Giveaway Winners!

KN Karen Neuburger is generously giving away 2 pairs of cozy chenille socks to 2 lucky Tastefully Entertaining readers. Thanks to all who entered! The question was about your most luxurious party idea or accessory. Here are the 2 winners (picked at random) and their answers:

1) Rachel who said: These socks are super comfy! I like to do themed gift baskets for my parties. I would include sparkling lemonade in vintage bottles, home spa treatments, nail polish, and fluffy slippers!

2) Carolyn G who said: These are so great! They look comfy. These would be great for a "Girl's Night Out" party. They can be used as favors! I worked for a non-profit and we had a PJ Party as a fundraiser and we all dresed in PJ had slippers and socks on and had a great time. I wish we would have had a basket full of these to give out!!!

Congrats to the winners! Please email me at rebecca [at] tastefullyentertaining.com with your name and mailing address so I can get the socks sent out to you! Thanks again to all who entered!

Reader Giveaway!

Tastefully Entertaining readers can enter to win a pair of these luxurious KN Karen Neuburger chenille lounge socks! You may be asking how socks relate to entertaining, but these cozy accessories would be the perfect favor or prize for a spa-themed shower or a child's pampering party!

Enter to win by leaving a comment on today's post about your most luxurious party idea or accessory.

Each reader can enter once by leaving a comment on this post. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're a winner. Entries will be accepted up until 7:00 pm EST on Monday, March 2nd. Two winners will be selected by a random drawing.

3 Winners of entertaining simple!

Thanks so much to all who entered to win 1 of 3 copies of Michael Mead's entertaining simple. You all have so much good entertaining advice and tips/tricks to share - hopefully this helped others learn how to make entertaining a little easier. And now here are the 3 lucky readers who have won:

1) Melanie who said: I find that when I keep things simple, the food and colors etc, my life as a hostess is much simpler. I have a nice set of white china that I can use for ever occasion by changing my other decor and napkin colors etc. This also cuts down on price.

2) Dawn who said: My entertaining trick is to have a signature cocktail/mocktail. Always have a fun drink to match your theme, even if it means giving a regular drink a new name and serve in a fun glass. In the past, we've had "Chocolatinis" at Christmas, apple-ginger sparklers garnished with cinnamon stick stirrers in martini glasses, and "Blue Lagoon" (blue punch) in clear tumblers with drink umbrellas.

3) Michelle who said: No party is good without candlelight! Candles make everything look beautiful.

Congrats to all the winners! Please email me at rebecca [at] tastefullyentertaining.com with your name and mailing address so I can get the books sent out to you!

Thanks again to all who entered!

Entertaining Reads: entertaining simple + A Giveaway

Today's post is the next installment in my Entertaining Reads series! The featured book in this edition is entertaining simple by the ultra talented entertaining guru, Matthew Mead. And thanks to the Wiley publishing group, 3 lucky readers will receive a copy of this wonderful new book!

Anyone interested in entertaining should familiarize themselves with Matthew Mead and his massive portfolio of party tips and inspiration. His newest book, entertaining simple, is a great way to do just that! It starts by laying out everything you could need in your entertaining pantry as well as unique ways to organize it all. Next, Matthew Mead showcases a ton of ideas (all with lovely photos) for individual party elements - place cards, napkin rings and general tabletop inspiration. Lastly, entertaining simple provides a bunch of party menus with delicious recipes for several occasions. This a great book, packed with entertaining inspiration fit for the novice host or the expert hostess.

To purchase entertaining simple head over to Amazon. For more information or inspiration from Matthew Mead check out his main site or his page on Facebook (where you can become his Facebook fan).

**READER GIVEAWAY**

Now, I mentioned that I get to giveaway 3 copies of this great new book! Entering to win is very simple and each reader has 2 opportunities to win:

1) Head over to the Tastefully Entertaining page on Facebook and post a comment about something that no good party is without.

2) Post a comment on today's post (11/24) about a tip or trick that makes entertaining more simple.

To double your chance of winning leave a comment on both pages. Each reader can enter once on the Tastefully Entertaining page on Facebook and once on the Tastefully Entertaining blog, for a total of 2 entries. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're a winner. Entries will be accepted up until 7:00 pm Eastern on Friday, November 28th. Winners will be selected by a random drawing and will be announced on Monday, December 1st.

5 Winners of Katie Brown Celebrates!

Thanks so much to all those who entered to win 1 of 5 copies of a great new entertaining book, Katie Brown Celebrates! It was a ton of fun reading about the best parties you've been to and the ones you can't wait to plan! Now, without further ado, here are the 5 lucky readers who have won:

1) beth who said: SO excited for the new book, looks lovely! Besides my own wedding :), the best wedding i have ever attended was definitely my brother's ... it was a small, intimate affair at a vineyard in Napa, the event was so filled with details that really remind me of who my brother and now sister-in-law are and what they love and it made all the guests feel included in their lives! from modern touches, to great wine and monograms everyone - you really got a sense of who they are. such good memories!

