Pink Frosting’s online store turns the big TWO this week, and to celebrate we’re offering you a bonus $10 Gift Voucher to spend at the Pink Frosting online store in January 2009 for every $100 you spend from Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 7th December.  So, if you spend $200 this week, we’ll send you a gift voucher for $20 to spend on wedding, baby shower, party or Christmas decorations in January 2009.  If you spend $800 this week, we’ll send you a bonus $80 to spend in January.  How fantastic is that?

Some conditions apply - Pink Frosting’s birthday offer is only valid on orders placed and paid in full by 11.59pm on Sunday 7th December, 2008 at Pink Frosting’s online store.  You will receive a gift voucher for $10 for every full $100 you spend i.e. a $10 gift voucher will be awarded if you spend $181 or a $20 gift voucher will be awarded if you spend $201.  Gift Vouchers will be issued before 24 December 2008 with a coupon code to be used at checkout on one order in January 2009.  Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.  Gift Vouchers are non-transferrable and cannot be replaced, extended or refunded as cash. 

Ok, so now the tedious stuff is out of the way, let’s shop! 

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

What could be better than combining a Christmas Decoration with a girl’s best friend?  Nothing!  These divine little stiletto chic Christmas decorations are perfect to hang on your tree, in your car or next to your desk to remind you why you’re plugging away at work!

We’ve all gone crazy for them here at Pink Frosting.  Hot pink, sparkly, and oh so divine!  They’re available now at the Pink Frosting Christmas shop online for just $9.85.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

This is probably my favourite time of year.  The smell of Summer is in the air, the crickets are buzzing at night and party season is in full swing.  All of these marvellous things point to the most wonderful weekend activity of the whole year:  it’s time to decorate your Christmas tree! 

I’ve bought every Christmas magazine on the shelves this year and I have to say that I am disappointed.  From Notebook: to Home Beautiful, from Martha Stewart Living to the Australian Women’s Weekly, all of the Christmas decorations are sparse and contemporary.  Now, I know that living in Australia means we don’t have a typical fairytale Christmas like in the Northern Hemisphere, but I still love my Christmas tree to be full, sparkly and completely over the top.  Even if it is in a loungeroom in Canberra, Australia. 

It just feels right to have a big sparkling tree overfilled with pretty ornaments and lights, not a couple of branches with a few sad ornaments dangling, no matter how in-fashion minimalism might be.

So, if you’re wanting to decorate in a minimalist way, I recommend you head to your nearest newsagent and buy any home magazine on the shelves right now for your inspiration.  For something more traditional, stay with me at Australia Entertains!

Here’s the Pink Frosting Christmas Tree Decorating for Dummies guide:

• First things first: choose your Christmas tree theme.  You don’t need to stick with tried and true red and gold.  Amber, solid silver or peacock teal are all very popular Christmas style trends at the moment.
• Whether you choose a real tree or go for an artificial number (which is kinder to the environment if you keep it for years!) then make sure the branches are spread evenly and there are no gaps.  This will create a neat shape to work from.
• Then get decorating! Start with your Christmas lights.  Arrange your lights on the branches near the base of the tree and string them along the inside and the outside of the branches.  Always work with the lights on.  As a general rule, use 100 lights for each 30cms (or foot) of tree.  The more lights you have, the more spectacular the tree!
• Then add your tinsel or garland.  This should be used to highlight the main colour of your theme.  Again, start at the bottom and work your way up.
• Then add your ‘filler ornaments’ by evenly spacing them around the tree.  These may include basic solid colour balls and simple stars and shapes. You’ll need about 20 filler ornaments for every 60cms (2 foot) of Christmas tree.
• Then add your special ornaments between the basic ornaments.  Try not to hang all your ornament on the tips of the branches, but instead place ornaments and other decorations on inner branches to add depth and interest.  You’ll need at least 10 special ornaments for every 60cms (2 foot) of tree.  Pink Frosting has a beautiful range of traditional and contemporary Christmas ornaments to add oomph to your Christmas tree.
• In general, the larger ornaments should be towards the bottom of the tree and get smaller towards the top.  Try to evenly space the decorations to balance the arrangement.
• Don’t forget some Christmas bling!  Add diamonds, pearls, sparkling blingle bells and plenty of crystal for a decadent and opulent look. 
• To add extra decorative elements to your tree, try tying coloured ribbons together in bows and place them between the branches.  Or accent with silk flowers in your colour theme.  Fossick in the garden and at the local park for pinecones, seed pods and leaves and add a bit of sparkle with metallic spray paint or a splash of glitter.
• For a really personalised look to delight family and friends, add some mini photo frames to your Christmas tree.  Simply print off your favourite pictures and pop them into the frames, fasten a bow with long ties to the top of each frame and hang from the tree. Pink Frosting has dozens of photo frames which are very cost effective and look very modern and personal.
• If your tree needs some extra gaps filled, look around the house for sentimental objects that you can tie with ribbon and attach to the branches of your tree.  Think jewellery, feathers, tiny teddy bears, ribbons, dolls or dolls house furniture.
• Get your children involved, by asking them to create their own decorations.  You’ll be amazed just how good a child’s magical creation made from paper, glue and a bit of glitter can look!
• The crowning glory of every Christmas tree is an angel or star, which represents the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity story.  So, take the time to find the perfect tree topper for your tree.
• Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of 5 January.  But, I generally leave mine up for longer because the tree always looks so darn great!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Nigella-ness is next to Godliness in my opinion.  So, when the latest Nigella book - on Christmas entertaining - arrived in our warehouse yesterday afternoon, I simply couldn’t wait to get myself home, pour a glass of red and sit on the couch reading my new Christmas bible.  And, it’s fantastic!

