Lulu Powers Party Planning

I just got back from spending a few days in Hollywood, where all work aside, I got to go to some completely fabulous parties.

Lulu Powers is one of Hollywood's premiere celebrity party planners and caterers. Her events have a very distinct flair to them, and thanks to her gorgeous book, Lulu Powers From Food To Flowers, they are also quite duplicatable.
One of the events I was at this week was a Lulu Powers inspired event. This got me thinking (over several of her famous Bambootinis) now that we are in the summer party season, that some of you may be interested in her tips for how to throw a last minute party.

Lulu Powers From Food To Flowers is my entertaining bible. I constantly pull ideas from her book, whether it is flower arrangements in my house, cool drinks to serve at my pool parties, or fantastic finger foods that keep people talking for months to come.
If you are new to entertaining, or if it feels overwhelming to you, Lulu has lists of what to keep in your pantry for last minute entertaining, timelines for how to structure your day so that everything runs smoothly, even creative serving ideas.
On her blog, amongst other things, you can find playlists to download for your party. Its fabulous!

Here are a couple of ideas for a little impromptu summer bash a la Lulu.

Flowers
Bypass fussy arrangements in favor of plants that live in your garden. Try positioning low bowls of one color flower offset with moss on tables and shelves at a variety of different heights.

Sweet and Spicy Tacos

Lulu's recipe for sweet and spicy tacos is both quick and easy, and everyone loves them! (you'll find it in her book on page 232)
She also has delicious recipes for chips and dips that are not only divine, but make your event so memorable.

Watermelon

In hot weather you can't beat icy cold wedges of watermelon for dessert.
Sprinkle with sea salt, a dash of lime and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Lulu's book has some fantastic recipes for her signature cocktails too.
I haven't put a cocktail recipe on the blog for a while, but this one is refreshing and totally perfect for a summer get together.

The Lulu Powers Key Lime Martini

1 cup pineapple juice
3 tablespoons Torani vanilla syrup
3 tablespoons sweet and sour mix
juice of one lime
1 cup vodka (I use Grey Goose)
Jolly Rancher Lollipops

Shake the pineapple juice, syrup, sweet and sour mix, lime juice and vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Serve in martini glasses garnished with a Jolly Rancher Lollipop.

(or make a carafe of them and place next to a bowl of crushed ice, and let your guests pour their own!)

You can find Lulu Powers From Food To Flowers in bookstores, or for instant gratification, here is the Amazon link.
Make sure you check out her blog, Living A La Lulu

Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail

 I was looking around for some fabulous drink to serve this weekend, and found this one. I  haven't tried it yet, but doesn't it look lovely?? And, of course, Martha has the coolest glasses!

Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail

From Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

This cocktail is made with icy Moscato d'Asti, which is sweeter than champagne but much lighter than the rich dessert wine also made from Italian moscato grapes. Just the right medium for this fizzy drink, it adds flavor to the silky pear and tart cranberries.

 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoon(s) dry cranberries
• 1/2 cup(s) organic pear nectar
• 32 ounce(s) Moscato d'Asti wine
• 8 small sprigs fresh rosemary

---

Directions

1. Put cranberries in a small bowl; add 2 tablespoons warm water. Soak until cool, about 15 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and refrigerate until serving.
2. Divide pear nectar evenly among eight tall champagne glasses. Add cranberries, and then gently pour the Moscato d'Asti into the glasses. Garnish each with a rosemary sprig.

Holiday Happy Hour!

Its Friday and we are officially in holiday season, so why not offer up something festive and seasonal at happy hour?

This one is from No.9 Park in Boston, and is quite fabulous!

Dieci E Lode

Ingredients

0.5 oz. Campari
2.5 oz Gin
1.5 oz. Grapefruit Juice
Lime Wedge

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Campari and grapefruit juice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lime wedge.

Bottoms up!!

10 Fabulous Pink Gift Ideas

Today my lovely friend Nascar Camping World Truck Series and Nascar Nationwide Series driver, Jennifer Jo Cobb is making history at the final race of the season at Homestead Speedway in Miami.

image by Jeff Robinson, Daytona 2010

Jennifer is the only full time female driver in any of the top three Nascar series, and today becomes the highest ranked female driver of all time in Nascar. On top of that she is the first driver in Nascar to bring a makeup sponsor to the sport.
Jennifer's primary sponsor today is LillysCosmetics.com. She will be driving a pink Lillys Cosmetics Ford F150, and wearing a pink Lillys cosmetics firesuit.

All week I've been posting the Jennifer Jo Cobb makeup looks that you can duplicate with products from LillysCosmetics.com.
Today I'm celebrating Jennifer's huge achievement with 10 pink gift giving ideas for the holiday season. (Jennifer's truck is the #10)

1.) Limited Edition Clarisonic Mia Hope

I swear by my Clarisonic! 

