D.I.F.Y. Cupcake Pick-Me-Up

Today’s D.I.F.Y. (Do It For Yourself) post is all about indulgence – we were having one of those crave-days at SF and decided to treat ourselves to a little afternoon delight. Always remember there’s nothing wrong with breaking the diet once in a while and indulging in a little sweet treat during the day. One word: Yum!

Fabulous Find Friday: BRIGHTS

Everyday we come across fabulous finds that we love to share. Right now we are obsessed with brights and these sunglasses are right on trend.

Whether you want to save the splurge and check these out at Target or get the real deal at Burberry, brights are in and summer won’t be the same without them!

D.I.Y. Asparagus Bruschetta

When we came across this delicious D.I.Y. we knew we had to share it. Nothing is more tasty, not to mention economical, than to incorporate fresh Farmers Market vegetables into your meals. Check out this easy-to-follow recipe from our dear friends over at Event Trender, they always keep us on top of the food trend. This Farmer’s Market inspired Asparagus Bruschetta is a perfect (and in season) patio appetizer that is sure to become a household favorite.

Start by chopping some fresh asparagus, boil and drain in ice water.

Slice heirloom tomatoes in small quarters.

Prepare grated fresh lime…

Chop, mince and slice fresh garlic, basil and green onions…

Mix all ingredients listed below and add olive oil and balsamic.

Slice a french baquette and brush a small amount of olive oil on the bread.  Place in the oven for about five minutes (400 degrees) until lightly toasted.

Spoon asparagus mixture on each toasted baquette and sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese

Are you hungry yet?

Here is the official how to…

• 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 cups of water
• 2 cups of chopped heirloom tomatoes
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
• 1/4 teaspoon sea-salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 12 slices French baguette, toasted
• 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the asparagus; cover and boil for 2-4 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.

In a bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, basil, onions, lime juice, oil, balsamic, garlic, lime peel, salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, spoon asparagus mixture onto toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese and enjoy!

Thank you e-trender for this tasty D.I.Y.

Creative Crush: Suzi Molak

As creative people, nothing inspires us more than chatting with other creative people around us. What better way to share our knowledge of the design and planning industry than to ask our fellow experts on what they do best. Today we are excited to share some tips and inspiration from Longview Gallery‘s Events Director, Suzi Molak. After working in galleries and events for six years in New York, Suzi transitioned to life in D.C. where she oversaw the construction of Longview Gallery and drew up a model for how the venue would host events. Suzi believed in “showing the D.C. arts scene that a gallery doesn’t just have to be a gallery.” Anyone that has done an event at Longview Gallery knows how unique this raw space is. Having just coveted the front page spot of BizBash D.C.’s “Innovation Issue”, we thought what better time to introduce Suzi to our readers and have her share her expertise.

Click here to view an electronic copy of this issue.

Below You’ll Find Suzi’s Top 5 Tips To Consider When Looking for a Venue:

1.  Initially – Be Brief
Your first contact with a venue should be in regards to cost and seating capacity.  If these two items don’t work, there is no reason to explore further.  Your time is precious and your list long – make it easy on yourself to narrow down your search.

2.  Don’t be scared of a Venue Fee
Remember that Venues price themselves to be competitive. An all inclusive hotel- when you get down to the final numbers – might be relatively the same cost as a Venue where all items are brought in.

3.  Have a Connection
You are going to be working with your vendors for a year or more.  Make sure that you feel comfortable that you can ask them questions and that they take the time to explain them in a way that makes you feel secure. Strive for rapport.

4.  Exclusive Vendors Should Not be a Deterrent
You want the best teams working together on your wedding or special event. If a venue has exclusive vendors, it means they have earned the right to be in that space, time and time again.

5.  Early End Times are a Blessing in Disguise
Often times venues require an end time of 11pm.  Moving locations later in the evening (hotel bar, or hotel suite fully stocked) will allow the guests who should go home do so, and the guests who should stay, continue your evening with you.

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With our Creative Crushes we love to ask what gets their creative juices flowing. See the inspiration board below to get a glimpse of what Suzi is loving this month:

D.I.F.Y. = Do It For Yourself – Cocoa Comfort

What better way to D.I.F.Y. on a cold, rainy Wednesday evening than to curl up on the couch with hot cocoa. We are loving this easy home-made hot cocoa recipe that is sure to warm you up for the night!

This hot cocoa recipe calls for two different kinds of chocolate and is whipped to frothy perfection with half and half cream for an extra rich cup of cocoa (marshmallows optional, but recommended for maximum tasty-ness):

Ingredients

- 1 cup milk

- 1 cup half and half

- 8 tsp sugar

- 1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

- 1 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped

- 1 tbs brown sugar

- 1/2 tbs vanilla

Preparation

1. Heat everything in a saucepan, except the vanilla, until the chocolate melts and the sugar dissolves

2. Pour half into a blender and mix until foamy

3. Return to the saucepan and add the vanilla

4. Stir briefly then serve (marshmallows optional)

5. Enjoy!

D.I.F.Y. = Do It For Yourself – Botanical Edition

With Spring here, what better way to enjoy a day off than taking a friend, loved one or entire family to visit the United States Botanic Garden (USBG). Steeped in history, rich with tradition, the United States Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. The Garden highlights the diversity of plants worldwide, as well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological significance. The diversity of form, color, fruit, and fragrance reminds us that plants make our lives possible and enjoyable. So why not take a day and D.I.F.Y. and see what’s in bloom at the USBG!

