I heart these napkins but they make me angry

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*I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and if you can get through the snotty tone of my post, I really do LOVE this product.

I was perusing the Daily Candy Christmas page, 30 gifts under $30, and I saw these My Drap napkins. I first saw these napkins years ago in one of the cooking magazines. These napkins come on a roll, are made with cotton, and are perfect for when you don't want to use paper napkins, but don't want to rent linen ones either. The great price means you can throw them out after one use but I'm pretty sure you could wash them and use them again (not like, forever, but once or twice more). But here is my problem. For a long time, the website said they were available at Bloomingdale's Home Store but they couldn't be bought online. Other then that there was a store in the UK selling them but I'm pretty sure it said they wouldn't ship to the US. So that left an online store in Spain (where they are made) to buy from and worry about international shipping rates.
So here is this great product that I can't easily get. Look at all the amazing colors they come in! Ideal for kids party, sophisticated adult shindigs and holiday dinners. And then it happened. I got an email from a PR company about this product. It looked like it was finally happening. I might be able to buy them easily after all. They offered more info and a sample. So I emailed back, excited to finally try them out. And then I got no response. What the...
I mean, look at these napkins. They are simply perfect. They come in a cocktail and dinner napkin size as well as placemat size. Fast forward another month. I got another email in my inbox from the same PR company announcing these napkins. Um, hullo! I fired off another quick email. Guess what. No response.
All I want is for these napkins to be available to the masses stateside. So I was over the moon when I spotted a gorgeous picture of them on Daily Candy. I clicked right over to the site and...utter disappointment. Sure I may be able to buy them in the US ($10 shipping seems ridiculously steep for a roll of 12 napkins. The dinner napkins are priced at $35 which I think is more then they used to sell them for at Bloomingdale's. While they have some pretty pictures of the napkins, the look of the rest of the site really does them a disservice. I really really really want this product to do well but I feel like the company is working against itself.

In my heart, I know these napkins could be a huge hit in the party world. But they make me angry.

If anyone has actually seen these or touched them, please let me know. I just know they must be glorious once you get past the website ugliness.

(I am sorry to be so sour. And I, too, find it odd that I can be so worked up over napkins... I think after coveting these napkins for so long I really wanted the website to sing to me.)

Sharon

-All photos via MyDrap

I promise to be back to my old self tomorrow.

Coffee and Donuts anyone?

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I started drinking coffee right after I graduated from college. I was starting an internship and commuting from OC to LA. I found it next to impossible to keep my eyes open during the two hour commute of stop and go traffic and found that drinking coffee gave me something to focus on so I didn't get lulled to sleep (you know aside from the driving...I mean that was my main focus of course...). It wasn't until many years later that I began to actually take notice of the kind of coffee I was drinking. And during my first pregnancy, I craved coffee and wanted to smell it all the time. Now, I look forward to my morning cup of hot, delicious coffee and enjoy trying new brands and flavors. When Peet's Coffee presented the idea of a coffee tasting I was on board right away. They sent over three flavors of coffee and these really cool french press to-go mugs to brew it in. I know my brother-in-law, Rick is interested in coffee, too, so I decided we could do it as a little birthday get together for him since we had let his birthday go by with out much fanfare. I put together some basic decorations and a "cake" of donuts and the party was ready.

Peet's sent 3 espresso cups for the tasting and I enhanced Rick's with a very many garland (it matched one I hung on our wall in the dining room). And have you seen Padibbles napkins yet? When I saw these 'Edgy Etiquette' napkins I knew they would be perfect for this. It is not often you find a fun, humorous napkin that would fit right in for an adult male party. I am so grateful that Padibbles sent some over for me to use. (PS check out their full line of napkins - they are so fun!)

We sang Happy Birthday and my niece and nephew helped their dad blow out the candle.

I picked up the donuts from the local donut shop and then just stacked them up on my favorite cake plate. No plates or silverware were required making this a very easy birthday celebration.

