12 Ways to Dress Up Your Cocktail Party

Hosting a cocktail party is a fun, fabulous and sophisticated way to entertain.  It can be casual or formal, and can involve colleagues or friends.  Whatever the case, here are a few ideas to make your next gathering a little more exciting.

1.  Champagne – Veuve Clicquot Rose’ and Rose’ fridge http://veuve-clicquot.com/en/home
   

   Veuve Clicquot Rose' Fridge

2. Tilt Bowls, $14.95 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/serving-bowls/large-tilt-bowl/s587764 
3. Bar Accessories – http://www.homewetbar.com/martini-cocktails-bartending-sets-c-26_42.html
4. Oliver Appetizer Plates, $2.95  http://www.cb2.com/dinnerware/dining/oliver-appetizer-plates/f6578?fromLocation=search 
5. Libertini Martini Glass, $3.95  http://www.cb2.com/barware/dining/libertini-martini/f4421?fromLocation=search 
6. Cheese Server Set, $34.99 http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10973476&cid=PJ_DF:10973476:CPWM_3578 
7. Hire a Bartender for 2 hours – http://bartenders4hire.com/
8. Cocktail Recipe Book, http://www.craftofthecocktail.com/
9. Whiskey Stone Shot Glasses, $38.00 http://shop.coolmaterial.com/products/whiskey-stone-shot-glasses
10. Cocktail Stirrers, $13.95 http://www.kegworks.com/happy-hour-drink-swizzle-stick-stirrers-set-of-6-314-p173353 
11. Divina Green Olives stuffed with Feta, $12.95 http://www.italia-gourmet.com/products/condiment-spices/olive-pepper/green-olives-stuffed-with-feta-cheese-582.html
12. Stonewall Kitchen Chipotle Cheddar Cheese Straws, $6.50 http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/shop/553201.html

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, cocktail party, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, event planner, event planning services, Greensboro Event Planner

Last Minute, Unforgettable Holiday Party Ideas

With only 2 weeks left before Christmas, many of us still have a million things to do.  If entertaining family and friends is on that “To-Do” list, the last thing you want to do is stress about how you’re going to decorate and what you’re going to serve at your holiday party this year.  Here are 5 unforgettable holiday party themes that you can use and have fun with – not only for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa but for New Year’s Eve and beyond.

 

1.  Eat, Drink & Be Merry Cocktail Party – This adult party consists of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and dancing, if you choose.  If you don’t want to dance the night away, a cocktail party can be hosted early in the evening, and you can have the house cleaned, dishes put away and settled on the couch in time for the 11:00 news!
2. Santa Baby! Holiday Gift Exchange Party – Specify on the invitation that you’re going to have a gift exchange at the party.  Set a price limit and explain any other guidelines that may apply – theme gift, “White Elephant” gift, charity gift, etc.
3. Wild, Winter Wonderland – Go all out with this theme – snowflake invitations, white lights, blue and silver EVERYTHING from table linens, napkins, plates, balloons, and candles to centerpieces, place cards and party favors.  Let your imagination run wild with this one!
4. Haute Chocolate – If you want to include children, this is a great theme.  Food, games, and chocolate.  With so many choices on the market these days, flavored hot chocolate is a must for this party theme.  Buy it pre-made or create your own recipes.  Add marshmallows, whip cream, crushed peppermint, cinnamon sticks and more.  A hot chocolate station would be perfect and your guests can create their own custom-fitted “haute” chocolate.  Of course, it wouldn’t be right to send them home empty-handed.   I can’t think of a better favor than more hot chocolate.  Try this idea from Candles and Such.  
5. Candy Canes & Cookie Exchange – Invite friends over and tell them to bring a batch of their favorite cookies.  Better yet, instead of cookies, tell them to bring their favorite holiday treat – fudge, brownies, etc.  To add to the fun, ask them to share the recipe.  If you’re really serious about the candy cane theme, you can make candy cane gimlets, too.  Adults only please

Candy Cane Gimlet

2 Tbsp. Tanqueray

1 tsp. fresh lime juice

1 ½ tsp. DeKuyper Schnapps Peppermint Liqueur

½ cup Sprite

Pour gin, liqueur and lime juice over ice.  Top with Sprite and garnish with a candy cane, if desired.  Enjoy!!

 

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, budgeting, Christmas Party, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, event planner, Event Planning, event planning services, Hanukkah party, holiday parties at home, holiday party ideas, holiday party themes, Holidays, Kwanzaa party, New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve party ideas, Top 5

Nautical at 90!

