EventTrender

Host a Samedi Gras Masquerade

Coordinated by Angela Butorac

Did you know that the Mardi part of Mardi Gras means Tuesday in French so Mardi Gras is also known as Fat Tuesday but if you celebrate on the Saturday before, that is called a Samedi Gras, Samedi means Saturday in French!

One of my clients, Annette is very creative and really dives into the theme of the event she is throwing. In the past, I had collaborated with her on other events and was thrilled when she hired me to help her pull all the details together for a Samedi Gras Masquerade she hosted in her home....complete with a Paczki dessert bar for the guests!

Whether you are planning a Masquerade or Mardi Gras Soiree here are some details and ideas to inspire you...

When you send out your invitations, encourage your guests to get into the theme by wearing festive masks, boas and beads!

Set your scene, you don't need to go heavy on the decorations, simple well placed decor pieces will work the best!

I'm often crafting or decorating with my mom Rose

so her and I created two of these wreaths

to display on the outside and inside of Annette's front door!

Decorate candles and holders with scrapbook stickers, fleur de lis,

bling rhinestones and festive mardi gras beads!

Display decorative masks, swag a feather boa and some mardi gras beads

from your fireplace mantle and decorate lighting with beads or garland!

This hostess with the mostess also created delicious dishes inspired by New Orleans style cuisine!

Greet guests with a Hurricane beverage! The Hurricane is a popular drink

 in New Orleans created in the 1940's by

a New Orleans tavern owner named Pat O'Brien!

The Hurricane gets it's name from the shape of the glass it is served in.

Directions to make your Hurricane ~

Mix all the ingredients in a tall pitcher or large pot and stir to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a punch bowl and add the ice cubes and orange segments and cherries. Serve in tall Hurricane glasses over ice with straws.

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001

Ingredients

12 ounces light rum
12 ounces dark rum
10 ounces grenadine, or passion fruit syrup
10 ounces fresh orange juice
10 ounces sour mix, or fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons superfine sugar, or more to taste
1 large orange, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

1/2 jar of maraschino cherries

 

It's always a great idea to hire professional, licensed bartenders and wait staff

to take care of bartending, food replenishing and clean up,

providing the hosts with peace of mind, a chance to mingle with guests

and actually be a guest at their own party!

 

Create a Paczki bar with a variety of filled Paczki!

~Place an order well in advance with your favorite Paczki bakery~

We added some angel wings and chocolate covered strawberries too!

What would a Fat Saturday celebration be like without some Paczki??

 

Such a great event! Thank you Kevin & Annette for inviting me to be a part of it!

~ Angela ~

 

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook!

Follow us on Twitter

Check out E-Trender Angela on pinterest

Check out E-Trender Sue on pinterest

 

Happy New Year E-Trenders!

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR E-Trenders!  We hope you had a festive season filled with love, family and friendship! 

We wanted to share one last holiday post with all of you.  Recently I (Sue)  hosted a snowman party for my adorable twin nieces and Angela's darling baby boy Troy.  It was an official first play date for all and I thought a snowman theme would be perfect.  Complete with Frosty the Snowman books, props and kisses!  Check it out...

I found a template on Etsy to make these snowman favor kisses.  The shop is called "busy little bug shop".  If you are looking for favor ideas for kids this shop has tons of ideas!  Check it out on Etsy (here).  The templates are so easy to print and the favors were even signed by Frosty!

I love writing on chalkboards to set the tone using spirited phrases... "baby it's cold outside" and by the way it was very cold!  The gifts had a chalkboard vibe as well.  I used black wrapping paper and customized each package by writing a joyful message with a white paint pen.  Each gift was embellished with colorful ribbon!

The table was filled with sweet snow themed treats including melted snowmen and cakepops created by the fabulous and talented Veronica Owens!  Check out her website here.  I purchased frosty micro-mugs at a local craft store and simply filled them with mixed nuts.  Everyone knows I love a little sweet and salty on my tablescapes!

 

My snowman collection repurposed as whimsical props for the tablescape!  It was such a wonderful afternoon spending time with the babies and my partner in EventTrender creative crime (Angela)!

