ROYAL TART – Forum/Blog

After everyone has celebrated, wiggled and giggled then it is time for late night noshing and some quieter activities such as a facial—an at-home kitchen facial that is. You can check out thousands of recipes on the Internet or check out below the two different masks that Royal Tart suggests.

THE MASKS:

A COOL CUCUMBER MASK
Your guests will appreciate a cooling mask after all the regular slumber party silliness.

Ingredients:
Cucumbers and plain yogurt

Directions:
The number of facial masks will determine the amount of ingredients needed. We suggest that for every 4 facials you use one cucumber and two Tablespoons of plain yogurt. Add ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Apply mask to your face with fingertips. Leave it on for about 15 minutes. Take lots of silly pictures while everyone is wearing a green mask. Rinse with cold water.

OATMEAL MASK

Ingredients:
Quick cooking oats and water.

Directions:
The number of facial masks will determine the amount of ingredients needed. We suggest that for every 4 facials you use ½ cup of quick cooking oats and ½ cup of water. Make oatmeal according to package directions. When it has cooled place in blender and puree unless you want to look like a lamb. The first time I made this mask I didn’t blend it. The mask worked but I looked like a lamb with little tufts of fur sticking out. The pictures are hilarious. Spread mask over your face and allow it to dry completely. Remove the mask by gently rubbing it off with your fingers. Rinse your face if needed.

Cheers,

Tricia

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Royal Tart has done it again. An easy party blueprint to help you get your dance slumber party started. So put on your dancing shoes and high-kick and shimmie your way to the slumber party. Pick up some how-to dance CDs or check out dance instructions on the Internet. You can line dance (which is always fun), Jazz dance, Jitterbug or do the Twist. After all the dancers are spent enjoy some groovy refreshments. Then send everyone to the middle of the room for a dance off (this may be competitive or not). Once the guests have settled into their sleeping bags slip in a “dance” movie CD such as dirty dancing or Singing in the Rain, etc.

INVITATIONS: The invitations can be printed on record labels and affixed to old 45s or use plain CDs & their cases for a slightly more modern feel. You can also narrow the theme from just a Dance & Slumber Party theme to a specific type of dance/music or a specific recording artist like Madonna or Hannah Montana. In which case you would want to create invitations that match the narrowed theme. For Madonna I would look for old Madonna 45s or CDs and then affix the invitation to the record.

SET THE SCENE: After invitations have been mailed you will want to start collecting dance inspired items for the party. Hang CDs and records from the ceiling (use clear fishing line) varying the lengths. You can even mix records with CDs. Put an old LP on the entrance door. Make dance steps from the front door leading to the heart of the party. If you have room create a dance floor. If you are going to serve a sit down dinner or breakfast use LPs as placemats. If not incorporate them into serving pieces. If you are serving a birthday cake sandwich an LP between the pedestal plate and the cake. Check out Royal Tart’s selection of prepackaged upscale parties if you need party supplies or ideas.

THE MENU: Think of meals and snacks that coordinate with the dance party theme. If it’s a dance party slumber party for older girls I would serve what I think of as “bar or club” food– food like French fires, stuffed potato skins, onion rings, fried zucchini—it may no be healthy but it is only one night.

Regardless of age I would put out a candy buffet or a “Candy Bar” before the dancing begins. Your guests can enjoy such delights as black licorice (or red) as a nod to records, lollipops, Kisses, Smarties, sugar filled straws, really any candy that looks cool in clear glass containers. Hang some CDs and records over the candy buffet.

PARTY FAVORS: You may choose to provide your guests with cute bags or boxes to take home candy from the candy buffet but since they won’t be leaving until the morning you might have time to burn a few dance moves to DVD. Take pictures or better, have your guests take pictures during the dance contest or while they are learning a line dance. Your guests will appreciate the memory and the effort.

So now that you have some directions and inspirations for one super duper dance slumber party put on your boogie shoes and celebrate! Enjoy!

Cheers,

Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

It’s slumber party time! What does that mean? It means all week long Royal Tart is going to share some of its favorite slumber party ideas, party themes, party games, activities and the mostest funnest slumber party food.