2) katie r who said: how super generous of you! The book looks wonderful. I am going to sound conceited and say the best wedding I ever attended was mine. It came off perfectly and was a perfect blend of traditional and SUPER FUN and was all totally us! It was also a ton of work and we did a lot ourselves, So I was pretty proud of how it turned out, on top of it being my happiest day ever!

3) Miranda Santiago who said: I would love to do a winter wonderland dinner party with tons of white christmas lights, large white feather centerpieces, DIY crystal beaded napkin rings, and peppermintinis garnished with mini candy canes. It's in the works... :)

4) rissa and jared who said: My favorite parties are the ones my mom has at her house with just some neighbors or friends. She always has great food and presentation. Plus, she is hilarious and can keep a party going all night!

5) Stacie Helm who said: I would love to host a fabulous baby or wedding shower. I have hosted a lot of events but have never hosted either of those. There are so many fun ideas I am dying to try!

Congrats to all the winners! Please email me at rebecca [at] tastefullyentertaining.com with your name and mailing address so I can get the books sent out to you. :)

If you didn't win, definitely consider heading to Amazon and ordering a copy for yourself. This book is a great entertaining resource and is packed with tons of creative and easy ideas to make your gatherings extra special!

Entertaining Reads: Katie Brown Celebrates + A Giveaway!

I am so excited for today's post! I'm unveiling a brand new series on Tastefully Entertaining entitled Entertaining Reads. I will be keeping an eye out for new entertaining books so I can recommend them to you as part of this series. But not only am I launching this fun new feature, I also get to giveaway copies of today's book! Thanks so much to the Hachette Book Group for generously providing copies of Katie Brown Celebrates for 5 lucky readers!


The moment I received my copy of Katie Brown Celebrates I was extremely excited to peak inside. Katie Brown is well known in the world of entertaining - a show on PBS, a column in The New York Times, several other books as well as being featured in many national magazines are just a few of her claims to fame. This most recent book, however, is a must read for anyone interested in entertaining. Filled with inspiration for hosting parties for every time of year, this book shines through easy table setting and decor ideas (materials list and instructions are included), appetizing recipes that don't require a pantry full of ingredients and simple but creative concepts for enjoyable events. Within just the first few pages, she features a New Year's party with a stunning and unique DIY centerpiece and an ingeniously easy and adorable favor idea, both of which I cannot wait to try out. And that is just the beginning of 12 party concepts, each meticulously planned out with invitation ideas, decor inspiration, craft guides, favors, party games, recipes and more. Trust me, this is a book you won't want to miss!

To purchase Katie Brown Celebrates head over to Amazon. They have copies in stock now for $19.80 (plus it qualifies for free super saver shipping!)

**READER GIVEAWAY**

Now, I mentioned that I get to giveaway 5 copies of this lovely new book! Entering to win is very simple and every reader has 2 opportunities to win:

1) Head over to the Tastefully Entertaining page on Facebook and post a comment on The Wall about an event you've always dreamed of hosting.

2) Post a comment on today's post (10/16) about the best party or wedding you've ever attended.

To double your chance of winning leave a comment on both pages. Each reader can enter once on the Tastefully Entertaining page on Facebook and once on the Tastefully Entertaining blog, for a total of 2 entries. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're a winner. Entries will be accepted up until 7:00 pm Eastern on Monday, October 20th. Winners will be selected by a random drawing.

Giveaway Winners!

It's time to announce the lucky winners of the Wedding Wednesday Celebration giveaway! Thanks to everyone who submitted an inspiration board for our celebration and to all those that left comments. And now for the winners...


The following three readers have won the prize pack shown above which includes a Vera Bradley stationery set, Boatman Geller note pad, Bubbles n' Bows thank you note set and a Cross-My-Heart recipe card and note pad set...

Congratulations to: elexia, Lucky Designs and Misty Dawn Photography

The following three readers have won the prize pack below which includes a Bubbles n' Bows thank you note set & Cross-My-Heart recipe card and note pad set...

Congratulations to: Busy Bee Creations, EB and logan's mom

For those of you with blogs, Kati will contact you to collect your mailing address. If you do not have a blog (just a profile), please email me or Kati with your address to collect your prize. If you decline your prize, please let us know so we can draw another winner. Please see the official contest rules for more information.

Thanks again for all who entered by leaving comments or sending in inspiration boards. It was a lot of fun seeing so many variations on our Wedding Wednesday theme!

Giveaway: Last Chance to Enter to Win!

Don't forget to enter to win 1 of 6 prize packs filled with note cards, recipe cards, notepads and more! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on any post from 8/20/08 before 5 pm EST on 8/25! It's that easy so enter soon! Good luck!

Wedding Wednesday Celebration - Part 3 (Giveaway!)

