Linen Obsessed Part 1: Hot Color Trends

I am totally obsessed with linens.  Those glorious pieces of fabric that drape tables in all kinds of colors, textures, patterns and sizes make me so happy.  They are, without a doubt, one of my favorite elements of the events industry.  And, in my opinion, they play one of the more important roles when it comes to design.  Linens express theme and feel, create ambiance and communicate color choices. They are typically one of the first things I notice at an event - I immediately investigate the color, fabric, how they fit into the event as a whole, how they are displayed (is there an overlay, are they tied around the center, etc.) and my personal favorite: whether or not they touch the ground. 


And so in honor of my love, or shall I say obsession, with linens, I am going to be providing some of the hot linen trends - coming straight from The Special Event Conference - a leading source of event planning knowledge around the world.  So here you have it my fellow linen lovers... the hot color trends: up through early spring, the hottest color to be had is any variation of silver (pewter, titanium, platnium, etc).  This is reflected currently in the Hollywood awards season - best observed with the Golden Globes.  Pair these silvers with neutral tones and crystal accents. 


Moving into the spring of 2011, the color spectrum is referred to as "Exotic Journey" (oh, I'm getting goosebumps), as set by pantone.com.  This inspired collection includes colors like Coral Rose, Lavender, Peapod and the ultimate hot color for the year: Honeysuckle.   


Photo courtesy of shaylacopas.com

Stay tuned for more information on hot linen trends and my continued gushing over how awesome they are.

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers.

Celebrate Valentine's Day... Without the Tradition

photo courtesy of bostonherald.com

I will be honest: despite my love of romance, Valentine's Day is not at the top of my list when it comes to favorite holidays.  Sure, the decorations, candy and flowers associated with it are nice (glitter-covered hearts, roses and candies that say "text me") - but I wonder... are they necessary?  For me personally, it's all about celebrating the love on any and every day of the year - because it's always special...  And, there is the romantic in me.  It's not that I dislike Valentine's Day, I'm just somewhat indifferent to the hoopla that surrounds it.  Trust me, I'm not about to throw an "I Hate Valentine's Day Party" any time soon - speaking of which, have you seen the movie Valentine's Day?  The scene where Jennifer Garner beats up a heart shaped-pinata at her annual display of Valentines dislike is quite entertaining. 

OK, all things aside... let's talk Valentine's Day celebrations that don't focus on the traditional.  At the end of the day, why does this holiday have to be focused primarily on romantic love or couples for that matter?  Even though Jennifer Garner's annual party was a gathering to bash the day itself and ill-fated episodes of love experienced by the attendees - the idea behind it had merit, and it kind of looked like fun.  I'm not going to promote dislike of Valentines Day in any respect - but let's look at some avenues of celebrating the holiday that take it outside of the Valentine's " chocolate box" so to say.

With a holiday that's focused on couples, where does that leave groups of friends and those who are single?  Epicurious.com suggests throwing a mixer with great cocktails, food and your closest friends.  Come to think of it, I like that idea across the board.  Why not make Valentines Day a party instead of a one-on-one celebration - couple or single?

Even ehow.com gives pointers on how to celebrate the day in a non-traditional manner either as a couple or single.  Why not take a late-night trip for breakfast to Denny's in PJ's, I ask?

But seriously - here is a great suggestion for celebrating the holiday: giving back to the community.  Suite101.com suggests multiple non-traditional options, all of which, contribute to the greater good.  Buy gifts where a percentage of the expense goes back to a charity, spend time with family, give and/or plant seeds instead of purchasing a bouquet or donate to charity in someone's honor... all of the above celebrate love in a different capacity.

At the end of the day Valentines doesn't just need to be about romance, dinners, chocolates and flowers - it can be about celebrating the love we feel in partnerships, with friends, with family and for our community.  Try viewing the holiday this year through a different set of lenses and experience it from a new angle.

For other not-so-traditional Valentines related activities, visit letspartymagazine.com and learn how to throw a DIY Valentine's Day soiree for children. 

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers.

New Year's Resolutions: Consider Your Health Conscious Guests in 2011

Happy New Year!  As we step into 2011, we are faced with exciting new prospects, journeys to embark upon, challenges to overcome and lessons to be learned.  And as part of the traditions that come with a New Year, we set goals, hopes and dreams for ourselves - known as the New Year's Resolution.  The concept of the resolution is important to keep in mind as we head into a new season of events and entertaining; for without fail, for many, the top resolution is a goal for weight loss, usually accompanied by eating healthier and exercising more.  So, as you move into 2011, you should be considering your health conscious guests when putting together a menu - whether catered or something you prepare for personal entertaining.