Earlier in the day I made a vegan version of a donut for my food allergic son. Although he wanted his to be set up like a cake too, he settled for extra icing. Here is the recipe in case you are interested.
Peet's sent over three kinds of coffee to taste and compare to each other Peet's Columbia, Uzuri African Blend and Peet's Sumatra. They sent a helpful info sheet that detailed how to set up the tasting (which is apparently very similar to the ones they train new employees with), as well as tasting notes. It was really interesting. The ones that we thought we would like best, we ended up liking the least. And at first what would taste bitter, would end up becoming very smooth and delicious. It was important to not make a snap judgement but give each time and get to know it. Yeah, I just said you should get to know your coffee...Our two favorites were the Colombia and the Sumatra. As with everything I do, I tried to determine which would be the best to serve at a party. Hands down the brew that we felt would appeal to the widest audience was the Sumatra. We were a tad startled by that revelation since upon first pouring it, we thought it smelled like "wet dirt" (said by my sis-in-law which totally fell in line with the tasting notes 'earthy and rustic.') But as it cooled for a minute and we started sipping, it was the mildest and most smooth and should prove to be a great coffee to have at a gathering. The Colombia was a bit bolder but did have a neat sweet element to it. And by no means was the African Blend bad. In fact, I drank a cup of it this morning and it proved to be delightful. I'm guessing since that was the first coffee we tasted we may not have given it the attention it deserved.

How great are these mugs!!!! I'm dying over the colors and the cool handle is a totally unique feature. These are the New Wave Farida by Villeroy & Boch and these are now my couture mugs. These just seem like high fashion to me and I want to use them every day. You will for sure see these again. I've got some fun hot drink recipes coming up for the holidays.

Peet's Coffee is sold in grocery stores nation wide or online and you should totally consider it for your next party. Not only will you look like you are very refined and know about the subtleties of coffee beans, but you'll have found your new favorite coffee and want to drink it all the time. And why not host a coffee tasting of your own. It was really fun and inexpensive and perfect for fall.

Thank you to Peet's Coffee for sending me the coffee and accessories, Villeroy & Boch for the coffee mugs and Padibbles for the napkins. And Happy Birthday Rick!

Sharon

All photos are mine.

Whole Foods Huntington Beach - Local Flavor and Entertaining Options for all

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I got a really cool opportunity on Monday to tour the brand new Whole Foods store opening in Huntington Beach, CA before it opens to the public on October 13. The store is located at 7881 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (Bella Terra Shopping Center). The store is gorgeous with lots of effort to capture the spirit of the area (note the Vans and skateboard on the huge wall sign above!) I toured with Krisitn, Megan and Jill and we got to meet with local vendors and ask all kinds of questions about anything and everything. It was amazing to get to hear about all the steps Whole Food and their vendors are taking to ensure that the food we eat is the best quality and that the animals are treated as humanely as possible. (Um, one fun fact that I learned was that they are trying to enhance the lives of the animals by giving them activities to do, for instance, they give hay bales to chickens to peck at and bowling balls to pigs because they like to nudge with their noses!!!!!!!). Find out more about their new meat Animal Welfare Rating system here. Similar programs are already in place for their seafood.
We met Mary of Mary's Turkeys (and chicken) and learned about what sets her products apart from rest which is why she is a preferred vendor for Whole Foods. What really stuck out to me is how much effort Whole Foods puts in to keeping the food local to the stores. From the fruits and veggies (Stehly Organic Farms), to the shellfish (Carlsbad Aquafarms), to some of the honey (Honey Pacifica) and hot sauces (Gringo Bandito) we can all feel really comfortable about the options Whole Foods offers. Now let's discuss the stuff that you, my loyal readers, really enjoy. The party stuff!

Each Whole Foods offers tons of products to help create memorable occasions for your guests. While some of these items are only available in the Southern California, others can be found throughout the entire chain.
These lovelies above are from The Jewel collection by Xan Confections. They are based in Irvine (holla!) and although I have heard a lot about them, I hadn't had the opportunity to try them until this tour. DELISH! I love me some spicy chocolate so I tried her Ancho Chile Chocolate. YUM! All the other flavors were amazing as well and they offer several different collections, including some holiday themed. Check them out!

