Throwing your own Birthday Party Ettiquette !

My Birthday Bash….

So I almost didn’t celebrate my birthday this year. I know, seriously that’s like a leprechaun saying, “Bah Humbug” to St. Patrick’s day. I was going to play it cool like a stiletto wearing, prada bag carrying, skinny chic that is too cool to celebrate her birthday past 21 years old. Then I realized I am a sandal wearing, canvas bag covered in eclectic pins carrying, senorita who IS the epitome of “cool!” I am so glad I came to my senses because my 24 th birthday was like a Disney movie, colorful, creative and I didn’t want it to end! Here’s how it went down…

Hostess with the mostess ….

Unfortunately, my apartment, quaint and cozy as it is is not exactly entertaining material. I mean there are mini vans bigger than my living room. However, I found a classy Mexican food restaurant in Laguna Beach with amazing Pineapple martinis called Las Brisas. I thought it would be nice to add a personal touch to the dining table with cutesy little parting gifts. And I came up with “Madam Irvina’s Fortune Baggie’s” They are so cute! Am I clever or what??? This is how they are done:

You need:

*Hole puncher

*Ribbon

*Miniature paper bags

*Paper

*Scalloped scissors

*Colored pencils

*Strawberries

*Chocolate

*Your wit

To make:

1.) Pre cut pretty ribbons 5 inches in length

2.) Pre cut 1x1 squares with scalloped scissors

3.) Write “You…” on one side of the squares

4.) On the opposite side and the opposite end (so it flips over) write a cute saying like, “You....will be a hot mom!” “You….will marry a man who knows how to make homemade ice cream.”

5.) Crease the flap of the bags and hole punch over the crease

6.) Place two chocolate covered strawberries inside

7.) Slip the ribbon through the hole and the “You” card.

8.) Tie in a knot and voila! You have “Madam Irvina’s Fortune Baggie’s.”

They were a big hit! The girls savored these while they told funny “Irvina’s crazy and this is why” stories J

Words of Wisdom…

You know how they say, “No one likes a tipsy bride.” I say likewise with the birthday hostess. Not that I was under the table drunk (What do you think I am 23?) It’s just hard to hostess everyone when you are half a beat slow from sipping. You catch me? Oh well, wisdom for the next 60 birthday parties to come. Next time I’ll save the martinis for post party unwinding with a few of the girls.

It seriously has been the best birthday! I’ll never forget playing G.I. Joes with my nieces and nephews on my actual birthday night. I got to debut G.I. birthday girl; she was quite literally “the bomb.” Listening to my sister Kim reminisce that I looked like a hairy little monkey when I was born. Sweet, sweet sister she is. Opening the gift from my boss, The Cricut. (For those unrefined, non-scrap bookers out there who actually have a life, The Cricut just happens to be the biggest, baddest scrap booking toy ever!) Getting a message from my friend Will the following weekend saying, “We’re throwing you a party tonight for your birthday and uh it would be nice if you were here.” To getting a half fallen on the floor birthday cake from my friend Jackie. The three second rule applies to birthday cakes right?

Now here is a deep thought…(Oprah, you’ll like this J)Birthdays are simply a reflection of life. It’s better with close friends, delicious food, laughing hysterically and being delightfully surprised by all the gifts that come your way!

Ciao!

My Big, Fat, American, Thanksgiving!

 

My Big, Fat, American Thanksgiving!

 

After one cute call from my niece, asking me if I would help her talk her parents into buying her a camera for Christmas. One reminder call from my brother-in-law, telling me my drink is getting warm and to get on the road because there is traffic. Three prayers for no fatalities on the 15 South and driving an hour and a half while making up stories in my head where all the cars around me were going, I arrived at Thanksgiving dinner at my sisters house.

 

My cute little family, all 30 of them! Nieces, nephews, sisters, half-sisters, brothers-in-law, my mom, my half sisters dad (my mom’s ex-husband,) his wife, her kids, her kids kids…just one big American family eh? Well it’s what I call “My Big, Fat American Thanksgiving.” It’s pretty crazy that we can all have a good Thanksgiving dinner together considering the scenario. My mom call’s our family, “Happily Divorced.” To say the least.

