Designer Reusable Bags: A Great Event Give-Away

Envirosax is creating the next generation in 'stylish' reusable bags. I am seeing these all over the city. They make a great inexpensive gift and with so many styles or patterns, one that is perfect for your personality for less than $10 bucks! Lightweight polyester, waterproof and super portable.

Custom bags can be created with your brand or company logo and make the perfect event give away. Visit Envirosax to learn more.

Bound: Your custom guest book!

Make your guest book as personal as your event itself. Heather Zerah hand makes each and every album for her clients, personally selecting handmade papers, textures and ribbons to create your guest book, photo album or memory book. A beautifully and very personal keep sake for many years to come. Prices start at $190, and go upwards, visit Bound.com

Inspiration from Turkey!

I just returned from a fantastic vacation in Turkey, I spent 6 days traveling the countryside, and then another 6 days in Istanbul. One of my favorite things was simply strolling thru the small markets and the Grand Bizarre in Istanbul. Their is an endless supply of colorful ceramics, evil eyes, jewelry, and the largest selection of carpets I have ever seen. The whole experience felt so unique. I wont go into the laundry list of things I purchased, however oddly enough after returning home, I found a vendor online in Pittsburgh that basically has an online Turkish Tourist Spot.

So if you cant get to the Grand Bizarre in Turkey, all you need to do is visit Cafe Anatolia, kinda funny. Our world gets smaller and smaller each day.

Dazzle Pops

Add a little dazzle and a lot of edible glitter at your party. Dazzle pops have a glitter coating on top of over-sized lollipops, in 24 different colors you can mix and match to party colors. These unexpected treats are just plain fun, anything with glitter is better, go ahead add some sparkle to your day. Items are available at Bedazzle My Bonbons.

Chocolate Olives or Cholive's

Obsessed with these Chocolates in the shape of olives! What a genius idea! All my friends are getting these for Christmas, what a unique gift. Try our favorite 'Chocolate Orange' martini mixed with a Cholive,

THE CHOCOLATE ORANGE
2 oz. Grey Goose L’orange
2 oz. White Crème de Cacao
1 oz. Kahlúa
1 Skewered Cholive

To purchase or learn more visit The Cholive Company online.

Bandana Luncheon Napkins

Get rowdy with bandanas luncheon napkins! A great new look for your guests especially summer backyard barbecues. Mix and match it with your cutlery and accessories to create your own cowboy look. These cute bandana napkins are available in red or blue jean and make a great decoration that could not be cheaper .

Bandana luncheon napkins $2 for 20, Target stores nationwide

Mae Mougin - couture ceramics and porcelain

A house is not a home - not until, that is, it's been graced with one of these fabulous finds. Meet Mae Mougin, couture ceramics and porcelain maker in Southampton. Her pieces are very simple and pure, she uses a lot of common typed text to label the plates always including her signature finger tip and paddle mark edges. Her one of a kind pieces have found homes amount celebrites, artists and select retail stores. Think of Mae when you need to order a unique gift for a trend-setter or commission a family heirloom.

Prosecco delightfully bubbly!

A true Prosecco hails from the Veneto region of Italy, and is produced from the Prosecco grape. Its a young wine, often fruity and light as well as lower in alcohol content than many wines. The relaxed friendly bubbly has exploded in popularity so much that bottling has increased dramatically over the past five years in Italy and 'copy cats' are now found all over the world.

We love Prosecco and think this is a perfect wine to bring to a picnic, not only for its light airy quality but also because its relatively inexpensive. Since picnic season is officially upon us we wanted to share the Dow Jones Prosecco Index of inexpensive Prosecco:

Minonetto Brut. $9.99
Best tasting and best value. Some Champagne-like finesse. Minerals, toast and real fruit tastes, especially apples and pears.

Bartenura Extra Dry. $15.99
Good fruit, with ripe, white grapes, a touch of brown sugar and complicity that many lack.

Astoria 'Cuvee Tenuta Val de Brun. $19.99
Nutty, mineral nose, with some tasted almonds. Very pleasant.

Bisol 'Crede'. $22.99
Easy drinking. Clean, with hints of mango and lime.

Col del Sole Extra Dry. $11.99
Clean, fresh nose with some minerals. Vibrant bubbles. Lychee and mangoes - a bit tutti-frutti but relaxed and happy.

Di Fliore 'Passionne'. $9.99
Lively, with ripe tastes, nice balancing acidity and a very easy, light finish.

Foss Marai Extra Dry. $15.99
Fun, with tart, green-apple tastes and a little hint of minerals.

Desiderio Jeio Brut. $14.99
Ripe lemons with a touch of sweet fruit. Clean, soft and nice, with particularly charming little bubbles.

Custom Wedding Cake Stands

If you are fascinated with your wedding cake, its worth while to look into creating a beautiful cake stand to go along with your cake design. NJ based Robert Edwards is just the man for the job! His intricate details in cake and cupcake stands large and small, square and round, high gloss or matte finish is gaining the markets attention, the options are really endless. The top of your wedding cake my survive to your first anniversary, but your wedding cake stand can be passed down for generations.

