Wazzupolitan

Mothers Day

2010-04-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

Mothers day falls on Sunday May 9th this year, so why not do something different for your mother. Instead of the boring card, why not give her an edible arrangement? Or cook her a Sunday brunch. Does your mother love a good cocktail? WHy not whip her up a few of these delicious mother inspired cocktails.

Ingredients:

1 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
2 oz vodka
1 oz pink grapefruit juice
lemon wedge
coarse sugar for rimming

Preparation:

Rub a wedge of lemon around the rim of a martini glass and dip the glass into a plate of coarse sugar. Set it aside.
Pour the remaining ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake and strain into the garnish martini glass.

Ingredients:

3 oz Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio
1 oz Peach Schnapps
splash of cranberry juice
maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Drop a cherry in the drink for a garnish.

or if your mom isn't a hard alcohol drinker, why not stick with the classic mimosa.

Anything you do for your mother is sure to garnish her love, so have fun and don't be afraid to try new things. Its a holiday all for moms so why not make her feel special!

Being a Responsible Bartender

2010-04-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Many alcoholic drink recipes have been suggested throughout Wazzupolitan's posts, but what if our readers do not wish to drink an alcoholic beverage? Or what do you do when people drink too much? As a blog offering many drink recipes, Wazzupolitan decided it's a great idea to make a post about how to be a responsible bartender.

It is very important that you keep your company safe while making drinks. Numerous stories have been heard about drinking and driving, and even stories about overdrinking. As a bartender, or even party host, you are responsible for how much your guests consume.

Here's some tips on how to be responsible when serving and taking care of your guests:

First, always keep a great supply of non-alcoholic drinks available for your company. These are provided for those who are the designated drivers, or those who just prefer to not drink. Many virgin drinks can be offered as well so those do not feel singled out. Sodas and punch are a great idea for serving to your party.

Also, if a guest asks for a drink with light alcohol, make sure you comply. You are responsible for their safety and it does not do you any good by supplying them with an overly loaded alcoholic beverage. Besides, do you really want to clean up after them when they are sick in your own house? If you want to avoid the mess, avoid loading their drink with alcohol.

A great idea is to offer plenty of food with your drinks. When having a party, get-together, or simple friends date, offer a selection of chips, breads, and appetizers. Although most individuals should be responsible for avoiding getting overly drunk, it is not completely possible for some. By offering food, your guests can have a great filler, with plenty of laughs. Breads and chips will coat the stomach for those who forgot to eat before arriving... or even those who just love to eat. Who doesn't like to have some appetizers while having a cocktail?

One thing that is hard to do for college towns is avoid the parties whose main purpose is to get drunk. Do not throw a party that is all about the booze. This is highly unsafe, and could lead to many unknown guests showing up who are under your responsibility. The safety of your guests is your responsiblity and Wazzupolitan cannot stress that enough. If anything happens to your guests as they leave your party pad, you are responsible. Throw a party with friends and fun and drinks, and don't focus mainly on the amount of alcohol. You want your guests to have a good time, not drink the night away and forget it the next day. Offer board games and cards, tv and music, and plenty of friends and laughs.

Lastly, if any children are present, which is probably unlikely for college parties and get-togethers at Washington State University, but make sure the alcohol is safely away from children. Keep the cabinet locked, or keep the alcohol up high. Children and pets as well get into everything close to the ground. When having pets, act as if they are children, keep the booze up high. Alcohol is very toxic to pets and will quickly end your companion's life. So be responsible with children and pets.

Having a successful party is extremely fun. But if your party leads to dangerous drinking and driving, or even those drinking to excess, it can quickly leave a great party in ruins. So be responsible when serving alcohol to your guests. Remember-you are in charge of their safety, and also in charge of their fun. Make it a great night by being a responsible bartender!

Cinco De Mayo

2010-04-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

CINCO DE MAYO

When celebrating Cinco de Mayo, one can often feel very overwhelmed if they are the party planner. Here are some tips to stay on track and keep the good times rollin this 5th of may.

Instead of going all out on array of different liquors or even spending a boat load on expensive tequila, trying limiting yourself to two or three liquors and look for the less known tequilas. This way you stay more authentic and you don't have to buy as many mixers to accompany your liquors.

Also try sticking to two beers and adding soda, juices, and water to your beverage choices. This way everyone is happy.

When it comes to food, try creating a taco bar with different meats and ingredients such as salsa, guacamole, and cheese. This gives you a more laid back atmosphere as well as allows your guests to tailor their food to their own liking.

You should also try to choose music that fits with the theme of Cinco de Mayo. So incorporating upbeat music as well as mariachi sounds is a good idea. Create a playlist that also fits your personality too. Selecting artists such as Shakira, Paula Rubio, Enrique Iglesias or Carlos Santana are a few mainstream options for music selection.

All in all Cinco de Mayo is a celebration so make it one. Have fun and your guests will to. Try not to overdo things and micro manage too much. Things are bound to go wrong, but if you keep a positive attitude your party will end up a hit.

DRUNK DRIVING IN AMERICA

2010-04-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some alcohol related facts to take into consideration the next time you are out drinking.

• Alcohol-impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in the U.S.
(NHTSA, 2003)

• On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes.(NHSTA 2008)

• In 2007, nearly 13,000 people were killed in drunk driving related crashes (NHTSA,
2008)

• Each year, approximately half a million people are injured in crashes where police
reported that alcohol was present—an average of one person injured approximately every
minute. (Blincoe, Seay et al., 2002)

• An estimated three of every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic
crash at some time in their lives. (NHTSA, 2001)

• Research shows that alcohol-related crashes cost the public an estimated $114.3 billion
annually—this includes an estimated $63.2 billion lost in quality of life due to these
crashes. (Taylor, Miller, and Cox, 2002)

• The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes average $1.00 per drink consumed. People
other than the drinking driver paid $0.60 per drink. (Taylor, Miller, and Cox, 2002)

• Approximately 1.46 million drivers were arrested in 2006 for driving under the influence
of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers in the
United States. (NHTSA, 2008)

I'm sure at one point someone we know or even ourselves has been effected by alcohol one way or another. If you or someone needs help there are many places to go to find help such as AA meetings or even rehab centers. There are people out there willing to take the time to save your life and they do care. Know that you have options.

Having fun while staying safe

2010-04-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

With all this talk of drinking and things to attend on graduation night. It is important to keep in mind the consequences of our actions. Drinking in excess can land you in the drunk tank or even worse the hospital, while choosing to sit behind the wheel can have even worse consequences. "Every year, over 11,000 real live people die in drunk driving crashes"-MADD website so lets make smart decisions when we choose to drink. Its ok to have, it becomes a problem when you make decisions that effect not only your life but those around you.

Graduation Party!

2010-04-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Whether you are graduating, or you have friends graduating, chances are you are bound to attend some graduation parties this season. Here is a video describing what some people will be doing this graduation season.

Celebration Drinks to Happy Holidays

2010-04-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

While we all know that champagne toasts to New Year's Day is a common party tradition, many holidays don't get the celebration they need. Some holidays, nobody even knows of. This post came from an idea in a book I own by Robyn Feller, called The Complete Bartender.

Seasons and holidays alike both deserve a special treat. While most of our posts on Drinks of the Week, and our Drink of the Month, cover some of these treats, here are some holidays that might not have crossed your mind. These recipes can be looked up on any search engine.

Leap Year --- February 29th --- This day only comes once every four years, so make this day a good one by celebrating with a Leap Year Special (found at Super Cocktails Dot Com).

Mardi Gras (of course, how could you forget!). Try drinking a New Orleans, or a Hurricane (a toast to those lost in Hurricane Katrina).

Ground Hog Day -- Help that ground hog find his shadow, by drinking a delicious Mudslide.

Memorial Day (coming soon at the end of May). Celebrate with a Big Blue Sky.

Midsummer's Eve: May Blossom Fizz, Midnight Sun, Strawberry Shortcake (yummm).

Canada Day: Canadian Cocktail (this recipe was already posted by Katy at our own Wazzupolitan, check again at Wazzupolitan Canadian Cocktail).

Independence Day. Let's all celebrate fireworks with a Rainbow Sherbert Punch (made with red, white, and blue sherbert). This is a perfect drink to sit on the porch and watch some fireworks while sipping on some punch.

Halloween. This is such a spooky night, why not celebrate with a sip of Zombie (made in a punch bowl to celebrate with friends). This recipe can be found at I Drink Dot Com.

Thanksgiving -- Add a Turkey Shooter to your plate of Turkey. Or maybe some Cranberry Vodka Punch.

Christmas (Best day of the year!). Number one greatest drink for the holiday... Eggnog, no explanation needed.

New Year's Eve: Champagne Maraschino Punch, Champagne Cocktail... Bring in the Champagne, and bring in the New Year!

Numerous Holidays happen every month. Check the calendar for future holidays to plan a toast to the big day. Any day can be a holiday!

Friday Night Fun

2010-04-21T23:45:00.000-07:00

Friday night is a day to look forward to for most college students. Check out what Friday is like at the college town of Washington State University!

Try changing to either 480p or 720p for better quality (after hitting play it will pop up saying it is only in 360p). I haven't decided which quality is better (480p or 720p), but at 360p it is really blurry. By minimizing the video to fit the blog it's a little fuzzy but you get the idea.

2010-04-21T16:07:00.001-07:00

PSA for alcohol abuse prevention

By Jennifer Kennedy

Cinco de Mayo

2010-04-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo...contrary to popular belief it is NOT Mexico's day of independence. (which was the 16th of September) It is, however, the celebration of the unlikely victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is an important holiday many Mexicans, but it has also turned into a celebration that many Americans also celebrate (maybe not knowing the reason) Here are a couple things you can do to make your celebration worth while.

