half birthday housewarming

The decorations for my half-birthday housewarming will be kept to a minimum because it's a time for friends to check out my new living space. I don't want to clutter it with gaudy balloons and flowing streamers. Instead, I'll create a party atmosphere with glowing lights, lots of candles, and fresh Spring flowers arranged in low vases. I'll serve the feast of Italian appetizers on different-shaped white plates and wooden boards.

The cupcakes will go in my cupcake tower and the cocktail will be poured in my collection of Champagne coupes. The walls are bare, but I've made an inspiration board. To encourage guests to add their ideas, I'll cover a large portion of an accessible wall with butcher paper. A bowl full of good markers will sit next to the paper and I'll ask everyone to tell me how I should decorate!

Have you recently hosted a housewarming? What special touches made your party memorable?

If I had to choose one thing to drink for the rest of my life, I would select sparkling wine. I cannot get enough bubbles! Naturally, I'll be pouring it at my half-birthday housewarming. Since I'm guessing a lot of guests will show up with a bottle of bubbly in tow, I'll be whipping up this elegant blissini. It's like a mimosa, but with pomegranate juice. The addition of mint takes this effervescent drink from morning to night.

Get the easy recipe after the break.

The theme for the cuisine at my half-birthday housewarming is Italian. I'm serving a spread of store bought and homemade goodies and naturally, one sweet treat. Classic tiramisu is my favorite Italian dessert, but it's not too cocktail party friendly. I don't want to worry about slicing, plating, and serving it with utensils.

Luckily, Martha Stewart has come up with a clever solution to my problem: tiramisu cupcakes! The batter is light and fluffy like ladyfingers, and the frosting is a whipped confection made with mascarpone cheese. To get the recipe, which must be made in advance, keep reading.

On birthdays (and half birthdays), I like to make my favorite foods, thus for my half-birthday housewarming, I plan on serving a spread of delectable Italian bites. The party goes from 7:30-10 p.m., smack in the middle of dinner time, so I'll need to offer a substantial amount of food. I don't want to spend days in the kitchen or prepare anything that requires a plate and utensils; that's why I'll take some help from the grocery store and make four easy appetizers.

From the Italian market I'll purchase charcuterie, an assortment of cheese, marinated olives, grissini, nduja and crusty bread. A quartet of homemade dishes — stuffed marinated hot red cherry peppers, polpette in spicy tomato sauce, roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, and arugula and fava-bean crostini — rounds out the menu. To check out the recipes I'll be using, read more

Tomorrow is my half birthday, and if you are a long-time YumSugar reader, you'll know that I always celebrate my half birthday! After consulting CasaSugar on when is the appropriate time to host a housewarming, I've decided to throw myself a half birthday housewarming party. I'll invite my friends over and serve up a delectable spread of appetizers and drinks. Before I can think about the menu, I've got to get the invites sent. To learn how I made the invite pictured here, read more