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Archive: Entertaining
Souper dinners.
Posted by etipton – July 28, 2008 10:42 AM
I am so excited that this plate is available again! One of my favorite things about fall is pulling out the crock pot and making soup. Nothing goes better with soups than grilled cheese sandwiches. With colder weather right around the corner, be prepared with these cute soup and sandwich plates. These plates are perfect for eating away from the table. (Yes, there are nights we eat in front of the television set – I'm sure we aren't the only family watching Seinfeld.) Safe for use in the oven, microwave and dishwasher, the simple white serving pieces are always ready for those relaxed, rainy-day meals. Imported. The Soup and Sandwich Plate is priced around $30 for a set of two.
Why didn't I think of that?
Posted by etipton – July 2, 2008 6:49 AM
Leave it to Williams-Sonoma to find a better way for summer entertaining. This shatter-resistant, polycarbonate DuraClear Icing Pitcher is perfect for outdoor entertaining. It also has a handy, removable insert for ice. Some things taste better after they have been diluted with some melting ice, but not everything. The ice insert keeps everything cold, and prevents melting ice from diluting the taste. This is a Williams-Sonoma exclusive. The DuraClear Icing Pitcher is priced around $50.
Bathtub Gin.
Posted by etipton – June 3, 2008 4:03 AM
Now that I am a parent and a grown-up, the bath tub full of ice or the Styrofoam cooler just don't cut it for entertaining. You need something a little nicer and classier like a beverage tub. I really like this one from Rush Gideon. They offer a deep, recycled copper or stainless steel tub on a decorative stand. The tub holds numerous bottles on 20 pounds of ice or more. As a bonus, you can also use the tub and stand to display plants indoors or outside. The pretty stand folds for easy storage when not in use. The beverage tub and stand are priced less than $175.
Energy bills.
Posted by etipton – April 13, 2008 4:20 PM
I always wonder why my energy bills are so high. I have a few older appliances, and I've wondered if it would save money to replace them. The Kill A Watt meter allows you to connect your appliance in to the meter and know how efficient it is. This meter will let you know how much leaving that extra TV, printer, alarm clock or stereo plugged in all the time costs. It displays usage in volts, amps, watts, Hz, or VA. Priced less than $35.
Easter Table
Posted by etipton – March 10, 2008 11:57 AM
Let your guests know what you are serving on your buffet, or let everyone know where you would like them to sit with these Carrot Placecard Holders. Each set comes with four holders and eight blank cards. Priced less than $20 for the set of four.
Celebrate the Easter season with this Easter Table Linen Collection, which includes colorful napkin rings, napkins and placemats. The napkin rings are in a ring of egg shapes in Spring colors and come with matching napkins. The placemats are also in matching colors in a striped/solid pattern. Each comes in a set of four packaged in a box, with clear acetate lid. Napkin rings and napkins are sold together, while placemats are sold separately. Priced around $20 for a set of four.
Get in the Easter spirit and decorate your table top with our Cottontail Bunnies Tablecloth. Designed with pastel colored bunnies, this adorable, 100% cotton tablecloth will go perfectly with the rest of your Easter decor. Machine wash cold separately; tumble dry on low setting. Priced at $35.
Two for the price of one.
Posted by etipton – March 7, 2008 3:49 PM
While looking for the perfect gift for my father-in-law's birthday, I came across this wine stopper AND pourer from OXO. It allows you to have two quality OXO tools in one product. The tool switches from wine stopper to dripless pourer with the pull of a lever. The wide spout aerates wine as you pour. It fits all standard wine bottles. Woo Hoo! Priced less than $15.
Bar None.
Posted by etipton – March 4, 2008 7:33 AM
I was looking at bar stools last week, and came across this Tavern 29 Antique Red Bar Stool. While it is constructed of durable and sturdy hardwood, it is still a versatile piece that would work well in any environment. The 29" stool is available in red, white, black or walnut. Adding this stool in any room would add function and style without adding a lot of cost.
Priced around $100.
