A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - When a Tea Cup is not a Tea Cup

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”

This week I am finishing this wonderful year with just two pictures for you. Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

The pictures following are two uses of tea cups that are fun, and another way of thinking about how to use a tea cup. After all, when you have over 300 vintage cups and saucers (like Fancy That! has, and always acquiring more), you find many MANY ways to use a tea cup and saucer. Feel free to share other ideas with us here.

Keep in mind that any and every use is acceptable!

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

acupofglee.blogspot.com

YUM! Cherry Ice Box Cookies!

Whilst we're on the subject of cookies, I thought I'd bring up another fave: the Cherry Ice Box cookie from Collin Street Bakery in Texas. People Magazine raved about their fruit cake, but in my opinion, the real cheers go to these tastey pink treats. In fact, the tin I ordered for a Christmas gift didn't last one day in my house, and I had to make another order! Thank goodness they ship fast, and it arrived yesterday, in time for the Holiday!

Now I know what you're thinking... you think I only like these cookies because they're pink. Well, I guess that could be ONE reason :) I also think the name "Cherry Ice Box" is very charming. So, I suppose those are the two main things that captured my initial interest, but it is their scrumptious-ness that keeps me re-ordering :) (they're also available in minis). If you decide to order some, let us know what you think!

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
SarahE for acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - pfeffernusse cookies

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!

We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”

This week's post, just in time for the winter holidays, is a post on a cookie that continues to delight after centuries...the PFEFFERNUSSE!


Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!


The cookie's name, pfeffernusse, is taken from German meaning "pepper nuts." The original cookie had black pepper in the recipe, but did not allow the cookie to get "hot" from the pepper. So many variations exist today, that you can search for hours and hours looking for the perfect one. Let me help a little and start you here for a great recipe!


If you aren't certain what the cookie looks like, the next picture will remove all doubt!

You can just taste the powdered sugar from this photo, and more, the anice, the pepper, and the touch of ginger.

Once you have tasted these fine holiday cookies, you will make the a tradition year after year, and if you don't care to cook them as so many of our friends do (or don't....one friend even joked that the only reason she has a kitchen is because it came with the house!), the you could click on the picture below to start your search for those pre-baked cookies that can be delivered to your door!

So there you have it! Pfeffernusse and you! Or, pfeffernusee and your guests! We will return to our weekly newsletter format including Table Talk, The Butler and Wedding Bells after the first of the year. Until then, stop by often, and be sure to read the older posts.

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often. acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Calyx and Corolla

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

This week, we are highlighting a special vendor that we LOVE:
Calyx and Corolla

(see our list of other fave vendors here)

What you are about to see are some of the most clever floral arrangements

that you may ever come by. Who wouldn't want to receive a delivery like this?

They offer arrangements in hat boxes, "water treasures" and much more. Enjoy the pictures, and please feel free to stop by Calyx and Corolla's web site. If you need that special arrangement for your holiday party centerpiece, you still have time to order!

Their unique vases make Calyx and Corolla
our pick of the Year for Mail Order Florist!

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Etiquette by Pooh

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”

This week’s Newsletter is all about the “Thank You” note and Pooh’s Etiquette. Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

From “Pooh’s Little Etiquette Book”:

(You can buy the book by clicking on this link.)

“Be sure to thank your host politely before you leave, and write a Thank You Note soon after. This is not only good etiquette but a good way to let your friend know that you arrived home safely.”

Of course in today's world, we do not send a "Thank You" to let our friends know we made it home, but an email or telephone call may do nicely!

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)

From “Pooh’s Little Etiquette Book”:

Page 24 on Table Manners,

“When it is time to eat, be careful when you sit down. What is a Resting Place to you, may be Lunch to someone else.”

If you go on a picnic with your friend, be sure to take a blanket to sit upon, and that way, you will be able to be lighted on the cloth, and watch the clouds roll by, ignoring the ants and other creatures below. Of course in the book, Rabbit and others are talking about the grass that you may be sitting upon, which could be a meal for some of Pooh's Friends. Enjoy your picnic!

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

This is all out the ending…the thank you. When planning and event, you simply cannot forget about the “Thank You” notes. If you are the invitee, you most certainly will want to think about the evening when writing your thank you.

The perfect format, with six rules for how to craft a well done “Thank You” not is here from the Morning News.

If you event is a shower or some soiree where you will be given a gift, plan your Thank You to match closely to your invitations. It is a nice touch when your guests equate the wonderful event with your Thank You Note.

Tiny Prints is a great resource when you are starting out. Once you hit their site, and see such unique prints like this picture,

You will be planning an event AROUND the use of a thank you, instead of the other way around.
Again, in The Morning News are some great ideas for writing that special Thank You.

As is quoted in the “Pooh’s Little Etiquette Book”

“In the Hundred Acre Wood and elsewhere, those who know how to write a proper letter are much respected and in great demand.”

