This goes out to my sister Donna’s friend Dina from Cedar Grove, NJ. Like many families, Dina hosts a crowd for the Holidays. Sit down dinners are not possible, but creating a pretty tablescape still is – you just need to alter the plan.

The image above illustrates a simple but special way for you to decorate your buffet table. All you need is a pretty pitcher, some pussy willow branches or twigs from your yard and a few colorful hanging egg ornaments (you can string your own too). Add greens and a daffodil or two if you have them to make the arrangement fuller if that is your preference.  Then make up a few pitchers and place them anywhere you have set out your buffet stations. It won’t cost a lot and it will make the table feel festive. The branches give necessary height to your buffet and the eggs will add a punch of color! Plus remember all that gorgeous food, let it be the star!

As a kid, one of the Christmas traditions I loved best was hanging the Mistletoe.  I got so excited anytime someone was caught under it and was tickled pink to get a kiss from my Dad if it was me!   That is why I was so happy to see Hershey’s take on this traditional holiday decor.  What better way to make Mistletoe than with Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses.  Plus it’s a great DIY Christmas craft for you and the kids to work on together.   The best part is you can eat it when your done!  Make a few and hang them for your Holiday Celebration, then let guests take them home as favors after the party!

Find more ways to make your home sparkle with Hershey holiday crafts at www.hersheys.com/holidays/crafts.  The images above were taken at Hershey’s Holiday Cookie Baking Party on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at Robert Verdi’s Luxe Laboratory in New York City.

Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate Kissletoe

Materials:

• Three-inch Styrofoam balls
• Wired ribbon
• Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates
• Glue (low-heat glue gun, non-toxic craft glue, glue stick or confectioners’ glue)

Assembly:

1.     Using a pen or pencil, push through each ball to make a hole through the center of the ball (from end to end).

2.     Feed the ribbon through the first ball and tie a knot at the bottom.

3.     Leave a couple of inches of ribbon above the first ball and tie another knot. Then feed the ribbon through the second ball setting it on the second knot. Finally, leave several inches of ribbon and then tie a bow at the top.

4.     Using a hot glue gun, glue Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate on each ball. Once dry, you can hang your Kissletoe by the bow end.

To kick off the holidays and banish any inner grinch you may be feeling this year, Elizabeth and I have come up with a perfect party plan.  It’s our Holiday wish to inspire you to entertain and celebrate this joyous season with all your friends and family.  Below we have included a link to a 17 page eguide to show you exactly how to make it happen without the stress, mess and expense.  See what we mean and enjoy!

Download FREE Printable Party Guide Here<

The Holiday Giving Party Guide is a 17 page plan complete with step by step instructions, recipes and details on how to host a modern take on the traditional cookie exchange.

PLUS a very special cookie recipe from Matt Armendariz of MattBites.com

“If you’ve ever wanted to host a cookie exchange but didn’t know how, Partybluprints.com has released a FREE e-book, telling you exactly how to host the perfect cookie exchange party!  I read through it, and there are some great ideas, so make sure to download a copy!”

Lyanne founder of Being Frugal.net reviewed our Holiday Giving Party Guide.

Labor Day is the last chance to celebrate summer, so invite friends and family over and head to the backyard for some fun! Try this “make-ahead” menu and be a guest at your own party! Ribs are a great idea after a summer of hamburgers and hot dogs, your guests will welcome the change (and they can be cooked ahead of time). Add a Tomato Salad, Napa Style Cole Slaw, Corn Bread Poppers and sliced Watermelon to round out the menu and compliment the spicy meat. The only thing to do when guests arrive is heat up the ribs and put out the sides. Enjoy your day too. Make a plan, prepare ahead and be sure to celebrate in the true spirit of this holiday – No Labor!

Spice-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs

Here’s why you’ll love them – 5 minutes prep time and pop ‘em in the oven. This means less time standing over a hot grill at your party and more time enjoying a cool beverage with your guests!

Recipe and Image from McCormick.com
Makes 6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

• 3 to 4 pounds pork baby back ribs
• 6 to 8 tablespoons McCormick® Grill Mates® Pork Rub

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place ribs on foil-lined baking pan. Rub Pork Rub evenly over both sides of ribs. Cover with foil.

2. Bake 1 hour or until meat starts to pull away from bones. Transfer ribs to grill or cover and refrigerate until you are ready.

3. Grill over medium-high heat 1 to 2 minutes per side or until evenly browned. Cut into portions to serve.

Note: Use 2 tablespoons Pork Rub per pound of ribs.

