The Cheap Diva

Picnic Perfect Pics

For me the only thing more exciting that finding stylish stuff is finding stylish stuff that works in real life.   Take this Picnic Living Leesport 2 in 1 Insulated Cooler Tote for $19.98 for example.  If the pretty colors aren't enough to give you a sunny disposition, the practical design is divided it into two sections, an insulated section for food and a water resistant section for wet bathing suits, towels or anything else you want to throw in there and they threw in the dishes you see here at no extra cost.

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The perfect traveling companion for outdoor picnics, concerts or the beach is this Picnic Cushion and Blanket Set for $20.28.  The polyester fabric covering the four cushions is mildew and water repellant.  The blanket has straps sewn into it so it can be folded into a sort of tote for carrying the cusions.

Unless you are Martha Stewart, outdoor gatherings are not an excuse to break out the fine china.  This Cynthia Rowley Salad Set with Cutleries for $4.99 (available at Target stores, not online) keeps things fun and practical with bright colored utensils that fit into the lid of the container.  It's the perfect container any kind of salad.

Is Your Ipod Ready for Summer?

  For a stylish alternative to those plastic ear phones that are often paired with Ipods, try the Palmetto Speaker Neck Pillow for $39.00 from Pottery Barn.  This neck pillow has hidden speakers that can be plugged into an Ipod.  Perfect for those lazy days of summer when you want to tune into your music while tuning out the rest of the world.

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For anyone who would rather spend $34.99 than spend their time trying to salvage a water logged iPod,  there is the Drypod Waterproof iPod Case.  This handy little case is perfect for the beach or the pool.  Water proof ear phones are sold separately.

Looking for a few summer tunes to add to your play list?  Check out Vacation by the Go Go's,  Holiday by Madonna and Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield for a little mental vacation.

Will Work for Food Party

Sometimes it seems like a to do list is nothing more than an endless stream of thankless tasks that just get replaced by more thankless tasks when one task is accomplished.  Instead of whining your way through a time consuming task, why not turn that task into a social occassion?  Pick a task, like organizing the basement , planting flowers or painting a room, that can be done with simple instructions and without a lot of heavy labor.  Get organized, plan an easy to fix meal and invite a small group of friends over for a "Will work for food party".  Explain what the purpose of the party is and how much time will be spent on the task on the invitation.  For example,  you can say on the invitation that organizing of your closets will be from 10:00-12:00 followed by a lunch of salads and sandwiches.  Pick a task that can be completed within a few hours or get as much done within a set time period and finish up later after the party is over.    Thank everyone for their time and efforts, and if you want to be a truly gracious host volunteer your time when one of your guests decides to have their own "Will work for food" party.    

Join the Club!

Over the years I have joined a variety of clubs in a never ending effort to acquire something resembling a social life.  I keep joining clubs for several reasons.  While one on one friendships require two people to coordinated their schedule on a fairly regular basis to get together,  which is near impossible for many over committed women, clubs only require a certain amount of people who joined the club be present at any given gathering.  In other words, going out and having fun is not dependent on one other person being available.

Joining a club often means not having to nod politely when someone is talking about things of no interest to you while secretly plotting your escape from the conversation.  Clubs are usually based on some sort of common interest so you get to focus on and talk about something that is of interest to you.

I get to meet new people and learn new things.  Not only do I learn about whatever the club is focused on, I also find out where to eat, shop and find a decent mechanic from people who will give me an honest opinion.

One of the best places to find a club to join is meetup.com.  They list clubs of every type for countries around the world.  If you don't find a club that interests you, you can promote your own club on meetup.com for a small monthly fee.  Another place to find local clubs is local publications, library bulletin boards, and retail stores. If you are interested in knitting for example,  ask the cashiers at the local yarn store if they are aware of any clubs in your area.  There are plenty of clubs out there, so keep looking until you find one that you enjoy being a part of.

Where to Go When You Want to Get Out of the House

It's April and there are rumors that there might be snow in the weekend forecast where I live!  I have avoided going completely stir crazy while waiting for better weather by plotting things to do to get out and have some fun.

One of the best places to find out what is going on locally is the library.  They often have local free publications that spotlight local attractions and events.  A local newspaper usually has some sort of entertainment feature covering everything from restaurants to theater to craft shows.  Read the online version of the newspaper if you want to save a few cents.

Community centers feature classes of all kinds at bargain prices.  Also check out the local community college for fun classes, student art shows, student fashion shows and theatrical productions.