DRINKS (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)

Agua de Jamaica
2 cups (2 ounces) jamaica flowers (dried hibiscus flowers)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (or more as desired)
Bring 6 cups of water to a boil then add the flowers and the sugar and stir continuously while the mixture boils for one minute. Pour into a noncorrosive bowl and steep for 2 hours. *Note: this flower will stain so don't use a bowl that will stain.
Strain the mixture through a sieve pressing on the flower solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Taste for strength and sweetness. If it is too potent, add water or if too tart add more sugar. Cover and refrigerate until time to serve.

(thanks http://www.gourmetsleuth.com)

Strawberry Sangria Spritzer

7 ounces frozen sliced California Strawberries in syrup, partially thawed
4 ounces lemon juice or sweet and sour mix
2 ounces brandy
2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur
1 quart prepared sangria
8 ounces chilled sparkling water
Orange, lemon and limes slices
Whole fresh California Strawberries

1. In a blender combine sliced berries, lemon juice, brandy and liqueur; blend smooth. Mix with sangria. Cover; chill. Strain into pitcher over ice. Add sparkling water. Garnish with citrus slices and whole berries.

Makes 3 to 4 servings.

(thanks http://www.cooksrecipes.com/)

DECORATIONS

Try making paper laterns, or colorful paper flowers (made of tissue paper). And a pinata is ALWAYS a must! Red, white and green are the colors of the Mexican flag. So decorate with these colors, or make the theme of the party to dress in those colors.

And always...be SAFE and have FUN! =) vamonos!

Cooking: A Holiday Must

2010-04-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Check out this video about why cooking is so important to every holiday (especially Easter)! For recipes go to foodnetwork.com! Enjoy! Special thanks to Kim Dela Cruz, Starr Gacula and Chelsey Nakama for making this possible!

Fashion Show Aftermath

2010-04-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

Remember Mom's Weekend Fashion Show last Friday? Did you go? If not, Wazzupolitan forgives you. Plenty of activities filled our days with our beloved Mom's. From the craft fair, to winetasting, Jay Leno, to busy restaurants, the weekend was packed with much to do. So we forgive you for not getting the chance to go. But in case you missed it or in case you missed out on the Daily Evergreen today, here's a story, at the bottom of this blog, about what a success it was.

More than 2,000 people attended the event in Beasley Coliseum last Friday. Can you say supportive? Pullman truly knows how to support its students. Pullman's got style yes we do, Pullman's got fashion, how bout you?!?

Check out the online Daily Evergreen story to read more about the awesome turnout of the 27th Annual Mom's Weekend Fashion Show!

Daily Evergreen -- Fashion Show Frenzy

I'm on a Boat!

2010-04-12T15:34:00.001-07:00

This weekend, I attended the 16th annual Northwest Filipino American Student Association Conference (NWFASA). After a long day of workshops and networking, it was time to socialize. This year the 'social event' was on a boat. So here are some reasons why you should you should or should not party on a boat:

1. You get to sing the 'I'm on a Boat' song!

2. If you feel queasy, there's no need to find the bathroom...just lean over the edge of the boat!

3. Saying you're going to a boat party is way cooler than saying you're going to a house party

4. Enjoy the beautiful night sky...or dirty river depending where you are

5. You'll have a cool story to tell if you fall over board

6. You get to take the Jack and Rose Titanic picture

7. Orange life vests are the new little black dress...everyone looks good in orange!

8. BUT beverage prices are going to be higher

9. You can't run from the creeper stalker guy because there's nowhere to go

10. If you get car sick you may get boat sick

Drink of the Week: Strawberry Margarita

2010-04-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

While my previous post mentioned having a perfect exotic cocktail party, one might want to add a Strawberry Margarita to join the party. Summer is just around the corner, so start your summer off right with an amazing Strawberry Margarita. This may be a no-brainer for some, and maybe the easiest recipe for others, but for those readers who don't know how to make one, Wazzupolitan will explain how to make an amazing and fresh Strawberry Margarita. Yummm!

Wazzupolitan greatly appreciates allrecipes.com for providing this recipe, as well as thousands of other recipes.

Ingredients:

6 fluid ounces tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec
8 ounces frozen strawberries
4 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate
6 cups ice

Simple directions:

First blend the ice by crushing in blender adequately. This should take less than 30 seconds. Next add the strawberries and blend with the ice until smooth. Add tequilla, triple sec and limeade. Blend well, pour into margarita glass and drink up!

This is usually easier to make by buying pre-made margarita mix. With this, all you add is the ice and alcohol and blend together. This mixture is usally slightly sweet, or sour, so adding a few teaspoons of sugar will make the perfect Strawberry Margarita.

Also, for those wanting a virgin margarita, it is easy to do with a mixture. Just add the mixture and ice and blend well. For a virgin, you may also want to add some limeade to make it not so sweet. Test it out and decide what is the best for your taste buds!

These mixtures can be found at most grocery stores. In the Pullman area, try Dissmores, Safeway, or Winco in Moscow, Idaho. Many other stores also carry this mixture so check around.

With that, I will leave you with your amazing and delicious Strawberry Margarita. Enjoy your week, and enjoy the change of spring into summer.

Mom's Weekend Fashion Show

2010-04-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the 27th annual Mom's Weekend Fashion Show. The theme: Roots to Fashion. It is on Friday April 9th at 7:30 p.m. Bring your mom to a night of fashion and fun!

Every year, Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles students put on this fashion show along with the sponsor, the WSU student chapter of the International Textile and Apparel Association. The event features fashion lines designed by Apparel Design students and promotions of Merchandising students. This event is an annual project that helps students gain both personal and professional experience in the field of fashion. Come support their creativity and hard work!

Exotic Cocktail Party

2010-04-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

In relation to Wazzupolitan's previous post yesterday on making a Fresh Vegetable Dinner Party, here's some ideas to make cocktails using fresh local ingredients. These will make a wonderful addition to your dinner party, or even a great addition to sitting by the pool this summer.

Whatever the occasion, here is a video on hosting an Exotic Cocktail Party.

Exotic Cocktail Party Tips

Lu'au

2010-04-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

My baby cousin just had her birthday. She turned one year old and her family had an extravagant birthday party...they had a lu'au for her! This party theme is great for all ages (even babies enjoy it!) Good food, good theme to dress up to, and beautiful decorations! This Mom's Weekend at WSU, Hawaii Club will be hosting their annual Lu'au. So if you need to get inspired to hold your OWN Lu'au party, attend this Lu'au party this weekend with your Mom!!

Fresh Vegetable Dinner Party

2010-04-06T12:06:00.001-07:00

Despite the cold chill I feel when I bitterly make my way through WSU's Glenn Terrell mall, I know it deep down. Spring has sprung, and it is time to embrace the new, reject the old, and do a little bit of cleaning. Well, perhaps no cleaning for perpetually filthy little ol' me. But, as I still want to celebrate the changing of the season and squeeze all the joy I can out of spring, I have decided to cook. Spring is a time like no other. Scorned by all the cold and dread of the winter season, vegetables are hard to find fresh, and to eat fresh and local would mean to consume winter squash soup monotonously.

So what better way to celebrate the season anew than by hosting a dinner party, with meals made of fresh vegetables. As a vegetarian, fresh vegetables are like crack to my soul, and I eagerly await the time of year when I can head to my local farmer's market or co-op and buy delicious vegetables to put into some of my favorite recipes (or eat raw). In fact, the picture above is one I snapped at a beautiful local market. So, in this post, you will find some of the best vegetables of the season, as well as some great recipes to showcase these veggies. Almost all of these fresh vegetables can be found at your local co-op or farmers market, to find one in your area, visit http://www.localharvest.org/

Vegetable in Season: Asparagus

Recipe: Grilled Asparagus

This delightfully simple recipe will brilliantly showcase the heartiness and taste of your fresh asparagus. This recipe was taken from epicurious.com

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound medium asparagus

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

Directions

1) Prepare the grill

2) Divide asparagus into 4 bunches and align these bunches in a flat row, skewering each bunch crosswise. Brush asparagus with olive oil and salt

3) Grill asparagus on an oiled rack set 6 inches over glowing coals. Grill each side 3-5 minutes, or until tender

Vegetable in Season: Spinach

Recipe: Spinach salad with Mushrooms and Parmesan

This recipe, like the asparagus recipe, is simple enough that the flavors of the fresh spinach (and mushrooms) can really stand out. This recipe, from marthastewart.com, asks you to bake your own croutons, but you can just use pre-made croutons

Ingredients

2 slices rye sandwich bread, cut into cubes

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

5 ounces baby spinach

5 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced

2 ounces parmesan cheese shaved with a vegetable peeler

course salt and ground pepper

Directions

1)Make croutons: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and on a baking sheet, toss the bread with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until bread is golden, about 10-12 minutes.

2)Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a separate bowl. Add spinach, mushrooms, and cooked croutons. Top with parmesan.

Vegetable in Season: Artichokes

Recipe: Steamed Artichokes with Tarragon Butter

This recipe is, again, simple, to showcase the decadent, buttery flavor of artichokes. This recipe was taken from marthastewart.com

Ingredients

4 large artichokes, rinsed

coarse salt

1 fresh tarragon sprig, and 1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon leaves

3/4 cup unsalted butter

1 lemon cut into wedges, for serving

Directions

1) Using kitchn shears, trim the sharp tips of the artichoke leaves, and remove an small leaves from the bottoms of the artichokes. Trim the stems and cut off the top quarter of each artichoke.

