Tag Archives: Party

New Year: Time to Celebrate & “How to & DIY” Party with an Announcement!

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I am so excited to announce that I have already started accomplishing  one of my goals for the New Year by filming my very first Dream Design Dwell video for my YouTube channel!!! Since it is my first video, I decided to throw a party to celebrate the New Year and also my video!  Learn how to make easy “1-2-3” Margaritas, healthy Baja Tacos and a simple DIY gift for friends!  I hope you all enjoy my tips & ideas for ringing in the NEW YEAR  in your home and will join with me in celebration!

Supplies for the “1-2-3” Margaritas:

Silver Tequila, Cointreau or Triple Sec, Fresh squeezed limes, Salt, Lime Wedges, Shaker & Jigger

Details for making Baja Fish Tacos:

2 tablespoons taco seasoning, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice, 1 pound mahimahi or other firm whitefish filets, cute into bite-sized pieces, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 cups pre-chopped green cabbage, 1/2 cup chopped green onions, 1/2 cup light sour cream, 8 corn tortillas, Lime wedges

Combine first 2 ingredients in a bowl. Add fish & toss to coat.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add fish & saute 5 minutes or until fish is done.

Combine cabbage, onions and sour cream in a bowl.

Warm tortillas according to package directions, spoon about 1/4 cup cabbage mixture down the center of each tortilla, divide fish evenly among tortillas, fold in half & serve with a lime wedge.

Supplies for DIY Gift:

Small Rosemary Tree, Flower/Plant Pot, Twine, Craft store supplies to make your card (Add your personality to your card!)

Shop ideas here for your next party!

Margarita 7-piece glassware set: CLICK HERE

Cocktail Shaker: CLICK HERE

Jigger: CLICK HERE

Mixing Bowls: CLICK HERE & CLICK HERE

Flower/Plant Ceramic Pot: CLICK HERE

I’d LOVE to hear from YOU!  What are your tips & ideas celebrate the New Year at home?  I’m always looking for new ideas!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Twitter: @CortneyBailey

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Facebook: Dream Design Dwell

YouTube: Cortney Bailey

Sauce, Spice & Sequins!!!

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Want to look like a Rock Star or a total Glamour Goddess in the kitchen or at your next home soirée?  Well you can!  Domestic Glitz  by Geneva Grainger will help you be the Bell of the Ball in your own home with their “Haute in the Kitchen” aprons packed with sequins!  These are no ordinary aprons, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have been featured wearing them and they were recently spotlighted on Good Morning America, The Today Show, InStyle and US Weekly!

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How do you shine in the kitchen at home? I’d love to hear from you!  Leave me a comment below or share on my social media sites listed below!!!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling!!

Cheers!

Cortney Bailey

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Lip-Smacking Good! The Final “Must Have” of Eight for Winter 2013!!!

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The eighth and final “Must Have” for Winter 2013 are lip-smacking but simple snacks!  If it’s just you, yourself and I or if you have an entire heard to feed these munchies will be yummy to everyone’s tummy!!!  Don’t forget the presentation of your scrumptious snacks is just important as the treat itself. If you are having a party for one be kind to yourself and put a little effort into the arrangement of your goodies. It goes without saying, if you are having friends or family over, staging your snacks is key to the overall vibe of your event – no matter how casual or grand your get-to-gather may be, remember it’s all about the appearance.

If you pride yourself in your culinary abilities or if you pat yourself on the back for being able to make popcorn I promise, you will be happy with the following ideas and so will everyone else!

Weelicious is a fantastic and over-the-top creative site for delicious, yet easy to follow recipes.  Here are a few amazing ideas for this winter!!!

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 Next, are some of my favorite snacks from Trader Joe’s and everyone loves them. 

  1. TJ’s Pizzas are great on a cold night and are super easy to pop in the oven!  After the pizza is cooked simply cut it into small slices and believe me, if you are entertaining several people, the slices will be gone before you can pop the next pizza into the over!!!
  2. Raisin Rosemary Crisps are great with cheeses and dips and are a little more unexpected than the normal, ho-hum cracker!
  3. The Three Layer Hummus by TJ’s will bring a little spice to your palate! It’s great with veggies or small pitas or pita chips.
  4. The last favorite item from TJ’s is their fantastic selection of cheeses!  My mouth is watering just thinking about their options – make sure you try the Italian Truffle Cheese – OMG it’s amazing!!!

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Speaking of cheese…next is a cheese board! If you have always loved cheese boards but are not sure how to put one together you can easily follow the example board posted! The more comfortable you become with boards you can begin to add meats, pastes, honey and various olives!

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Last are just a few tools to help make your snack presentation gorgeous! All the items are from Crate & Barrel and obviously they have hundreds of other options for you to choose from.  From top to bottom: Olivewood Cheese Board (small slices of pizza would work on this as well.), Set of Six Cheese Markers, Set of Three Cheese Tools and Large Rectangle Slate Board.

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Looking for great cheeseboards & tools?  Check out some of these great options:

Wood Cheese Board: Click Here

Slate Cheese Board: Click Here

Cheese Board Tools: Click Here

I’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite but easy to make winter snacks?  I’m always looking for new ideas so leave me a comment below or follow me on one of the social network sites below and share your ideas!

Keep Dreaming Designing & Dwelling!

Cheers!

Cortney Bailey

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The First “Must Have” of Eight for Your Winter Home 2013 – You’re Welcome!

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You don’t have to roll out the “Red Carpet” to make a great impression but you do have to make a great first impression! Your front door really does set the tone to the rest of your home sweet home!

My first must have for Winter 2013 is a fresh doormat! No matter if you are pinching pennies or have a bottomless budget you can make this happen!  I promise you, you want all visitors, family, friends and even your delivery person to actually feel welcomed to your home and not think … “oh well” when they set foot on your threshold.

Your home can be perfectly pristine inside but if your doormat is faded or unraveling your first impression may be a flop. Let’s not let that happen!  Here are a few ideas for all budgets:

Target‘s Mohawk Home Koora Circles: $9.99:

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Amazon $36.00:

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Frontgate‘s  Lion Crest Monogram Starts at $99.50 & up:

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I’d love to see your doormats!  Whether they are traditional, seasonal, DYI etc … show me and leave your comments below!

Cheers!

Cortney Bailey

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Top 8 “Must Have” Items to Make Your Home Ready for Winter 2013!

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The Winter Season means something different to everyone!  Maybe you are looking forward to January 1st when you can start fresh with new goals or perhaps your kiddos will be home for two to four weeks for winter break.  Maybe you celebrate Hanukah or Christmas and are looking forward to entertaining family and friends or you simply love to cuddle up by the fire during the plummeting temperatures … or if you are like me who grew up in Northern Texas where it snows and freezes but you now live in Southern California you find any excuse to light a fire and buddle-up in a cozy blanket and create your own winter!

Over the next eight blog posts I will list the top eight items to have to make your home ready for Winter 2013!  No matter if you just want to have your home ready for yourself and a couple friends or if you are having a huge winter bash these eight items will leave your home memorable and inviting!

Cheers!

Cortney Bailey

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