Entertaining Archives

How to Have the Best Garden Party This Spring

Spring is the perfect time to host a garden party. The warm weather and sunshine create a relaxing atmosphere, but what about the other details? Use this guide to have the best garden party this spring and become an expert at inviting people to your home.

Provide Some Shade

Although the sunshine doesn’t feel too hot in the spring, your guests may want an option to sit in the shade. A patio table with an umbrella or seats on a screened porch will allow people to cool down whenever they want. Provide a few shaded seating options along with chairs in the sun to keep everyone comfortable.

Feature Spring Blooms

Parties wouldn’t be the same without a centerpiece. As you think about your garden party table arrangements, consider using spring blooms as your centerpieces. You could select them from your garden or a florist’s shop if they have springtime blooms such as:

● Daffodils

● Tulips

● Wallflowers

● Foxgloves

● Alliums

The various colors and stem lengths will lead to numerous potential centerpiece designs. Consider the types of vases you prefer to pick the best flowers for your party. You could even send your guests home with bouquets to keep the party going long after the day ends.

Upgrade Your Landscaping

Garden parties often happen outdoors to take advantage of the beautiful weather. Upgrade your landscaping before your guests arrive by mowing your grass, trimming bushes, and replacing any plants that didn’t make it through the winter.

Some property upgrades even double as useful decor. Adding shrubs around your property line would provide soundproof padding for your party. The thick bushes block noise from floating into your neighbor’s yards by letting the acoustics bounce off your plants as everyone mingles. Landscaping adjustments could be the best way to create ambiance and satisfy your neighbors if those are your primary party concerns.

Decorate With Crystals

Crystals come in many colors, so they’re great options for garden party decor. Research what each type represents and place them around your party to provide protection and benefit relationships with subtle spiritual vibes. Depending on the spiritual properties of your crystal selection, they could also help everyone feel more at ease.

Serve a Seasonal Menu

Your garden party is happening because it’s spring, so lean into the time of year with your menu too. You could serve lemonade instead of soda or a berry fruit platter instead of chips and dip. Your guests will love the weather and the tastes of spring in every bite of their snacks, drinks, or meal.

Time Your Party Date

If you have a garden full of flowers, research when they’ll bloom this spring. You could pick a date shortly after they bloom and invite everyone over when your garden is most beautiful. You’ll have less decor to worry about because your plants double as visual decorations.

Plan a Few Games

Sometimes people rely on party games to get conversations rolling. They’re also fun to play after people have warmed up or energized themselves with a meal. It gives your guests a break in their discussions, which may become stale if people run out of things to discuss.

Provide a few party games in case anyone wants to play. Your guests might enjoy a cornhole tournament or a few rounds of horseshoes. Even a game like giant Jenga would make your event more lively by setting the scene for incredible memories.

Create Party Favors

People may view party favors as a thing of the past, but most guests still love going home with a gift. Give your garden party attendees a thrill by making seasonal favors. They could each get a small pack of iced lavender cookies or mini flower arrangements. Even tiny bottles of floral perfume will dazzle your guests and make your party the event of the season.

Choose a Color Palette

Spring is a time for new life and rebirth. Many people associate the season with gentle pastel shades and happy color palettes. Pick colors inspired by the season to make your event look like it matches the time of year. If you chose decor in reds and greens, people would feel like they were at a Christmas party in April.

Customize Your Cocktails

Your party may not feel complete until you have a handful of custom cocktail recipes ready to go. Your guests could sip on beverages like hard chamomile punch or a strawberry spritz. They’ll love the seasonal drink options that match their enthusiasm for the time of year. All you’ll need are a few ingredients to impress everyone with your mixology skills.

Host the Best Garden Party This Spring

Anyone can learn how to have the best garden party this spring with simple tips like these. Consider party details like menu options, decor, and if you’ll spend the entire time outside. You’ll plan everything you need to host the best event of the year.

About The Author

Ava Roman (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Revivalist, a women’s lifestyle magazine that empowers women to live their most authentic life. When Ava is not writing you’ll find her in a yoga class, advocating for body positivity, whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, or smashing the patriarchy.

A Guide To Hosting The Best Themed Party At Home

Most people, whether they want to admit it or not, love a good-themed party. They give us adults a way to transform into our favorite celebrity, cartoon or movie character, and anything in between for the night while having a blast. When it comes to hosting any event, though, it can be a stressful time. Who are you going to invite? When is it going to happen? There are so many factors to consider, so adding a theme on top can be a little overwhelming.

We will guide you through every step of hosting the perfect themed party to relieve some of that stress.

Theme

The theme is the most crucial factor if you throw a themed party. Already have a theme in mind? Great! It’s time to consider how you can bring the theme together and to do this, you must consider decorations, food options, drinks, and entertainment. Those planning to host a Christmas party may wish to consider festive drinks such as eggnog or mulled wine or festive foods such as cookies with Christmas-themed decorations.

Aside from that, you may consider Christmas-themed decorations such as winter inflatables, as they are the perfect way to add a little something extra to your party. Whether you’re looking to decorate your yard for a party or event, or just want to add a little something extra to your winter at-home party, custom-made winter inflatables are the perfect solution. You can choose from a variety of designs, including Santa Claus, reindeer, snowmen, and more. Plus, custom winter inflatables are easy to set up and take down, so you can use them year after year. So if you’re looking for a fun and festive way to add a little holiday cheer to your backyard, or home, custom winter inflatables are the way to go.

