Thanksgiving/Black Friday

Hoping that everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving and a pleasant Black Friday! Hope you were able to buy everything that was on your list! Next year I am saving gas and shopping online!!

What Will Be On Your Table Next Thursday (Thanksgiving)?

With the holiday’s right around the corner… I went searching for Thanksgiving décor that I could use as inspiration in creating my own designs for Turkey Day!! Just a few tips to think about when setting your table and creating table centerpiece:

• Keep centerpieces compact, so that it does not interfere with the passing of the plates!
• This holiday expand your entertaining space and move part of the party out of the dining room.
• Rethink your surfaces. Clear a side table or desktop in another room to create a cocktail bar or dessert station. Vary the height and size of your serving pieces. Incorporate footed compotes, trifle bowls, cake stands, and stacks of dessert plates to add dimension and visual interest to your entertaining surface.
• Easy Tablescape: Gather together a variety of pewter or silver pieces. Their deep metallic tones offer rich contrast to bright plates in autumn hues. Mix candlesticks with open vessels to vary height and shape. 

Here are some photos of Thanksgiving place settings that I came across in my search. Hope you find some inspiration from these pics!

GREAT NEWS

As you know, I have a passion for weddings and parties, but those are not the only things I love. In general, I just LOVE being creative and seeing how you can turn the simplest thing into something wonderful. And this idea can be seen not only in how I design and coordinate weddings and parties, but in interior decorating as well. For anyone who has been to my house, you know that I don't mind picking up a paint brush or getting my hands dirty!


The great news I have to share is... you have to start somewhere when you are trying to build a business and I really need to make some connections and build a portfolio; therefore, I am looking for a few (maybe 3) clients in the Columbia area to work with for FREE! If you or anyone you know is having a wedding, birthday party, bridal/baby shower or needs there home decorated, I would LOVE to assist you. Email me at uniquebydesignweddings@gmail.com.


Thanks in advance for all of your support!

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

November is here and so that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Family, friends, and food... cocktails always seem to get everyone into the holiday spirit! Why not serve up a few of these drinks for your guests.

Pumpkin Pie: features Kahlua, Malibu Rum, Milk, Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Pie Filling {recipe via cocktailtimes.com}.

Ingredients:

- 1 oz. Malibu Rum

- 3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling

- 1/2 oz. Kahlua

- 2 oz. cold milk

- Garnish: sprinkle of cinnamon

   

Mix ingredients in blender with ice. Pour into graham cracker-rimmed highball glass and   garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Gingersnap cocktail: features spiced run ginger brandy, eggnog, and a gingersnap cookie {recipe via thebar.com}!

Ingredients:

- .75 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

- .5 oz. ginger brandy

- 4 oz. eggnog

- 1 gingersnap (optional)

Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, ginger brandy, and eggnog in blender. Blend to desired consistency and pour into glass. Garnish with gingersnap for dunking if desired.

Pumpkin Divine martini: features Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka, pumpkin butter, Triple Sec, clove, and nutmeg {recipe via cocktailtimes.com}

Ingredients:

- 1 part Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka

- 1 part pumpkin butter

- 1/2 part triple sec

- 1/2 part simple syrup

- Pinch of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger

- Grated nutmeg and apple chip for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg and apple chip.

ENJOY!!

Picking the Perfect Ring

This post is for the those who are ready to pop the question, but not sure what ring to get. Hopefully when you finish reading this (promise to keep it relatively short) you will have a better idea on what you look for when purchasing a ring.

As most people know the 4 things to look for when getting a ring is Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color!

Carat weight: For most women, this means the bigger the better! Gems are measured in carats and carat weights are given points, with one carat = 100points. So the more points the better!

Cut: A diamond’s sparkle is determined by the angles and proportions to which it is cut. The cut should not be confused with its shape (round, oval, marquise, etc.). Cuts have 5 grades: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. You will get your BEST bargains in the Good grade of cut. Some sparkle is forfeited for size in this category.

Clarity: The number of inclusions (flaws that are categorized as marks, cracks, chips, etc.) establishes a diamond’s classification: Flawless (F), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1,2), Very Slightly Included (VS1,2), Slightly Included (SI1,2) and Included (I1,2,3). Stones classified SI1 and better are considered “eye clean”, meaning no flaws are visible to the naked eye. Best deals are in the SI classification.

Color: The GIA’s color-coding chart starts with D-F, the “colorless” ideal; G-J, almost colorless; K-M, a hint of yellow; N-R, very light yellow; and S-Z, light yellow.

Once a diamond reaches a carat level, its price climbs, so go with a weight slightly under the carat mark you are targeting. For example, it you want a two-carat ring, shop for those at 1.9 – the difference in size will be hard to notice, and you will save!

The round brilliant-cut shape is the most expensive; choose one of the “fancy” shapes – marquis, princess, oval, emerald – which are less expensive.

Hopefully this gives you a start as you search for the perfect ring! Happy hunting!! 

I LOVE THESE RINGS!!

Pictures from Tacori