Fresh Summer Tomato and Onion Salad

Here’s why you’ll love it – Prepare ahead of time and enjoy tomatoes now at the height of their freshness and flavor!

Recipe and Image from McCormick.com
Makes 6 servings.
Prep Time: 10 minutes

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Italian Herb Seasoning from McCormick® Italian Herb Seasoning Grinder
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 pound ripe tomatoes, sliced (about 3 medium)
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Mix oil, vinegar, Italian herb seasoning and sugar in small bowl.

2. Layer onion and tomato slices on serving plate.Drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with feta cheese.

Cornbread Poppers

Here’s why you’ll love it – Make-these simple bite-sized muffins the day before. The mini-size saves you time because they bake faster. They are a real crowd-pleaser, you can pop them in your mouth and young and old alike will love ‘em!

Ingredients & Preparation:
Prepare cornbread from your favorite recipe or use a box mix. Grease mini muffin tins and fill ¾ of the way with batter. You’ll need to adjust cooking time since the mini muffin tins are much smaller than regular muffin tins. Cut the baking time by at least half. Cool slightly and remove from pan. Line a basket with a cloth napkin or tea towel, arrange the Cornbread Poppers in basket and cover with cloth.

Napa Cold Slaw

Here’s why you’ll love it -it is a light and refreshing version of cold slaw and it doesn’t get any easier than this!!

Ingredients:

Salad

• 1 head napa cabbage – washed, dried, shredded
• 1 small carrot – grated
• or buy the pre-shredded bag

Dressing

• ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:
Combine shredded cabbage and carrots. Cover and refrigerate until ready to dress and serve. Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar or blender. Shake/blend well. Cover and set aside until ready to dress salad and serve. Dress salad lightly, toss to fully coat and serve. You want to serve it nice and crunchy, so don?t let it set too long with dressing before serving.

Although it’s “technically” not your husband’s responsibility to make your day on Mother’s Day, because you’re not his mother…this duty falls to him as the children need an adult to lead the charge. As many of you may or may not agree, some Dads are not natural born mind readers or “sensitive” as to what a mother needs or wants on her special day. I believe all fathers are truly in awe of the woman who gave birth to his child(ren) and whose dedication and love of mothering is endless. Although he feels this, sometimes the expression falls short and the last minute reservations at the local diner or box of doughnuts for breakfast falls short of the tribute a mother deserves.

In the best interest of your husband and yourself, don’t place this huge responsibility on his shoulders. Set him up for success and save yourself from disappointment. There’s nothing wrong with sharing with your man some direction on how you would like to be treated like a Queen on Mother’s Day, and, yes, he may need a detailed plan. Of course, if you plan it yourself, that takes a bit of pleasure out of the day.

Download Plan>

So on this Mother’s Day, Partybluprints.com is giving all Mothers a gift, a game plan to pass on to Dad – all he needs to do is follow the step-by-step guide for a day fit for a Queen. He’ll feel great about treating you to a day you truly deserve and as the Queen Bee, you’ll feel honored. So all you have to do is slip this plan to your man with a not so subtle message that this is what you want for Mother’s Day. Spell it out ladies – men will readily admit that not only aren’t they mind readers, but subtlely is lost on them – just tell them what you want, we’re here to help you. Simply download our FREE Eguide and give it to good old Dad. Trust us, what man doesn’t appreciate executing a plan.

Sprinkles is offering two limited edition, St. Patrick’s Day-themed cupcakes this year.

The green velvet cupcake is a dyed green version of Sprinkles’ Southern-style chocolate cake topped with cream cheese frosting. The Bailey’s Irish chocolate cupcake features Belgian dark chocolate cake topped with cream cheese frosting dosed with Bailey’s and topped with a fondant shamrock. $3.25 each; available Friday to St. Patrick’s Day. To find a Sprinkles location near you Go>

Since most of us don’t live near a Sprinkles, we need to mix up our own batch. Take the cue from the pros and instead of green icing, go for the green cake. It’s festive and very unexpected! Duncan Hines has a wonderful Red Velvet Cake mix, I have used this several times for cupcakes – just add green food color. Top with cream cheese frosting and add some Bailey’s Irish Cream if you like.

Bailey’s Cream Cheese Frosting
(recipe for one cake 8×8, equivalent of 12 cupcakes )

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 3 tablespoons of Bailey’s Irish cream

Directions:
1. Mix everything.