Now's your chance to take part in our Wedding Wednesday virtual party! Kati of The Finer Things has arranged for some awesome prizes for 6 lucky readers:

Three will win Prize Pack 1:

- 1 note pad from Boatman Geller

- Thank you notes from Bubble n' Bows

- Stationery from Vera Bradley

- Recipe cards and matching note pad from Cross-My-Heart

Three will win Prize Pack 2:

- Thank you notes from Bubble n' Bows
- Recipe cards and matching note pad from Cross-My-Heart

How you can win:

- Leave a comment on any of today's (8/20/2008) posts here or over at The Finer Things

- Submit an inspiration board based on today's theme. If you've already sent in a board to either Kati or myself, you're already entered!

- Create a board based on today's theme and post on your blog. Just be sure to let us know it's there!

Quick rules: (For official rules and regulations, please click here.)

- Only one entry per person

- Enter anytime before Monday, August 25, 2008 at 5 pm EST

- Be sure to provide a valid email address so we can contact you if you're a winner

- Winners must reside in the United States

- Winners will be selected at random

So, it's that simple! Either post a comment or create one of your very own Wedding Wednesday inspiration boards to enter! Good luck!

Wedding Wednesday Celebration - Part 2

As part of our Wedding Wednesday Celebration we're showcasing inspiration boards submitted by readers and fellow bloggers! This first board was submitted by Lara of Bliss Event Group. Be sure to check out The Bliss Blog for more lovely inspiration! Thanks for helping us celebrate Lara!

Crocheted Votives, Doily Flower Arrangements, White Cutout Bag Table Décor and Blue Mug , Blue Cakes, Blue Favors, Blue Bouquet, Bridesmaids Dress Sketch, Wedding Dress by Pronovias via Brides, Wedding Gown Detail by Carolina Herrera via Brides, Invitation from Finestationery.com, Blue and White Bouquet and White Paper Flower Table Treatment

The following board entitled 'Something Blue...' was submitted by Tastefully Entertaining reader, Karen. Thanks for joining us in our celebration Karen- you've put together a great event!

Something Blue…
For an evening affair held outdoors, elegant with just a touch of casual flair

Invitation , Brooch: Etsy seller Adrienne Designs , Bouquet: Martha Stewart , Dress: Thread Design, Lanterns: Z Gallerie , Cake: Martha Stewart , Hairpiece: ban.do , Favors: theknot.com , Invitation: FineStationery.com

Additional reader and blogger inspiration boards can be found over at The Finer Things! Plus, we'll both be posting more boards throughout the day, as well as linking to other blogs who are joining in on our celebration! And do not miss the chance to enter to win a fabulous 'party favor' prize! So stay tuned for details on how you can win!

Wedding Wednesday Celebration - Part 1

Happy Wednesday! Kati and I told you last week about our special Wedding Wednesday celebration. We're commemorating 6 months worth of Wedding Wednesdays and our 25th Wedding Wednesday inspiration board. So, today we're throwing a virtual party to celebrate!

Below you'll find my inspiration board based on this week's special invitation from FineStationery.com, a stunning navy and light blue invitation by Vera Wang. In addition to our regular inspiration boards, Kati and I will be posting throughout the day with reader and blogger submitted boards all based on the same invitation! Have you created a board for our celebration too? Leave a comment or email me at rebecca [at] tastefullyentertaining.com and let me know so we can include you!

And what would a party be without "favors"? Stay tuned for a post with more details about how you can enter to win one of 6 fabulous prizes!

- Spectacular reception by Preston Bailey
- Ultra stylish bridesmaid dress by Zac Posen (as worn by Miranda in The Sex in the City movie)

- Bridal bouquet mixing deep blue and light purple florals by Tapestry Flowers

- 6-tier wedding cake with navy frosting and sugar pearls

- A navy aisle runner dresses up the ceremony

- A blue striped tie pops with a navy suit

- Blue flowers decorate a place card table [via Faye and Greer]

Head over to The Finer Things to check out Kati's lovely take on our selected invitation. (A sneak peek of my favorites from her post is below.) Be sure to visit Kati and I later in the day to see how our readers and some special fellow bloggers interpreted this week's invitation! And don't forget - check back to learn how you can win a fabulous prize!!

25th Wedding Wednesday Celebration!

Today's Wedding Wednesday is extra special - it's our 25th post! At the end of this month, we'll also be celebrating 6 months of Wedding Wednesday inspiration boards! To commemorate this exciting occasion, we wanted to throw a party that everyone would be able to attend, so we are hosting a virtual fête!

As with every Wedding Wednesday, we start each post with an invitation that inspires us. For our celebration we've selected this luxurious navy and aquamarine invitation from FineStationery.com. The envelope liner features a delicate lace circle motif and provides an inspiring palate of beige, white, lavender, sea foam green and multiple hues of blue.

We invite you to join us by creating your very own inspiration board based on this invitation! Then, post it on your own blog and link back to this post or submit to me via email by August 18th. On August 20th, Kati and I will reveal our inspiration boards and share our favorites. And finally, what kind of party would it be without "favors"? We'll be giving away some fabulous prizes - but you'll have to wait until the big day to find out more!