Please do take the moment and impress your dear friend, and Pooh, too!

Wedding Bells

Tips for planning your Wedding)

From OurMarriage.com is a reminder of the most important item to remember: never, never, never (have I emphasized that enough?) never send a pre-printed thank you note after your wedding. Of course you can have your name, or other items "pre-printed", but you do not want the pre-printing to say "thank you for your lovely gift" that you do not mention the gift, or sign your name. A hand written note thanking your guest for the lovely Tiffany Box, or the Waterford Crystal goblet is a perfect touch. By keeping the "Thank You" note personal with the touch of hand writing, you are taking a moment and sending that perfect thank you note!

Why not try one of our favs of all time: Artistic Addressing!

Their tag line says it all: “Pushing the ‘Envy’ lope”.

Remember to leave enough time for Artistic Addressing to get your proofs to you and then to print the stock.

And enjoy!

Until our next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Cranberries and Cookies!

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”

This week, it is all about holiday festivities with cranberries and cookies!

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!


Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Cranberries!

It is an acquired taste…the love for the pungent and yet, when cooked into a jelly, sweet-tart taste of the bog berry from New England. The better way to use cranberries is not to eat them at all! Use them as the colorful main ingredient of your centerpiece.

Try taking several small vases, fill them with cranberries, a little cold water so they stay fresh, then fill the vases with the flowers of your choice. Remember to keep the centerpiece low enough so your guests can talk to one another across the table.

Use the cranberries to decorate any clear glass container. The cranberries are festive in color, and add a wonderful conversation starter to any event.

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

Cookie Party!

The rules are simple. Invite as many guests as you wish, but tell them the rules up-front: bring a dozen cookies and leave with a dozen cookies.

Your guests will adore the table set with all the cookies that your guests bring. After all, who doesn’t have that favorite recipe of their Nana, that they are just so anxious to try – or anxious to give to your mate who actually knows where the kitchen IS in the house! (My favorite line is that “I have a kitchen only because it came with the house.”)

At the end of the night, hand your guests a cellophane bag (clear is wonderful so they can actually SEE the cookies) or a brown bag, and they have to go around the tables and take a dozen cookies. Preferably they take one of each of their fav cookies.

Oh, and remind the guests that there will be cookie eating going on as well, so maybe bring TWO dozen. One dozen for the table and one dozen to eat! Enjoy your cookie party and tell us how it went! We love to hear from you.

Enjoy!


Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Bubbly

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!

We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.” This week’s post is about the cork, popping, and sabering!

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!


Table Talk

(Manners and TableTop Tips)

To pop or not to pop.

Quick quiz – True or False. Ready? When opening champagne, the cork should loudly pop from the bottle, and effervescence should spill wonderfully to your flute and table top. True or False?

Not surprisingly (if any of you have ever been hit with a flying champagne cork, or salvaged an errant cork which flew across the room into the depths of your French Onion Soup, then you will understand) the more silent the opening, the more polite!

The most adept and skillful server will ease the cork out gently, setting it on the right side of the gentleman or lady, and then pour the bubbly into the flute.

It is considered inept and gauche to have a loud pop and crack of the cork (not to mention a liability, should it fly across the room at lightening speeds, only to whack an unsuspecting diner!) Check out this Washington Post story if you would like to hear it from another source.

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

When thinking about champagne for an event, or just a brunch with your closest friends (one of my faves is white peach champagne, freshly made crepes with fresh peach garnish and a savory scone!) think "light", like you would an aperitif. (See our earlier post on aperitifs!)

Here is a great guide for you when selecting a champagne, or how to dress it properly on the table. And remember, keep the cork quiet when opening the bubbly. Show your skills and your expertise! Shhhhhhh! Well, except for one great occasion – SABERING! (See Wedding Bells below!)

Want to serve a glass of bubbly like no other? Why not add an edible bloom? (available from Norm Thompson) Drop an exotic Australian hibiscus into champagne or any sparkling drink for a gorgeous presentation.
Wedding Bells

(Tips for planning your Wedding)

Click here and enjoy the read, history of sabering, and all the fun thoughts that come to mind! And this site, will fill you with a NEED to have have your champagne bottle opened using sabering, to be sure!

Enjoy!

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

Baked Ideas

I, for one, can't believe the holidays are right around the corner! When it comes to gift giving, isn't it better to give something you know won't end up for sale on eBay anytime soon?
I've chosen to give gifts of gourmet food or wine almost exclusively, for many years, and I'm always on the look-out for a clever and yummy gift (but one that doesn't look mass-produced) which is why I LOVE these yoga people from baked ideas so much! Ok, I know that was a run-on sentence, but that just shows you my enthusiasm for these gingerbreads :) I'm not the only one who's enthused with these cookies; They were featured in this month's O Magazine! They're baked fresh daily, and you can place an order on their site or call 212-925-9097 between 10am and 6pm EST.