 

How did we do it? My hostess with the mostess sister Amy, the “Rachel Ray” worshiping, wine connoisseur, makes throwing a party for 30 look as easy as eating two servings of pumpkin pie. Here’s how she did it:

 

Reservation for a Party of 30….

We’re loud people who like to laugh and be with each other. In our family, every joke is so good you don’t want to miss it.  Knowing this my sister wanted to keep us together. She took her dining room table and lined up 3 other long tables side by side. She alternated the table cloths two gold and two ivory. There were 6 settings on the long sides and 4 on the short sides. Everyone could see each other and yet still be intimate with the people next to them.

 

Comfortable conversation couches…

 Have you heard of the color personalities? Well if you ever have or you ever do my sister Amy is a blue. She is all about having conversation with people and connecting. You can totally tell by her affection for couches. She has four sets in her home. Every where you go is an opportunity to sit down and chat.

 

Sleepy sisters….

Okay so one minute I’m playing poker and partying with the family, the next minute I am passed out. Maybe too much tryptophan in the turkey or one too many shots of Patron with my brother in law, maybe it’s being over worked at www.FurnitureFromHome.com (no it couldn’t be that.) Whatever it was I was bloody tired. Good thing my sis has more than a couple sleeper sofas in her house. I woke up bright eyed and cheery ready, to get dogged by my family in the morning for not being able to “hang.” Hey there’s always next weekend.

 

When it comes to holiday entertaining, I’ve found that people beat themselves up until their running around like a head less turkey over the way things are “supposed to look” or the way their family is “supposed to be.” My family is incredibly unique, so who’s to say our entertaining shouldn’t be unique also. Think of what you want from your holidays and just do it. Is it seeing everyone at once at the dinner table? Having a comfortable place to chat in every room of your house? Having your entire family over for a sleep over? Whatever it may be, the thing to remember is each and every one of the people at your dinner table is there for a reason. It might not always look normal, but really how fun is normal? It’s your family which is far better than any fake bunch of models posing in Martha Stewart’s magazine next to plastic pumpkin pies. Besides those people don’t look very funny at all. By the way, whoever said once you become a mom you have to wear a sweater vest for every special occasion? Bad call!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to keep the good vibes coming in your home....

Earlier this summer I was diagnosed, “H.S.P.” Of course I assumed it meant Happy Sophisticated Princess, but besides the obvious it means something else. H.S.P. is a Highly, Sensitive Person. I feel, hear and sense more than the average person. Absorbing the emotions of people around me I am more sensitive to my environment. It’s funny because I have been noticing how I feel when I enter different people’s homes. Some homes put me completely at ease as if their sofas was a log in the middle of Fern Gully. In other homes I instantly feel sadness as if I just heard about another 3 fallen soldiers I Iraq. The sadness lingers until I leave. It’s not as if one home has more lavish furnishings than the other. It’s the sense of peace or lack there of that I noticed.

I did some pondering while sitting on the chenille fabric couch I like to call my office. I thought about the homes that I love to visit and never want to leave. Besides the ambiance of a beautiful Cherry wood dining room set what makes these homes send me such a warm and inviting aroma?

Think about Starbucks for a second. What makes people stay in there for hours and hours at a time instead of hanging out inside of a McDonald’s? I think a lot of it has to do with the positivity that is coming in and out of Starbuck’s. They are brewing fresh coffee all day, they spend more relaxed time connecting with their customer and there is usually a slow paced lyrical tune playing. All of these components require the visitor and the host to give emit positive energy. I believe that each one of these quality elements has overlapped on the last and has created a soothing environment. A person who visits Starbuck’s is usually in a good state of mind to be treating themselves to an almost $4 cup of coffee. While the people who go into McDonald’s are scrimping to save and are in a hurry. Anxiety stays in McDonald’s all day long.

