CasaSugar

Wedding Planner: Bridal Shower Thank You Gifts

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:30:52 -0700

If you're planning a bridal shower, you're probably scouring your local shops looking for cute, inexpensive party gifts for your guests. These Cherry Blossom Gift Tins (10 for $22.50) are a great find. I don't know a lady out there who doesn't love pretty, small tins and boxes that can be used for stashing everything from earrings to sewing pins or change. There's just so many uses for little, pretty containers. These Japanese chiyogami (old-paper) gift tins would be a gorgeous, colorful, and unique keepsake tin for your party favors. You could fill them with something small and heartfelt, such as flower seeds, decorative small soaps, or chocolates. It's definitely a unique party favor that everyone will appreciate.

Casa Quickie: Home Deliver Flowers to Someone Special

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Who doesn't love receiving a bouquet of flowers? Whether it's delivered from the local flower shop, or arrives in the hands of a dinner party guest, a bouquet really can make someone feel special.

So, what's stopping you? Do you have a friend who needs a pick-me-up, or a special relative who appreciates a pretty bouquet? There's no need to spend a lot of money. You can even use a grocery store bouquet that you've re-arranged. Or, if you're lucky enough to have a flower garden, trim some blooms, wrap them in ribbon and newspaper, and leave them on that special someone's doorstep. Who knows? Maybe the favor will be returned someday. And even if it's not, you can rest assured you've made someone's day.

Etsy Find: Lucite Knot Napkin Rings

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:30:14 -0800

If you want to do the earth a favor and use cloth napkins, you should do style a favor and get yourself a set of chic napkin rings. This set of eight Eddie Ross Lucite Napkin Rings ($75) passes the test in my book. Naturally, I adore everything Lucite, but I love that they go with any color palette. They're also transitional enough for any occasion, be it a formal dinner party or Sunday breakfast. Kind of like the LBD of the tabletop! What do you think?

How-To: Be the Hostess With the Eco Mostess

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:38 -0700

Want to learn how to make your Summer soirees a little more eco friendly? Elizabeth Rogers, the best-selling author of The Green Book, recently gave me some tips for throwing parties that won't negatively impact the planet. So many times when we're busy organizing a backyard bash or a big dinner party, we forget the impact that all of our disposable cups and plastic party favors can have on the environment. But not to fear! Just because you're keeping the earth in mind doesn't mean that your party has to be any less fun. In fact, it can be even more so - and these tips are even budget friendly! Elizabeth recommends that, "While preparing for your party, stop by a local swap meet or thrift store for fun vintage items you can reuse all summer long."

Want to hear Elizabeth's smart entertaining tips? Then read more.

Instead of running through dozens of plastic cups and paper plates, vintage glass-wear and dishes found at swap meets, will add a unique touch to your dinner party. Using dishes already in existence instead of buying brand new ones or disposable is 100% eco friendly. Plus they can be reused all summer long, saving you upwards of $100 in disposable paper, plastic and Styrofoam products.
Approximately 70 million bottles of water are drunk in America everyday and, because petroleum is used to manufacture these bottles, the impact on the environment is significant. For your party use vintage glass pitchers filled with filtered water. My favorite is PUR because it adds an extra level of filtration, so it has a crisp taste. Your guests will love the vintage feel, and you’ll be saving yourself the cost of buying all those plastic water bottles.
Vintage tablecloths and napkins, found on your swap meet excursion, are a more fashionable way to set your table than paper or plastic throw-away table covers. Antique lace will lend a summery elegance to your party, and after a quick spin through the washing machine it will be ready for your next soiree. Paper napkins and paper towels are two of the reasons paper waste in the US has jumped from 30 million tons to 84 million tons a year since the '60s. So, as well as being more durable, cloth napkins will prevent your party from ending in the trash.
Centerpieces are a sophisticated finishing touch, when decorating for your party. Instead of buying cut flowers that travel in gas-guzzling cooler trucks, and will be wilted and gone before the end of the week, potted plants are a beautiful alternative. Potted orchids require little care and will look stunning in your home after the party has ended. The cost of purchasing several potted plants for your table tends to be less than purchasing bouquets of cut flowers from a florist or the grocery store, plus the flowers will be ready to shine again at your next party.
Light your party with soy candles in Mason jars. You’ll save on electricity, plus soy candles don’t emit carbon or smoke as they burn and purchasing soy candles supports soy farmers. Mason jars, have been used for canning since the 1850’s and these antique glass jars can be purchased for a few dollars at local flee markets. The soft candlelight will lend a charming Midsummer Night’s Eve quality to the evening.

