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I love to have people over – small gatherings, large gatherings, whatever. I’m always looking for new ideas when it comes to serving food and drinks. But let’s face it: it’s hard to stick to organic products when it comes to serving drinks. Where would I even start shopping for organic alcholic beverages? What could I make?

Paul Abercrombie’s engaging, colorful book , “Organic, Shaken and Stirred” is a great way to learn about making organic cocktails, and not stuff you’d expect (organic rum and cola), but really interesting drinks (ever hear of a Saffron Margarita? I hadn’t!)

 He first takes you through all types of organic alcholic drinks and where to buy them (vodka, tequila, rum, wine, spirits, etc.) as well as mixers and the tools you’ll need (glassware, etc.) He then provides tons of cool recipes – stuff I’ve certainly never heard of, but would be proud to serve my friends at a party, like the aformentioned Saffron Margarita, Blackberry Mojito, Lavendar Lemon Drop, Elderflower Fizz, and the list could go on and on.

So, for the creative, organic and even flat out bored hosts/hostesses who’d like to try something new, check out “Organic, Shaken and Stirred” for a fun and useful read.

Shireen Qudosi of air-n-water.com is my very first guest blogger. As the holiday season approaches and there’s lots of opportunities for hosting parties, here are her insights on eco-friendly entertaining. Happy Halloween!

Find out how you can be the talk of the town by throwing a chic eco-friendly party

Get off on the right foot - First thing’s first: the invites. Make sure you use invites made from recycled paper. Contrary to ecologically-challenged perceptions, recycled paper can look and feel just like high grade paper, but minus the guilty conscience. If ordering them from a professional, ask whether they use recycled paper.

Faux Flowers – Gone are the days of deplorable fake flowers you could spot a mile away – usually collecting dust in some over-crowded knick-knack filled nook and cranny in your grandmother’s house.  These days, if you know where to look, fake flowers can pass for the real thing.

Aside from standard silk flowers (which are still using silk worms), there’s the option of clay flowers.  Deco Clay flowers are absolutely gorgeous and look just like the real thing – except that they cost a fraction of the price, are environmentally safe, and last forever.

The even better upside is they’re reusable so you’ll save money in the long run, plus you’re not contributing to flower butchery nor the very unsustainable flower industry, which has to shower flowers with pesticides – a factor that’s damaging to both you and the environment.

However, if faux is not your thing, then get flowers from the local farmers market.  You can even get great arrangements and settings out of potted plants and flowers.  A personal favorite is the clever use of moss as decorative center pieces. Moss is not only cheap, sustainable, and uber chic, but it can also be planted afterwards with next to no effort. 

Lighting and Décor – One big aspect of party planning is how the party will look. You want your guests to be dazzled, “oohs and ahhs” should be pouring out, compliments gushing.

When done right, the atmosphere that lighting and decorations can create will provoke that response. But rather than choosing blazing electric lights to illuminate the event, try choose more environmentally friendly lighting. Candles are the perfect choice, as they are both lovely and economical – not to mention they don’t require any energy to run.

As for the décor, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars when home made paper goods will be far cheaper and far more interesting.  Consider making paper mobiles, such as the popular origami crane mobiles. You can hang them lined up on a string, as a collective, or individually from just about anywhere.  You can even use left over ones as decoration pieces on the dinner table – plus making them out of scrap paper makes good use out of something that was just going in the bin anyway.

Eco-Friendly Wine – Because it’s not just about what you’re using, but what you’re consuming, try switching out your wine for one that is more Earth friendly.  There are three categories of eco-friendly wines: sustainable, organic, and biodynamic.

“Sustainable” means that grapes were grown with few to no chemical, fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.  This method nurtures the soil naturally, whereas “organic” wines are grown in organically certified vineyards and are made without added sulfites.

On the other hand, “biodynamic” winemaking goes way beyond organics. With biodynamics, the farm is viewed as a living system. The soil is treated with complex compost preparations (of course without chemicals or pesticides), including quartz, yarrow flowers, stinging nettle, and more.

Biodynamic winemakers claim to have noted stronger, clearer, more vibrant tastes in their wines, as taste test conducted by Fortune confirmed. Now all you have to do switch out bulky refrigerators for portable wine coolers, an energy efficient way to chill your wine.

Sustainable Serving – If you consider the glasses, dishes, knives, forks, bowls, and all the other little items used to create a smash hit setting, you quickly start to realize how much goes into entertaining. 

In order to host not only your guests, but a more eco-friendly lifestyle, consider purchasing tableware made out of recycled materials.  You don’t even have to trade in your luxe taste. In a green-conscious corporate world, companies across the board are all offering unique yet refined dining options, including dishes made out of recycled glass.