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Teapot Cake

Love this teapot Cake! Too Cute!

(from tanyacakes.com)

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Pink grapefruit Intermezzo

Pink grapefruit and champagne sorbet Originally uploaded by MissK1

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)

Anytime I hear the word “intermezzo” (a palate cleanser, such as sorbet, served between courses; pronounced: inter-met- sō and/or inter-met-zō) all kinds of serving ideas and recipes pop into my head. In fact, it was my affection for the intermezzo that inspired me to search for the perfect vintage sherbert glass to add to Fancy That’s rental line. That search eventually led me to “boopie” glass (manufactured by anchor hocking from the 1950s to the 1970s, known for its distinctive ring of glass “beads” around the base), but, I digress!

Ok, back on topic: Manners for the Intermezzo? After the salad? Before the soup? What if a five course meal? Who knew it could be so complicated? Check this out handy book by Sue Fox: Etiquette for Dummies, for quick answers!

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

Don’t be afraid of making sorbet. You hear all the horror stories of the sorbet not being frozen well enough, or instead, too frozen, rendering it difficult for the guests to eat. Well, there are easy recipes out there that make for a wonderful sorbet, and no, you don’t need an ice cream maker to pull it off. This pink grapefruit sorbet recipe from FineDinings.com is one of the simplest and most tasty. Here's another good one from the Food Network which includes vodka.

I’ve found that using a melon ball scoop to drop a few balls of sorbet into a champagne flute creates an appealing display, and is a pleasantly unexpected use for a flute. After all, as they say, “the eye eats first.”

I recently noticed that my local grocery store has lemon sorbet in real lemon shells for sale in the freezer section, so if all else fails, run out and BUY it already cleverly prepared :)

Enjoy!

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Twinkle Toes

How fantastic are these announcements/invitations from Stacy Claire Boyd?!! I want to throw a baby shower just so I can use these! Check em out at Jen Klair Kids.

Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Place Card Holders and Toasts!

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!


Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Let’s talk about Place Card Holders. You have gone out and bought 150 holders for your wedding, or rented 20 for your garden party. Now you are scratching your head, wondering where on an elegantly set table you should put them.

Simply?

You can put them anywhere you care to, but the accepted location is at the head of each place setting on the table.

But don’t fret! Let’s say you are having a wine tasting dinner and have a wonderful cluster of grapes for each setting as your place card holder. Placing the card in the cluster and center the grapes on the top plate. Each guest will stir around the table searching for their name, and get the hint of what is to come. Use the place card holders as the introduction to the theme of the wedding or event.


The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

Dinner parties can be frustrating or awkward for the host and hostess, and for the guest. But they don’t have to be. When you are planning your event, consider how you will announce dinner. Help your guests. When they arrive, politely tell them that you will announce dinner and until that time, they should mingle in the other room, or near the cheese tray, or, well, you get the idea. Then when the time is right, you, the host will say, 'Please join me at the table.' The important thing to do is not to sit right away and then your guests won’t feel compelled to instantly take a seat. Take a moment and say where your guests should be seated, or point out the cute (or amazing) place card holders. Point out the names and allow the guests to leisurely find their place around the table.

You would normally have the seating assigned to sit male, female, male, female all around the table. If your dinner is very formal and traditional, the women will be to the right of the men.

The woman that the man is responsible for seating is going to be to his right. So, the man will pull out the chair to the woman on his right. A nice way to make it easier for everyone is to have the ladies chair slightly farther away from the table just in case the lady has to seat herself.

Everyone is going to enter the chair from the right side of the chair. That is done so that you don't bump hips. Once seated, you the hostess signal to your guests by taking your napkin. If you say grace, take the napkin first as the signal. Place your napkin in your lap.

If you are giving a toast to the guests, or a guest of honor, your guests should wait until the toast is complete. As the host or hostess, raise your glass and ask everyone to drink to the honored guest. (The honored guests should not drink…they do not drink a toast to themselves.) If the honored guests cares to make a toast to you, the host to hostess, graciously accept the toast and drink to the honored guests’ toast.

From here, you control the event by controlling the appearance of the food. Enjoy!


Wedding Bells

(Tips for planning your Wedding)

You’re stuck. You picked the date, and have a theme, and your wedding planning has ground to a halt. You want to do something special for naming tables and assigning seating, but just don’t know what to do.

The best rule is to have no rules. Really! Think about your theme. I had a High Tea Reception. The natural choice was to name the tables after tea. Since Darjeeling is my favorite, that was the name of the Bride and Groom’s table.

Like Movies? Why not pick your favorite wedding themed movies and name your tables after them. (“Four Weddings and a Funeral” may not be as tasteful as you think!)

Having an Irish Wedding? Why not name the tables after towns in Ireland.

