A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - Part 4 of 4 - The Garden Party - Under the Parasol

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!

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

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

Welcome to the fourth week of posts on “The Garden Party.” This week, our series wraps up with the one and last thing – the parasol. It was mentioned a few posts back as something that Fancy That is now carrying for sale (the paper parasols).

You simply have to know that anyone who carries a parasol feels elegant, and frankly, a little royal. There is something demur, almost childish, about twirling the parasol lightly so as to make it appear the wind is catching it, lofting it in the sky, rolling it in the fingers of the Zephyr only to twirl it back the other way….ok, maybe I am waxing a little too romantically here. But, not just for garden parties, the parasol is fast becoming a very large part of the wedding. A fabulous company in Australia called “A Bit Shady” has some great parasols for purchase including Monk Parasols. Take a look at a few of these pix….

Of course, you could rent your parasols from Fancy That! instead of having to purchase them.

Passing out the parasols as guest arrive to your Garden Party, Wedding Reception, or what ever the special occasion, will be a delight for the usher passing out the parasols, and for each person who carries such a treasure and enjoys the shade for moments or hours.

Thanks for enjoying this four part series on The Garden Party. We hope we were able to give you a few ideas, to spark some imagination, and motivate you to have a nice time, hosting and celebrating summer the best way possible – with the Garden Party!

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 - Garden Parties - Part 3 of 4 - What to Eat!

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

This week we are highlighting "what to eat" at your garden party. By now, your mind is whirling of what color themes you will use, how you will invite your guests and which invitations to use, and now you are focused on the menu.

Fear not! Following are ideas for planning your garden party menu from the sublime, to the catered! (grin) You can think simple like wine and cheese or think involved like rolled salmon and fresh crackers, to everything in between. Just don't forget the punch (see our older posts on Pink Punch and Beverage Decanters)!

The Butler

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

Southern Living has come great ideas for the Spring Garden Party. Just click on the picture above and you will have menu ideas to get your creative side going!

Of course, we couldn't be giving out recipies without also mentioning the Food Network. Their selections go from the berries and bubbly to the wine and cheese using goat's milk cheese and other fine fixings.

Be sure to allow some time to explore Suite 101 as well for fine recipies. And remember, include some sugared flowers (but only those that are edible) as garnish on your plates to add that extra "zing" to your garden party.

As you finalize your menu, please do let us know what you decided, and we will post your ideas here in two weeks! Tell your friends, and good planning!

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 - The Garden Party - Part 2 of 4 - The Inviting Garden Party

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

Welcome to part 2 of four parts with the theme of “Garden Parties.” Remember last week we mentioned one of the most important things in a Garden Party Décor. This week, we call our post: “The Inviting Garden Party.”


Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Everyone will agree that, sending an invitation that is elegant will set the tone for the Garden Party. My Expressions posting summarizes it best that when receiving a beautifully done invitation, the tone is already set, and the guests know they are being invited to an elaborate affair. If your event is a little less formal, you can create your own flower-shaped invitations adding your information in the center of the flower, seal envelopes with garden stickers, or if you can hand-deliver your invitations, use a small plant pot, with your invitation tied to the pot. Include a small plant or a packet of seeds.



In all cases, use the R.S.V.P. (répondez, s'il vous plait) which means “please reply.” There is no need to say “please RSVP: since that would be redundant. Even if your event is casual, use the RSVP in order to keep a count on the guest so you can plan your food and drink (which is the subject of next week’s post!).

If you are the guest and receive an RSVP, please do be courteous enough to reply to your hostess or host in a timely manner, with the correct number of guests. Nothing causes more “bad flowers” at a garden party than having to set up chairs and another table, let alone not being able to feed everyone simply because your replied that only you would come, and instead, you brought six of your cousins. Be kind, be courteous, and behave! (grin)


The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
Nothing says “elegant garden party” like a botanical invitation. If you are having invitations printed, one of our favs is…you guessed it, Artistic Addressing.

We have highlighted Artistic Addressing in earlier posts here, and find they still entice, excited and provide a great product for the fee. Personalized invitations show the hostess or host has taken the time to create an invitation list, decide who will be seated where, and whether to have buffet, family style, self-service or frozen from the microwave (just kidding!).

If you would like another choice so you can use a portion of your budget elsewhere, consider Invitation Consultants.
Invitation Consultants has a nice selection and usually ships in 7 to 9 days after production.

Lastly for suggestions, if you are on a budget and in a hurry, consider Vista Print!

All too often, when friends of ours are scratching their head not knowing which way to turn, we point them in the direction of Vista Print and their solution is only a few days away, and designed quickly and easily by You! It has your personal mark on the invitations. Just use care checking out so you don’t order an extra 100! (for those of us that have done that, we all know exactly what we are talking about!)

