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Lil Links: Assuming Your Kids Can Attend Parties

LilSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:30:00 PST

Party foul: assuming your kids are invited - YumSugar
Courteney Cox says she and Coco are two of a kind - Celebrity Baby Blog
Should I have another child? - Momversation
How to get your kids to eat healthier - Alpha Mom
Jett Travolta meant a lot to his family - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Gene linked to dad's ability to father sons, daughters - Parent Dish
Get your body back after baby! - Health
Pregnancy can bring on swollen ankles - CafeMom
And the winner of the Santa tantrum award is. . . - The Poop

Yummy Link: Retrofitted Appetizers

YumSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:18:19 PDT

Cocktail parties were all the rage in the 50s and 60s, and while there were a lot of ridiculous creations, there are plenty of retro appetizers worth giving a modern twist. - iVillage

Lights. Candles. Action.

Sponsor — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:00 PST

Winter is undoubtedly the most romantic season of the year: cold weather for snuggles and curling up by the fire. Lucky for us, Kahlúa, the world's No. 1 rum and coffee liqueur, knows how to turn a regular night at home into a romantic date night with delicious cocktails. Check out these recipes to get started on your passionate planning for a party of two.

YumSugar Preview: Come Party With Me - Holiday Cocktail

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:22:40 PST

The holidays are just around the corner and we're happy to announce that YumSugar.com will be here just in time. Starting this Friday, YumSugar.com will be your go to place for delicious recipes, entertaining tips and festive cocktails. See below for a sneak peek:

This week why not plan a cocktail party for you and your friends? The perfect event where ready made meets homemade, a quick, easy holiday themed get together can be thrown any night of the week. For all of the details (invite ideas, serving suggestions, decorations schemes, musical playlists, divine drinks) on how to host this party, see below.

Invites: Make simple invites by cutting out the shape of an ornament (or use this template) on metallic card stock or colored wrapping paper. Write out the super important details of your party-date, time, location, formality-on the back. Slide into an envelope and send. Too busy to send out formal invites? Decided you want to throw this party in three hours? Have no fear: write a text-invitation and send it to all of your friends.

Menu: Don't worry even if you aren't a kitchen goddess, you can still host a fabulous cocktail party by using mostly store bought items. Make one simple yet super tasty tiny bite or decadent dip and assemble the rest of your menu. Assemble a cheese platter: purchase one each of your favorite types of hard, semi soft, and soft cheese. Plate with crackers, baguette toasts, grapes, and bread sticks. Lay out slices of salami, prosciutto, and honeyed turkey on another plate. Fill bowls with mixed nuts, olives, and pretzels. For a sweet treat purchase Christmas themed cookies from your local bakery. Or fill silver bowls with red and green M&Ms, Hershey kisses, and candy canes.

For Decorations, Music and Drinks,

read more Decorations: Decorations are a no brainer! If you are anything like me your house will be merrily decorated for the Christmas holidays. With that said here's your decorating checklist: Plug in the Christmas tree lights. Check. Light some candles. Check. Make a fire in the fireplace. Check. Decorations? Done. Music: Seriously girlies this party could not get any easier because everything is already done for you. Put your most played Christmas Cds (my picks: Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, the Beach Boys, and The Carpenters) on random and hit play. Drinks: For a pro-hostess tip from the party master, don't offer an open bar. You will not enjoy your party. Instead make a big bowl of egg nog or cranberry Christmas punch. Offer beer, wine, and champagne for those who prefer something other than hard alcohol. For a nonalcoholic option serve a chilled apple cider and sparkling water flavored with orange and vanilla bean. YumSugar is coming soon. Sign up to receive an email notification as soon as we launch!

How to Throw a The Artist-Themed Oscar Viewing Party

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

The Oscars air on Sunday, Feb 26, and any movie lover already has the date penciled in. In case your plans are even grander than simply watching the show and you want to throw a viewing party for friends, then why not pick a theme based around one of the best picture nominees? I'm suggesting The Artist as inspiration, the delightful silent film that's been creating a deafening award season buzz. Here's how to pull it off.

How to decorate: All your decorations should be black and white, with art deco accents. Play The Artist movie soundtrack or big band music while guests are arriving. And if you know anyone who owns a Jack Russell Terrier, borrow him and pretend he's Uggie.
How to dress: In glam 1920s Old Hollywood garb. Think tuxes for men, and flapper dresses or diaphanous gowns and long pearls for women.
What to serve: Lots of champagne, of course, along with Manhattans and Sidecars, cocktails popular in the '20s.
How to act: Ask everyone to be as silent as possible, but expressive with their face and hands. It sounds crazy, but at least you won't have to shush anyone when the show starts.

