{MG Party Impressions} Retro Inspired Summer Cocktail Station + Free Download

I've got a cool post over at MG Party Impressions with tips on putting together an easy retro inspired cocktail station complete with a free download.  Head over to MG Party Impression to read the full post!

{MG Party Impressions} Oscar View Party Sneak Peek

Here is a little sneak peek at my Oscar Viewing Party over at MG Party Impressions!

Read more about this party and get inspired over at my featured post on MG Party Impressions.  You can also find the printable party kit in my Etsy shop.

Black History Fact 

Halle Berry 

Halle Berry is an American actress and a former fashion model. Berry received an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and an NAACP Image Award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2001 for her performance in Monster's Ball, becoming the first and, as of 2011, only woman of African American descent to have won the award for Best Actress. 

She is one of the most highly paid actresses in Hollywood and also a Revlon spokeswoman. 

She has been involved in the production side of several of the films in which she performed.  

source 

 

{Party Recap} Diamonds & Denim

 

All Photos above - courtesy of Greg Jones

What a fabulous time Diamonds & Denim turned out to be! I'm exhausted and pooped, but it was a good time to be had by all!

The event took place at Lost Society in DC - a really hip bar & lounge in the U Street corridor. Naleli Askew of Quintessential Consulting and Blueprint for Style's, Monica Barnett truly put together a great event.  The Blue Jeans Bar was on hand to do custom fitting for jeans.  A local jeweler located in Old Town Alexandria, VA - Mystique Jewelers, was there as well, with the most beautiful & unique and pieces of jewelry I've seen in a while.  Another great bonus of the event were the gorgeous Stephanie Johnson swag bags that guests walked out the door with!  I'm bummed I didn't get a picture of them - but trust, they were lovely.  Then, I was there to give everyone a sugar rush with a candy buffet and dessert table!  Ha ha!

For the set up, I created the desserts table with decadent Chocolate Cake Pops and Vanilla Cupcakes topped with a dollup of White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - HEAVEN!

 The candy buffet was set up with Rock Candy Martinis, jelly beans, candy coated chocolate dots, salt water taffy, chocolate bars and old fashioned candy striped bags (an import graciously sent to me from a good friend in the UK).

I created and styled everything in deep blues, silver and anything that would sparkle and shine! For the candy buffet table, I attached a swag that I made out of stripes of denim & jute twine (loves me some jute twine). We sprinkled 'diamond' accents over the blue satin table overlay, and I decorated the glass candy dishes and candle holders with decorated paper that I used from My Grafico designer Shery K.

Another great feature (in my head) were these beautiful silver chargers that I made.

I created them using silver trays, blue glass beads that I had sitting in a zip loc bag for years and my trusty glue gun. I came up with the idea at 2:00 in the morning and I went crazy! I made about nine of them and only used 3!!!  That's the way it goes!  LOL

Hey - I also met some fantastic women at the event and did this online radio interview with Kamaria Richmond on Cinch Chat!



To read more about my styling design for this event, please check out my post today over at MG Party Impressions

{Inspiration Thursdays} Diamonds & Denim

I recently hopped on board to style the Diamonds & Denim event taking place next week in Washington, DC in association with The Blues Jean Bar, Blueprint for Style, Mystique Fine Jewelry Design and Quintessential Consulting.

I am so excited about participating in this event because I generally style kid's parties and small gatherings. So, this is going to be a blast for me to do something a bit more formal. The event is going to be really cool too. Folks can come by and get fitted for jeans, get great styling tips, find out how to get the best and most fabulous baubles and bling - PLUS they'll have a chance to taste my fabulous upcakes and sweets!

 Here is the inspiration board that I created for the event:

I'm sure this event will be a success and a good time to be had by all! If you live in the DC, Maryland or Virginia area and would like to attend make sure you RSVP for your space!

 

{MG Party Impressions} Chic Halloween Cocktail Party

Remember that inspiration board I shared with you last week? Well,
here is the post I wrote for MG Party Impressions on creating coordinating paper items for a Chic Halloween Cocktail Party....check it out!

{Sweet Treats Recipe} Mimosa Cupcakes for Mother's Day

I made these Mimosa cupcakes last year for my good friend's Big Hat Brunch and thought they would also make a perfect treat for a Mother's Day Brunch. 

Mimosa Cupcakes (Updated as of 5/13/2011)*

Ingredients:

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda

3/4 Cup Sugar

2 Large Eggs, slightly beaten

3/4 Cup Champagne

1/4 Cups Fresh Squeezed OJ

1/3 Cup Canola Oil

2 Tbsp Orange Zest

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 Tsp. Orange Extract

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin pan with paper liners.

