Cheers! What is your Signature Cocktail Style?

Photo via It's a Brides Life

One of the hottest trends today in the wedding world is couples choosing a signature cocktail.

Signature cocktails are a great way to show your personality and uniqueness, and brides and grooms everywhere are creating their signature drink for their wedding.

The common wedding signature drink is often a classic cocktail drink like a martini. However, options for signature drinks aren't limited.

Almost any type of alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) drink can be a signature drink, including mojitos, pina colodas, or margaritas and any other type of cocktail. Flavored teas & lemonades make great non-alcoholic options. 

Ideas for Wedding Signature Drinks

• Match your signature drink with your wedding theme. (i.e. Pina Coloda or Margarita would be perfect for a beach themed wedding.)
• Match colors from your wedding with the color of your signature drink.
• Create a unique name for your cocktail.
• Your signature drink does not have to be limited to one, it's okay to have one for the bride and the groom.
• Place a sign on the bar indicating the name of your cocktail so that guests are aware that it is available.
• Research different Signature Cocktail ideas.
• Discuss with your wedding planner or friends for more ideas.

Keep in mind that if you decide to have a Signature Cocktail for your wedding reception, you must not limit your cocktails to just the signature drink of your choice as guests may require and expect all usual drinks to be obtainable. This includes hard liquor, mixed drinks, beer and wine and of course soda and water. 

Here is my favorite mocktail: Fresh Squeezed Lemonade with Raspberry Ice Cubes. And my favorite cocktail is the Godiva Chocolate Martini.

What is your favorite go to drink? Let me know in the comments below.


Most importantly be a responsible host and don't let your guest drink and drive! Have options available for intoxicated guest. 

Cheers!  
Angee 

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Serving Up Love on Valentine's Day

Show Valentine’s Day love for the sweeties in your house by surprising them with meals that will delight them (and earn you points for creativity).

 Start the day with a stack of heart shaped pancakes or yummy heart shaped Strawberry Nutella French Toast stacks. (Face it Nutella makes everything delicious!) 

Recipe by Photo...Food made easy

Shopping Nanny

How about a snack of cleverly skewered cherry tomatoe hearts or little fruit Kabobs.

 

 

Lipsugar

Send your kids off to school with a special lunch box, also served up with some love! How cute is this!

 

Chef Mom, She Knows

Or make a heart shaped pizza at home!

Annie's Eats

Try these yummy Four Cheese Raviolis hearts for dinner.

And don't forget about dessert. There are so many desserts out there for Valentine's Day; heart shaped, pink and red colored, and just sweet! Too many for me to pick just one, so check out my Valentine's Day Love board on Pinterest for tons of receipes, DIY Valentines, home decor and much more!





Get creative and have fun! Do you have some fun food ideas you’d like to share? Let me know about them in the comments below!

XOXOX, 
Angee 

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10 Fun and Creative Guest Book Alternatives

It’s always fun to look back and remember who attended your wedding…why not keep guests on their toes and incorporate something they won’t expect?! There are a TON of unique guestbook alternatives if you want to opt out of the traditional “Name and Address” guestbook. Guest books often fall under the radar and have a tendency to get pushed off of extensive wedding to-do lists. Below are just a few charming ideas to add to your day.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Roper via, Oh Lovely Day

Wine corks! Have all your guests sign a cork and then display in a basket in your home!  

Photo courtesy of Dazzling Expressions, LLC via, Etsy

For a rustic themed wedding,  have guests write words of love on hearts to display in a basket!

Photo courtesy of Something Turquoise

 
I really like the idea of a time capsule. Guests can write whatever they want for you to open in a year or other milestone anniversary. Then can be scrapbooked, framed, etc. Something Turquoise has a great DIY tutorial here for this super fun alternative.

Photo courtesy of Google Image Search

Wedding Mad Libs. Genius, right? Your guests will have a blast filling in the blanks on these unique Mad Libs tailored to you and your wedding. (We did this for my daughters wedding and they were so much fun to read later!) Etsy has tons of shops that sell these. We made our own.