2) Fill a 10 inch steamer with enough water to come up about 2 inches up the sides. Add a pinch of salt and the tarragon sprig. Bring to a boil. Place artichokes upright in the steamer. Cover, and reduce heat, simmering until the bottoms of the artichokes are very tender when pierced with a butter knife. About 35-50 minutes.

3) Before serving, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat, and stir inchopped tarragon, and season with salt. Serve artichokes with lemon wedges and warm tarragon butter for dipping.

So go forth, and seize all the flavors spring has to offer. Nothing is more quaint and intimate than a dinner party serving only the freshest vegetables, hand-picked by the host. This will prove an experience guests will truly enjoy. Bon appetit!

A Man Walks Into a Bar...

2010-04-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

OUCH!

haha. ok, not the most creative joke ever but I still like it. Here are three more 'bar jokes'! Bottoms up!

An Irishman walks into a bar in Dublin, orders three pints of Guinness and sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more. The bartender asks him, "You know, a pint goes flat after I draw it; it would taste better if you bought one at a time." The Irishman replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in America, the other in Australia, and I'm here in Dublin. When we all left home, we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together." The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.

The Irishman becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way: ordering three pints and drinking them in turn. One day, he comes in and orders two pints. All the other regulars notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your great loss." The Irishman looks confused for a moment, then a light dawns in his eye and he laughs. "Oh, no," he says, "Everyone's fine. I've just quit drinking."

A seaman meets a pirate in a bar, and talk turns to their adventures on the sea. The seaman notes that the pirate has a peg-leg, a hook, and an eye patch.

The seaman asks, "So, how did you end up with the peg-leg?" The pirate replies, "We were in a storm at sea, and I was swept overboard into a school of sharks. Just as my men were pulling me out, a shark bit my leg off."

"Wow!" said the seaman. "What about your hook"? "Well", replied the pirate, "We were boarding an enemy ship and were battling the other sailors with swords. One of the enemy cut my hand off."

"Incredible!" remarked the seaman. "How did you get the eye patch"? "A seagull dropping fell into my eye," replied the pirate.

"You lost your eye to a seagull dropping?," the sailor asked incredulously. "Well," said the pirate, "it was my first day with my hook"

Two vampires, Kill Wish and Drill Wish, went to Dracula Bar.
Kill Wish ordered: "I'll have a glass of blood."
Drill Wish ordered: "I'll have a glass of plasma."
Bartender: "Okay," "that'll be ... one blood and one blood lite..."

(Thanks to ahajokes.com)

Drink of the Week: A Fresh Taste of Spring

2010-04-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

What more to represent spring than Strawberry Lemonade?

For those looking for a fresh non-alcoholic drink, fill your fridge with the taste of happiness and fresh Strawberry Lemonade.

Things you will need:

10oz package of frozen strawberries (thawed makes them easier to blend)
Can of pink lemonade concentrate
1 cup of water
16oz of ginger ale
Fresh lemons
Blender

How to:

First-- Put your thawed strawberries into the blender along with pink lemonade concentrate, ginger ale, and water. If the strawberries are not thawed, they will not blend well.
Second-- Blend until everything is well mixed. If the liquid is not thin, blend with added water until thin.
Last-- Pour over ice, and drink up! Add fresh lemons to make it even more fresh.
If it is too sour, sugar may be added to dull the taste, but use a small amount. Sugar goes a long way.

Enjoy the sweet taste of spring!

Bring in the Springtime

2010-04-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

With fun spring centerpieces you must add fun spring décor! In addition to Wazzupolitan’s last post on sweet spring centerpieces, these ideas will help bring the spring in… even if the spring weather hasn’t arrived yet. These decorations can apply to spring parties, get-togethers, or everyday enjoyment!

Bring the spring inside with some Easter Lilies. These beautiful, fragrant flowers are the symbol of the Easter season, and they always fill your home with the joy of spring. Tulips also bring in the spring air. These bring bright colors and happiness to your home.

Get rid of the dull winter colors and fill your home with light colors like baby yellow, orange, pink, and green. Spring pastels symbolize playfulness, light, creativity, warmth, peacefulness, harmony, and much more. They fill your mind with the hope for the summer and long days in the sun.

What better excuse to buy new things for the kitchen? Go out and get a new tablecloth to freshen up your dining area. Maybe some spring colored napkins to go with!

Currently, at every store around, spring fever has taken over! It is not hard to find cheap plates and cups full of spring. In the Pullman area, Walmart has cheap spring dining sets at a few dollars a piece. Plastic is what it’s all about in the springtime!

Spring décor is everywhere! Help bring in the sunshine by spreading your spring colors and flowers. Before we know it, spring will pass on to summer, and sunshine will fill the air! Until then, enjoy your pastels, lilies and tulips!

Centerpieces

2010-04-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you add a little fun into spring?

One yummy centerpiece!

Check out these colorful centerpieces!

Magarita

Strawberry Magarita

Cosmopolitan

Experiment making your own flower arrangement or visit 1-800.flowers.com!

Spring Fling

2010-03-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Winter's over and thank goodness for that! It's time to bring out the colors and get ready for summer! The Today Show offered some good tips on spring dresses for every body type! Spring (pun intended =)) into the party with a cute frock that fits you!

Spring party dresses for every body type
Stacy London of TLC's ‘What Not To Wear’ presents the best frock for you

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17916879/#ixzz0jp27Aj0M

Pear shape
Do you carry your weight in your hips, which is a very common body shape for women? A way to camouflage that is to call attention toward the upper half of the body with a skin-baring neckline, a defined waist or an empire waistline, which sits directly at the top of the ribcage, and a skirt that floats away and off the hip. Primary colors like canary yellow, cobalt blue and red are the standout colors of the season, really almost primary in their tone (like crayons) and so bright they are almost neon.

Hourglass
If you're well-proportioned between your shoulder, chest and hip and have a small waist, a square neckline is particularly flattering for highlighting your body shape, with attention given to the shoulder and waist. Knee length is perfect for a more mature woman, although I only recommend sheen on a dress if you are comfortable with curves being seen. Shiny fabrics highlight curves. Matte fabrics don't.
After 35-years-old, the primary colors that are popular this season will be too harsh for your skin tone. Opt instead for a saturated jewel tone. It will warm up your skin, and yet you will still be wearing a rich color. When it comes to accessories, they don't have to “match,” they have to “go.” Utilizing color with color is a great way to modernize any party dress. Don't play it safe. Using turquoise (contrast) and garnet (compliment) as supporting players to amethyst, they highlight the dress color without overtaking its focus.

Petite
Petites can wear a mini dress quite well. You won't lose your leg line, so you still look long and lean, despite your height. On a petite frame, be careful when it comes to a cute shift dress. They have less shape than a sheath, for example. Make sure the shape isn't so sack like that your frame gets drowned in fabric. And showing leg is important if you wear a mini dress because, without a defined body shape, you need to compensate with some visible skin in order to look sexy and proportionate.
Also, petites will have problems with the primary colors as well. They can make you look a bit childish when you are small to begin with. Metallics like brushed gold are another very big trend this season (both in clothing and accessories) and much more appropriate for a sophisticated look on a small frame. Remember, metallics are neutrals. They go with any color and they go with each other. You can mix all your metallics together!

Curvy
To play up curves, you need to be careful that you don't cross the line between sexy and voluptuous into trashy. You can show cleavage, but a super deep-V neckline would be inappropriate for a larger chest. Always keep your waistline defined. Look for dresses with rusching or banding at the waist. Let your clothes work for you to help you create an hourglass set of proportions.
The taller and curvier you are, the more important proportion is. And the wider your features, chest, waist or hips, the more you must compensate with length. Anything too short on a frame would make you look top heavy instead of well-proportioned. A larger frame should have larger accessories, like a multi-tiered necklace. Again, accessories need to be proportionate to the woman wearing them.

Slim
Fit is essential when you are slender. Many women think having a slim body is so easy to dress, but when you are tall and thin with long limbs it can appear as if you have outgrown your clothes when sleeves and pant legs are too short. Sleeveless dresses are great for spring.
Be careful not to wear items that are too voluminous. Too much fabric will drown a small frame and, in fact, make you look thinner. When you are pale, many people assume you should stick with light or pastel colors. But darker and richer tones can provide strong contrast for a truly breathtaking look. Skintight clothes or dramatic deep-V necklines may emphasize your frame and make you look thinner. Instead, try a high neckline with A-line shape to add the appearance of curves.

Little Black Dress

2010-03-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Ever thought about having a party for a cause? The “Little Black Dress Party” is a “girl’s only night out” event for women and is sponsored by the Cancer Care Center of DeKalb. All proceeds made from this event got to the American Cancer Society and help DeKalb County Relay for Life. So next time you're thinking of hosting a party, make it one that makes a difference. Cocktails, dresses AND helping the world?! Count me in!

A Special Prom

2010-03-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

Every girl deserves that princess dress and those glass slippers. Prom is one of the biggest high school traditions around the country and it's a time for a girl to go all out. Expensive dresses, manicures, hair put up...everything to make a beautiful girl look dazzling. And that means every girl. Check out this article about Yakima's prom, where most of the attendees will be girls with special needs.

Dress party for special needs prom students

YAKIMA, Wash--May 7 is prom in the Valley… but this won't be your average prom...mostly because the majority of the attendees will be special needs students. In preparation for the event, there was a dress party today for Yakima area special needs girls. The students got to sort through the dresses and pick one to wear for their big day.

