Summer Party

Faith Gauthier — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:08:51 +0000

It’s getting sunny and warm and time again for any excuse to throw a summer party. So I decided to get the girls together for a summer brunch complete with a yogurt bar, chocolate covered strawberry toadstools, cranberry orange gluten free muffins and organic berry champagne. I will post links to recipes as I get them done.

The chocolate covered strawberry toadstools we’re a big hit and pretty easy to make. Just dip strawberries in melted chocolate and paint with white chocolate or powder sugar mixed with a little milk. Store in the fridge until time for your party.

Our pretty champagne drinks were made with organic berry juice and champagne. I added skewers with frozen berries attached for an easy but elegant display.

I’m gluten intolerant so everything I served was gluten free including the gluten free cranberry orange muffins. No one seemed to mind, in fact I ended up giving the recipe to almost all the ladies at the party.

Wanting to keep things light I added a yogurt bar with a selection of fresh fruit toppings and granola. This party would also be a perfect set up for a bridal shower or baby shower and the best part is that it looks impressive without being over complicated.

Keeping things simple with your decorating will save you both time and money. The use of bright colors and flowers made the display summery without adding to much work. I think the most time I spent was wrapping the silverware with purple napkins, tying with ribbon and adding a single silk flower to each one.

I hope this gives you some some ideas and inspiration to get together with your friends and enjoy the lazy days of summer.

Faith Gauthier

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Masquerade Party Tips

Faith Gauthier — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:32:29 +0000

Today I thought I would talk about masquerade parties and share some masquerade party tips to help you plan a magical masquerade ball. Let me first say that I love a good masquerade party. There is no better excuse to dress up and have fun. And now you can get away with having them anytime of the year. I am also going to share with you what we did last October for our masquerade party.

Most people find it helpful to start with a party theme. If you prefer a formal masquerade ball try themes like Medieval, SteamPunk, Fairy tale, Venetian, Roaring 20′s or Gothic. For our party it was so close to Halloween (Oct 20th) that we decided to let everyone choose their own costumes. If you do this just remember that the costumes will be up to your guests. At our party we had very elegantly dressed couples and also some of your everyday Halloween type outfits.

You can also pick a color to build a theme around like silver or gold for a holiday party, black and white for a prom masquerade or purple for sweet sixteen parties. The possibilities are endless.

Masquerade Party Decorations & Lighting

Decorations and lighting are a huge part of what will set the theme and feel of your party. Low lighting is perfect for a masquerade as are Christmas white lights. If you’re in a location where you can use candles, they will add a feeling of mystery and beauty. Be careful to place candles where they won’t be a problem for guests with costumes and masks.

Sheer, velvet and silky fabrics can be used around the room to add a special touch. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on fabric. Check your local thrift stores and look for curtains that can be used for mere pennies. You can also watch for sales at craft and fabric stores and get steals on fabric with a 50% off coupon.

Mirrors placed on tables under centerpieces add a reflective touch. Adding streamers, ribbons or balloons from the ceiling will transform any room without breaking the bank. Look online for bulk masquerade masks to place around your room, use as centerpieces or give away as party favors for your guests.

For our masquerade party decorations we used candles, ravens, potion bottles, masks, black sheer material, pumpkins and fall leaves to set the stage. I saved old bottles, made custom labels and then filled them with alcohol for a spooky Halloween table that guests would see as they walked in the front door.

Our Masquerade Party Table
If you like the Halloween Bottle Labels you can customize and buy them by clicking on any of the labels below
Hey a girl has to make a living somehow

$5.95	$5.95	$5.95
$5.95	$5.95	$5.95
$5.95	$5.95	$5.95

Halloween Bottle Labels are available in a variety of colors & styles. To see more Click Here

I’ve also found these great links for Party Decorations. Just click on a picture if you would like to purchase.

Masquerade Party Invitations

A good hostess will send out party invitations at least six to eight weeks before the event giving guests plenty of time to RSVP. Be sure to include the theme of your masquerade party so guests know what to wear to your event. If you are having a huge formal masquerade ball you can send out invitations even sooner so guests have time to put their costumes together.

For the DIY crafty person, homemade masquerade invitations are the bomb. Make them by cutting paper in the shape of an eye mask and decorating with rhinestones, glitter & feathers.

Want to raise money for charity? A masquerade ball can’t be beat. Be sure to add this information on invitations or flyers.