Photo courtesy of Google Image Search

Photo booths seemed to pop out of no where a few years ago and now brides just can’t get enough of them. It is such an awesome chance for your guests to loosen up, play with props, show their individuality, and give you hilarious pictures to keep and look back on for years to come. 

Photo courtesy of C.R.A.F.T

A creative approach is to set up a guest quilting station where guests can leave words of advice, memories of you two, or loving thoughts on different pieces of fabric that you can quilt into a blanket after the wedding! This is a timeless keepsake from your guests!

Photo courtesy Martha Stewart Weddings

Transform a store-bought album into a guest book that has a handmade feel. Use double-sided tape to affix envelopes in assorted sizes and colors to the pages of a plain-paper photo album or scrapbook. Leave cards and a pen on a table for guests to write wishes. When they're done, they can tuck their cards inside the envelopes for the bride and groom to enjoy later.

Photo courtesy Martha Stewart Weddings

  


Set up a mailbox and different fun postcards at your reception that your guests can fill out and stick in your mailbox. Then have a friend mail them the day after your wedding so when you return from your honeymoon you have plenty of loving notes and words of advice to share with each other as you start your new life together!

Photo courtesy of Cut the Cake Designs

File this under A for adorable. Instead of a traditional guest book, use recipe cards. Have guest write advice, love poems, and words of encouragement on cards and then place them in a recipe box to keep in your kitchen after the wedding! 

Fingerprints! There all tons of ways to use guest fingerprints, tree leaves and balloons are the most commonly seen. BUT this is may favorite! Have a fingerprint guest book where they can make their fingerprints come alive by decorating them to look like themselves, sign their name, and leave a word of advice! Let your guests get creative!




Whatever you decide have fun and personalize it to you and your wedding! Share your guest book alternative in the comments section below.  

Cheers! 
Angee


 

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Karaoke Time!

Photo, “Anime festival contest winner,” by Suvudu via flickr

Bunco getting a little stale? Need to shake things up at your next girls night? Get your girlfriends rocking with a karaoke girls night that is sure to bring out  everyone's inner diva! 

Here's all you need for a home karaoke girls night that will provide memories for months to come. Karaoke is wildly popular in Japan, as you probably know, and throughout much of Europe as well. In the U.S., karaoke has its devotees, but many of us have never rocked the mic at our local karaoke night—nor would we dare to! Fortunately, it’s easy to host a karaoke party for your gal pals at home and have all of the fun without all of the stage fright! Singing is therapeutic, a sure cure for the winter blahs, and recessionistas, it’s low-cost entertainment. Here’s how to do it!

Setting and Setup

The two most important things you need for this party are a karaoke machine and a space to perform. Believe it or not, karaoke can be done in a very small space. You don’t need a stage, but you will need a clear area so your girlfriends can strut their stuff. 

For the karaoke machine, you have several options:

• Rent a karaoke machine through a local dealer. Check your yellow pages or do an internet yellow pages search. The going rate is about $70 a night. Nationwide Karaoke will rent you a machine for $59 plus shipping and handling. (You will need to deposit $200 though, which you’ll get back when the machine is returned).
• Buy a karaoke machine. Target has a huge selection at different price levels. The cheapest ones consist of a microphone that have a plug-and-play feature, allowing you to turn your TV into a karaoke machine.
• Borrow a machine if you’re lucky enough to know someone who owns one.

You might want to check out Amazon’s collection of karaoke CDs if you get a machine that takes CDs. Also, consider having a video camera on a tripod set up to record the action. After the party, you can burn a souvenir DVD for each girlfriend.

For decorations, consider paper lanterns (try Pier One or World Market) or other bright, pop-Japan decor. You may even want to add a strobe light or disco ball. Again, Target is a great source for this kind of thing. 