There are so many theme options you can choose from eras like the 20th century or Egyptian times to genre themes like sci-fi and horror. A great way to get you started is by doing your research online. You can find inspiration by checking out sites like Pinterest and Etsy. Whether you are looking for unique ideas for fall parties or inspiration for a winter wonderland-themed Christmas party, a simple internet search will help you out.

Invitations

The excitement builds from the get-go when we are invited to a themed party. We immediately start to think about what we will wear and who we will be. Utilize this excitement when you make your invitations, whether they are sent via email, message, or post. As previously mentioned, the theme is the most critical part, so setting clear instructions on your invite is essential. Invitations with a clown or circus tent imply your theme will be Circus; those with Christmas trees and robins show a Christmas theme, and poker tables, chips, and cards are a good route for a casino soiree.

Shop Etsy for themed invites if you want to send something physical to your guests, or if you want to be more creative, you can make your own with editing software, a printer, and some strong paper. If you’re thinking of sending paperless invites, you could create your own poster and share it with friends online.

Entertainment

When choosing what entertainment to have, your choices are endless when you host the event at home. Entertainment is also going to depend on the type of theme that you choose for your event. If you plan a 90s dance party, you may want to deck your house out like a club and hire a DJ for the night. On the other hand, if your theme is horror, you can watch some spooky films to add to the horror atmosphere.

If your theme is a casino, you could even organize a small poker game by purchasing chips online or hiring the equipment and dealer if you really want to go all out. Those guests who don’t know how to play poker can learn and play free live poker games online rather than having someone teach them and taking up time or having them sit alone with nothing to do so they can learn and join in on the next games. There are platforms that list the best online casinos in the UK where you and your guests can play together. Online casinos are an excellent way to learn the fundamentals of gambling and to practice new games. Even seasoned players will have a good time. It provides endless entertainment, and you don’t need a casino theme party to enjoy it. You can’t go wrong when you combine incredible decorations with fantastic entertainment.

Conclusion

Getting the theme right from the beginning is the key to a great themed party. Everything else comes together pretty seamlessly once you have this in place. To let your guests,have plenty of time to plan their outfits, ensure you send your invitations well in advance, so they have plenty of time to think about them. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy yourself!

Best Way to Enjoy Games Night with Friends

It is important that in our busy lives we make time to have fun and socialize with friends, this allows us to de-stress and maintain relationships with the people closest to you. Meeting at a pub or bar is a popular choice for a night out with friends, but there are plenty of night-in alternatives that are just as much (or even more) fun!

A night in is a great alternative if you are hoping to save a bit of cash, have difficult childcare arrangements to make or would just prepare to avoid the hustle and bustle of a busy bar.

Having a regularly organized games night is the perfect way to bond with friends, and having one scheduled every month or so will ensure your friends keep that evening free in their calendars.

There are so many different types of games you can choose from to provide entertainment, from board games, to console games and group games that will bring the whole room together and create such a fun environment.

You can choose to get everyone to bring one board game along with them or take it in turns to host and have the host choose which games to play. Monopoly, Cluedo, Battleships and Snakes and Ladders are great options that your friends will most likely already be familiar with. Between all of you, you are likely to have a good selection of games already at home, so plan in advance who can bring which game.

If you want to make your evening even more memorable then there are a number of ways you can spice things up and add even more excitement. Here are just a few ideas to help get you started:

Pick a theme

Why not choose a theme for your game night and plan everything around that? When choosing a film you will want to consider what interests you and your friends have in common, perhaps there are movies or book series you all love.

For example, for Harry Potter fans a Hogwarts-themed night would be thrilling. Wizard fancy dress, Hogwarts-style decor and snacks and drinks named after the characters, locations and objects in the films would all enhance the evening.

Key times in the year such as Halloween or the holiday season are also great times for fancy dress games nights.

Another great theme is bingo. There are now a huge number of variations you can explore and host to play bingo with friends yourself.

One reason why bingo is such a great choice is that it is an easy game to play with rules that are easy to understand. This means that everyone can get involved, whether they are a bingo pro or completely new to the game, it is perfect for everyone!

Make a selection of cocktails

Any sophisticated games night for adults should have some refreshing beverages, why not make a game out of creating the best cocktails? You can easily find cocktail recipes online and if you plan in advance, each attendee can bring a couple of the ingredients from home.

From Negronis and Mojitos to Sangria and Pink Ladies, there will be a drink recipe to suit everyone’s tastes. Cocktails don’t have to be alcohol-based either, there are plenty of mocktail recipes only too.

Cocktails go well with a themed games night. One idea if you are playing casino games is a James Bond-themed night with martinis (shaken not stirred, of course).

Cook up a feast

While the most important aspect of any game night is the games, the food on offer is a close second. Whether you are preparing a full three-course meal or just a selection of nibbles to snack on during game time, your guests will be happy to be fed.

