Chic Recession Friendly Party Tips

If you're throwing a New Year's Eve fete tonight, here are some last minute tips from famed party planner David Tutura. Keep them filed away since they can be used for engagement parties, bridal showers and weddings too!

Tip #1 - Create a Sexy Centerpiece

David's "Cocktail" Centerpiece is an easy, budget friendly and chic idea. Create a "Drink Glass Runner" on a shimmery linen. Gather every stemmed glass you own (martini, wine, champagne) and place them down the center of the table. Add water and drops of pink (or your favorite color) food coloring in varying amounts and top with floating votive candles.

Tip #2 - It's Not What You Serve, It's How You Serve It

Make your party food festive and impressive by dressing up the serving containers. Serve soup in shot glasses and salads or side dishes in martini glasses with either shrimp forks or fancy chopsticks.

Tip #3 - Signature Cocktails Make a Party Unique

Save money by offering sexy signature cocktails in place of a full bar. Color coordinated drinks add a festive look to any party. Try The Ball Drop (below) or a Midnight Kiss at your next party.

- 3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
- 1 oz. Ciroc
- Add a frozen sorbet ball garnish
- Serve in a martini glass

Happy New Year everyone!!!

A glamourous New Year's Toast

Leave it to the French to create the world's first sparkling liqueur called NUVO. This gorgeous soft pink blend of vodka, French sparkling wine, chardonnay and pinot noir is great alone but its even better in event planner extraordinaire David Tutura's signature New Year's drink - Midnight Kiss.

Try this at home:

- Add one spoonful of muddled raspberries and blackberries to a champagne flute
- Fill glass 3/4 of the way full with Champagne or Proseco (about 3 oz.)
- Top with one ounce of NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

If you're hosting a New Year's Eve gathering, this will surely get the party started! I think it would also be fabulous for creating signature cocktails to serve at a bridal shower, engagement party or wedding.

Have you created a signature drink for your wedding?

Tis the season for proposals!

How cute would this little Eiffel Tower be for a secret proposal? It would also be an adorable wedding favor for a French themed wedding.

Denise Sharp, the proprietor of Studio d.Sharp, is a visual artist with a fine arts degree in sculpture and printmaking. Click here to see more of her wedding goodies and cake toppers.

Leaving on a jet plane???

In case you'll be flying this holiday weekend, click here to read about an in-flight DIY beauty treatment you might have missed!

Happy travels...

Happy Holidays from Globetrotting Bride

Wishing you and your families a very happy holiday season!

- Happy Chanukah
- Merry Christmas
- Happy New Year
- Feliz Navidad
- Happy Kwanzaa
- Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
- Happy Ramadan
- Een Plesierige Kerfees
- Joyeux Noel
- Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
- Shinnen Omedeto
- Sarbatori Fericite
- I'd Millad Said oua Sana Saida
- La Multi Ani
- Bon Nadal
- Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
- Kala Christouyenna
- Mele Kalikimaka
- Shub Naya Baras
- Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

If you should find yourselves snowed in this holiday weekend, or if you're purposely hibernating, here are some of my favorite wedding-ish movie suggestions. These would all be fun to bring along on a bachelorette trip too.

- My Big Fat Greek Wedding
- Wedding Crashers
- Runaway Bride
- Mamma Mia!
- My Best Friend's Wedding
- Father of the Bride
- 27 Dresses
- Monsoon Wedding
- Muriel's Wedding

Gifts for a bride-to-be

Here are some last minute holiday gift ideas for a bride-to-be. They would also work for shower or engagement gifts so file them away in case any of your friends should get engaged this holiday season...

1) Inspire Romance Collection ($48) from C&M Couples. This cute lunchbox kit includes travel-friendly 2-ounce bottles of aromatherapy massage creme, bath and shower gel, linen mist plus a travel candle and sea sponge. Also Inspire Passion version is also available. Both are perfect for a weekend getaway.

2) Every bride loves her bling so why not give her something from Girl ExtraOrdinaire like this blingy "Just Married" bikini.

3) The more bling the better, so why not throw in some cheeky panties from Victoria's Secret?

4) This Bling Ring coffee mug is would make a cute gift for a newly engaged co-worker.

5) Wedding magazines are a nice idea for any bride-to-be. Wrap up a couple of faves like InStyle Weddings and Martha Stewart Weddings and throw in a couple of European bridal magazines for added inspiration.