I would imagine this resolution has been in the lineup for many of us year in and year out, just out of general awareness for our health.  And let's face it, it sounds like an excellent idea following the indulgences of the holiday season.  And the good news is, we don't have to sacrifice an amazing meal, appetizers or even Super Bowl Party goodies for our weight-loss initiatives.  I hosted a Super Bowl get-together last year while on Weight Watchers and prepared a few dishes that much to my surprise, and that of my guests, were tasty and reminiscent of typical football appetizers, while being on the healthier side.  Here is one of my personal favorites (recipe originally from weightwatchers.com):

Photo courtesy of weightwatchers.com

"Fried" Onion Rings 
Ingredients:
Olive Oil Cooking Spray
1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/8 tsp. Dry Mustard
1/4 tsp. Table Salt
2 large Onions, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and separated into rings
1/2 cup Buttermilk
1 cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs
  
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, dry mustard and salt.  Add onions and toss to coat.
Pour buttermilk into another large bowl, add onions and toss to coat (use your hands for the best result).
Place bread crumbs in another large bowl, add onions and toss to coat.  Transfer onions to prepared baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes.  Serve hot.


Flavor Booster: Give onion rings more crunch and fiber by using homemade multi-grain bread crumbs.  Place 2 slices of toasted multi-grain bread into a food processor or blender and mince using on/off pulses.


Be sure to also checkout letspartymagazine.com's article on partying healthy with ideas from Chef Anthony Rea of Creations in Cuisine.

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers. 

Trends for Engagement Photos - Couples opting for Magazine-Style Layouts

While recuperating on Sunday from eating too much this Christmas (and just being lazy), I caught up on some newspaper action and wanted to share an article with you that caught my eye.  I tend to go right to the Living, Style and Entertainment sections and was delighted to see an article on a wedding trend: engagement photos.

According to the Arizona Republic (or azcentral.com), couples are opting for engagement photos on a larger scale.  Gone are the days when traditional still shots were done with the intention of having something nice to put in the local paper to announce the engagement.  Couples are now interested in "magazine-style" shoots that include multiple locations, outfit changes, props and even pets.  The article goes on to discuss how the trend is to get far more use out of engagement photos then just the newspaper announcement.  Couples are using these photos to post on social networking sites, personal blogs, personalized wedding websites and wedding decor & favors.   

Read more on Magazine-style engagement photos, the hottest trend for brides-to-be and their grooms. 

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers. 

Christmas Sweater Parties... All the Rage for 2010?

With Christmas coming up this week and the holiday parties slowing down, I've had some time to reflect on all the parties I've attended for work, networking and fun.  And, it seems in a good portion of the invites, an "ugly" or "tacky" Christmas sweater has been listed with the dress code.  For whatever reason, this year feels like the Christmas Sweater Party is at its ultimate in trendy holiday entertaining.  

Photo courtesy of uglychristmassweater.com

I want to say the concept of the Christmas Sweater party has been around for a few years now.  Intrigued, I attempted a bit of research and found blog references to a new trend in 2008, claiming the phenomenon took off all thanks to the internet (Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties: A Funky New Holiday Phenomenon).  And, how could it not, thank you to sites dedicated to the party like: www.uglychristmassweaterparty.com, which now makes a profit selling things like "The Ugly Sweater 12-pack"? 


I can tell you I would have been better off ordering a sweater from the site given my failed shopping attempts: after multiple stores, all I could come up with was a turtleneck with snowflakes and jingle bells for earrings.  Certainly, many of my fellow sweater hunters were disappointed, since all of the stores had people circling the sweater racks and shaking their heads when nothing sufficient turned up.  Even sales staff were commenting on how fast the holiday-themed sweaters flew off the shelves.  And, I have to give credit to those who were creative enough to make their sweaters - using battery operated twinkle lights, ornaments and garland as accents, just to name a few.  


With a spattering of friends on Facebook changing their profile pics to reflect their holiday sweaters and goofy smiles in front of decorated Christmas trees, it's apparent this party was the "it" party for holiday celebrations in 2010.  Will it continue to gain momentum and be bigger in 2011?  Who knows.  But for this season, it was a ton of fun, made for excellent pictures and definitely brought out the smiles and laughter.