A Night In With The Girls

2010-03-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

Drink of the Week: Washington Apple

2010-03-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

Today, March 20th 2010, marks the first day of spring! So to top of the season, let's all enjoy a Washington Apple. This is almost like Washington State University's signature drink. Perfect for the bars (they all know how to make it, I have checked) and it can be either made as a classy cocktail or simple shot. You take the pick!

This week, instead of giving you the directions and expecting you to find out how to do it on your own, I will post a video of a goofy guy that explains in great detail how it is done. So enjoy the movie and enjoy your Washington Apple.

P.S. This is a great drink to enjoy before the Apple Cup against the Huskies at the end of the year. Be advised-- the guy in this video is kind of nerdy =] Don't let his looks ruin a great drink! Plus, he talks alot about nothing. Entertain yourself, and your taste buds with this great drink!

Washington Apple Cocktail Recipe

St. Patty's Day Drinks of the Week

2010-03-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

You can't get pinched if your drink is green!

For this St. Patrick's Day, try celebrating with a green cocktail. Even those who aren’t Irish can feel Irish for a day!

First and foremost: Green Beer. Not hard to make at all, and still the same great taste… Only if you are a beer fan, of course.

Ingredients:

Beer! Duh!
And green food coloring.

Most beers work the same, however the lighter beers show the green better.

Now put the food coloring into a clear beer glass (a few drops is all it takes), and pour in the beer! What a wonderful St. Patty’s Day delight!

However, if beer doesn’t suit your fancy, try an apple cocktail…

Green Dublin Apple Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 oz Michael Collins Irish whiskey
1 oz sour apple schnapps
2 oz white cranberry juice

How to:
Add all three ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a fresh apple slice.

This drink was found at http://cocktails.about.com/.

And most importantly, an Appletini.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Smirnoff® Green Apple Twist vodka
1 oz DeKuyper® Sour Apple Pucker schnapps (or Rose's Cocktail Infusions-Green Apple, if you don't want it too strong)

How to:
Stir ingredients together with crushed ice in a martini glass, and serve

Enjoy the Irish day, and enjoy the green in your spirit!

More drinks can be found at http://www.drinksmixer.com/.

The Ritual of Getting Ready

2010-03-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

March MADNESS

2010-03-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

Ready to get in the zone for a slam dunk party?! That's right it's time to get a little MAD.

There are so many ideas you could do for a March Madness party...dress up as refs, dress in your favorite team, make basketball cupcakes...and one thing that always seems to be always present is beer. Take a look below at the best beers in the America. Opening round is Tuesday March 16, 2010. (find the complete list at http://www.sprecherbrewery.com/imgpdf/25_best_beers_in_america.pdf)***If you're not a big beer fan try brewing your own root beer!***

BEST BEERS IN AMERICA

1 - Firestone Walker Pale Ale
Paso Robles, CA
firestonebeer.com
Brewed with gentle British bittering hops and finished with American
cascade hops (the same stuff that makes Sierra Nevada smell like pinecones), Firestone
Walker combines the subtlety of a British ale with the fragrant bite that Americans
weaned on microbrews have come to expect. If you’ve ever enjoyed a bottle of pale ale, we suggest you seek this one out.
2 - Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Milton, DE
dogfish.com
India pale ale, a British style that is traditionally brewed with extra hops and higher alcohol content
3 - Stoudt’s Pils
Adamstown, PA
stoudtsbeer.com
Stoudt’s is the oldest craft brewery in the state, and its experience shows in this light, buttery brew, which is subtle and full- flavored enough to compete with the finest European pilsners.
4 - Russian River Temptation Ale
Santa Rosa, CA
russianriverbrewing.com
The aging and the addition of brettanomyces move Temptation beyond standard
blond ale territory (sweet, estery, highly alcoholic) into the realm of something worth cellaring and saving for special occasions.
5 - Avery Mephistopheles’ Stout
Boulder, CO
averybrewing.com
Diabolically strong at 15.1 percent, it’s an ideal after-dinner drink, perfect with dark chocolate. warned.
6 - Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale
Boonville, CA
avbc.com
Boont Amber shows
what potential the style has: room for floral hops, melony aromas reminiscent of those found in the finest Belgian ales, and a round, full, sweet- malt body that doesn’t show a trace of the rotten- fruit sourness that can taint lesser amber ales.
7 - Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale
Cleveland, OH
greatlakesbrewing.com
This variation on the Belgian wit, or white, beer, a light, frothy wheat-based style spiced with coriander and lemon peel, has a nice American twist. It’s dry-hopped, which lends a floral character that combines nicely with the coriander and chamomile — and believe it or not, you can taste the chamomile.
8 - Full Sail Session Lager
Hood River, OR
fullsailbrewing.com
Session has real taste which makes it all the more likely to lure you into that long night out.
9 - Rogue Brutal Bitter
Newport, OR
rogue.com
It’s a British “bitter,” a lightly hoppy ale that’s apparently shocking to the
English palate but crisp and clean to American tongues.
10 - Bell’s Expedition Stout
Comstock, MI
bellsbeer.com
Not surprisingly, it’s potent at 11.5 percent, though cocoa and dried fruit flavors balance the booze.

Academy Award Appetizers

2010-03-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite events of the year is fast approaching: The Academy Awards! The ritual I associate with viewing the Academy Awards is borderline occult. Every year, I must view every single Best Picture nominee, and then I download a ballot online and fill it out according to who I believe will win. I sit about three inches away from the television to watch the ceremonies, and I always wear a formal outfit and eat an austere appetizer like baked goat cheese with capers or sundried tomato pesto baked pastry. This confession may make me seem a bit fanatical, but I hope I do not appear as pathetic as I feel I do when I go back and read my description (wearing a formal outfit to watch TV stoops to Bridget Jones-like patheticness).

This year I plan to socially enhance my Academy Award experience. My dear friend has been planning an Oscar party since October, and I feel an event of such significant preparation is worthy for attendance on such a holy evening (even upon typing this, I know how pitiable I sound). I told my friend how dear I hold this evening, and she was impressed with my enthusiasm. She asked I be in charge of appetizers for the evening, and I plan to take my role most seriously (clearly, as I have established my menu a full five days before the event). Here I share with you the appetizers I plan to bring, and hopefully you will find them as austere and sophisticated as the legends accepting their golden statutes.

Parmesan-stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon

From epicurious.com, this recipe features fruit, pork, and toothpicks. Clearly, this recipe has all the makings for real sophisticated fare

Ingredients

18 (1- by 1/4-inch) sticks Parmigiano-Reggiano (from a 1/2-lb piece)

18 pitted dates (preferably Medjool)

6 bacon slices, cut crosswise into thirds

Special equipment: 18 wooden picks

To prepare

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.

Stuff 1 piece of cheese into each date, then wrap 1 piece of bacon around each date, securing it with a pick. Arrange dates 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan.

Bake 5 minutes, then turn dates over with tongs and bake until bacon is crisp, 5 to 6 minutes more. Drain on a paper bag or parchment. Serve immediately

Baked Artichoke Dip with Winter Crudites

Taken from marthastewart.com, this recipe may look complicated, but I guarantee the results are well worth the effort

Ingredients

3 cans (14 ounces each) artichoke hearts in water

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk, warmed

2 teaspoons coarse salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (3 ounces)

1 cup grated pecorino cheese (3 ounces)

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped, plus leaves for garnish

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

1/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs

Sliced fennel, radishes, carrots, celery, and cauliflower florets, for serving

To prepare

Remove leaves from 1 artichoke heart; pat dry, and reserve. Thinly slice remaining artichokes; pat dry.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk, and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne, and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cheeses.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 minutes. Add thyme, garlic, and sliced artichokes, and cook for 3 minutes. Add to cheese mixture along with zest. Transfer to an 8-cup baking dish. Top with reserved artichoke leaves. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Bake until golden and bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Garnish with thyme leaves. Serve with crudités

Goat Cheese with Fresh Dill and Paprika

When I told my friend I was more than excited to supply the appetizers, she had one request: please make sure there is goat cheese. I got this recipe from thepioneerwoman.com, and am more than willing to accommodate my friend’s request. After all, what is a classy party without a goat cheese platter?

Ingredients

2 packages (11 Ounce) Fresh Goat Cheese

6 Tablespoons Fresh Dill (or More If Needed)

6 Tablespoons Paprika (or More If Needed

To prepare

Place the package of goat cheese into the freezer to chill.

While the goat cheese is chillin’ in the freezer, finely chop your fresh dill and spread it out a bit on the cutting board to let it dry for a few minutes.

The goat cheese should now be slightly firm. When it is ready, carefully remove the goat cheese from the packaging and gently roll it over the fresh dill, coating it almost completely.

Now pour some Paprika (a few tablespoons should probably do) onto a baking sheet. Give the pan a very slight shake to spread out the paprika a bit. Roll the second cylinder of goat cheese in the paprika until it is covered completely.

Carefully wrap each roll snugly in plastic wrap and chill until it’s time to serve. (The Paprika Goat Cheese will not do well if kept for longer than one to two hours so don’t make it too far in advance). Carefully slice them (easier when they are cool) and serve on crackers or crostini

Crab and Avocado Crostini

This last recipe completes the sophisticated menu for the evening, and will surely be received warmly. How could it not: it boasts both crab meat and avocados as ingredients. This recipe, taken from foodnetwork.com, seems easy to prepare.

Ingredients

1 loaf ficelle or thin French baguette

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus 1/4 cup

1 Meyer lemon, juiced

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 yellow pepper, seeds removed and diced

1 avocado, halved, pitted and flesh diced

1 shallot, finely diced

8 ounces lump crabmeat

To prepare

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Slice the bread into 1/2-inch thick slices. Lightly brush the bread slices with the 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet fitted with a rack and bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before topping with the crab mixture.