And the winner is.....

Congrats! My Dream Ring, you have won the Wedding Paper Divas $100 gift certificate. Please email me with your contact details.

Happy holidays!

The ultimate gift for your iPhone lover

How do you know when somebody has an iPhone??

drumroll......and the answer:

They tell you!

Here's something that falls into the "Why didn't I think of that category?"

Etre Touchy gloves are a tech-lover's dream come true. Warm, stylish gloves that cover all but your thumbs and index fingers allowing you to touch, tap, stroke, slide and pinch work your techie gadgets without freezing to death.

The Globetrotting Groom took them for a test drive and it was love at first touch. Here he is working his gloves while waiting for the subway.

These would be a great for anyone heading off on a urban city honeymoon this winter along with a chic guidebook or two...

Your Blog is Fabulous!!!

Many, many thanks to Allison at Charmville for awarding Globetrotting Bride with the fabulous blog award! Yippie!!!

The rules: List 5 obsessions/addictions that you have, and tag back to the person who gave you the award. Post the rules. Tag 5 more people!

My obsessions:

1) Hair accessories (Headbands right now)
2) Shoes (particularly boots and sandals)
3) Having my Passport stamped (I hate when they overlap)
4) Keeping a neatly folded underwear drawer
5) Gossip Girl (see item 1)

I'm passing this fabulous award along to:

1) The Broke-Ass Bride
2) The Relentless Bride
3) ABCD Design
4) Single Gal in the City
5) Prima Donna Bride

And the winner is.....

Drumroll....

The Mix My Granola winner is Neine. Email me with your granola order and address and it will be on its way.

Have a great weekend!

Destination Weddings Hotspot: The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida

Today we have a guest post from Globetrotting Cindy, one of my favorite travel correspondents!

I hope to walk down the aisle but I've never had visions of a big local wedding. I've planned events for the past 10 years and I would happily choose to have an outsider stress over my big day. So, for me, a destination wedding, organized by a fabulous wedding department is the only way I will go!

I recently visited the luxurious Breakers Palm Beach and was tempted to reserve a wedding date…. Perhaps 2015??? It is one the most beautiful and glamorous hotels with everything a bride needs to host the perfect wedding. Here’s the scoop:

WHERE: The Breakers Palm Beach is surrounded by 140 acres of oceanfront property, just minutes from Palm Beach. Florida has always been a popular wedding choice since its close enough to home, but far enough away to feel like you are truly having a destination wedding.

WHO: The Breakers Palm Beach isn’t for brides on a tight budget. Their elaborate ceremonies and receptions cost between $225-$800 per person.

WHAT THEY OFFER: They'll handle just about everything. They have a separate design studio on-property that works to create wedding themes, room décor and set designs, cutting edge floral designs, and theatrical lighting. They'll also coordinate prop rentals, music and entertainment, tuxedo rentals, transportation and find an officiant for the wedding.

WHEN: Book a year out to get your preferred date. In 2008 they hosted more than 100 weddings, with November and May being most popular. If a hurricane (hurricane season is June-November) should disturb your plans, they will reschedule the wedding and apply all deposits to the new date.

THE RECEPTION: So many choices! Brides can choose from majestic ballrooms (for 50-500 guests), outdoor spaces, Ocean Terrace or Ocean Lawn and Ponce Promenade.

ADDED PERKS FOR THE BRIDAL PARTY: Did anyone say spa day? The Breakers Palm Beach has a world-class spa with an array of spa packages. My favorite is the Island Escape, which includes an 80-minute Personal Retreat Massage, Honey Papaya Smoothing Scrub, Citrus Sorbet Pedicure and Spa lunch.

WHAT TO BOOK: The oversized beach bungalows include welcome amenities, private open-sky shower, living room, wireless internet, LCD flat screen TV, stocked refrigerator, personal amenities like lip balm, suntan lotion, magazines, robes and sandals, wet bar, beach concierge and spa service beach-side upon request. Rates for 2009 start at $200 for spring/summer/fall and at $495 in winter. INSIDER TIP: Request Beach Bungalows #16 or # 30 by the Relaxation Pool, they have adjacent private lawns.

ADDED PERKS FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM: Complimentary room upgrade for the bride and groom on their wedding night (usually a suite), in-room champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. For elaborate wedding parties you'll also receive The Breakers History book and keepsake robes.

