Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts

Event Recap: Cocktails & Crafts with Janet Lee and The Champagne Diaries

If you weren't able to make it out to The Bookmark Shoppe in Brooklyn this past Thursday, then I feel really, really bad for you. Totally kidding - well, not really. You missed a great event!

Janet Lee, designer and author of "Living in a Nutshell," and I hosted a night called "Cocktails and Crafts." We laughed, we drank, we crafted, and we laughed some more. A whole lot more. It was so amazing to see brand new faces - women that neither Janet nor I knew personally. And after a couple hours of Champagne mojitos, we were acting as if we had known each other for years. A true testament to the fact that Champagne truly brings people together! (Right, Le Grande Courtage?)

So for those of you who missed out on the action, here's how we kicked it off...


Bubbles? Check...


Glasses? Check...


And we wouldn't have Champagne mojitos without all the necessary ingredients...


But it wasn't JUST about the cocktails. We came here to craft! Right, ladies?


This gorgeous accent piece for the home seemed a bit daunting at first glance...


But after a few cocktails,Janet's direction, and a lot of teamwork, anything seemed possible!





The night was a sparkling success, and everyone was loving Janet's new book 


She signed copies well into the evening! (I took notes for the future...tee hee)


Cheers to a great night!


A huge THANK YOU to all the women who came out and celebrated with us. An extra special thanks to The Bookmark Shoppe, who is gracious enough to always open their doors to me and host all of these fabulous events. Thank you to Le Grande Courtage for providing the delicious bubbles that made our Champagne Mojitos possible (click for recipe!) and of course, our bartender Chris who served them up all night! And a huge thank you to Janet Lee of Living in a Nutshell for being such a wonderful co-host and teaching us how we can all add a little glamour to our homes and our lives!

Did Someone Say Cocktails & Crafts?

In a perfect world, I would retire to a beach house in Montauk and drink Champagne cocktails all day while doing crafts and designing my home. But mama still needs to pay the bills, so we'll have to table that - for now.

However, it doesn't mean we can't enjoy a night of it! Okay, we won't be at the beach, BUT we will be at the best bookstore in New York City, with the fabulous author and interior designer Janet Lee! You in?

Here are the details and the fancy schmancy press release:

*************************

COCKTAILS AND CRAFTS:
An evening of bubbly cocktail demos and sparkling design DIY’s


With Cara Alwill Leyba,
Founder and Executive Editor of The Champagne Diaries


And Janet Lee,
Small Space Decorator and Author of Living in a Nutshell



Like a match made in heaven, Cara and Janet, who met and clicked in a book writing class, will combine their talent and enthusiasm for living an effervescent life. As a writer and life coach, Cara sees champagne as a metaphor for celebrating every day, flaws and all, reminding us to embrace the little luxuries that life has to offer…no matter the budget. Janet takes the same approach with design in her newly released book, Living in a Nutshell (Harper Design; $25), blog and finding affordable ways to add a little more glamour and dazzle in a small space, flaunting rather than hiding flaws in a room and focusing on what you have…not what you don’t.

Perfect for the season, Cara will demonstrate how to mix, shake and pour the perfect Champagne Mojito, courtesy of Le Grand Courtâge, while she shares her personal stories of trials, breakthroughs and triumphs.

If you ever wondered what to do with those gorgeous champagne corks---Janet will show you how to transform them into decorative paper tassels with pages from vintage books and velvet ribbon.  Everyone will make one while they sip on their bubbly and learn design secrets from the author.  It’s the perfect way to create and craft at the perfect bookstore, The BookMark Shoppe in Brooklyn!

And if that weren’t enough, one lucky winner will bring home an exclusive project designed for the Living in a Nutshell book.

WHERE:         The BookMark Shoppe
                         8415 3rd Avenue
                         Brooklyn, NY 11209
                         (718) 833-5115

WHEN:            May 3rd, 2012   
                         7:00-9:00 pm

GOODIES:      We'll have free gift bags (valued at $25) filled with Command Brand products for everyone  who buys a book on the night of the event. Janet Lee will personally sign all books.   

