Rex & Regina’s Blog

My guest post on DC Ladies Blog today focuses on the etiquette and customs around seating people around a dinner table. Some may find the guidelines outdated, but I contend that they really can create a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for your guests.

Learn the guidelines and tips by reading the full post at DC Ladies Blog!

One year ago today the Rex & Regina Blog was launched! What a fun year it has been as we’ve shared our favorite trends and ideas in the entertaining, lifestyle, and wedding domains. We’re grateful to our loyal readers for your support and for those just dropping by we hope you find something that inspires.

Here’s to another great year of blogging!

I recently did a lecture on Easter entertaining where I shared three different takes on an Easter table — each working with a white tablecloth and white dinner plates.

For the next few days leading up to Easter, I’ll be sharing those three tablescapes which I hope will offer a little inspiration as you prepare your own Easter table.

The first tablescape illustrates something a hostess could pull together in a little amount of time with a small budget. Its simple touches pull the table together with a rustic simplicity.

informal Easter tablescape

Simple flatware and glassware are dressed up with pops of pink from the napkins, egg cups, and a tight cluster of carnations. The carnations are set in a mason jar (any glass jar from around the house would do) with a ribbon of raffia. The raffia is reflected again on the pink egg cups.

"nested" place card

Place cards are made by setting scrolled pieces of paper inside a tiny bird’s nest with soft, neutral speckled eggs.

easy-to-make placecards (photo courtesy of Morgan Wilson)

If you don’t have time to run to a craft store to buy the nests, you can form nests out of raffia or out of Easter basket cello shred.

Stay tuned later this week for two more Easter tablescape inspirations!

My guest post for the DC Ladies Blog today focuses on the rising popularity of French Macarons in DC. I, myself, have a growing obsession with them, fueled by a dear friend who also adores them.

Check out the post for scoop on where to find great macarons in DC and how to incorporate them into your next social gathering!

Macarons from Adour

We are so pleased to share that we are a finalist for the 2010 Juli B Style Awards, Best Event Planner! We’re so giddy with excitement, we can hardly contain ourselves!

We want to take a moment to thank our fabulous clients and blog readers for all of their support; recognition like this is because of you!

Stop by http://www.julib.com/2010styleawards and vote for us. The company with the most votes by Friday, April 16th will win the Readers’ Choice Award.

Voting begins today and you will need to register with julib.com – a free lifestyle and luxury e-mail publication — in order to vote. There is no cost to register and you can do so quickly here.

We’re up against some of the best in the business, so we know that even being nominated is a great honor. That said, we’d love to have a really great showing!

Thanks for your support!

Like many things scheduled during the snow storm, the Makeovers for a Cause event I mentioned in a previous post was rescheduled. Be sure to make your appointment today for an afternoon of pampering — all in support of finding a cure for breast cancer.

Visit Makeup Artist Backstage for more information.

We are in the midst of the Snowpocalypse here in the DC area. At our house we have at least 30 inches of snow outside. We’ve already shoveled the driveway three times and will certainly be out there again before all of this is over. It’s good exercise, I guess. But let’s be honest, shoveling is not fun!

What will make this all better, I ask myself? Hot chocolate will help. Better still? A hot chocolate bar!

Hot chocolate bars — where you can make your own custom hot cocoa with a variety of “fixings” — are becoming very popular. They are great on a snowy day at home, but even more fun at a party. Guests love the interactivity and the ability to create their favorite cooca concoction. Try it at a winter engagement party, a SuperBowl bash, or a birthday party.

Set out some mugs.

Celebrity-designed mugs available at Neiman Marcus

Pillivuyt has such classic tableware. These extra large mugs are no exception — and would leave plenty of room for making the perfect cocoa creation.

Pillivuyt Eden extra large mug, available at Geary's

Make a few batches of hot chocolate.

A batch of regular hot cocoa for the base is a great place to start. This recipe for Creamy Hot Chocolate from Epicurious would be perfect. I’d recommend offering a couple of other bases, as well, like white hot chocolate or peppermint hot chocolate.

Provide some add-ins — offer both liquid and dry.

Dry:

• Crumbled peppermint sticks
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate-covered marshmallows (like these from Bissinger’s)
• Cinnamon sugar
• Orange twists or peel
• Chopped up candy bar
• Chocolate chips
• Caramels

Liquid:

• Espresso shots
• coffee
• Flavored syrups (like Monin’s organic syrups)
• Peppermint extract
• Vanilla extract

or for the adults…

• Kahlua
• Bailey’s
• Creme de Mint
• Grand Marnier
• Peppermint Schnapps

To top it off:

• Whipped cream
• cinnamon
• cocoa powder

Set out some stirrers.

• candy canes or peppermint sticks
• cinnamon sticks
• artisan stirrers (like this tempting one from Knipschildt — white chocolate with butterscotch and whiskey)

Enjoy!!

Recently, I had the chance to interview Victoria Stiles, an amazing makeup artist in the DC Area. My interview with her will be posted soon, but until then, I wanted to share some information about a very important event Victoria is hosting to benefit Cancer Schmancer, Stand Up to Cancer, and Critters for the Cure. What could be better than an afternoon of beautification by some of the areas top artists — all for such an important cause?! Sign up today!

Rex & Regina will be taking a short break to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with family. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season!

In case you wondered about this cupcake craze we’ve been going through in recent years? Yah, it’s not going away.  It’s alive and well and growing stronger day by day — especially here in DC.  New “cupcakeries” are popping up left and right and established cupcake purveyors are expanding, confirms a recent Washington Post article on the sweet trend.

If you’ve been hit by the cupcake craze and are planning on serving them at your wedding or next event, why not embellish the cupcakes with special toppers to give your event an even more customized appeal?

Here are a few cupcake toppers that I love (check out the captions for sources and click on the photo to take you there); they’d be fabulous for a wedding, shower, birthday, retirement party, anniversary… you name it!

Paper Flower Cupcake Toppers from Millalove on Etsy

Retro Cupcake Pennant Template from Vintage Glam Weddings

Mini Cupcake Topper Pinwhirls

wedding cupcake toppers by Etsy's goosegrease

Printable Bright Baby Cupcake Toppers for Baby Shower - DIY by The TomKat Studio

Creature Comforts DIY Cupcake Toppers

Little Birdie Cupcake Toppers from TheCupcakeGirls on Etsy

On October 2 and 3 the Tysons Corner and Pentagon City Nordstrom stores respectively will be participating in Nordstrom Fits America — a special event to raise money for Susan G Komen for the Cure.

Get your bridesmaids or girlfriends together and do one of the most “girly” things you can do: go shopping for lingerie!

Nordstrom’s Lingerie department is known for its expert bra fittings,  its certified stylists are so helpful, and they have a wonderful collection of styles, sizes, and brands. The newly remodeled Tysons Corner store is even more welcoming — with comfortable dressing rooms and seating areas.

Call the store directly and speak with the Lingerie Department manager to reserve time and space for a personal Lingerie Party.  Ask them if you can bring in champagne and sweets to make the experience even more decadent for you and your bridesmaids!

The best part? It’s all for an incredibly important cause. For every bra purchased during the event, $2 will be donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure. Visit www.nordstrom.com for exact times and other participating locations.

Now THAT’s a perfect fit!