It’s a wider book than Nigella’s other efforts, making it a great coffee table book for the season.  The images are really glamorous - perfect to inspire you to create a magical Christmas party.  She places some emphasis on decorating and table decor, which is a great complement to her delicious recipes. 

Recipes include everything from Christmas cakes and puddings to quick homemade presents (cookies and chutneys); food to cook and freeze ahead; oven slow-cooking; “hero” ingredients; as well as party food and drinks. And, of course, exciting and inspiring variations for the Main Event – from traditional turkey, festive ham and special trimmings; to a Swedish or Polish Christmas à la Nigella; to a vegetarian Christmas feast.

As always, Christmas turkey isn’t the best match for an Australian Christmas, but as the majority of us bow to the seasonal pleasure of hot ovens, roasts and gravy, Nigella’s Christmas book is just as suitable in Australia as it is in snowy England.

Grab a copy for yourself, your friends, family and colleagues now.  It’s sure to become a favourite classic.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

The combination of black and white with butterflies is so striking, fresh and contemporary in this beautiful new Alannah Rose stationery design. - “Butterfly Garden”.  Perfect for a garden wedding, an engagement party, a birthday party or a garden New Years Eve cocktail party (imagine fairy lights in a garden, with fireworks lighting the night sky at the stroke of midnight).

Alannah Rose really makes planning the perfect stationery suite easy.  There are invitations (two design - double sided for the more budget conscious or a folding design), RSVP postcards, table number cards, menu cards, place cards, thank you cards and save the date cards… all in either a satin deluxe or white shimmer card stock.  And, you can have the cards personalised with guest names for a small fee.

These are brand new instore at Pink Frosting, with more beautiful designs from Alannah Rose to be added over the next week.   Beautiful, Alannah Rose, thank you!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

If you are interested, please apply by contacting Kathryn on 1300 855 633 or email kathryn@pinkfrosting.com.au.  We’d love you to start with us straight away!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

I’ve been inundated with requests from brides wanting to know where they can find the personalised contemporary chocolate polka dot candle covers by Pink Frosting as seen in the latest issues of Cosmopolitan Bride and Bride to Be magazines.  They’ve just arrived this very second and are GORGEOUS!

They come in a set of three - for only $49.50.  Here is the link to these amazing candle covers on the Pink Frosting website.  And, yes that includes personalisation! 

Handmade of vellum paper and embellished with your names and wedding date in Wonderful Graffiti, our Medium and Large Luminaries fit over standard, inexpensive glass hurricanes (available at Pink Frosting or at a local $2 shop.)  Light and dark chocolate dots embellish our littlest luminary made of vellum paper (no personalization.) Minis are designed to slip over a standard “juice glass” votive.

Large Luminaries measure 9″d x 12.5″h. Medium Luminaries measure 8′d x 10″h. Mini Luminaries measure 2.5″d x 5″h.