For more excellent tips, as well as to learn more about Elizabeth and The Green Book, check out her website.

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How-To: Set the Table For a Fab Party

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:33 -0700

In a recent New York Times article, interior designer David Serrano (pictured at right, seated), who also owns the glamorous shop Downtown and Outside Downtown, offered some advice on setting a party table. Serrano says, "[Setting a table] is emblematic of your personal style . . . My job has always been to create a beautiful tabletop that will complement the great food and wonderful guests.”

Here are my favorite tips from Mr. Serrano:

Consider serving everything family style. This allows you to mix china patterns, display funky glasses that might not match, and in general, create a more festive atmosphere at the table.
Don't be afraid to mix things up. As Serrano notes, “I like new things mixed with old things, cheap things from Pier 1 mixed with fancy things from Hermès.”
If you're decorating for a birthday party, include party favors for everyone at the party. They don't have to be expensive; just make sure they are beautiful and useful. For instance, a tiny potted herb tied with a ribbon would be a great present for a chef or gardener's birthday party.

For the rest of the tips, read more.

Set the tone of the table with one unique, eyecatching object, such as an unusual vase or decorative urn.
Avoid distracting objects, such as giant, fragrant floral arrangements.
If you use candles, make sure they're unscented.
Don't forget dessert! You can even coordinate frosting color on your cake or cupcakes with the colors of your tablescape.

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Holiday Entertaining Essentials

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:00:51 -0800

Since this month's theme is Home Entertainment, I thought you might be interested in iVillage's list of items that are essential to throwing a good home-based party. I've excerpted part of the list below, and while I don't agree that disposable hand towels are a party essential (setting out several hand towels next to the sink is a more economical and environmental option), most of these tips are definite party musts. Since I have a party coming up this weekend - a traditional German Christmas party called a Feuerzangenbowle that my fiancé throws every year - I know that I'm going to take iVillage's advice and stock up on many of these supplies.

Invitations. Set the tone for your holiday gathering with an invitation that reflects your party style - casual or formal, trendy or traditional.
Fresh flowers. Flowers are a lovely and welcoming addition to a table or a guest bedroom. Buy a bunch and use them for decoration.
Party favors. Send guests home with a small favor to help them remember your gathering. Candles, photographs, and cookies are fun and festive options.
Centerpiece. Assemble a holiday-themed centerpiece. For Christmas, find pine garlands, holly, mistletoe, and pine cones. For Hanukkah, purchase dreidels and chocolate gelt.
Firewood. A roaring fire will make your guests feel cozy and warm on a cold night. An even better option is using a Duraflame log. If you don't have a fireplace, and add a soft glow with candles.
Wreaths. Create an inviting entrance to your home with a seasonal wreath. Eucalyptus or pine will evoke the spirit of the holidays.
Soap. Fancy soaps, whether molded or French milled, will make your guests feel pampered.

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Sale Alert: Ballard Designs Halloween Sale

CasaSugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 05:30:40 -0700

It's still September, but Halloween is just around the corner. Perhaps your costume for the evening will come together at the last minute (as mine always do), but it's never too soon to start planning the décor for your Halloween bash. Lucky for you, Ballard Designs is currently offering 20 percent off all of its Halloween accessories, lighting, party décor, and novelty pumpkins now through Sept. 29. Personally, I favor good old-fashioned hand-picked pumpkins, and DIY decorations, but there are actually a few items in the store's selection that I find quite festive. Here are a few things I wouldn't mind taking home from the sale:

Set of 100 Personalized Cocktail Napkins - $35.00	Witch Weathervane - $69.00
Halloween Plaque - $39.00	Set of 4 Skeleton Placecard Holders - $25.00
Ballard Check Ribbon - $15.00	Pumpkin Lanterns - $22.00
Set of 4 Reversible Halloween Napkins - $24.00

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What You're Wanting: The Perfect Bachelorette Beach House