SLUMBER PARTY SUGGESTION #1
SUPERHERO SLEEPOVER

There are at least a gazillion variations on the superhero theme. The one I like best is having all the kids design their own superheroes including their own costumes and superpowers. You may ask them to design their costumes and superpowers on paper before they arrive or you can have them design them at the party. Then provide the supplies so that they can craft their own superhero costumes. Think old hats, old pots, shower caps, old clothes, bed sheets or fabric remnants, felt, ribbon, fabric paints or pens, pipe cleaners, paper towel rolls and of course sparkly things like rhinestones and an other embellishments.

The superhero theme sounds like it is best for boys in elementary school but I think it is a brilliant theme for girls of any age. It would be really empowering for girls to create their own female superhero that had nothing to do with the likes of Superman or Batman.

For food you can serve almost anything but I love serving a superhero breakfast in the morning after everyone wakes up. It would be ideal if they donned their costumes and enjoyed a huge bowl of superhero cereal (mix several different kinds of cereal together like Sugar Corn Pops, Fruity Pebbles, Trix & Froot Loops), stunt juice (think green machine or something as interesting looking) and super hero muffins (again think huge muffins studded with bright fruit & nuts). Or go a totally different breakfast route and serve up a superhero brunch with buttermilk pancakes served with several different toppings, eggs and a breakfast meat. I would of course add food color to the pancakes and eggs so that they looked more like superhero food.

For dinner serve different shaped pasta with marina sauce or serve up macaroni and cheese using food color to change the traditional sauce color.

For late night snacks provide Superhero munch with popcorn, skittles, pretzel sticks and pistachios.

When setting the scene start with a superhero inspired invitation. I like the idea of using the words like “pow” and “zap”, etc. Then carry those words through as wall clings, banners and of course on your cake or cupcakes. As for favors you are going to send each superhero home with the costume they made and you can make goody bags with the same words used above.

With these few super suggestions your imagination is bound to run to the ends of the Earth with great ideas. In fact, my chosen superhero power might be, to always have a great idea.

Don’t forget to check back for other Sleepover ideas this week. We will be discussing a girlie girl sleepover with lip gloss, keepsake boxes & friendship bracelets and a morning tea breakfast served with a Royal Tart’s very pretty Flutterby Tea Celebration. We will also be sharing ideas for a dance party themed slumber party and a camping themed sleepover.

Cheers,

Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

Have you ever eaten grilled pizza? Have you ever made grilled pizza? During spring and summer these days just about anything and everything is grilled but some things are better grilled than others and I have found that grilled pizza is pretty darn good. A few years ago I came across a grilled pizza recipe somewhere (probably on a cooking show or in a lifestyle magazine) and fell hard for the idea. Since that time my family and friends have had many an opportunity to enjoy my super quick and easy grilled pizza. We have even had a build your own grilled pizza party which is like the traditional build your own pizza party only the pizza gets cooked on the grill. So grab a glass of wine and enjoy the novelty and the pizza.

GRILLED PIZZA RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

Pizza dough– purchase one already made (but not cooked) from your favorite pizzeria or at your specialty grocer. I often purchase mine from Trader Joes.

Sauce– either homemade or pre-made. Find a good one in a can or jar or freeze some of your own and you have yourself a “pantry” appetizer or meal anytime you want or need.

Cheese—I always use fresh mozzarella and often some other cheese or two or three. I have even used cheddar.

Any pizza toppings of your choice. The BBQ chicken pizza and the Margarita pizza are two of my favorite grilled pizzas. But we have made them with everything from artichoke hearts, goat cheese & pine nuts to pepperoni. You can be as gourmet or traditional as you wish. *Tip: add any fresh herbs at the very end or near the end so they don’t burn or get bitter.

