On the Twelfth Day of Christmas (not precisely, dear reader)…

So much to tell of this last 6 months, but in the meantime, I want to blow the stardust off those awfully unwieldy gift guides by giving you 12 days of fabulously practical (yet glittery) ideas, tips and tricks to prettify your home, self and friends/family.

Holiday parties?  Hostess gifts?  Vessels for libations?  I have you covered with three of my favorites.  The beauty of all of these selections is that all of these cocktail glasses can hold a wine, mixed drink, eggnog, sparking water or other hard or soft beverage with equal aplomb!

From BHLDN (a F4 favorite!):  combining my love of rose gold and the look of vintage coupe stems, this is the Rosy-Cheeked Coupe.  So Gatsby.  

Next up, a sure-to-be new classic with a twist from perennial fave Serena & Lily.  We present the more affordable, chunky, hefty and gold-bottomed “Coro” tumblers, in a set of 4.  Fabby! 

And, finally, these more budget-friendly but oh-so-lovely all-purpose glasses from Crate & Barrel.  Stock up while you can on the “Cora” wine glasses in 2 sizes.  Also great for that souffle, mousse or ice cream dessert.  Beautiful. 

Cheers!

Guess Where I’ve Been? Answer: not blogging.

Giveaway Loot – Berenice Bejo’s earrings from The Oscars! (well…close).

While many of the fashion pundits did not approve of Bérénice Bejo‘s Oscar gown (she’s the gorgeous gal from “The Artist“), she got high marks for her beautiful diamond and emerald dangly drop earrings.

Emitations (I just love this company) has a gorgeous pair of earrings that look like those very earrings and we’re giving away a pair to a lucky reader.  Tell your friends.  *Disclaimer – these were not given to us, but purchased, but we are happy advocates of Emitations jewelry – the quality is undeniable.  And if you have expensive baubles, chances are you can find a copy on their website to wear while traveling – leave your engagement ring home!

To enter, you must a) subscribe to this blog, b) make a comment here on this post, c) make a wish!  It’s that simple. You can Tweet it, Facebook it, Pin it, Tumblr it – whatever you want, if you have a friend who’d look great in these drops.   Here are some photos of Ms. Bejo and a photo of the actual prize!  Contest ends on March 15, 2012.  Good luck!

 

 

A Beautiful Moment

Today’s inspiration – the aptly named Grace.

Moment in Beauty.

Hair inspiration for brides and all of the beautifully tressed.  Sachajuan products (I use the Dry Hair Shampoo and Conditioner) for the hair and body are divine.  From Sweden.  Give them a whirl.  Available at Woodley & Bunny (a fabulous Brooklyn salon and shop) or Sephora.  Or online.   Love the packaging, too.

Have a beautiful Thursday. *Full disclosure: we are NOT paid to endorse this product.  This is simply an opinion.

Ahhh..the wedding planner’s wedding – We’re gonna party like it’s 1999.

Ever wonder what a wedding planner’s wedding in 1999 may have looked like?  Well, I am opening the vault with some candid photos from my own wedding to Mr. F4 in November of 1999 in Atlanta.  These were shot mostly in black and white and let me just say, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Vendor List

Photographer:  Paula Gould – she was and is, awesome.  I had interviewed Priscilla Wanamaker and Denis Reggie as well.  Paula won.

Wedding Gown: Couture Melissa Sweet (fitted by Melissa herself!) Note: Melissa sold her company to Priscilla of Boston, which recently closed its doors, but you can find her new gowns in most upscale bridal ateliers.

Venue:  Burge Plantation, Social Circle, Georgia (used to be you could bring in your own caterer, but I am sure their new in-house service is lovely!)

Caterer: Affairs to Remember, seriously, the best off-premise caterer in the Southeast Region.  I loved loved the food at my wedding which included, get this (late 90s excess), a “tree” of lobsters, shrimp the size of my fist and cases of pink and Brut Veuve Cliquot.  Call them.

Tenting:  Classic Tents and Events.  We had a gorgeous, draped white tent and fantastic black and white dance floor.

Hair and Makeup: OMG, extensions and lashes and over the top beauty for all.  Richie Arpino (still a dear friend) not only did the hair and makeup, but sang a set with the band and blew the room away with his rendition of “My Girl”.  He still has the best salon in Buckhead – Atlanta, Georgia.  He’s also a renowned photographer.  Tell him I sent you!

Music:  had a gorgeous string quartet for the outdoor ceremony.  We also had a great soul band, but I cannot remember the name to save myself.  Probably because Richie (see above) brought the house down and was the most memorable, soulful singer of the night.  Except for me and the bridesmaids.  Mess.  Also see above re: Champagne.