There were a ton (I mean, I didn't actually count but I estimate a ton) of wrapped chocolates to choose from and also quite a few bulk candy items that would be great for a sweets table. Whole Foods offers several eco-friendly disposable tableware options. Allergy friendly baking mixes are easy to find right in the baking aisle. A great floral department should be able to take care of all of your fresh flower needs. A fresh sushi bar can provide appetizers for your next get together and there is a fresh gelato counter with the most delicious Dulce de Leche flavor and the creamiest tasting sorbet you will find! Need a specific kind of chocolate for baking or candy making? They've got it. Being that this is the "surf city" store, there are tons of local products with surf themed packaging. I know I am coming here to plan my next luau.

And the beer and wine selection! They will carry about 800 different wines (approx. 100 of which are organic) from all over the world. Again, they will emphasis the "local" of course looking to Napa, etc. but focusing even more closely on wines from in and around Santa Barbara County. They will carry about 600 different types of beers from Pabst Blue Ribbon to local artisan brews. There will be signage available to help with food pairings but don't ever hesitate to ask the department team members. They know their stuff.
Cheese. Yeah. There are about 500 kinds available in the store. There is something for everyone. Don't be intimidated. The staff is there to help.
This particular Whole Foods will have a Pizza and Beer bar. In an effort to make the store more of a community hang out they have various areas available for sitting. The bar area will also feature a live surf report. Due to the large local Vietnamese population there are a lot of ethnic items in the store from produce and sauces to prepared Phos and other dishes. There is a coffee, tea and juice bar at the front of the store with all kinds of healthy and delicious options. And gosh, how did I not even talk about the bakery yet?! Their bakery will have a fresh dessert display case of whole cakes as well as individual desserts including vegan and gluten free options. They employ 13 cake decorators for custom needs and also have prepackaged items ready to go.

You can see a photo of me in the top right corner with Pat Cox, Store Team Leader. And bottom left corner is Kristin demonstrating their amazing refrigerated cases. I liked Whole Foods before this but after the tour I really believe they are the real deal. They seem to truly be a business dedicated to bringing the best options to the consumer, encouraging vendors and producers to change their practices for the better and making sure we treat our planet as well as possible.

The Huntington Beach store opens at 9:00 am on October 13 with lots of activities and giveaways. Check it out!

A huge thank you to Whole Foods for having us!

*I did receive a goodie bag with a few samples for taking this tour.

Sharon

All photos are mine.

A smorgasbord of Scandinavian paper napkins

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There is just something about the colors and whimsical details of Scandinavian design that I just adore. Another thing I adore is paper napkins. And when you combine the two...well, it's almost too much for me to handle. How utterly adorable are the sweet napkins above? One of the things I love most about these napkins is that even if you kept all the other details of your party/dinner to a minimum it still looks put together and designed.
Are you dying? They are so great! I love that they would work equally as well at an adult party as a child's party and the color combos are not what you see everywhere.
Who doesn't love a well done stripe?

And check out their Christmas options! I'm in love with the gingerbread man riding the pig.

All of these paper napkins can be purchased from Fjorn. Prices vary widely. Some are a pack of 20 for $8.00 and others are 3 packs of 20 for $12. Regardless, I'm in love.

Sharon

All images via Fjorn

Via By the Bolt

The easiest halloween party ever

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Just came across these things called Plings. Billed as clings for dinner plates, etc. I have to think these could be used for so much more. I am not a fan of their fall or Christmas graphics but these Halloween ones are pretty cute. If I was still working in an office building I totally would stick these on every one's coffee cup Halloween morning (except this year it's on a Sunday...). $8.95 for at least 24 clings.

Sharon

Photos via plings.com

De-Lux Plastic Designer Cutlery

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Why did I not know that Philippe Starck had a line of divine plastic party ware? I mean, it's gorgeous! When I did a little research, I found out that it is pretty much only available through Unica Home. Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Ok, good news is it is all 50% off. Bad news, they don't have the whole collection (many colors and several products and combos) and have only limited amounts of what is left available. And I didn't want to have to tell you this but I did buy some for myself before I blogged about it. Yeah, that's how I roll. Some may call it selfish but I call it ready for a lux picnic. I can't wait to use it! Those little espresso/coffee cups and saucers are so sleek and cool. It is doubtful that I will serve straight coffee in them, but I have been dying to try an affogato. This could be my perfect opportunity. But if you happen to be one of my lucky guests who gets to enjoy the use of this set be sure not to go at it heavy handed. I will stab you with a perfectly designed plastic fork. I wonder if the hospital has designer stitches...