If you don’t want to make invitations I’ve included some great links to custom masquerade party invitations that you can change the text on to fit your needs and these designers will also be happy to help should you need something even more custom for your masquerade event. Click on any invite to purchase

$2.05	$2.05	$1.10
$1.95	$2.20	$2.00
$1.80	$2.05	$2.00

Guest List & Location for a Masquerade Party

When your making your guest list always add a count of two for every single friend you invite because most of them will bring someone with them. A large house will usually hold 50 guests comfortably. If your list is larger than 50 you may want to consider renting a location for your masquerade party.

Wedding reception venues in your area are a great way to find a beautiful location. You can also check local clubhouses, churches and lodges. Keep your masquerade theme in mind when renting a location and remember to book your venue early. Some locations can book up to a year in advance so start looking early to get the best venue.

Click on images to visit music products

Music & Entertainment for a Masquerade Party

A masquerade party really needs music. This can be as fancy as a string quartet or piano player for a more formal affair to a dj. You can even play pre recorded music just keep in mind the kind of experience you want your guests to have when choosing the music.

If you want your party to be a smashing success bring in some form of entertainment. This also helps to take some stress off the host or hostess and gives the guests something they will be talking about for months to come. Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive, check with your local artists & musicians or talented family & friends. Our masquerade party had jazz singers, a fire dancer, belly dancers, and sword reenactments all provided by friends. Check out the images of some of our fantastic entertainers we had for our masquerade party.

Fire BellyDancer: Peppy LaRue Musician: Jana Burdick of “Spontaneous Color” BellyDance Troupe: “The Tribe” of Loveland

Masquerade Masks & How To Video

Click on images to visit mask products

Insanely Simple “How To Make Your Own Jeweled Masquerade Mask” Video

Food & Drinks for a Masquerade Party

If your having a midnight unveiling where everyone removes their masks at once make sure to have straws available for drinks and serve bite size appetizers to make it easier for guests to leave their masks on. For our party we made sure to have a meat and cheese platter, vegetables with dip and asked each guest to bring their favorite dish of finger food. We had an abundance of food and stayed on budget.

Some good food ideas are meat and cheese platters, fruit platters, chips/dip and a selections of desserts.

Masquerade Costumes

Part of the fun of a masquerade is dressing up. If you have a theme for your masquerade ball, guests will dress for your theme. If you’re having a more casual affair think fancy gowns for women and suits for men.

Women’s Masquerade Costumes
Click on images to be taken to products

Men’s Masquerade Costumes
Click on images to visit products

Party Favors for a Masquerade Party

Don’t forget to Thank your guests for coming to your party with a wonderful gift. This can be a mask they design their selves as they come into the party or beads, keychains etc. We gave our guests mini bottles of wine with our masquerade wine labels attached. Use your imagination and give them something to remember your party by. Here are some great party favors.

Wine bottles with our masquerade labels.

Wishing you a Magical Masquerade!

Ken & Faith Gauthier

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Wedding Flower Tips

Faith Gauthier — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:19:10 +0000

Insanely Simple Wedding Flower Tips

Yes you are a Princess! No you don’t have to spend like one to have beautiful wedding flowers on your wedding day. Take these insanely simple wedding flower tips and put them into action to save.

1. DIY: The biggest money saver
Don’t be afraid to take this on just recruit help to put together your own flowers for the big day.
Buy your flowers at a local flower mart or at local shopping stores like Costco.
Have a dry run before the big day you plan on putting them all together.
Put together all your flowers the day before the wedding (except for boutonnieres they need to be done the day of the wedding)
Remember to have all the necessary supplies: Floral tape, floral scissors, floral foam and pins.
Store flowers in a fridge or cool basement

2. Choose flowers in season
When you pick out of season flowers your cost will be much more than seasonal flowers. Also stay away from rare flowers to save even more.

3. Consider silk flowers
Silk flowers can be beautiful and will last way past the day of your wedding and as a added bonus you don’t have to worry about them wilting.

4. Go smaller
If you decide to go with a florist think about going smaller on your arrangements. A cascading bouquet will cost a lot more than a simple smaller one. Also consider who really needs flowers at your wedding. Cut down on centerpieces and floral arrangements but substituting candles, photo’s and lights.

5. Be unique
Some of the best bouquets I’ve seen are not made of flowers but other objects like vintage jewelry, buttons, silk roses and fabric flowers. What is it that you love? Can you make a bouquet out of it? Think unique and you’ll have a bouquet people will talk about long after your wedding.