If you aren’t a brilliant chef or very confident in the kitchen, you could actually make the food preparation into a game itself and get all of your friends involved. Perhaps you grab some pizza bases and sauce and challenge your friends to create their own pizzas with toppings.

You may even wish to take it in terms each game night and assign a different person each time to be responsible for food. There is always the option of ordering takeaway, too if you would rather spend more time gaming and less time in the kitchen.

Just be sure to find out everyone’s dietary requirements and allergies in advance so that no one is left out.

Having a games evening with friends is the ultimate night-in activity and a great experience, it is the chance to have a bit of fun and competitiveness while getting creative with themes, food and drinks.

Tips for Minimizing Cleanup after a Cookout

Do you look forward to cooking out with your friends and family but dread the inevitable cleanup that comes afterward? Cooking out can feel like a big responsibility. It’s not just about cooking the meat just right and making sure everything stays fresh and sanitary, but there’s a lot of responsibility left to you after the cookout is finished.

Who’s going to tidy up the patio, clean up all the dishes, pick up the trash scattered around the yard, and take care of the dirt that was tracked into the house? If these are the questions that loom in your mind when you’re thinking about cooking out, we have a few tips to help keep things tidy.

Set Out a Trash Can

If you constantly find trash in your yard or on the patio after a cookout, that probably frustrates you to no end. There’s a simple solution that will help handle most of that so you don’t have to spend a long time picking up wrappers and bottles afterwards. Place a trash can in the cookout area in a highly visible spot. It can be in the central area or just off to the side but close to where people will be congregating. This makes it easy for people to deposit their trash and helps them avoid temptation to just leave trash wherever they feel like it. If you don’t have a spare trash can to put out, you can always hang a garbage bag on your patio railing inside the grill, or even on a low tree branch (if you are having the cookout in the yard).

Consider Locking Up the Pets

You love your pets, but they may not love you having a lot of company over. All the people that are attending your cookout may scare your pets or cause them to behave poorly. This can lead to a lot of messes and spills that will need to be cleaned up. John with Queens House Keeping says “As much as your pets may not like being locked up, it could help with the cleanup later on”. Your pets may be much happier being out of the way and away from strangers. Some cats and dogs are very good around company and love all the attention, but for those that aren’t, getting them out of the way may be a good idea.

Close Off Your Home

Everyone has different rules about their cookouts, but if you don’t have any rules laid down, people may take advantage of your home. You may find people moving in and out of the house from the yard or patio if you keep the doors open or even unlocked. They may want to use your restroom, find drink refills, look for snacks, or find a more comfortable place to sit. If you want to save yourself a lot of cleanup and not feel like you need to hire a cleaning service after the cookout is over, then it’s a good idea to shut and lock the doors of your home once guests start arriving. You can always unlock the doors as needed to let people use the restroom, but you’ll likely be surprised how your guests can be perfectly happy without using your home once it’s off limits.

Set Up Dishes to Soak

Do you feel like it takes forever to clean off the cookout dishes when you’re done with your get together? All that stuck on food can be difficult to clean, but you can set up a sink of soapy water to soak the dirty dishes in right from the start. As soon as you make one of your dishes dirty and you’re done using it, it can go straight into the sink of soapy water. If you run out of space, you can always fill a large bowl or basin with soapy water and soak the dishes there. This will save you a lot of work later on, so you won’t have to spend so much time and effort scrubbing.

Clean as You Go

It’s a good idea to keep a wet cloth and other cleaning implements close by as you cook out. That way, you can wipe down surfaces as they become dirty. You should keep a broom, dustpan, and mop nearby to handle any spills as they happen. This keeps trashing to bring from spreading around and helps you get a handle on spills immediately before they become a larger problem. Keeping these items out on the patio or somewhere outside also helps you avoid walking through the house and tracking dirt through there. You’ll save a lot of time on clean up by planning ahead like this.

Give Guests Duties

If you’re realistic about the effort that goes into a cookout, you may realize that it’s difficult for you to clean up everything by yourself. Some of your guests may be very close friends of yours who would love to help out in order to make things easier on you. You can ask them ahead of time if they’d be willing to handle a few cleaning duties, like taking out the trash, putting away leftovers, washing dishes, or other small jobs that will have your cookout cleaned up quickly at the end. If you can get several people helping you, you won’t spend nearly as long as cleaning up, and you will be able to rest shortly afterwards.

Cook Some Things Up ahead of Time

The final tip I want to share with you is that you should try to do some of the cooking before the day of the cookout. Foods like potato salad, baked beans, casseroles, and your desserts could easily be made up a day or two in advance and still taste fresh on the day of the cooking. This will give you less cooking work to do on that day and fewer dishes to wash as well.

Cooking out doesn’t have to feel like a lot of stress can’t if you take the time to plan ahead and make things easier on yourself.

7 Signs You’re the Accidental Trail Blazer

You never asked for it, you certainly didn’t search for it, but somehow you are the unintentional Pied Piper of the millennial world.

Starting trends left and right, always there with the freshest beats and coolest ideas, but you’re not doing it for the recognition, the fame, or the glory. You’re just doing you, and the world apparently loves you for it:

1. You’re fashionable, but you have no idea how.

You haven’t read up on the latest trends; you have no idea what’s going down in fashion week; most of your clothes have been found, borrowed, lent and donated; but, despite this, you leave the house looking like one fly motherf*cker on the goddamn reg’.