These amazing luminaries also don’t need to be used for weddings.  The personalisation is completely up to you, so they would be equally appropriate for a corporate event, an anniversary or birthday celebration, or even a fantastic dinner party!

Sure beats a candle in a paper bag, don’t you think?

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

I grew up eating some incredible traditional European cooking and as a consequence, there’s nothing more divine to me than European shortbread.  From the delicate German variety my babysitter taught us to cook to the heavy Greek Kourabiedes my Godparents family would serve at every important occasion such as Christenings, Christmas and anniversaries, this really is my “sin” food of choice.

My little girl and I spent some time today cooking some traditional Greek shortbread crescents to relive a little of my childhood and also to delight my Mum who has been staying with us.  It was a messy afternoon, but they turned out so fabulously that I wanted to share the recipe of yummy Greek goodness.

Red never goes out of style as the colour of honour for Christmas celebrations of every kind.  Red on white is my favourite for the holiday season.  Red is traditional, fun, frivolous and very very hot all at once.  If you’re planning a Christmas party for friends, loved ones or colleagues this year, here are some seriously good decorating and planning tips for creating a classic Christmas cocktail party in red on a frosty white background.

Decorating and styling

Your Christmas tree will be the centre of attention.  Styling a Christmas tree in white and red is a cinch - your options are virtually limitless.  From contemporary hand painted white and red baubles and candy canes, to more traditional metallic reds with glittering white snowflakes, simply follow this one rule: use only the two colours of crisp white and hot red on a blank canvas of either a white artificial tree or a natural pine tree.  Place perfectly styled red and white wrapped gifts under the tree for a truly professional look.

For your table, buffet and serving areas, start with a frosty white canvas.  Tablecloths should be crisp and white, napery all white linen ironed to perfection and chairs covered in white cloth.  Then, add your red accents.  Bright red glassware, matching red glass plates and pretty red satin ribbons.  Instead of a classic table setting, cutlery can be tied together with satin ribbon and placed into Moroccan inspired red tumblers.  Wrap your white chairs in a swathe of satin red ribbon, accessorise with pinecones and Christmas bells, and secure with some kitchen twists.

Use classic white serving ware, bowls and accent with contemporary or Moroccan inspired red glassware.  Place generous bowls of ripe cherries around your room so hungry fingers can pick at this classic Christmas fruit.  Because everyone feels child-like at Christmas, vases can be filled with giant red and white candy canes and paper pin wheels wrapped in red satin ribbon.  If you have spare Christmas baubles after you’ve decorated your tree, hang them from white branches that sit in multiple glass vases.  And don’t forget to herald the holiday season on your front door, with a red raspberry wreath. 

Menus, catering and cocktails

Perfect summer Christmas finger food comes from the BBQ or fridge.  Skewered king prawns, macadamia encrusted mini salmon cakes and bite sized barbecued pizzas are perfect.  If you’re following cocktails with a sit down dinner, nothing surpasses a roast as the perfect Christmas dish (and it’s easy to cook too, while you are entertaining), but you could equally serve summer seafood as your main dish.  Imagine barbecued lobster with a crisp green salad as the perfect complement to your red and white theme.  Sorbet, raspberry panna cotta and fresh cherries are the perfect dessert.

Berry infused cocktails are perfect for a red Christmas soiree.  Serve cranberry cosmopolitans, raspberry spider virgin cocktails and pink champagne cocktails to your guests.   Mulled wine and port to follow finish off the night warmly.

Favors and gifts

Send guests away with their own Christmas ornament to remind them of your cocktail party.  Either wrap in red and white striped paper, or simply tie a red satin ribbon to the top with a miniature thank you tag attached.   Otherwise, the gorgeous little mini candy jars which can be personalised with your Christmas message are a cute favour for your guests and colleagues.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

One of our customers, Caroline Gittus wrote to me yesterday saying she’d used these parasols at her recent wedding.  Here’s what she had to say:

I recently bought some Bamboo Leaves Parasols from you for our wedding – to say they were a hit is an understatement.  They looked FANTASTIC on the day and everyone has commented on how unusual and fresh they looked.

I am loving the colour of Caroline’s bridesmaid dresses.  Simply stunning.  Congratulations, Caroline and thank you for sharing your lovely day!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn