Fun Company Picnics

Last week, my family attended a client appreciation party at the Dulles Golf Center and Sports Park.  As we walked through the park and eventually, played a round of mini-golf, I kept thinking about the summer employee parties I coordinated when I worked for Network Solutions (and subsequently, VeriSign).  We hosted a few fun picnics at Dulles Golf Center, as well as pool parties at SplashDown WaterPark, relay races and carnivals at JRs Festival Lakes and even, a summer fiesta at Nisson Pavilion for the Santana concert.  The challenge was always finding the right venue ... and the right entertainment, both of which had to compliment the growing company, its culture and our employees' needs. 

If you're planning your company's picnic this summer, you're probably faced with the same challenges.  Here are a few of my favorite entertainment options that have universal appeal:

Scavenger Hunts

Worried about the heat and or rain?  Host a museum hunt!

Giant Board Games

Think larger-than-life Checkers, Connect Four and Twister!

Culinary Competitions

Who can build the best burger?!

Arctic Challenge

Chill out with land ski races and more!

Need an adrenaline rush?

Consider a regatta (sailing), rock climbing, zipline course or trapeze school!  The website for the Trapeze School in Washington DC says "Forget Fear.  Worry about the Addiction".  Love that!

Is this information helpful?  Do you have additional entertainment options to share?  Let's talk about it! Please leave me a comment.

5 Drink Cover Ideas for Outdoor Summer Entertaining

Mojito on a hot summer afternoon?  Yes, please!  Frozen daiquiri by the pool?  Absolutely!  Bug in my Vodka-Lemonade?  No, thank you!

As much as I love summer cocktail parties, I can't stand bugs, especially pesky gnats swarming around my drink.  How can we keep them out?  A drink cover!  Check out these 5 clever ideas ...

Baking cups ... this is genius!

A square napkin embellished with beads or tassels ... looks sophisticated!

Fabric atop a mason jar ... it's like Family Reunion chic!

 
One of my favorites ... easy-to-make, with so many color options!

And the original drink cover ... tapas! 

I like this option for corporate or networking events.  It not only looks great but the concept helps guests juggle glasses and plates when seating is limited.

Do you have a favorite drink cover idea?  Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Photo credits: Martha Stewart (1&2), Sweets Indeed via Celebrations at Home, Paper Source and SIP@Riverside.

S'Mores: Yumminess Beyond the Campfire

Love s'mores?  Me, too!  It's a fun summer treat to roast marshmallows and make gooey s'mores.  In fact, my Girl Scout Daisy troop is hosting a family cook-out tomorrow night to introduce the girls to camping.  I'm positive that roasting s'mores will be the highlight of the evening!

But s'mores are not just for the campfire; they are suitable for many occasions - from casual birthday, housewarming and retirement parties to corporate retreats and formal weddings!  It's all in the presentation.

CLEVER DISPLAYS

Photo credits: Style Me Pretty, MyJeanM

MENU OPTIONS

 Photo credits: The Sweetest Occasion, MyBakingAddiction, Betty Crocker

I may have to quit this post; it's making me hungry!  Love the S'mores Mini Cake ... the S'mores Whoopie Pie and S'mores Martini, too!

PARTY FAVORS

 Photo credits: Twig and Thistle, HowSweetEats

 Who knew s'mores were so versatile ... and grown up!  So, for what occasion will you incorporate your love of s'mores?  I'm thinking of a Roast & Toast 50th Birthday or S'more Love Engagement Party.

{in season} Raspberry Beer Cocktail

What happened to spring?!  It's so hot in DC ... we need to stay cool!  While we could dip in the pool or run through the sprinkler, another option is a drink a refreshing beverage.  Perhaps a Raspberry Beer Cocktail! I know some of you are thinking that I'm crazy, that I only drink chilled white wine but it's so good ... and pretty poolside!

Ingredients

3/4 cup frozen raspberries*

3 1/2 (12-oz.) bottles beer, chilled

1 (12-oz.) container frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed

1/2 cup vodka

Garnish: lemon and lime slices

Preparation

Stir together first 4 ingredients. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

*Fresh raspberries may be substituted.

 

What is your favorite summer cocktail? Please leave me a comment to let me know!

