StyleWhipped

Danielle Aspromatis: That's The Ticket!

So the holidays are behind us....the good news is some of you that have been running yourself ragged with holiday and New Years parties, playing Santa, and running around for the best sales can actually take a breath, a nap, and do some detoxing. The bad news is that we have a LOT of cold weather ahead of us, and nothing on the calendar to look forward to until Valentine's Day!!! Hopefully some of you have upcoming birthdays, showers, christenings, baby namings, or other fun occasions on the horizon. 

And who even needs a big occasion to get excited for? Even little occasions like a dinner party or a book club can be just what you need to lift those winter blues. So for your next get together where you are huddled inside away from the cold, put together your own little hot chocolate bar! Whether you are 35 or 5, hot chocolate is a universal hit...easy, cozy, and seriously WHO doesn't love hot chocolate? If you are a mom, imagine how COOL of a mom you will be the next time your child's friends come over and there is a hot chocolate bar waiting to warm their little hands!

You can construct your hot chocolate bar any way you wish, but here are a few suggestions..

Visit The Ticket Kitchen to purchase gourmet hot chocolate sticks. These look great on display and all you have to do is provide steaming milk to dip them into

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can also provide other topping like marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, toffee, caramel, red hots, or crystallized ginger...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last but not least, my favorite unique touch is to have your cups or mugs ready to go with a stirrer already in there and a munchkin donut speared onto the stirrer. Munchkins AND hot chocolate? Does it get any better than that?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay warm and cozy indoors!

-Danielle

Stockings and Silverware

For everyone setting the holiday table this year for Christmas, I came across a great idea! Go visit a Christmas Tree Shop, Home Goods, Target or any other local store that has all the abundant Christmas stuff-we-definitely-don't-need-but-want. Snag a bunch of miniature Christmas stockings, one for each guest, to add a little color and holiday cheer to your dinner table. They double as cute little pouches for your silverware! I love this! Leave them on their own, or get fancy and top off the look with a sprig of holly, evergreen, mistletoe or even a candy cane. If you get the little stockings that are really tree ornaments, then your guests have something great to take home and use on their tree for next year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crate and Barrel has really cute modern ones right now...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the no frills version, Party City sells the 5" classic red stockings in a pack of 6 for $4.99! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to plan ahead and try to be prepared for next year with a more personalized version of this look, check out this Etsy shop that makes custom stockings just for this purpose...you can even add a monogram!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a wonderful holiday dinner!

-Danielle

Yuletide Cheer

Happy holidays! As I am gearing up for holiday celebrations and the weather is very winter-ish this week, I wanted to share a warm, cozy entertaining must for this month. Although the majority of holiday and New Year's guests come to your house to stuff their face with naughty comfort food and drink wine, champagne, and egg nog (ok, maybe not egg nog...I've actually never seen egg nog served at a party I've been to or thrown...), a good host should also always have something non-alcoholic to serve that goes with the theme of the party for kids, expectant mothers, and for those that just don't drink alcohol.

What better drink to serve than a cup of warm apple cider? Top each mug off with a cinnamon stick for presentation and have them already in their mugs and out on the drink table (make them hot so when your guests take a mug it will still be warm). Buy the cinnamon sticks at your local grocery store, or snag them online in bulk from My Spice Sage (free shipping!). White mugs are visually effective but if you want to snaz up your cider, check out Crate and Barrel's modern red and white striped holiday mugs for $4.95 each.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you really want to go the extra mile for presentation, pick up Crate and Barrel's glass vanity tray and snowflake napkins to serve your cider on.....A+ presentation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers and happy holidays!

-Danielle

 

Danielle Aspromatis: Hot Chocolate Hit

Even though I am not a fan of the cold winter months, there is nothing better (for me at least!) than getting into sweatpants on a cold night and making a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Many of you may be planning holiday get-togethers in the upcoming weeks...for friends, family, or co workers. Favors are not a traditional staple at holiday get-togethers, but adding that extra little take away for your guests is unexpected and is guaranteed to be a hit. Especially when chocolate is involved!