Take the virtual tour to get a taste of what these grounds have in store for you!

A Passover Love Story

Max Yadin is a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the intellectual center for Conservative Judaism in America. As a rabbi-in-training, Max loves making tradition accessible to Jews, and enjoys helping people of all (and no) faiths make spiritual connections. Max is excited to celebrate Passover with Something Fabulous by sharing a Passover love story…

This past Friday and Saturday night, Jewish people around the world gathered with friends and family to celebrate the first two nights of Passover. On each of the nights we hold Seders, festive meals, where we tell the story of the Jews’ emancipation from Egyptian slavery. Through this ritual retelling, Jewish people celebrate their own freedom, but also call attention to our fellow human beings who are still not free.

Every detail of the Passover Seder is meant to encourage questions and discussion around the holiday table. Traditionally, a Seder Plate is placed in the middle of the table; on it are different types of food that represent various aspects of the Jews’ enslavement in Egypt. A special cup, called Elijah’s Cup, is also placed on the table. An ancient Jewish tradition teaches that the biblical prophet Elijah will be the one to announce the arrival of universal peace and freedom on Earth. Whether or not we believe that this will actually happen, Elijah’s Cup is symbolic for the ideal of universal justice and peace that each of us long for.

One of my favorite Passover traditions is reclining. The “modern” Passover Seder was created in the time of the Roman Empire, when it was common for wealthy people to hold extravagant private banquets. Unlike today, people did not sit in chairs and eat at tables. Rather, those who could afford it ate reclining on dinner couches. In that time, reclining to eat was a symbol of luxury and privilege. By reclining at the Seder, Jews affirm that their ancestors were slaves, but that they are now free people. Reclining is also symbolic of the equality that we would like to realize in our world today. At the Seder we all recline despite differences in age, gender, religion, and socio-economic status. We all recline because despite all of these differences we each deserve to be free and live with dignity. Every Passover Jewish people gather with family and friends to tell a story about freedom, a story that I’ve fallen in love with.

Fashion forward Friday: Splash Into Spring

As the old adage goes,”April showers bring May flowers,” so you might as well make the most of it. Get on your favorite rain gear and bring on the rain!

Top 5 trendy ways to enjoy the rain:

1. Hunter Rain Boots: Everyone needs a great pair of rain boots, this (rainy) season we are loving Hunter’s original rubber in tangerine.

2. Jean Paul Gaultier Striped Umbrella: This umbrella is the perfect combination of fashion and function and makes rocking stripes that much more fun!

3. Alexander McQueen Retro Vinyl Shopper: This pink vinyl shopper is no ordinary bag – not only will it keep your valuables dry but it is sure to make a bold fashion statement.

4. Burberry Raincoat: The classic yellow raincoat is a must-have this Spring, combined with tangerine boots and a retro-pink shopper this look is sure to make a splash.

5. Singing In The Rain Movie: This timeless classic will no doubt get you into the “rainy” spirit, and now that you have all your gear, why not go “singing in the rain”?

D.I.F.Y. = Do It For Yourself – Gratitude

With the Easter holiday coming up, it’s easy to get caught up in egg hunts, chocolate filled baskets and home decorating. In the midst of all the holiday fun, don’t forget to stop and do something for yourself! Holidays are a time of reflection, and what better way to be conscious of all that you have to be grateful for than with a gratitude journal. We’ve used this Catherine Price gratitude journal as a favor for our guests and for ourselves – it is the perfect gift for any occasion, even if the occasion is you. So don’t forget to take a moment and D.I.F.Y. (Do It For Yourself) this Easter!

A Cherry Blossom Love Story

This week’s love story celebrates the centennial of the D.C. Cherry Blossoms! Originating from the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, this annual celebration hosts more than a million people who admire the blossoming cherry trees along the Potomac tidal basin.

In honor of this fun time of year, why not add a little cherry blossom into your life.

Below are five great ways to incorporate the cherry blossom season:

1. Beautiful Bouquet: Can’t make it down to the cherry blossom festival this year? Fill your home with these beautiful blooms. If you can’t go to them, why not bring them to you.

2. Garland It Up: Check out etsy for paper garland cherry blossom inspiration! No need for it to be a party – why not celebrate the season for yourself. String these fun paper blossoms across your mantle, front door or chandelier to bring a bit of the cherry blossom festivities into your home. (Bonus feature: These blossoms have a shelf life of more than 7 days.)

3. Fashion Inspiration: If you don’t want to take a literal approach to the cherry blossom season, why not celebrate in pink tones. Cherry blossoms come in all shades – find your favorite chiffon or spring-flowing dress and incorporate the cherry blossom feel into your wardrobe.

4. Family Photo: Get the family dressed up and take a photo underneath the blooms. Not only is it a fun day out but it’s a lasting memory.

5. Plant a Tree: There is no better way to celebrate the season than to plant a cherry blossom tree for yourself or for someone you love. Check out your local garden center for information – we love Merrifield Garden Center.

Click here for a comprehensive list of all D.C. Cherry Blossom festival details!

[photo credit: left, top right, bottom right]