Wishing you the best 2014 ever!

Cheers E-Trenders,

XO

Sue & Angela!

  

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook!

Follow us on Twitter

Check out E-Trender Angela on pinterest

Check out E-Trender Sue on pinterest

 

 

 

Gingerbread House Madness - By Sue Keels

Seasons Greetings E-Trenders!  As many of you know, I work at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan and love the wonderful world of hospitality!

(Illustration by Ooh la frou frou)

This time of year is always magical and our RPH team has the honor and huge responsibility of creating family traditions and treasured holiday memories.  We all take this job very seriously and also take ownership of the month of December with passion and creativity!

What started out as an idea over five years ago "if you build it they will come" is now a family tradition and a must-see for Royal Park Hotel guests, family, friends and neighbors.  The gingerbread house has become an icon over the season with thousands of visitors year after year.

I adore the look of wonderment in everyones eye when they enter the hotel.  There is a vibe of magic that fills the air and our spectacular marble lobby which is filled with the scent of fresh baked gingerbread all month long.

Many of you always ask about the house and I thought I would share a recent press release written by Megan Swoyer (see below) and some of my favorite images of the gingerbread house throughout the years.  The pictures were taken by Arising Images (thank you Prem)!

By the way E-Trenders Prem's adorable boys cut the ribbon this year - they did a great job!

 

(2008)

The Royal Park Hotel got right to the heart of the yuletide season with the recent grand opening of its highly anticipated, ever-so-enchanting Gingerbread House. The big day was tied to a special Salvation Army of Metro Detroit program that raises funds for those in need.

The sweet, decked-out House, located in the elegant hotel’s lobby and centered beneath a white-as-snow crystal chandelier, rolled out its sugarcoated welcome mat with whimsy by the inch. Elves aplenty seemed to wink at viewers, beckoning all to peer inside their delectable domain. (Yes, visitors can view enticing details indoors, too, as one side of the House is open to reveal even more enchantment!)

During the opening gingerbread house ceremonies, dozens of metro-area residents lined up to donate to the cause. The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles also were placed around the boutique-style hotel for the holiday season, awaiting additional monetary generosity from patrons, diners, visitors and others.

When Major Mark Anderson of The Salvation Army spoke to the crowd, he first asked attendees to listen to the “sounds of the season.” The lobby became quiet and all one could hear were the hushed giggles of highly excited children who couldn’t wait to get closer to the festive Gingerbread House and watch as three lucky brothers (Reid, Kole and Mayz Mukherfee) cut the opening-day ribbon (pictured above).

(GBH 2013)

“In a day where everything seems to be digital, this House is a true piece of art, and it just blows you away,” he observed. The House is made of 220 cups of sugar, 300 pounds of gingerbread mix, 110 cups of powdered sugar, 90 gallons of water, 240 eggs, 400 candy canes and 300 pounds of holiday candy.

Royal Park Hotel Pastry Chef Mark Slessor shared that all of the designs that went into the House — from roof panels to window trim to snowflake adornments— were created by hand.

RPH Executive Pastry Chef, Mark Slessor

“I sketched out how I wanted it to look,” he said. Slessor started thinking about his plan back in August. “We went with a red and white theme this year, which is Santa’s favorite color combination and works well for The Salvation Army logo, which is also red and white, of course.”

The talented, young chef was most proud of the three-dimensional fondant snowdrifts atop the roof, the long white sugar icicles and the detailed red poinsettia and white carved peony adornments. “Everything is edible,” he added.

GBH 2013

“Ten people worked about 200 hours total on the House in the basement of the hotel,” he recalled. “We had Christmas music playing in the background while we worked, to help us get into the spirit.” As busy as the elves that bedeck the Gingerbread House, Slessor and his team worked on getting the House perfect right up until the grand reveal. Grand, indeed. There’s no doubt that the spirit of Christmas can be found at the Royal Park Hotel, in more ways than one.

GBH 2011

 

A shout out to Emerald City Designs who landscapes our Gingerbread House every year - thank you David and team for always taking the design to the next level!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and stay tuned for more gingerbread fever!

