Dinner Party Favors

Just as things are starting to heat up in Hong Kong we are finally ready to start hosting. I mentioned my potential half birthday party, I’m co-hosting an art event this coming weekend, and I’m trying to get a dinner party on the calendar.

I’m not a huge pasta eater {I usually reserve it for nights we are tired and cold and don’t want to cook} but after seeing these adorable take aways, I’m really tempted to have an Italian night. Especially here, where sauce prices are higher due to import, people would adore and cherish a jar of homemade marinara.

marinarasauce

 

Cute, right? Working on my guest list…

Fall is Fighting

You guys know I am a total summer girl. I’d wear tank tops year round if the seasons allowed it…but I have to admit that fall is doing it’s best to make me fall in love. The boots, the perfect sunny weather, and you know what? The best things always happen to me in the fall. Let’s hope this year keeps up the trend.

Some things I’m {starting} to love this fall…

Adorable syrup favors. 

Vegan chocolate pots. Eat hot or cold.

Foxes are everywhere.

I love this not too serious take on fall colors.

Apple drinks. Of course.

Gorgeous flowers. 

 

Feeling a Bit Spooky!

Are you ready for this Halloween season? It will kick off the 3 months straight of DIY and entertaining of holiday goodness — or, otherwise known as one of my favorite times of the year.

I’ve already seen so many cute ideas and October has barely started.

black lace candles/halloween jelly favors/ spooky, not tacky/printable invite/Halloween Advent Calendar {that sounds all kinds of weird, but it is!}

Colorful Sprinkle Party

I fell in love with this image on pinterest– and it turns out the party behind is just as cute. What a great theme for a 1 year old birthday party. I love the details, down to the activities.{via kojo Designs}

Don’t you just love it? I know I’ll be borrowing ideas from this great party.

Gold Barrettes

I’m headed to a yoga retreat this weekend {amongst other things} and need something to hold my hair back. I saw some adorable bobby pins at Anthropologie the other day, but they weren’t quite what I was looking for, so I decided to make my own. These could be cute to wear to a party, or maybe favors for little girls at a party.

I had a barrette and a handful of bobby pins and some gold paint {oil based} leftover from another project.

And I painted a couple of coats with the gold paint.

I’m pretty happy with how they turned out. The barrette was already a gold tone, but now it looks special, especially for a quick DIY. Next time I think I’ll add gold glitter {especially if it’s for little girls!}, but this will be perfect for the Berkshires.

 

 

March Favorites

Just some things I am loving right now…

These favors, for different purposes, are awesome. {Image 1, Image 2}

This jeweled installation reminds me of these chandeliers

These cut outs are fun. I want to make stories for each of them!

Bridesmaids dresses are getting so cool.

Happy March! {and maybe spring too??} xoxo

Ask-A-Planner

Our question this week was submitted on Facebook.

From Jen in Orlando:

 

What is the proper menu for a 2pm shower? Are shower/wedding favors still expected?

 

Hi Jen,

Such a good question!

I’m going to start with the second question first. Favors are never expected, or shouldn’t be. If you want to give favors, as a memento of the event, you should, especially if they are thoughtful and well conceived. But if you don’t want to do them (or can’t think of anything good!) you shouldn’t! Don’t have favors because they are “expected.” That’s not fun for you or your guests.

As for food– I think 2 pm is a great time for a party, as you aren’t held to any meal necessities. Finger foods are fun–dips, vegetables, sweets, nuts and a themed drink (both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version) makes for a great causal party. If you can theme the food items all the better. For a wedding shower, wouldn’t it be fun to eat “knot” foods– pretzel or bread knots, cookies in the shape of knots, prosciutto tied into knots, bacon knotted around a shrimp, etc. You get the point. It makes for a fun challenge for you and enjoyable for your guests.

Good Luck! And send pictures!

{Image}

Tomato Jam

My husband loves tomato jam. Loves it. I am not even sure when he had it, but it’s all this foodie talks about. So I was excited to see the recipe on Sunday-Suppers. We (meaning he) will definitely be trying this.

9 pounds medium sweet tomatoes, such as Early Girl
3 pounds 15 ounces white cane sugar
2 1/4 ounces strained freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 small blade of mace
2 small pinches of salt

Place a saucer with five metal teaspoons in a flat place in your freezer for testing the jam later.

Bring a medium kettle of water to a boil, then carefully drop the tomatoes into the water to loosen their skins. Leave the tomatoes immersed for 1 minute, then drain them in a large colander. When they are cool enough to handle, peel them over a large heat-proof mixing bowl, discarding the skins. Place a cutting board on a rimmed baking sheet and chop the tomatoes into medium pieces. Transfer the tomatoes and their juices back into the mixing bowl. Add the sugar and lemon juice, stirring well to combine. Transfer the mixture to an 11- or 12-quart copper preserving pan or a wide nonreactive kettle. Place the mace into a fine-mesh stainless-steel tea infuser with a firm latch and add it to the mixture.

Bring the jam mixture to a boil over high heat. Add the salt and decrease the heat slightly. Skim off any surface foam with a large stainless-steel spoon. Continue to cook, monitoring the heat closely, until the jam thickens and no longer seems watery, 30 to 45 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pan often with a heatproof rubber spatula, and decrease the heat gradually as more and more moisture cooks out of the jam. For the final 15 to 20 minutes of cooking, or when the jam starts to visibly thicken, stir the jam gently and constantly to prevent burning.

To test the jam for doneness, carefully transfer a small representative half-spoonful to one of your frozen spoons. Replace the spoon in the freezer for 3 to 4 minutes, then remove and carefully feel the underside of the spoon. It should be neither warm nor cold; if still warm, return it to the freezer for a moment. Nudge the jam gently with your finger; if it seems thickened and gloppy when you nudge it, it is either done or nearly done. Tilt the spoon vertically to see how quickly the jam runs; if it runs very slowly, and if it has thickened to a cohesive consistency, it is done. If it runs very quickly or appears water, cook it for another few minutes, stirring, and test again as needed.

When the jam is ready, remove the mesh tea infuser. Skim any remaining foam from the surface of the jam. Pour the jam into sterilized jars.

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