To find out if anything related to your particular interest is going on just Google it.  Inside the Google search box type in "garden tours" and the name of the state you live in for example.  Another phrase to type in would be "visitor" followed by the name of your state.  This should bring up links to the official tourist page for your state that lists local attractions.  Type in "parks and recreation" again followed by your state name for even more resources.

I have never found one web site or publication that lists everything I would consider an entertaining diversion.   Finding things to do requires a certain resourcefulness, but it sure beats being bored.

Hostessing 101

Being a good host can be as simple as putting on a little background music, having some drinks and light refreshments ready and greeting your guests with a warm smile. It’s not hard, yet I have witnessed some truly regrettable examples when it came to hosting. One of the worst examples I remember was a social gathering at a friends house. There was no music playing. I was not offered a beverage until much later that evening. The cookies being served were sitting on a table still in their plastic container from the supermarket. I don’t have any objection to store bought food, but she could have at least taken it out of the plastic grocery sack! The conversation started off with her complaining about how busy she was. All of these elements combined practically screamed “Get out of my house, you are an interruption in my already overscheduled life!”. Here’s a tip for the busy hostess, don’t greet your guests by complaining about how busy you are. Did you specify on the invitation that the social occasion was a pity party? No? Then stop complaining. It makes your guests feel unwanted.

Here are a few more tips to making your guests feel welcome from the beginning. First of all, guests like to be able to find your house. Arriving late because they were unwillingly touring local neighborhoods puts a damper on their mood. Include a map with the invitation or details of obvious points of reference like major intersections, schools etc. House numbers are difficult to find during daylight and almost impossible to discern at night. Have something on or around your home that makes it easy for your guest to identify your house. Christmas lights can set your house apart. Especially if you are hosting a party in June.

Before guests arrive, put on some appropriate background music. Music sets the tone for the party so match the music to the kind of mood you are trying to create.

Either greet guests at the door with a warm smile yourself or have someone else act as greeter. This alleviates concern from guests who visit so rarely they need some reassurance that they have indeed arrived at the right house.

Have a selection of beverages ready and offer guests a beverage shortly after they arrive. Keep the first guest company while waiting for others to arrive. If you are in the middle of last minute preparations when the first guest arrives enlist their help with easy tasks and thank them graciously for their help. The first guest does not want to be abandoned in the living room while you are finishing up in the kitchen. As more guests arrive you can move the party to a seating/conversation area.

Being a good host is simply a matter of thinking ahead to create a welcoming environment.

My Funny Valentine

Movie double feature - My Best Friends Wedding and The Wedding Planner $17.99

Valentines Day might not be the most obvious choice for a theme when it comes to hosting a girl friend get together, but why not host a My Funny Valentine Movie Night for a handful of gal pals who enjoy romantic comedies?  Send each guest a silly Valentine card as an invitation.  Feel free to ask guest to bring some sort of indulgent Valentines Day themed food.  Anything chocolate works, including chocolate dipped strawberries.  For variety, include different types of cut up fruit as a snack option with chocolate fondue available for dipping.  Accompany all those indulgent goodies with champagne and nonalcoholic bubbly drinks like sparkling water.  To make your budget friendly get together even more thrifty, schedule the My Funny Valentine Movie Night the first weekend night after Valentines Day.  You and your guests will be able to buy Valentines candy at deeply discounted prices.    Keep the upbeat mood going after the movie by encouraging guests to talk about their funniest dating disasters or their favorite scenes from romantic movies.

Project Runway Party

Project Runway The Complete Third Season $19.99.

Sure you could sit home alone and watch Project Runway but why endure the suspense of finding out if the designer whose inflated ego outshines their limited skills are going to get an auf wiedersehen from Heidi but why endure the suspense alone when you could be rooting for your favorite designer in the company of other fashion obsessed couch potatoes?  Luckily a Project Runway Party isn't nearly as difficult as say making a dress from houseplants. 

For the invitation make a photo copy yourself in the most outrageous outfit imaginable with a Project Runway related caption.  For example, wrap a towel around your torso for a top, make full skirt out of a tablecloth or bedsheet then safety pin potholders and oven mitts to the skirt and top, wrap plastic garbage sacks around your head with the their pull ties showing, dangle a large slotted spoon from string around your neck like a pendant and make a large cuff bracelet by wrapping an instruction manual around your wrist then strike a pose.  Under a picture of you in your original creation the caption reads "Sadly for Stephanie, her housewares inspired design did not impress the judges at Project Runway.  Please join Stephanie on (date and time) to find out who does impress the judges."