Target, for example, has recycled glass goblets great for a Sunday brunch; whereas Macy’s cobalt blue stemless wineglasses offer an element of sophistication.  These stunning little gems, made with 30% recycled glass, are a striking visual for an evening dinner.

However, if you’re opting for something even more sustainable, try compostable cornware tableware, biodegradable sugarcane plates, or even biodegradable bambooware.  These serving alternatives are not only green but far cheaper than buying 50 sets of “real” dishes to accommodate larger gatherings. On the other hand, if you insist on using “real dishes”, then I suggest using what you have rather than buying more. If done right, mixing and matching dishes (and even seating) can offer an eccentric look that’s sure to catch your guests’ eyes.

Set the Stage – The real drama at any party is at the dinner table. The visual centerpiece of the evening should reflect the mood you want to create.  Whatever your choice, make sure that you set your table using eco-friendly items.  In addition to naturally available plants and flowers, as well as sustainable dishes, you can get organic table cloths, runners, and napkins; you can even make sure the lamp shades and curtains are eco-wary items.  Setting the stage doesn’t have to be limited to just the table – your whole environment can reflect your eco-chic taste.

Ice Goes Eco – There’s no point in wasting time, gas, paper and plastic by going to the store to purchase ice for your party.  Rather, a sleek compact portable ice maker will quickly plunk down cube upon cube to keep drinks nice and cool.  Plus, nothing kills a party like someone announcing “We’re out of ice.”

Leave Them Wide-Eyed and Wondered – One of the most important elements of any party, large or small, is how your guests feel when they leave. Out of the many ways to send your guests off, the most beautiful and memorable has to be a sky lantern send off.

Lanterns (lights) are very popular in South Asian and Asian cultures, where lights represent both spirituality and hope. It’s a spirited feeling to stand there gathered with friends, lighting and releasing lanterns that ascend as golden orbs set against a dark night’s sky. 

Made out of recycled paper and bamboo, sky lanterns are also eco-friendly.  For added measure, have your guests write messages on each lantern before sending them off.

Hostess Gifts - And any chic eco-hostess knows to lead by example even when attending other parties. When attending another bash, swap out your normal hostess gift for one that is earth-friendly.  The same goes for others who obey the rule of “do not go empty handed” – simply swap out the routine bouquet of flowers or dessert with something eco-chic that shows of your cleverness and commitment to the environment.

There are a ton of options for sustainable gifts.  There’s even a growing trend of green toys if it’s a child’s birthday you happen to be attending. But more importantly, there’s no reason to give green gifts just as a hostess gift; swap out Christmas and birthday presents for the same. 

But above all, here’s the simplest rule for eco-entertaining: “Use what you have, and borrow what you don’t”, and remember that at the end of the day, a great party is about who you’re with and not what you have.  

Eco-Friendly Entertaining is brought to you by Shireen Qudosi.  Shireen http://www.air-n-water.com to help them share an eco-minded philosophy with consumers.  To contact her, email Shireen@air-n-water.com  

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Okay, I’m not a big drinker, but I am a fan of do-it-yourself (DIY) stuff, things that are organic, and hostessing. As a follow-up to my “Green-up your bar” post, I found this recipe for creating your own organic “Tea cocktail,” which involves infusing vodka with tea.  This are a new spin on classic cocktails…I can’t wait to serve these to my friends next time I have people over.  And while I believe in eating as clean as possible, I also believe in moderation and having fun…you’ve gotta have a drink every now and again.

So, here’s what you’ll need to create organic tea cocktails:

• Organic vodka (Square One makes organic vodka. If you can’t find it or don’t feel like looking, just use a high-quality convential kind like Kettle One or Grey Goose).
• Organic limes
• 6 tea bags (the kind called for in the recipe below calls for “Moroccan Mint.” Stash makes an excellent Moroccan Mint tea, although it’s not organic. You might want to try Trader Joe’s as well – they have a ton of reasonably priced organic teas)

Infusing instructions:

1. Infuse an entire 750ml bottle of vodka with 6 teabags, by steeping the tea bags for 4 to 6 hours or overnight. You might want to pour the vodka into a jar or container that will allow you to easily remove the teabags after steeping. (If you want to use a lesser amount of vodka, pour 1/3 of the bottle of vodka into in a jar or with two teabags. )

2. Swirl the jar occasionally: You will see the infusion happening (If you want to use loose tea, the equivalent is one teaspoon of tea for each teabag).