E-Trenders - don't forget to take time to enjoy the smaller things in life and show the world your magic!

  

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook!

Follow us on Twitter

Check out E-Trender Angela on pinterest

Check out E-Trender Sue on pinterest

 

 

 

 

Have A ‘Very Vintage’ Christmas - By E-Trender Contributor Maddy Moog

 Add a creative twist to your favorite pastimes this holiday season!

With your holiday decorating under way, EventTrender is bringing you some retro inspiration to add a classic twist to any décor! Vintage cameos and Grandma’s antiques are the hottest trend, and a perfect addition to the holidays. Plus, showcasing your favorite memories are a fantastic way to sprinkle a little history throughout your home!
(above and below pictures viaHGTV.com)

Chalkboards are a cost effective and playful way to create an old-time feel and can be personalized to fit any style of décor! As a simple DIY, paint a large rectangle of cardboard or fabric with chalkboard paint and add a vintage frame or border.

Decorate your display with a creative message or create a scene for your holiday guests to enjoy! Such an easy way to personalize your vintage look this holiday season!

 

(above photo found here)

This retro-inspired wall art combines the festivities of the holidays from all generations. It’s time to raid Grandma’s house for the cutest antiques and knick-knacks to hang on your wall!

This is your chance to add pieces that truly represent you! Hang family photos, kids’ artwork, and monumental artifacts, along with any charming, and vintage, pieces you can find! Decorate the wall in a Christmas tree, wreath, snowman, or any other retro-inspired design! 

(above inspiration found here)

A great way to share and display your family history during the holiday season!

(photo credit : Pretty Petals)

And Vintage inspired holiday gift wrap! Use elements like lace ribbons, no sew fabric flowers and rosettes burlap, newspaper, or book pages or brown bag papers to create and embellish your holiday packages!

 
(above picture found here )    

And we can’t forget about the mantel! Cameos are a unique vintage addition to any holiday décor. Instead of hanging the family pictures, try this homemade vintage E-Trender Tip: In a dark room, project light onto a black piece of paper. Have your child or loved one stand in front of the paper and trace the outline of their face. Cut out the face for a personalized silhouette cameo!

Add the image to a stylish vintage frame and hang with a bow. Or for the extra crafty, outline Mr. and Mrs. Claus cameos to truly showcase the holiday spirit in your vintage look!

 

(from: Better Homes and Gardens)

Finally, incorporate all of our tips to make a fabulously old-fashioned ‘Very Vintage’ Christmas tree!

 At local craft and antique stores purchase Victorian frames and either make or find cameos to place in the frames. Or fill the frames with historic pictures of your relatives; a great way to personalize your main attraction!  Hang them throughout the tree with other antiques, such as old broaches and stylish pins. Throw in some leafy sprigs and tin cans to create a retro wonderland!  To top it off, replace garland with lace and hang strings of pearls for and added touch of vintage class!

(above picture found here)

And don’t forget E-Trenders….

Have Yourself a ‘Very Vintage’ Christmas!

PS:  We are taking a few weeks off to enjoy our family and friends this holiday season.  We wish you all a wonderful holiday and a happy new year!  Thank you for all of your ET support this year.  We can't wait to share more inspiration with you in 2013!

X0X0

Angela & Sue

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook!

Follow us on Twitter

Check out E-Trender Angela on pinterest

Check out E-Trender Sue on pinterest

 

 

THE PERFECT ORNAMENT EXCHANGE PARTY - By E-Trender Contributor Judy Rizzo

What constitutes the most wonderful fun filled Christmas ornament exchange party?  Is it the planning and coordinating, or the attention to detail? Perhaps it is the thrill of anticipating your guest's enjoyment...

Whatever the answer, our very own E-Trender Angela has accomplished just that!

Let's fast forward to the conclusion of an evening that kicked off the holiday season...an evening that sent each gal home thrilled about the experience.  What could be better than that?

No detail was left to chance but each aspect of the event carefully examined.

From the welcoming outdoor holiday greenery to stepping into Angela's warm cozy home filled with the fragrance of burning holiday candles, the sounds of the season music, and a glimmering tree, all these elements contributed to an atmosphere glowing with ambiance.

I was honored to have been invited and thought it would be fun to interview Angela afterward to gather behind the scenes prep work and ideas she so brilliantly executed. The primary question I was curious about was what elements did Angela focus on to create the evening and did she have any thoughts to pass along.  Angela shared with me that since she is a Party Planner by career, every so often she wants to share that passion with the people she loves...her family and friends.  She enjoys having guests in her home and wanted to create an atmosphere where they felt special, spoiled and indulged. And, she did just that!

Some of the interesting touches were the Jingle Juice station set up in Angela's inviting kitchen along with the hot chocolate and topping station!

 

Each station was so appealing that many of the guests felt compelled to try both throughout the evening.  The juice bar consisted of an elevated display of three different beverage dispensers, each with an appealing juice or holiday cocktail concoction. The hot chocolate station included mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes, cinnamon and refrigerated whipped topping, perfect for a December evening.
The aroma of brewing coffee with holiday flavored creamers added to the atmosphere.

Each guest brought either an appetizer or dessert to share and placed it on a special table in the lower level for easy access. The flow of people, beverages and food was festive and well planned!

The highlight of the evening was, of course, the exchange of the Christmas ornaments. Each guest had been asked to bring a wrapped ornament of a minimum $10 value to exchange. Angela had set up an area in the lower level, where we set our decorated boxes and bags so that each gal could easily choose, open and display their ornaments for the others to check out. 

Angela had each guest draw a number in order to start the exchange. When each person’s number was up, they could either pick an ornament from the display or "steal" another's. This element added lots of humor and strategy to the game. Great for socializing!

More variety included an upstairs space where Jewel Kade jewelry representative Nikky Palmeri showcased one of Angela's favorite lines of jewelry. Guests could browse through and try on the Jewel Kade jewelry on display or take home a catalog.  Another vendor, a delightful woman Angela met at a craft show, Diane Moody setup a table with feathered adornments, tutus and other accessories for women and little girls, certainly adding to the diversity of the night and some quick and easy holiday shopping! 

E-Trenders - check out this simple reindeer dessert - too cute!

SO, what then creates a perfect ornament exchange party?

In my opinion, it is keeping your guests in mind when doing the planning, decorating and setup. It is the gracious host and her obvious enthusiasm for this special time which is contagiously transferred to each person there. It is the spirit of the season.  We all thank you Angela for a memorable event that we will remember all through the year.

Happy Holidays E-Trenders!

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook!

Follow us on Twitter

Check out E-Trender Angela on pinterest

Check out E-Trender Sue on pinterest

 

 

 

St. Patty's Day ET Inspiration!

Hello E-Trenders!  St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and we wanted to kick off March with some Irish inspiration! 

We baked up colorful rainbow cupcakes and plan to share the recipe and "how to" with you in part two of this blog post later next week. BUT first, we asked EventTrender Contributor, Judy Rizzo to explore some of the traditions behind St. Patrick's Day.

E-Trenders - here is a sneak peek of the St. Patty's Day rainbow cupcake - we can't wait to show you the rainbow baking technique - so easy!

Okay - let's get to the meaning of St. Patrick's Day and add a little Irish inspiration from some of our favorite bloggers!

St. Patrick's Day is whimsical and fills the air with magic! It doesn't matter what nationality you are, the day is shamrock green and full of fun, legends and song and dance.

Every holiday celebrated is defined by symbols of all varieties.  St. Patrick's Day follows suit with many traditions that have old stories and beliefs attached to them.

Let's start with the shamrock. This was chosen as Ireland's national emblem because of the legend that St. Patrick himself had used it to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. We know the green shamrock is considered good luck and people all over enjoy believing this.

Love this shamrock yogurt covered pretzel by Sun Scholars - check out the "how to" here. 

The leprechaun is a cutie although stories tell us he is quite aloof and unfriendly. His name comes from an old Irish word, " Luchorpan", which means little man.

A leprechaun is an Irish fairy who looks like a small old man, two feet tall, and dressed like a shoemaker. He lives alone and passes his time making shoes. The mystery is that he has a hidden pot of gold somewhere and he may be drinking a bit of Irish cheer!

 Thank you Martha for the Irish Coffee recipe "how to" here

Then there's that famous old Blarney Stone.  The word "blarney" has come to mean nonsense or smooth flattering talk in almost any language. Tradition says that if you visit the Blarney Castle in County Cork and kiss the Blarney Stone, you will receive the true gift of gab and the power of persuasion.

The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the castle tower and you may be one of the fortunate tourists to live the experience.

Another widely used symbol of St. Patrick's Day is the harp. The harp is an ancient musical instrument used in Ireland for centuries. Harpists and poets played an important role in the social structure of Ireland and were supported by kings.

One of our ET followers Diane Dunn pictured with her majestic harp.  If you live in the Metro-Detroit area and need to hire a harpist - Diane is your gal!  Check out her Heart and Harp website here.

Now back for more St. Patrick's Day history...

The rainbow with the infamous pot of gold at the end is a legendary story that fascinates all ages.  Create your own pot of gold favors inspired by Twig & Thistle and One Charming Party.  We love this inventive lucky day takeaway!

We enjoy hearing the Irish story of fairies putting  gold in the pot and leprechauns guarding it. Rainbows, with their lovely and magical appearance, lead to the treasure. It requires hope and luck to find this pot of gold, a symbolism adopted by the Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and everything Irish.

Rainbow Layer Cake by Love and Olive Oil

To sum it up, the Irish celebrate life and love and honor friendships and enjoy the present moment. Their real treasure lies in the laughter and songs among friends. They have found the rainbow and embrace it in their own Irish way.

So, whatever your heritage, Irish or not, enjoy everything green and have a happy St. Patrick's Day!

Don't forget E-Trenders we have more Irish Inspiration coming soon! 

 

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook! 

Gingerbread Fever!

For those of you who know Sue Keels, EventTrender Co-Founder and Director of Sales and Marketing at the Royal Park Hotel, you must also know that she has a secret obsession for gingerbread!  Sue and the RPH team play a very important role in "making spirits bright" for thousands of guests this season.  The holidays are always magical at the Royal Park, filled with many joyful hotel happenings.

The lavish grand lobby features Rochester's Largest Gingerbread House which has become a tradition for families to visit year after year.  Inspired by many passionate Royal Park associates including a team of talented pastry chefs and engineers who start designing the sweet gingerbread house in August.

The gingerbread house has been in our lives forever it seems. It's magical enchantment springs to life as the holiday season approaches, and  it's memory lingers throughout the year to put a smile and sparkle on our faces.

Gingerbread houses come in all shapes and sizes, are displayed in moderate proportion from inside our homes to extremely elaborate models as the focal point in hotels, lobbies of enterprising businesses and so many other locations.  The Royal Park Hotel even hosts a ribbon cutting at the beginning of each season to kick off gingerbread fever!

E-Trenders - have you ever entertained or questioned where or how it all began?

We need to travel back in time...

 Ginger is a spice from Indo-Malaysia and believed to sooth an upset stomach.  In 2000 B.C wealthy Greek families sailed to the Isle of Rhodes for spiced cakes. Ginger was then introduced to the Europeans in the eleventh century which led to the English creating ginger candy.

Two hundred years later, breadcrumbs were added and gingerbread, almost as we know it, was born. In Queen Elizabeth - the first regime, molasses replaced the breadcrumbs and the gingerbread became more cake-like, evolving and leading to the shaping and building of The Gingerbread House.  After this time, gingerbread houses became popular in America and caught on quickly to the creative eye, becoming more detailed and playful and a true work of art. 

The folktale of Hansel and Gretel became world famous and Germany began it's many traditions and competitions as did America.  The Gingerbread House is a lovely and timeless legion that appeals to all ages  and  imaginations.

We are not done with gingerbread fever yet E-Trenders!  Stay tuned for our next post - we have asked Jenn Tilton, one of the pastry chefs at the Royal Park Hotel and owner of Indulge by Jenn to share some gingerbread recipes and the ET gals have a few ideas up there sleeve as well!

Also, don't forget to enter to win a $50.00 Lowe's gift card!  Post a picture of your mantel-scape on the EventTrender facebook page or on the Patch.com!  Here is a picture of the Royal Park Hotel mantel-scape for a little inspiration!

One winner will be randomly selected on December 23rd!  For full details, check out our EventTrender blog post here and good luck!  We can't wait to see all of your ET holiday creativity.

Also - a shout out to E-Trender Judy Rizzo for helping us research the history of gingerbread and also thank you to Arising Images who took all of the gingerbread house photography.  Prem - you have an amazing eye for imagery!

 

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration, inventive ideas and fabulous giveaways!

 

Find us on facebook! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thanksgiving Harvest Tablescape

An Open Home an Open Heart, Here Grows a Bountiful Harvest

Here are a few DIY ideas E-Trender Angela came up with for creating a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape and some unique holiday decor elements that even the kids can help you with!

Create a centerpiece using something that is unexpected, like this wrought iron fireplace piece by PartyLite. Typically this is used as a candle holder in front of a fireplace, but here Angela re-purposes it to be a harvest filled conversation piece in the center of the Thanksgiving table! -This look is perfect if you are serving your Thanksgiving meal buffet style in another area of your home then you have plenty of room on your table to create something special for your family and guests!

Collect small gourds and pumpkins from your local farmer's markets and grocery stores to use for your centerpiece. Cluster them around the bottom of your centerpiece. Incorporate votive candles (or led candles) if you are worried about little ones touching them!

 

DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards ~

Use a marker or Sharpie paint pin for wood to write the name of your guest at the top of the clothes pin.

These little foam Thanksgiving Turkeys can be purchased at craft stores like Michael's. They have a sticker back so you can stick them to your clothes pin.

Fold a cloth napkin (or cloth place mat) into a square or rectangle shape (whatever you prefer) and use raffia to tie a bow around the napkin.

Attach your Thanksgiving Turkey clothes pin to the center of your bow and place on top of your place setting!

Michaels Craft Store sells a roll of burlap garland by Panacea that was perfect for creating burlap sashes on the chairs.

DIY Leaf Banner ~

Create a leaf banner by punching holes in the top of foam leaves, Michaels Craft Stores sells them in a large package. String a ribbon through the top of them and space them out to create your banner. Angela created a shadowed effect by placing a sparkly leaf on top of a plain leaf.

DIY Wine Glass Luminary ~

Angela layered the bottom of a wine glass with crushed pecans and added a battery operated LED candle.

Create this template to make your shade using a piece of scrapbook paper or vellum. Angela chose a scrapbook paper that fit in with the color them but vellum really lets the light shine through!

Now how about a special treat?

Pumpkin Pecan Bundt Cake with Spiced Caramel Sauce ~

Ingredients:

3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1 package yellow cake mix

1 can (30 ounces) Libby's Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix, divided

3 large eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup (5 fluid ounce can) Evaporated Milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease 9 1/2 inch Bundt pan

Sprinkle nuts in bottom of prepared pan

Beat cake mix, 2 cups of pumpkin pie mix, eggs and oil in large mixer bowl for 2 minutes

Spoon mixture into prepared pan

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean

Cool in pan on wire rack for about 15 minutes, then flip cake out of pan to let cool on wire rack completely

Transfer the cake to a serving platter

Caramel Sauce:

Combine remaining pumpkin pie mix, brown sugar and evaporated milk in a medium sauce pan

Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat

Boil for one minute, remove from heat

Serve warm sauce with slices of cake

Happy Thanksgiving E-Trenders!

 May the bounty of the season fill your heart and home,

Love, Angela & Sue

E-Trender's don't forget to email us a picture to [email protected] of your beautiful fall decorated front door or porchscape, you just may win our $50 Lowe's gift card giveaway! Entries due by November 30th!

 

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration!

 

Find us on facebook! 

Don't forget to enter our porchscape contest for a chance to win a $50.00 Lowe's Gift Certificate!  Click here for the details.

 

A Red White and Turquoise Event

This Labor Day break incorporate a little Red White and Turquoise into your holiday entertaining!

Ideas to get you started ~

~ Sweet turquoise and red treats ~

Top left link here Top right link here Bottom left link here Bottom right link here

This DIY Turquoise, Red and White picnic is featured on United With Love here

Cute take on this color combination from Dinner 4 Two

Here is a little red white and turquoise love from Martha Stewart! Check out the napkins, wrapped in a turquoise ribbon complete with a little red bird guarding the setting!

Love this look! A little vintage mixed in with some modern day decor elements! More information on this look at The Little Round Table

Add some candy to your Labor Day entertaining, this sweet display featured on Sweets Indeed! Take sometime to browse Sweets Indeed for a ton of great ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth!

This take on the turquoise, red and white color palette comes from Alicia Crosby a member of the Baltimore, Maryland chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives

Now how about a Labor Day favor idea??

Cute idea featured here on Delightful Endeavors

Put all the yummy ingredients needed to make campfire S'mores stacked in three clear containers and wrap with a ribbon, use a turquoise, red and white ribbon to fit in with this color theme!

  Happy Labor Day to You and Yours E~Trenders !

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration!

 

Find us on facebook! 

4th of July PatioScape

One of our E-Trenders, Rose Sackey asked us to utilize her beautiful patio to create a 4th of July Patriotic PatioScape! We recently added Rose to EventTrender's Treasure Finder Team and are very excited to have her great eye!

Greet guests with ramekin cups of dried cherries and cranberries, walnuts and cashews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rose had this beautiful white and blue vase that we added red roses and festive 4th of July Pinwheels too!

We dressed the table with a Navy Satin Stripe Linen from Chair Covers & Linens...rent yours here!
 

Blueberry Salsa ~

 

Easy to make, unique and pleasantly delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blueberry Salsa Directions ~

-2 cups chopped fresh blueberries

-1 cup whole fresh blueberries

-1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno

-1/3 cup chopped red onion

-1 fresh lime, juiced

-Salt to taste

E-Trender Angela cut 1 inch watermelon slices and used Wilton's star shaped cookie cutter to create these star spangled treats! Simply line a white plate with fresh blueberries and rest your star shaped watermelon pieces in skewer sticks on top.

Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry Fruit Skewers are displayed in this luminary can to enjoy! At night either place a candle or some blue or red battery operated led lights in the can to let the light shine through the stars!

Watermelon Salad ~

-Mix in large bowl the following:

-Cut a half seedless watermelon into cubes (cut a whole watermelon for more guests)

-Arugula (or use mint leaves)

-Strips of sliced red onion

-Feta cheese crumbles

ET Tip ~ The Dressing is really your personal preference, Angela recommends a vinagrette type dressing like Briannas Champagne Caper Vinagrette. Garlic Expressions is another great pairing!

Sweet Endings ~ 4th of July Firework and star shaped sugar cookies by Indulge by Jenn!

How about some stuffed strawberries?

Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each strawberry so the berries stand upright. Slit the center of the strawberry and scoop out and discard the center.

Fill your strawberries with your favorite whip cream and top with a blueberry! Or try out this Cream Cheese and Pecan Stuffed Berry recipe on the Food Network here.

Do you like S'mores? Then you will really love these Campfire S'more Bars by Indulge by Jenn! Amazing!

 

Rose's beautiful fountain created the perfect backdrop for this holiday tablescape!

Thanks for letting us be a part of your 4th of July celebrations Rose!

 E-Trenders, Sue and Angela wish you and yours a very happy and safe 4th of July holiday!

   

Are you an E-Trender?

Subscribe to the EventTrender Blog here. 

Simply add your email address to the upper right corner of our blog and you will be the first to receive our updated blog posts filled with entertaining inspiration!

 

Find us on facebook!