Ed Note: Brian Worley, an LA-based party planner who was most recently featured in People Magazine, and he’s shared some of his great ideas with Eco Chick (see below)!
For the girls who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their friends and have a fun night in, I have included a party plan to help celebrate a holiday that is notoriously for couples, in a way that celebrates their independence and zest for life! Decorate with Orange and Turquoise, rather than Pink and Red, or any other colors that make you happy and enjoy a night of gal-pal bonding!
For starters, here are two quick and easy appetizers to get the party started that anyone can make and are tasty as well:
Artichoke and Olive Dip:
1 Cup Pitted Olives (I suggest Kalamata Olives, the purple of them will give it a nice Valentine’s Day pop of color)
2 Jars of Artichoke Hearts, drained
1 Tablespoon of Capers
1 Garlic Glove
A Dash of Red Pepper Flakes
Sea Salt to add a little flavor, but the Olives should help out!
Mix all the ingredients in the food processor, but make sure to keep it chunky and serve with pita bread. Or if you want to really be healthy, serve with carrot sticks, cucumbers and celery sticks!
Mushroom Caps stuffed with Eggs and Spinach Tartlets
Mushrooms
Olive Oil
A Bag of Spinach
6 Eggs, beaten
A few Strips of Fakin’ Bacon
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
Brush Olive Oil on both sides of the Mushroom Caps, lightly sprinkle with Sea Seal and Cracked Lemon Pepper
bake on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes
While the Mushroom Caps bake, sauté the Spinach in a little Olive Oil, add diced Veggie Bacon until it is cooked, reduce the heat, add the Eggs and scramble until done.
Fill the Mushroom Caps with the Egg, Bacon and Spinach combo and you have Bite-Size deliciousness!
If your are celebrating with the girls, you’ve got to have dessert, so here is a fun idea that is colorful and healthy!
3-Berry Cobbler
1 Cup Blackberries
1 Cup Blueberries
1 Cup Raspberries
1 Egg
1 1/2 Cups Almond Meal
2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
Raw Honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Pour all (3) berries in a pie pan
In a bowl, mix the Egg, Almond Meal, Coconut Oil, and Cinnamon. Stir together until the ingredients start to create a “Crumble”
Drizzle the Raw Honey over the Berries
Cover the Berries with the “Crumble” and bake for 35 minutes and serve with a dollop of Whipped Cream (see below for a healthy version).
Whipped Cream
2 Cups Vanilla Low-Fat Yogurt (drained overnight)
1/2t Teaspoon Cinnamon
1Teaspoon Stevia Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Drain yogurt overnight in a strainer lined with a coffee filter.
Add the yogurt and remaining ingredients to a bowl and whip with electric mixer and serve!
Specialty Cocktail for the Evening:
It seems that a nice glass of wine is always on the menu when a group of girls are gathering, but if you want to be creative and create a specialty mocktail, here’s one that I suggest:
The Swinging Single Valentine: (and it is Orange!)
What You Need:
3 qt. (12 cups) Cold Club Soda
1 can (12 oz.) Frozen Limeade concentrate, thawed
Fresh juice from two organic lemons
1 qt. (4 cups) Raspberry Sherbet
Add Club Soda and lemon juice to punch bowl; stir.
Scoop Sherbet into punch just before serving.
To Halve:
This recipe can easily be halved. Prepare as directed, cutting all ingredients in half. Makes 9 servings, 1 cup each.
Garnish with a Turquoise Rock Candy!
Outdoor party inspiration for the color theme suggested for this party.
One of my favorite weddings that I have ever designed was Orange and Turquoise and every time I look at the pictures from that wedding, it makes me happy! There is just something about pulling colors from opposite ends of the color spectrum that works. So hang some Turquoise and Orange lanterns, make some Turquoise and Orange Hearts out of construction paper and hang them on the walls and serve your guests on Turquoise Plates with Orange napkins and you are all set for you Girls Night “IN” party.
With these ideas you are sure to create and extraordinary experience!
Follow Brian on his site, Facebook page and Twitter feed for more great party (and wedding) ideas.
About Brian: Brian Worley, co-owner of YourBASH! Event Production, has over twelve years of event experience to his credits. Brian’s extensive background in event production in combination with his unique sense of design has allowed him to work on a multitude of events, coordination, design and “hands on” knowledge have elevated his resume of events, including VIP parties and movie premieres for top entertainment networks, celebrity and high profile weddings and product launches.
Recently, Brian has been working on some outstanding projects, creating an absolutely astonishing premiere party for FOX’s new show “Alcatraz,” working with “Operation Shower,” a charity that provides baby showers for military wives, as well as a lounge and gifting suite for the Sundance Film Festival, just to name a few.
One of Brian’s personal interests is producing and designing events that are both GREEN and ECO-FRIENDLY. He strives to create stunning events utilizing the philosophy: REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE. He implements this idea in simple ways such as organic and pesticide-free food, bio-diesel generators, rented furniture, recycled fabric, drapes and linens, and low watt and LED lighting, just to name a few.
Brian Worley.
o ~these colors are so perfect,,happiness*! (makes the usually red/pink combo seem so boring and dated)
02/02/12 » 2:31 pm »
Beautiful Valentine’s Day inspirations.
02/05/12 » 9:11 pm »