With every purchase of the Limited Edition  Clarisonic Mia Hope Clarisonic will make a donation to help women with cancer to look and feel like themselves again.

2.) A girl needs to smell fabulous too! Enjoy the naughtiness of Agent Provocateur on your wrists, throat, and all your other kissable places.

3.) Celebrate your gorgeous derriere with fun pink undies from Kiki de Montparnasse.
A bow here, a wiggle there - what more could a girl ask for?

4.) Pink diamond earrings. Fabulous!

5.) A pink ceramic watch from Michael Kors. Completely lovely.

6.) The Pink Room Candles. I found these on one of my favorite blogs, Flat Out Fabulous

7.) A cerise or rose pink pashmina. A beautiful accessory as well as the perfect throw to take with you when traveling. Real pashmina is both lightweight and warm, and ideal for air travel.

8.) Pink Frette Sheets.
I don't actually know anyone with pink Frette sheets, but the thought of them is just delicious!

9.) Juicy Couture Bath Caviar. A Juicy Girl needs a little luxury, so why not add some coral extracts of youth and vitality to your bath of glory?

10.) What better celebration of the pure pinkness of it all than a Pink CD? Every girl needs her Funhouse!

Prior work commitments meant I couldn't be in Miami with Jen and the crew to celebrate today, but I will make it home in time to watch her race tonight, so I will be there in spirit! And keeping with today's pink theme I'll be drinking one of these:

 

The perfect (pink) Cosmopolitan!

Good luck Jen!

Here Comes Friday Night...

Here comes Friday night, and while the world

is out and about enjoying fun libations,

I'm back on a sugar free (read alcohol free!)diet,

and will have to make do with sparkling water 

and flavored stevia drops. Ho Hum. 

However, were I able to indulge

  I would be having my favorite sip of the south:

Lynchburg Lemonade 

Here's what you need

* 1 part Jack Daniels

* 1 part triple sec

* 1 part sour mix

* 4 parts 7up

Pour over ice, garnish with lemon or cherries.

Yum!

High Time We Had Ourselves A Mint Julep!

When you are reading this one I'll be in Nashville watching my good friend Jennifer Jo Cobb racing in the Nascar Camping World Truck Series.
It will be hot and humid in Nashvegas and I will no doubt be thinking about a cold, refreshing sip of the deep south.

Doesn't a Mint Julep sound like the perfect drink?

 image by Rob Palmer

Here's how you make them: 

2 cups of water
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn up
32 ounces Kentucky whiskey
8 sprigs of fresh mint leaves to garnish

Combine water, sugar and mint leaves in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil, simmering until sugar is dissolved. Allow syrup to cool (about an hour in the refrigerator), then strain to remove mint leaves.
Fill 8 frozen silver goblets (or chilled glasses) with ice. Pour 4 ounces of whiskey and 1/4 cup of syrup over each (according to taste) and garnish with a mint sprig and a straw.

Enjoy your Friday, and make sure you cheer for Jennifer in tomorrow's race!
If you're on twitter follow her @jenjocobb
and follow me @Corinnamakeup

Join my facebook page Corinna B

Friday Night Drink Recipe!

Still on my "wishing I was in Italy" theme

here's another fabulous Prosecco cocktail,

perfect for a hazy lazy summer eve.

Prosecco Limon

Here's how you make it:

2 slices of fresh lemon

sugar

1/2 oz limoncello

1/2 oz sour mix

4 oz prosecco

Use one slice of lemon to moisten the rim of a champagne flute, then dip into sugar to make a sweet/tart frosted rim.

Carefully add the limoncello, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, sour mix and prosecco. Garnish with a lemon slice.

This one is so refreshing and light!

Enjoy!

The Ipanema Caipirinha

All this talk about bikinis this week

got me thinking about the home of the bikini,

Brazil.

Which in turn got me thinking about a fabulous happy hour

moment we could have, combining the bikini, Brazil, and a

refreshing summertime cocktail,

the Caipirinha.

In this case, 

the Caipirinha de Ipanema

from the Naples Grand Resort in Florida.

 Here's what you need:

1 1/2 oz Cachaca de Brazil

2 lime wheels

2sugar cubes

ice

Muddle the sugar and lime together, add the cachaca, shake and strain into a lime sugar rimmed glass.

Garnish with lime and a twist.

Simple, non?

And oh so chic!

Cachaca is the national drink of Brazil,

where the perfect body is not only coveted,

but romps en masse all over the beaches daily.

I think they're onto something...

b

bikini clad bottoms on Ipanema beach 

 

Funnily enough, Cachaca is derived from sugar cane.

And everyone wants us to believe that sugar is bad for us.

Looks like its working for these girls.