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Veggie Flower Arrangement Is a Cool Centerpiece - and Snack

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:39 -0700

As a parting present to a friend, Sugar staffer (and OnSugar manager!) sabs creatively crafted a floral arrangement - made entirely out of fresh, edible vegetables! The result was a stunning centerpiece that, like a flower cake, would be a thoughtful (and edible!) gift for someone who avoids sugar.

I loved the idea so much that I had to ask sabs how she did it. Interested in making one yourself? Find out how when you read more

DIY: Elegant and Rustic Wedding Decor

partysugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:50:38 -0700

A friend of mine recently got married at a San Francisco restaurant with 25 close guests in attendance. The ceremony was held in a private room, and afterward, everyone sat down at one big table for a three-course dinner.

Since the couple threw together the "elopement" on short notice, they recruited friends to help; a friend and I were asked to do the flowers. I was surprised by how cheaply we were able to fill the room with blooms. Since the restaurant has exposed brick walls and a rustic feel, we decided to go for the same look with the arrangements. To see my tips for achieving a similar scheme, read more.

Know the space. Get a feel for the room you'll be working in and talk to the restaurant about any decor (such as candles and tablecloths) they'll have on hand or any restrictions that may apply.
Become a jar collector. To echo the rustic modern vibe of the room, I rounded up mismatched glass jars from my cupboards and friends' kitchens. They're free of charge and oh-so-hip.
Go wholesale. Many cities have flower markets that are open to the public. If you can, find a wholesale card to get better prices; I borrowed one from an event coordinator at a local nonprofit. Even if you can't get a wholesalers' discount, you'll still be able to get better bulk deals than you would anywhere else.
Mix and match. Splurge on some pricier statement flowers to anchor the arrangements - we went with purple hydrangeas, white tulips, orchids, and dahlias. Then, fill them out with cheaper filler in complementary colors: try mums, alstromerias, and assorted greenery.
Light it up. Place votive candles in smaller jars and use them to surround the floral arrangements. This will give the flowers a grander appearance without actually needing more flowers.

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Inedible Flower Cake Is Sugar Free and Delicious to the Eye

partysugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:15:19 -0700

My girlfriend Melissa's sister is diabetic and has to really watch her consumption of sweets. That's why Melissa decided it would be best not to serve cake at the 30th birthday brunch she was throwing her sister. However, no birthday is complete without some sort of candle and singing ceremony. This is where Melissa got creative: she created a cake entirely out of flowers! It's inedible, but beautiful to look at and incredibly thoughtful. Here's how she did it:

Start by purchasing a round cake-shaped floral foam at your nearest floral or craftshop. Soak with water.
Get a bouquet of colorful blossoming flowers. Cut them down to have a stem that is 2-3 inches long.
Insert the blooms into the foam. Get as artistic with the design as you like.
Insert birthday candles. Use longer candles to ensure that the flowers don't burn or get waxy.

Without the candles, the flower-shaped cake would make a great simple centerpiece to a wedding or shower. What do you think of this innovative idea?

Yummy Links: From Carnations to Thomas Keller

partysugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:50:36 -0700

Once shunned, the affordable carnation is making a centerpiece comeback. - Hostess With the Mostess
Love cilantro? Check out this new website devoted to the fragrant herb. - Serious Eats
Tips for building the ultimate green kitchen. - Chow
One writer argues that food cannot travel and cuisine is limited to the place where it's made. - Gourmet
Trader Joe's is now selling hard boiled peeled eggs. - The Kitchn
Get excited for Thomas Keller's next big deal, Ad Hoc at Home, a family-friendly cookbook. - Eat Me Daily

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Yummy Links: From Free Denny's to Disliking Top Chef

partysugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:45:32 -0800

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. today you can get a free Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's . - Fast Food News
Take a trip to the original McDonald's in San Bernardino, CA. - A Hamburger Today
Fifty easy ways to eat and cook green. - Bon Appétit
Empty tea tins make adorable flower vases. - The Kitchn
Use fresh lemon juice to remove tough food stains. - Chow
Why one journalist can't get into this season's Top Chef. - The Epi-Log

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Wedding Centerpiece Trends

partysugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:13:38 -0700

One of the many decisions you have to make when planning your wedding is how to style the tables. A spectacular centerpiece on the table is like the icing on the cake. It's an eye catching piece of decor that stimulates conversation and sets the atmosphere for the reception. This year centerpieces have moved beyond the traditional: fruits and vegetables abound, nature adds down-to-earth glamor, and the glowing cast of candles shadow the arrangements. To see some of the most popular centerpiece trends, click the "Start" button.