2. Mix flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl, set aside.

3. In a separate bowl mix sugar, eggs, champagne, OJ, oil, zest and extracts until well combined.

4. Combine wet ingredients to dry, mix on medium speed in two additions, scraping bowl between additions.

5. Add batter to liners and bake for about 20-22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

6. Allow cupcakes to cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on the rack before frosting.

*(Editor's Note: This recipe has been updated as of 5/13/11 - the original published recipe included 1/2 cup Buttermilk, which is NOT supposed to be in the list of ingredients.  Sorry for any inconvenience>)

Champagne Frosting

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Softened Butter

3-4 drops LorAnn Champagne Flavoring*

1/2 Tsp. Orange Extract

6 Cups Powdered Sugar

2 Tbsp. Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate

Champagne Syrup (Recipe Follows)

Orange segments (optional)

Directions:

Starting out with butter, creamed, combine all the remaining ingredients together until well blended and frosting has a creamy texture.   Drizzle with Champagne Syrup and top with orange segments.

Champagne Syrup

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Sugar

3/4 Cup Champagne

Directions: In a medium saucepan combine sugar and champagne. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool. 

 

 * I recommend LorAnn Flavorings - be cautious when adding to mixture as the flavors are highly concentrated and too much can ruin the taste.  Be sure to test the frosting as you add the flavoring.

Enjoy!

{Cinco de Mayo Celebration} Five Delicious Sangrias You Will Love

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  There is nothing more delectable and delicate - and maybe even a touch girlie - than a Sangria.  A delightful  combination of wines, fruit, sweet honey, citrus and sometimes spices, Sangrias are the pot lucks of pitcher drinks!  Typically this is a drink served in Spain as opposed to Mexico but I think that it is a great compliment to any Cinco de Mayo celebration.  So, slap on a sombrero and chomp on a chalupa and while you're doing that, try one of these delicious sangria recipes!

White Peach Sangria
(via Food Network - Bobby Flay)

(William Sonoma)

Ingredients

• 1 bottle white wine (Spanish table wine)
• 3 ounces brandy
• 2 ounces triple sec
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 2 ounces simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water brought to a boil for 2 minutes in a small saucepan) and cooled (leftover syrup can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 month)
• 3 ounces white peach puree (peel peaches, remove pit and puree in a blender with a small amount of water)
• Fresh peaches, oranges, and apples sliced

Directions: Place all ingredients in a pitcher and stir to mix.  Refrigerate at least 8 hours or up to 48 hours. Serve over ice.


Pink Grapefruit Sangria
(via Spryte on Bakespace )

 

(Woman's Day)

Ingredients

• 1.5 liter Barefoot Moscato
• 1 C Key Lime Rum
• 1 12oz can Limeade concentrate, thawed
• 1/2 medium pink grapefruit, sliced, then quartered
• 1 orange, sliced, then quartered
• 1 lemon, sliced, then quartered 
• 2 limes, sliced, then quartered

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate several hours to overnight. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Watermelon Sangria
(via Food & Wine)

 

(Tina Rupp-Food & Wine)

Ingredients

• 2 pounds seedless watermelon, peeled and cubed, plus 1/2 pound watermelon cut into balls with a melon baller and skewered on picks
• 1 bottle dry white wine
• 6 ounces vodka
• 4 ounces Cointreau or other triple sec
• 4 ounces Citrus Syrup
• Ice 

 Directions

 In a blender, puree the watermelon cubes. Pour through a fine strainer into a pitcher. Add the white wine, vodka, Cointreau and Citrus Syrup. Stir and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir again, then pour the sangria into ice-filled white wine glasses and garnish with the skewered watermelon balls.

Cranberry Pomegranate Sangria

(via Ocean Spray)

 

 

(Ocean Spray)

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1 8 ounce bottle of  Pomegranate Juice
• 1 cup of brandy
• 1 cup of orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
• 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds
• 1/2 apple, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• fresh berries, if desired
• 12 ounces of club soda or sparkling water

Directions:Wash and slice, apple, orange, lime and add to wine. Rinse berries, and add to wine.Add brandy and orange liqueur and pomegranate juice. Chill overnight to let flavors deepen.Add chilled club soda to mixture before serving to add sparkle.

 Cava Sangria 
~Strawberry Mint Sangria~
(via Southern Living)

 

 Ingredients

• 8 large mint leaves
• 1 (750-milliter) bottle Cava sparkling wine, chilled*
• 3/4 cup white grape juice, chilled
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur
• Garnish: fresh sugar cane sticks

Directions: Press mint leaves against sides of a large pitcher with back of a wooden spoon to release flavors. Stir in sparkling wine and next 3 ingredients. Serve immediately over ice. Garnish, if desired.

*Other sparkling wine or Champagne may be substituted.