Be sure to start the party at least a hour before the show starts so everyone is fed and seated by showtime.  Make food preparation cheap and easy by just serving desserts and drinks.  Make it clear on the invitation that you are just serving desserts and drinks so guests make it a point to eat ahead of time.  Take inspiration from Heidi's famous motto at the end of the invitation by writing "Please RSVP to let us know if you are in or you are out."

If you enjoy baking, go ahead and combine your love of baking with your love of fashion by decorating sugar cookies in the shape of hats, dresses, purses or shoes to serve guests.  For a low calorie option, suspend gummi bears (I think they are a traditional German candy) in jello.  As another sweet nod to Heidi's heritage serve German chocolate cake.  Check the frozen dessert section of your local grocer for cheesecake labeled New York Style cheesecake.  Offer a variety of toppings, such as jam, caramel, melted chocolate etc. for the cheesecake.

For drinks serve soda, coffee, tea or for the season finale, champagne.  Toss a cube of sugar into a flute of champagne to symbolize the sweetness of victory, add three drops of bitters symbolizing defeat.  Allow the bitters to soak in then top it off with 4 ounces of champagne.  The sugar actually makes the champagne last longer.

If your party is scheduled early enough get guest in the mood for the show by issuing your own project runway style challenge to guests.  Break guests into groups of two or three, give them 30 minutes to create outfit out of cheap reusable materials like old sheets and safety pins, garbage sacks, duct tape or etc. then hold your own Project Runway style fashion show.  Channel Tim Gunn during this 30 minute by uttering phrases such as "Make it work, Designers can I ask you to all gather around?, Carry on, I don't get it".  After the fashion show have guests do a secret vote for the best outfit, not their own, by writing down the winner on a slip of paper and putting it in a hat.

To keep the party going have a Project Runway trivia contest (visit bravotv.com/Project_Runway for ideas). After the show feel free to discuss such topics as do ratings affect who gets kicked off?   In other words do nice guys finish last while the more confrontational designers are voted through to the next round?  Did the person who won deserve to win?  What would you have said to the designers if you were critiquing their work? 

After a night of fashion friendly company, your guest might take their time leaving.  If guests start to outstay their welcome you can always tell them they are "out" and bid then a friendly auf wiedersehen.

 

Holiday Lights Tour

A leisurely drive through neighborhoods or parks featuring holiday lights display can become an easy and casual get together with friends with a little planning. Check local newspapers, tourist website and parks and recreation web sites for locations of holiday lights displays. After choosing a display, invite a handful of people you want to participate in your lights tour. If the number is small enough, around six people, then you might be able to use one minivan for the tour. If the number is larger than six or no one in your party owns a minivan, then take two cars and keep in contact with stragglers via cell phone.

Have guest meet at your home at an appointed time. Don’t serve drinks before the tour. Drinking a lot of liquids before taking a long drive creates a potentially uncomfortable situation for some of the passengers.  Home owners with display lights expect people to admire their handywork from afar, their holiday spirit might not extend to letting a bunch of strangers user their bathroom.  Besides, leaving in the middle of a party to pile into a car for the holiday lights tour disrupts the flow of the party.

Before starting out on your journey you need a detailed map and a copilot in the front passenger seat who can read a map.  As soon as your guests are settled into the vehicle start playing instrumental holiday music softly to set the mood.  Soft instrumental music is more conducive to conversation while subjecting your passengers to an upbeat to the point of annoying songs about Frosty the Snowman will probably receive a rather frosty response.

It helps to have someone acting as a hostess if it’s going to be a long drive. The hostess can quiz passenger on such topics as what are the 12 things listed in the song the 12 days of Christmas or have guests take about their favorite holiday memories. A hostess with an irreverent sense of humor can also act as a tour conductor keeping a running commentary on the displays “and folks if you look to your left you will see the worlds tackiest collection of plastic Santas….”

After the tour is finished, head back to your house for hot drinks like coco and spiced cider and some snacks. Talk about your favorite displays and enjoy a leisurely break from the high pressure holiday season.

Recipe for Success

Small Trifle Glass Dishes set of 8 $39.99.