So you’re following my drift wood right? It’s all the little actions all day, all week all year that create the energy of a home. Take a look at my friend Judie’s house. Every time I enter it, I feel endorphins going off all over my body. I asked myself, “What goes on in that home all week?” What I know for sure is no matter what day of the week it is Judie always greets people with a hug. She often cooks homemade recipes for her husband, grandchildren and friends. The grandchildren she loves come over to play a couple times a week. There are always fresh flowers in sight and she is constantly praying to God. I believe what makes Judies home an intoxicatingly happy place to be is the combustion of the mass amount of positive energy set off by her daily acts of kindness.

Then there’s my other girlfriend (whose name we won’t mention because after everyone reads my blog I’m going to have my own show and this article is going to be considered one of the best home therapy articles of the 21^st century.) Her house is down right drab. I’m sorry but it’s true, besides the comfortable sectional sofa and the other lavish wood furnishings her home has a chill that would make an igloo look like a cabana in Hawaii. I watched her family interact within the home. I found them watching a lot of television and when they converse it’s usually something sarcastic. She makes home made meals solely because her children need to eat. Not for the sake of doing something for someone she loves. Sadly, as much as I care for my girlfriend I usually get so overwhelmed by the frigidness that I have to leave pretty quickly. (I can’t write blogs if I’m bummed out now can I?)

Now you might think this whole, “energy thing” is a little too spooky and has nothing to do with a rooms “looky.” Come on! Give a blogging girl chance! Think about it, what happens when a happy person smiles at you? Be honest! You feel happy and in turn you give away the happiness. Every action we do require energy. If you are constantly taking your time to “smile” at your home by praying over it, making home made dinners with fine ingredients for the ones you love or even polishing the wood furniture with love then that positive energy will accumulate and make your home an inviting house. Think of your home as a relationship with a person. Every kin action you do with “the person” builds a stronger, happier relationship. I hope you take my theory to heart and make your home ooze with positive energy from your front door to your bedroom set.

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Deorating the bachelorette pad!

I am an official woman. Meaning, coffee no longer tastes like tar. I haven’t been asked to leave a movie theatre for “disturbing the peace” in over 5 years. I can end a relationship without toilette papering the guys house. And, having a couple drinks with my girlfriends does not result in waking up on the pier with a missing shoe and a new puppy in my purse. Yes, the road to sophistication has been intense and emotional. Now, that I’m here I am ready to graciously take the reins of my life with full force. But, before I go anywhere the palace I reside in has to be in savvy shape!

Bedroom Beauty-

Personally, I’m a roommate kind of gal. I need other gals in my house to remind me that the creak in the middle of the night isn’t the armed murderer their looking for on CNN. Yet, having a lot of commotion does call some of us retreat to our rooms. Making your room a V.I.P.T.C. (Very, important, place, to, chill.) The most important thing we purchase for our rooms is going to be our bedroom set. Might as well purchase the bed, night stands and dresser all at once and get it over with and back to that new flourless brownie recipe. Whether or not you get a Queen bedroom set, a King Bedroom set or a double is completely up to you. Try not to worry too much on what you purchase. If you invest in a nice set you can keep it as a bedroom set when you decide to get married. Splurge on yourself! Who knows when you’re going to meet that lucky guy and “if” you choose to marry him. My favorite styles are dark wood bedroom sets, contemporary bedroom sets and natural wood bedroom sets. I “Irvinafy” them with bright linens and happy pillows.

Living room Lassie-

Clear your schedule because it’s “Girls Night!” Girl’s night meaning your living room furniture is the happenin’ spot for hors douvres, red wine and maybe some sophisticated Jell-O shots Jso your living room should be chic and ready to entertain. We’re friends so let me be honest with you, a torn up sofa with masking tape holding it together is grunge. FYI, grunge went out of style in 1998, girl, it’s 2006. If you’re going for affordable try the Westwood Sectional. It’s totally customizable with over a thousand different fabric swatches to choose from. If you are doing really well in your college educated profession you might try a leather living room set. Perfect for dusting off any crumbs that might be dropped during uncontrollable laughter.