You’re the idiot savant of the sidewalk runway, and that’s just dandy with you.

**2. You keep stumbling into the next big noise.**

In no way are you the authority on new music. You know way more people out there that take that sh*t seriously and are d*mn good at finding the slickest new beats. You’re a casual amateur at best.

You do seem to keep ahead of the curve through, and through a combination of blind luck and stealing suggestions from yo’ buddies you’ve curated a Spotify playlist that can send shivering eargasms down the spine of any would-be listener.

3. You’re not taking risks, you’re just keeping things fresh.

You’re not attending a bondage seminar ‘cos you’re that into the whips and chains things, it’s just seems like a fun way to spend an afternoon. A one-way plane ticket to Guatemala isn’t so you can “discover yourself,” it’s ‘cos the beaches looked pretty.

You didn’t quit your job ‘cos you got a better one, you just thought you needed to mix it up a little. You don’t see the risks ‘cos in your mind risks are just a different way of doin’ things.

4. You’ll give anything a one-time shot.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you tried it” should be a tattoo in an intimate area of your body (if it’s not already). You’ll give anything a go, ‘cos how do you know you don’t like something if you haven’t the balls to give it a shot?

The downside is you’ve ended up in some questionable situations, however, you still think the benefits outweigh the occasional sketchy situation. Then again those grandmas at Bridge Club were mean.

5. You’re not afraid of getting it wrong.

Hey, it doesn’t always work out, and at some point you may find yourself on a rainy street corner in a city you can’t stand, ‘cos you thought it’d be fun to do a cross-country greyhound road trip.

Sometimes things fuck up, sometimes it’s not your cup o’ tea and sometimes there just wasn’t the right vibe, but that’s all good, it’s not always going to be a home run. You go home, you dust yourself off and you don’t sweat it, cos there’s plenty of other adventures out there that you’re gonna love.

**6. You just don’t get embarrassed.**

You’re not afraid of looking like a bit of a tit, ‘cos you’re only a goddamn fool if you feel like one. Because of this “whatever” attitude you can actually pull off a lot of shit most can’t rock cos’ you own it.

Bra on the outside, why not? Stiletto flip-flops sound like fun. Face paint for work; you’ll rock the boardroom with your lion face. And now you can see exactly how these ridiculous trends start.

7. You’re not traditionally popular.

You were never one of the cool kids at school, the cheerleaders kinda ganged up on you and you felt way more comfortable hanging out with the weirdo’s, drop outs, nerds, and stoners.

To be honest, you’ve been just fine doing it on your own and have taken on life lone-wolf style. You’re an individual, and no one has ever let you forget it, so you wear that shit like a badge of honor ‘cos it lets you be you. Which is the best “you” you can possibly be.

Here’s How to Throw the Best Cocktail Party This Summer

One of the best parts of summer is getting together outside with family and friends. Picnics and barbecues are a good time, but sometimes you want a more grown-up party. This is when a mixed-drink theme is a perfect choice for your gathering. Here’s how to throw the best summer cocktail party.

Send Fun, Informative Invites

Keep the size of your house and yard in mind when deciding who to invite. If you know many people, you can easily get carried away with the number of people you ask — but make sure you and your guests have some breathing room.

Whether you send invites virtually or with an old-fashioned card, make sure you are specific about the starting time, so guests know when most of the action will take place. You should be clear about what food and drinks you will serve. Also, give them an indication of whether they should expect a meal or snacks.

Make sure your partygoers know if the inside is available for food and mingling. Also, be clear if you have a specific dress code so guests don’t feel out of place.

Have your invitees RSVP so you know the number of people to expect and can appropriately plan seating, food and drinks. You’ll be able to prepare better if a guest needs accommodation and avoid prepping more than necessary.

Though you want to be informative, the invitations don’t have to be boring. Get creative with homemade cards or purchase invites with a summer splash to get your guests in the spirit before they arrive. If you plan a more elegant event, send out formal-looking invites. If you ask your guests virtually, add images or emojis to set the vibe early.

Create a Fun Summer Oasis

With good design, you can help your guests feel like they’re at an indoor party with a fun outdoor set-up. Utilize comfortable patio furniture to give them a place to relax. If you’re having an evening event, hang fun or elegant outdoor lights to create a lovely scene as the sun sets. You could also consider having a fire pit or an outdoor bar cart where guests can refill their beverages.

Have some fresh flowers on the patio edge or as centerpieces and remember to have a place for people to restock on cups and napkins. If you keep the food inside, ensure it is easy to find and access.

Create a Playlist

Whether you utilize an outdoor speaker, your phone or a computer, it’s nice to have some music playing — especially to help with any awkwardness when the first guests arrive. Choose fun, summer-themed songs or set the mood with more elegant or soulful music.

Choose music people can enjoy in the background of conversation. Playing a soundtrack that distracts guests from the moment can make mingling difficult.

Have a Variety of Drinks

It wouldn’t be a cocktail party without drinks, so you should make sure everyone has options.

Having a cocktail party doesn’t mean you have to empty your liquor cabinet. Instead, you could choose a signature cocktail or two you or your guests can make. Some good summer selections include margaritas, piña coladas and mojitos.

