Holiday parties are upon us - our house included! You know how much I love to entertain and this season our home will be filled with friends and family once again. We will kick off the Holidays with a party for 80 this week. This may sound crazy, but I just can’t wait! Every room is in order (or will be by tonight), is as decorated as it can be for now, the caterer’s and servers are lined up and most of the shopping is done. I’m down to my favorite part…the details. These are really the most fun for me and I think I’ve bought whatever I could find in red, pink and silver combo. Nate Berkhus and I have one huge thing in common. We shop anywhere and I did! It’s just about time to add the flowers, light the candles, bring in the music, add the Holiday spirit and we’re ready.

If you are entertaining, the most important thing to keep your sanity is to also keep daily lists going. This will help you stay organized and on track to enjoy the day of your event. List books are great and Holiday Organizers - even better. Remember to have fun yourself and to make it great for your date, spouse or partner. Have that cute little cocktail dress ready, with shoes and bag at it’s side. It’s definetely the time of the year for something fun to put in your hair.

Holiday Entertaining Tips:

Be sure that you check your list twice for party tubs, where you will hang those extra coats and wraps (garment racks do the trick!), are there guest towels or napkins in the bathrooms and do you have enough glasses? I chose acrylic martini glasses for our Signature Lemon Drops we’ll serve at this year’s party. Everyone loved them at the last soiree.

Happy Entertaining!

Mrs. O

Four thousand roses…a fleet of limosines and seven lucky viewers! EVERY last detail was perfect (by Colin Cowie - of course!) for Sidney Poitier…Oprah’s personal hero. “The entire event was a labor of love, really, from my heart to the man who made me believe (this is my favorite part)…that I could dream a bigger dream”, says Oprah. Her goal for this evening - ‘a magical evening with Sidney and seven lucky readers of her book selection The Measure of a Man.

The details by…’Master party planner’ Colin Cowie, created the the mood and surroundings - in only the way he could, red velvet invitations hand-designed by none other than Ellen Welden, Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck prepared the perfect dinner at Sidney’s Hollywood favorite - Spago. There was magnifecent food, wonderful stories and heart-warming toasts. However, if you saw the show..there was more than a lavish dinner party. As the evening unfolded…I saw a man who was taught the values of pride and integrity - in many ways touched peoples lives.

Today’s Thought:

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”

~Oprah Winfrey