Also check out the coordinating Tavern Pub Table. It is priced around $200.
Bless their heart.
Posted by etipton – January 30, 2008 1:21 PM
If you live in the South, “Bless his/her heart” are the three most dangerous words that can ever be spoken. It means someone is getting ready to say something ugly, but saying “Bless his/her heart” makes it all OK. For the rest of you, bless your heart and your home with these adorable heart-shaped serving pieces. Inspired by ancient ceramics, artist Alice Goldsmith uses an incredible process of multi-layer glazing to create gorgeous texture and color contrasts in these beautiful ceramic hearts. The heart is a year-round decorative piece that looks lovely alone or provides a useful place to put candy, nuts, jewelry, coins, keys and other small items. Each is one of a kind. Handmade in New York City. Each sold individually. Prices start at $30.
A different kind of high chair.
Posted by etipton – January 7, 2008 10:47 AM
If you have children close together in age, or if you take care of children on an occasional basis, the Handysitt chair is a great high chair alternative. At a very young age, our daughter wanted to ditch the baby chair and join the rest of the family. The Handysitt chair fits securely on a dining room chair and pulls right up to tables, allowing the child to sit safely with the family when dining or for other table activities. It folds flat for easy storage or travel. The chair features solid beech wood and steel construction and is available in several color choices with matching pads. Use for children aged seven months to four years.Priced around $80.
Times Square
Posted by etipton – December 31, 2007 8:42 AM
Tonight is the 100th anniversary of the Times Square ball drop holiday tradition. You can commemorate this milestone with these exquisite Waterford Let There Be Light Crystal Glasses. Made to honor a cherished New Year's Eve tradition, you'll reach for this treasured stemware again and again during celebrations and special moments. Formal stemware replicates the cut-crystal design of the actual Waterford Times Square ball. Crystal martini glasses and champagne flutes feature an intricate sunburst motif. Priced at $125.
Liquid Chocolate
Posted by etipton – December 22, 2007 8:38 AM
While hot chocolate from an envelope is a wonderful quick treat, you can not experience hot chocolate unless you make it from scratch. First you put the hot chocolate pot from Bonjour in the microwave. After the milk is warm, it has an automatic frother that whips up the perfect cup of hot chocolate. The pot is microwave-save, but more importantly it is dishwasher-safe. Priced less than $30.
Give some gourmet hot cocoa along with the hot chocolate pot. This kit contains gourmet peppermint chocolate bark and creamy, milk chocolate cocoa mix. The peppermint bark is made with premium Guittard white and milk chocolate, and sprinkled with crunchy bits of peppermint candy. The creamy milk chocolate cocoa mix is a luscious, creamy confection to warm the cockles of your heart, especially after a day outside in the cold: sledding, skating, skiing, even holiday shopping. Priced around $25. 
Christmas Spirits.
Posted by etipton – December 5, 2007 7:59 AM
Get in the Christmas spirit with our Tipsy Christmas Martini glasses! Designer Tracy Lolita Yancey used martini recipes as her design inspiration and created this line of hand-painted glasses along with her trademark recipes on the bottom, which became an instant hit. Create instant conversations over these pieces! Don't forget to use the unique recipe on the bottom of each glass! Each glass is distinctively gift-boxed for storage and gift-giving. Also available in other designs.Priced less than $25.
To see other Tracy Lolita Yancey glasses click here.
Wreath around the roses.
Posted by etipton – December 4, 2007 9:10 AM
My friend Tracy has one of these, and she uses it all the time. Her wreaths always look better than the one pictured here, but the stand is cute, and provides a unique, table-top accent. This vintage- look wreath stand comes in embossed cast iron, with finial in a distressed, white finish. It is perfect for your holiday or seasonal wreath displays. Also holds framed art. The stand is 6.5" wide x 6.5" deep x 30.5" high. Select black or white cast iron finish. Priced around $25.
Pop!
