YumSugar

Download Our Free Holiday Invites!

partysugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:15:14 -0800

OK, so you're not throwing an ugly sweater party this holiday season, but what about a holiday party? A festive cocktail, a delicious dessert soiree, or a laid-back brunch are great ways to gather friends together. Set the tone by mailing them a red and green themed invite. We've created two free, downloadable invites that celebrate the season. One features a girl and a Christmas tree and the other has an ornament theme. Start by clicking on the links above to download them. Next print, fill out, and send. So what are you waiting for? Go get your holiday party on!

Download Our Free Ugly Sweater Invite!

partysugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:45:18 -0800

This year instead of hosting a swanky (and expensive) holiday cocktail party, consider throwing an ugly sweater party! The theme is informal and fun, yet totally festive. It's an ideal party for introducing new groups of friends because the ugly sweaters break the ice and create easy conversation. To help you get your holiday party on, we've created a free downloadable, ugly sweater party invite! All you have to do is download, print, fill out, and send. Voila - instant holiday party. Don't forget to carry the kitschy theme to the menu by serving cheese balls, Chex mix, and slippery Santa shots. Happy hosting!

PartySugar Behind The Bash: The Sugar Holiday Party

partysugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:45:19 -0800

Last night was our holiday party, and like everything Sugar, it was fabulous! It wasn't your average, boring old event, it was a bowling extravaganza. The party was expertly planned by LilPeaPod and held at the Presidio Bowling Center.

Hosting an event at a bowling alley is lots of fun - especially if you have a large group of people - because the activity unites party-goers. This type of party is wonderfully easy on the host as the cooking and cleaning is done by the bowling alley staff. For my tips on hosting a party at a bowling alley, plus a gallery of pics from the Sugar party, read more.

Start planning early. Call the bowling alley at least two months before the party. This will ensure that you reserve the day and time you want. LilPeaPod called a month in advance and had to compromise by selecting a day that wasn't her desired night.
Once you have the date reserved, go to the bowling alley and speak with the owners. Find out if you can bring decorations and what areas of the alley are off limits.
If you want to have an open bar, work out the details. Every place is run differently, but the easiest way to host an open bar is to have the bartenders tally up drinks. When the night is over, they will tell you how much beer and wine was consumed, and how much you owe. You may also consider giving each guest drink tickets, and having the bartenders tally up how many tickets they were given.

Make the food accessible. Print out a bunch of menus with the food listed. Provide pencils, have guests circle what they would like to eat, and give to the food staff. When their order is ready call their name over the bowling alley's loudspeaker. Alternatively, if you are on a budget, you can have your guests order and pay for their own food. Or provide a select amount of snacks from the menu. You may even consider food tickets.

Have a tournament! Nothing gets a party going like a good competition. To encourage guests to participate, have prizes. Gift cards to Starbucks, Sephora, or Bloomingdale's make wonderful prizes.

If gifts are involved - like our Secret Santa exchange - set up a gift station for guests to leave their gifts.
Bring lots of quarters to enjoy the video games, candy vending machines, jukeboxes and Dance, Dance, Revolution.
Remember to have fun! It's a party!

Come Party With Me: Holiday Cocktail - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:27:10 -0800

It's the most wonderful time of the year! December has arrived and with it a flurry of fabulous parties. Every year my sister and I host a holiday cocktail party and this year I'm inviting you to the spectacular soirée. I'll share my party plan with you here and you can adjust my ideas to suit your own holiday needs. Let's start with the invitations.

If you are busy, download, print, and fill out our chic holiday party invite. If you have the time, get crafty and make your own version like I did here. To see how I did it, read more

To make a similar invite you will need the following supplies:

colored cardstock
festive ribbon
scissors
glue
computer and printer

To assemble the invite:

Start by creating a new Word document. Write out the details of your cocktail party. I used the fun font, Mistral in size 16, to write out the following message,

It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Let’s get together and make some holiday cheer!

Cocktails & Appetizers
Saturday, December 15, 2007
7:00 pm

Casa de PartySugar, San Francisco
Regrets only: 415.555.5555

Print out and check the text for grammar or spelling mistakes. Once satisfied with the info, print out on the cardstock.

Cut down to size. I used special edged scissors on mine.

Cut another piece of cardstock into a square about 9 inches by 9 inches. Make sure that the invite fits inside of the square.

Fold in each of the four corners to enclose the invitation.

Glue decorative ribbon to back of outside of the envelope.

Tie ribbon decoratively.

Slide into an envelope and send.

View 27 Photos ›

Do Tell: What Was Your Most Embarrassing Holiday Party Experience?

DearSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

A few days ago I gave you some suggestions on what to remember when attending a holiday party and your comments made me realize that some of you have experienced a few party disasters in your time! The stress of the holiday season, combined with alcohol, can make for a pretty interesting night on the town so ladies, do tell, what was your most embarrassing experience while drinking eggnog under the mistletoe?

