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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

Fab's Top 10 Celebrity Looks of the Week - Hilary, Kate, Ashley, and More!

Hannah Weil — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:04:04 PDT

Cannes wasn't the only place to do glam-spotting this week - a bevvy of stars here at home, across the pond in London, and even in South Korea turned out in their cocktail finest to fete the MoMA and more. Hilary Rhoda perfected the body-con fit in a curve-hugging knit cocktail dress for the MoMA's NYC festivities, while Kate Bosworth showed off modern-day ladylike minimalism in a leather-topped Calvin Klein for the designer's party in Seoul, and Ashley Madekwe celebrated in London in the chicest kind of shorts suit. Inside there's more from this week's most stylish - click on for a glimpse of the top 10.

Alexis, Olivia, Jordana, and More Show Off Cool-Girl Summer Style at the Coach Fete - Who's Most Fab?

Marisa Tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:24:00 PDT

For a super Summer-inspired fix of flirty frocks, colorful bags, and must-have sandals, look no further than the stylish celebs making the rounds at Coach's cocktail-cum-charity benefit party in LA yesterday evening. Aside from the brand's slick leather-and-tassel satchels providing a cool accessorized boost, we loved the variety of sunny styles - girlie, muted sophistication, and all-out brights - spotted on the likes of Alexis Bledel, Olivia Munn, Jordana Brewster, and Kristen Bell. While Olivia opted for a Naven neon pink miniskirt and Jordana kept it cool in silver-gray tones, Alexis chose a butterfly-printed Tucker dress for the occasion. For a tougher edge, check out Malin Akerman's leather Mandy Coon number, or for a more Parisian-chic vibe, channel Nikki Reed's Finders Keepers shirtdress look. Click through now for a stylish selection of enviable celeb ensembles, then tell us in the comments who gets your best-dressed vote!

Olivia Palermo Gives Nautical Stripes a Cocktail-Chic Makeover

Hannah Weil — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:52:34 PDT

Memorial Day cocktail party in your weekend plans? Olivia Palermo gave summery stripes a sophisticated spin just in time for your seasonal party schedule while celebrating Fabergé's NYC store opening last night. We love that she played it casually chic, adding evening shorts and a white tuxedo blazer to her basic tee. As always, Olivia perfected her style with attention to detail - her embellished blue Manolos offset the colors in her top and lent just the right touch of luxe. To finish, it's just a sleek black patent clutch and the style setter's signature statement jewels. Feeling inspired? Shop our editors' picks to channel the same breezy evening style for dinner and drinks - and beyond.

Grab and Go: 25 Clutches to Get You Seasonally Chic Just in Time For Summer

Hannah Weil — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:21 PDT

Getting Summer chic from head to toe is as much about accessories as it is about seasonal dresses. From cocktail parties to Summer weddings, you're not fully dressed till you've found the right handbag for stashing all the necessities. Along those lines, we've paid extra attention to one of our favorite add-ons: the clutch. With picks in raffia, flashes of neon, and seasonally fresh prints, we've rounded up 25 of the coolest clutches to liven up your Summer look. Whether you're seeking a chicer option for your everyday or a totally unique style to play up your party outfits, they're all inside. Click on to see and shop our favorite Summer clutches just in time to kick off the season.

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,

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!

Fab's Top 10 Celebrity Looks of the Week - Nina, Alexa, Miranda, and More!

Hannah Weil — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:54 PDT

Beyond Cannes, another pack of celebrity stunners showed off a cool mix of party frocks and everyday wear to inspire the freshest takes on Summer style. Miranda Kerr gave us all-out glamour in an icy-blue Carla Zampatti gown at the Women of Style Awards in Sydney, Nina Dobrev dazzled in her cocktail frock at CW's upfronts, and Alexa Chung showed off Summer-perfect style while hanging out in NYC. Inside we've culled more of our favorite fashion influencers - from Rachel Bilson to Ashley Madekwe. Click on for this week's ultrachic top 10.

Shake Things Up: Healthy Premade Cocktail Mixes That Actually Taste Good

Michele Foley — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:24:56 PDT

A good handmade cocktail is a thing of beauty, but it's not practical when you're hosting a large party, going camping, or heading to the park for a picnic. But let's be honest: most premade mixes are pretty gross. Made largely of high-fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients, they're an easy way to waste calories - and good liquor. If you can't have it fresh, then choose one of these store-bought cocktail mixes for your next get-together. Whether you want a mojito or a margarita, there's a healthier version for everyone.

Source: Thinkstock

5 Secrets For a Perfect At-Home Cocktail Party

Camilla Salem — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:35:48 PDT

Hosting a cocktail party out of your home is intimate and charming but can sometimes be a source of great stress. The truth is that a little bit of planning and preparation can go a long way. Who wants to spend the party worrying about things like running to get more ice or salvaging burnt hors d'oeuvres? We've got five tips to help you host a smooth soiree.

Make sure to have enough ice.
The last thing you'll want to do is run to the store for more ice while your guests' drinks run dry. Make sure to get enough ice ahead of time for the number of guests you're inviting. Also fill your ice trays earlier in the day for backup.

Stock a variety of mixers and garnishes.
You may be set on serving a signature cocktail for the evening, but just in case it's not everybody's style, keep a variety of drink mixers on hand. We recommend tonic water, cranberry and orange juice, a variety of sodas, and margarita mix. Set out basic garnishes like lemon peels, lime wedges, and maraschino cherries, but don't be afraid to get creative as well: fresh herbs and berries would be fun and pretty. You may want to have a few bottles of wine and a six-pack of beer in the refrigerator just in case your guests don't drink hard liquor.

Don't forget about music.
Sometimes it can take a while for lively conversation to develop, and nothing is more awkward than a silent room. This is where background music comes in very handy. Spend a little bit of time developing a playlist for the evening that matches the mood you're trying to set. Choose calmer songs for the beginning of the evening, and as people start to warm, the music can, too!

For more tips, keep reading.