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Celeb Style: Rachel McAdams Wears the Perfect Spring Cocktail Dress For The Vow Premiere

Hannah Weil — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:35:16 PST

If you have a wedding or cocktail party coming up this Spring, look to Rachel McAdams's chic look at the premiere of The Vow for inspiration. The actress zeroed in on the pretty-cum-sexy vibe, opting for a curve-conscious Vivienne Westwood dress, but in a soft pastel hue. There's also a cool contrast to her evening style - Rachel toughened up her cocktail frock with Pomellato diamond and gold chain statement jewels, then finished on a softer note with a pair of nude Louboutin pumps and a delicate lace-trimmed clutch in hand. Love the look? Shop our key pieces to channel the same sweet-meets-sultry style - complete with the perfect red lip.

10 Cheap and Easy Dates For Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film Nerds

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:30:00 PST

Does sitting down with your favorite sci-fi novel, fantasy movie, or comic book sound better than dropping a boatload of cash on a Valentine's Day dinner date? You're not alone. These 10 geeky date ideas are two things - awesomely cheap and easy to pull off for your kindred sci-fi and/or fantasy nerd. Cheers to you!

Throw a Star Wars party for two.
Make some Lembas bread together and watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Whip up a batch of Cloud 9 mojitos (complete with mason jar glasses) and have a Battlestar Galactica marathon.
Bake some geeky sweets using Star Wars-themed cookie cutters.
Gift a geeky cookbook and try out a recipe together.
Create your own cocktail and top it off with nerdy ice cubes.
Take in a killer sci-fi classic at your local drive-in.
Make a pink Captain Picard cake to celebrate Valentine's Day and your mutual love for the captain who is number two in your heart.
Make some Earl Grey tea and watch a Star Trek marathon.
Rewatch the first season of Game of Thrones or start a book club for two and reread the series together.

Fab's Top 10 Celebrity Looks of the Week - Lauren, Minka, Emmy, and More!

Hannah Weil — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:27:14 PST

Our favorite celebs outfitted the week in a smart mix of cocktail sheaths and street-ready styles. The party circuit was dotted with pretty party confections from the likes of Emmy Rossum (in a Valentine's-perfect dress), while style setters like Lauren Conrad and Minka Kelly headed out and about in a cool crop of separates. Inside, we're taking a closer look at the rest of this week's top 10. Just click on to get a few noteworthy cues from this fashionable crew.

New Year's Resolution: Journal More!

Elka Karl — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:41:29 PST

How are your New Year's resolutions going? One of my resolutions was to carry a journal everywhere I go to jot down notes and ideas. Sadly, I still have to buy a journal! If you've resolved to keep a journal as well, I've rounded up some fun choices.

Keep track of your adventures (both naughty and nice) with the Shenanigans Letterpress Journal ($10). It would be perfect for party planning or keeping track of great new cocktail recipes - or however you choose to participate in your own personal shenanigans.

For the guy in your life, give him the Pelle California Handmade Leather Travel Journal ($40). Handmade in California, these journals are made with FSC-certified, eco-friendly linen and paper and US-sourced oil tanned leather. Each journal comes with a stringed book marker, a protective cloth travel bag, and an extra elastic band.

Looking for a lovely feminine option? The Rifle Paper Co. Botanicals Notebooks ($13) from Chronicle Books are a perfect choice. These colorful notebooks feature oil-stamped covers and vintage-inspired interiors. I love the gorgeous colors and dreamy blooms that decorate the cover.

Have your eye on another choice? Click on the image to shop!

From My Kitchen: Chili Honey Butter

Padma Lakshmi — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:34:26 PST

We've got a new partnership with Padma Lakshmi! The host of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, writer, and designer started Padma Lakshmi, a social networking site that celebrates our favorite topics, including food adventures, recipes, and party planning. She'll be dishing up goodies for us here on YumSugar monthly. Today, Padma sings the virtues of a lesser-known condiment: homemade chili honey butter.

Chili . . . honey . . . butter. Need I say more? It's actually dangerous to keep this condiment around because you will find yourself buttering your toast with it, frying up eggs with a bit of it melted in the pan, not to mention making home fries, too. And that's just breakfast. It can be used to sauté green beans and carrots, to brush on grilled fish, even to baste a whole chicken for roasting.

Related: Global Pantry: Garam Masala

Get her recipe after the break.

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