Happy Summer!

This winter has been brutal in the ENC.  Summer is finally here in full swing.  Sweet Occasions has some cool ideas to bring that WOW factor to any outdoor get-together.

I was at my favorite hangout-Wal-Mart-and I found some great outdoor ideas in the garden section.  Bugs can ruin any outdoor gathering, but you may not have room for a lot of people inside of you house.  Here are some excellent citronella candles that are also decorative.

1. My favorite is the Galvanized Citronella Bucket candle.  This candle is very decorative, inexpensive, and you don't have that strong insect repellent smell.  This candle is strong enough to put on every other table.  The other tables can be decorated with a like bucket that is filled with candy or cutlery.  If you want to get really creative, these bucket candles also come in beautiful summer colors.
2. I love the way this torch looks on tables.  It doesn't come in as many fun colors as the bucket, but it is beautiful for an evening cookout.  The torch itself glows!
3. This lantern is excellent for day or evening.  It's wonderful for receptions and upscale garden parties.  The lantern also has an awesome range!  They're inexpensive and elegant.
4. An outdoor gathering can always use a tiki torch.  This is a new twist on the bamboo tiki torch.  These mini copper torches are refillable, so they can be used for years to come.

June Recipes of the Month

It's officially summer!!! The children are out of school and everyone wants to cook out. Here is a recipe any griller would lo-o-o-o-o-v-v-v-v-v-ve to make. Also, a cool sweet low-cal drink.

Finger-licking Grilled Chicken

 

4lb Chicken

4tsp. Black pepper

2tsp. Season salt

4tsp. Garlic powder

1c Onion

40oz bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce

1c Yellow mustard

2½c Water

 

Clean chicken by double washing it and trimming any excess fat. You may skin the chicken if you would like. Season chicken with black pepper, season salt, and garlic powder. Be sure to coat the chicken well with seasoning. Set chicken aside while the grill gets hot. Line the racks of the grill with non-stick aluminum foil. If you like grill lines, place foil on the side of the rack facing the charcoal. Don't forget to put holes in the foil. Wait until you get the grill warming good before placing the racks on the grill. You may use dry onions or a fresh onion finely chopped. In a separate bowl, mix Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce, mustard, onions, and water together. Stir well until a smooth mixture. Once your grill reaches 350°, place chicken on the grill. Don't worry about leaving space between the chicken. Be sure to place the biggest pieces of chicken in the center of the grill. Let chicken cook about 10 minutes. After that, turn chicken every five to seven minutes. Smaller pieces like legs, wings, and skinless chicken only take about 15 to 20 minutes to cook. Larger pieces take about 20-25 minutes to cook. Stab the center of the chicken to make sure it is done. You can determine that by the clear juices that come out of your chicken. Brush on a thin layer of sauce onto both sides of fully cooked chicken. Cook for 5 minutes on each side. Pour barbecue sauce into the pan that you will be putting the chicken in. Just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. As you fill the pan with chicken, pour a layer of barbecue sauce over the chicken. Any excess sauce can be used on hamburgers, hot dogs, or grilled vegetables. 

 

                                       Fresh Strawberry-Lemonade

 

2 cans of frozen lemonade

4 cups of lemon juice

5 lemons

2 10oz bags of frozen strawberries

10lb bag of ice

 

In a big mixing bowl, mix frozen strawberries and lemon juice. Set the bowl aside. Cut lemons in quarter inch rings. Set them aside. Make frozen lemonade in a 5 gallon drink cooler (or individual pitchers that total 5 gallons) according to the directions on the can. Add strawberry and lemon juice mixture to cooler. Stir well. Finally add the sliced lemons and ice. Let sit for 30 minutes before serving. To add extra flavor, you can add fresh strawberries or raspberries and peaches. Lemonade is best served in a punch bowl, so everyone can get a little fruit with their lemonade.

Invitations

Having a gathering or party? Want people to come? What is the best way to invite them? I get that last question A LOT! Everyone wants the people they invite to come to the party. And often times people come; however, not exactly everyone you want to come. Your "invitation" is everything! Here are some helpful tips to getting the guest that you want to come.