Once you’ve established your cocktail selection, you could also consider offering some sparkling wine or hard lemonade to suit guests who like something more straightforward. Also, be considerate of guests who may not want to or be able to drink alcohol. Soda, water and mocktails can help them feel included.

Include a Few Food Options

You might need to have a lot of options for guests to eat while indulging in their cocktails. Food is also an easy way to encourage mingling between guests, as food and snacks make great conversation starters.

Fruit and vegetable options are usually satisfying choices, so you could make fun trays or designs with these light snacks. You may also offer some sandwiches for a heartier option. A charcuterie board is a fan favorite and great for when you have a lot of guests. Also, consider having shrimp and other fun, easy-to-grab options.

You can create a cocktail party potluck by asking family or close friends to contribute with a tray or two while you provide the drinks.

If you have the funds, consider hiring a caterer so you have one less thing to worry about.

Encourage Mingling

Be prepared for guests to arrive early, so you aren’t rushing around too close to the start time. Once they come, be sure to greet them warmly and make introductions to guests who don’t know each other.

You can also initiate mingling by setting out games such as chess or checkers — or plan other interactive activities that encourage guests to break the ice with one another.

Grouping seats together can subtly influence your guests to gather naturally.

Remember the Inside of Your House

It’s easy to be so focused on your outdoor set-up that you forget your guests will need access to the interior of your house.

Attendees will need a place to put jackets or bags, apply sunscreen and use the restroom. You’ll want to ensure you’re comfortable with the space your guests will be entering. You can also consider adding fun summer touches throughout your indoor area to keep the theme going.

Enjoy a Summer Cocktail Party

Food and drinks together can be a great way to catch up, relax and introduce the people closest to you. A summer cocktail party is a great way to get friends and family together for some fun time in the outdoors together. Use these tips to help create a fun event people will love.

About The Author

5 Bougie Recipes to Try With Your Friends

After a long week of adulting, you could use a fun night with your friends. However, simple pasta dishes and take-out get boring after a while.

Instead, a well-deserved gourmet meal will leave a lasting impression on those you love. Allow these five bougie recipes to help you decide what to cook up for a fancy dinner date at home with your best gal pals.

Charcuterie Boards

There comes a day when your shopping interests shift toward kitchen splurges, such as a cast-iron dutch oven, cheese knife set and cordial glassware. You might even peruse the houseware aisles for a beautiful, budget-friendly charcuterie board — because why not? You could always use one.

Charcuterie boards are versatile cheese and meat boards perfect for holidays, game nights or fun gatherings with friends. They’re easy to throw together at a moment’s notice and may include soft and hard cheeses, cured or smoked meats, savory nuts, olives, veggies, fresh and dried fruits, crackers, dips, etc.

Of course, there’s a trick to creating a stunning board, beginning with placing the dip bowls and cheeses down first, then rolling the meats and fanning them out.

Fill in the gaps with sweet and savory accompaniments — nuts, chocolates, fruits, veggies — and finally, add a variety of crackers.

Creative Crostinis

Save the mozzarella sticks and hot wings for a no-frills evening alone in your fuzzy slippers — because crostinis are the bougie finger foods you and your friends have been missing out on.

Most crostinis start with the same base — a crusty, toasty slice of French baguette that practically melts in your mouth. However, the real show stopper is the ingredients you put on top.

Pear, brie and honey are a popular combination in which you may decide to grill the pear slices for an enhanced charred flavor. Bake the crostini and brie in the oven at 400° Fahrenheit for five to seven minutes; then, add grilled pear slices, honey and a sprig of rosemary for garnish.

Another crostini option might include sliced strawberries tossed in a blend of balsamic vinegar, pepper and sugar and assembled with ricotta cheese, lemon juice and mint on a toasted baguette.

Depending on how gourmet you want dinner to be, the most bougie crostinis are caviar canapés. To make canapés, start with a toasted baguette and rich crème Fraiche — then add cured or smoked protein or vegetables to help round out the delicate caviar garnishing.

Fancy Flatbreads

Upgrade your pizza game with gourmet flatbread recipes. Like crostinis, there are several ways to create flatbreads with mouth-watering flavor.

Assemble a delicious Caprese flatbread on store-bought naan or thin pizza crust for a quick appetizer or dinner. Bake the flatbread with red sauce, cherry tomatoes, gooey mozzarella and Italian seasonings for five to seven minutes at 450° F. Then garnish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and fresh basil.

A caramelized mushroom flatbread is another fancy flatbread you can make, requiring baby portobello mushrooms, a shallot, Havarti and parmesan cheeses, pesto and chopped spinach. You’ll need to sauté mushrooms and shallots with oil for this recipe before assembling and baking your flatbread.

If your palette leans toward sweet, you might consider a nectarine, basil and reduced balsamic flatbread recipe instead. Heat balsamic vinegar in a saucepan on medium-high until it simmers and thickens — but watch that it doesn’t burn.

Assemble your flatbread with cheese, like goat cheese, ricotta or mozzarella. Then, add nectarine or peach slices and a sprinkle with parmesan before baking it in the oven.