8 Things to Remember When Attending a Holiday Party

DearSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0800

I came across a very timely article on The Frisky the other day about how not to become a party pariah in front of your family, co-workers, or friends. I'm sure most of you will be attending your fair share of holiday parties this year so I thought it'd be a good idea to share its four suggestions with you, and offer up four of my own, too! Check out their tips below:

Keep the booze in check
Invite one date at a time
Don't drunk dial
Keep your inner stripper at bay

To see my suggestions, read more

Don't say anything that you wouldn't say sober
Don't overstay your welcome - no one likes a lingering party guest
Don't overdo the PDA
Be mindful of wardrobe malfunctions

Source

Come Party With Me: Holiday Cocktail - Menu (Sweets)

partysugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:13:31 -0800

When planning a holiday cocktail party, don't forget the desserts! Since some guests are bound to have a sweet tooth, set up a small buffet of sweet treats when you set up the savory appetizers. Guests can nibble on cheese and chocolate. Fill bowls with Christmas M&M's or Hershey's kisses.

Don't serve a cake or pie because slicing and plating it is more work for you. Instead, offer one-bite sweets that guests can help themselves to. Mini black bottom cheesecakes are decadent and delicious. The raspberry jam adds a punch of festive color. Homemade chocolate truffles are easily prepared in advance. For the recipes to these delectable desserts, please read more

Mini Black-Bottom Cheesecakes
From Food and Wine magazine

Vegetable oil spray
24 plain chocolate wafer cookies, preferably Nabisco
3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup fromage blanc (6 oz.), at room temperature
2 large eggs
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves, warmed

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with foil-baking cups and spray the cups with vegetable oil spray.
In a food processor, crush the chocolate wafer cookies. Add the butter and process until fine crumbs form. Spoon the chocolate cookie crumbs into the prepared baking cups and press with the bottom of a glass to compact.
Bake for 5 minutes, or until almost set. Leave the oven on.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until smooth. Beat in the fromage blanc, then add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
Pour the cheesecake batter into the baking cups, filling them three-quarters full.
Bake the cheesecakes for 15 minutes, or until slightly jiggly in the center. Remove from the oven and spread 1 tsp. of the warmed raspberry preserves on top of each cheesecake. Transfer the muffin tin to the freezer and chill the cheesecakes until set, about 15 minutes.
Remove the cheesecakes from the pan and peel off the foil baking cups. Transfer the cheesecakes to a platter and serve.

Makes 12.

Make ahead: the mini black-bottom cheesecakes can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Substitution: Instead of the fromage blanc use crème fraîche, goat cheese, lebneh, or quark.

Print recipe with images | without images

Chocolate Truffles
From Martha Stewart

1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. heavy cream
8 ounces best-quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
Five strips 1-inch-wide orange peel, pith removed
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup sifted cocoa powder
1/2 cup finely chopped assorted nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, and pistachios

In a small saucepan, whisk together cream and cardamom. Add orange peel; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat; let stand 15 minutes.
Line a baking pan with parchment; set it and another pan aside.
Return cream mixture to heat; bring to a boil. Place chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Remove cream mixture from heat. Pour through a sieve set over chocolate; discard solids.
Stir until melted and smooth.
Pour chocolate mixture onto the unlined baking pan, and spread in an even layer with an offset spatula. Transfer baking pan to freezer; chill chocolate until hardened but malleable, 15 to 20 minutes.
Using a tablespoon, scrape enough chocolate from pan to form a roughly shaped 1-in. ball, being careful not to press too hard against baking pan. Repeat. Transfer balls to the parchment-lined pan; chill truffles in the refrigerator 10 minutes.
Place the confectioners' sugar, the cocoa powder, and the chopped nuts in three separate bowls. Roll the truffles in desired coatings.

Makes 12.

Make ahead: uncoated truffles can be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated, for one week.

Print recipe with images | without images

How Many Holiday Parties Are You Attending This Year?

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:30:08 -0800

Since corporate holiday parties are at an all-time low, I thought I'd take an unofficial poll to find out how many parties you'll be attending this season, if any. This count includes company-sponsored functions, house parties, tree trimmings, and Christmas Eve dinners, or any other holiday-related events. Did you still throw a party of your own? Did you and your friends party less this year?

Source

Is Your Company Having a Holiday Party This Year?

SavvySugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:00:17 -0700

The chill in the air can only mean that the holidays are just around the corner, which usually means an invitation for the annual office party would appear in your inbox any day now. Word on the street is that after a rough year that included the termination of CosmoGIRL!, Hearst Corp. has canceled its holiday party, and perhaps its decision is an indication of what other corporations will do about celebrating this year.

I imagine the party scene this holiday season will look much different than what most workers are used to - if not canceled altogether, most company parties will probably be more prudent than in the past.

Source

Do You Need Alcohol to Enjoy Your Office Holiday Party?

SavvySugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:30:02 -0800

It seems that beer goggles have expanded their functionality from bars to office holiday parties. According to a YouGov survey of 1,429 UK workers, 43 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds and 45 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds admitted to needing alcohol to enjoy their office parties; co-workers and bosses seem more tolerable when these workers are under the influence.

Reliance on alcohol dropped as the respondents' ages increased: 32 percent of 34- to 44-year-olds said alcohol was necessary to have a good time, while 25 percent of those aged 45-54 agreed. The survey concluded that, overall, 28 percent of workers depend on alcohol for fun at office holiday parties. Because the booze is on the house and the social company isn't stimulating or makes you nervous, as is the case at many work parties, the survey findings aren't too surprising.

Let's do ourselves a favor though, and make sure we stay under our limit at these functions. Do you belong in the group that can't stand being around your co-workers and bosses any longer than a typical work day without the help of alcohol?