Posted by etipton – December 4, 2007 7:08 AM
I came across this the other day. It is one of those why didn't I think of this type things. It is a Popcorn Fork. This three-pronged fork keeps your hands clean and even features a built-in salt shaker in the handle. If you have a popcorn connoisseur, this might be the gift you have been looking for. Priced less than $15 for a set of 12.
You can add a popcorn bowl like this one made of recycled albums. These are bowls made from real records! And, if you can figure out how to play them even better! They are a great gift for any music lover. New York artist Jeff Davis creates these wonderful and practical record bowls from actual recycled albums (that are no longer playable) with the original record labels intact. The labels and spindle-hole are protected by a clear seal. Use the record bowls for any dry goods like popcorn, business cards or nothing at all. Clean them with a damp cloth. Keep your LP Bowl away from heat! Treat your record bowls as you would any of your old LP's, away from extreme heat and blazing sun. Record Bowl artists and genres vary. Priced around $25.
Swing Dance.
Posted by etipton – November 29, 2007 11:49 AM
Break free from boring platters with these red swing glass platters. While the abstract image of these platters signifies the dance steps across the dance floor, they are still the perfect accent for your coffee table or buffet. Available in 8" X 8" or 12" X 12". Stands sold separately. Priced less than $20.
Spooktacular drinks.
Posted by etipton – October 3, 2007 11:07 AM
Add some class to your Halloween party with this eye-catching copper spider beverage tub. This Halloween party essential features a great spider shape that works as a serving container with multiple uses. It has a removable web-shaped insert that securely holds five wine bottles. You can take out the insert to cool smaller bottles and cans. On Halloween, fill the beverage cooler with sweets for a chilling candy dish.
Priced less than $80.
Creepy Candles
Posted by etipton – October 3, 2007 11:06 AM
The other day I asked my daughter, who absolutely loves spooky things, which was her favorite holiday. She said HALLOWEEN, then Christmas. I feel the same way, at least when it comes to decorating – Halloween has a lot more interesting options, especially the past few years. Growing up, my family had a pumpkin outside on the porch and maybe a ghost made from a sheet. Today, the decorations you buy are the same type of things we saw decorating the set of Tales from the Crypt. Take these black candle holders, for example. They are constructed of powder-coated aluminum with a glossy black finish. They look like something Dracula would have in his home. What a fun, spooky centerpiece for Halloween party parties or decorations. Priced less than $25. 
Rolla Roaster of love.
Posted by etipton – September 15, 2007 9:12 AM
This weekend it felt like fall. There was a cool breeze, and it felt wonderful outside. Our group of friends decided to roast marshmallows with the kids. There were 11 kids under the age of five, so that really makes for an adventure. We hadn’t planned ahead. It was a more spur-of-the-minute idea, so we didn’t have very good sticks available. Everything worked out fine, but I wish I had the Rolla Roaster my mom told me about. It is a telescoping stainless steel fork used to cook hot dogs, marshmallows or anything else you usually cook on a stick. The fork telescopes from 12" long for backyard BBQs to 42" inches long for campfire cooking. The beautifully crafted wooden handle never overheats. The fork is perfect for hot dogs, marshmallows, s’mores, toasted buns and more! The Rolla Roaster now comes in 9 different handle colors. With Christmas just around the corner, order an extra set to give as a gift. I'm betting your recipient doesn't already have this. Two Rolla Roasters included per set. Priced at $12.00 per set of two.
Something to cheer about.
Posted by etipton – September 7, 2007 10:57 AM
Have the most spirited dessert with this cute stadium-shaped cake pan. It is perfect for your kid's high school team, your alma mater or Sunday NFL tailgate party. Simply decorate your favorite bundt cake with the team colors and server. If you don't want to get that complicated, just tint a glaze icing and it is ready to serve. Priced around $35.
If you do not want to bake from scratch, Nordic Ware offers pre-packaged mixes in
Unnecessary Roughness
Posted by etipton – September 5, 2007 8:05 PM
Avoid the unnecessary roughness of dragging out a bunch of chairs (or standing all day) with this instant bench. The bench features a heavy-duty steel frame, and it holds up to 250 lbs. per seat. When folded up, the bench is compact, lightweight and portable. The included carry-bag has adjustable shoulder strap and reinforced bottom. The bench offers a quick, easy set-up with no assembly required. I always love to hear of an item that has an easy set-up. That usually means I can get set up sometime before kick-off. The bench with seating for six is priced around $100, while the three-seater is priced around $65.