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers. 

Holiday Engagement Party - Decorate the Soon-to-Be Newlywed's Christmas Tree

I totally wanted to post about Nicole Richie & Joel Madden's wedding, but it looks like I'm going to have to wait for the tabloid bidding war to be over to get a good glimpse of the details.  I just love Nicole's style and have to believe that wedding was jam-packed with event trends (including elephants, apparently).

Photo courtesy of hometools.onsugar.com

For the time being, we will stick to the holidays, as those are just as fun to celebrate and as they quickly approach, you can't help but be in the festive spirit.  Here is a concept that ties both a wedding and the holidays together... the other day, my mother-in-law shared with me a concept for an engagement celebration (could also be a couple's wedding shower), that I totally feel in love with.  The premise is a holiday cocktail party, but each guest brings an ornament to help decorate the soon-to-be newlyweds Christmas tree.  This way the newlyweds start out with a set of ornaments to decorate with in their first few years of marriage.  The ornaments come from friends & family and therefore have sentimental value.  They are geared towards life as a couple, so they are a perfect foundation for the couple to build on as their marriage and family grow.  Have a small tree with lights ready for guests to help decorate or have them brought as traditional wrapped gifts for the couple to open.  Request a sampling of ornaments (traditional, personalized, etc), so the couple receives a variety. 

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers. 

Holiday Decorating and Entertaining on a Budget

I love a good bargain, absolutely love it.  I love the thrill of the search and the satisfaction that comes with a good find.  I can spend hours in a store looking top to bottom for the best deals or hours in multiple stores pulling together what I need for that low price.  When it comes to event (and holiday) decor on a budget, my time as a nonprofit events manager has definitely taught me a thing or two...

1. The Dollar Tree, the 99 Cents Only Store and other dollar stores are your friends.  I routinely trust these stores to turn up great decorating and entertaining items such as chargers, candles, candle holders, fillers such as river rock or glass beads, frames and much more!  With the holiday season, trust in these stores to bring out some great holiday decorating and entertaining finds.  I've purchased chargers with holiday-themed china, ornaments, candles and candle holders, ribbon, garland, gift wrap, holiday cards, cookie platters, and much more for my holiday needs.  An easy and inexpensive decorating tip: pick up ornaments (these stores typically have a great selection) and fill a vase or bowl you already have on hand.  Set a few candles around it and you've got yourself a centerpiece!  

Photo courtesy of The eBay Classifieds Blog: Home and Garden

2. Be sure to stop in some of your favorite discount clothing retailers for your decorating and entertaining needs: Ross, Marshalls and TJ Maxx.

3. Other locations I've always trusted for inexpensive decorating and entertaining finds: Ikea and Tuesday Morning.  From my perspective, Tuesday Morning tends to be a bit more on the expensive side (in comparison), but you can find some great items there.  It just may not be the place to buy in larger quantities.  On the flip side, Ikea is the place to buy in bulk.   Prior to hosting a large event, Ikea would often be my go-to spot for items needed in large quantities.  The great thing about it is you can stock up on vases, candles (and much more) for a low price and then reuse them for many events to come.  Also consider Ikea for holiday gift giving.  It is my favorite place to create gift baskets.  Giving someone a nice bottle of wine?  Visit Ikea for the accompanying wine glasses and other fun products.  Decorating tip: purchase vases of varying sizes and floating candles in bulk from Ikea, fill them with cranberries (purchased at your local grocery store) and water.  Float the candles and viola, you've got centerpieces galore!  This can also be done with votive or pillar candles, no water.

Photo courtesy of www.thegardenerseden.com

Photo courtesy of www.designedtothenines.com

4. Be sure to have a hot glue gun and Mod Podge on hand! 


When things are done on a restricted basis, often the creative need to amplify the creativity and turn on the resourcefulness.  I've always found this process to be fun - it poses a challenge: where can I get the most for my money? and how can I create something that gives the impression it came from a Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn when in reality, it is a dollar store project?  The bottom line is that holiday decorating and entertaining does not need to cost you a fortune.  


Here are a few links that share additional tips on holiday decorating and entertaining on a budget:

Food, Wine and Mod Podge: Christmas Decorating on a Budget

The Budget Decorator: Holiday Decorating on a Budget

The Decorating Diva: Holiday Decorating on a Budget 

Enjoy this wonderful holiday season!

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers.