California Love..the drink

Ok Im a big fan of cute drinks even though Im always looking for the non alcohol version. But this one caught my eye. One, because I love my state and two its just looks cute.

Its California Peach Sangria

Dont that look yummy?!? Try this for your end of summer parties

Ingredients: (Makes 6 Servings)
1 (750ml) bottle Sauvignon Blanc, chilled
1 cup peach puree (about 2 medium peaches)
1/2 cup Marie Brizard Peach liqueur
1 tbsp sugar
1 peach, pitted and thinly sliced
4 lime slices
Garnish: mint sprigs

Stir together the wine, peach puree and peach liqueur in a large pitcher. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add fruit slices, pressing against the side of the pitcher with a large spoon to release some of the juices. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Serve in tall glasses over ice, garnished with mint sprigs.

The ABC’s of Weddings & Special Events

Well Lexus Events is going to take you thru the alphabet of Weddings & Special Events as we see it. And of course we want your input on each letter so make sure that you comment. Ready to start? OK here we go:

A = Appetizers

ap·pe·tiz·er [ áppə tzər ] (plural ap·pe·tiz·ers)
noun

Definition:

1. food served before main course: a small dish of food served at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the appetite
2. stimulating sample: a sample of something that is meant to stimulate an interest

They are a great way to start off a meal or just the right snack when folks are just mingling and chatting away. Are you a DIY kinda person and want to try something new? Check out the recipes on http://www.foodnetwork.com/ or http://www.allrecipes.com/ This picture is of Antipasto Squares…Yummy!

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1/4 pound thinly sliced boiled ham
1/4 pound thinly sliced provolone cheese
1/4 pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese
1/4 pound thinly sliced Genoa salami
1/4 pound thinly sliced pepperoni sausage
1 (12 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained, cut into thin strips
3 eggs
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).

Unroll one package of crescent roll dough, and cover the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Layer the ham, provolone cheese, Swiss cheese, salami, pepperoni, and red peppers, on top of the dough.

In a bowl, beat the eggs lightly, and stir in the Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Pour 3/4 of this mixture over the peppers. Unroll the second package of dough, and place over the top of the peppers. Brush with the remaining egg mixture. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove foil, and bake another 10 to 20 minutes, or until dough is fluffy and golden brown. Cut into squares. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

What would be your “A”?

October Signature Drink … Jack O Tini

October…the month of Halloween. Dont know if you partake in the Halloween festivities but if your throwing an adult party, try this months signature drink for all your Halloween guests. Taken from the Cocktail Times

Jack 0 Tini

Ingredients:

2 oz Stoli vodka

1/4 oz pumpkin puree

1 tsp lemon juice

2 oz orange juice

Place a large soup pot filled with water on the stove to boil. Carve the tops from the pumpkins and set aside. Scope out the interior and seeds, leaving a think shell. Discard the seeds and flesh, or use in another recipe. Place the pumpkins in the boiling water and boil for about a minute. Remove and drain. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into the pumpkin. Serve with a black straw.

Tips for a Fall Cocktail Party

From FineLiving.Com

• If space is limited, consider alternative ‘tables’ for bar service – think windowsills, or a large tray on an ottoman.
• If serving trays are limited, get creative. Try bud vases for holding straws and swizzle sticks, water glasses for sliced up veggies, and funky (but thoroughly cleaned!) ashtrays for nuts. Create a cozy haven from the cold with candles, dim lighting, and warm colors – use cocktail napkins in orange, red, yellow to capture the look of fall foliage.
• Try to have at least one non-alcoholic drink option for guests. Juices and punches are tasty, festive, and can be served in cocktail glasses so the non-drinker doesn’t feel out of place.
  Keep a variety of appetizers around. As your friends drink they’ll be more inclined to nibble on something salty. A mix of crudités, dips, pita chips, and a small platter of meats and cheeses should do the trick.
• Three words: Ice, ice, ice. (And more ice.) We know it’s fall and some of these drinks are best served warm, but nobody wants a piping hot margarita or martini.

Funny baby pic….

Look at my what DD did to her DD…..Too Funny!

Yep thats my 4 month old grand daughter in a wig…Thought that you might need a laugh this Friday!