Recently we planned a birthday party for a very lively 90-year-old.  A retired captain from the navy, my client and his family were wonderful to work with.  At his age, he still enjoys playing golf at least once a week and is active in his church and community.  The party was fabulous and he reveled in every minute of being the guest of honor!

We utilized U.S. Navy license plates, banners, patches and more from Arkansas Flag and Banner to give the space a nautical/naval feel.  Navy blue party lanterns and gold balloons from Oriental Trading finished off the look.  The cake was modeled after the USS Hazelwood DD-531.  Enjoy and ahoy!!

 

Theme:  Nautical at 90!

Color scheme:  Blue & Gold

Favors:  Golf balls, of course – TLC Adcentives, LLC

Décor and Planning:  A Fox Enterprises

Venue & Caterer:  Fincastle Country Club

Photographer:  Steve Coleman Photography

Flowers:  Graham Floral

Music:  Crawdad String Band

 

Tags: 90th birthday, A Fox Enterprises, birthday parties, birthday party themes, Entertainment ideas, event design, event planner, Event Planning, event planning services, nautical at 90, nautical theme, navy theme, Special Events, theme ideas, U.S. Navy party theme

The 12 Cocktails of Christmas

Tis the season to be jolly, deck the halls and jingle our bells!  With the 12 days of Christmas quickly approaching, we need a plan of action – instead of 12 days of gift giving, let’s celebrate the 12 cocktails of Christmas!

1.  French Pear Martini

Ingredients

1 oz. Grey Goose La Poire

1 oz.  Grand Marnier

1 oz. ginger ale

Preparation

Sugar the rim of a martini glass.

Fill a shaker with ice, vodka and Grand Marnier. Shake, then strain into glass.

Top with ginger ale.

Garnish with a poinsettia to get into the holiday spirit.

2.  Holiday Eggnog

3.  White Christmas Cocktail

4.  Candy Cane Gimlet

5.  Ginger Gold Rush

6.  Gingerbread Cookie Cocktail

7.  Christmas Sangria

8.  Cinnamon Stick Cocktail

9.  Pink Lady Cocktail

10.  Christmas Caipirinhas

11.  Bailey’s Mint Kiss

12.  Christmas Champagne Cocktail

CHEERS!

Tags: 12 Cocktails of Christmas, 12 days of Christmas, A Fox Enterprises, Christmas, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, event planner, Event Planning, happy holidays, Holidays, Merry Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving from A Fox Enterprises

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

• T is for the trust the pilgrims had so many years ago
• H is for the harvest the settlers learnt to grow
• A is for America, the land in which we live
• N is for nature and beauty which she gives
• K is for kindness, gentle words, thoughtful deeds
• S is for smiles, the sunshine everyone needs
• G is for gratitude… our blessings big and small
• I is for ideas, letting wisdom grow tall
• V is for voices, singing, laughing, always caring
• I is for Indians, who taught them about sharing
• N is for neighbors, across the street, over the sea
• G is for giving of myself to make a better me

by Judith.A. Lindberg, http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/

 

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, Entertaining at home, Event Planning, Happy Thanksgiving, Holidays, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner

Your Best Thanksgiving Ever – Make a Day of It

Thanksgiving is only 2 days away and I’m excited about it!  I hope you are, too! It’s one of those days that you can do a lot of things, you can do a few things or you can do nothing.  Whatever the case, here are a few options – you can really make a day of it!!  Make Thanksgiving 2011 your best one ever!

1.  Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – 2011 marks the 85^th anniversary of the parade.  Tune in Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. on NBC to see it live from New York.
2. Dinner – This one is self-explanatory.  Eat, eat and then eat again.
3. Football – There are so many football games on Thanksgiving Day, you can literally watch it all day.  At  12:30 p.m.  (EST), catch the Green Bay Packers vs the Detroit Lions on FOX.  The Miami Dolphins will play the Dallas Cowboys on CBS at 4:15 p.m.  Last but not least, San Francisco vs Baltimore airs at 8:20 p.m. on NFLN.  If you’d rather catch a local high school game or college, that’s also an option.  The final, and probably most fun, option is to form your own teams and learn how to play flag football. 
4. Thanksgiving Day Races – If you want to start the day off right, get the family together for a Turkey Day race.  As a former runner, this would normally be my first choice, but that’s another story.  There are numerous family friendly “Turkey Trots” online.

However you decide to spend this special day of gratitude, the main thing to remember is to enjoy yourself!