Sharon

Photos via Unica Home

Is that a polo on my animal crackers?!?

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From the outside, I may not look preppy. But I am totally preppy at heart. While I haven't donned a polo shirt since forced to for a family Christmas card in 2006, my heart races a little when I pass the tiny Ralph Lauren's at Macy's. So color me surprised when whilst luxuriating in Target (is that weird? Target comforts me. Hullo, how genius is Starbucks, underwear and gardening supplies all in one place?) and I happened upon boxes of Nabisco Animal Crackers designed by Lilly Pulitzer!!!! To horrified stares, I began piling the cookie boxes in to my cart. Who knows how long they will be around! My husband was not pleased that I seemed to be feeding my two sons "girly" cookies but the kids certainly don't seem to mind. And quite frankly I think they classed us up a bit. And as any good party enthralled woman would do, I immediately planned a party in my head around the cookies. It really isn't that inspired since I went straight to the Lilly Pulitzer party supplies. But since I haven't gotten a chance to do a girly party in some time, I felt a full on pink and green assault exploding out of me.
Could these Lilly Pulitzer Animal Crackers invites from FineStationery.com match any better? Seriously.

And although it looks like she doesn't have all her party goods available in the same Animal Crackers pattern as the invite, these in the Taboo collection are pretty darn perfect (also available from FineStationery.com). Add in the specialty boxes of Animal Crackers as place cards and favor. Boom. Party planning done. I should also mention that the boxes were done as a way to raise money and awareness for the World Wildlife Fund. Yes, um, very important stuff. But aren't they adorable!! And now if you'll excuse me, there is a box of animal crackers begging me to eat them. I don't want to disappoint.

S-

First photo is mine, all mine. All other photos via FineStationery.com.

My cupcake dreams have been answered

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I came across this blog called The Cupcake Activist recently. This is a girl after my own heart. To say she enjoys cupcakes would probably be an understatement. If you look at her blog, you will see that she has visited a ton of shops and taken the time to review a bunch of them for you. I have not gotten through all her reviews as of yet, but it will certainly help me map out a birthday cupcake crawl (similar to a bar crawl but we'll still be able to drive).

She is holding a giveaway for The Cupcake Tower, of which I had never seen before. It is awesome. I am in love with it and want one. I'm not going to lie, I get more points in the giveaway if I blog about it. But I also wanted to make sure that all of you knew about this stand. There are four sizes to choose from and different ribbon kits to finish off the stand. Prices range from $34 to $160 and these stands will last for years to come. My dad created the cupcake stand for my wedding in 2003 and we had little to go from at the time. If only I had had the foresight to utilitze his amazing woodworking skills we would have been left with an heirloom instead of the styrophoam monster that was finally laid to rest after it's 4th move with us. Check out their gallery to see all kinds of inspiring ideas. And be sure to read The Cupcake Activist, not only for the giveaways and reviews, but for the yummy recipes she posts as well!!!!!

S-

Photos via The Cupcake Tower

Spoon me

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Some of you have seen Eat Drink Chic. It is my new favorite. I think Australians are so super cool and have a ton of amazing products that seem to be really hard to find here. The ice cream parlour feature on Eat Drink Chic has been all over the blogs and again, they feature some amazing party products. So inspired by the sweet party, I set out to find the perfect ice cream spoons for my next ice cream social (I don't have one planned, but these spoons won't take up much room to store and will make a big impact on the party guests). I came across what I think is a great deal. 100 multi-colored gelato spoons for $4.99. Word. In the past it seems like I could only find great spoons available wholesale or in massive amounts. So this was a pleasant surprise. I really think the cuteness of the spoon will make the ice cream taste even better. :) And they also have something called a party pack that includes 15 spoons and 15 (5 each of three different sizes) square gelato cups for $5.99. Now, what excuse can I find to host an ice cream party...