Moroccan Mint-tea Cocktail

For a very light and refreshing cocktail, try this Cuban mojito style drink, using vodka instead of rum and Moroccan mint flavors instead of traditional mint.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka infused with Moroccan Mint Tea
• 2 oz. Trader Joe’s Organic Limeade
• Juice of 1 lime
• ½ ounce organic agave nectar (just bought a 12 oz bottle at Trader Joe’s for only $2.99, it’s in the honey section)
• 3 mint leaves, minced
• Club soda

Directions

1. Infuse vodka with 6 teabags per instructions above.

2. Put all ingredients except club soda in a shaker with crushed ice.  Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. 

3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Fill to top with club soda, stir and garnish with a mint sprig.

Enjoy your homemade tea cocktail!

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is coming home to a place that you love. A place that’s comfy, relaxing and personalized…where you can curl up with a book or kick-back with friends. After apartment-living in NY, Boston and now, LA, I’ve become pretty good at making the most of a space (I once lived in a 450 square foot studio in Boston!). I’m no interior designer, but I am a bit of a nomad. I’ve also learned a lot from friends that are also on the move a lot and create cool spaces, just as quickly as they move to their next city. Here are some easy, budget-friendly ways to make your space your own.

Old books make great pictures. Check out a used book store for inexpensive books – photography, design and even maps. One of my friends had these cool, expensive-looking photographs hanging up in her living room. I said, “Wow, those are beautiful – what photographer took those?” And she told me her secret…she cut them out of a used book and framed them.

Dividers create another “room.” When I lived in various studios, I would use room dividers to block off a separate area. I would put a comfy chair, a bookcase and a few plants there to make it feel like another room, which in turn made my whole space feel bigger.

Choose a theme that fits you. Do you want more of a laid-back beach vibe? Or more of a contemporary urban vibe? Shabby-chic or modern-minimalist? Choosing what fits you will help you pick items and colors that you’ll want to come home to.

Feng shui your home.  If you’re unfamiliar, start out with the basics, like clearing out your clutter and having good quality air and light. I recently wrote about clearing out my closet and selling/donating old clothes (“Closet purge”) – it felt great! Check out this article: How to get started with Feng Shui: http://fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/fengshuibasics.htm

Green your home…with plants. They’re inexpensive, easy to take care of, and they breathe some oxygen into your home.  Most importantly, they don’t take up that much space. Here’s a good plant resource: http://www.plantguide.org/

Use color to create a mood. This one is obvious, but colors really do create a vibe. Blue is a calming, relaxing color, great for bedrooms. Green is also relaxing and symbolizes a certain harmony both in the world and in life. Red, on the other hand, is an appetite and conversation stimulant, great for a dining room. A friend of mine painted her dining room walls a deep cranberry and it’s beautiful.  Yellow, my favorite color, has a happy, uplifting aura, perfect for a kitchen. The most important thing is to go with your gut and pick colors that you are drawn to. The worst that can happen is you paint over them again if you don’t love the color.

The best accessory. For me, it’s my girlfriends and a bottle of wine. Surround yourself with people you love being around and your home will be that much more fun to hang out in.

I love wine, and I’m a big believer that it’s good for you. It also helps that my guy is from Napa Valley, because he really knows wine and is always introducing me to new kinds.  Here’s one that’s awesome if you like a light red – it’s also very reasonable. I was psyched when I saw it listed in Health Magazines “Refreshing Wine Buys.” It’s from Louis-Jadot Beaujolais-Villages and it’s delicious (and priced at only $13). The review said: “This might be the perfect summer red. Not aged in oak, it’s light—and delicious lightly chilled.” It’s true…an excellent wine!

http://slideshows.health.com/slide_shows/10551/slides/12591

I don’t know about you,  but my girlfriends and I have cut down a bit on going out. We still go out, but we do it less so we don’t blow our budgets.  And one of my favorite things in the world is to have my friends over, drink wine, and eat hors d’oeuvres.

Hummus is an easy, affordable thing to make if you’re having friends over. You can make a big batch for the same price you’d pay for a small container, you can use organic ingredients, and people are always impressed with homemade stuff nowadays – it’s made with love! I like this recipe  because it’s less-fattening that the normal kind (no tahini).

Homemade Hummus

• 1 can garbanzo beans (I get Whole Foods 365 Organic kind and it’s only $1.19)
• 1/4 cup olive oil (I prefer extra-virgin)
• 1/2 of a lemon (squeeze out the juice)
• 1 teaspoon cumin

In a food processor, blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. You can drizzle a little more olive oil on it and sprinkle on some more cumin if you’d like. Serve with veggies and pita chips. 

Since there’s a ton of good, affordable wines out there, each of us will bring a bottle. Wine, hummus and the company of your friends — a great alternative to going out to a bar and spending!