More pictures.
Forward pass.
Posted by etipton – September 5, 2007 4:05 PM
Food is the best part of tailgating, and nothing beats the taste of grilled food. We have eaten grilled pork, chicken, burgers, hot dogs and seafood depending on who we are playing. Most have been grilled on a small hibachi grill, or come from a store ready to eat. Do not pass on this grill. It is even shaped like a football, so your friends will get a real kick out of it. The unique design makes this BBQ grill easy to transport while at the same time minimizing spilling any ash. Charcoal not included. Priced less than $70.
Frozen Treats
Posted by etipton – July 26, 2007 2:01 PM
We had an ice cream sandwich cake the other day. It was delicious. That got me thinking about ice cream sandwiches, and wondering why I've never tried to make them. I found these cute sandwich molds. You take a thin brownie or cookie as a base, fill the mold with ice cream, and top with another cookie or brownie.
Has anyone made these? It comes with a basic recipe. If you have made ice cream sandwiches from scratch, what recipe do you use for the cookies? Choose molds designed as animals or shapes. Priced less than$15 for a set of three.
I scream, you scream.
Posted by etipton – July 16, 2007 9:07 AM
It is surprising, all the accessories you can purchase to go with ice cream. If you are looking for luxury, they have a silver-plated ice cream pint. Priced around $100.
I bent a spoon or two before I got a quality ice cream scoop. This ergonomic scoop allows you to cut through even the hardest ice cream. The thumb rest allows you to apply plenty of pressure. Now you will have to invite your quirky friend over to bend spoons with his mind if you want to get new silverware. Priced less than $10.
Another truly unique ice cream accessory is the motorized ice cream cone. No more twisting your wrist, just touch a button and the cone rotates. Priced less than $10.
more fun stuff....
Churn on Friday.
Posted by etipton – July 13, 2007 10:42 AM
I am sure in the olden days churn meant butter, but I'm going to talk about ice cream!
We received a traditional old-fashioned ice cream maker as a wedding gift. We have used it a few times, and it is fun to make your own ice cream. You can buy it for less than $30.
Another more fun way to make ice cream is with this ice cream ball. With the ball you can make ice cream at the beach, woods, lake or any where else you have fun without electricity. Add five ingredients, rolling the ball around, and 35 minutes later you have ice cream. This should give the kids something to keep them busy for a few minutes. Priced around $20.
Instead of going out for ice cream mixed with fresh fruit, cookies or other fixings, make it at home. The Chill-It set includes a white marble mixing board, two aluminum ice cream spades and a full-color recipe booklet. Priced less than $20.
The Food Network has some great recipes for homemade ice cream.
Sweet land of liberty.
Posted by etipton – July 3, 2007 10:17 AM
July 4th is such a fun holiday. We went to the fireworks store over the weekend. We bought sparklers, snap and pops and a few other minor fireworks. With the drought in our area, we did not purchase anything that flies up in the air and shoots sparks. We didn't want to be the ones to set the neighborhood on fire. I do not think Hallmark makes a card for that yet.
I need to figure out where to hang these cute lanterns. We were at a party over the weekend that had these hanging outside. They look so cool. I bet they would look great off the ceiling of a screened-in porch. A set of three is priced less than $15.
I just love this really cute patriotic table-topper set. Add some hamburgers, chips and a watermelon, and you are ready to celebrate. You get a tablecloth, table-topper and two packages of napkins. Available in either blue or red. Priced less than $70 for the set.