S-

A little bit of a lot

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I don't even know where to start. My mother in law got a Kitchen Krafts catalog in the mail recently and told me that I HAD to see it. And she was right. The design of the catalog is a bit hokey, but if you really take a look through their items (and there are a lot of items) you can find a ton of gems. My favorite is the Square Cupcake Pan. You may know I am a fan of the cupcake (perfect ratio of cake to frosting) but who knew there was a way to make them different and cooler. I love square cakes and the idea of a square cupcake is so fun to me. What a dork, I know. Another cool product is the Multi Tier Cake Pan. When my sister was getting married, I tried to make mini tiered cakes for her shower. Turns out I am exactly as baking and mathematically challenged as I always thought I was. But with this pan, all you have to do is pour. It's perfect. Just imagine each guest having their own mini tiered cake for dessert. Who doesn't like a mini cake? And have you ever seen these Cupcake Stackers before? They won't work for everyone, but I see sooo many uses for these in a party set up. When planning out the food and favors for a party, sometimes you have to repackage things to make them perfect. This catalog has Waxed Twist Papers (you know, like the kinds you put taffy in). Again, so many uses for this!!! Check out the Gourmet Glass Jars. On a buffet, for decor, for drinks, what can't you do with these glasses. And the price is totally reasonable. I couldn't possibly touch on all the other items they sell. They have a ton of products for canning, dehydrating (a favorite product is a book called "Food Drying with Attitude") so browse around when you have a chance. And since I am currently (and constantly) making baby food for my son, a Soft Skin Fruit Peeler is something that I will be purchasing as soon as this post is finished. Have you ever tried to peel a boiled peach? I don't recommend it.

S-

(all photos from the Kitchen Krafts website)

Delicious Vinyl

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I love things that are reusable. But sometimes things get damaged. Whether your party gets a bit raucous or just moving them from party to party, you inevitably lose great party decor. What I love about theses placemats is that they are reusable but also inexpensive enough ($1.95 each!) that if one does get damaged, you could totally replace it without feeling like you can't go on that family vacation you have been dreaming of. While these placemats are sweetly doily-like, the fun colors (blue, black and pink) and the textured vinyl makes them so much cooler. I love that you could work these in to any kind of theme party and really make the decor stand out. But at the same time, blend in...Does that only make sense in my head? I picture a hot pink tablecloth with several of the black placemats lined up end to end to create a runner down the center of the table. Totally dramatic. Or use the pink mats on pink tablecloth to create interest but not draw attention away from something like a centerpiece. I'm also picturing these strung together sort of like an over sized Mexican prayer flag. I really need to put these on my Christmas list. What do you think, 10 of each color? Available through Patinashops.com.

S-

(images via Patinashops.com)

Bachelorette Party that isn't Gross

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A while back I mentioned that I had to throw a bachelorette party for a friend of mine, Lisa. You may remember that I also helped with the shower (along with the bride's fabulous sister, Kelly - who pleasantly surprised me with her party planning skills!!). After using Paper and Cake for the shower (see shower post here, I haven't gotten around to posting it on here yet...) I knew that I wanted to use them again. Their bachelorette party downloadable tablescape was perfect for the upcoming event. Classy, yet fun and classic, but modern at the same time, just like the bride-to-be. So I ordered it and couldn't wait to put the party together. And then, I realized that I couldn't attend the party!!!! So sad! So I passed along the tablescape to Kelly and she put the entire party together herself. It turned out great! First the girls started off at the spa for a day of relaxation and sunning (complete with private cabana - not too shabby). Then they dressed up (as requested by the bride) and had a nice dinner at a local restaurant. From the photos you can see the great designs created by Paper and Cake. Kelly embellished the tiara with feathers and rhinestones and used it to decorate the cabana as well as their dinner table. If you haven't used the Paper and Cake downloads, what are you waiting for? They are super easy to use and look amazing!!!! Lisa is getting married this Friday and I can't wait. I have known Lisa since she was born and I am super excited to share her special day with her!!!! Kelly did an amazing job hosting her sister's shower and bachelorette party and know she will make the most amazing matron of honor ever!!!! Now, what should we use to decorate the wedding car...:)

S-