Having your wedding on the Beach? Your table names can be famous beaches, or beach equipment.

Maybe you are having a Garden Wedding. Perfect! You can use flower names, gardening themes or the like for your table names.

By all means, carry the theme through to the place setting cards as well. A friend just had her wedding with an Autumn theme. She used multi colored silk leaves as the place cards and wrote the names on the leaves with a gold-foil pen. The tables were named “Spiced Pumpkin”, “Mulled Cider”, “Maple Sugar”, “Chrysanthemum”, and “Fall Foliage.”

Now you have some ideas. Get planning, and remember to enjoy the process of planning! It is half of the fun!

Until my next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

Ok, is anyone else enjoying "My Fair Wedding" with David Tutera, as much as I am?! I am addicted to this show!! (on We TV)

10% Savings on Your Next Rental Order from Fancy That

Fancy That! is pleased to help in these rough economic times. Until December 31, 2008, we are offering a 10% discount on your next order. Email us or call voice mail toll free 1-866-760-2286 to place your rental order and mention promotion code ACOG2008 to claim YOUR 10% discount. But hurry! This great offer expires December 31, 2008.

A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - SCOOP

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)

Etiquette says that spoons can be used as scoops, but not scoops used as spoons! (who knew:)) There are many types of scoops and each has a proper use. Here's a few that come to mind:

Diner Scoop
Cheese Scoop (check this out for a wonderful cheese scoop! Don’t get lost on replacements’s web site, and come back and finish this week’s newsletter!
Ice Scoop
Gravy Scoop or Ladle (click here for a little etiquette on to pour or to ladle!)
Marrow Scoop (eeeeeewwwww!)
Nut Scoop
Bon Bon Scoop (yes, there really IS such a thing!)
Tea Scoop
Pelican Scoop (oops, sorry, that’s a small boat!)

It all comes down to the manners for the specific scoop and there are many different scoops out there! Check out this book for a fun, winter weekend read! You’ll want to own the book, and give it as a hostess gift (oops! Bad manners to give a book on manners as a hostess gift!) or holiday gift!

And enjoy!

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

Beige. Blah…..Pink? Pretty! So many colors come to mind as do the words to match those colors. This post is all about scoops. The “scoop” these days is a candy buffet. They are not reserved for weddings. (And the scoops you can use could be clear, wooden, plastic, unique….let your mind wander.)

Your guests will love a cocktail glass filled with colorful candy. Image for a moment: you are hosting a “pink” party. Your guests are frantically buying up all the pink clothing in town. The gentlemen will be wearing pink ties, and your lady guests will be decked in boa’s to put the roaring 20’s to shame. Add pink (or any color for that matter) to your table with candy. You can click here to get to The Candy Warehouse for all the selections you could possibly dream of….well…even MORE than you can dream of!

If you are having a candy buffet, in addition to filling a few cocktail glasses, be sure to pick the right “scoop” for the candy. A small plastic shovel for beach theme, a measuring ladle for a culinary night, and on and on. Check out the Wedding Bells section below for the link to the Scoops Source, including bags and other fun things your guests will need to take the extra candy home!


Wedding Bells

(Tips for planning your Wedding)

Adding fun and color to your wedding is as easy as, say, CANDY! Candy buffets are fast becoming the staple item in weddings. You can click here for information on the scoops that you can get for that tower of candy, or that colorful bowl of confectionaries. No doubt, the most popular table will be the Candy Buffet. ‘Might just as well make the scoops fun too!


Until our next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - This week - PUNCH!

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)
Can you believe the Holiday Season is right around the corner? There is no reason to be blue about it… instead, serve pink punch! ok, by now you may have realized that I have a soft spot for all things pink, but the truth is, no matter what color or flavor the punch, it’s going to look fabulous in our new 2-gallon apothecary-style decanter. And while we’re on the subject of pink punch, check out this recipe for pink petal punch with rose petals.

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
I want to take a moment and talk about the Punch Table. Many times the hostess will have a tale just for the punch bowl (or decanter) and cups or glasses. It is an elegant way to display your new punch set, and to draw your guests to another location that will almost certainly spark conversation. But, don't leave the table sitting bare with JUST the punch decanter and glasses. Simply – decorate it! How many times have you waltzed into an elegant dinner party and over there, alone, in the corner, is the most beautiful punch bowl and cups that you have ever seen. You walk over, sadly, wanting to whisper to the punch bowl, “it’s O.K. people will notice you as soon as they are thirsty!”

Let’s face it! The punch bowl is the one thing that is most ignored. Your guests aren’t sure what you have put in the bowl to make that yellow color, or the light pink color, and they simply are not wanting to take a test. Make it easy for them! “Announce” your recipe on a cute little card. Make sure your guests can see the card. Elevate it and place it separate from the punchbowl…not hidden underneath. Be certain to “adorn” your punch table. Use beautiful greens, a spray of flowers, little nose gays placed on the corners of the table, or three or four large bowls of crunch croutons! Make the table announce itself and your punch will be a HIT!

