Signature Lanterns

Using lanterns at an event can enhance it and bring a nice element of surpising elegance or whimsy to it. Now that spring is here and summer is not far behind, using lanterns to add lighting to your event is a smart and economical decor idea. Lanterns can be used for a formal black tie event,  a wedding, a luncheon or a backyard barbeque. The lanterns above are from marthastewart.com and there are instructions on the website of how to create each one. You can find asian inspired and paper lanterns, striped luminarias, photo centerpeieces and butterfly lanterns. The photo centerpieces would be great at a fundraiser and would eliminate the need for flowers if you are on a tight budget. The paper lanterns with ribbons attached hung strategically at a wedding reception, will only add to the ambiance of the event. The uses for lanterns and luminarias are endless, as are the colors, patterns and shapes. Be adventurous at your next event and add a lantern or luminaria. You may just wow your guests.

Signature Cake

Its spring time, so what could be more appropriate than this rainbow colored cake. This cake is great for birthday parties, graduation parties or a girlfriends get together. I would like to share the recipe with you, which comes from "Whisk Kid"  blogger Kaitlin Flannery. Bon Apettit! Enjoy!

Makes one 9-inch-round six-layer cake

Vegetable shortening
3 cups all-purpose flour4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 1/3 cups sugar

5 large egg whites, room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food coloring

Lemony Swiss Meringue Buttercream


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush six 9-inch-round cake pans (or as many 9-inch cake pans as you have, reusing them as necessary) with shortening. Line bottom of each cake pan with parchment paper; brush again and set aside.


2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Slowly add egg whites and mix until well combined. Add vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Add flour mixture and milk in two alternating additions, beginning with the flour and ending with the milk. Mix until well combined.


3. Divide batter evenly between six medium bowls. Add enough of each color of food coloring to each bowl, whisking, until desired shade is reached. Transfer each color to an individual cake pan. Transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, about 15 minutes (working in batches if necessary).


4. Remove cakes from oven and transfer to a wire rack; let cool for 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto a wire rack; re-invert and let cool completely.


5. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the purple layer on the cake plate. Spread a scant 1 cup buttercream filling over the first layer with a small offset spatula so it extends just beyond edges. Repeat process with blue, green, yellow, and orange layers.


6. Place the remaining red layer on top, bottom-side up. Gently sweep away any loose crumbs with a pastry brush. Using an offset spatula, cover the top and sides with a thin layer of frosting (also use any of the excess frosting visible between the layers). Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.


7. Using an offset spatula, cover cake again with remaining frosting.

Signature Florals

On March 21st, I attended the 2010 Potomac Floral Wholesale Open House. The above pictures show my favorites from the floral design competition " A Mothers Day Luncheon", they all show incredible spring colors and floral design techniques & decor. The featured speakers this year was Former White House Executive Florist, Nancy Clarke and Kevin Ylvisaker a well-known floral designer all over the world. Nancy gave us a "Glimpse of White House Style"  from President Carter to President Obama from each First Lady style perspective. Her 30+ career is now chronicled in her new book. Kevin showed us Floral Designs techniques that are current, showstopping and jawdropping. He has been in the floral industry for over 30 years and is a former AIFD President, a Teleflora Education Specialist, an Oasis Design Director, on the design team for Fitz Designs, an endorsed designer for Design Master Color Tool, and a member of PFCI (Professional Floral Communicators International). Kevin has also been a judge at the Tournament Of Roses Parade in Pasadena California and has been featured in numerous publications such as the Teleflora’s Flowers& Magazine and Smithers Oasis IDEA Magazine.  Checkout Potomac Floral Wholesale website for more pictures and videos from the event.  

