit. Even in bad weather, it’s a good idea to let people keep their shoes on for the party – especially if you’ve sent out a dress code. Yes, you’ll have a cleanup to do, but it will be worth it.

Written by: Nicolle Weeks

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Wine Pairing 101

Scotch Mommy — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:16:00 GMT

Red red wine: Not just for UB40 fans anymore

So you’re having a dinner party and you’re serving up some spicy butter chicken. Which wine should you serve: a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a fruity red merlot, or a light-bodied Gamay Noir? No need to hire your own personal sommelier: with slice’s crash course in wine pairing, you’ll know your merlots from your cabernets in no time.

Trust your instincts

There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing your vino. And you don’t need to spend Holt’s prices to get a good wine: a $10 bottle is sometimes just as good as a $50 one. Besides, your friends are coming to dinner to see fabulous you, not to judge you on your grape knowledge. So don’t sweat it: Just follow your instincts – along with your impeccable taste – and you’ll find the right match.

Surf & turf

The easiest way to matchmaking heaven? You’ve probably heard the old rule: red wine with red meat, white wine with white meat and fish. It’s still good to follow, and you’ll often get a lovely match. But if you want to be a true wine diva, there’s a bit more to it than that.

Follow the flavors

Balancing out your flavors is a good way to go. So, if you’ve got a bold dish, go for a bold wine. If you’ve got a light dish, choose a light wine. Pretty simple. So let’s say you’re serving a rich dish such as Beef Stroganoff (ok, we’re aiming high here, but you’re worth it, right?). You want to match that boldness with a wine that can keep up, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon. No wallflower, Cab Sauv is known as the king of wines for its full-bodied flavors of cherry, oak and blackcurrant. If you’re serving steak, it’s always a good match, too. The beef balances out the strength of the wine, and it’s smooth drinking from here.

A study in contrast

Now, if you’re feeling all Nigella Lawson and you’re cooking up a rich pasta like butternut squash and goat cheese ravioli with brown-butter sauce (sounds intense I know, but it’s actually not that hard to make), you might want to pour your guests a glass of fresh and citrusy Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a crisp white that nicely contrasts with that buttery sauce and creamy ricotta. One thing to keep in mind: You don’t want the wine or the food to overpower each other, so try to keep your flavors on an even playing field.

Easy drinking

If you’ve ever opened up a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for a night of drinking with the girls, you may have found it a bit strong. Why? It’s a full-bodied wine that has a lot of tannins (the stuff in the seeds and skins of grapes that makes your mouth pucker) and a bit too strong for sipping sans meal. A Shiraz or a merlot – (don’t let Miles from Sideways scare you) – might be better choices for your wine-soaked evening.

Smooth operator

What about that butter chicken you’re serving? You need a rich wine that’s also a bit fruity, to calm its spicy flavors. A white Gewurtztraminer, with its peach, lychee and grapefruit flavors, will cool the fire.

Written by: By Kristen Vinakmens

Last Minute Fête

Scotch Mommy — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:04:00 GMT

After this bash, you’ll plan all your parties in five minutes

Here’s the drama: A university girlfriend calls unexpectedly and says she’s in town and wants to check out your chic girl pad – she’ll be there in two hours! She’s invited her new beau and his single guy friend, which probably means she’s already signaled to the entire girl posse that the party’s at your place tonight. Don’t panic (there’s no time for that anyway!) Here’s the low-down on how to pull off a last-minute party and transform your mission to possible.

Beverages (15 mins.)

Let’s assume you’re nowhere near a store and must rely solely on your laurels, fridge contents and leftover vodka drops in the liquor cabinet. Here’s a beverage reference list that ensures your guests won’t suffer dehydration.
• Water isn’t just a viable resource; it’s also an ingredient that will win you organization brownie points! Fill up your ice cube trays so mixed drinks are kept cold. Water is also great for slowing down quick-to-drink guests. Keep bottles in a noticeable place. Not only are plastic water bottles de rigueur at bars and clubs (therefore acceptable in fancy environments), it keeps your patrons from wasting precious glassware best used for cocktails.
• Chill that champagne or white wine bottle you were saving for a special occasion (now is a good time as any).
• Take a quick inventory of all other mixes and liquors available, and do a quick online search plugging in ingredients you have and create a signature drink to serve your guests. For champagne, just add a splash of any natural fruit juice (mixing will help maximize the number of drinks you can create with your spare bottle too). Top off your drink with berries (one variety only, no berry medleys out of the freezer) or try a mint leaf for added freshness.
• Most guests will provide their own beer, wine or spirits. Your signature drink gives you a head start – tell guests after the first beverage to help themselves to what’s in the fridge.

Clean-up (40 mins.)

Here are some shortcuts to tidy up that don’t involve pulling out big buckets and working yourself into a tizzy.
• Garbage: Grab a garbage bag and clear clutter. From tissues lying on the floor and junk mail on the coffee table to the bathroom garbage bin. Once the garbage is out of the way you’re ready for quick cleaning.
• Floors: Open drapes or blinds and let the natural light guide you to the biggest dust bunnies in the room, taking a damp cloth and swooping the bunnies up. Then quickly go over the rest of the floors.
• Bathroom: Get a new toilet paper roll (it saves you from rummaging through the bathroom supplies half-way through your party). If you don’t have a second set of hand towels ready, just use the existing ones and fold them into squares or triangles. Clean the sink and mirror quickly (at this point, a couple sheets of toilet paper and a squirt of your bathroom cleaner will do the trick), and leave the toilet clean-up for last. If you have space, tuck daily care products into a vanity or bathroom cabinet, and close the shower curtain to hide your bathtub. Before you leave, spray something to arrogate the bathroom – perfume, room spray – and close the door to contain the fragrance.
• Kitchen: Load the dishwasher or hide dirty dishes under your sink if you have piles to do. Wipe down the countertop so you have a clean working surface.
• Bedroom: You can get away with just making the bed and hiding everything else under it. Avoid this room when you’re doing the house tours and keep the door closed. Most guests will just assume it’s the linen closet.