World’s Largest Cruise Nite

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Margaret Salmond
Lets Get Away Travel(866) 920-8693
http://wlcn.cruising.org/letsgetawaytravel

LETS GET AWAY TRAVEL TO HOST VIRTUAL EVENT DURING NATIONWIDE “WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE NIGHT” PROMOTION

Oakland, CA, September 24, 2008 – On October 16, 2008 Margaret Salmond of Lets Get Away Travel, travel division of Lexus Events, will join thousands of cruise-selling travel agents in the World’s Largest Cruise Night, an exciting event in which travel agencies across North America band together to provide consumers with a world of information on cruise vacations.

If they choose, prospective cruise guests don’t even have to leave the comforts of home to participate! New this year, Lets Get Away Travel is hosting a “Virtual” World’s Largest Cruise Night. By entering the Web page, http://wlcn.cruising.org/letsgetawaytravel consumers can learn about cruising online. Lets Get Away Travel has chosen several short videos showcasing the exciting offerings and destinations from participating CLIA member lines. For convenience, the Web page will be live until the end of the month.

World’s Largest Cruise Night (WLCN) is the highlight of October’s National Cruise Vacation Month, the once-a-year period during which travel agencies across North America sponsor exciting events and promotions all focused on cruising – the most enjoyable, satisfying and value-oriented vacation option available in today’s marketplace.

WLCN 2008 will feature simultaneous celebrations occurring around the U.S. and Canada to share the good news of the cruise vacation lifestyle with millions of vacationers.

Lets Get Away Travel is one of over 15,000 North American travel agency members of CLIA, Who’s 24 member lines represent 97% of the cruise berths marketed in North America. According to CLIA statistics, the wide majority of travelers – about 90% – book cruises through travel agencies, and for good reason: agents excel at finding the perfect cruise to match their clients’ vacation needs, lifestyle and budget. CLIA’s certified cruise counselors are the cruise industry’s premiere professionals, providing the best service and value for your vacation dollar.

For more information or to book your cruise vacation, contact Margaret of Lets Get Away Travel at (866) 920-8693 or Margaret@letsgetawaytravel.net

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Playing with Color…..

I love wedding! I love events that have a lil, well actually a lot, of color. Red being my favorite. I was chatting with one of my brides this morning and she is looking to change her color scheme for her Women of Honor AKA Bridesmaids.

So I was chatting with some of my planner friends (thanks Wedding Savey over at Wedding In A Box http://www.weddingsinabox-services.com/ ) and they gave me some links to share with her and I’m going to share them with you.

The best by far is Bridal Canvas. This site is way cool. Everything for the Bride to Be to choose from color wise. From flowers to invites to sashes and of course this one caught my eye

Isn’t this just beautiful! I think that red just caught my eye and didn’t let go. Other links to play with color include:

http://www.colourlovers.com/

http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/

http://www.colorhunter.com/

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/

http://www.wellstyled.com/

http://www.colorjack.com/studio/

If your a bride, on your day, have some fun and play with color. Traditional colors are good but color makes it a lil more fun.

Wedding Insurance

We have insurance for just about everything these days. Life insurance. Medical Insurance. Car insurance. But what do we have to protect one of the biggest days of our life? What happens if your baker goes out of business (Yikes!) or your venue needs you to have liability coverage? Well that’s where Wedding Insurance comes into play. And there are a couple of ones to choose from: Cancellation Insurance and Liability Insurance.

Cancellation Insurance can cover issues that you just can’t plan for such as postponements (bad weather for example) where you could possibly lose your deposit, no show vendors, damage to your wedding gown, or someone who is in the military who gets deployed, etc. Some will even allow you to add the name of your wedding venue and reception ceremony as additional insured and will send them a copy of the policy at no additional charge.

Liability Insurance is sometimes required by ceremony and reception sites and will protect you if you’re held liable for property damage or bodily injury. Some will also have an option to protect you against alcohol related accidents and it’s called the host liquor liability.

Most policies start from $500,000 and can go up to 2 million in liability coverage and pricing varies depending on your state.

There are a couple of companies that can provide you with wedding insurance. The two biggest ones are Wedsafe (http://www.wedsafe.com) and Wedding Insurance (http://www.weddinginsurance.com) A search of the web will help you find several other companies that will offer you the protection for your big day.

As with everything, do your research and find a company that will work with you to give you the coverage that you need. Oh and don’t forget to pay for it with a credit card.

Happy Shopping!