Holiday Party Tips

Did you get roped into planning the department Holiday Party again? Or are you just hosting a small get together with friends? Whatever your situation is here are some tips to not only surviving but, having a great party everyone will enjoy!

1. Consider a cookie exchange. This way everyone can bring something they like and get to take something home. It can take the pressure off you for dessert and, can replace the ever stressful gift exchange. Although it does require guests to plan ahead.                                                                                                                
2. Make Chex Mix. If you're at a loss for party snack ideas look no further than the back of your cereal box. There are many variations to Chex mix recipes including muddie buddies and Party mix but my favorite is the original. It's easy and cheap and an almost guaranteed crowd favorite.                                                                                                                                                                 
3. Provide healthy snacks. Offering a selection of fruits or vegetables for an alternative to the Holiday sweets will make your guests on a diet more comfortable.                                                                                                                           
4. Pick a theme. This can be a specific theme like a Nutcracker Christmas or a general theme like sparkles and snow. Either way it can make it easier to plan activities and you're decorating will look more professional.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
5. Make decorations! Buying decorations can be expensive and let's face it most of them aren't that great anyways. My favorite decorations to make are hanging snowflakes. Simply buy clear beading string and pipe cleaners. Cut the pipe cleaners in half and twist them together to make snowflakes. Tie the string around the middle and hang from your ceiling with a tack. You can also replace the snowflakes with another item that goes with your theme such as stars or Christmas trees.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
6. Give people something to look at. This will spark conversations and make people feel less awkward.  Decorate a lot in each room and if you have them, use singing or moving Christmas decorations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
7. Have plenty of places to sit. No one wants to stand up for the whole party so provide enough seating.          
8. Make a gingerbread house. This can be a great activity to plan for your party. People can choose whether or not they want to participate and it's inexpensive and fun! Also a great activity for kids if you have any attending! You could even have a contest at the end!                                                                     
9. Give out cardboard ornaments with the year or company and the theme. Giving personalized ornaments can be a great way to remember the party. You can decorate them yourself with glitter or paint.
10. Let there be music! And dancing! If you have the room play music and encourage people to dance. Everyone loves a good song!

                                                With these tips you're party is guaranteed to be the best of the season! Happy party planning!

CdMRestaurant Review: The Capital Grille

My favorite place to go in Washington D.C. is the Capital Grille. On my first trip to Washington D.C. trying to find a restaurant was a disaster. I made every mistake imaginable from eating in the hotel restaurant late at night to taking a never ending midday bus ride to the edge of town for a restaurant that didn't open until 5! The next time I visited Washington D.C. I decided to plan ahead. That's when I came across the Capital Grille. Appropriately named this restaurant makes you feel like you're on Capital hill. The dark wood and old fashioned paintings give a great ambiance. I'm pretty sure there was a post Congress session dinner going on in the private room the night I was there! I ordered the lobster and potatoes au gratin for a delicious meal. That is probably one of the bet Lobsters I have ever tasted. the friendly wait staff kept my obligatory Shirley temples filled all night. But that's not the end of my time at the Capital grille.

Next I visited the Capital Grille in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Fashion Show Mall. Where I was surprised to see another one of these delicious restaurants I thought were exclusive to Washington D.C., given the name and all. As I sat overlooking the great view from the 2nd story restaurant I enjoyed the delicious signature Capital Grille burger with ground Sirloin. This delicious gourmet burger is now my favorite thing to get from the lunch menu. I also decided to taste their dessert and ordered an impeccable Creme Brulee.

Imagine my surprise when, on my way out of town in Fort Lauderdale, Florida I came across yet another Capital Grille. This time I swore I would look up all the locations when I got home. I ordered my new lunch favorite and tried the calamari appetizer which turned out to be delicious. The waitress noticed that it was our last day in town and gave us each roses when we headed out. The Capital Grille certainly has customer service perfected.

When I got home and looked up the Capital Grille locations I realized there was one right here in California at the South coast Plaza. I couldn't believe it. After all that I thought. I was excited to learn I wouldn't have to travel far next time I wanted that burger though. I have eaten at the South Coast Plaza location several times and tried many delicious menu items. I even celebrated a birthday dinner there where in true Capital Grille style I was served a divine chocolate and cheesecake dessert with Happy Birthday written in chocolate across the plate. So that is the story of how I discovered the Capital Grille. I guess you never know what could be right around he corner. I continue to try and visit Capital Grille locations whenever I find a new one. Have you ever been to the Capital Grille? Or discovered something in your area you never knew was there before? let me know in the comments below! And don't forget to try the candies by the door on the way out next time you visit one, they are very yummy too!

Restaurant Review: Bice New York

If you read the Travel tip Tuesday article on visiting the theatre (if not catch up now and read it here!) you will definitely like this post. If you are planning a night at the theatre for your next outing in New York I have the perfect restaurant for you! Bice a chic Italian restaurant located in the theatre district of NYC is the perfect way to start your night.

Founded in 1926, this happening Zagat rated restaurant is a quintessential New York City experience.

 I headed over before seeing the Broadway production Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. The play was wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who loves Cinderella. You can get tickets through January 3 here. But back to the restaurant, Bice has delicious Italian food for all tastes. I recommend the Frutti de Mer if you're looking for Haute Cuisine and delicious seafood and Pasta. The perfect combination of shrimp, squid, and scallops completes this delicious risotto. But they also have amazing Italian classics that will make you feel right at home including spaghetti and meatballs and spinach ravioli.

 Designed by world renowned Adam Tihany and styled by Italian designer Frederico Delrosso, the quiet jazz music playing in the background and the crisp white tablecloths give this place an elegant urban vibe reminiscent of 1940's Milan. 

Of course I saved the best for last Dessert! I ordered Baked Alaska for the first time here and it was delicious! I couldn't stop thinking about after I ordered it. A great first introduction to Baked Alaska in my opinion. The best part about the whole experience is that along with great food and theatre district ambiance Bice offers a free bottle of wine when you purchase a Broadway ticket for the night of your reservation. So, if you are looking for a great pre-show dining experience I definitely recommend Bice. Find out more info and plan your visit here!

Photos courtesy of www.bicenewyork.com.

In case you were wondering about the blog title...

Let's start from the beginning, I have always loved cherries. Cherry pie, cherry cheesecake, cherry lipstick, you name it I have it with cherries on it. My favorite drink is a Shirley Temple. I even won an award at the county fair for entering my cherry collection when I was younger. I was an avid collector as a child. Anyways when I decided to make blog I wanted something original that sounded fun and juicy. Of course I immediately thought of cherries.But I couldn't come up with an original title that still sounded chic. Which brings me to my next point. I have also been studying French for the past four years and I hope to become fluent. After all isn't French the language of Fashion? So what does one do when they can't find a chic saying in English? Well she translates it into French of course! And that's how I came up with CerisesduMatin, which means cherries in the morning. Sort of a spin off on the daily dose or something like that. To me cherries make everything more fun so, I hope you enjoy reading your cherries in the morning and that it brightens up your day!

A cherry quilt I sewed.                                                         My acrylic painting of cherries.