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Wedding Stationery Tips

Faith Gauthier — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:27:00 +0000

Learn all you need to know about ordering your wedding invitations and other wedding stationery tips in this great wedding video blog with host Faith Gauthier of The Inspired Edge.

* From when to order your wedding invitations: Order them as soon as you have firmed up details. Once you’ve got your reception venue booked and confirmed 5 to 6 months before the wedding is best

*To how soon to send them out to guests: You must mail the invitations no later than 2 months to 6 weeks prior to the wedding to ensure receipt and amble time for rsvp.

And everything in between. Our info graphic will also help you figure out an average cost for your wedding stationery supplies.

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Fantastic Season At Chilson

Faith Gauthier — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:38:20 +0000

We had a fantastic first season at The Chilson Recreation Center. The variety of sizes, strengths and personalities of this seasons’ students added to the overall experience for everyone. This was especially evident in the way each student personalized their own wasters(training swords), from the understated to the wildly elaborate.

Considering the fact that Chilson’s sessions last but a month, it was amazing how much everyone was able to learn and put into practice in such a short time. It will be exciting to see how those who remain with us progress in seasons to come. They are sure to provide a shining example and chivalrous helping hand to new students as our ranks swell and classes grow.

Sign up for new sessions at Chilson before the first Thursday of every month. Register HERE

Fun Sword Products

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Hiring Clergy

Faith Gauthier — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 06:08:19 +0000

Choosing an officiant for your wedding day will help set the stage for your event. With this in mind we have interviewed Las Vegas’ Reverend Phil Larimore of www.lvrev.com who was happy to share the fruits of his many years of experience in the form of tips and advice on how to find just the right clergy that will fit your unique tastes and personalities, helping to make your wedding day stress-free.

Rev Phil has performed thousands of weddings over the last 35 years throughout the nation. He has had the privilege of meeting many Important people during that time including actors, entertainers, sports figures, politicians, the famous, and infamous, but none as important as the brides and grooms for whom he officiates weddings.
He has also appeared on the NBC, ABC, Travel, TLC, Discovery, Bravo, Style, and WE television networks.

But the reason I chose to interview Reverend Phil, even more than his extensive experience in the wedding field, was first hand knowledge of how wonderful he is to work with. Having worked over a decade in the wedding photography business in the Las Vegas area, I had many opportunities to work alongside Rev Phil and was always impressed with the ceremonies that he performed. So much so that when Ken and I were married in September of 2008 there was only one Reverend that we would have perform our ceremony….Reverend Phil.

From providing us with advice on writing our own vows, to allowing us to add a sword salute, Reverend Phil helped make our wedding day special and unique. So check out our video interview below for some great tips for your wedding.

Interview with Las Vegas Reverend Phil Larimore

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Gluten Free Pie Crust

Faith Gauthier — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:08:03 +0000

Let’s talk about gluten free pie crust. If you’ve tried the store bought brands you may have walked away thinking “Do I have to give up pie?” and the answer is no just make your own pie crust. Like most things gluten free I have found the home made version to be so much better. And don’t even get me started on the nasty tasting gluten free tortilla’s you can buy!!!

I have included step by step instructions with photo’s to help you with making your pie crust and at the bottom of the gluten free pie crust blog you can print out the recipe or save it to an online recipe box if you prefer.

First you will need:

3/4 cup sorghum flour
3/4 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch or gf corn starch
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/8 tsp salt
3 tbs sugar
3 tbs whipping cream
1 egg
1 egg yolk

Blend flours, salt, sugar and xanthan gum. Beat together with butter on medium speed until dough resembles coarse crumbs.

Beat in 3 tbs whipping cream and one egg until well blended and you can make a ball with the dough.

Cover dough with parchment paper. Put paper in freezer bag and let sit in the fridge for one hour.

Roll dough into 10 inch circle. I put my dough on a piece of parchment paper and flatten it out a little.

I then place another piece of parchment paper on top and roll out the dough

Carefully peel off parchment paper

Rolled out Gluten Free Pie Crust

Set your pie pan upside down in the middle of pie crust. Slide your hand under the parchment paper while holding onto the top of pan with other hand slide off of counter then flip over crust and pan. (Sorry no hands free for a picture of the flip)

Press dough into pie pan. Trim edges to fit pan and flute edges of crusts. Prick bottom of crust with fork.

Brush with egg white or egg yolk is desired. Cover edges of crust with foil to prevent over browning and bake according to pie recipe instructions.

And there you have it a beautiful flaky pie crust you can proudly serve and no one will know it’s gluten free. The best part…it taste wonderful. Thank you for stopping by our recipe blog. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printed recipe.

Faith Gauthier

Kitchen Products To Help You Get Started

Print

Gluten Free Pie Crust

Rating: 41
Prep Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Serving Size: 8

Ingredients
3/4 cup sorghum flour
3/4 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch or gf corn starch
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/8 tsp salt
3 tbs sugar
3 tbs whipping cream
1 egg
1 egg yolk
Instructions
Blend flours, salt, sugar, and xanthan gum
Beat together with butter on medium speed until dough resembles coarse crumbs
Beat in 3 tbs whipping cream and one egg until well blended and you can make a ball with dough
Cover dough with parch mate paper and place in freezer bag. Place in fridge for 1 hour.
Roll dough into 10 inch circle. Press into 9 inch pie pan
Trim edges of crust to fit pie pan
Prick bottom of pie crust with fork all over
Brush with egg white if desired
Bake crust according to pie recipe instructions
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Wedding Tips

Faith Gauthier — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:39:41 +0000

Veteran wedding photographer Faith Gauthier of The Inspired Edge shares not only her own knowledge and experience, but that of her friends and associates in the wedding industry. Her interviews with a wide range of wedding professionals are chock full of useful tips and advice to make your wedding the elegant, stress-free occasion you’ve always dreamed of.

From picking the perfect colors for your wedding day and what the hot color trends are to when you should send out your invitations. Be sure to sign up for our future updates to stay informed and gain insanely simple wedding inspirations.

Shop our Wedding Store

Click Here

Wedding Invitations

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Sword Academy

Faith Gauthier — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:03:06 +0000

Coming to the Harrington Arts Academy and Chilson Recreation Center, Spring Swordsmanship Classes
Given by Ken Gauthier of The Inspired Edge.
Don’t miss this great opportunity. Scroll down for all the cutting edge fun!

Having actively studied swords and swordplay for nearly 20 years
Through classes, clubs, and duels, instructor, Ken Gauthier of The Inspired Edge, will provide
general historical knowledge and basic swordsmanship skills through a uniquely enjoyable class that will include making a safe,
foam-based training sword and learning how to use it with swashbuckling style in a fun and safe
environment.

Learn Historical Swordplay

Two great classes to choose from.

Sign up now for Spring Beginning Swordmanship classes @Harrington
11 years old and up
5:15pm to 6:10pm Tuesdays

Harrington Arts Academy
575 N. Denver Ave
Loveland, Colorado 80537
at the Anasazi Business Park

Click HERE for online registration for Harrington

Spring classes also available through the City of Loveland and Chilson Recreation Center
11 years old and up
4:30pm Youth Classes
5:30pm Adult Classes
Every Thursday

Chilson Recreation Center
700 E 4th Street
Loveland, Colorado 80537
(970) 962-2467 ask for Gina

Click HERE for online registration for Chilson Center

Follow all the fun of “Sword Saturday” on Google+

Fun Sword Products

Fencing Tie $32.05

Swordsman T-Shirt $27.35

Noble Gentlemen Labels $3.30

Fencing T-shirt $27.35

Guarding Knight Print $15.40

Steel Heart T-Shirt $32.80

Fencing Bag $114.95

Cross Swords T-shirt $29.90

Fencing Stein $22.95

Ken Gauthier

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First Season At Harrington

Faith Gauthier — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:43:14 +0000

Our first season at Harrington Arts Academy was a fun and uplifting learning experience for all involved, especially for instructor, Ken Gauthier. The dance studio where the class is held turned out to be the perfect venue. With long wood floors, mirrored wall and excellent lighting, one might think it was designed specifically for our needs. There’s even an elaborate theater with a big, roomy stage, just right for the end of season showcase. Our first student, Satori was open, enthusiastic and as sharp as a Shiny new sword.

Showcase at Harrington Arts Academy

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Fencing Tie $32.05	Swordsman T-Shirt $27.35	Noble Gentlemen Labels $3.30
Fencing T-shirt $27.35	Guarding Knight Print $15.40	Steel Heart T-Shirt $32.80
Fencing Bag $114.95	Cross Swords T-shirt $29.90	Fencing Stein $22.95