DIRECTIONS:

Clean grill. Brush olive oil onto grill. Warm up your grill, medium to medium high heat is best. Roll out pizza dough no more than a ¼” thick (grilled pizza is much better on a thin crust than a thick one; if it is too thick then it often is doughy in the middle or burned on the edges). Leave pizza dough rustic in shape and make sure that it fits the shape of your grill. Place pizza dough on grill and cover for about 8 minutes or until it firms up but does not brown on top. Flip your pizza over and cover with sauce, cheese and any toppings of your choice. Cover the grill and continue to cook for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and slightly browned on top. Watch your toppings also–some cook more quickly than others. When it is done remove it to a large butcher block and cut it into slices. I like to serve the pizza on the butcher block as I like the way the rustic pizza looks on the wood surface.

SUGGESTED MENU

A nice glass of wine or a cold beer and a fresh salad are the perfect accompaniment. Pizza party, Garden Party, Saturday lunch or Sunday brunch grilled pizza is super easy and a real crowd pleaser for any occasion or celebration.

Enjoy,

Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

1. Memorial Day (May 25, 2009)
2. Graduation Day (Just about any time during the months of May & June)
3. Father’s Day (June 21, 2009) (Technically summer but you gotta start planning sometime)
4. Flag Day (June 14, 2009)
5. My Son’s Birthday (June 11, 2009)
6. US Open (June 15-21, 2009)
7. Your Wedding Anniversary (How would Royal Tart know what day it is?) (tell us so we’ll know next year)
8. Last Day of School (Just about any time during the months of May & June)
9. First Day of Summer Break (Ditto above)
10. Inaugural Run of a New Grill (The day you buy your new grill)
11. Flowers are in Bloom (My roses are grand right now)
12. Indianapolis 500 (May 24, 2009)
13. The Preakness May 16, 2009
14. Belmont Stakes (June 6, 2009)
15. Your Best Friend’s New Baby (Throw a baby shower anytime this month or next)
16. Your Daughter is Engaged (Engagement Party or wedding shower)
17. Block Party (You don’t have to worry about drinking & driving)
18. Teacher Appreciation Day (It depends on your community)
19. The end of Little League Season (Our party was last Saturday)
20. Because you haven’t thrown a party in years

Cheers,
Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

On behalf of Royal Tart I would like to personally thank Mannequin at Fractured Toy. Mannequin wrote a lovely blog about Royal Tart last week and offered a giveaway as part of her Blog Carnival. Below is her May 3, 2009 Royal Tart blogspot. If you have never had the opportunity to check out her site please do you are in for a treat. Mannequin has a wry sense of humor. Thank you Mannequin!

It doesn’t matter what kind of party you plan, what foods you’ll be serving or what’s up for entertainment. Unless you set the stage, your party is going to be just another {ho hum} regular old gathering.

I think it’s a very wise woman that invests in a nice set of celebratory dinnerware. Chances are you’ve noticed at upscale restaurants just how much difference a nice set of dinnerware can make. Even a simple pickle or a slice of chocolate cake can look like a work of art. And it is art!

You can be an artist when you have the right tools, the right dinnerware. The dinnerware is the background and the foods you place upon it complete your masterpiece. Get creative and match your food colors to your celebratory dinnerware , tell your guests it’s a costume party (and meanwhile, it’s not), buy some red dinnerware and have a devilishly good time outdoors.

Being a hostess should be fun, it’s your time to shine. It’s your dinner party and you’ve got a captive audience. Now you just need to wow them.
Royal Tart celebratory dinnerware is worth every penny, girls. Consider the price of a meal out and consider a lifetime of memories. Memories as in; “Her table was divinely set. I asked her where she had purchased the dinnerware and she said Royal Tart.”