I came across this picture and LOVED the idea...send your guests home with a hot chocolate favor! They can go home and make it before bed, or save it for another night (hot chocolate is definitely best enjoyed sober!). These are really easy to make. Pick up the disposable coffee cups and lids from your local dollar store, Walmart, or Target. The custom stickers are easy to make at www.zazzle.com if you can't make them yourself from your printer. Fill the cups with hot chocolate powder and marshmallows or peanut butter chips and make sure that you put directions to add hot water or milk on the sticker. The felt sleeve from the picture is a great touch but your guests will love the take away treat even without! If you do have some time to make the felt sleeves, all you need is one paper sleeve from your local coffee shop, colored felt, and a glue gun. Trace the paper sleeve on the felt, cut, and glue!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers and happy whatever-you-celebrate!

-Danielle

 

Thankful. And a little buzzed.

Yes, Thanksgiving is usually all about the food and good company...so much so that I am surprised all of America does not show up to Thanksgiving dinner wearing stretchy pants (who am I kidding...I absolutely plan to!). Although the food and desserts are great, Thanksgiving always gets the short end of the alcohol stick. Why, because we don't have room for any alcohol with all that food in our bellies?! Shame on us! Here are two fabulous "fall" cocktails that would be amazing for any Thanksgiving get-together or Christmas party. Pomegranate is a wonderful holiday ingredient because of its warm, festive red color. Add some red sugar on the rim of your glasses and you will be sure to impress your guests!

Pomegranate Martini

2 oz citrus vodka

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

1/4 oz fresh pomegranate juice

1 oz simple syrup

This one is for my fabulous, Prosecco-loving sister...

Pomegranate Spritzer

1 oz Pomegranate Liqueur

3 oz chilled Prosecco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy hour, happy guests!

-Danielle

More Pumpkins Please

Even though it's November (already!!) don't retire all your little cute mini pumpkins just yet...Especially since all us Tri Staters got jipped out of Halloween this year! What you can do for your next party is to make a yummy pumpkin hummus and display it in your mini pumpkins. As a lover of Halloween and all things small and cute, I am dying to do this for Thanksgiving. This would also be an amazing idea for a fall wedding, bridal shower or engagement party to serve dips or even individual soups for your guests! Just cut the tops off of them like you are about to carve a Jack O Lantern and scoop out all the insides. Wash it out really well and then just spoon in your dip or soup of choice (uou can bake the shells too but not necessary). Here is my official Jewish-girl-turned-Greek-wife recipe for pumpkin hummus:

1/2 can chick peas (throw some juice in there too from the can)

a few tablespoons olive oil (depending on how grainy or smooth you like it)

a few garlic cloves (depending on how much you like garlic...If you are me, I put in 4 cloves!)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 can pumpkin puree

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped

*Throw all ingredients into a blender, food processer or a Magic Bullet (yup, the As Seen on TV one!) and then scoop into your pumpkins! Serve with pitas or crackers.

 

 

 

 

 

Other ideas? Stuff them with cranberry chutney, veggies or even chili!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bon appetit!

-Danielle

 

Danielle Aspromatis: Cookie Clones

An event should always have personal touches. It's nice to incorporate the guest of honor's interests and what makes them THEM...whether it be a candy bar for their sweet tooth, a theme that centers around a hobby, or a special dessert that they love.

So why not even have cookies made that LOOK like the guest of honor? I don't care if you are 1 year old or 80 years old, these custom caricature cookies will make every guest smile (between bites!). With Parker's Crazy Cookies, you simply email the company a picture of whoever you'd like to feature (you can do multiple people as well for an anniversary, engagement party, or even a family reunion!). You can also email them if you'd like any specifics such as clothing, accessories, or even hobbies (does the guest of honor paint? bowl? dance? wear a favorite team jersey?). The team at Parker's then sends you a sketch proof to make comments on or approve and then...poof! The person in the picture is turned into a cookie! This is just too cute so I am hoping I get to throw someone a party soon so I can make them into a cute little cookie! 

Check out a few of my favorites...the resemblance is uncanny! 

- Danielle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danielle Aspromatis: BOO!