Drizzle your flatbread with balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of basil and arugula when it’s finished.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Take a bougie restaurant favorite, like chicken cordon bleu and turn it into an easy at-home recipe you can make for your friends.

There are two parts to chicken cordon bleu — the chicken rolls and the sauce. Pound boneless chicken breasts thinly, season with salt and pepper and top each slice with ham and Gruyere or Swiss cheese. Then roll the chicken and secure it with a toothpick.

Dip each chicken roll into a garlic butter mix and coat them with breadcrumbs and thyme. Bake at 350° F for 35 to 40 minutes; then check to ensure the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165° F.

To make the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan, add flour and cook for one minute. Then add milk, white wine, Dijon mustard, chicken bouillon and Worcestershire sauce until it boils. Reduce the heat while whisking for one minute before removing the pan and adding parmesan. Serve the bechamel over the chicken and sprinkle with parsley or more thyme.

No-Torch Crème Brulee

A get-together with your gal pals demands a sweet treat to end the evening right. Keep dessert bougie, simple and safe with a no-torch crème brulee.

Add skim milk, sugar and vanilla extract to a saucepan on low heat until the sugar dissolves. Then, beat egg yolks in a small bowl, stirring in the cream, straining the liquid and pouring it evenly into broil-safe ceramic ramekins.

Place the ramekins on a 13-inch by 9-inch pan and into the oven at 325° F. Add boiling water to the pan until it reaches two-thirds of the ramekin’s height and bake for 25 to 40 minutes.

When the custard is just right, transfer the ramekins to a cooling rack and refrigerate for two hours. Before serving, sprinkle brown sugar on top and broil until it browns, watching that it doesn’t burn. Top with fresh berries or whipped cream before serving.

Be Bougie With Great Friends and Good Food

Cooking may not always be in the cards, especially after working all day and taking care of essential responsibilities — but everyone enjoys eating a gourmet meal. These bougie recipes will surely satisfy diverse palettes, from appetizers to meals to dessert.

About The Author

7 Great Ideas For Hosting a Hawaiian Luau in Your Yard

Have you considered hosting a Hawaiian Luau in your backyard? This incredible backyard bash can be done if you have adequate space in your yard to do it. Don’t worry, even if you don’t have enough space or you don’t have enough money to rent an event hall, it doesn’t mean that you can’t host the party in your home. Read on for more great ideas on how to do it.

Setting Up a Luau

A Hawaiian luau provides the perfect opportunity to get dressed up, enjoy delicious food and drink, and celebrate together with friends and family in an exotic location, even if that location happens to be in your backyard. If you’re planning to throw an authentic Hawaiian luau party in your yard, there are several different elements you should think about including the following:

Choose Tropical Flowers

While most flowers are only in bloom for a short period, tropical flowers like hibiscus can bloom throughout most of your Hawaiian luau’s duration. The big bonus here is that they produce edible petals and stems, which you can use to garnish meals and cocktails alike. Consider adding food coloring (like red dye) to create tropical-looking drinks like pina Coladas. Just make sure it’s edible; use food coloring or natural extracts instead of artificial dyes.

Add Tiki Torches

Having a backyard luau wouldn’t be complete without torches. Torches are a must-have when you have guests over, especially if it gets dark early or is chilly outside. You can purchase them from most hardware or home-decor stores, but they’re easy to make yourself with supplies from a craft store. Simply nail them into the soil so they stand upright and add a votive candle for ambiance.

Serve Island Hors D’oeuvres

The more elaborate your snacks, drinks, and decorations, the better. Plan a buffet or cocktail hour with a raw fish bar where guests can make their poke bowls or sushi rolls using fish from your local fish market. Since you’re hosting a luau, of course, rum drinks are a must. Add an outdoor blender to mix up fruity concoctions like pina Coladas and mai tais in pineapple bowls with custom-made garnishes.

Give Away Hawaiian-Made Products

If you’re worried about making a Hawaiian feast from scratch, don’t be. There are plenty of prepackaged goodies available at grocery stores that will ensure your party is a hit. You can find everything from shell necklaces and grass skirts to pineapple cutters and leis online or from local retailers. Of course, if you want to do it right, visit a specialty store or get authentic Hawaiian products from Mana Up Gifts from Hawai’i for your event.

Create Bamboo Lanterns

Create bamboo lanterns for an authentic touch. Take a trip to your local hardware store and grab yourself some bamboo. Using small nails, start threading your bamboo with a vertical pattern.

When you’re finished, thread a thin line of tape across each section of bamboo to keep it all together. Next, use scissors to cut slits into your strips every few inches – you don’t need very many cuts – just enough so that light can travel through them when they’re finished glowing.

Have Tropical Drinks

The first step to planning a tropical luau is picking up some drinks for your party. Create an island-inspired concoction by adding pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine, and rum to soda water. To keep your kids hydrated, give them ginger ale with Hawaiian Punch.

If you’re making non-alcoholic beverages for other guests, consider offering tropical juices like guava or papaya nectar. By serving these drinks in tiki cups made of coconuts or mini pineapples, you’ll make everyone feel like they’ve stepped off the mainland and onto a tropical island.

Play Some Island Music

Select a variety of island music to play on your party’s speaker system as guests enter. Hawaiian party music ranges from contemporary pop hits to local, traditional tunes. If you don’t know where to begin, choose a fun song from one of Hawaii’s most famous musicians: Israel Kamakawiwoʻole or Bruddah Iz.

A Hawaiian luau is a great way to bring people together while enjoying the outdoors. If you’re planning on hosting your Hawaiian luau in your yard, keep these seven great ideas to keep it simple and avoid stress.

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How To Play Games Online And Turn Winnings Into Earnings

One of the more lucrative career paths nowadays is to become a professional gambler. Unfortunately, this is very difficult, and if you are reckless it can lead to financial problems. After all, the most played online casino games are slots, and they are designed to earn money for the casino. Sure there are occasional jackpots that drastically change one’s life, but you cannot go pro by playing slots. These games are purely RNG, and you have no agency as far as the outcome goes. Basically, the only two games where you can excel are blackjack and poker.

Since these two games are really difficult you really need to go all in and fully commit to mastering how to play them on a professional level. Luckily, you don’t need to be a professional to earn some money via online casinos. It’s all about the right choices, strategy, and of course, making safe deposits with operators that won’t scam you. Here we will discuss how to be safe while gambling online and provide some tips on how to manage your expenses and increase the chance of victory.

Safety Tips for New Online Gambling Enthusiasts

Whenever we do something online that is going to involve a lot of money, we should be careful. This goes for shopping, booking tickets, and of course gambling. Basically, if you are not dealing with a trusted provider or a company you heard of before, you should do a background check on them. We tend to read user reviews and search for the negative experiences, just to see how likely it is for things to go wrong.

In this case, you check if the operator is licensed and which regulatory body has issued that license. Once again you should search for online reviews and see if there is a way to test the platform for yourself. Since the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to start regulating the online gambling market you can pick a platform that is licensed there. If you wish to test a few digital slot machines then search for platforms, which will allow you to play in exchange for registration. In other words, it will cost you no money to see whether the games work, and you might end up winning something using these free spins starter bonuses.

Leverage Different Online Casino Bonuses

Although it’s true that most of the available games don’t rely on a player’s skills, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any strategies you can use to minimize your losses. All you need to do is find multiple operators that offer cashback and no-deposit bonuses. There are several sites with a new no-deposit bonus, which allow you to play multiple games after making an account. As far as cashback bonuses go they are a great way to save money if you are a big spender. These bonuses or promotions allow you to get a partial refund for all the times you lost playing certain games.

If you think about it, slot machines tend to have a low win rate, so this cashback offer is really good in those situations. Other than online casino games like Roulette and Slot, an individual can also go for playing a fun online game on eCommerce stores that offer an App to spin and win discount codes for shopping. This is in return for their email addresses which can be later on utilized for email marketing campaigns. An expert like “Tada” which specializes in popup games and full-screen gamified App installation can be a perfect partner.

Read the Wagering Requirements

When you plan to take advantage of different bonuses you need to read their terms and conditions as well as wagering requirements. This also applies to those no deposit bonuses as you might agree to pay 50 times the amount you got as a bonus. So, before you go on a claiming spree take some time to consider what you are doing. Otherwise, you will win money and won’t be able to withdraw it until those requirements are met.

Payment Options

Other areas where you need to be cautious are deposits and withdrawals. More precisely you need to see if the operator has all of the secure payment methods available, for both deposits and withdrawals of funds. These include Visa and Master cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. These are typically the safest methods out there and reputable operators tend to have those options available. However, you will find some of the bigger sites that use SMS payments or only accept wire transfers. Those aren’t necessarily bad, it’s just that the ones we mentioned previously are faster and safer, and you’ll have better access to your funds that way.

Perhaps the safest way to play is to use platforms that accept cryptos and that are compatible with your Bitcoin wallet, assuming you have it. This is likely to allow you to play even without registering, which means your personal data won’t be on the website. Also, operators will never ask for your private key, so avoid sites that might have this ridiculous request.

Conclusion

So, these were some of the practical and easy-to-implement tips for being safe while playing online. They are aimed to help you save money and to avoid problems where someone could steal it. If you wish to make money by playing casino games, you need to opt for those games that rely on strategy and thinking.

The best way is probably to learn to play perfect blackjack, as you can find many guides online that you can memorize within a few days. This way you increase your odds tremendously, and if you learn to count cards, you can actually beat the casino. Another game you can learn is poker. You can watch streamers on Twitch and see how they play, or you can read some of the books on poker strategy. Make sure that you pick the books written by previous champions who really know what they are doing as far as poker goes.

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Fabulous Ideas for Fall Party Themes

The arrival of fall may have a different effect on your psyche depending on your personality. For some people, it’s the most colorful, picturesque, and exciting part of the year, while it has the opposite effect for others. Others find it depressing, cold, and muddy, which is soon reflected in their mood. Still, it’s a part of our lifecycle, and it is in our best interest to try and get the most out of it.

A month and a half into the fall, we usually have a huge Halloween party, but why wait this long? Why not make an early theme party in order to get everyone going? You can use this as an opportunity to gather friends, neighbors, and relatives. This way, you can help people make new friends, have some fun, and form fun memories involving both you and fall.