When you order a celebration set, you get so much more than dinnerware. Tricia also includes recipes, tips and menu ideas. It’s the complete package for the busy hostess right at her fingertips. What a wonderful company, the Royal Tart store reminds me of the finer, simpler things in life like our tiny little family, our friends and always, always good food!

~~~~~~~~~

Thanks again to Fracture Toy and its author Mannequin!

Cheers,
Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

Happy Belated Mother’s Day! As you know I had a tonsillectomy a fortnight ago and healing is proving to be a challenge. None-the-less, Happy Mother’s Day to all the women in this world! I hope you celebrated!

Cheers,
Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

“The Butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” R. Tagore

After I designed The Red Butterfly Luncheon I saw a greeting card illustrated with red butterflys with the above quote; it was serendipitous as I designed the celebration with a lovely afternoon, moment if you will, in mind.

I would love to spend the afternoon in the soft sunshine visiting with my favorite women. We would remember, laugh, share new stores, giggle as we drank more crisp white wine and the stores got more outrageous. It would be another lovely moment in my life.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Tricia

Viva el Cinco De Mayo!!! Royal Tart hopes that if you are enjoying a frosty beer today to celebrate Cinco De Mayo that you do so with a Mexican beer or better a margarita. If neither of those suggestion sound like they will wet your whistle then try the Margarita Jell-O shots below.

Try these margarita Jell-o shots at your Cinco De Mayo celebration, Fiesta or Mexican themed dinner party. They are a novelty your guests will love.

Ingredients:

6 ounces lime Jell-o (large box)
16 ounces (boiling) water
6 ounces tequila
2 ounces Triple Sec
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce cold water

Directions:
Mix the Jell-o with the boiling water until the powder is fully dissolved; then add the tequila, Triple Sec and lime juice along with the cold water. Pour the shots into either shot glasses or paper cups. Shot glasses are more attractive, but the paper cups are easier use. Add a mini sombrero for a little party flair.

Viva el Cinco De Mayo,

Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

This year for Cinco De Mayo host a Margaritas and Senoritas party! Call you girlfriends and invite them over for a margarita tasting party. Serve several different types of margaritas or you can serve a signature margarita like a melon margarita or a peach margarita as well as margarita Jell-o shots (I will post the recipe tomorrow).

For appetizers you may serve guacamole, chips, salsa and margs or you can serve an entire dinner–it’s your choice but it needn’t be hard. If you want to serve a dinner then pull out your brightest dishes or perhaps use the Red Butterfly Celebration from Royal Tart. On the menu: avocado, tomato & red onion stacks and quesadillas. For dessert how about a mango margarita sorbet?

Viva el Cinco De Mayo,

Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door

Here at Royal Tart we will celebrate just about anything but the Kentucky Derby is one of those special events we love because it has what all great celebrations have…history, style, food and libations. Check out Royal Tart’s quick and easy Derby Party ideas below.

Kentucky Derby at a Glance (trivia):

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57.2 kg) and fillies 121 pounds (54.9 kg). The race is known in the United States as “The fastest Two Minutes in Sports” for its approximate duration, and is also called “The Run for the Roses” for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is followed by the Preakness Stakes then the Belmont Stakes.

Derby Party Themes:

Let’s Get Derby
…And They’re Off…
Silks & Roses
Cocktails & Contenders
A Day at Home with the Races
What are the Odds?
Post Time

Derby Party Games:

Crazy Hat or most glamorous or biggest hat…
Prettiest rose bouquet or centerpiece (you can give them away at the end of the party as favors or as prizes for other derby games)
A Derby Pool
Horseshoes
Frozen Jockey
Use small jockeys on horses, like the size that would be on cupcakes and freeze them to the tops of ice cubes in the freezer. At the start of the race all participants can wager on a horse. Tilt a coffee table or other flat surface slightly. Line the ice cube jockeys up, keeping them in place with a yard stick or ruler and then let them loose all at once for a fun and crazy race. The ice jockeys melt, turn, spin and slide at the whimsy of the weather and heat. To repeat simply refreeze the jockeys on new ice cubes and freeze until the down time between the next races.

Derby Party Food & Cocktails

Look to your favorite Southern dishes. Anything from Fried Chicken (for a campy menu serve Kentucky Fried Chicken) to Shrimp & Grits, fried okra, sweet potato pie, fried green tomatoes, hummingbird cake, Bourbon glazed ham…you get the idea.

As for cocktails not only is there the traditional mint julep but also bourbon sours, spiked lemonades, sweet tea martinis…

Hope you have a winning Derby party!

Cheers,
Tricia

Delivering Prepackaged Parties to Your Door