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
Planning for a Dinner party can be overwhelming. Trust me! I know. When you have such great sites as this one to provide you with over 400 recipes for punch alone, your eyes may glaze over and before you know it, it’s pizza delivered 10 minutes after your guests arrive.

Planning for Punch is easy when just a few simple steps are followed. Luckily, here is a link
to outline those steps. Once you have a punch idea, you will be surprised how easy planning the remainder of the meal can be. Just remember the one rule you cannot ignore: Sample the punch before the guests arrive. And enjoy!


Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)
By now, you have come to the realization that there is a punch for every occasion. Of course you are NOT SURPRISED that there is specific recipes for Wedding Punch, right? Oh My!

Let me tell you how surprised I was that there are expectations for Wedding Punch. Fear Not! Lulu Marie’s World Famous Wedding Punch is available for you to ORDER. Yes, ORDER! You hand the mix to the caterer and say, MIX IT UP! Add some pineapple pieces and you are all set!

Another fun recipe to have your wedding guests talking about your Wedding Punch for years, is this fun Tart and Bubbly Recipe. When planning for your special day, don’t forget to include the all-important Wedding Punch!

Until our next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

PINK FLATWARE

Check out this AMAZING pink acrylic flatware! I am in love with it and bought service for twenty! I would love to sell it in my store, but the manufacturer was not helpful :( Anyhoo, for a limited time, you can buy it here.

Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter Buffet and Family Style

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Sorry we have been so tardy in our weekly posts! Computer glitches and other fun things we won't bore you with.

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)
To Buffet or not to Buffet…that is the question. Fancy That! is always answering the big question: should the service be plated or buffet? Should we include stations like “fruit stations” and candy stations or should we have everything in it’s place including favors at each table?

The short answer is: mix it up and have fun! You may not be a buffet person. But it might be nice to have a candy bar for your guests. You may BE a buffet person, but have assigned seating in your dining room or rented hall. Remember that, today, everything and anything goes. Simply HAVE FUN!

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Buffet manners are always those little things that you hope your guests know, but realize that they simply do not. This link: http://www.vialarp.org/victorian_tea/manners.html is a great read (be sure to scroll down and read the section on the Buffet Manners!). My hubby has an Edwardian side. Adding to my Victoriana, and we find that eating a scone is as fun as discussing the “proper” way to actually EAT that scone. Enjoy the manners from the Annual-Victorio-Edwardian Valentine Tea web site.


The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
You have already decided that you are doing a “family style” dinner party (or wedding for that matter! More and more caterers are doing family style service where each table gets their “serving” of food and they pass the serving bowls around). You will carve the bird at the table, and will have bread and butter passed like the scenes from a movie shot in Tuscany. But you wonder: how do I mix it up a little and provide some fun for my guests?

Here’s a suggestion: Allow your guests to set the table. As your guests enter the dining room, they see the plats stacked neatly on a corner of the table, the napkins are to the right corner, the wine glasses and water glasses are grouped mid table to the right, and the bread plates are grouped to the far right hand corner of the table. Your centerpiece is surrounded by a “table setting buffet”.

You tell your guests to take their place setting and have a seat! While they are “shopping” on the table for their utensils and plates, conversation ensues making the seating portion of your dinner party a nice, serene “mixer” which sparks conversation. Trust me! The next dinner party you go to after this, you will see the “table setting buffet” again and again. It’s fun. And that is what today is all about. Enjoy!

Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)
Casual, elegant, relaxed, fun! “Family Style” at your reception is a great alternative to the drab plated meal, or the overused buffet of dried pasta and meats. Now I know there are great buffets out there with excellent carving stations, fast made sweets, and so on, mixing up the old is always a great way to have a memorable event.

Your guests are seated and out comes the bread, the serving bowls of pasta, of rice, of the main course, and veggies. Each table feels like they are eating “at home.” Your guests are mingling, talking to one another, and enjoying their meal.

Ask your caterer if they can accommodate Family Style Service. Once you enjoy Family Service at a wedding reception, you will wonder how any bride does any other style of serving the food!

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!

We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer

(What’s new at Fancy That!)

Just added to our store: We loooove these "Wedding Tea Cookies" so much that we prefer to call them the World's Best! These pecan-based delights make a cute shower gift for a special bride-to-be, but don't let their official name mislead you, they're not just for wedding celebrations... these can be enjoyed ANY time... simply remove from package and place on your favorite tid bit tray at your next dinner party.

