Signature Manners

What is proper manners? Let us consider what the experts have to say about proper "manners" or  proper etiquette and protocol. There is no substitute for proper manners and as my mom use to say, "having a good education is  not enough, you MUST have proper manners". I was born and raised in the Island of Jamaica and having proper etiquette was a big dot deal. We were under the British rule for a long time and so we had to exhibit "proper manners & etiquette". Everyone needs to know how to behave at a formal dinner or a business luncheon with a potential employer. Etiquette and protocol is not a thing of the past and over 80% of Americans who were surveyed believe that we are rude as a society as a whole. I had the pleasure of listening to Anna Post (great great grandaughter of Emily Post) at my International Special Event Society (ISES) meeting where she made a presentation on "Etiquette in the 21st Century". The presentation was both refreshing and enlightening. Anna Post provides advise frequently on weddings and engagements and conducts seminars on business etiquette. One of my girlfriends recently published her own book on proper etiquette. Charmaine Campbell is an image and etiquette consultant.  If you need for someone to train you on what the proper fork or spoon to pickup at your next formal function is,  then she is your consultant. There is nothing worst than someone sitting beside you at a function and pickup the dinner fork to eat their salad (I experienced this recently). Then again her company Chic International is about more than that. They teach how to dress and behave in all social and business situations. Her first book is called "Money Cannot Buy Class" and you can purchase this invaluable book from her website. Her book is a wonderful tool to bring out the "chic" in you!

Signature Spring Wedding Wear

 

The wedding season is upon us and as women we always ponder what to wear to these ocassions. Washingtonian.com featured an article by Sarah Zlotnick where she highlighted spring-wedding wear. She featured Art-Deco fashions that are adorable, Rosette detailed dresses that will bring out the girly flirty side of you, solid spring colored dresses which you can swap out accessories to make it look different and how about them Maxi's for a more laid back casual setting. Ladies, if you are looking for spring wedding wear you need to check Sarah's article out because she has six pages of fashion and where they can be purchased and more importantly, how much they cost. There is something featured for all budgets, so start your wish list and Happy Shopping!

Signature Cookies

Mother's Day is almost here. If you are not sure what to send mom, then you should take a look at The Flour Pot Cookies website. Their cookies are beautiful, unique and delicious. The above designs are great as a Mother's Day gift and mom will be happy that you thought about her.  The flour pot is located in Amber, PA and they offer birthday parties with cookie decorating. These tasty treats are great as Mother's Day, birthday, bridal, corporate and graduation gifts and favors. Use these cookies as welcome gifts or to ask your bridesmaid to be a part of your wedding. However you decide to use these cookies, they will sure leave a lasting impression and make the recipient very happy they received them. Gooble Gooble! Got Milk?

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.