Appetizers & Food (25 mins.)

Don’t pore through complicated cookbooks, simple snacks work best! Upgrade classic party fare utilizing staple ingredients found in any girls’ pantry (that messy shelf where you keep food that doesn’t go in the fridge).
• Lay out small dishes of nuts, chocolates or candies and place them around your main living area. Place in martini glasses for a festive look.
• Make simple cracker tasters with tuna salad mixed with sliced garnishes of pickles.
• Melt cheddar cheese on top of salsa to go along with tortilla or potato chips.
• Use garnishes on top like flaked parsley too (it won’t add flavour but it looks fancier).
• Grab that can of chic peas and make hummus.

Catherine Jheon of Food TV fame recommends these quick solutions:

• guacamole (two ripe avocados mashed up with one clove of garlic and a bit of lime juice – to bulk up, add sour cream or yogurt)
• mini-quesadillas (cheese sandwiched between two flatbreads, lightly fried and cut up into dippable pieces)
• flavoured popcorn

The Hostess with the Mostess (20 mins.)

Get yourself ready just before you complete the final preparations (this gives you time to relax, and saves you from opening the door in a bathrobe to early guests). Grab a shower and do your make-up.

Set the Mood (15 mins.)

This is vital, so put some thought into making the atmosphere a welcoming experience.
• Scour drawers for candles (even half-used candles will do, once they’re lit, no one can tell if they’re new candles or not).
• Take a trip down memory lane and choose CDs the old gang will love.
• Find your old yearbooks, photographs and scrapbooks to place around tables for guests to peruse while you’re serving beverages.
• Place some napkins and coasters on tables for guests to use, and pull out your beverage glasses and do a quick check for spots.

Remain Calm (5 mins.)

The work is done – pour yourself a tester of your signature drink, and wait for the guests to arrive!

Written by: Melissa Jenkins-Gray

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Chow Down Snooty Styles

Scotch Mommy — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:17:00 GMT

Get your monocles ready for a snob-worthy dinner party

So you want to throw one of those dinner parties that everyone talks about for months afterwards.

These are the ones that make you jealous because yours can’t seem to hold a candle to them. Well, time to one-up the Bree Van De Kamps of the world with your own stellar event. You, too, can add upper class to your evening.

Start with invites.

Sure, evites are fun and easy, but if you really want the snob factor, mail out specialty invitations. Just make sure they’re not the kind everybody sees on the shelves at Staples. For an extra touch of snobbery, pick up a cheap calligraphy kit, wax and a stamp for the envelope and really stun them. The fancier the invitation, the more likely you’ll have your guests foaming at the mouth in anticipation.

Choose your victims wisely.

You want your dinner party to be dazzling, not a public relations nightmare (although, those are definitely more fun for the paparazzi). Cross off any friends who are messy drunks, permanent PMSers, way too touchy, generally unable to handle social situations or are in a precarious emotional state. This is an elegant party, not an episode of Jerry Springer.

Add a celebrity guest.

Everyone knows someone who’s a little bit of a celebrity. If you don’t, then add someone to your list who everyone will find fascinating. Artists or musicians make for good table talk. Paper pushers don’t. Make sure that the other guests know that this “celebrity” will be attending. To dazzle them further, hold the party in the “celebrity’s” honor. Not only will this pump up the egos of your other guests for being part of the exclusive list of invitees, but they’ll be sure to look their best.

Presentation is everything.

Dahling, you absolutely must have matching china. Plastic dollar store plates will not do. If you have to borrow your mother’s dishes, so be it. Just be prepared when she asks why she isn’t invited. And your food must look like a work of art on the plate. This is a five-star restaurant you’re emulating, not a soup kitchen. This isn’t about quality: it’s about presentation. As for music, Diana Krall is in. Courtney Love is out.

Have different wines to match each course.

Pretentious? Yes. It’s also very cool, and sophisticated. You don’t need to spend a fortune on wine either. Three expensive bottles maximum, so each guest can have a “taste” with their meal. Then you can fill them up with French Cross. If you do proceed, make sure you have enough glasses to pull it off. Styrofoam cups don’t just kill the environment, they also kill appetites.

Go small and gourmet.

Dinner parties with four smaller courses make for an evening of elegance. So put that pre-cooked roast chicken back in the fridge. Keep the coleslaw for your own indulgence later. If you really want to jazz it up, have sorbet in between meals to cleanse the palate. Take that, Martha Stewart!

Hire help.

If you can hire a babysitter, there’s no reason you can’t get creative and hire help. Caterers have a fabulous snob factor, but ask yourself if your friends are worth it. Create all the food yourself (much more impressive), and rope in a nephew, niece, neighbour’s kid – someone reliable – to help serve. Fifty bucks or emotional blackmail will do. Someone serving in the right outfit is definitely going to add that snob factor and impress your Donald Trump wannabe guests.

Scrap the formality.

Let’s face it, formal, while fun and definitely indulgent, is a pain to pull off. The whole idea of a memorable dinner party is fabulous food, great laughs and good company. If you really want people to remember your party, get the gossip and wine flowing, and you’ll have them in the palm of your hands in no time.

Written by: Robyn Burnett