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

What better for your Garden Party than a paper parasol? Not yet pictured on Fancy That!'s web store, but available upon request, are these wonderful paper parasols that will be the exclamation point on your Garden Party. Call or email for pricing and availability!

A Gilt Paper Parasol - Perfect for your elegant garden party!

An Oriental Theme would be perfect for this colorful paper parasol

And my personal fav with the flowers and beautiful birds

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 - The Garden Party - Part 1 of 4

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

This week we are pleased to start a four week series on The Garden Party. We hope to give you some hints, some idea, some links, some paths and more than anything else, some motivation to host that Garden Party that everyone will talk about until next summer. So without further adieu, let’s get started on our first week of “The Garden Party.” This week we are exploring the most feared item for the Garden Party – Color (gasp!). Really now? Are you THAT afraid of color?


Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Invitations, table cloths, napkins, plates, cups, silver ware or plastic ware, all can coordinate or clash. After all, it is all about the mood you want to set. The best table top hint is to coordinate the colors with your garden near where the party will be held. If you flower beds are pinks and whites, then you can make your theme pink and green, with a splash of white.


Simply: take the inspiration from the outside, and mimic the colors that you first see when you open the French Doors to your patio or Garden oasis. (And if you are a city dweller, and are having your garden party on the third floor walk up patio, use the brick and steel as your colors! Add a splash of color to bring whimsy to your tables, and you are all set!



The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
You could always consider a color and a theme for your garden party. Check out the idea here
for an Impressionist Theme Garden Party. You now know your colors, and your theme. It’s time to get the invitations started!



Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)
Why not play “dress up”?


I have found that ladies and gentlemen BOTH enjoy playing dress up when everyone is playing along. Even the most reserved, cranky of husbands will feel dapper in a top hat, grey gloves, and a fine silken tuxedo. Add to that the ladies with their hats gently flopping the breeze, and you have the perfect Garden Party for a wedding reception. Even if you prefer a tent in case of rain, ladies and gentlemen in “black tie” will always make the eye brow raise, and will always be flattering whomever you are!


The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)
Next week, some great news about new additions to Fancy That’s Garden Party Line. Check back next Monday to be the first to see our new items for rent!


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 - COASTERS!

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

Happy June! Whether you are “up north” and starting to feel the warmth and summer, or “down under” and bundling up for the winter, it’s June! June marks time for entertaining out of doors “up north” and snuggly time indoors next to the warm fireplace “down under.”

In keeping with our wish to help make your entertaining a little more manageable, this week, we are talking coasters. Yes, you read that right…COASTERS!

There are so many variations that it could make your head spin. But hold on! We are here to help. Below we will be highlighting some of our favs, and a few ideas to get your thoughts running wild (before you know it you will be planning a party around your new coasters!)!

Our first word of advice is to point out that, not all coasters are absorbent. Beautiful glass coasters simply protect the table tops or surfaces that the beverage will be placed upon….like a trivet. If you wish to truly protect your fine furnishings, consider an absorbent coaster like a sandstone or cork. If you are providing a stable surface on a garden table, glass coasters will work just fine.

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Let’s say you launch iGoogle™ and begin your search for that perfect coaster.

Already, you will be daunted by the search results scanning many types and many pages. Consider starting here at the Victorian Trading Company’s selection of fine coasters. These fine coasters for your table top will not only be a hit, they can act as a nice favor your guests can take home as a keepsake of the evening.

The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
Next, you need help in selecting that perfect coaster. You have selected your theme for the Garden Party or the Evening Meal, say, Butterflies, and would like some butterfly coasters. Fear not! Click here to go to Thirsty Coasters dot com and see the varying and many selections that are available. Thirsty Coasters dot com will quickly become like your “coaster butler.”

Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)
You have read all the way to this section and are wondering, how are we tying in coasters for your wedding? Easy! The word is “personalization”. Consider a tasteful coaster in front of each guest as the favor, with your wedding date and your initials. Every time the guests use the coaster, they will remember your wonderful wedding celebration. Absorbent Printing Company is a great jumping off point.

And while you are considering personalized coasters, consider the possibilities of a picture coaster. Of course this may be a little over the top. (we can just hear all the comments now!) this can be done in a tasteful way as part of your thank you cards, with a picture of the bride and groom on the coaster. Or you could put your Saint Bernard, Winston, on the coasters. Actually, anything is possible!

The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)
Lastly for today, is our pick of the week. We were so impressed with these lace coasters, that we started carrying them in Fancy That's Store. We don’t yet have a picture up on the store. If you are interested, please do contact us for pricing. They are prints of 1800’s lace under glass with a cork backing. What a wonderful hostess gift, or simply to use time and again to wow your guests. Each time you bring these lace-like coasters to the table, you will receive comment after comment.

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