Table Talk

(Manners and TableTop Tips)

While searching for a unique wedding gift for an off-beat bride, I found these stunning black crystal goblets from Williams Sonoma:

I just love them. Black can be so elegant. While I ultimately decided to go with vintage goblets rather than new, it really was tough to pass these up! Check out the aperitif glass (pictured on far left). So fab. Which brings me to the topic of this post: The art of the aperitif. What IS an aperitif? It is a beverage served before a meal intended to stimulate the appetite. To understand the importance of the aperitif, an American writer looks to Europe.

The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

This article from Boston Magazine is a fun read, and chocked full of ideas for your dinner planning, including the cocktail hour and aperitif.

Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)

Oh, to “open bar” or not “to open bar ”... the question that has plagued brides and wedding planners no doubt since the very first nuptial. For those of you rolling your eyes, consider this alternative to an open bar: Have a cocktail hour at which you pass two or three different aperitifs along with cheese and crackers. Your guests will be able to enjoy the light cocktail before the meal, and you will control the run on the bar. The aperitif has saved the day!

Bon Appetite!

Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!

We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.” Thank you for stopping by for this week’s posting. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer

(What’s new at Fancy That!)

I’ve been on the search for the perfect charger plate to add to our rental line. The search has not been as easy as it may sound. The dilemma is the color. Should I go with Silver, Gold, some other option? Gold will coordinate with the gold trim that is on the majority of the teacups and plates that we offer for rent, but how is a gold charger going to look on a tabletop, sitting beside silver flatware? I have yet to decide. Silver chargers present the opposite problem: they’ll clearly go with silverware, but how will they look under our china plates that are trimmed in gold? Or aside a gold trimmed vintage teacup? These are the questions that I ponder :) In my experience, early on in your wedding plans, whether you realize it or not, you’ll come to a conclusion as to whether you’re a silver accent person or a gold accent person. The same issue will be contemplated when you are eventually designing a kitchen or bathroom: think sink and shower fixtures, and cabinet knobs, but I digress. Okay, back to chargers. While I reserve the right to change my mind at any time, as of today, I am leaning toward a neutral colored under-plate, such as off-white. Here is a picture of the one I am presently considering. What do you think?

Table Talk

(Manners and TableTop Tips)

A charger adds SO much to a place setting. Check out Sneak Peek for Tea Party Originally uploaded by jcann as a beautiful example.

The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

Speaking of charger plates, have you ever wondered about their proper use? (yep, there IS such a thing as charger plate etiquette :)) See here: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-decorative-charger-plate.htm


Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)

Okay, I’m going to break away from the charger theme to talk about something I wish I had done at my own wedding: the use a wedding planner, just for the day. Hubby and I put a lot of thought into planning our wedding, and I never considered using a wedding planner. Between the two of us, I have to say we thought of just about everything! But on our actual wedding day, we both realized what we really needed was someone there to make sure that our best laid plans went off without a hitch (because we really didn’t have time to do it, nor did we want to). Now, I know you’re saying to yourself: that’s what the catering manager is for, and you’re right… but when issues come up, even small ones, it’s nice to have someone available to alert the catering manager, and that’s where a wedding planner for the day comes in handy. She or he will be the “go to” person, leaving you free to enjoy yourself. Besides, even catering managers may need a little looking after. I remember my catering manager coming to my hotel room (at an upscale hotel in Boston) the morning of my wedding to ask me for a seating chart (apparently he couldn’t find the one I had already provided). Thankfully, I had brought extra everything just in case, but I was in the middle of having my hair done, and it would have been nice if I didn’t have to worry about such details at that point (plus, it left me wondering what else he may have lost or forgotten). There were a few other glitches throughout the day – nothing tragic – but given all of the planning we had done, it was a pity to see certain details not executed properly. It just would have been great to have someone there to over-see everything. Simply put: use a wedding planner, even if it’s just for the day, and I bet you’ll be glad you did.

Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Cups N Cups

I simply love this picture and thought I would share it with you.

The picture is called "Cups N Cups" which describes exactly what it is.

Using a fine china tea cup is a much more appealing experience when having a cup of tea... I imagine, the tea actually tastes better :)

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That! We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.” Thank you for stopping by for this week’s posting. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)

We’re constantly adding to our inventory and have recently procured these fantastic square luncheon plates! Snatched em up for a song! They’ve inspired me to offer a vintage line of just square plates, so I’ve been busying acquiring :) (now I need to find just the right square charger plate! Oh well, I guess my work is never done :))

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)

Let’s talk about the Place Card Holders, shall we? They're another great way to add interest and dimenstion to your event. They don't have to be traditional! Here's your chance to showcase your individuality. Granted, at a large event, such as a wedding, you may only have assigned tables and not assigned seating at each table, but if your event is smaller (or you just want to go over-the-top) you may deside to assign seating and if you do, why not do something unexpected? Here are few ideas to inspire you: Check out these chocolate place cards from ElegantCheeseCakes.com. Amazing! How about custom cookie place cards (or cookie gift tags or cookie napkin rings! She does it all! Tell her what you have in mind, and she'll make it in an edible form). You don't have to go to a lot of expense. Here's something (see pic below) that's simple but still classic (from You Are Here Originally uploaded by Domino Cid).