If you have fallen into the habit of not celebrating Valentine’s Day because it’s too much trouble and you’re not “feeling the love” for this holiday any longer – we’ve got a remedy. Take advantage of Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year and reconnect with the spirit of this holiday. Banish any feelings you may associate with Valentine’s Day being a commercial holiday and warm up your heart and the hearts of those you love – The Beatles said it best, “All You Need is Love”. It’s really what we all want anyway, to feel loved, so celebrate LOVE in its many different forms. With some inspiration and a lot of heart, use the next few days to prepare a special celebration. Whether your celebration is for two or more, enjoy our inspirations for Valentine’s Day: Tips for Two, Chocolate Tasting Eparty Plan, and “links of love”!

Tips for Two

For Moms with little ones or even tweens, it can be “Mission Impossible” trying to put some romance in your life. Getting out for a Saturday night is hard enough, let alone on Valentine’s Day when restaurants and baby sitters have been booked for months and menus are overpriced for the evening. With all this working against you, you might feel like someone dumped cold water on your love life. But don’t give up we have the perfect plan for you. If you have a date for the evening, a cozy spot in your home and the desire, we have terrific tips to help you prepare an intimate Valentine’s Day celebration for two, our Fire and Ice evening, “From Russia With Love”, promises romance, intrigue and passion! For detailed free tips go …

Chocolate Tasting Party

If you’re up for a party this year, transform Valentine’s Day from a pressure cooker for couples to a stylish affair for everyone. Host a Valentine’s Day Party that is about the “we” and not just the “he” or “she”. Spread the love to embrace all those in your circle and honor your cherished friends and family by treating them to a swanky and alluring evening out in your home. Melt the hearts of loved ones by hosting a luxurious and lavish cocktail and dessert party. Pamper them with a sinful supply of dark and dreamy chocolate, ruby red wine, candlelight and soulful music. Our Chocolate Soiree Eparty Plan details all the decedant details for this dessert party to make it simple for the big-hearted host. Virtually everything can be assembled and displayed in advance of your guests’ arrival, allowing you to be a guest at your own party and partake in the pleasure!
For more information, check out our Chocolate Soiree Eparty Plan, and start planning today…

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Valentine’s Day shopping can be tricky, but we’ve got something for everyone in our Hot Picks for Valentine’s Day with everything from hip ideas for him to food-allergy friendly chocolate for the kids!

However you decide to celebrate – make it simple, special and full of your love!

Here is a great dessert idea for the kids tonight!

Recipe from FamilyFun.Go.com.
What you need:

• Baked cupcake
• Almond Joy candy
• White frosting
• White jelly beans
• Black decorators’ gel
• Watermelon slice candy
• Brown M&M’s Minis
• Chocolate cookie

Remove a piece of cake the width of an Almond Joy candy from the center of a baked cupcake. Set the candy upright in the hole, then spread a layer of white frosting on the cupcake.

For the groundhog’s eyes, trim the ends from a white jelly bean, stick them in place with frosting, then dot them with black decorators’ gel. Add a tiny triangle cut from a watermelon slice candy for a nose, brown M&M’s Minis for ears and cheeks, and a tiny rectangular piece of white jelly bean for teeth. Sprinkle chocolate cookie crumbs around the partially emerged groundhog, and he’s ready to greet his fans.

If you are not a cupcake fan or just don’t bake, try “Groundhog Cups”. Fill a clear plastic cup half way with chocolate pudding and top with crushed graham crackers. Print and cut out pictures of ground hogs and paste to Popsicle sticks. Once they are dry, stick them in the cup with the ground hog peeking out and you’ll have a cute and yummy holiday treat for the kids in no time!

This Chinese New Year, the year of the Ox, falls on Monday, January 26th. If you are looking to do a little more than just order in Chinese Food this year, we have a few ideas, links and recipes that will add a festive spirit to your day or night.

1. Decorate with Chinese Paper Lanterns. Dim the lights and string up these to create the perfect setting for your Chinese New Year’s dinner. You’ll be surprised how this simple touch can transform your room and spirit! Paper Lantern strings are available at most party stores but below is a link and a good idea of what to look for.

Bamboo Paper Lantern String Lights (set of 10) Add a little Asian appeal to any living space and light up your outdoor party with our Bamboo Paper Lantern String Lights (set of 10). These paper lantern string lights come in a boxed set including ten paper lanterns featuring a white bamboo design against a dark background. Comes with wire frames to expand the lanterns and link to 12′ string of lights spaced 8″ apart.

2. Serve Chinese inspired cocktails.

Cocktail Recipes by our featured Mixologist, Dalio Calado, ClassicalCocktails.com.