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Cut the Cost: Use Petals Instead of Flowers

partysugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:28:31 -0800

A great way to reduce the cost of flowers at a party is to use day-old rose petals instead of fresh-cut roses. At a recent event at Carrots, the hostess filled oversized martini glasses with deep red rose petals. The petals were scattered on tables between candles and used as garnish in the pomegranate martini.

I talked to a local florist and a grocery bag filled with day-old rose petals costs $30-40, much less than the fresh cut flowers. If your florist doesn't have day-old roses, purchase cheap roses from Safeway or Trader Joe's. Usually you can get a dozen roses for under $10, but you'll have to take them apart yourself. If that doesn't fit into your budget, silk rose petals are super cheap at a craft store.

Mark's Garden Adds Floral Drama to the Governors Ball

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:15:51 -0800

When I walked into the preview for the Governors Ball, the suspended globes immediately caught my eye. However, once I was able to pull my gaze down, my eyes became lost in the drama that is the floral arrangement.

There are over 15,000 roses, in 15 different shades of red, and they're accompanied by golden orchids imported from Thailand several days before the event. The cocktail tables are dotted with bouquets of roses, the dinner tables are huge, tall red and gold bouquets, and the food stations are littered with petals. The staff at Mark's Garden have created a beautiful arrangement that is dramatic, and somehow over the top and subdued at the same time.

I had a chance to talk to Mark Held - he and his staff have been doing the flowers for the Governors Ball for the past 13 years - about their floral decisions. To see that, and even more pics, read more.

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Cut The Cost: Fall Party Centerpieces

partysugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:11:49 -0700

If you are planning a party, you may run the risk of spending a lot of money. Flowers, while beautiful and fragrant, often cost a large amount of your party budget. Cut the cost by cutting the flowers. Fall is a great time to use other ingredients in the decor:

Create tonal arrangements using fruit. Fill a bowl with red apples, purple grapes, and burgundy pears. Or do the same arrangement with green apples, emerald grapes, and yellow pears.
Fill a large glass vase (you can find them at Michaels for super cheap) with dried, collected leaves. Place a large white pillar candle on the pillow of leaves.
Purchase potted plants. Pansies can handle frost and come at very low prices. The day after the party, plant the flowers in your garden.

Don't underestimate the power of pumpkins! Purchase several pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors and place them in the center of your table or along your mantle. Use small ones to fill large glass containers.
Crowd bowls with nuts in the shell. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds look festive when placed at varying heights on a table in bright glass bowls.

Got a great idea on how to create a gorgeous look without flowers? Please share it with us below!!

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Flowers 101: Lavender

partysugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:30:18 -0700

The other day my sister told me how she had been to a wine tasting and they were giving away free bunches of lavender. I was incredibly jealous because 1) I didn't partake in the wine tasting and 2) I didn't have a fragrant bouquet of lavender in my room. Lavender or lavandula as it's scientifically known, is considered to be one of the most versatile flowers in the world and is used in everything from foods to medicines to aromatic/essential oils. Lavender is characterized by gray-green foliage with thin spikes of purple flowers on long stems. One of the oldest plants, lavender grows wildly all over the earth. Lavender blooms in the full summer sun and requires plenty of water at regular intervals - allowing time in between for the soil to dry. To encourage stronger root production, cut off the first year buds and protect the blooms from wind. Wonderful in gardens, lavender can be planted in containers, flowerbed borders, and used as ground cover. Lavender pairs nicely with sage and is one of the only flowers that retains its fragrance after drying.