In a large bowl whisk together the lemon juice, 1/4 cup of olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

Add the yellow pepper, the avocado, shallot and the crabmeat to the lemon vinaigrette and toss gently, so as to not break up the crabmeat. Top the bread slices with about a tablespoon of the crab mixture and arrange on a serving platter

And with that, my ambitious menu for Oscar night 2010 is planned. It will surely be expensive to prepare, but is well worth it. After all, this is a night that only comes once a year, and beckons the most extravagant details. So proceed with vigor, and make your Oscar night a night to remember.

And fear not, readers, I will definitely post pictures from this extravaganza.

Drink of the Week: Chocolate Cake Shooter

2010-02-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

As the clock strikes midnight tonight, I will be 21. So to top off the night, at my first night at the bars, I will celebrate with Wazzupolitan's drink of the week: Chocolate Cake.

As I turn 21, I hope you all celebrate by also having a shot of Chocolate Cake.

To celebrate, you will need:
* 1/2 shot vodka
* 1/2 shot Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
Slice and have ready:
* One slice of lemon per shot
Place on a small plate:
* Two tablespoons of sugar per shot

Directions:
Take one slice of lemon, dip the entire thing in the sugar. Now lick the sugar off the lemon, and without swallowing the sugar, drink the shot, and quickly bite the lemon slice.

This celebration drink was provided by grouprecipes.com.

It tastes exactly like a piece of chocolate cake, or so I've heard, hints the name. Thanks for helping me celebrate my night!

A Delicious Canadian Cocktail

2010-02-25T16:10:00.000-08:00

In case you missed my earlier post, or in case you have been in complete hibernation the past two weeks and have been absolutely ignorant of all world happenings, let me fill you in on all the hubbub: THE OLYMPICS ARE IN FULL SWING! I am somewhat of an Olympics enthusiast (read: full on Olympic psycho fan) and as such have been celebrating everything USA, Olympics, and Canada. What better way to celebrate our neighbor to the north than to concoct a cocktail with good ol' Canadian whiskey. The cocktail of the week celebrates Canada and all the fabulous spirits they offer. So grab a seat, turn on NBC Primetime, and take a good, long sip. It is time to enjoy all the Winter Olympics have to offer!

Canadian Cocktail

1 1/2 oz Canadian Whiskey

1 1/2 tsp Triple Sec

1 dash Bitters

1 tsp Simple Syrup

Instructions

In a rocks glass packed with ice combine whiskey, triple sec, simple syrup and bitters. Stir and garnish with an orange twist or a lemon.

A Hockey Party, Eh!?!

2010-02-25T16:05:00.000-08:00

Nothing gets my blood boiling like American sportsmen competing for the ultimate prize: an Olympic gold medal. These past few weeks, I have been glued to the television, with a Molson beer in hand (my tribute to the Olympic host city, Vancouver) and a voice strained by continuous screaming at my USA brethren. My heart palpitates, my fists clench, and I shriek “Come on, you pampered pretty boys!” to all the skiers, snowboarders, and curlers. But, while all sports are a subject of entertainment and stress, no sport can evoke such fear and trauma, nor inspire such joy and triumph as men’s hockey.

The United States hockey team has been having an Olympic season of extraordinary accomplishments. Tapping into my significant American pride, I decided to throw a party celebrating the prowess of these athletes, as well as the rich tradition of the Olympic and the incredible pride I have in the USA. This should certainly prove to be an event for the strong of stomach, and the unrefined in sportsmanly behavior.

For the food served, I believe a palette showcasing the greatest American delicacies as well as a sample of delicious Canadian-themed courses would be most appropriate. I am thinking barbeque would showcase exemplary American foods. Nothing is more all-American than hamburgers and hot dogs, slathered with a healthy dose of ketchup and mustard. Desert for the Olympic affair should be pancakes swimming in maple syrup, a humorous nod to Canadian fare.

Drinks should be low-key and unassuming. This is a hockey party, after all. The most appropriate beverages would be ice-cold beers, of both Canadian and American origin. Molson is my preferred choice for Canadian beers, as I mentioned earlier. As far as American beers, I do enjoy Coors. I am a native Coloradan, after all. But it doesn’t matter what brands of beer are served, as long as they are on ice and served chilled.

In my opinion, food, drink, and an obscenely large big screen television are the only elements required to throw a successful hockey party. Any other party element, such as decorations, would seem incredibly superfluous. So, strap yourselves in for an epic Olympic hockey experience, and invite over some good friends for a truly exciting affair. This is sure to be a party unlike any other, with thrills, chills, and gold medals. Just be sure to quell your anxiety, and remember: it is only a game. Actually, scratch that; go out there, break legs and take names, America! GO USA!

Would you like some cheese with that wine?

2010-02-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

Tired of drinking $10 box wine, but don't know how to move on? Here are the basic ideas of tasting and enjoying some high class wine.

Color and Clarity
-Try and look behind it just being red or white. What shade is it and how translucent or bright is the color? Lighter red usually means more aged and a bit more flavourful...

Smell
-This is the fun part, where you get to swirl your glass. You really need to stick your nose in it to get that smell beyond the alcohol.

Taste
-And the fun part. But don't take it all in one gulp. Taste a little, swish it in your mouth and try to see what it initially tastes like and how the after taste is.

Really it all comes down to perference, and hey, if you like drinking Franzia, go ahead--but just in case you find yourself wanting something a little more sophisticated, now you know how to be a wine snob.

Drink of the Week: Frostbite

2010-02-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

Well Pullman, your winter is bipolar. It is sunny one day, then freezing the next. So since the cold is still chilling the city, I think we should face it with Wazzupolitan's drink of the week-- Frostbite. This thick, blue drink will stand up to Pullman's snowflakes.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz white crème de cacao
1/2 oz blue curaçao
1/2 oz cream
maraschino cherry for garnish

Directions:
Pour ice and all the ingredients into a shaker. Shake for about 30 seconds. Pour into a glass. Add a maraschino cherry.

Take that cold weather! Wazzupolitan is not afraid of Frostbite!

Photo and drink recipe courtesy of cocktails.about.com

Party Themes

2010-02-15T22:29:00.000-08:00

If you live in Pullman and you go out every weekend, it can get a little boring. ANOTHER stop light party? Or another night of playing beer pong? Why not mix it up a little and host a themed party...Here are a couple of ideas that you may not have seen yet...

Sin City
--high rollers and gorgeous show girls

Black and White
--Everyone needs somewhere to wear that little black dress

Clue
--Murder mystery party!

Fire and Ice Ball
--Red, White and Diamonds (or maybe just something shiny)

Kiss Me I'm Irish
--if you're lucky enough to be Irish, your lucky enough!

Broadway
--Karaoke anyone?

Decade Party
--Swinging 70s? Girls just wanna have fun 80s?

Last Day of Decadence
--Flappers may have been the best thing from the Roaring 20s!

Masquerade
--A little bit of elegance, a little bit of mystery

And a little more college-esque parties...

White Trash Party
--Did I hear someone say there's a mud fight?

ABC (Anything But Clothes)
--Enough said.

Drink of the Week: The Kiss

2010-02-13T11:26:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so when you head out on your romantic day with your sweetheart, be sure to order Wazzupolitan's drink of the Week: The Kiss.

If you are not going out for the night, stay home with your boo and make your own. But don't forget the kiss! ;-)

Ingredients:

<3 1 1/2 oz. vodka

<3   1/2 oz. chocolate liqueur
<3   1/4 oz. cherry liqueur
<3   3/4 oz. heavy cream

Fill mixing glass with ice. Add vodka, chocolate liqueur, cherry liqueur and cream. Shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Don't forget to add the Hershey's kiss on top. Have a romantic Valentine's Day! <3

Courtesy of a book I own called The Complete Bartender.

Get cuddly at the theater with Mr. McDreamy on Valentine's Day

2010-02-12T23:12:00.000-08:00

If cuddling is on your list for Valentine's Day, why not bundle up with your special someone for a night out at the movies watching the new movie "Valentine's Day"?

How perfect is the name?

Haven't seen the previews? Well the name says it all =] If you're curious here's a video of the trailer...

For those staying in Pullman for Valentine's here's the showtimes...

Sunday, Feb. 14, at Pullman Village Centre Cinemas on Bishop:

(1:00) p.m.
(3:50) p.m.
7:00 p.m.
9:45 p.m.

Those in parantheses are matinee showtimes.

For other showtimes, go to Village Centre Cinemas

A Romantic Getaway an Hour and a Half Away

2010-02-11T20:07:00.000-08:00

This year, Valentine's Day blessed us with a three-day-weekend, an extra day of fun and a better opportunity to hit the road out of Pullman to enjoy some entertainment.

For those looking for a somewhat close adventure, Spokane is less than an hour and a half away, and totally worth the drive. With plenty of restaurants, hotels, and entertainment, Spokane is the place to go on Valentine's Day for both lovers and friends.

If a dinner date is of interest, book early a table for two at the Steamplant Grill, a historic restaurant built into an actual steamplant that ran in Spokane for almost 70 years. They offer a full dinner menu, an extensive list of wine and plenty of beer to choose from. This downtown restaurant is popular so book your reservations early, or you may have no chance.

Riverfront Park is the perfect place for a relaxing day. If it's sunny, enjoy a picnic in the park, and a ride on the Spokane Falls SkyRide. Hours are Open Friday - Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $7.25.