Still, even with proper motivation, throwing a theme party is far from easy. Luckily, you can easily find an idea to borrow or modify with just a bit of research. With that in mind and without further ado, here are several ideas to help you get going.

Pumpkins and Scarecrows

Fall is the season of the harvest. As such, pumpkins, scarecrows, and hay are generally considered to be a great fit for a fall-themed party. Now, carved pumpkins are usually something associated with Halloween, but a regular pumpkin patch simply spells fall.

While you could carve up a pumpkin in whatever way you can pull off, you need to remember that Jack-o’-lanterns are not your only option. There are so many incredible ways for you to decorate a pumpkin even without carving it. This can be quite handy when you want to get the kids in on the decoration. First, you don’t have to distribute carving knives amongst them. Second, you don’t have to worry about having pumpkin guts all over the place.

Again, if you’re throwing a kid’s party or you have a group of friends enamored with J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece, this idea can quickly grow into a full-scaled Quidditch tournament.

Lastly, you can also take a different turn and go to a country life fair instead. This is one of those party themes that work well both indoors and outdoors. Moreover, it’s something that you can probably pull off successfully regardless of your demographic.

Glitter and Gold

While the golden color is always a hit, during fall, it’s just a perfect match. The rest of the fall foliage goes along splendidly, which is why you might want to start organizing with glitter and gold as your core idea. Keep in mind that setting is everything, which is why your first task should be selecting the right private event venue. Once you have what you’re looking for, you need to start looking for perfect decoration opportunities.

Finding professionals to decorate the place is fairly easy. Once you have the right partners, all you have to do is tell them to glam the place up, and the chances are that you’ll get the exact effect that you were looking for. With just a bit of gold spray paint, some gold-colored confetti in balloons, and glitter (lots and lots of glitter), the place will be ready for your guests.

As far as the dress code goes, just make sure that you stress out that you’re aiming for full-glamour. As far as the beverages go, cocktails, vermouth, and champagne are your go-to in this particular setting. Still, this is not a hard rule that you absolutely must follow.

Cider Tasting Party

If there’s one drink that embodies the spirit of fall the most, it would definitely be cider. So, how do you organize a cider-tasting?

First of all, it’s usually a good idea to keep your guest list fairly small. You see, not everyone will appreciate the idea, and not everyone will put the cider-tasting aspect of the party first. The last thing you want is for these few rotten apples (pun intended) to spoil the barrel.

Second, you need to buy quite a variety of ciders, so that the people have a full tasting experience. Keep in mind that decoration-wise, the tasting station should be the centerpiece. It’s a focal point, and you need to spread it so that as many of your guests as possible can stand behind it at one time.

Also, this is a themed event, but it also has a set activity as a core. So, provide guests with tools that will allow them to take notes of all these ciders. Keep the music down so that they can focus on the task at hand.

Lastly, while it may have this type of vibe, this is still not a formal event. It’s a party and, as such, you need to make sure people have fun. So, crack a couple more ciders as you’re done.

Oktoberfest

Let’s say that you find Oktoberfest to be one of the most interesting events hosted. Both 2020 and 2021 Oktoberfest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, why not host your own, smaller, safer replica of Oktoberfest yourself?

There are two things you need to use as your starting point. First, you need to think of the beer. Even with the event canceled, the chances are that you’ll be able to find a lot of Oktoberfest-style beers in your local grocery or liquor store. Keep in mind that Oktoberfest is a worldwide phenomenon, which is why around the actual date of the event, chances of finding the right brew increase drastically.

Another thing you need to think about is the food. The Bavarian pretzel, sausages (especially Bratwurst), German potato salad, and apple strudel are a must.

In order to further enhance the theme, you should insist on stylized clothing and decorate the place like the real Oktoberfest. It shouldn’t be too hard to find enough examples and ideas online.

Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Going for a hot air balloon theme is quite an interesting concept. It will require a lot of work and be a proper challenge for your organizational skills. One of the ideas that could further inspire you is the hot air balloon festival in Cappadocia, Turkey. Using smaller balloons with hanging baskets to mimic this idea would be great.

One thing worth keeping in mind is that this is one of the best wedding ideas for traveling couples. Sure, it means having a smaller wedding ceremony and giving up some other ideas, but it is really worth it in terms of uniqueness and romantic scenery.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go to Cappadocia in order to hire a hot air balloon. If you’re throwing a party for just a couple of people, hiring a real air balloon is one of the most creative, adventurous, and unique ideas that you could ever come up with. However, why is the early fall the best for this type of adventure? First of all, the weather is still fairly moderate. Second, you get to enjoy the amazing scenery. Third, there is a change in atmosphere, which comes with cool, crisp weather.

In Conclusion

In the end, your organizational abilities, your guest list, and your own mindset matter more than any theme. However, having a theme can make things more fun, more challenging (for your own creativity), and increase the immersion of the attendees. While none of the above-listed ideas is exclusive to fall, they fit thematically, which is why they will simply feel right to your guests, as well. Now, you at least have a starting point or an idea to inspire you.

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About The Author

Stacey is a freelance writer living in Minnesota with her cat, and she’s passionate about yoga, languages, home improvement, and drinking strong coffee. Find her on Twitter @StaceyShann0n