February Party Themes and Valentine's Tips - Setting the Mood

FEBRUARY PARTY THEMES In the middle of the winter doldrums, unless you are lucky enough to be in Australia, it is fun to think about warm weather. This is a great time to host a Caribbean Party, Hawaiian Party, Southwestern Party - you get the idea. These are two themes for you to enjoy: Tropical: For a tropical party, go all out and have your guests wear flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts. Turn up the heat and if you are brave or have an enclosed porch, fill up a small blow-up pool with sand and seashells. If you really have cabin fever, go crazy, get some fake palm trees from the party store, and hang tropical flowers from the fronds. Get large seashells and paint your guests names on them. Mardi Gras: The end of February is time for Mardi Gras. Just go to any party store and gather up those cheap, shiny beads, hats and feathers. Get some bright colored flowers for the table and scatter beads and confetti all over - a very inexpensive and colorful way to decorate. SOUNDS AND AROMAS: For Tropical, play your favorite island music. Burn candles fragrant with coconut. For Mardi Gras, find some great jazz from New Orleans. DRINKS: Make your favorite boat drink for a tropical theme, or try your hand at a Sazarac for Mardi Gras. Many people think that New Orleans is the home of the cocktail, and that this may have been the first cocktail invented. So these are just some ideas. Pick something that makes you happy and go from there. Be creative and have fun... BRIGHTEN UP THE HOUSE Start bringing spring flowers indoors. This is the time for primroses and forcing bulbs. If you want to lift your spirits and soothe your soul, stop into your local greenhouse or florist for lots of ideas and an instantaneous pick-me-up. The bright colors and fragrant scents of spring blossoms will do wonders. Get a few pots of primroses to scatter all over your kitchen or hallway or living room. Try to place them in areas that you pass by a lot when you are at home. Mix colors and inter-space these with pots of variegated ivy. This is also the time that fresh cut tulips are in - buy bunches - they are very reasonably priced. Valentine's Day and 'Ask the Cook' Red, Red, Red - What a great color for February. From red candles to red tulips, use this color lavishly throughout the house. Wear red. Also, remember it is the time to think of others, and to be a bit romantic in the midst of our crazy lives. These are a few questions, and my answers, which were recently asked of me for an article on Valentine's Day: Q:-What is your idea of a romantic repast -- particularly at home? A : My ideal romantic meal would be a surprise and entirely arranged by my husband. The table would be set with linens, candles and flowers, with my favorite music playing. As for the food, it wouldn't matter if he made dinner or if he went to a local, really good restaurant and got take-out. The surprise factor and the time that he would take to organize and present this dinner would be very romantic for me. Q: At home -Do you set the mood? (candles, flowers, etc...) Yes, I must say especially when entertaining or when there is a special occasion, I always set the mood. I usually pick a color theme first, and then select the china and glassware or crystal. Cloth tablecloths and napkins, flowers and candles are always a part of these meals. Soft lighting is also really important for setting the mood. I may use a dozen votive lights in glass containers, and put the overhead lights on low. Also, being organized ahead of time and cooking most of the meal ahead really helps to set the mood. I want to be sure I am not frazzled at the last minute - nothing can ruin a mood than rushing around trying to cook everything at the same time. And no kids, no pets, and no telephone calls. Q: What make food sexy? (I wasn't quite sure how to answer this one at first.) A: Texture definitely makes food sexy - the creaminess of a cr