Don't Be Tardy for the Party

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean the festivities have to stop! Cocktail parties are the perfect way to have some fun with your friends without breaking the bank after all of that holiday spending. We're all about hosting a January get-together in order to bypass the mid-winter blues, and have created a list of helpful tips to help you host your own.

1. Prepare an assortment of tasty hors d'oeuvres:

Make a small selection hors d’oeuvres that you know your guests will like. Not sure what to make? Epicurious.com has a huge selection to choose from to match everyone’s individual tastes and preferences. Here are a few recipes we love:

Caviar Blinis

French Fries with Three Dips

Quiche in Prosciutto Cups

Crostini with Beef Tartare & White Truffle Oil

2. Pick a few signature cocktails:

Pick a few signature cocktails made with different spirits for your party. We really like the expansive list at cocktailtimes.com. In addition to signature cocktails, be sure to have beer or other cocktail alternatives for those who would prefer something non-alcoholic.

3. Play up the season when decorating:

Your party doesn’t need to have a theme. A simple color scheme will work just fine. Decorate your home with tea candles, white floral arrangements or glittered branches to create a “winter wonderland” effect.

4. Make a playlist ahead of time that creates a social atmosphere:

The 5s team compiled some of our favorite artists, along with suggestions from Bon Appetit & Apartment Therapy for your go-to cocktail party playlist. Crossing many genres and eras, this eclectic list ensures your ranking as the domestic goddess.

FRANK SINATRA
FEIST
TALKING HEADS (staff favorite: "This Must Be the Place")
MGMT
MICHAEL JACKSON (Thriller is a sure-shot dance party starter)
AMY WINEHOUSE
JONI MITCHELL
THE BEATLES
THIEVERY CORPORATION
MC SOLAAR (French hip-hop artist, songs featured on Sex & the City)

Our Home Away from Home

We're in the midst of remodeling here at 5s, and have spent the last few months scouring magazines, books and blogs in search of inspiration for creating a chic office space. Let's face it- most of us are workaholics and if we had to wager, we'd put our money on the fact that most people we know spend as much... if not more time in their office than they do at home.

For us, it was really important to decorate our office/gallery space with items and furniture that reflected our personality, but also maintained a sense of professionalism. Your space should foster creativity, not stifle it with boring surroundings!

Luckily, we're very fortunate to have some amazing architectural aspects to work with: Exposed whitewashed brick, concrete floors and high ceilings. BUT- renovating on a budget is always tricky...no matter how great your existing surroundings are, so it's important to get creative.

Our tricks: Double-duty furniture like a hutch that can be used for storage, floor-to-ceiling curtains that add a stylish element while also separating space and most importantly... flowers. No matter how dreary a space is, a floral arrangement will always kick it up a notch. It's a small investment that really packs a punch.

Check out a few of our favorite office spaces courtesy of DecorPad:

As for us? We're not quite there yet, but getting closer every day :) Check back soon for pics of the final result!

Stylish Standouts of '09

As we get closer to bidding adieu to 2009 and gear up to welcome 2010, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year...the good, the bad and the ugly. In terms of this year's trends in fashion, there are several we welcomed wholeheartedly, and a few that we tried desperately to forget (We just can't bring ourselves to warm up to Men's Skinny Jeans. Sorry.)

Luckily, there were plenty of fantastic fashion trends that we hope will stick around in the new year. Here are a few of our favs:

1. The Boyfriend Jean

2. Statement Jewelry

3. Military Jackets

4. Sequins (Preferably only at night though ladies...)

5. Exposed Zippers

6. The Jumpsuit (Although tricky...can be oh-so-chic)

Bring on the Booze!

It's no secret that we all tend to throw a few too many back around the holidays. Still trying to forget about your booze-fueled display at last year's office party huh? Well not to worry, because this year the team at 5s is arming you with tricks & tips to ensure you're just tipsy...not toppling over. During this year's festivities...focus on an old standby that never lets us down: Quality over quantity.Chances are you're not in college anymore....and even if you are, it's never cute to be the one at the party slinging back shots like your life depended on it! Rather, go for creative cocktails that combine good ingredients (Tip to avoiding a hangover ) that you can sip and savor. We've rounded up a few of our favorites courtesy of the Food Network, and of course....Martha. If you're hosting this year's get together, these are sure to impress. Going as a guest? Remember what we've talked about ;)



Pear & Cranberry Bellini

Ingredients:
1 cup pear nectar
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 bottle Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine



Directions:
In a small pitcher or large liquid measuring cup, combine pear nectar and cranberry juice cocktail. Pour 1/4 cup juice mixture into each of eight champagne glasses. Dividing evenly, top with Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine.