Dining room Diva-

Did someone say, “Dinner Party?” Hooray! I have been wanting to taste test my new recipe for Pumpkin Soup on 10 people! Since the Living Room has been blessed as holy grounds for Girls Night we should probably move things into the dining room for the dinner party. First thing you need is a table and tables aren’t clicky they like to be accompanies by chairs. You’ll need a dining room set with a long table and beautiful chairs. Most sets seat up to 8, but you can add in the leaf that comes with it and make the table for 10. A sophisticated dining room set totally sets the tone for an occasion and your home.

Be the beacon of good taste and show your friends how real women combine class with decorating sass! I hope you enjoyed my tips. It was great talking to you. Call me when you want to talk again. Till then Ciao bellas! If you are interested in anymore tips please visit: www.FurnitureFromHome.com

Decorating tips for a bachelor:

Decorating tips for a bachelor:

I love going to a bachelor pads! It cracks me up how different guys are about “their space.” From the gentleman who wants my opinion, “If I had a white sofa with Tahoma blue pillows that would look pimp right? Or would it look too nautical?” To the momma’s boy who proudly exclaims, “My mom decorated! Have you seen her picture? She’s beautiful!”

Metro-sexual, straight, gay, surfer dude to the collector of 18^th century nudes…generation Y2K’ ers are bound to be bachelors for quite some time. Statistics show that generation Y2K prolongs pursuing a focused career, post pone marriage until after 30 and will invest in property before their 26^th birthday. Meaning many bachelors are going to be all alone scratching and sniffing wood, trying to figure out the difference between a Mahogany wood bedroom set and a Cherry wood bedroom set. Lucky for you, Mr. Bachelor, the nice chaps at www.FurnitureFromHome.com are bribing me with lattes and compliments to share my memoirs of bachelor pad traveling. I’ve seen the tastefully good ½ living room ½ basketball court, the sadly bad cigar smelling recliner and the always appropriate sandalwood potpourri. Some of you find decorating as easy as opening a door for a pretty lady, the rest are dumbfounded the same way you don’t understand why women consider ice cream a food group (it’s calcium I tell you!) Don’t be afraid, I’ll pimp your pad and you’ll have chicks offering to be your maid!

The Living Room is like a car….

It should suit your style, be a quality product and most importantly it should go vroom vroom! Meaning it should look so good that other people will want it the moment they lay eyes on it (the way the dudes in the next building look at your 7 series eh?) Most bachelor entertaining will take place in the living room. Making your selection of sofas, loveseats, sectionals and entertainment sets a stock market important one. Depending on your hobbies you can make your selections easier. If you’re a big sports fan, then a leather sectional would be appropriate. Keeping your guests entertained around the T.V. and having leather in case of touchdown excitement party fouls. If leather isn’t your game plan, then the Westwood Sectional with over 1000 fabric swatches will cater to you. If you’re a Great Gatsby type who throws dinner parties then perhaps a sofa set with a love seat and ottoman would better suit your sophisticated taste. Do you smell that? I think your medallion cut filet mignon’s are ready.

The Bedroom is like a watch….

It should look good, be comfortable and classy! Seriously now, your looking for a watch. What kind of band do you prefer? Leather band guys like it all natural, you might like a Birch wood bedroom set with a refined finish that leaves the grain of the wood visible. Steel wrist band? It’s all about the way it functions to you. You’ll be happy with a Queen Bedroom set from www.FurnitureFromHome.com. You’ll be able to view over 500 bedroom sets from classical to contemporary and have it delivered to your home in 2 to 4 weeks! If that isn’t as precise as the clock striking 5 o’clock on a Friday, I don’t know what is. Now, for you silver banded chaps. Beacons of good taste you are. You’ll want to show your class with a dark wood bedroom set. Maybe even a contemporary bedroom set. Just remember bachelors, how a watch can make a “slob” look like “a hands on man.” A bedroom set can make a “pig sty” look like an “elegant mess.”