Finally, you will need a sign-up sheet for singer name & song choice. It’s always a good idea to print extra copies of the song list so that more girlfriends can choose their songs at the same time. Choosing the right song can take a while! 

Invitations

Order some printed invites in a karaoke theme from PartyInvitations.com. You can even select some in an 80s or 70s disco theme if you want to narrow your karaoke party focus. Evite also has some cool karaoke invitation choices. Just do a search on “karaoke”.  On your invites, give your guests dress-up suggestions, if desired (for example, dress as your favorite performer or in a 70s, 80s, disco, or heavy-metal theme). Dressing up is one way that your too-shy-to-sing girlfriends can still participate in the fun.  

Food and drink

It is suprisingly easy to put together a Japanese-themed nibbles buffet. Trader Joes, Costco, even your local grocery have gorgeous sushi platters. Trader Joes also carries frozen gyoza (potstickers or dumplings) and colorful wasabi rice crackers. A veggie platter will round out the offerings. You might want to visit an Asian market for other nibbles or sweets. Be sure you have plenty of drinks to keep the girls’ vocal cords hydrated! Japanese beer such as Kirin or Sapporo is refreshing. You can also try sake (japanese rice wine) or cocktails of your choice. Soda and sparkling water are good non-alchoholic choices. 

Connecting Activities

Let’s sing, girlfriends! Karaoke IS the connecting activity, designed to get help you let loose with your gal pals and, I hope, get a glimpse of your friends’ inner divas. How you structure your evening is up to you, but here are some tips for getting the most out of your karaoke girls night:

• Start with a group vocal warm-up. Here’s a guide to how. Want more voice tips? Read some in-depth advice for karaoke singers here.
• Please remember, some girlfriends may be shy, so respect those who don’t want to sing. But do encourage the hesitant ones with some group numbers. Shy gals can always be the back-up singers.
• Develop some Motown-style dance moves together, then practice before recording your routine on the aforementioned video camera.
• Have props available for singers. You can buy cheap inflatable instruments guitar and saxophone—from Oriental Trading Co. Sunglasses, feather boas, wigs, hats, leather jackets, or anything glittery will come in handy too.
• Remember to cheer and clap for the girlfriend with the mic. Show her some love!

What to sing? That is a topic that could be an article in itself, and in fact there are several blogs on the web that have tackled the subject of “best karaoke songs.” In general, keep your song choices light. This is more about having fun than it is about serious singing. So take a pass on the love ballads and choose lively, fun numbers. For example:

• “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
• “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
• “Man I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain
• “We are Family” by the Pointer Sisters is a fun group number

Or sing “Brass in Pocket” Like Scarlett Johanson in Lost in Translation (see the video here for some karaoke inspiration).

Put your fun girl-song suggestions in the comments!

Party Favors

Create gag awards for the best, worst, funniest, performance. Make some ballots, let the girlfriends vote at the end of the night and tally the votes. Get some costume jewelry and award the winner bling, a golden microphone shirt, or buy a cheap (or toy) microphone and spray paint it gold. Make girlfriend portraits. Consider getting some large anime posters, like one these, or one of Tokyo to carry out the Pop Japan theme. Or create your own backdrop with paper lanterns and a brightly colored wall. After the party, deliver a photo, in a karaoke-themed printable frame from HP, to your girlfriends as a remembrance of their singing sensation!


Cheers! 
Angee 

If you try this karaoke-themed girls night, I’d love to hear from you! Be sure to let me know your favorite karaoke songs in the comments!

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Girl's Night In SPArty

Photo via Google Image Search

In-home spa parties are all the rage right now, but you may be wondering: Is it possible to treat your girlfriends to a pampering spa event without spending a fortune–or stressing yourself out? Yes, yes, yes! In this post I will share with you some very simple preparations that will lead to a fun, meaningful, affordable, and relaxing spa party spectacular. 