RSVP:              rsvpcraftsandcocktails@yahoo.com

PRESS:           Please contact Stephanie Scott to schedule any interviews: stephanie@stephscott.com

About Cara Alwill Leyba

Cara Alwill Leyba is a writer, lifestylist and wellness coach from NYC who empowers women to live their most effervescent life and celebrate themselves. Her blog, The Champagne Diaries, has a following of nearly 6,000 loyal readers and has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Cafe Mom, Daily Mail UK, MSN Australia, AOL UK Lifestyle, and a host of other publications worldwide. Cara encourages women to design the lives they desire and deserve, and swears that every woman can live a "Champagne life," no matter how busy she is or how tight her budget. Cara is currently working on her first book based on the popularity and extensive feedback from fans of her blog. She also regularly appears on the “Ask Dr. Fritz” radio show on WWRL New York, where she helps host Dr. Fritz answer questions from callers about love, career, family, relationships and more. When she’s not popping bubbly and penning her Champagne diaries, Cara spends her days leading a digital advertising team at MTV Networks. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

About Janet Lee

An Emmy Award-winning television show producer, Janet has styled and produced for leading home decorators, entrepreneurs, and designers such as Martha Stewart, B. Smith, and Thom Filicia. She spent ten years as a senior producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show, working closely with style legends like Nate Berkus. Since 2008, she has been writing a popular small space design blog, livinginanutshell.com. Named one of the top go-to sites for affordable modern design by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009, Janet shares her experience from the decorating front lines having lived in a dozen different pocket-sized apartments over the past 20 years: “I’m a serial small space nester with a unique vantage point…Each apartment I’ve lived in—with its laundry list of list of lighting and structural flaws—has become a personal decorating lab where I’ve created and road-tested my ideas.”  Her book, Living in a Nutshell: Posh and Portable Decor with Harper Collins was released March 2012.  She lives in New York City.     
                                                                               
Media Contact:  Stephanie Scott
646.389.5569 /stephanie@stephscott.com

Event Recap: Books, Bellinis & Jazz, OH MY!

Cheers to another successful Champagne Diaries event at The Bookmark Shoppe last night! I'd like to thank the following people for making last night so awesome *pulls out acceptance speech from bra*

The Bookmark Shoppe, who continuously let me (and my booze) into their store and graciously host events with me. Just wait till the book is actually OUT! Lookout world!

Bel-Air Bellini, for providing us with bountiful bubbles all night long. It's safe to say we have converted all of Brooklyn into peach fizzy freaks! Not so hard when you've got an amazingly delicious product... ;)

Everyone who came out and supported. The fact that you all took the time out of your weekend to come and hang out with me means more than you can imagine. Thank you from the bottom of my Champagne-filled heart!

To my wonderful husband, my right-hand man, who took all these fab photos & helped produce this event, you are the best!

XO

And now, for some photos...










REMINDER: Join Me at Bubble Lounge TONIGHT!

What are you doing tonight?

How does Champagne, live music, food, and a sabering lesson sound?

If you're in the New York City area, I would love to see you TONIGHT at Bubble Lounge! I will be guiding guests through a Champagne tasting, complete with four different high-end Champagnes and appetizers to match. Anders Holst will be tearing down the house with live music, and at the end of the night, one lucky guest will be presented with a complimentary bottle of Champagne and a sabering lesson!



Tickets are $35 in advance, and $40 at the door. Please RSVP to amy@twoshepsthatpass.com

Hope to see you all there!

Radio Podcasts Are Now Available!

Happy Friday bubble lovers! 

As you may or may not know, I've been a regular guest on "Ask Dr. Fritz," a radio show on WWRL here in New York City. The shows have been so much fun to tape. We've covered a slew of topics ranging from relationships, to pursuing your passion, to family stress. I absolutely love radio and am so excited to be on board with Dr. Fritz for more shows in the future.

If you haven't had a chance to listen live yet, podcasts are now available. Check them out, and let me know what you think!




Champagne, Sabering and Live Music, OH MY!