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While many people were born with a talent for cooking and baking, this Cheap Diva was instead born with a talent for discovering the best restaurants around. Given the fact that many of you probably use the oven for something else besides storing unused pots and pans (yes I actually do this) I decided to create a list of web sites that feature recipes so easy I might even consider trying my hand at cooking up one of their dishes.

Allrecipes.com impressed me by not only having easy recipes that didn’t require a ton of ingredients or a lot of prep time, but they also have a ratings system. Next to some of the recipes it will show how many stars out of five stars and how many people reviewed that recipe. I love the idea that real people who aren’t chefs or bakers by profession rate the recipes. Kraftfoods.com has the kind of easy to make recipes you would expect. It also has a recipe ratings system like allrecipes.com and instructional videos to download. Realsimple.com is a lifestyle magazine that happens to include recipes. The recipes live up to the title of the magazine, being simple enough not to be intimidating, but interesting enough to impress party guests into thinking you are a real whiz in the kitchen. Quickandsimple.com is another lifestyle magazine that features definitely doable recipes that won’t have you stuck in the kitchen forever. Now that you know where to go for quick and easy recipes feel free to start cooking and cancel those dinner reservations.

Holidays are in the Bag

Underneath all the pretty ribbon and gaudy wrapping paper holiday wrap parties are a lot of work disguised as a party. Traditional holiday wrap parties involved guests hauling their gifts to people not invited to the wrap party to the house of a host, wrapping a bunch of gifts and then the guests haul the gifts they wrapped back to the their own home. During one of the busiest times of the year guests should not be forced to haul a bunch of packages back and forth. That’s what the UPS guy is for.

Lighten the load for your guest with a modern twist on the traditional wrap party. Attach a completed invitation to an empty paper gift bag with the caption like “A good time is in the bag” or “You are invited to my holiday bag lady party” and mail it out at least two weeks before the party.  On the invitation explain to the guests that the purpose of the party is to decorate gift bags that the can later use for their holiday gifts. Guest can bring old holiday cards with nothing written on the back side of the picture, glue stick, stamps, paints, wrapping paper remnants too small to wrap anything can be cut into strips and used like ribbon, or other small objects that could be attached to a gift bag.

As the host you will be supplying plain bags and glue sticks if no one else is bringing those items. Bargain bags can be bought in bulk through Orientaltradingcompany.com or your local dollar store. Glossy bags may not absorb decorative paint as well so be sure at least some of the bags don’t have a glossy finish if you are intending to paint.

Now you are ready to party. Set up an area, preferably a large table, with scissors and supplies. One thing you won’t have to worry about as a hostess is finding the perfect party favor.  At this party the guests are actually creating their own party favors. Be sure to have at least three bags of different sizes for each guest. Have a few snacks, both the healthy and indulgent kind, and some hot drinks like cider or cocoa near the party table. Put on some holiday music. Turn listening to instrumental holiday music into a game by having guests name that tune or try to sing as many lyrics as they can remember while they create their one of a kind gift bags.

Creative Ways of Giving Thanks

Cherish Mini Journal $8.00

Before December, when the chaos of Christmas shopping escalates to maximum stress levels, there is that little holiday called Thanksgiving.  It's a time to reflect on all we are grateful for, instead of all the stuff we hope to get.  One popular tradition is to have everyone seated at the Thanksgiving table talk briefly about what they are thankful for.  This attitude of gratitude usually dissipates shortly after the last person finishes talking about what they are grateful for and guests' attention shifts to being grateful that  no one has snarfed down the last of the coveted mashed potatoes.   

For small intimate gatherings where adding a gift for each guest won't break the bank, consider giving gratitude journals as a party favor.  It's one party favor that keeps the spirit of the celebration alive long after Thanksgiving is over.  Encourage guests to write in the journal regulary, especially when they are stressed or bored

Another way to expand on the theme of thanks is to encourage guest to bring a nonperishable food item to the Thanksgiving gathering to be donated to a local food pantry or bring fun treats like cookies to be donated to a local womens' shelter.

For the hostess who looks at preparing an elaborate feast as more manual labor than a labor of love, go with a "Im thankful I'm not doing dishes" Thanksgiving theme.  Gather guests at a nice restaurant and enjoy each others company and a tasty meal that allows everyone to relax knowing that the pile of dirty dishes they are generating will be taken care of by someone else.  After the meal take advantage of all that time saved by not cooking and cleaning by playing games, watching a movie or doing something else fun.

