Sunday, January 31, 2010

Late-Night Martinis

Sometimes you just need a strong drink in a fancy glass to liven up a party. Check out Martinis at Midnight for countless unique recipes! I believe the best way to choose one to try is to close your eyes and point... and let the martini fate take over!


Or you could always go with the tried & true standbys - Cosmos & Extra Dirty 

When hosting a martini party, make sure you are armed with more than enough glasses. Unfortunately those darn things have a tendency to get broken more easily... and when the liquor is flowing it doesn't help! You don't want to have to start serving these lovely drinks in plastic cups.

Also, don't be afraid when certain recipe elements run low. Some of the best martinis I have ever tried were discovered by throwing together whatever we had - including butterscotch schnapps, sweet & sour mix, and pineapple/orange juice (but probably not all in one glass).

And here are a few vodka recommendations from yours truly:

Stoli (short for "Stolichnaya"... but who wants to pronounce that after having a few?) is a high-end Russian vodka. It mixes well with practically everything because it doesn't have a harsh taste at all. Let's put it this way... if I was FORCED to take a straight shot of vodka.. I'd go with this.

 





Skyy is a fair-priced and very popular vodka. I prefer to use this in cosmos and apple martinis - something that has a bit of a bite. And the bottle is really pretty, so you can keep it for decorating or upcycling projects! 









Burnetts is a very affordable vodka, but doesn't taste as cheap as it probably is. Also, there are PLENTY of flavors to suite anyone's fancy. One of the most well-known right now is Sweet Tea vodka (which is nifty because you can add it to lemonade, pineapple juice or even water for a quick cocktail). I think out of every brand of vodka, these flavored versions are the best. 




Friday, January 29, 2010

Peace of Cake

Could anything BE more fitting for this blog? This cake mold is perfect for any party moment that requires something sweet in the form of good vibes. Find it at FredFlare.com


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Pirate Parrrrty!

Who says you have to be 8 to have a pirate theme party? Here are some ideas to throw your own adult buccaneer bash:

Decor:
- Dark burgundy or black tablecloths
- Gold coins spread out on surfaces
- Treasure chest centerpiece (filled with chocolate gold coins!)
- Skull & crossbone banner or flag
- Goblets

And for the more adventurous:
- Skeletons with pirate hats, scarves & eye patches, covered in cobwebs
- A giant cannon
- Ship sails or entire boat replica
- A plank for walkin'

Meal:
- Hearty snacks like cheese and meats
- Wine bottles wrapped with homemade labels that read "poison"
- Cake decorated to resemble a pirate map
- Plenty of rum!

Activities:
- Scavenger hunt
- Bobbing for apples
- Charades or pictionary with pirate theme words
- Pirate impersonation contest
- A rousing game of blackjack

And remember... "To err is human, to arr is pirate."


 Ballet was a lesser-known pirate skill

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Redecorating

Check out the new look! Courtesy of Better in Pink - an adorable blog that I truly aspire to! Thanks to everyone for keeping up, hopefully this new design will bring some revitalized inspiration!

~ Nicole Marie

Friday, January 8, 2010

Party Mix Recommendation

This past New Year's Eve, last minute party plans had me running all over the grocery store for missing ingredients and snacks, but I was on a tight budget. At the last minute I grabbed a box of Cheez-It Party Mix. I am addicted to White Cheddar Cheez-Its so I thought I'd give them a try. I'm not a huge fan of party mix - I could take it or leave it - but the Cheez-It brand was just so good, all of us could not stop munching on it!


Yum!

FINAL RATING:



Tuesday, January 5, 2010

My wish to you for 2010

May peace break into your home and
may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans
become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and
may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face and
may your tears be that of joy.

May the problems you had,
forget your home address!

In simple words...May 2010 be the best year OF YOUR LIFE!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Party Quote of the Year (or possibly more often, if I find others)


"I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends."

~Nancie J. Carmody