The Dining Room is like a girl….

It should be beautiful, smart and have some personality! Dinner parties, movie watching or football cheering if you have the wrong girl by your side it can make the party go to hangover all too fast. The same way not having the right furniture to entertain guests comfortably at your pad. Let’s face it were not in college anymore, it’s time to invest in a beautiful dining room set that won’t topple over when you put a six pack on it. There are thousands of styles at www.FurnitureFromHome.com that will suit the most discriminating eyes. From leather back chairs dining room set to classic dining room sets. Like a girl their all beautiful and www.FurnitureFromHome.com has the hottest selection.

Alright guys my pearls of wisdom have been given away for free. I think you guys should consider them like Taco Tuesdays. Good for you, fun and a great way to entertain the ladies. It’s time for my second latte. Ciao!

How to have Christmas without leaving your home and saving time....

The 12 days of Christmas (revised):

12 Christmas cards for giving, 11 twinkling lights for replacing, 10 relatives for shopping, 9 dozen cookies for baking, 8 Sweaters for dry cleaning, 7 nativity characters, 6 Trips to the mall, 5 letters to Santa, 4 parties for attending, 3 wreaths for hanging, 2 Christmas recitals and 1 tinseled Tree! Ahhh.... so joyful are the days prior to Christmas.

Are you joyfully joking!?! Pardon me, but not everyone is capable of knitting matching sweaters for the family and pet Chihuahua while you sit in traffic on the 405 freeway. If only we were all Martha's with the time to churn our own butter from the cow outside our house for Christmas cookies. Thank goodness I'm no pessimist!

Lucky for you, Santa and I are gym buddies. (Yeah, he works out at the 24 hour in Irvine. No, I don’t know why. But, it might be because I’m so amusing and tell him “good girls” don’t like skinny guys.) Anyway, Santa gave me the magic fairy dust of Christmas 2 years ago. You ready here it is.....online! No joke, it’s how Santa himself does a lot of his business. After you read the below you too will consider on line shopping/ordering/reserving/developing/arranging to be the most enchanted way to have Christmas. Just sprinkle and repeat.

To use: Say the magic words below and type!

Rudolf the red nose reindeer didn’t have to pay for gas mileage!

When you add up the cost of gas, your lunch at the mall, the cost of the fender bender in the parking lot and the cost of the gift you bought at the mall... We're talking $500 for a John Mayer CD. Save yourself the woes and instead perfect your red wrapping bows! Shop on line for all of your gifts. Detailed pictures and on line sales are the best things since eggnog lattes.

Deck the halls with Free Delivery fa la la la la la la la!

Years of fabulous entertaining have done a number on your sofa. So you're going to replace the sofa and get a new bedroom set for the guest house. Of course you have plenty of time to shop and arrange for delivery. Using www.FurnitureFromHome.com you do! No other furniture retailer provides a variety of sofas and bedroom sets ranging from classical bedroom sets to contemporary dining room sets. Friendly assistance, 24 hour customer service, high resolution images and a fabulous site to navigate through. Redecorating never looked so rewarding. Not only will your house be updated, but it will be done in less than 30 minutes. Free delivery on most of the merchandise allows you to kick back and finish knitting that scarf for Aunt Bebe.

Jingle all the way, preparing Christmas dinner shouldn’t take all day!

No, this does not require a microwave! Get on line and place a catering order through The Honey baked Ham store, Bristol Farms, Gelson's, your local restaurant or super market. Most caterers offer fully roasted and stuffed turkeys with all the side dishes. You will have so much free time that you will be able to help make your daughter make that ginger bread house sparkle! Will make you almost all will deliver to your home the day of your party!

Silent Night, A very cold night, hanging Christmas Lights, oh what a fright!