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, event planner, family friendly Thanksgiving races, Holidays, Macy's Parade, NFL football, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Day football, Thanksgiving Dinner, Thanksgiving Menu, turkey trots

Dine with Wine – Day 7 of the Countdown to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is literally only hours away and the clock is ticking.  The guest list is confirmed and the menu is set, right down to the appetizers and dessert.  The only thing left to do is decide on the wine.  Do you select one wine to serve from beginning to end or do you select a variety of wines to go with the variety of flavors that you’re serving?  The answer to this question will vary from table to table but here are my top 5 picks for the meal with some general information about each one.

The Red

*Pinot Noir – Light to medium body, fruity.  Delicate flavor.  Complements turkey – fried, roasted or grilled.

*Zinfandel – Spicy, peppery, hint of fruit.  Pairs well with herbs like rosemary, oregano and thyme.

The White

*Chardonnay – Full bodied, crisp and satisfying.  Goes well with appetizers and desserts.

*Riesling – Semi-sweet, fruity.  Classically served with spicy fare.

The Spice

*Gewürztraminer – Medium-bodied, spicy, exotic.  Good  to pair with pumpkin dishes.

 

Photo Credit - The_Lane Team on flickr.com

 

Choosing a wine for your Thanksgiving meal is really based on your personal preferences, there is no right or wrong – no rules, no guidelines.  When shopping for your “Turkey Day” wine (or wines), just make a selection that you and your guests will enjoy.  Keep this in mind and you can’t go wrong!

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, event design, Holidays, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner, Thanksgiving Menu, Thanksgiving wines, Top 5

Creative Thanksgiving Menus – Day 6 of the Countdown

**Thanksgiving Menu #1 – A Twist on Classic**

Beer and Rosemary Roasted Turkey

Cranberry Dressing

Roasted Peruvian Potatoes

Lemon-Garlic Broccoli

Carmelized Pears and Gorgonzola Salad

Pumpkin-Apple Gingerbread

**Thanksgiving Menu #2 – Short and Sweet**

Herb Roasted Pork

Potato Casserole with Sour Cream

Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan

Apple-Pecan Cheesecake

**Thanksgiving Menu #3 – A Vegetarian’s Dream**

Asparagus, tomato and goat cheese salad

Macaroni & Cheese

Broccoli Casserole

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Chocolate-Banana Heaven Cake

Photo credit - Magickal Graphics

 

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, Event Planning, Holidays, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner, Thanksgiving Menu, Vegetarian Thanksgiving

The Countdown to Thanksgiving – Day 5, The Decor

To spice up your Thanksgiving celebration, choose a creative theme and turn it into an unforgettable event.  Thanksgiving dinner is a time to reminisce about old times and create new memories - your decor can definitely be a part of that.  Choose something that reflects your personality and flair.  This year I’ve selected a peacock theme and decided to share a few items for you to build on.  I started with the color palette of aqua blue, teal green, gold and purple.  In addition to the items listed below, I’ll use purple fabric to anchor my table along with peacock feathers and ornaments to add more detail and color.

Shopping List

Teal plates – Crate and Barrel

Topaz Peacock Stemless Wine Glass

Tall Peacock Feathers  (centerpiece item)

4 Regal Peacock Ornament (centerpiece item)

Gold Charger Plates

Peacock Napkin Rings

Purple Plates – Crate and Barrel

Purple Glasses - Target

Did you choose a theme this year?  If so, please share. 

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, event design, event planner, Holidays, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner

5 Tips to Hosting a Fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner – Day 4 of the Countdown

With only one week away, it’s time to get serious about Thanksgiving, especially if you were “nominated” to host this year.  There’s still one weekend left to do any last-minute shopping.  Here are 5 tips to help you host a fab gathering that will have your guests talking till next Thanksgiving.

1.  Make a list of everything you need to do.  Make a list and check it twice – ingredients needed, # of guests and who they are, miscellaneous shopping items, tools & serving dishes that you’ll use.  Most importantly, don’t do it alone.  Make a list of “helpers” – those who’ll help you on the day of festivities.
2. Clean up and decorate now.  Do as much as you can in advance.  If you’ve selected a theme for the day to set the mood, make sure that you have all of your decorating items in one place and an execution/decorating plan.
3. Cook ahead of time.  Any dishes that can be made in advance, make them in advance.  This will give you more time to spend on other items and take away some of the unnecessary stress.
4. Plan activities for after dinner.  Board games, card games, charades, movie night………… you name it.  You can even plan a Thanksgiving Weekend Schedule:  Thursday = Dinner, Friday = Shop Till You Drop, Saturday = Game Day, Sunday = “Going Away” Brunch.
5. Enjoy yourself!  Don’t get overwhelmed, take a deep breath and have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

Tags: A Fox Enterprises, Entertaining at home, Entertainment ideas, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner, Top 5