Just a little note to let you know we are offering FREE SHIPPING at Hostess Jo!!
Beat the heat and shop from home! Just enter coupon code "freeship" at checkout. Hurry-this promotion ends August 31! Stock up now for the holidays!
Here's a peek at our new Halloween accessories!
Scary Skull Cocktail Picks and Scary Skull Swizzle Sticks can be found here!
I saw Wicked for the second time this past weekend and was reminded of just how amazing it is! Nothing compares to seeing it in NYC but this was very close. Not to mention my six year old niece went and it was great seeing it through her eyes too. We both share a love of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.
It got me thinking about doing a party around the musical. Here is my first Photoshop collage...I still need practice ;)
Photo credits:
Top left: black gossamer has many uses, hang from ceiling, drape around chandelier, tie on backs of chairs
Top middle: Ticket Invitations you can personalize to your Wicked event, so cool
Top right: Green paper plates and below green napkins
Green apple martini as signature green cocktail
Middle Wicked image from Google
Purple I Heart Oz magnets would make great party favors.
Caramel apples for snacks (for green color)
There are so many different ways you could go with this party. You could even do a whole "Guh-lenda" themed party with iridescent items and light colors. I would try to incorporate quotes and lyrics from the musical like "Defy Gravity" and "Popular" in your surroundings. Printing them out on colored cardstock, framing and setting them around the room like HWTM did with her Twilight Party. Add sparkle with green colored gems in vases or candlescapes to imitate emeralds. HWTM demonstrates this with red sea glass at her Twilight Party. Have the soundtrack playing in the background with posters, Playbills and programs sitting around would also add to the Wicked mood.
Have you thrown or attended a Wicked party? Do you have any ideas on other elements to include?
Just wanted to let you know my store www.hostessjo.com has a few Halloween items left and they are 50% OFF!
Also on sale are all of our Fall/Pumpkin servingware!
As always all orders over $50 receive FREE GROUND SHIPPING!
Halloween is only a few days away! Here are some last minute pumpkin carving ideas I found on countryliving.com. These designs were carved with linoleum-cutting tools which carve the outside of the pumpkin instead of all the way through.
Get inspiration from your china
Or your wallpaper..
Or your sweater...
The tools you'll need:
For a twist on a traditional Halloween party decor why not use black and purple, pink or green? I still love orange and black but the black and purple really gives a different vibe to the space. Black lights put off a purple glow inside and out. Check out this pic from Pier 1, it puts a glamorous spin on Halloween!
This ghost is so cute! Its great for a party because you won't be stuck slicing. Also less messy for the kids. Would be great for their school Halloween party!
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar, sifted (4 to 4-1/2 cups)
Black decorating gel
5 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
PREPARE cake batter as directed on package. Add dry pudding mix; mix well. Spoon evenly into 24 paper-lined medium muffin cups. Bake as directed on package for cupcakes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
BEAT cream cheese, butter and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition. *Instead you could also buy the premade icing!
ARRANGE cupcakes on large serving platter or tray to resemble a ghost as shown in diagram. Spread with frosting. Use decorating gel to outline the mouth on the cupcakes. Finely crush 3 of the cookies; sprinkle inside mouth. Place remaining 2 cookies on cupcakes to resemble eyes. Store in refrigerator.
Apple Votives
I discovered this at marthastewart.com. It is such a great idea! A twist on the traditional Halloween carnival favorite: bobbing for apples.
You take a steel tub, or you could use one of those metal drink tubs, and fill with water and apples with votives in them. This would be great on a front porch for a Halloween party or for trick or treaters. It would also be great on a deck or patio. Martha's website said to test the apples first to see how they float, then mark the top with a dot. Place your votive over the dot and cut around it with a utility knife, cutting down as deep as the votive. Then spoon out apple to fit votive inside. Squeeze lemon juice into the cut part to prevent the apple from turning brown. Then insert the votive and light. What a warm inviting sight! I cannot wait to try this!
I know there are a lot of people who love pumpkin pie-how about in a drink??? I found this on Rachel Ray mag.com. I haven't tried it yet, let me know what you think! Would be great for a Halloween or Thanksgiving gathering..
Pumpkin Pie Martini
Makes 2 drinks
Ice cubes
2 ounces (1/4 cup) vanilla vodka
2 ounces (1/4 cup) crème de cacao
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Whipped cream, for garnish
1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, heavy cream and pumpkin pie spice and shake well.
2. Dip the rims of 2 martini glasses into a bowl of whipped cream. Strain the cocktail into the glasses
Halloween is right around the corner and I am so excited! It is one of the most festive, fun times of the year. There are so many ways to transform decor, food and drink from ordinary to extra creepy!
Here is a cocktail recipe I found on foodnetwork.com, it is from one of my favorite shows: Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee. Enjoy!
Vampire Kiss Martini
1 part vodka, chilled
1 part Champagne
1 part Chambord
Garnish with wax teeth/candy corn/blood orange slice
Pour vodka in a martini glass, top with Champagne and pour a little of the Chambord over the back of a spoon to make it float.