If the wether is not so sunny, or even if you're just looking for an indoor adventure, go ice skating at the Riverfront Park Ice Palace. The Ice Palace is recognized as one of the best outdoor skating rinks in the nation. Hours are Friday, Saturday (and nights before holidays) 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sundays (Valentine's Day) Noon - 4:00 p.m. (Closed Sunday Night). Tickets are $4.25 for adults and skate rentals are $3. The Ice Palace is open till Feb. 28 so don't miss out on this memorable opportunity.

Plenty of activities await you on this getaway so plan ahead and have fun! Enjoy the three-day-weekend and enjoy your special day!

Valentine's Love

2010-02-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

It's arts and craft time...for your next LOVE-ly party...

Here's how to make a sweet Valentine centerpiece!

Get a small vase
Fill with colorful candy (red/pink m&ms or sweathearts)
Cut a foam piece and stick on top
Place colorful lollipops in foam....

and Tada! =)

Stubblefield's Mixdown

2010-02-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

In an interview with DJ Goldfinger and DJ Tommy Gunz of Stubblefields, we find out what it takes to make it happen!

http://aking66.webng.com/final%20piece_mixdown%20(2).mp3

Production by Jen Kennedy and Alyssa King

DJ TROYBOY INTERVIEW

2010-02-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Troy Alapit for an AWESOME interview and a SWEET mix!

Production by Veronica Marcelo and Katy Sullivan

A New Orleans Inspired Cajun Bloody Mary!

2010-02-08T23:54:00.000-08:00

As mentioned below, New Orleans' is truly the city of the moment right now. Indulge in some Southern decadence in honor of the Saints, and make yourself a Cajun Bloody Mary. A delightful combination of spicy and flavorful, this drink will surely remind you of the city it came from. This recipe comes from the connesiour of Creole cuisine, Emeril Lagasse. Do not be intimidated by the long list of ingredients in this recipe, the end product will surely make all your efforts worthwhile. So go forth, and put a little kick in your drink repertoire.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups tomato juice

3/4 cups vodka (Pepper vodka is preferable)

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (I like a little bit more, but I love the heat)

1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons hot sauce (Again, I like a little bit more, because I LOVE the heat)

1 teaspoons Emeril’s Essence (a combination of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (freshly ground being the operative word)

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a small pitcher and stir to combine.

Refrigerate until well chilled.

Serve over ice and garnish with celery, green olives, cocktail onions (Emeril suggests pickled green beans or okra)

A New Orleans' Themed Party- A Southern Delight!

2010-02-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

New Orleans is having a moment right now. In addition to the Saints’ victory in America’s biggest sporting event, Mardi Gras is happening in approximately eight days. Mardi Gras is the most decadent of all holidays, celebrating gluttony and overindulgence in the most primal manner. Mardi Gras traditionally celebrates the last day of sinning before the puritanical period of Lent, and has become associated with the free-spirited, heavy boozin’ New Orleans neighborhood of Bourbon Street. This holiday is perhaps one of the most fun to celebrate, and with the Saints’ Superbowl Victory, a New Orleans themed party should prove most satisfying.

So how should you go about hosting a New Orleans’ themed bash? First, set the tone with the appropriate colors. Purple, green and gold are considered the standard Mardi Gras colors. By incorporating black to compliment the gold, you also incorporate a Saints theme in the party atmosphere. Make sure every tablecloth, napkin, plate, and decoration therein lies within this color palette. It will surely take your party over the edge.

Second, provide the right accoutrements. There should be beads everywhere. I mean everywhere. Hanging from lampshades, draped over couches, laying on tables, bunched in bowls. There should be enough beads to roughly hang from the neck of every single person living in China (i.e., a TON of beads). Another great accent for the party are Venetian masks, bearing colors that fall within the color theme. Venetian masks are very traditional in Mardi Gras. These masks were used to hide the faces of those who were sinning and overindulging, and have become the unofficial global symbol of the holiday.

Third, make sure your drinks are reflective of the holiday. Since this party is supposed to be reflective of New Orleans, make sure your drinks have a Southern feel to them. Using sweet tea vodka is one of the most delightful ways to Southern-ize your drinks. One of my favorite ways to use sweet tea vodka is to combine it with lemonade, making a delicious and decadent John Daly. Another delicious Southern cocktail is a John Collins. Made with the most Southern of liquors, this drink combines Bourbon, lemon juice, club soda, and sugar. This is a simple drink which will surely charm all the Southern gents.

Lastly, make sure your food will fulfill every guest’s gluttonous desire. This isn’t a night for calorie counting, so throw out all inhibitions for the night and warm up your deep fryer. Beignets, or deep fried Creole donuts, are sure to be a hit. For a great Beignet recipe, check out foodnetwork.com or southernfood.about.com. Another must have recipe is deep fried chicken. This is the quintessential Southern food. Amazing recipes for fried chicken are the Cajun Deep Fried Chicken at realcajunrecipes.com and the classic fried chicken at soulfoodandsoutherncooking.com. Lastly, a good, hearty gumbo is absolutely required to amplify the New Orleans flavor of the bash. Good recipes can be found at gumbocity.com and recipezaar.com.

This is a night to go crazy. So, be sure to have plenty of food ready, and keep the liquor flowing. On this day, restraint is forbidden, tacky is acceptable, and inebriation is inevitable. So strap in and shout out a thundering “WHO DAT?” This will surely be a Southern-style celebration no one will soon forget (if only they could remember).

Drink of the Week: Touchdown Punch

2010-02-06T22:36:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl is the most consumed day outside of Thanksgiving. So let's add some beverages to all that food.

It would be very common for the drink of the week to be beer. But since beer is so simple and easy to buy, with no instructions necessary, Wazzupolitan's drink of the week instead is Touchdown Punch.

This drink is perfect for any sports game, but most importantly for football games. And with the Super Bowl TOMORROW, this punch is perfect for the big game. Best thing is--If you run out, you can quickly make more so you don't miss much of the game! Courtesy of Alcohol Punch.

First for the ingredients:

3 cups of orange juice
1 1/3 cup Tequila
1 cup lemon juice
½ cup sugar
Ice

Next for the simple directions:

Dissolve the sugar in a large punch bowl by mixing in the orange juice and stirring. Then add in the Tequila and lemon juice while continuing to stir until it is all completely mixed. Add the ice and a ladle for guests to consume.

It is almost like a large mixture of Tequila Sunrise, for everyone to enjoy!

Who's going to win: Saints or Colts? Enjoy the game, and enjoy your Touchdown Punch!

Quick-n-Easy SuperDuper Super Bowl Party Ideas

2010-02-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

With the Super Bowl a day away, here are some last minute decorating ideas to WOW your football fans at that awesome game day party.

Decorate your buffet table with a grassy table cloth found at most party shops for just a few dollars. If you really want to go all out you can paint white ten yard lines and construct cardboard goal posts at both ends of the table. Add some football shaped confetti to sprinkle the top of the table.

If you are going cheap, then a plain green table cloth will work just fine. Oh yeah and for those who don’t have paint just lying around-white out works pretty good for those yard lines.

Balloons of the teams are also another cheap way to add some color to your party. Go get some black and gold balloons and put them on one side of the buffet table and some blue and white for the other.

Decorating the walls is left to the party store for football cutouts, unless you want to make your own with cardboard and paint. Try not to leave this for the very last minute or your paint won’t dry before your guests arrive.

Streamers top off the room for some added flair. Stream colors of the teams across the room and dangle some from the ceiling above your buffet tables. These will bring the room to life even before all the food is set out.

Place your food in football shaped platters and football decorated paper plates and watch your party come to life! Also add some football decorated napkins and paper cups, or even napkins the colors of the teams.

When the guests arrive your party will burst with madness!

Also to add some flair get some light up football ice cubes… These will turn your regular beer and wings combo into something a little more festive. They can be found at most grocery stores at this time, and more commonly found at party stores.

Don’t forget the football cupcakes to top it off!

Tiger Time

2010-02-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

February may be the month of love, but it's also Chinese New Year! And this February 14th marks the start of the year of the Tiger. And if you were born in the year of the tiger (1986), you are generally well liked because of your charismatic personality.

So if you are an anti-valentines person, you may want to look into hosting your own Sake and Sushi party. Chinese cuisine, paper laterns to decorate, your own fortuen cookies....

If anything, it's an excuse to host a party-and we know you tigers are very charming hosts-and who wouldn't want to do that!

Gameday Goodies: Superbowl Sunday Appetizers

2010-02-02T22:47:00.001-08:00

With the Superbowl right around the corner, it is time to start planning the appetizers you’re going to serve at your Superbowl party! As any football fan will tell you, the most important part of any Superbowl party is the food. Greasy finger food combined with a cold beer is the hallmark of Superbowl spectating. So here I bring you the recipes for some of my all-time favorite Superbowl treats.

Buffalo Wings

Perhaps the most quintessential Supebowl food, wings are the ultimate football food. A fan favorite, you will be hard-pressed to find an individual these wings don’t please (except for perhaps the occasional vegetarian, but even these granola-crunchers will be tempted to try these sizzling wings). This recipe was created by Ree Drummond, whose wings are world famous. Do NOT forget to serve these wings without a side of bleu cheese dressing; to do this would be almost criminal.

Ingredients

2 pounds (to 3 Pounds) Chicken Wing "drummettes"

Canola Oil

2 sticks Butter

1 bottle Frank's Red Hot (12 Oz Bottle)

Tabasco Sauce, To Taste

Preparation Instructions

In a deep skillet or Dutch oven pour about 1 inch to 1 ½ inches of Canola oil. Begin heating the oil over medium/medium high heat. Meanwhile, throw your wing drummettes into a strainer and give them a good rinse.

