Cinco de Mayo

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

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!

I'm on a Boat!

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

Centerpieces

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

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.

A Special Prom

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.

March MADNESS

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.

Party Themes

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.

Quick-n-Easy SuperDuper Super Bowl Party Ideas

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!

Welcome!

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.