Have an original idea that you want to share? Send us a picutre from your event, and we just may feature it on A Cup of Glee. Email us.

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)

One of the reasons I really like throwing dinner parties is that I don't need a reason to! Recently spluge on service for six of some gorgeous tableware? Sounds like time for a dinner party, to me :). Consider who you'll invite and what your menu will be, and from there, your theme will start to emerge. Don't forget that a very important element to your dinner party is music! But there's more to think about: I love this article by Jim Roberts on How to Throw an Exceptional Dinner Party and I think the only thing I would add to his sage advice is this: If you and your guests have a habit of talking and hanging out late into the evening, you might want to consider preparing a light snack that is served some time after dessert. When ever my husband and I get together with two particular friends of ours, invariably, we all lose track of time and find ourselves hungry again after dinner and several hours of good conversation. So, in addition to an appetizer, we prepare in advance a cheese and cracker tray (or chips and dip) that we call a "midnight snack" :)

Thanks for stopping by. Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Like the Bow on a Gift Box

I love the statement a cake can make.

It's like the bow on a gift box...

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That! We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”

Thank you for stopping by for this week’s posting. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We love hearing your feedback, questions, comments. Enjoy the Post!

The Flying Saucer
What’s new at Fancy That!

This week marks the beginning of our weekly “newsletter” which will be available each Monday for your reading enjoyment. In addition to our weekly postings, we’ll also provide little tidbits throughout the week: Sarah E, your Personal Shopper, will offer party planning tips and show you where to find the most incredible, edible, or just irresistible items for your next party, shower, wedding or “you name it” get together! Enjoy this week’s post and remember, we love your feedback, so do keep in touch!


The Table Setting
Manners and table tips and talk
“The Fork in the Road”

Ever sit down before a fancy table setting and quietly wonder which fork to use? It’s actually easy to remember: with each course, just work your way from the outside, inward (farthest from the plate, moving inward, towards the plate). Sometimes a dessert fork or spoon is placed above the dinner plate (in the 12 O’clock position) running perpendicular to the plate, but Emily Post reminds us that the proper host or hostess will bring dessert and its utensils only when it is time to serve it.

Enjoy your dining experience. Now you can navigate the “fork in the road” or on the table, with ease and renewed confidence!


The Butler
Host and Hostess tips and helpful hints for planning your event
“How busy are YOU?”

You are asking yourself….”why should I send a ‘save the date’ card?” The answer is perfectly simple – so your prospective guests get the hint that you are having a soiree, and so they can pencil you in, alongside the soccer match, the ballet lessons, the yoga classes, and, well, you get the hint.

These handy reminders are a great way to set the tone for your event weeks or months in advance of your event. There are countless ways to announce your event from refrigerator magnets to beautifully produced cards such as those from Wedding Papers Divas. Be creative! Search around until you find something that resonates with you.

Check out these awesome Autumn Save the Date Stamps Originally uploaded by Ever After Postage

Your can view etiquette as outlined by The Knott for some inspiration and answers to your frequently asked questions.

“Save the date” cards, or, now widely accepted as the norm – save the date email, are a way of announcing your intentions to celebrate, to entertain, to be the host or hostess. You are asking your prospective guests to keep you in their mind, and to arrange their busy schedule to accommodate your fantastic dessert party or garden party. For a large party, twelve weeks is not too far out to send a save-the-date. For a small intimate evening meal, six weeks may suffice. If you are sending a “Save the Date” card for your wedding, 6 months is common and 8 months is recommended if your wedding will be in a remote location or, if you are asking your guests to travel. You may send a note card. You may send an email. You may do both. Keep it fun but informative.

Here's an example of a unique save the date that I found in Martha Stewart Weddings. Click on the picture to read the how-to instructions.

When sending out a mail piece such as a save-the-date or an invitation, I often like to mail one to myself, as well. This gives me an idea of how long the piece took to be delivered to my guests, as well as an indication of how well the envelope “held up” in the mail.










Wedding Bells
Planning your wedding tips and traps
“Save that Date”

When planning a wedding, you first have to pick a date! Here are some factors to consider:

The weather. (You’d be surprised how often the weather is ignored as a factor in planning (until the day of the event, that is!) What will the weather be like on your special day? A great link to start your investigation could be here at weather dot com. And, there is a great article about dates to avoid here for your review. After all, picking a date is personal. But you may just as well be informed.

Holiday Travel? If you are going to ask your wedding party or guests to travel to your wedding, be sure to keep the calendar in mind. You don’t want your wedding party to be cutting a bee-line through Grand Central Station on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving! Keep the travel conditions in mind when planning your date.