If you throw a lot of parties, Grandin Road has customized disposable cups and beverage napkins with your three-letter monogram or a special greeting for guests. This allows you to really add a personal touch to your outdoor party. Each party accessory comes in convenient sets of 100 to cater to large-scale, outdoor entertaining. While the only party I threw for 100 people was my wedding reception, it would be fun to have some personalized plastic cups to use year-round. Probably not $100 worth of fun, but it might be. Priced less than $100. 
Make patriotic arrangements, give the kids their own flags or decorate around the house with this set of 30 cotton mini-flags. I saw a vase just full of flags at a business the other day. That has to be the easiest way to make a centerpiece I've seen in a long time. On clearance for $10.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4th OF JULY!
Born on the 4th of July.
Posted by etipton – July 2, 2007 1:04 PM
Red, white and blue are the colors of summer. Whether you are having a picnic or just want to decorate your home, there are the cutest decorations this time of year.
Go back in time with these patriotic half-round flags. They create an inspiring accent above your windows or on railings. Constructed from all-weather poly-cotton, it's carefully lock-stitched for durability. Crafted in America.
Priced less than $40.
Set off your own fireworks with these cute, outdoor, solar lights. These brilliant Solar Star String Lights add a fun glow to your evening without batteries or electricity. One 15'-long light string includes 45 LEDs that automatically illluminate at dusk for up to six hours of festive outdoor lighting. Easy-to-use stake mounts included. Priced less than $50. 
When you buy these tin stars you also buy a piece of American history. Heritage stars are hand-pressed by Amish farmers from the salvaged roof tin of old barns. They originally functioned in the 19th century as a kind of copyright notice, hung by barn-builders to brand a building as their own work and nobody else's. Grouped on a wall or mantelpiece, the stars evoke an earlier era when pride of craftsmanship reigned supreme. Since those barns weathered all sorts of punishment, the stars have come to signify good fortune, something every home needs. Available in white, silver or blue. Priced less than $75. 
Something a bit corny.
Posted by etipton – May 13, 2007 9:16 PM
Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob with melted butter. Too bad melted butter is such a mess. Talisman Designs created this perfect solution - the Butter Boy. You put a stick of butter in the container, and it glides right onto your hot corn. Kids of all ages will love this gadget. It is an easy way to butter your entire ear of corn, and not leave the corn standing in a pool of butter. Plus, you can use less butter and not waste it. When you are finished, put the whole thing in the refrigerator. No muss, no fuss. Priced under $10.
You take the cake, or in this case cupcake!
Posted by etipton – May 9, 2007 10:09 AM
The humble cupcake, is there anything better for end of the year parties, cookouts and all the summer fun? Cupcakes are perfect because they are easy and do not take a lot of icing skill. They look great, are just enough portion and taste amazing. The humble cupcake has recently become trendy. You can find images of cupcakes on tote bags, t-shirts, jewelry and purses. New York has tons of bakeries specializing in cupcakes. They even have special versions for special occasions and weddings.
The hard part of serving cupcakes is transporting them. Jennifer Gunn decided there had to be a better way, and designed the Cupcake Courier. It has stacking trays to hold 36 cupcakes. Take the trays out, and you can carry a cake or pie. Priced under $40.
There are a lot of neat accessories for cupcakes. For example:
Talk Derby To Me.
Posted by etipton – May 1, 2007 8:37 AM
This Saturday is the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It is the time to shine for hats, spectator pumps, seersucker suits, mint juleps and all the other fine things the South has to offer. This year the Queen of England will be honoring the Derby with her royal presence.
I enjoy the Derby and the festivities around it as much as the next person. The race last seconds, but it is an all day affair. Arthur Court has an interesting collection of horse items for your party. I usually love Arthur Court. When I got married I registered for and received almost everything they made from the bunny collection. Is it just me, or does the horse collection not have the same je ne sais quoi as the bunny collection? The horse collection does, however, offer the perfect tray for your Derby Day food. Arthur Court pieces starting at $12.50.
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- Souper dinners.
- Why didn't I think of that?
- Bathtub Gin.
- Energy bills.
- Easter Table
- Two for the price of one.
- Bar None.
- Bless their heart.
- A different kind of high chair.
- Times Square
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