Do it for Less Parties

The book “Do it for Less Parties” by Denise Vivaldo promotes itself as “The how-to cookbook and guide to catering your own party for 12 to 75 guests without breaking the bank.” I was impressed by the way the book not only lives up to the promises on the cover, it’s also packed with the kind of practical advice that is useful long after the party is over. Light on pictures and heavy on the fundamentals of food selection, storage and preparation, this book is more than a glorified recipe book. It is a valuable resource for anyone organizing a party. When I say anyone I speak as someone with no cooking talent whatsoever, as any guest who has ever attempted to choke down my cooking will attest to. Some of the food suggestions, such as buying tart shell and letting guests fill it with various fruits, nutella and nuts, or her fast hors d’oeurves are perfect for us less than perfect cooks. For those of you whose ambition goes as far as creating a whole meal, there are recipes coordinated around specific party themes such as authentic toscana. For convenience, recipes are broken down by ingredients you can buy weeks before or just a day or two before the party.

Vivaldo’s years of experience as a caterer are apparent in the way she lays out sensible strategies for such often overlooked issues as how exactly to lay out a buffet, seating diagrams and guides, hiring wait staff and kitchen help, calculating how much alcohol and food will be needed for different functions and choosing and maintaining good equipment. With few glossy pictures, this is clearly not a coffee table book. No, this book definitely belongs in the kitchens of savvy hostesses everywhere.

Local Attractions Provide Fun for Fall

A chill in the air serves as a reminder that Fall is not far away.  What better time than now to curl up under a cozy blanket with a hot drink and a good book?  Winter, winter when you are snow bound and unwilling to risk frostbite to go anywhere is a much better time to stay home with a good book.

Your local paper or your state tourist websites should provide lots of ideas.  One idea is to grab your friends, family and most important of all, your allergy medication and hit the road!  Hayrides, corn mazes, and pumpkin picking are popular Fall attractions at local farms.    For something a little less lively, graveyard tours with a talking guide are a spooky way to learn the history of the people who reside there.  Historic homes sometimes include a few hauntings with their historic charm.  check into local small towns to see if their are any haunted home tours.  If you visit an attraction you at night it's a good idea to bring a flashlight.  With so much to do there is no need to stay homebound all the time just yet when October offers many opportunities to go out and have fun before snow season starts.   

Book Club Express

No time to read?  Many books, including Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny by Suze Orman are available on CD.

For many busy readers the only thing harder than finding time to attend a book club meeting is finding time to read the assigned book. What started out as a great way for people with a common love of books to socialize can easily turn into a pressure filled ordeal with readers struggling to finish the assigned 400 word literary opus shortly before the meeting. The hostess has the added responsibility of cleaning house and providing refreshments for book club members.

It’s time to put that 10 pound behemoth of a book down and introduce some time saving tactics into your book club. First, get out of the house. Give the hostess a break and meet at coffee houses, tea shops, etc. anywhere that can provide a quiet atmosphere and some light snacks and refreshments. Have the “hostess” email members at least a week in advance with the time and location. Be sure to start the meeting at least an hour and a half before the coffee shop closes. A 7:30 meeting time at a coffee shop that closes at 9:00 guarantees you won’t be cornered by the group chatterbox until the late hours.

Short stories exist in just about every genre of book. Find an anthology, a collection of short stories, in the genre your club enjoys reading and read one short story a month. Members should be able to read the story in one sitting and they will save money by having to buy fewer books since each book contains a collection of stories. Short stories can also be found in magazines and online.

A book club doesn't have to be limited to fiction books. Poetry is perfect for the book club express idea. Members can take turns reading their favorite short poems out loud. The poems can be from their favorite authors or they can read their own poems.  Another option is nonfiction books, such as books on finance, which can broken down by reading a few chapters at a time chapters.  Each book club meeting would then discuss those specific chapters instead of trying to cover the whole book in one meeing.

For the book club members who have a hard time sitting still long enough to read much of anything, books on CD are worth looking into. Members can enjoy hearing dramatic narrative from their favorite books come to life while completing unexciting tasks like housework.  Incorporating time saving tactics into your book club makes it easier for members to keep up and allows them to focus on the pleasures of reading a good book.