Just Google “Christmas light hangers” and you will find a list of companies that will send out their elves to jump on your roof and hang your Christmas lights. A majority of these companies have installers who are18 to 20 year old boys who are home from college trying to make a couple of bucks. So while you’re making some extra time for yourself you are also feeding starving students.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a computer mouse!

By December 26 you need a massage and a batch of peppermint Vikatin cookies. Don’t let your time saving stop post Christmas. Get your memories from Christmas morning back faster than your five year old can rip through wrapping paper. Using ShutterFly.com you can upload your memories and have them mailed to you in 3 days. You don’t risk losing the digital files at the developer and you never waste the gas getting there.

It all comes down to quality, not quantity. Sometimes it’s best to pick and choose the traditions we most cherish and take some help with the others. I love the smell of the fresh pine in our living room, reading through Christmas cards and my mom’s Crepe’s Christmas morning. I do know from past experience that when I am exhausted I don’t fully enjoy all that the season has to offer. I hope you use these tips to make time for yourself to enjoy your family and spend the time cheerfully humming through what you cherish most.

Tips on moving for my Nomad's.....

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Moving….ugh!!! And I’m not talking boots! Why can’t it be like the Oregon Trail ya know? Hitch up the ponies throw in your two dresses, a canteen of water, grandma’s bible and pray you don’t die of yellow fever on the way? Okay, so maybe not so much like the Oregon Trail. Today’s ponies look like gas bingeing Uhauls and Grandma’s Bible is now huge sofas and bedroom sets. How do you get it all to the new house without a prescription for Xanax? With tips from La Irvina that’s how! Read on nomads!

1. Less = No stress!

So you are planning on buying a new bedroom set and replacing the sofa nicknamed “party foul central.” Why would you move stuff you are planning to replace anyway? Cancel the truck and hop on the internet to purchase an entire bedroom set and sofa that can be delivered to your new home. The best part is you won’t have to pay for the shipping or labor to move it. You’ll save the time of replacing the set later and you’ll have a fresh start in your new home. Most online furniture retailers like www.FurnitureFromHome.com are very accommodating to your schedule. They can arrange to have the items delivered on your move in date.

2. Trash is a great stash!

Use white trash bags instead of boxes for clothing, linens and towels. Use a black permanent marker to label them. Their cheaper than boxes and you can lean against them while you tell that one story about how when you were a kid, you hid in box and got sent to New Hampshire on a UHaul.

3. Who is your 2 a.m. crew?

If you were in jail or stranded at 2 a.m. who would you call? Who would come and bail you out? Chances are those same people are the people who will help you move your dining room set with a smile. Be sure to thank your loyal friends with rounds of coffee, beer and sandwiches. But, if you’re better at giving than receiving then purchase new furniture than can be delivered to the new house from www.FurnitureFromHome.com

4. Front seat Fragile!

Since when did the word “fragile” translate to “play soccer with this box. It’s fun!” Not so much! If you have heirloom pieces like china, crystal or priceless Disney movies on VHS than you better put them in the front seat of your car. Be sure to keep a towel over them so vandals aren’t tempted to make “The Lion King” a shrine in their living room.

5. Online Oasis

The opposite of moving would be relaxing? And you know what you can! This is the 21^st century after all. What used to take a day of arranging, movers, trucks, boxes and furniture can now take 30 minutes tops online. Arrange for all the necessities of moving online with Uhaul.com Arrange for new furniture to be delivered to your home with www.FurnitureFromHome.com Since your such a genius for getting it done so fast you deserve a “Movish” backrub. Tell your missus a “Movish” back rub is a rub that leaves you free of kinks and is smooth all the way through.

6. Designing sound dumbfounding? La Irvina is here for the unwinding!

Are you moving into a custom home with so many rooms you don’t where to start? Or are you moving to your first starter home with bizarre cabinets that are 2 ft by 2 inches? No matter what the scenario ask La Irvina of www.FurnitureFromHome.com for tips on everything for decorating kid’s rooms to how pick a fabric for your sectional sofa.