BOOKING YOUR WEDDING: The Breakers Palm Beach has a dedicated wedding website to answer all you questions about the ceremony, reception, and services. Click here for a virtual tour and video of the property.

There is still time to win...

1) Mix my Granola contest - Deadline is Friday, December 19

2) Wedding Paper Divas $100 contest - Deadline is Monday, December 22

Good luck!!

New York Steakhouse in a box!!!

Got a red meat lover on your holiday gift list?

Need a wedding present for the couple who has everything?

Saks Fifth Avenue and Peter Luger Steakhouse have got you covered with The Ultimate Steak Gift Set!

This fabulous gift box includes:

- Two 37-oz USDA PRIME dry-aged, hand-selected porterhouse steaks

- One 12.6-oz bottle of Peter Luger Steak House Old Fashioned Sauce

- A black Peter Luger apron with gold logo

- 12" x 16" cherry wood cutting board with juice groove

- A satchel of foil-wrapped milk chocolate coins.

If you can't come to New York, this might just be the second best thing.

Brooklyn Bride's Holiday Card Swap

I love to get crafty so I was psyched to participate in Brooklyn Bride's 2nd Annual Card Swap. I thought you'd enjoy taking a peek at my creation.

1) First I stamped a chandelier image onto Stardream Opal cardstock and 6x9 Stardream Copper envelopes with a VersaMark watermark ink pad.

2) Next, I sprinkled Butterscotch embossing powder over the images and shook off the extra powder. I fired up my embossing gun and applied heat to the design which made it puffy and shiny.

3) I wrote everyone a personal note wishing them happy holidays and best wishes for a New Year filled with happiness, prosperity and travel.

4) I put each envelope in a cellophane envelope and filled with chocolates (and paper stuffing for protection)!

5) The final product. Front:

And back:

6) I put them in mailing envelopes and headed off to the post office!

I'll be posted photos of the cards I received next week so stay tuned...

Groovy Gift Ideas for the Guys....

Need some holiday gift ideas for your groom, brother, father, uncle or groomsmen? Check these out:

The Music Lover:

Altec Lansing's Orbit itty-bitty portable speaker ($40) weighs less than 7 ounces but offers rich sound for music on the go. It connects to iPods, MP3 players and laptops with a retractable cord.

The Gentleman:

A gentleman is not supposed to buy his own cufflinks so pick out a nice pair and give him a story to tell every time he wears them. Robin Rotiner makes a slew of fun ones in an array of themes like cars, sports, travel, places, animals and more. This MP3 Player/Headphones ($295) set cracks me up! And I really like the Private Jet and Engine and the Bottlecap and Opener.

The Tree Hugger:

The Give Smart, Give Green Holiday Gift Pack ($80) from OZO Life contains a slew of green goodies like reusable shopping bags and water bottles, recycling totes, organic soap, a toothbrush made of recycled yogurt cups and more.

The Chocoholic:

This Chocolate Bars of the World Gift Collection ($39) from National Geographic is sure to please any globetrotting chocoholic. Inside, you'll find five chocolate bars from around the world.

The Thirsty Man:

I love the idea of a Beer of the Month Club ($21-$65 per month) and this one lets you choose from four styles (Original Microbrew, International & Domestic, International or Collectors Series).

The Metrosexual:

The Ole Henriksen Men's Kit ($70) is a great pick for the modern man who cares about his skin and hair. He'll enjoy On The Go Cleanser, Natural Hair Wash, Sheer Transformation Creme and Walnut Complexion Scrub.

Mix it up, baby! Click and snack.

1) Do you love mixing and matching in the kitchen?

2) Want an idea for a super personalized gift everyone will love?

3) Are you looking for something unique for your wedding favors or out-of-towner wedding bags?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you'll love Mix My Granola.

This cool new site lets you custom blend your own 16 ounce canister of granola in a few easy clicks starting at just $3.99.

- Choose your base (Organic granola, French vanilla granola or organic Swiss Muesli)

- Add your toppings (more than 48 natural and organic ingredients like fruits and berries, nuts and seeds, and fun "extras" like Wasabi peas, organic gummy bears, peanut M&Ms, etc). For every ounce of toppings you add, the nutrition and pricing will adjust.

- Give it a fun name

- Wait for it to arrive in the mail and then gobble it up!

