Happy New Year!!

 I was scrounging through the Holiday clearance aisle at Target yesterday when I found some square gold paper plates for 75 cents for an 18 pack! Jackpot! This gave me the idea for a gold New Year's Eve party, and I found some gorgeous new year inspiration from Elizabeth Anne Designs!

 Decorate new year with modern and antique clocks-Don't mind if they don't match! And fill the bowls with the beaded garland right off your tree! Gold and silver ribbon off your presents would also work just as well for some New Year sparkle.

 Use temporary hooks and double sided tape to showcase your countdown to the new year.

 I love the black and white theme for New Years as well! This one by Bird's Party Designs is a fabulous display using things that most of us already have! For chips and salsa, mix white and purple corn chips, and mix white and dark chocolate for dessert. Chocolate covered strawberries and oreos are also perfect for a black and white New Year's Eve party!

Do you have black flowers left over from Halloween? Pull those out for New Year's Eve as well!



Happy New Year!!!

Perfect Your Potluck!

I hosted our neighborhood holiday potluck this year. Instead of turning it down with my crazy holiday schedule, I decided to challenge myself to throw the easiest party that anyone could throw together in 15 minutes or less!

I started with a piece of taupe satin fabric, purchased at JoAnn's. I've found that fabric is SO much less expensive than a table cloth, and you can always find exactly the right color! If you don't sew, hem the edges with no-sew fabric glue and fold the seam twice.

Place cake plates sporadically to give different heights to the food when it comes. Place the food brought on paper plates right on top of these plates for a more formal look.

Make sure you have plenty of extra ice on hand for guests to put in their drinks.

Combine festive holiday decor with food (real or faux).

Avoid the question "Where should I put this?" by placing a few stagers where you would like everything-like this wine bottle with the grapes and corks.

Display your glasses on a tray or platform with a background to make even your everyday glassware a piece of art.

Party Supplies:

Fabric tablecloth: $4

Ice: $1

Plastic utensils: $2

Paper plates & napkins: $2

Total cost of party: $9

Total setup time: 13 minutes

Gotta love potlucks!!!

Wrap It Up With Style!

 I bought these white boxes at the dollar store and embellished them with ribbon. Use a very small amount of hot glue on the edges of the box to secure the ribbon.

Take a cue from the most well known box in history- a bright colored box with a simple white box can make a big impact.

 For double impact, double the ribbon!

 Mix your colors and patterns for a playful pallet!

 Again, LOVE the dollar store! Here is a white velvet patterned box with a custom colored bow! $2 and reusable every year, even if you change your colors! All of the beauty, none of the wrapping!

 Reuse boxes from cookies, fruit, nuts, and other edible gifts. Again, no wrapping required!

 Embellish your gifts with sprigs of natural elements. Adorn with or instead of a bow.



Warming Up

I'm extatic about my new side table in my entryway! It gives it such a warm, homey feeling I was looking for. My friend Stephanie always has the warmest home-you walk in and instantly feel comfortable and at home. I really aspire to make people feel that way in my own home. Take your shoes off, put your feet up on the couch and grab a drink!

I noticed that lighting always sets a comfortable mood, so I searched for inspiration for my own style to make my home more comfortable. I found these 2 pictures on Decorpad and went with the feel--totally my style!

I also love the visual comfort of the shag rug....

.....Which I happen to already have!

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The Perfect Chocolate Peppermint Martini

The Perfect Chocolate Peppermint Martini

The perfect chocolate peppermint martini starts and ends with presentation. Start by drizzling the dry martini glass with chocolate sauce. I used Hershey's Special Dark Syrup.

 To make the chocolate peppermint martini, mix 6 oz Starbucks Cream Liquer, 2 oz peppermint schnapps, and 1 tbs dark chocolate sauce. Shake in a martini shaker with ice and serve immediately while cold. For an extra kick, add a shot of vanilla vodka!

 Garnish your chocolate peppermint martinis with candy canes or chocolate wafer sticks.

Brownie Points

 Whether I'm short on time or not, I always turn to boxed brownies. You can spend all day making your grandmother's recipe, but the boxed ones are still less expensive and just as good! For game day, I made dark chocolate brownies with a homemade orange glaze for our orange and black alma mater.

Start by mixing one batch of brownies and pouring brownie batter into 8" by 8" square pan.

Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons nonfat milk until glaze is formed. Food coloring is optional.

Pour glaze into a small plastic sandwich bag, and cut a small corner of the bag to make a pastry bag. Drizzle the glaze on the uncooked brownie batter like the picture below.

Using a regular kitchen knife, cut through the uncooked brownie batter, perpendicular to the lines of the glaze.

Repeat about every 2 inches throughout the width of the pan.

Cook by following the rest of the directions on the brownie package as usual.Wa-lah! Major brownie points!

Christmasize Your Arrangements

Get into the Christmas spirit, even if you're short on time and money this year! You can use a lot of the things you already have throughout the year, just Christmasize it! You can get these little snowflakes for $1/pack, and insert them into your flower arrangements.

 Put garland at the base of an arrangement you already have. I bought this garland after Christmas last year for about a dollar.

 Insert feathers, sparkles, and metallic twigs into your arrangements to make it instantly glam!

 You can even Christmasize your faux fruit by adding glitz and sparkle! To make your own, spray the fruit with spray adhesive, and roll in a plastic disposable plate covered with a 1/4" high mixture of Epsom salts and white, iridescent glitter. You can find both at your local craft store. Shake off the excess and Wah-la!

Use a vase you already own, and some extra ornaments for an instant Christmas arrangement! I bought the trees pictured at the dollar tree, but you can make your own by taking and 8 1/2" by 11" piece of paper and rolling it into a cone. Cut the bottom off straight across so it stands up straight on its own, and add sparkle with the same spray adhesive and glitter you used for the fruit!

Altogether, it took about $4 to Christmasize all my arrangements, and everyone thinks they're seasonal decorations! Low cost + low storage = happy husband!