Rehearsal Dinner: Antica Posta, Buckhead.  Marco and Alessandro Betti don’t mess around with their authentic Tuscan cuisine, a nod to our Italian roots. We had the most amazing,  family-style feast.  Imagine our shock, when, in Tuscany on our honeymoon, our luxe farmhouse was unstaffed and, hungry, Mr. F4 drove into town to fetch his new bride something to eat.  He came upon a restaurant of the same name – Antica Posta.  Guess what?  It was their parents and other two brothers, who promptly loaded up the car with grilled meats and fish, pastas, cheeses, olive oil and a case of wine.  Wow. Brava, Betti family!  What are the odds?

Bridesmaids’ Luncheon, Guest Rooms, Honeymoon Suite, After Party:  The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.  Really, there are no words to describe my love for that hotel.  Yes, there’s a Four Seasons in Midtown, but the RCB is home to us and treated us like royalty.

Floral Design and Cake: again, cannot find her name.  She was very well known in the wedding community.  I need to break out the wedding binder.  I chose a silver, purple, pale green and fuschia color scheme and the cake was simply stunning.  If any Atlantans recall a sweet older lady with a huge cotton candy bouffant with a very skilled way with flowers and cakes, let me know.  The cake was devil’s food, square, covered in fondant with a gift box look.

Shoes:  Giuseppe Zanotti silver and diamante stilettos – still have and wear them.

Bridesmaids’ Gifts:  Prada cosmetics bags

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: platinum column gowns by Nicole Miller

Secret: We actually eloped 4 months earlier at the DeKalb County Courthouse since the wedding madness was getting to us.  We were properly married in Christ the King Church in Buckhead at 2:30 PM on 11/13, then did a “renewal” and party at the Burge.  So, basically, I got married three times.  Hope it sticks!  And now, for the hilarity….(please keep in mind – 1999, people).

Jenner, Patti and I before the ceremony. Lawd.

Patti says, "Pete, would you get us more crabcakes?"

Paula, Patti, me and Meghan - how demure!

I may have forgotten my vows.

Is that a kiss or is he giving me my lines?

Yay, we are married, huh?

Richie Arpino gives a big kiss!

Check out the Italian hand motions!

Tabatha also had extensions. Guido and Pam look on.

Scott, one of my gay husbands, describing his Brioni tie. Seriously.

I still believe in a proper receiving line - if it's brief!

Sadly, I do not yet have the photos of the food, of the guests in lampshades, of the luxury buses playing “Steel Magnolias” and “Father of the Bride”, but I will.

Goodness, we now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

It’s a long story.  Back tonight and tomorrow.  Some retro fun, a mind-blowing giveaway worth thousands to the lucky winner (psst – it has to do with that new ring you sport so chicly!) and some thoughts on trends.

We didn’t mean to be away so long, we hope our lovely readers won’t make us feel wrong.  So sit right back, have a glass of Champagne – we promise we’re back in the style game.

Cheers, F4 Fam of Femmes.

Sigh....

 

Foodie Friday/Vendor Spotlight – Creative Edge Parties

Every now and again, we like to spotlight our favorite vendors.  CEP, founded by my friend Carla Ruben, is, quite simply, in my top 5 of fabulous caterers in this country.  Rocco DiSpirito used to work there.  Rachael Ray’s been in their kitchen.  They cater events for Martha Stewart.  See where I’m going?  They catered pretty much every star-studded event in New York, the Hamptons and beyond.  They play nicely in the sandbox.  I love to hire them.  If you are looking for a caterer, look no further than Creative Edge Parties and tell them I sent you.  And look up my friends George and Libby, as well as Carla.   I cannot WAIT to use them again.

Some gorgeous video of my friends (including George and Carla) at their holiday Frosting Fling:

http://vimeo.com/33810876

And some more video of the CEP folks on hors d’oeuvres with Mo Rocca on The Cooking Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8TYMPaquqs

Foodie Friday – We Have a Fabulous Guest Blogger!

Kitchen To Nirvana – website here, Twitter here (please follow her!) is my BFF, godmother to Ava, wonderful friend since the early 90’s when we both worked in D.C. at the still wonderful Hay-Adams Hotel (site of many a wedding still, with its newly renovated rooftop space – check it out!)

Tabatha used to run wild with me, eating steaks and slurping up pasta, but then turned her life into a quest for health.  I picked up some of it – and I do cook vegetarian dishes a few times a week, continue my yoga and juice, thanks to her.  When we’re together, I eat and cook vegan – and it’s delish.  I draw the line at my shoe collection.  Once a former shopaholic, Tabatha can now be found stylishly rocking her Birks.  I just can’t get there yet.

She’s a yogi, mom to delicious Gabrielito (I’ll post pics), wife to the fabulous John, dog mom to Russ (so sweet) and all-around fabulous girl who lives in a flawless loft in Boston, her adopted town – she’s Peruvian-born and a D.C. girl all the way.  Did I mention she’s an art consultant who has a masters from Harvard?

Tabatha in my kitchen, teaching me her foodini skillz.

In the first of many guest bloggers in the series, I’d like to present to you, Tabatha’s first post here at F4 on fantastic vegan cooking.  Make this dish tonight.  From Tabatha:

Rice Penne With “Cream Sauce” and Squash

Before I became gluten and dairy-free, I would gobble up semolina pasta with cream sauces to the point that I would want to bathe in it because it was all so good.  Those days came to and end but I don’t miss them anyway since now I still get my fix of pasta and cream sauce but without the gluten and without the dairy.  And it tastes just as good if not better.  I would say that this dish fakes it with lots of taste and style!  To fake it well, I found this great nut cream made with almonds and cashews that you can buy at your local natural food store or you can order online.  The cream is called Mimic Cream and I use the plain, unsweetened version for this.  There are different Mimic Creams so buy the one that says you can use it for most recipes that call for cream. If you cannot find it, you can use a vegan creamer that is unsweetened and coconut oil to thicken.  Basically, substitute olive oil in this recipe for refined coconut oil.  The taste with the coconut oil will be richer but still no bad cholesterol.  This particular recipe calls for baked squash and caramelized onions and it makes the dish on the sweeter side but the dry white wine brings the taste to the point of just right.  Think winter comfort pasta with no guilt.

Rice Penne with Cream Sauce and Squash. Credit: Tabatha Flores

8 ounces of brown rice penne pasta (I like the brand Jovial but any will do)

2 cups of cooked, medium diced squash

5 garlic gloves finely chopped

1 large sweet onion thinly sliced

4 tablespoons of dry white wine

2 cups of “cream”

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts for garnish

2 teaspoons of dried oregano for garnish

4 tablespoons of olive oil and the bottle on hand for extra drizzling

Salt and pepper to taste

In a 4- to 6- quart stockpot over high heat, combine water with 1 tablespoon of salt.  Bring water to a boil, add the penne and cook to al dente and according to directions. Do not overcook rice pasta, as it will fall apart more easily than semolina pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, place 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a 1- to 2- quart saucepan, add onions and cook over medium heat until onions are caramelized.  They should be brownish in color and taste mildly sweet when they are done. Turn heat to low.

With your cooking utensil push onions to the side of the pan, place remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the empty side and add the garlic.  Stir garlic quickly so that it softens, allowing for the flavor to come out without burning it.  The reason for adding the garlic last is that garlic is very sensitive to heat and will burn easily.  Therefore, once the onions are cooked you can focus on the garlic just long enough to get the benefits of the taste.  Stir garlic in the small area for about 2 minutes and then mix in with the caramelized onions.  Add wine, turn heat to medium and let mixture simmer for a few seconds and then reduce heat to low again.  Let it cook for 5 minutes to give wine a chance to evaporate. Add cream, let it simmer and immediately begin to whisk gently, off and on, for another ten minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Turn off heat.

When pasta is ready, drain and rinse in cold water. Drain thoroughly. Return pasta to the pot, stir in the cream sauce and then gently fold in squash. Serve immediately with drizzled olive oil on top.  Garnish each plate with chopped walnuts and oregano.  Serves 2-3 as a main meal or 4 as a side dish.  Enjoy and Namaste!

Me, trying my hand at T's rice cappellini, tomatoes, basil & vegan "ricotta".

Hooray for all of you with new hardware. Remember this post?

I’m talking about this one.  The advice still holds true.  Don’t freak out, look at the trends, study the blogs, call a wedding planner.  Recent celebrity engagements include:

(Rumoured)  Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez – she has always sworn off marrying again, but maybe he can change her mind.  I remember when he was with Kylie Minogue all those years, through her bout with breast cancer.  He’s just gorgeous.  Halle definitely has a thing for the beautiful Frenchmen!  (Side note:  all I can think of is “Unfaithful” when I look at him.  Rent it.  Now.)

(Rumoured)  Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake – well, it’s about time, I suppose.  Remember his geeky denim tuxedo days with Britney?  Oh, Lawd.

Brings us to:  Britney Spears and Jason Trawick.  Anyone who stood by her and saw all the crazy of a few years ago is definitely a keeper.  He seems solid and lovely.  Again, third time’s a charm.

Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman.  Love that she’s settling down with this dashing art dealer and heir to the Chanel fortune.  The dress will be epic and her 4-carat Graff stunner is a testament to his good taste.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen – possibly the prettiest couple since Robin Thicke and Paula Patton.  I adore these two together, despite the musician/supermodel cliché.

Matthew McConaughey and Camilla Alves – alright, alright, alright.

Send us a photo of your ring or proposal story to info@dolceparties.com and we’re happy to post it.  Cheers.

Reese Witherspoon Toth's ring, courtesy of Brides.com