Best Room Rate. There are “off seasons” which means there are rooms available (and sometimes in blocks of rooms if you ask). Think about the travel and rooms.

Now get planning, and good luck! Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Flowers Redux

In keeping with the wonderful theme of using flowers, I would like to take a moment to tell you about The ParTea Planner. Risa has a wonderful site with lots of eye candy and catchy phrases like "Always stylish. never Stuffy" and "We bring the Tea Room to you" which is her registered trademark.

Browse Risa's Site at The ParTeaPlanner and you cannot help but gravitate to the floral design section of her web site.

Risa provides floral arrangements for party or social events. This is one of my fave pics! Using not only a beautiful summer bouquet, but adding a teacup and saucer to the mix surely defines the use of the subject of this post: flowers redux.

Flowers are a good choice all year long, in all uses. Don't forget to think "outside the tea cup" for your next wonderful arrangement :)


Thanks for stopping by. Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Etiquette for Flowers

I recently procured a charming antique book by Annie Randall White called Twentieth Century Etiquette - A ready manual for all occasions, published in 1900. She called it an "up-to-date book for polite society". Its a joy to read. I like to let the book open to a random page and discover its contents. Today, I opened to page 182 - Floral Decorations. Here, I quote: "Flowers are a great addition to the beauty of a table, and where they can be had, are as suitable for the family table as the more formal one. In the latter, they are indispensable."

The little vase pictured is a cute way to display a nosegay and at the same time, announce to your guests where they should be seated. I used a real leaf for the place card (but they do tend to dry out after a couple of hours) and I wrote on it with a foil marker. An artificial leaf could also be used. Also, I tinted the water with food coloring to match the color scheme of the dinner party!

OMG - Red Velvet Galore

OMG: Red Velvet Tea-Cup-Cakes! LOVE the presentation! I once visited a tea room that served dessert in a teacup. What a clever idea, no? When planning your special event, consider how you might use an item in an unexpected way: for example, I've used teacups to serve fruit salad. A customer of mine is going to have several teacups filled with fresh flowers on her guest tables (I hope she sends pictures!). Anyhoo, the gal who made these tea-cup-cakes is no longer updating her food blog (Ooh you tasty little things), but you can still get the recipe and read her older posts (click on the pic). Also, she makes great jewelry, so do check out her current blog Faeried Treasures. But wait, there's more! (warned you that I am obsessed with RV, right?) Check out these red velvet cake balls! This picture below is from Blogger: Bakerella (click on pic below to go to the recipe). But I must ask, why bake when you can buy them already made? (for those of you who don't know me, you'll soon learn that one of my fave pass-times is ordering on-line :o) You can order red velvet cake balls from Must Love Desserts.

Yummy? Hardly the word for such a decadent treat! I often picture myself sitting on a plush sofa eating bon-bons, but now?! That vision has changed: I am eating chocolate covered red velvet bon-bons. :)

Thanks for stopping by. Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

Divine and Scrumptious Red Velvet

One of the best parts of my job, is shopping for new and exciting items. You simply have to admit…there are so many great products out there. The use of the Internet has put the world at our fingertips. (But, it has put the WHOLE WORLD at our finger tips, which can be overwhelming!) To help make your life a little easier, I have taken on the task being your Personal Shopper. :) I will be posting my latest fave items and products here. I hope you enjoy and stop back often to see the latest and greatest.

Recently, I stumbled on theses most incredible Red Velvet Cookie Sandwiches. Now, I have to admit – I love EVERYTHING Red Velvet, so maybe I am a tad biased about these sandwich cookies, but don't they look amazing? The Cookie Sandwich Company, who says their cookies are “made of butter and love” offer these fine, “divine and scrumptious” cookies with white chocolate morsels and vanilla cream cheese spread. Take a bite of one! Oh, the cream cheese is so wonderfully smooth and the Red Velvet ….smooth as the name implies.

These cookies (offered in other awesome flavors, too) are available by the dozen and can be purchased from The Cookie Sandwich Company. Now there's nothing stopping you from throwing the most amazing dessert party! Make a few calls, get six dozen of these cookie sandwiches, and enjoy! (don’t forget to let us know how your dessert party turns out!)

Stop back soon for more from me, Sarah E; acupofglee.blogspot.com

Welcome to A Cup of Glee - Fancy That's weekly Blog

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That! We happily call our blog “A Cup of Glee.” Starting Monday, August 25, we will be posting weekly, including the following sections:

The Flying Saucer: What’s new at Fancy That! and other news.

Table Talk: Manners and tabletop tips.

The Butler: Host and Hostess tips and helpful hints for planning your event.

Wedding Bells: Planning your wedding; tips and traps.

Stop back weekly, link to us with our RSS feed, and tell your friends. While you are thinking about it, stop by Fancy That! web site and enjoy!