Oriental Mandarin
1 hand squeezed Tangerine
1 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz Partida Blanco Tequila
2 oz Ginger Ale


Squeeze the tangerine into a shaker filled with ice. Add Grand Marnier
and Partida Blanco. Shake well, then top with ginger ale while still in the shaker.
Pour into a rocks or highball glass and garnish it with a tangerine
wheel.
 


photo by classicalcocktails.com


Lychees & Flowers
3 fresh peeled Lychees
1.5 oz Bulldog Gin
1.5 oz St Germain

Mix all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously.
Serve in a chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh Lychee.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 3 tablespoon honey
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
• 2 garlic cloves – minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger – crushed
• 1/8 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder

Heat the ribs thoroughly, then brush on BBQ sauce at the end. The honey will burn so you don’t want to put this on too soon.

Sweet and Sour Grilled Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 60 shrimp, cleaned and deveined
• Olive Oil
• Fresh cracked pepper
• Sea Salt
• Sweet and Sour Sauce

If you don’t want to clean and devein your shrimp, purchase a good quality frozen raw shrimp, cleaned and deveined at your local seafood market.

Preparation:

• Place frozen raw shrimp in a colander, and run cool water over them until thawed, approximately 10 minutes.
• If shrimp is not deveined and cleaned, remove shell (leaving the tail on) and devein using a deveiner or sharp knife.
• Prepare 16″ x 12″ grill toppers (3) for shrimp by spraying with nonstick cooking spray. Set grill topper on a baking sheet. The baking sheet will catch any liquid that leaks through the grill topper.
• If shrimp are still wet, pat dry with paper towel and arrange on grill toppers (each will fit 30 shrimp).
• Brush each shrimp with olive oil, fresh cracked pepper and sea salt.
• Cover with plastic wrap, stack them and refrigerate – you may store in the refrigerator for up 8 hours before grilling.
• Remove the shrimp from the refrigerator 15 minutes before grilling to bring to room temperature.
• Up to 15 minutes before grilling, preheat grill – you know your own grill so preheat as long as necessary until it is very hot.
• Turn grill down to medium/high (you don’t want to burn it) and place grill topper(s) on grill. Keep cover closed while grilling.
• Cook on each side for approx. 2 minutes (until the tails turn white), use tongs to turn one time.
• Using oven mitts, remove from the grill pan from the grill and place on baking sheet, using tongs remove shrimp and place on serving dish to be served immediately.
• Depending on the size of the grill, repeat this process up to two more times to cook the remaining toppers of shrimp.
• Serve the Duo Dipping Sauces with the shrimp: La Choy Sweet and Sour sauce available in most supermarkets and Stonewall Kitchen’s Roasted Peanut Sauce to excite all of your guest’s tastebuds!

Stonewall Kitchen’s Roasted Garlic Peanut sauce

Round out your menu with these two side dishes:

• Spicy green beans, and

• White or Brown Rice from your local Chinese restaurant.

5. Use renewable bamboo plates and chopsticks.

What’s more perfect to dish up Chinese Food with than Bambu All-Occasion Veneerware. Not only does it lend an Asian feel to your table, but it is eco-friendly since it is made with the remarkably renewable grass – bamboo.

Click To Buy Option: Bambu

Tangerine, Mandarin, and Pomegranate (Chinese Apple) are delicious Chinese fruit flavors. Ciao Bella makes some of our favorite and you can order from them online at http://www.ciaobellagelato.com/.

For a little crunch and munch with the sweet sorbets, add some fortune cookies.

Here is a great online option. Your choice of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, rich caramel or the best-selling assortment flavors. Select 12, 24, or 48 fortune cookies. These treats are baked fresh in small batches each day – each crisp vanilla fortune cookie is hand dipped in fine Belgian chocolates or golden caramel. Confectionary artisans finish each cookie with it’s own accent: chocolate drizzles, milk chocolate sprinkles, Heath Toffee bits, slivered California almonds, tender sweet shredded coconut, or peanut butter drizzle!
Click to Buy Option: Fortune Cookies

To create a new look for your Holiday table you don’t need to spend a lot, just a few new items will serve you, while you are serving guests this year. Set your holiday table in red and green. It’s not only traditional but it can really help holiday spirits soar! A festive and fun salad plate or metallic charger for under the dinner plate can make your china feel new again. Flowers and napkins pack a powerful punch of color on your table – look for red and green. If your holiday meal is late in the afternoon or evening, candles are the best way to create ambiance. Select candlesticks and votives of varying heights and buy scentless candles. Finally, the addition of a small favor at each place setting makes your guests feel special and conveys the giving spirit of the holidays.

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