 

Photo credit: Southern Living

{event showcase} Office Space Graduation Party

How do you celebrate a techie's transistion from college to career?  With an Office Space Graduation Party!

If you are unfamiliar with Office Space, it's a comedy movie about the miserable life of a computer programmer. Most people remember that Jennifer Aniston is in it. Anyway ... the Graduate received his degree in Electrical Engineering and was about to embark on his professional career so I designed the party, on my clients' behalf, to poke a little fun at his next endeavor!

Here are the highlights:

The graduate and his parents

Tie Tshirt in the background

Did you get the memo?!

Office Desk bar ...

...made complete with a Paper Jam,

Red Swingline stapler,

and [Chotchies] flair!

As well as a water cooler,

custom water bottle wraps,

 

and custom cocktail napkins!

Food included chips and guacamole (sans strychnine)

mouth-watering smoked ribs, pulled chicken sandwiches and so much more!  The BBQ aroma was fantastic!

 

To entertain guests, there were executive office toys ... decision dartboard, zen garden and

an affirmation ball!  You're Good Enough!

Music played from my client's iPod.  I suggested inserting a snippet of When a Man Loves a Woman every few songs.

The Ratio of People to Cake is Too Big.  A quote straight from the movie! Cake provided by my client.

Thank you for reviewing my posh party!  Please let me know if I've inspired your celebrations.

Crepe Paper Table Runner

Hooray! Two more days until our long holiday weekend begins! 

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer and outdoor parties!  If you are hosting a BBQ or picnic this weekend, I have a clever decoration idea ... and chances are pretty good that you have the materials stored in a bottom kitchen drawer (just waiting for this moment!).

It's a crepe paper table runner!

Different theme or occasion? Just change the colors! Love that!

Do you know other crepe paper decoration ideas?  If so, please leave me a comment and let me know! 

Stars and Stripes Decor

Memorial Day is quickly approaching; are you ready?  If not, I've got a simple yet eyecatching patriotic decoration that you can make moments before guests arrive for your BBQ or pool party! 

It's a hanging floral decoration (photo above) and in the words of my 4 year old daughter, "it's easy peasy" to make!  The instructions, as well as more project ideas, are outlined in this Good Housekeeping article but in a nutshell, its a dish towel folded in half and stapled around a gallon-size Ziploc bag.  Is that genius or what?!  I can't wait for my hydrangeas to bloom!

For more Memorial Day inspiration, please read my blog, A Slice of Summer Entertaining, on DC Ladies.  I share three watermelon recipes - a drink, a dessert and a super cool decoration!

So, what are your Memorial Day plans?  Are you beach bound, firing up the grill or tackling a never-ending list of home improvement projects? Can you guess my plans?!

{event showcase} Flutter By Garden Party

Does your family suffer from allergies? Mine, too, but that didn't stop us from celebrating Mother's Day in the garden!

We invited family to "flutter by" ... for dinner in our faux garden!

Our tablescape was inspired by the butterflies and gerbera daisies found at Michaels, as well as the fuchsia, yellow and purple stationary at Paper Source.

For the foundation of my tablescape, I used a light pink satin table linen.

The table runner was created with [existing] faux grass mats and accented with a vase of [existing] gerbera daisies embellished with butterfly wrapping paper, fuchsia ribbon and butterfly ...

a hot pink with yellow polka dots watering can,

... sweet ceramic birds,

... and a bumble bee.

For each place setting, I used my own purple china, flatware and stemware and embellished the white cotton napkin with a strip of wrapping paper.

As well, I tucked gerbera daisy "pens" (gifts to compliment handmade stationary) into bud vases filled with hot pink sand.

The tablescape looked very colorful and inviting without a lot of fuss!

If my garden party inspired you, please leave me a comment and let me know which faux detail you liked best!

Cupcake Cake Pop Mold

My friend, Audrey, gave me a gift last weekend ... a cupcake cake pop mold from My Little Cupcake!  It's so cute ... as well as practical and really easy to use!  As a matter of fact, here's my true story.

Last night, I realized that my daughter needed a treat to give her teacher this morning (it's Teacher Appreciation Week).  So I made cupcake cake pops at 10:00 pm.  How?  I used a no-bake "cake" recipe of Oreos and cream cheese (yum!) and rolled the mixture into 1" balls.  I chilled the balls overnight and made cupcake molds this morning. 