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:00:49 -0700

For this week's What You're Wanting, I've got bachelorette parties on my brain. I can't imagine a more relaxing weekend with the ladies than a tropical beach escape. So, I want to know what your perfect bachelorette beach house would look like. I'd like you to hunt all of the things you covet for your perfect bachelorette party crash pad, be it furniture, accessories, lighting, party favors etc. Add them to your ShopStyle Living stylebook, and create a look tagged with the phrase bachelorette wants. Private message me if you have any questions. I'll return next week to show you my favorite looks from this little challenge. Oh, and as extra incentive, I'll give some Sugar schwag away to my favorite look! To give you some inspiration, here's the look I created for this assignment:

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How-To: Making Your Wedding a Little Greener

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:30:30 -0700

Unfortunately, just because you're holding your wedding ceremony in the great outdoors that doesn't mean your celebration is good for the planet. If you want some ideas for cutting down on the environmental impact of your big day, take a look at my tips.

For a Greener Wedding

Who doesn't love flowers? You can keep your flowers eco by buying organic blooms or buying the flowers locally.
When considering where to hold your wedding, think about where most of your guests are located. Midwest? East Coast? The Southwest? Then, consider holding your ceremony there. It will cut down on travel expenses as well as the environmental cost of planes, trains, and automobiles.
You can now buy compostable cups, plates, and utensils for your shindig. This means that your guests' plates will end up enriching the soil instead of sitting in a landfill.
If guests are traveling from a long distance, ask them to offset the carbon produced from their travel. It's cheap, quick, and easy. In lieu of wedding favors, which are often thrown away or forgotten, you could also offset your entire wedding guest list's carbon output. You could have a message telling them about the carbon offset "gift" printed up on wildflower seed cards that are left on each guest's plate. Make sure the guests take the cards home and plant them.

For the rest of my tips, just read more.

Instead of cut flowers, arrange small potted flowers in groupings on reception tables. Encourage guests to take the plants home to their garden at the end of the party.
Keep your registry eco-oriented, with gifts from green designers, artists, and furniture stores. Crate and Barrel and Ikea are two big retailers that have consistently scored high marks in terms of environmental responsibility.
Print your invitations on recycled paper that use nontoxic, soy-based inks.

Anyone else have some great ideas to make your wedding greener? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

For all of our wedding coverage check out IDoSugar.
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DIY: One Wreath, Two Ways

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:00:38 -0800

MyHomeIdeas has a wonderful DIY project called "One Wreath, Three Ways" that I'm a little late to discover. But, it's still valid for Christmas and New Year's, so I thought I'd share.

Here's what you need:

One 24-inch grapevine wreath
One red ribbon (4+ yards)
One other colored ribbon (2+ yards)
Two boxes of assorted glass ball ornaments
Small party trinkets
One package of plastic cocktail glass favors
One can of vivid green spray paint
Four sprays of brightly hued metallic branches
Florist’s wire

To learn how to make these versatile wreaths, read more

Here's how

Christmas Wreath:

Lay the wreath onto newspaper.
Spray paint it green.
Add your festive red bow.
Use the florist's wire to attach your ornaments.
Hang over your door with red ribbon.
Merry Christmas!

New Year's Wreath:

Remove the bow and glass ornaments.
Attach party trinkets and metallic branches with florist's wire.
Hang with your colored ribbon.
Happy New Year!

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Evolution by Waterford "Ocean Tide" Vase - $225.00	Beach Club Floral Print Pillow Cover - $39.00
Chesapeake Hanging Lounger - $1,129.00	Chesapeake Round Green Umbrella - $99.00
Beach Cruiser Decal - $69.00	Beach Outdoor Print Large - $199.00
Terzani -ortenzia lighting series by terzani - $40.00	Ventura Chair - $850.00
Beach Day Hurricanes (Set of 3) - $19.99	Skull 'n Bone 40" x 72" Beach Towel, 100% Cotton - $14.99
Thomaspaul - Love Birds Wool Pile Rug - $270.00	Mira Sofa - $3,350.00
Orange22 - Botanist Flora End Table - $999.00	Wood-Slat Ottoman/Coffee Table - $149.00
Chesapeake Hanging Swing - $59.00	Fatboy Headdemock Hammock - Orange - $399.00