Turn Window Shopping into a Girlfriend Get-together

A change of the seasons means fresh ideas for your home and wardrobe are hitting the stores. What better time to get together with your fashionista friends and design divas at an upscale shopping center before lunch for a free lesson in style? As your little gathering of gal pals casually wanders from store to store, take notes on what trends you see for the upcoming season in clothing and home décor noting such things as colors, shapes and materials that seem to be featured prominently. Pay special attention to interesting tabletop and furniture arrangements in home décor merchandise, the creative way clothing and accessories are put together on a mannequin or anything else that could be translated to everyday use. I call this retail to reality. At lunch discuss what the trends are and what you saw on display that could be imitated in your own dress or home décor without spending a lot. Shopping for inspiration is a cheap and easy way to connect with your girlfriends while learning about trends and style in general.

The Figure Friendly Ice Cream Social

Croque Dessert Cup by Bormioli Rocco.

Before everyone and their mother decided they had to diet and sweets were forbidden fruit, so to speak, it was safe to have an ice cream social.  You could buy a giant tub of vanilla ice cream and a variety of toppings, invite people over and be reasonably certain people would actually indulge in the sweet pleasure of eating ice cream on a hot day.  The last ice cream social I attended, only about half of the (female) guests actually ate dessert.  The other half stood around politely declining any offer of ice cream with a fake smile on their face that belied the fact that they desperately wished the diet soda they were sipping tasted a lot more like a fudge sundae.   

Instead of fighting the diet epidemic, why not go with the flow and host a figure friendly ice cream social so no one feels left out of the fun?  Explain on the invitation that this is a figure friendly ice cream social.  For a larger group, things that come in individual servings like Skinny Cow brand ice cream sandwiches or Weight Watchers cups are faster and easier to serve than scooping out individual servings from and ice cream carton.  If it's just not an ice cream social to you without vanilla ice cream and toppings, try Edy's slow churned vanilla ice cream with less fat and calories than other ice creams.  Top ice cream with fresh fruit such as strawberries.  You can also make strawberry sauce by mashing up the berries and adding a dash of sugar for sweetness, or mash up some peach slices, get frozen if thats easier for you, and add a dash of ground ginger for flavor.  It's indugence without regret that allows dieters to enjoy themselves as much as the nondieters.  No more diet soda!       

Hit the Road for Adventures in Shopping

Before the summer is over, consider adding a trip to local quaint small towns to browse and enjoy at a leisurely pace in the warm sunshine top your agenda.  Between wanderlust and the potential thrill of finding new treasures, hitting the road for some recreational shopping can serve as a mini vacation.

With the price of gas what it is, a road trip is anything but cheap so before you hit the road, do some homework.  Beware of travel brochures and web sites for small towns that use words like "quaint" and "charming" that don't go into specific detail about what the town has to offer in terms of attractions.  Some friends of mine made a summer visit to a local small town that is known for it's wineries and it's well attended alcohol fueled annual Oktoberfest.  I asked them what their visit was like.  They said it was O.K., but it would probably be more fun visiting during the Oktoberfest festival.  In other words, the town is a lot less interesting when you are sober during your visit. 

If there is a specific attraction you want to see, call ahead of time and be sure it is open during your scheduled visit.  One time when I had family visiting I made a point of checking the hours of operation for the local museum, knowing that a certain family member enjoyed viewing a specific piece of art at the museum.  We drove to the museum only to find out that that piece of art was in storage and not available for viewing.  This let down was followed by a visit to a local small town that had an ice cream parlor listed in the brochure.  The ice cream parlor was closed.  We didn't visit just for the ice cream, but that was one of the things that appealed to us about that particular town.  At that point I was getting smart, and skeptical, so I called the restaurant we were thinking about going for dinner before we made the drive there.  The restaurant didn't answer their phone so we made other plans.  I later found out they were just open for lunch.  Yes a certain amount of flexibility is called for when taking a road trip, but your fellow travelers will be a lot happier if they find out the attraction they were interested in is not an option before making the trip.  Supplies for any road trip include ice water and nutrition bars to stave off hunger pangs and grumpy passengers.  A car window can act as an unintentional tanning booth, so it's a good idea to apply sunscreen before entering the car.  Reappy sunscreen throughout the day every four hours or so.  If you are a shopping savvy traveler you know it's always a good idea to carry cash in the form of small bills, not every small town vendor can make change for $100.00 or accept credit cards.