To decorate, I dipped the cupcakes in frosting, embellished with sprinkles and popped the cupcake on a lollipop stick.  Voila!  I made about 24 cupcake cake pops in less than 1 hour.  Clean up probably took longer ... =)

Here are the cupcake cake pops for Ms. Toth ... and extras for other teachers and of course, afternoon snack for my girls!

No-Bake Oreo Recipe

1 package of Oreo sandwich cookies (any flavor)

8 oz container of cream cheese

Grind cookies in food processor.  Add cream cheese and mix by hand.

Other time-saving Cake Pop ideas include:

• Use canned frosting in lieu of candy melts to decorate; microwave at 50% for a few seconds.
• Use styrofoam sheet to stand cake pops

Cake pops are so popular, even Starbucks has joined the craze!  Do you make cake pops?  If so, what are your secrets for cake pop success?

{event showcase} 2011 ISES DC Capital Awards Ceremony

Hello!  I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Easter, Passover and/or Spring Celebration last week!  My family certainly did, we even took a short vacation at the Tides Inn on the Chesapeake Bay. We had a blast ... but I'll share more in another post!

I have a great event to share with you today!  It's the Awards Ceremony that I produced in conjunction with the Capital Awards Gala hosted by the DC Chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES DC) on Sunday, April 13.  Below are the highlights, in the event that you are tasked with coordinating your own awards ceremony for your employer, chamber of commerce, not-for-profit or professional organization.

The Awards Ceremony was hosted at the AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center in Silver Spring.  The Theatre uses state-of-the-art technology; the decor is reminiscent of Old Hollywood; and the staff are outstanding.  Contact Tiffany Golden-Graham to inquire about facility rentals.

Guests arrived to a lobby complete with a custom carpet provided by American Turf & Carpet ...

... non-alcohol fruity sparkling wine provided by Kristian Regale (graciously set up by my friend, Dave Markowitz of Professional Bartenders and Servers); and Karla Chisholm, a jazz singer provided by Entertainment Exchange (not shown).

Inside the theatre, guests nibbled on the gourmet snack bar provided by Windows Catering.  The Cheesecake Lollipops are my personal favorite!

Friends having fun before the awards - June and her husband, Dan, Kelley (award nominee), my husband, Scott and Renee!

I love live music, especially at award shows - and Olivera Quartet did not disappoint!  They warmed the room with their uptempo jazz music before and during the show.

Event preparation?!  Lance Ortego, my Voice of God provided by Washington Talent, Photo and Video, and Jeff Monner, my Show Manager from TalkingTree Creative, shared a little tequila before the show ... but they did an amazing job during the performance!  Jeff, also, helped me with the PowerPoint Presentation.

The theatre

Denise Thorne of Instyle Caterers and ISES DC President announces the Chapter Awards from the lucite podium provided by Presentation Media. 

Winners received their award from "Ava Gardner", a character performer provided by Cast of Thousands.  You may remember "Ava" as Princess Leia from my Star Wars Glam party last month!

The coveted Capital Award!  I want one of these ...

Congratulations to my friend, Ray Bialek of Bialek's Music, who received the ISES DC Lifetime Achievement Award!  After 20 years of ISES membership, he claims he is the only CSAP in the crowd - Can't Stop Attending Parties ... can't compete with that!

My husband and I having fun at the After Party! Ok, he had a little bit of fun ... =)

Though I missed seeing the Red Carpet Lady, we did see this neat video advertising/entertainment (photo above) and received a cool photo flip card from Get Flipped! Washington, DC.

Unfortunately, I don't have photos to showcase all of the Award Ceremony sponsor.  Sponsors not shown include Dave Ricklin, our Master of Ceremonies from The Original Game Show LIVE!; gorgeous contemporary floral arrangements from Tierra Floral Design; lighting from Da Vinci's Floral & Lighting and video from Suburban Video.

Suffice it to say, the 2011 Capital Awards Gala was awesome!  In fact, it's a tough act to follow for this 2012 ISES Capital Awards Gala Chair!!!

Photos were kindly shared by my friend, David Madison of David Madison Photography, as well as a few images from Sweet Dreams Studio and A Beautiful Memory Wedding/Event Photography.  More Gala photos may be found on the ISES DC web site.