The invitations: To really keep it simple, Evite has several cute spa party invitations. If you are feeling a little more ambitious, there are many spa-oriented pre-printed invitations or papers you can use to create one on the computer. Slip your invitation into the envelope with a piece of tissue paper you’ve scented with a calming aromatherapy oil.  For a more special "gifty" invitation, scour Target or the dollar store for spa items you can write on with a gel pen. Flat items, such as a pedicure sander or an inflatable bath pillow, work best. Write the party details on the item, let dry, add a pretty curl of ribbon and then hand deliver the invites or mail them in a padded envelope. 

Be sure to state on the invitation which spa services will be included, the cost, and what (if anything) your guests should bring. See below for suggestions. 

Photo via Google Image Search

The setting:  Many girlfriend groups like to reserve a block of time in a real spa, bring some bubbly and let girlfriends simply book and pay for the services they desire. This is a simple approach, and you’ll have a blast. If this appeals to you, go for it! But if you have a smaller budget or want the more intimate ambiance of a spa party at home, read on. You really don’t have to do a lot to transform your rooms into spa-dom. 

Create a spa-like atmosphere with dimmed lights and plenty of candles. Use scented candles or an aromatherapy diffuser to infuse the air with a relaxing scent such as jasmine, lavender, or rose. Play soothing music in the background (Spa Lounge is one CD to try, but anything you find relaxing can work as well). Fresh flowers here and there, while not absolutely necessary, add some natural beauty. Be sure to have plenty of comfortable seating and a good selection of trashy gossip magazines to make your girlfriends feel like they’re in spa heaven! 

Food and drink: Cut off the caffeine and offer light, relaxing beverages such as wine, herbal tea, or juice spritzers. (Here are some easy recipes to get you started: with alcohol and without). If you’re handy with a blender, you can whip up smoothies for one and all. For simple yet satisfying nibbles, use healthy whole finger foods you can simply purchase at your supermarket and set out in a buffet. Nuts, cheese cubes, a sushi platter, and a fruit plate create a well-rounded snack offering. Make it a little more fun with this Spa Themed Cheese Ball. Squares of dark chocolate are a healthy way to feed everyone’s sweet tooth. With slightly more work you can make chocolate-dipped strawberries for a decadent treat.


Spa services: It’s easy to get your favorite spa services–manicures, facials, massages, even reiki masters– in-home today. Invite your favorite massage therapist to set up a chair for mini massages. Call the local beauty school and ask them to send a team of nail specialists. The cost is usually quite reasonable if split among your guests. For example, most massage therapist quoted me a cost of $85 an hour, with up to 10 massages per hour. Don’t forget to tip the service provider. As the host, you may want to take care of the tip yourself, or you can put out a jar for contributions.The providers generally bring their own supplies, but you’ll probably need to set aside a comfortable, quiet area for the spa services. 

To supplement the paid-for services, you can provide manicure supplies or have each guest bring her own. Ask each guest to bring a favorite nail color or hand lotion to share, for example. It’s a lot more fun to do your nails surrounded by your girlfriends, laughing over gossip magazines, than doing them by yourself in front of the tv. 


Party favors: There are many possibilities for simple, inexpensive party favors that let your girlfriends take home a little spa relaxation. Tie an aromatherapy votive candle up in some tulle with a ribbon. Create a relaxation CD and copy it for all your friends. Wrap up a natural soap and a loofah or bath scrubbie. Feeling crafty? Make your own bath salts, hand scrubs or aromatherapy oils and give each girlfriend one. Check out my In Home SPArty board on Pinterest for lots of DIY beauty products, recipes and ideas!

Photo via Google Image Search

For additional ideas, Girls’ Night In by Jennifer Worick is a great little book devoted to creating spa parties at home, with recipes for facials, body scrubs and bath salts you can make yourself. 

Share your own spa party ideas below, and let me know if you try this idea at home. I would love to hear from you! 

Have a sensational spa party! 
Angee

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