When the oil is hot (about 360 degrees) place the raw wings into the skillet. Move with a pair of tongs so they don’t stick to the bottom of the skillet.

While the chicken is cooking, melt 2 sticks of butter (1cup) in a saucepan. Add one bottle of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Stir well until combined. Next you will add Tabasco sauce until your wings are your preferred temperature.

When the chicken has cooked for about 25 minutes, take them out with a pair of tongs and place then on a paper towel to drain. Begin placing the cooked wings into the sauce and thoroughly coat. Place them in a serving bowl. Repeat until all of the chicken is coated with sauce and ready to eat.

Nachos

Nachos are another Superbowl staple, beloved by both hardcore football fans and fair-weather partygoers. Nachos are a fantastic alternative for vegetarians, and are easy to customize according to what toppings you particularly enjoy. This recipe comes from the ultimate entertainer, Martha Stewart, and features the holy trinity of nacho ingredients-chips, cheese, and hot sauce. So go ahead, and proceed with vigor. These nachos are sure to please.

Ingredients

1 bag store-bought large tortilla chips

1 cup black beans

3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup chopped pickled jalapeno chiles

1 jalapeno chile, minced (If you don’t like heat, you should seed and rib the peppers)

Fresh cilantro leaves

Chili sauce or hot-pepper sauce

Chopped tomatoes, for serving (optional)

Sour cream, for serving (optional)

Preparation instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Top each chip with about 1 teaspoon beans and 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese; evenly divide chiles among tortilla chips. Transfer to an ovenproof serving platter, forming layers; add chili sauce.

Bake until heated through and cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove, and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve topped with tomatoes and sour cream, if desired

French Fries

Completing the trifecta of perfect Superbowl appetizers are French fries. French fries, in addition to being delicious, are the quintessential crowd-pleaser. Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t enjoy a greasy, salty fry? If you have, do not be too quick to trust that individual with your heart, your children, or your taxes. This recipe, again from Martha Stewart, is incredibly easy to prepare, and will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Ingredients

4 potatoes, preferably Yukon Gold or russet

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons dried thyme

Salt and pepper

Preparation instructions

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut potatoes lengthwise into thick slices, then into 1/2-inch-by-1/2-inch-thick strips. Place in a bowl of cold water until ready to use. Drain and dry well on paper towels.

Toss potatoes with oil and spread out on a dark roasting pan or baking sheet. Scatter thyme over potatoes. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, turning occasionally, until potatoes are brown and crisp on all sides.

Remove from oven, discard thyme stems (the leaves will have fallen off), sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

Deviled Eggs

I was more than content to end this post after French fries, but my friend was insistent that deviled eggs were the exemplary Superbowl food. I was skeptical, but a random internet search proved my friend’s theory: deviled eggs are indeed a Superbowl staple. So I went to the official website for deviled eggs, deviledeggs.com (apparently the creators of this site were note creatively endowed) and got a recipe for classic deviled eggs.

Ingredients

6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise
¼ cup Light Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing
½ teaspoon dry ground mustard
½ teaspoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Paprika for garnish

Preparation instructions

Remove the egg yolks to a small bowl and mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard powder, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Fill the empty egg white shells with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with paprika.

Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one day before serving.

With that, you are now well equipped to cook up a frenzy of mouthwatering appetizers to satisfy your Superbowl fanatics. So proceed with vigor, and even if tension is thick between Saints fans and Colts supporters, there is surely one thing everyone can agree on: this is one tasty Sunday.

What's the Point in Playing if Your Not Playing to Win?!

2010-01-31T22:20:00.000-08:00

With the Superbowl just around the corner, it's time to start planning your party now! Besides appetizers, drinks and of course a big screen TV, you may need some other ideas to keep your guests entertained. My suggestion? Take all the other games you play and just make them Superbowl themed. For example...Charade words all have to do with football in someway (cheerleader, half-time performer, victory dance...) Here's a couple more

Drinking--make rules such as you can't say the opposing team's name, or even the word football, or else you take a drink...watch out this could make everyone a little cray =)

Football Jeopardy!--There's a lot of football trivia out there, and if you wanted to make it exciting, put bets on the winning team (loser cleans up, or refills the snacks....)

Pre-Game Madden--Get in the mood by playing a little fantasy football

Football toss--even something as childish as a football toss can be fun, as long as you make the stakes big enough =)

Have fun and......Go Colts =) (Sorry all you Saint lovers)

The ins and outs

2010-01-31T22:13:00.000-08:00

well going forward on this whole party business has sure been a challenge. not only have i single handedly bought all decorations (on a $100 budget mind you) but i have also had to make sure the advertisements have been designed and made by a deadline, gathered a group of people to distribute the flyers as well as setting up a time to record a radio commercial.

All have had their own sets of challenges:

I have a vision about how I see the bar being set up so I have enlisted the help of only one person to cut, sew and assemble all decorations. that was a challenge in itself because for one I've found that people don't like doing things for free (or maybe I'm just asking the wrong people) at any rate they have proved to be reliable but getting them to do things independent of my direction has slowed the process 10 fold. So the mantra if you want things done right do it yourself hold true.

The dollar store has become my best friend as far as decorations has gone. $50 spent there on things for the VIP lounge as well as for the individual bars stretched amazingly. Another $50 was spent on fabric and other nick-nacks and additional $1o is being spent on 100 goldfish!

below are pictures of the recording session for the commercial. Even that was painstaking for me because I had an idea in my head and I just wasn't completely satisfied by it. But it's on the radio and people will hear it so it's doing its job!

Drink of the Week: Try a Chocolatini!

2010-01-30T17:04:00.000-08:00

MmmMmm...Who doesn't love Chocolate?
How about making a delicious Chocolatini to fulfill your chocolate craving...

Drink Recipe Ingredients to make 1 serving:
• 2 oz. Baileys Original Irish Cream (25 oz. per bottle)
• 0.3 oz. vodka
• 0.3 oz. chocolate liqueur

How to Prepare:
• Add Baileys Original Irish Cream, vodka and chocolate liqueur.
• Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.
• Garnish with raspberries (or whatever pleases your taste buds).

Tip: Candy garnishes add a great look and taste to your Chocolatini. I recommend a peppermint Candy Cane. Enjoy!

Courtesy of thebar.com

How high is TOO high?

2010-01-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

Like Katy said, heels can make you go from simply looking good to va-va-voom… But how do you know exactly which heels to wear with that sexy birthday dress?

Nothing is more embarrassing than tripping over your feet because your heels are too high, so how high is TOO high?

Here’s a SUPER GREAT example about how high is WAY TOO high! =]

So if you would rather not look like that then here are some tips:

Heels need to be tried on more than once and walked around in to test out the right fit. Due to the stresses on your feet of wearing heels these should not just be a quick pick. Stand in the shoes for a good few minutes; your feet will be able to tell you instantly if there are problems.

An important test is to stand in your heels with your knees straight. Then try to stand on your tippy toes so your heels are about a half inch off the ground. If you can’t do this, then your heels are too high.

Another thing… when you walk in your heels, be sure NOT to roll your ankles when you walk. Most people naturally roll when they walk. This will cause your ankle to roll completely and you WILL fall.

The most important thing when wearing high heels is to not wear them all the time. The constant stress on your muscles and joints will force you to wear sneakers forever if you push your limits. Switch up your wardrobe a bit… sexy stilettos don’t have to be your usual.

So remember- when going out with that hot date, goin to the club, or out on your 21-run, make sure your high heels are not TOO high.

PBDC

2010-01-28T17:51:00.001-08:00

So today I was working out, and I was watching MTVs Sweet Sixteen. One, those kids are SUPER rich (and spoiled) but two, they have some sweet stuff at their parties. On this particular episode, the girl had a sweet dance party where a dance group performed a sick dance routine. Today is also the premier of a new season of ABDC (America's Best Dance Crew, which is one of the best shows ever. A performance during a party can really bring the vibe up, but since we live in Pullman and they're are no sweet 16s to attend, we made our own dance crew. Pullman's Best Dance Crew.

WAZZUWOCKEEZ and PATIS N' CHIPS...GET IT WAZZU!

Looking Good on Your Birthday

2010-01-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday marked a big milestone in my life: I turned 22 years old! Alright, perhaps I met my 22^nd birthday with mild panic and resistance, but I was still keen to celebrate the best year of my life. Not only was I keen to celebrate, I was eager to celebrate in style.

Searching for the right birthday dress is a precarious feat. You do not want something ill-fitting, tacky, or boring. This is a day to stand out, in a good way.

My first rule of advice is to stay away from anything that would be deemed appropriate for a funeral. Nothing is worse than someone wearing a black, dowdy birthday dress! I suggest wearing colors like rich jewel tones, which are flattering on all skin tones and body types. This is your night to shine, so crank the pizzazz of your look up to volume eleven, and bask in all the well-warranted attention you deserve. This is your day, after all, and you deserve to have the spotlight on you. If you must wear a black dress, make sure there is something special about it that draws the eye or piques interest, a good example of this is Lauren Conrad's 21 birthday dress (see above image). Yes, it is black, but it is anything but basic.

A good way to achieve a fun level of pizzazz and zing is to stick with sequins. Many young girls tend to avoid sequins, because the texture of the garment can be unflattering for most figures. But the key with sequins is to be strategic about their placement. For girls with a smaller bust, fill out a top by wearing a sequin shirt tucked into a high wasted skirt. If you want to draw attention to you legs, hip, or behind, a short sequin skirt in a rich, jewel-toned color paired with a simple black blouse is your best bet. For girls with total body confidence, I say rock sequins head to toe. This is perhaps the one time in your life you can get away with it.