Always have a printed map with you when going to an area you are not familiar with.  Don't rely soley on fancy electronic gadgets with tracking systems.  A friend and I were taking a designer home tours in a part of town were weren't familiar with.  My friend who was driving, wanted to show off her new fancy tracking device and address locater.  The house this fancy device matched to the address it was given was definitely not on the designer home tour.  For one thing it was occupied and definnitely not open to the public.  The tracking device was off by several blocks, luckily I had gone to mapquest.com and printed out a map with the correct location.  If my experiences have taught me anything, it's that spontaneity is overrated, better to be  anal, be prepared and do some research!  Happy trails.

Cool Ice Cubes Infuse Your Drinks with Flavor

Amazon.com Cool Jewels Ice Cube Tray $6.00.

Ice cubes generally come in two forms.  There is the traditional water ice cube that gradually turns any drink into flavored water if left in the drink long enough.  Then there are the plastic gel filled reusable ice cubes that come in all kinds of fruit, flowered or other equally kitschy designs.  In addition to taking up space in the glass, these tacky little plastic delights have to be hand washed.  Yippee, more housework!

Instead of diluting your drinks with ice, why not use ice cubes to infuse the drink with flavor?  Fill your ice cube tray with lemonade and use the lemonade cubes instead of lemon slices in your iced tea.  Other fruit drinks such as peach and orange can be added to plain iced tea to give it a little added flavor.  Ice cubes can also enhance the flavor that is already in the drink by repeating it.  Lemon lime ice cubes from fruit juice can be added to lemon lime soda like Sprite to maintain the flavor of the drink.  Lemon lime ice cubes would also add a subtle hint of lime to lemonade while not watering down the original lemon taste.  If flavored ginger ale or flavored water is what your after, any kind of fruit juice frozen into cubes should do the trick.  Be creative in mixing and matching drink and ice cube flavors and add some pizazz and variety to your party drink menu.

Now that's Italian! Summer Entertaining Italian Style

Celebrate La Dolce Vita (The Good Life) with a Now that’s Italian! vacation party. Your summer plans might not include at trip to Italy, but with a little planning and creativity you can bring the spirit of Italy to your own backyard.  Set the mood before the first guest sets foot in your home by pluging in a music player inside the house near the doorway between the house and the outdoors. This keeps the music in the background and creates more of an ambiance than having chairs arranged practically on top of a stereo. Playing the romantic sweeping music sung by Andre Bocelli and the enchanting Italian influenced soundtrack from “A Room with a View”.

Late afternoon or early evening when the heat of day is passing is the best time to hold an outdoor party.  The perfect lazy summer afternoon outdoor game is Bocce Ball, an Italian game like croquet only without the mallets. Bocce Ball requires little effort, little strategy and it’s a whole lot of fun. The general idea for the game is that you throw a ball for the purpose of knocking other balls on the ground around. Like any classic party game, it is easy to learn and understand and require just enough basic skills to keep it interesting.

An Italian themed party calls for great food. Your budget and the time of  the party help determine whether or not you are serving a meal or just desserts and drinks. If you decide to serve something heartier than just desserts, a fresh green salad and a few different kinds of cold pasta salads and an antipasta tray with olives and differents kinds of cheese for example, are satisfying yet budget friendly dishes. Check out Tastefullysimple.com for easy appealing summer recipe ideas or visit your local grocery store and stock up on their ready made pasta salads. If you decide to go with just desserts and drinks, schedule the party in between meals and make sure to be specific on the invitation that about what light refreshments and desserts are being served. A variety of Italian sodas and tiramisu (a layered dessert served cold) can both be found at the local Target store. Call around to your local ice cream and coffee shops and see if they carry gelato, a low fat ice cream like dessert. Italian ice (check our recipes.com for this) is another refreshing option. Wine compliments a whole meal or just desserts equally well. If the cost of buying enough wine for everyone looks like a passport to the poorhouse, on the invitation encourage guests to bring a bottle of wine and join in a toast to La Dolce Vita remembering that the good life is wherever friends and family gather to celebrate.

Picnic Perfect Insulated Tote Bags

Today insulated totes are offering a stylish and practical alternative to cumbersome picnic baskets with lots of style but little insulation, or barely portable refrigerator on wheels plastic tubs that displayed all the design flair of the bland potato salad often contained inside. What I love about the insulated totes is that they look like totes, not a portable refrigerator.  I like to think of them as picnic baskets cleverly disguised as a tote bag.  The stylish yet practical shopper can get more use out of the tote by using it for grocery shopping.  Toss a couple of ice packs in the tote bag before stocking up at the local megamart and your important refrigerated items (like that double fudge ice cream) can chill out in the tote on the ride home.