Party Favors that work... and these are not it...

Today I was doing some spring cleaning around my apartment and I did so wearing a pair of LED blinking blue sunglasses. These were found in a long lost draw mixed with scarfs and gloves and other things I would be embarrassed to admit to saving. These glasses are also part of a big pile of items that has found its way nicely to the curb this afternoon.

We spend so much time with clients (and money) coming up with the perfect parting gifts or dance floor accessories, it makes me wonder how long some of these favors last. Money, no matter the amount, should also be spent on items that your guests will use or have the most interaction with. While my blinking blue glasses are quite fabulous and fun for a few minutes, its a costly accessory to supply to your guests for such a short amount of time.

Black Paella - something we dont love

I am a very adventurous eater, and will try just about anyone once. At a recent dinner I was introduced to a new phenomenon 'black paella'. Paella is a family style Spanish dish based around rice and whole bunch of other goodness, but this was the first I had learned of the darkened variety. Its the same ingredients rice, veggies, meats and wonderful spices that you would find in the golden or saffron varitey, but with one addition - INK. The dark color (and what I mean by dark, is the blackest thing ever) is due to the addition of squid or cuttlefish ink. I must make special reference to protect the Spanish, that this additional was actually made famous by a Chef in Scottsdale: Chef Aaron May at Sol y Sombra Spanish Kitchen & Lounge.

I say we leave the paella to the Spanish. Just the very thought of putting something with the word ink in my mouth immediately makes me think how it will eventually stain my teeth. Its like drinking too much red wine with strangers, eventually you will have to smile less and do random teeth checks. Serve black paella when in the company of close friends only.

Flying Chocolate Piggies

I have been surrounded by chocolate these last few weeks, overflowing chocolates at weddings, chocolate birthday gifts, double hot chocolate during the holidays. Its strange I don't really even like chocolate! However, I just found these chocolate pigs, and well I am in love!
These $12 pigges from Vosges Haut Chocolat are filled applewood smoked bacon, Alder wood smoked salt and deep milk chocolate. Its a perfectly unique gift, if you plan to gift chocolate far too often.

Art all Around - David Foote

Obsessed with David Foote! This artist not only creates unique pieces to hang on your wall, but has since expanded into ottoman designs, shower curtains, wine, skate boards and even skis! His designs from the New Girl series now cascade across all sorts of products. We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with David on this launch party of the 10 new products!

On top of everything else this artist is going he is also the creative director behind Jaboneria Marianella - a hand made line of candles and soaps. These are perfect to include in guest bathrooms or due to their beautiful packaging to use as gifts.

“the dance floor is the stage… …the stage is the dance floor!”

We love this “in the round” event experience. Synergy 360 is the industry’s first and only “in the round” event experience. Anchored by a completely wireless and independently powered center platform, the custom designed staging clusters bring the performers right onto the dance floor. This is an effortless production package unlike anything ever seen before! It includes light-up acrylic staging, overhead lighting, and state of the art centered digital sound. The staging clusters can serve as guest dance platforms, as well as risers for unique troupes of performers. The self-contained, rechargeable power system ensures we can take Synergy 360 just about anywhere! You can use this package for a lot of different events and the team will customize everything for your brand or event theme!

Learn more at On The Move.

Guitar Hero Belt Buckle

Its an air guitar belt buckle—-YUP!! its a mini- amp that goes on your belt —& a skull & crossbone belt buckle that when you wave the guitar pick over it –it plays some classic rock tunes of choice—or you can get the chip for 80s’?? hehehe we cant help ourselves!!!! Check out the you tube video here

Available at Toys R Us by clicking here for just under 30 bucks.

Fun with Stamps!

How often do we receive a personal letter in the mail? Probably once a year for our birthday and that is it. Our generation uses non-personal email as the main source of communication. Take a break from the ordinary technology world. Add a personal touch by sending a card to someone you love. A personal letter is a great way to say hello, miss you, or I love you! If you take the time to send a card to your loved one, make sure it is elegant and chic! We are obsessed with using multiple stamps. They add a stylish vintage look that everyone is sure to love. You can choose among thousands. All the stamps equal up to 39 cents and are perfectly mailable. Choose the stamps that fit your personality!

Ultra Compact Steambrush

I cannot even count the number of times I wished I had one of these on hand. Be wary of any steamer you rent from a New York rental company - they rarely work!

Perfect to give your linens a quick steam before your event or better yet steam that amazing party dress for a crisp look.

Be a pro and bring your own, for only $39.95 its an investment in your sanity! Available at Williams-Sonoma.

Heart Shaped Sugar Cubes

These sugar are just too fun! Its a bit of an over the top detail, but for those (such as myself) that thrive on the details, then heart shaped sugar cubes are for you! What a unique touch to add to your wedding or even just your own personal tea party. They would make anyone smile.

Available in either natural colors or red and whites, at Sur la table for $29.95, these accessories will not disappoint. Pair these cubes with other heart shaped edible items and you have a lot of love at one party! Reusable heart molds can be purchased at Lancaster Colony, one mold for $6.60, the sold molds can be used for butter, cheese, pate or chocolate.