I'll be hosting a Champagne tasting at The Bubble Lounge on Wednesday, February 22nd from 7-9 pm. If you're in the NYC area, come down and check it out! There will be live music from Anders Holst, and I'll be pouring four different Champagnes paired with light appetizers. One lucky guest will win a bottle of Champagne from The Bubble Lounge and get to saber a Champagne bottle! If you don't know what sabering is, click here, and then RSVP to amy@twoshepsthatpass.com to get your tickets! $35 in advance/$40 day of show, price includes Champagne tasting and live concert. Hope to see you there!


NY Winter Wine Festival with Thirsty Girl This Saturday 2/4!

Thirsty Girl and The Champagne Diaries are coming to the New York Winter Wine Festival! Be sure to follow @beathirstygirl on Twitter and Facebook.com/thirstygirl as I bring the event to you LIVE! I'll be Thirsty Girl's social media maven for the night, posting photos and updates as the ladies sip their way through the evening. It's gonna be a great time in the best city in the world! Event kicks off at 3 PM ET!


Come Join Me at Bubble Lounge in NYC on Feb 22!

Are you in the NYC area? If so, come on down to Bubble Lounge in Tribeca on Wednesday, February 22nd from 7-9 PM and join me for an evening of live music and Champagne! I will be hosting the event and pouring 4 different Champagnes, paired with hors d'oeuvre and the smooth sounds of musician Anders Holst.



All guests will be entered to win a bottle of Champagne and a sabering lesson, courtesy of Bubble Lounge! RSVP to Amy Long  amy@twoshepsthatpass.com or 646.613.1101 to reserve your spot. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door (and they will go FAST!) Hope to see everyone there!



Dom Perignon Giveaway!

Get ready for your close up!

In a few days I will be launching the official Champagne Diaries video channel on YouTube (YouTube.com/TheChampagneDiaries). I'm so excited to bring this brand to life, but I'm not doing it alone...

That's where you lovely ladies (and gentlemen) come in! I am putting out a call to all Champagne Diaries fans to submit their own short video which will live in the fan section of the channel. And the best part is, one lucky random fan will be chosen to win a bottle of Dom Perignon!Yes, you heard it right!




So what are the parameters of the contest, you might be wondering? I'm not asking that you tap dance, or twirl a baton, or anything like that. While those talents may be fabulous and unique, that's not what this is about. I'd love to see you guys talk about what this blog means to you. How you incorporate Champagne into YOUR life, things you toast to, favorite bubbles to drink - you get the idea. Tell me how you live your most effervescent life. Get creative!

The contest will run from today, January 17th, through January 31st. I'll be uploading all the videos to the channel as they come in, and on February 1st I will pull a random winner and announce the name! I will feature the winning video in a blog that week and also post the winner to Facebook.

Here are some details:

- Videos should be between 1-3 minutes long

- Submissions should be emailed to TheChampagneDiet@gmail.com and include your name, address and contact phone number. You can either send a video file or a link to it.

- By submitting your video, you give permission for us to post it to YouTube.com/TheChampagneDiaries

- Submissions will only be accepted through 1/17/12 - 1/31/12

- Winner will be drawn at random

- Champagne will be shipped directly to winner


Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Cheers!
Cara

POP Champagne Bar Launches The Champagne Diet™ Menu

I am SO excited to share this news with you guys!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Bob Earhart, one of the owners of POP Champagne Bar in LA reached out to me to tell me how excited he was about The Champagne Diet™. Not only was he totally on board with the concept of living your most effervescent life, he was super excited that he could eat healthy, putting only the best in his body, AND still drink Champagne. As an owner of a Champagne bar who is trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, this was amazing news for him.

Bob loved the idea so much that he decided to launch The Champagne Diet™ menu at POP! Bob worked with his chef to develop an amazing menu that really reflects the true essence of The Champagne Diet. High quality, nutritious foods paired with delicious Champagne. Who could say no to that?



The menu just rolled out this week and I'm thrilled to share it with you guys. It looks delicious! I mean, HELLO? Who wouldn't want to dine this way every night?? Hopefully I'll be hopping on a plane sometime in the very near future to go taste it myself!

If you're in the LA area, be sure to check out POP bar. Tell em The Champagne Diet sent ya! Also be sure to follow Bob's progress as he lives HIS most effervescent life!