Another rule I have for good birthday style is to make sure you are tucked in and strapped in securely. Nothing is worse than having a “wardrobe malfunction” and garnering attention for all the wrong reasons. So make sure whatever you are wearing is a good fit and is not going to move anywhere. That way, all eyes will be on you for the right reasons.

My last bit of advice is to wear a nice, comfortable high heel. I have the ultimate repugnance for high-heeled shoes, because at 5 feet 10 inches high, I feel like Yao Ming when I wear heels. But on my birthday, I know I have to stand out, and a heel could be the secret ingredient in taking me from looking good to va-va-voom. If I can muster my hatred for high-heeled shoes and wear stilettos on my birthday, then surely you can, too.

So, go forth, and start looking for your birthday dress now, even if your special day is not until June. After all, birthdays are not the occasion to procrastinate. And remember: This is your day to shine, to celebrate the year you’ve had. I may have met my birthday with panic and resistance, but I also met it with flair and style.

Mind Your Manners!

2010-01-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

Being a grownup is hard. You have to make your own food, pay bills, clean your room, and best or worst of all, there's no mother next to you telling you what to do. There's no mother to tell you to chew with your mouth closed or keep your elbows off the table. So what do we do now as grownups when it comes to etiquette? There are the easy rules like don't be late, don't smack your gum...but what about rules that aren't so common sense. Say for instance, you're hosting or attending a dinner party. Who knew that at one meal you could have 3 different forks?! Here's a couple of tips to follow and you'll be ready to dine, pinky up and all.

1. BMW--(no not the car, but I wouldn't mind one....) However, this easy to remember acronym stand for Bread, Meal, Water and should be applied when setting the table. The bread dish goes on the left side, then the meal, and the water glass to the right.

2. Outisde-In-- At the first fancy dinner I went to, I felt a little like Ariel from the Little Mermaid. (I didn't brush my hair with a fork, but I was pretty darn confused!) The rule is actually quite self-explanatory...start with the outside and work your way in. You eat the salad with the outer most fork (usually slightly smaller than the main course) and then the next fork is for your main course...If the silverware is place at the top of the plate, save that for later, it's probably for you coffee later.

3. Napkins--When you sit down, put your napkin in your lap! You don't leave your napkin on the table during dinner. After your done eating, you can put your napkin on the table. (Also if you HAVE to spit something out, which you really never should....wipe your mouth with your napkin and discretely spit the food item out and fold it in your napkin.)

4. Ahh...put a fork in it!-- ALWAYS USE SILVERWARE! even if you are eating something like a french fry do not use your fingers. Keeping your elbows in, you may cut with your right and then switch hands to put your fork in the right hand.

5. If you can't talk...it's too much food--Bites should be small...You should be able put the food in the corner of your mouth, and continue talking with out anybody noticing.

There are a lot more rules but most of these can be figured out by watching others, or just using your common sense!

You can find some more helpful hints at: http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/dinner-table-etiquette.html

2010-01-24T10:14:00.001-08:00

Ok folks now down to business! You've been equipped with the knowledge of which garnish will set that perfect drink over the edge and what to wear to a night out on the town Pullman style. But you have yet to learn what it takes to throw a party of your own.

Here you will find the tools you need to throw a great party, the do's and don'ts ever host should know and all the extra details that go into party planning. I'm going to take you through the journey of my own party planning experience where you join me in setting the date, planning the event, buying the supplies and seeing just how much work goes into this kind of stuff.

First off the reason this party is even being planned, is to set the bar for all future events that will be taking place at one of the most popular bars in Pullman, Stubblefields. The first annual Aquarius Birthday Party is set for February 6th. The hard part what getting the date set.

Now its up to me to create advertisements so people will even come. These have been submitted and will be set into motion sometime this week. Now that the hard part is taken care of, decorations are next on my list of things to do...

Next week I'll take you through the dos and don'ts of party planning, and update you on where I find myself. Overwhelmed? or an epic fail?

Drink of the Week: Hot Buttered Rum

2010-01-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

As the winter lingers on, your toes turn to ice, and your body starts to ache, you start to wonder. What can you possibly do to warm your senses? I know! Sip on a Hot Buttered Rum!

Ingredients

8 oz. apple cider

6 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 oz. lemon juice

2 oz. dark rum

1 tsp. butter

Usually you can find a buttered rum mix at grocery stores. Currently in Pullman, I saw some at Dissmores in the wine isle near the daiquiri mixtures. Most common grocery stores should have the mixture, but if not, these directions show how to make it yourself.

Directions

Pour apple cider, cloves, cinnamon stick and lemon juice into a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil
Pour into a mug
Add rum
Top with butter
Enjoy!

The mixture you get at stores is a thicker, creamier version of this Hot Buttered Rum, but both will warm you up in the cold winter chill. Pair it with sitting by the fire and a romantic movie, and your winter couldn't be better!

Courtesy of a book I own called The Complete Bartender.

Drink Décor

2010-01-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing makes a cocktail more dazzling than its look. The bright colors of flavor can make or break that perfect sip of paradise. But what can be more dazzling than the colorful décor?

Wazzupolitan is here to help make the perfect garnish!

First… for some simple garnish ideas…

Lemons and Limes—These are so simple to decorate your cocktail by simply cutting off the ends, and then cutting the lemon or lime into 6 or 8 pieces. These can be used to simply put on the edge of the drink by making a slit to attach it, or even for a little extra flavor inside.
Cherries—Fresh maraschino cherries make simple, yet sexy garnishes. These cherries can be used simply in the drink with the stem attached. They can also be attached to a pick with other fruit by removing the stem.
Oranges—These are much like lemons and limes. By cutting them into small wedge pieces and slitting the middle, they look amazing attached to the side.
Olives—Usually the best drink to add green olives to are Gin or Vodka Martinis. Many fruity drinks don’t mix well with olives. They can be placed inside the drink or attached to a pick.
Pineapples—These make drinks truly look like paradise. Use just like a lemon or lime and attach to the side.

Whatever satisfies your taste can be used to decorate your drink!

Also— leaves, flowers and candy are great for garnishes, but remember—a perfect garnish is always simple, yet extremely classy!

Second… The Twist…

The easiest and yet most decorative drink garnishes are the twist. Use a lime, lemon, or orange for the best spirals.

Using a lemon zester, use the blade in the middle to dig into the peel far enough to grab a thick piece of the peel, but not so deep to hit the inside of the fruit.
Continue to slice the peel around the lemon in a spiral motion until it gets as long as you want the twist.
Then use your finger to wrap the peel around to get the curl. For a tighter twist use a bar spoon and wrap the peel tighter without breaking it. If you do not have a bar spoon, a straw can also be used.
And there you have it! Place the twist on the edge of the drink to add some flare!

For more simple drink garnish techniques check out http://www.goodcocktails.com/

Golden Globes Red Carpet- Pullmanized!

2010-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

This weekend marked the 67^th annual Golden Globes, a celebration of all that is outstanding in television and film. And while the Golden Globes is often overshadowed by its more glamorous big sister, the Academy Awards, the Globes is still a party force to be reckoned with.

Stars spend all day primping and pampering to get ready for the Globes. An appearance on the worst dressed list can break any star’s spirit and kill any actress’s box office appeal. That’s why movie stars always make sure to enlist an arsenal of hair and makeup experts. But the most important element of any celebrity’s red carpet appearance is undoubtedly the gown they wear. That’s why it is important for stars to stay ahead of the curve, and wear the most flattering, glamorous, and beautiful dress they can find.

This year at the Globes, stars pulled out all the stops. But unquestionably the most popular, gorgeous trend on the red carpet was ethereal blush gowns, worn by the likes of Christina Hendricks, Emily Blunt, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Drew Barrymore.

This is a trend that any girl can incorporate into her wardrobe to "wow" any and everyone at the next party they attend. After all, why should the stars have all the fun? The way we see it, every girl should have the right to look like a superstar.

To wear a blush dress, as we see from the stars about, one does not need a tan. Girls of every skin tone can sport this trend, as long as they have confidence. Heads will turn at the frat party when you arrive in a satin blush shirt and black skinny jeans. On your next date with your boyfriend, spice things up by wearing by sporting a short silk blush dress and neutral khaki heels. Or, if you’re not feeling bold enough, dip your feet into the trend slowly by buying a blush scarf or bag. The results will be guaranteed glamorous. So go ahead and bring a little bit of Golden Globe elegance to Pullman. Lovely!

Welcome!

2010-01-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

Pullman is known for two things--Lentils and Washington State University. And while our university may be in the midst of wheat fields, in the middle of nowhere, no one can compete with our school’s spirit. When we leave Wazzu, we leave proud to be Cougs.

Now we may not be in a big city, or in the midst of Hollywood glamour, but us Cougs know what it means to throw a party. And just because we live in the wheat fields doesn't mean we have to party like we have no class. And with that, Wazzupolitan is here to help! We'll let you know everything there is to know about parties. How to throw one, (there’s more to parties than beer pong and sticky floors), what NOT to wear, (because neon colors were so yesterday), the best new dance music (make way for Young Money), and even help you make some great cocktails (shaken, not stirred). Imagine if Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton had a love child...her name would be Wazzupolitan. And we know we're all broke, so we'll show you how to do all this and more while saving some money!

Just because we don’t have flashing lights, doesn’t mean we aren’t red carpet worthy.

A Martha-Paris love child? Now that's hott.