      

Signature Eats

Looking for a fabulous Jamaican restaurant to eat? Checkout Mango & Coconut Juice Bar and Grill located in Baltimore, Md on N Charles St in the eatery. Along with the regular Jamaican dishes like oxtails, curry goat, ackee & saltfis, rice & peas and fried plantains, you can order a fruit /veggie juice or a smoothie. The owner Fabian, offers a wide variety of delicious and healthy juices and smoothies. I had a drink called "Beach Body" juice thats made  of carrot, celery, cucumber, parsley, beet and apple. My drink was refreshing and naturally delicious. My friend had a "Kool Runnings" smoothie that was made up of raspberry, mango, pineapple, kiwi and papaya. We both enjoyed our drinks and vowed to go back there to try other flavors. My friend had the oxtails and rice and cabbage, I am not a meat eater so I did not eat anything that day because there is a limited menu on Saturdays. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal because when he was finished he pushed his plate back and exclaimed excellent! The meat was thoroughly browned and was so succulent it was falling off the bones. The restaurant also carries lighter fares like patties (light flour dough baked with meat or veggies inside), coco bread and some cakes like their signature mango coconut cake. It is best to visit the restaurant during the week, where there is a greater selection to choose from. The next time you are in the downtown Baltimore area, swing by 222 N Charles St and tell Fabian hello and enjoy one of his delightful meals.

Signature DIY Wedding Invitations

       

DIY invitations are a big hit for brides who wants to save money or for ones who are on a tight budget. I discovered this DIY website about 5 years ago for one of my brides. Gartners Studio have a beautiful and varied selection of DIY products for weddings and all occasions. I was able to create her invitations, RSVP cards, wedding programs and menu cards from paper stock purchased throught theoir website. Their invitations range from classic elegance & traditional to whimsical. The paper stock are of excellent quality and you can find a range of their products on their website or in Michaels or Target stores. The website gives you a downloadable template to use for each kind of stationary which you can print at home or you can choose for them to print them for you. If you are ever in Michaels or Terget, please checkout their products in the invitation isle, you won't be disappointed. Although most of stationary is for weddings, they can be used for all occasions. Have fun selecting!

Signature Launch Party

                                                                                                     

 

 

 

Weddzilla.com cocktail launch party was held was held on February 25th with the theme "Rock the Launch" and that they did. The event was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts and hosted by red carpet correspondent for the American Music Awards and Golden Globes, star on TLC's "Battle of the Wedding Planners", and contributor to Us Weekly Magazine's Fashion Police, Steve Kemble.The event was fun and cocktail cool and held a silent auction where 100%of the profit benefited the National Children Medical Center. My company Y Lowe Signature Events, LLC, donated a "Date Night" basket that was coupled with 4 other items including a night at the Ritz Carlton and this auction package was the second highest auction item bidded on for the night. My self on the left and my colleague and event coordinator Winsome Mitchell is pointing at our handy work. The last person featured on the bottom of the stairs is Kristen Hall who is  the co-founder along with her husband Aaron Hall of Weddzilla.com. It was a great night for networking and for event planners and brides to find each other. Weddzilla had great launch partners and the food and cocktails were flowing. Brides were able to preview gowns being worn by live models and swag bags were given away with a coupon for a chance for someone to win a real diamond from Mervis Diamond Importers. I cannot wait until the website is live to see what they have to offer brides and vendors.

Signature Oscar Party

The nominees have been announced, now its time to plan the ultimate movies-awards Oscar party. Sequoia Produtions and Wolfgang Puck Catering announced that they will host a 1930's styled theme for the Governor's Ball. Why not throw your own sleek, saucy and glamorous 1930's styled theme party for your guests. For starters, everyone should be formally dressed and can find inspiration from the Circa 1930's gowns from Valentina above. Your guests should arrive for their own red-carpet moments. The 1930's was a glitzy glamorous time...so take inspiration from the Oscars tabletop above and dress your own tables with a shiny, sparkly tablecloths and toppers. Table settings can be clear plates with silver tone silverware. Add stylish center pieces to complete the look of you table decor. For appetizers, serve Pizza with Smoked Salmon and Caviar  and for the main course, serve Lamb Kabob with Mint Pesto , for drinks...what could better than Moet Champagne. To complete the evening, serve these high-end-cake on a stick. Cake O Licious are bite sized cake pops on a stick, each hand-dipped in an elegant chocolate shell. They come in flavors like vanilla, spice and rum. They are great as desserts, favors and gifts. At the end of the night, box some of these tasty treats for your guests to take away as gifts. In between commercials, tests your guest's knowledge of past Oscars with a trivia game. Don't forget to have extra gifts to give away for your winners. May the best man wins!