Celebs Supporting a Great Cause!

Hollywood leading ladies Jenna Elfman, Kelly Preston and Laila Ali came together over the weekend to celebrate moms and moms-to-be, and educate them about raising healthy babies.  The first ever celebrity breastfeeding and toxin-free living event was held at Jenna Elfman’s home in Los Angeles to raise awareness for the not-for-profit organizations Best for Babes and Healthy Child Healthy World. The event was sponsored by Leading Lady nursing intimates and Ameda breastpump company and coordinated by  The Party Goddess! We were SO absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this magical day!

“The Party Goddess!” pulled together the eco-friendly yet elegant “Afternoon Tea” in Jenna’s beautiful poolside garden.  The atmosphere was modern and chic with very clean lines.  The table décor utilized natural linens with apple green and cream colored floral arrangements, to tie in with the organic theme of the event itself.  Wildflower donated the linens and Bed of Roses provide the flowers for the event. The Party Goddess! team pulled together incredible Swag Bags full of donations from the generous sponsors, so heavy that guests had to have help carrying them to their car at the end of the party.

 

Elfman kicked off the gathering by describing how she attended a Healthy Child Party when she was pregnant with her first child and became aware of the importance of creating a non-toxic home. She then shared her own inspiring breastfeeding story, from the struggle to breastfeed her first son, to her ability to donate her milk to a methamphetamine-addicted baby.

Preston then spoke about her passion for Healthy Child Healthy World, which helps families across the world teach their children about toxin-free living, before confessing to being late because she was nursing her 16-month-old son with enough milk to “feed a small country.”

Ali confessed that although she was normally a very private person, when it came to breastfeeding, she didn’t care what anyone thought—if her baby was hungry she was going to nurse—and emphasized her feeling that a parents’ responsibility is to create a non-toxic environment for their children.

Guests, including a glowing Vanessa Lachey, checked out lacy, stylish nursing bras by Leading Lady, learned about Ameda’s patented germ-free pump technology, browsed toxin-free products for their homes and children from eco-friendly brands, noshed on fare from Chef Ludo Lefevbre, and left with incredible Swag Bags full of donations from the generous sponsors, so heavy that guests had to have help carrying them to their car.

The event was presented by sponsors Leading Lady and Ameda, with support from leading sponsors Moby Wrap, Motherlove, Cariboo, Seventh Generation, PumpEase, Fairhaven Health, Mamas and Papas, and Happy Family.

Echo-Chic Wedding Tips!

“Eco-chic”…that’s what they’re calling it now. The people, food, lighting, transportation, clothing, flowers and décor – it all amounts to well, A LOT! Photo by MaureenPortoPhotography.com

Try and be a responsible resident of Planet Earth while planning your next event. The good news is that going a little bit green is better than going dark. Rest assured though, the event does not have to be powered by a windmill in order to be considered “Eco Chic”.

Top Eco-Chic TIPS:
* Green Invitation! Rethink the invites you want to send to your guests. Evites are super easy and helps keep track of your RSVP’s with a click of a button. If you want to keep it old fashioned with paper invites, try using recycled paper.

* Take it Outside! Consider an outdoor venue like a botanical garden, the beach, or a beautiful park for your venue. The amount of energy used to house a wedding indoors is much greater than one hosted by nature! Be sure to make this a daytime event. You can’t then decide to do it at night with generators and full lighting!

* Eco-Friendly Cocktails! That’s right! Just because you are having an eco-friendly event doesn’t mean you have to ditch the fun details. When serving up a cocktail be sure to search for a local wine or beer company. Local is the best way to go – shipping from other countries requires a lot of fuel! That’s a big carbon footprint you don’t want to leave.

* Kid Friendly Drinks! Don’t forget about the kid friendly beverages! Go with glass or aluminum bottles, these are much easier to recycle compared to plastic bottles.

* Organic! Being completely organic with your food choices can increase your costs! Choosing a few unique organic dishes to serve will have little impact on your bottom line. Ask your caterer about buying from a local farmers market or co-op for your event!

* All Natural! Consider all natural favors for your guests! The Party Goddess! loves to incorporate succulents into centerpieces. Create a centerpiece for each table that incorporates several small potted plants that can break away for your guests to take home.

Random Eco-Chic FACTS & FIGURES:
* The average wedding emits 14.5 tons of carbon dioxide into the air we all share, which is more than one single person emits in a full year!
* Although the light bulb was invented to help mankind see in the dark, indoor lighting use peaks between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* In America we recycle only 28% of the trash we produce.
* 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
* 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.

Dessert Table Time!

Dessert tables have become all the rage lately.

I’m constantly amazed at all of the exciting things that are being done with them.

What a cool way to incorporate the idea of a chalkboard, right? This one from bizbash.com is just so super fabulous!

If you happen to be looking for something a bit more feminine, this one from blog.hwtm.com is divine.

By incorporating different colors and levels you can accomplish a truly outstanding result.

Although it may look complicated, it’s such a cinch. After choosing your colors, just get some glass trays and jars together and arrange them in different heights (risers are always a handy item to stash underneath the linen). The decorating and placing of desserts will come naturally once the main pieces are in place.

Viola! You have yourself a super duper fabulous dessert table. Don’t forget to take pictures before the party begins!

Chevron…Hot or Not?

One of the big trends we are seeing out there with home and party decor is the chevron print.

Coming in all different colors and sizes, it has a fresh feeling to it when done right. My eyes are always drawn to the pattern but I wonder what everyone else is thinking about this craze…hot or not?

This picture here from sycamorestreetpress.com shows the print being used as a rug. Super cute, in my opinion!

There are so many things that I’m obsessed with in this picture from theglitterguide.tumblr.com. Dying to know how I can score some sweet seats like these under the table. Perhaps I can make my own?

Anyway, back to the chevron. I’m giving it a “two thumbs up”. What do you think? What’s your current obsession?!

 

Summer is a Comin’!

Summer is on it’s way. That means it’s almost bikini time! I’ve been trying to find healthy recipes that are still appealing to the family and wanted to share a few great finds.

First, this recipe is from abigmouthful.com and I have already tested it out for you. Verdict is: DEELISH!

Lemon Orzo Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes

12 oz. orzo
1 bunch fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 lemon, zested and juiced
4 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbs. fresh parsley, minced
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano*

Bring 2 large pots of water to boil.  Add a big pinch of salt in each.

To one pot, add asparagus and blanch, about 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus.  Place blanched asparagus in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and keep them green.

To the second pot, add the orzo.  Cook per package instructions.  When tender, drain and place in a large bowl.  Add blanched asparagus and tomato halves.

Mix olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl.  Stir into orzo and vegetables.  Stir in parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

This can be served warm, room temperature or cold.

One site that you HAVE to check out is www.skinnytaste.com. I can’t even tell you how many amazing recipes that you can find there.

If you’re planning on hitting the beach in a few short months skinnytaste.com will be your savior.