Halloween is and always has been my favorite holiday of the year. When I was little, it was all about the candy...lugging a pillowcase full of all my goodies was my favorite night of the year! And I always have loved dressing up...as a kid, I remember being Madonna, a genie, and a cheerleader. Then in my teens and 20's, Halloween became a vehicle to dress, uh, how should I say this? Um, a little provocatively (eesh!). I still love to get dressed up (maybe a little toned down though!) and being that I love to entertain, I am always looking for an excuse to decorate and host. But Halloween decor does not always have to be cheesy plastic decorations...if you play with different shades of orange and mix in black and white decorative items to your table, you can create a spooky and yet "adult" Halloween night for your guests.

I found this picture of a Halloween tablescape that is classy, festive and easy to execute!

The first must have (that is no secret to Halloween parties) is the cobwebs to cover the table. To achieve the look above, get cheesecloth and cut some holes and destroy it a little for the "cobweb" look. Don't have the time but want something unique? Purchase this spiderweb tablecloth on Amazon.com and drape it over your table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stock up on your pumpkins...the small ones are great and inexpensive so buy a bunch of orange and even some of the small white ones. 

For the black pillar candle holders, either buy cheap ones at Walmart and spray paint them black OR invest in a great trio like these from Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then arrange all your candy, snacks and desserts in black, white, or clear serving pieces (check out Target, they have great inexpensive ones!).

To get those cool black flowers you can either spray paint real flowers (the ones in the picture are Spider Mums that you can get from any local florist) OR you can buy some fake silk flowers online or at your local Michaels.

A really inexpensive way to achieve the look of that black and white printed vase and to not invest a lot of money is to take your regular old clear vase and line it with black and white pretty wrapping paper or craft paper (floral or damask works well).

Then pick up some cool extras like a black dove, black skulls and spiders. 

Who says Halloween is for kids?!

-Danielle

Danielle Aspromatis: Bite-Sized

Little things are definitely cute (or maybe that's just what my mom told me and my sister when we were bummed about being short...!). Either way, bite-sized appetizers are not only convenient and tasty, but will never fail to impress your guests and make them oooh and ahhh over your hors d'ouevres.

Here is a relatively easy one to put together that looks amazing on a tray as a pairing...mini beers and mini burgers! Mini sliders are nothing new, but somehow, when you pair them with a cute little beer shot, they have new life! You can purchase 2 oz. mini beer mugs from Amazon.com and use them over and over again for parties to come. Buy the slider buns in bulk to save money in the long run (freeze whatever you don't use this time...next time do salmon sliders or mini crab cakes in them!). You can get 150 mini buns from www.foodservicedirect.com for $42.35 (only 28 cents a bun!). Fry up the meat, add some cheese, warm up the buns and pour your favorite beer into the mugs. You can add mini grilled cheese to the platter for any vegetarian guests but it's not necessary..burgers and beers together are perfect! 

- Danielle

 

Danielle Aspromatis: Happy Fall and Happy New Year!

This post started because I was contemplating what a cool Rosh Hashanah tablescape detail would be....and when I found this one, I knew it was perfect because besides being great for the Jewish New Year (for all of you that don't know... apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah represent the sweet new year ahead!), it's an amazing fall table detail for ANYTHING in September or October! 

A lot of you may go apple picking starting mid September...which is great fun, but unless you eat an abnormal abundance of apples every day, you may come home from your day in the country with more apples than you could possibly eat. So why not turn some of those apples into ambiance for your next dinner?!

Buy a few tealights from your local dollar store and make sure you have a sharp knife (if not an apple core tool). Core out an area big enough for the candle and voila! You have instant clever decor.

A few tips though...not all apple bottoms are very even on the bottom, so you may want to slice the bottom off and give your apple candle more sturdy ground. Last thing you want is for your apple candle to fall over and set your tablecloth on fire! Also, you need to do these apples as the LAST part of your table when everything else is set and even when the food is all done, because apples turn brown pretty quickly.

Here are some quick and easy tips on how to keep your apples from browning:

1) Cut the apple underwater and leave them underwater until you are ready to put them out

2) Coat the apples in lemon juice, lime juice or Ginger Ale

3) Cover it tightly in plastic wrap until you are ready to put it out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you decide on green or red apples, these apple candles look amazing when all lit up on your fall dinner table.

No matter what you celebrate, Happy Fall! May the new season be wonderful for everyone!

- Danielle