Our mom is turning sixty this year (!), so we're starting to brainstorm ideas for a family party. These ombre balloons are great, don't you think? You just blow up six balloons each of slightly different colors, that's it!(Photo by Jenny)
Showing posts with label dinner parties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinner parties. Show all posts
Ombre balloons
Our mom is turning sixty this year (!), so we're starting to brainstorm ideas for a family party. These ombre balloons are great, don't you think? You just blow up six balloons each of slightly different colors, that's it!(Photo by Jenny)
Baked potato bar
We recently invited six friends over for dinner, and instead of juggling recipes (we aren't fancy cooks), we did a baked potato bar! Alex baked the potatoes in the oven for an hour, and we put out bowls with tons of toppings. Our list of toppings: butter, black pepper, goat cheese, sautéed spinach, avocados, chicken, brie and cranberry sauce, chili, grated cheddar cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions and garlic. (I also wanted to do sour cream with caviar--how fabulous would that be? Next time!) It was super easy and delicious. What toppings do you like on baked potatoes? Any weird ones?P.S. And a staring contest:)
(Graphic design by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)
What's your hangover cure?
Holiday parties are coming up, and with glasses of bubbly come hangovers. What's your hangover remedy? Mine used to be a giant Chipotle burrito (#classy), but I've now learned two genius cures that really seem to work...
* Toast. Before going to bed, make a piece of burnt toast, and wash it down with a big glass of water. The burnt part of the toast is carbon, which absorbs many of the toxins that give you that terrible hangover.
* Reflexology. When you wake up, rub the outer edge of your right foot, halfway between the middle of your foot and your pinky toe. This is the reflex point to the liver. You may notice some "crunchy" texture, which is a sign that some congestion is in the area. Kind of gross! But also kind of awesome!P.S. Toby. :)
Tip #3: How to talk to strangers at parties
Do you like talking to strangers at parties, or do you get nervous? Well, here's a handy tip I learned that makes mingling way easier...Don't worry if the first two seconds are awkward. A friend told me this years ago, and it totally changed my approach to parties. When you strike up conversation with strangers, the first moment is basically guaranteed to be awkward. Who cares! Embrace it! Just walk up to someone, introduce yourself, and push through those first two seconds as if you're opening a door to the conversation. Once you get into an awesome, fun, rollicking chat, no one will remember how it started. Knowing this advice makes me feel free to just walk up to whomever and just start talking. :)
Thoughts? Any other tips for mingling? What do you talk about? (My three foolproof questions: Seen any good movies lately? How do you know the host? Any fun vacations coming up?) I'd love to hear your thoughts... xoxo
(Top photo from Seinfeld. Bottom photos by Magnum)
We had a party
My boyfriend Alex writes for the New York Times, but the only parts I usually witness are his late nights and requests for tummy rubs. But then he came home a few weeks ago and said he was writing a story about throwing a holiday party on a tight budget--with the help of uber-famous event planner David Monn! And the party was to be at our apartment! It was totally exciting.I loved tagging along for this article. We had a dinner party with (cheap but delicious) twice-baked potatoes amid glittery snowflakes. The coolest part? Monn put down a white tablecloth, put a bunch of white Christmas lights in the middle and then covered it with white quilt batting. The table glowed!
See Alex's story here and his fun slideshow here. Thank you, Alex! xoxo
Letterpress Coasters
A little treat for today: I recently discovered the fabulous Minneapolis-based Papered Together letterpress studio, so I ordered some coasters. They arrived at my office today, and they are so cute! Now I will have to plan a dinner party...
Last night
Last night went swimmingly! For those who are interested, you can see the photos of the dinner party here.
Getting dressed for a dinner party
The timeless question: What to wear? This Chambray shirt dress by Geren Ford would be lovely when drinking cocktails and laughing with your guests.
My, what beautiful wine you have...
We've long been drawn to well designed wine bottles here on Cup of Jo. But the other night at Little Giant, I was blown away by the label of the wine they were pouring by the glass -- Mano a Mano from Spain. So graphic and striking! It added a really nice touch to the evening. Here are a few other beauties...
Our new friend Keith
Guess who just subscribed to bene? Keith McNally!!! He, of course, is the legendary restaurateur behind Balthazar, Pastis, Lucky Strike, Schillers and the new Morandi. What a thrill!
Get a fork
This week's New York Mag has a story about the calories (lots) in a typical lunch at Per Se. It's a funny piece--but, seriously, getting a little fatter seems a small price to pay for a nine-course tasting menu by Thomas Keller. Yummers!
Oops, Your Table's Naked
I'm a big fan of the rustic wooden table, but sometimes a pretty tablecloth can really dress up a dinner party. Since tablecloths--even boring ones--are pretty expensive, I prefer to buy pieces of fabric. You just go to a fabric store, choose your favorite from a huge selection, have them cut a few yards and voila! My go-to store is Purl Patchwork in Soho. Happy shopping!
Dinner Parties
I'm co-hosting a dinner party for six of my favorite people this Saturday. And we're throwing a bene magazine soiree on Wednesday. So this week will be all about parties...and the debauchery that ensues.(Photo by Berlin-based Marcus Gaab)
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