Topanga Natural Large Insulated Shoulder Tote    

       

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Picnic at Ascot Bahamas Large insulated tote

Picnic at Ascot Tote Olive Tweed

The Bridal Shower Blues

Congratulations! In addition to having to purchase the world’s ugliest bridesmaids’ dress you have also been saddled with the “privilege” of hosting the bridal shower. Between gifts, clothes and other various expenses, weddings can be an expensive proposition for the guests. It may seem like your only hope of staying solvent is convincing the bride to elope but there are cheap and easy ways of handling this dilemma.

The type of shower you have depends on the type of bride you are dealing with. For the seriously stressed bride I suggest alcohol and lots of it. Host a wine tasting party at a local winery. Arrive in style by hiring a stretch limo for transporting guests to and from the winery. The cost of the limo can be split among the guests, just be sure to mention this cost in the shower invitation. When calling the winery ahead of time to reserve a space for your party, ask if the wine tasting free as long a some of the guests buy wine, or it there is a cost involved and find out if food is served with the wine. If no food is served pack a picnic basket with plenty of cheese, crackers and olives to munch on. Ask each guest to buy one item to be included in a large gift basket that will be presented to the bride at the party. Wine glasses, embroidered napkins, gourmet food etc. would be excellent gift choices.

For the bride whose dining style is more hobby lobby than fine china take a hand crafted personal approach. Hold the bridal shower at one of those paint your own pottery places. Each guest can purchase a unfinished dish such as a plate or cup to be painted according to the brides wishes. Organize a mini assembly line with the less artistic guests handling the foolproof responsibilities like painting the background color on a piece. More talented guest can handle the more detailed painting jobs. The important thing is to get everyone involved somehow. While the dishes are being glazed continue the bridal party at a local restaurant or coffee shop.

For the bridezilla trying to micromanage everyone and everything around her and her wedding, host a spa bridal shower. It may not reduce her stress but at least it will reduce yours. Contact your better local beauty schools for prices and information regarding the length of time needed for various treatments. Bridesmaids could use this as an opportunity to try out the hairstyles and nail colors they were considering for the wedding. Other guests can choose any treatments they want as long as the treatments can be done within the time frame stated on the invitation. After the budget friendly pampering is finished you can keep the party going at your home for tea and light snacks such as finger sandwiches and fruit.

Whatever you do, remember that a bridal shower is a party after all, have fun!

Get out of the house for easy summertime entertainment.

Get out of the House for Easy Summertime Entertainment.

Summertime and the entertaining is easy if you take a more relaxed approach to entertaining. Some glossy magazines would have you believe a simple picnic should be a conducted as if it were a major event requiring elaborate table settings and complicated recipes. Of course there are entertaining options that are far simpler and easier on the budget.

Summer entertaining can be as simple as arranging a get together at your local farmer’s market. Check your local newspaper for listing of local farmer’s markets. Some farmer’s markets sell crafts, have cooking demonstrations and provide live music. It’s a good idea to research your local farmer’s markets to see what they offer, what time the live entertainment starts, and get hours of operation. Meeting there earlier in the day allows you first pick at the merchandise. When you call up your friends or send out invitations to meet, be sure to include any helpful information with the invitation such as directions.

Your local parks and recreations websites can also be great sources for summertime entertaining ideas. Concerts in the park are often cheaply priced or free altogether. Invite your friends to meet at your house or the house of a mutual friend, for food and drinks before the concert. Having food and drinks before the concert should fill you up enough so that you don’t waste money on the overpriced junk food at the park. Carpooling from the house to the concert insures that everyone will arrive at the same time at the concert and parking should be less of a issue with fewer cars. Naturally a social guru like you did her homework to find out what to bring to the concert. Is seating provided or do you need to bring lawn chairs or a blanket? Are bug repellant and bottled water necessary? Grass stains and bug bites can quickly turn happy campers into grumpy spoil sports.

Family entertainment centers are a great place to look for ideas. Anything that is designed to keep a ten year old with no attention span happy should easily keep your more grown up crowd occupied. Try getting in the swing of summer by organizing a mini golf tournament. Divide into two teams. The losing team buys pizza and drinks for the winning team after the game. If hitting a brightly colored ball through a windmill doesn’t appeal to you, try go-carts or laser tag. The idea is to do something fun and silly.

Summertime is the perfect time to let the kid in you come out and play.