Pear & Sparkling Cider Cocktail

Ingredients:
2 cups pear nectar, chilled
2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
2 cups seltzer, chilled
4 ounces (1/2 cup) bourbon whiskey, such as Knob Creek
1 Bosc pear, unpeeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges

Directions:
Stir together pear nectar, cider, seltzer, and whiskey in a pitcher. Divide pear wedges among glasses, and pour in cocktail. Serve immediately.

Poinsettia Cocktail


Ingredients:
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup Champagne
1/2 cup cranberry juice
Crushed ice
2 strips orange zest, each about 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches long

Directions:
Combine the vodka, Champagne and juice in a large-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice and stir until the mixture is well chilled. Twist the orange strips over the glass, drop them in, and serve.

Cherry Gin-gria

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 ounces cherry syrup (recommended: Giammona)
2 ounces gin
5 to 6 ounces club soda
1 ounce red wine
Maraschino cherries
Fresh or frozen raspberries

Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the cherry syrup and the gin; stir to mix together. Lighten the drink with a generous splash of soda. Float a layer of red wine on top by pouring it over the back of a wide, flat spoon. (Don't worry if it doesn't float; it tastes great either way.) Drop a few maraschino cherries and raspberries into the glass. Drink.

The Twelve Gifts of Christmas

The countdown has begun, and whether you planned ahead this year and purchased all your gifts on Black Friday, or procrastinated (like we did) and are getting your gifts last minute, the thing on everyone's mind right now are gifts: what to give, who to give them to and what to get of course! No need to panic though, as the team at 5s have rounded up our Twelve Gifts of Christmas: A carefully selected list of gifts sure to please everyone in your life. From your boss to your boyfriend, there's something on here for everyone. Happy gifting!

For Your Boss: Stick to something classic and keep it professional. Personal items like candles or other home accents are better left chosen by those who know them best. Our suggestions: Luxury stationary like the ones pictured below from Neiman's,or a beautiful Carafe like this one from Crate & Barrel are safe bets:

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For Your Friend: Here's where you can get more personal. You know their taste in clothes, food and decorating, so give a gift that shows you gave it some thought. Best bets: candles and home accessories. We chose Diptyque's Feu de Bois candle and ABC Carpet & Home baskets, perfect for stylishly storing anything from jewelry to makeup:

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For Your In-laws: Again, you can give something more personal in this case. If you're spending the holidays at their home, remember they've probably put a lot of effort into making it special. Give a gift that shows you recognize that AND that they can use for next year's gathering! Our picks: A Le Creuset French Oven or these Monogram Coffee Cups from Anthropologie:

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For the Man in your Life: Without doubt the most difficult gift to give...until now! What man wouldn't appreciate a classic barbershop shave kit courtesy of the Art of Shaving, or a membership to the Beer of the Month Club, which sends 12 different bottles of beer from around the world directly to your door!?

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Beer of the Month (see above).

For the Foodie: They throw the best dinner parties, know all the best restaurants and are constantly convincing you to try new and daring cuisines. Give them a gift that will appeal to their culinary senses like these mason jars from Anthropologie filled with homemade chutney or Thomas Keller's new book Ad Hoc at Home:

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For your Pet: Your furry friend deserves a special holiday treat as well, so why not spoil them a bit with Blueblood's insanely-chic pet beds and reversible carriers!

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Wall Envy

It's no secret that wallpaper is back and better than ever. From luxury papers and abstract designs, to wall decals displaying whimsical motifs, interior designers and consumers alike are embracing this trend in a big way. That being said, we couldn't be more thrilled to be representing one of the leading purveyors in luxury wall coverings, Elli Popp. The London-based company has the most amazing selection of wallpaper designs, and has just expanded the line to include lamp shades, tea sets and fabrics suitable for soft furnishings, fashion and upholstery. Because we still rent (and can't bare the thought of ever leaving this paper behind!) we'll be using it to cover screens that will be used as dividers in the office! Consider Elli Popp your must-have accessory for stylish homes...or offices :) Check out a few of our favorite designs:

The New LBD

It's the holidays, and our calendars have without doubt become more jam-packed than usual with social fetes. While the festivites are a blast, it can be a daunting task coming up with a new and stylish look for every event, because we all know that you can't wear the same outfit twice and risk being photographed in it- the horror! One of our favorite sites to get clothing inspiration from is luxury online retailer Net-a-Porter. Although TOTALLY out of our price point at the moment, we get a certain rush browsing though page after page of stunning threads. We especially love that the LBD is no longer the staple for cocktail attire, but rather rainbow-colored hues, structured tailoring and shimmery fabrics have come into the mix, ensuring that you definitely won't get lost in the crowd! Obviously we instantly fell in love with the RM by Rouland Mouret tangerine cockail dress pictured above....after all, orange is our favorite color here at 5s. Here are a few more of our favorites:

RM by Roland Mouret
3.1 Phillip Lim

Stella McCartney