I created my own batch and it was delicious and oh-so-fresh compared to many pre-made granolas out there. I went a little crazy with my "Globetrotting Bride's Tropical Honeymoon Nosh" and added dried mangos, dried plums, Goji berries, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, coconut shreds, crystalized ginger, peanut butter pretzel bites, pomegranate cordials and mini yoghurt pretzels!

Doesn't this look yummy?

I think this would be a fun gift for newlyweds (breakfast in bed, anyone? snack for a long flight?), a fun shower gift and a unique wedding favor/out-of-towner wedding bag addition (group discounts available). Gift certificates can be bought online too.

Want your own? One lucky Globetrotting Bride reader will get the chance to create his or her very own Mix My Granola blend. Just comment below by Friday, December 19th and tell me your favorite Mix My Granola fruits, seed/nuts, or extras.

Last Travel Fling Before Wedding Bells Ring: New Orleans

Southern hospitality, amazing food, charming shops, sightseeing and nightlife galore, what more do you need for a girl's getaway? I took my mom for her birthday last year and here were some of our highlights:

Where: We stayed at the W French Quarter which is totally chic and located right in the middle of the French Quarter. The room was hip, the bathroom was stocked with Bliss, and they even sent us a piece of birthday cake! The outdoor patio is loaded with comfy chairs and for sun-worshipers, there's a tiny swimming pool.



Culinary Delights: There is no shortage of amazing food here! Be sure to try the local specialties like beignets, po' boy and muffuletta sandwiches, turtle soup, gumbo and pralines. Some of our favorite spots were Cafe Du Monde, brunch at Commander's Palace, Napoleon House, Court of Two Sisters, Nola Resturant and K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.



We like to run around and do everything so here's what we did:

- We shopped


- We explored the French Quarter by day and by night


- We took a Plantation House tour


- French Quarter horse and buggy ride


- Steamboat Natchez riverboat ride


- Cooking class at New Orleans School of Cooking


Relaxation central: After a few days of sightseeing, we were pooped. The Globetrotting Groom had arranged surprise massages for us at Spa Aria in the Hotel Monteleone so we were good as new!

Book it: Check out Jet Blue for 3-night air and hotel packages starting at $435 or click here to learn more about New Orleans.

Bon voyage...

Free invites, ornaments and honeymoons. Oh my!

Feeling lucky???

Here are some great prizes to be won:

1) Globetrotting Bride's $100 Gift Certificate from Wedding Paper Divas contest - Need some invites, holiday cards, social stationary? Just pick your fantasy wedding destination and invite to enter. Deadline is Dec. 22.

2) Parisian Party's Holiday Giveaway offers up the chance to win these cute "Paris Party Girl" Christmas ornaments. Click over and share your favorite Winter in Paris memory before Dec. 14. This site offers fabulous inspiration for all things French and totally oh-la-la!

3) Remember my eco-friendly wedding gift idea from Trees Instead? Well, they've got a Green Wedding Contest running through December 28th. Three lucky couples will win Trees Instead Wedding Favors (one tree planted for every guest). The second prize winner will win an acre of planted trees and the first prize couple hits the jackpot with an acre of planted tress, a Lifetime Carbon Footprint offset and an ALL INCLUSIVE ECO-FRIENDLY 5-NIGHT HONEYMOON IN COSTA RICA.

I say, increase your odds and enter all three.

Jet Setter Holiday Gift Guide

Still working on your holiday shopping? Here are some ideas for the jet setters on your list:

J. Crew has a great metallic Jet Setter mini-notebook ($20) and passport holder ($30) available in glittery silver, gold, turquoise and fuchsia.

I don't go anywhere without a sleep mask and the cozy Opulence Deluxe Fashion Sleep Mask ($25) is one of my favorites for winter. The tiny pocket on top holds your ear plugs.

Why not custom design a beach bag ($30) with a photo for a unique gift. My friends and I like to add a travel guide or two for some travel (or honeymoon) inspiration. I think this is a great idea for a bridal shower gift too.

The Globetrotting Groom got me a Gorillapod ($22-$55) and we use it all the time for self portraits. Attach your camera or camcorder to the flexible tripod stand or wrap the twisty legs around something sturdy. A great idea for a honeymooner too!

Kate Spade has a fun holiday travel ticket holder ($95). If you're feeling generous, why not throw in a ticket for an around-the-world trip. I know I'd love that.