 1. Give your guests time. Rule of thumb is to give your guests at least two weeks notice. Letting someone know at the last minute tells them you didn't really want them to come. If you have less time to plan, make sure you give everyone a personal invitation. Nothing makes someone feel uninvited more than a message-invitation from someone other than the host. 
2. Save the date. It's okay to let people know you're thinking about having something, before you have all of the specifics, and you want them to come. E-vites are an awesome way to mass send a save-the-date to your potential gathering. Save-the-dates don't have to be very specific. For example, I have an event I'll be hosting in September. I will begin sending e-vites out the first week of August to let people know I will be having something the second week of September. This is especially recommended if you have guests that live an hour or more away. 
3. Less is more. Invitations don't have to include a lot of words or pictures. Get straight to the point. The main information invitations should include is the who (the host with contact information), what (what kind of gathering it is), when (an exact date and time), and where (an exact address). One or two pictures are good. You don't need a border, pictures at the top, and pictures inside. 

 Visit www.sweetestevent.com to view some sample invitations.

Intro

Hi, I’m Juanita Royal-Burgess. I own Sweet Occasions. Sweet Occasions is a premier event and travel planning business. We specialize in customized event coordination and destination events of any kind. From weddings to reunions to family vacations, your event will create lifetime memories. Sweet Occasions will make you event the sweetest day you’ve ever known! This is our guarantee. Now, let me tell you a little about myself. Unofficially I’ve been planning events and travel for about 10 years. This came about because I love to shop and will search tirelessly for a great deal. My mom taught me at a young age to have a strong sense of community. Community activism and volunteering is a passion of mine. I strongly believe that, whom anything is given, something is required. This means that if you live in a community, you need to do something to better that community. So although I love to spend, I love to give. When my job closed down in 2007, I was at a crossroads. Thinking I’d be out of work for a few months I began doing more volunteer and community work. A few months then turned into a year. During that time, my community involvement through Regeneration Development Group, Inc. helped empower me to go forward in starting my own business. I’ve had this dream for a while and it finally came to life April of 2010. Regeneration has helped me connect with the NC Rural Economic Center and the NC GATE project. I am grateful to Regeneration for giving me the information and the push I needed to become an entrepreneur. Now I help many people make their dream vacations, reunions, and weddings come true. Because class does not have a price tag and Sweet Occasions specializes in classy customized events. Our events are classy because we give our customers four plus star treatment no matter how large or small the event. Customized because no two events are alike and each customer’s event is tailored to their specifications. For more information or to plan your next event or vacation, visit us at .

Spice It UP

Although it isn't September 21, summer is over! Everyone is back in school...afterschool activities have begun...and buses are changing our morning and afternoon commute. The fun doesn't have to end! Here are some helpful tips to planning fun and festive indoor parties. Game Day Whether it's a gathering of 5 or 15, making your home the place to be on game day doesn't have to be tiring or time consuming. Live by one simple rule "KISS!" (Keep It Simple Sweatie!) You don't have to serve a grand spread! Choose one to two simple dishes per gathering. Switch it up every now and then so you and your guests don't get bored. Offer to let someone else take care of the refreshments. Here is one of my favorite recipes. Game Day Chili 3lb Lean ground beef (ground turkey can also be used) 1can RoTel Hot Diced Tomatoes with Habaneros (any kind will do but that's my fav0 1can RoTel Original Tomato and Green Chili Sauce 2cans Kidney beans 1 large yellow onion (chopped) 1tbsp Season salt 1tbsp Pepper 2tbsp Chili powder Season ground beef with season salt and pepper. Brown in a large pan with chopped onions on medium-high heat.Once meat is a deep brown,add chili powder and sit aside. In a 5-qt pot, add the can of RoTel Original Tomato and Green Chili Sauce, RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Habaneros, and kidney beans. Heat on medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking. Add groud beef mixture to the sauce. Cook on medium low heat until it boils. Stir occasionally. Turn down to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Serve with shredded sharpe cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. Makes 10 servings.