Go Red For Women 2013

I am so thrilled to announce that I have been named the chair of the 2013 Go Red for Women Luncheon!

The American Heart Association faced a challenge in 2004: women were not paying attention to their heart health. Heart disease, the number one killer of women, claims the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year. The American Heart Association created Go Red For Women in order to raise awareness of the disease while empowering women to take charge of their heart health in a passionate, emotional, and social atmosphere.

Healthful living and eating well are issues close to my heart and the focus of my chairmanship. During my time as chair I plan to establish a children's p-patch at a local charity and food bank that will educate youth on nutrition in an interactive environment. I also intend to involve the Seattle-area community in the luncheon to make it the event fun and fashionable for the women attending.

To learn more about the American Heart association and Go Red, please visit http://www.GoRedForWomen.org.

www.rosannainc.com

Creating a Culture at Home: An Etiquette Perspective by Anna Post

Last year I was able to meet with Anna Post. Our philosophies are very similar when it comes to etiquette, entertaining, and creating traditions. I am honored that she has once again found the time to write a guest post for my blog about creating a culture at home. Thank you so much, Anna.

The word culture brings to mind everything from cities to civilizations. But culture can apply anywhere there are groups of people living or working together on any scale. The culture you create in your home is one of the most important because it affects how you interact with your loved ones, how your children are raised, and how guests feel in your home.  How does etiquette figure into all this?  Respect, consideration, and honesty (the tenets of etiquette) are necessary when creating this culture.

Several factors influence your at-home culture:

• Physical appearance - How your home is decorated. Is it impeccably clean or comfortably cluttered? Does it have a casual feel or a more formal one?

• Emotional atmosphere - How people in your home interact. Will they be greeted with bug hugs and shouts of joy or simple handshakes?

• Standards - The house rules. Does everyone take his or her shoes off at the door? What kind of language is appropriate?

• Traditions - Let everyone know what to expect and what is expected of them. How are birthdays to be celebrated? Who carves the turkey on Thanksgiving?

Together, these factors weave together the unique culture of your home. Each is important to consider when deciding what environment you want to live in. Raising children is one of the mot important reasons for this.

The home is where children learn standards essential to becoming considerate, respectful, honest people. To be considerate, a person has to think about others, and in this sense, thinking is learned and refined with practice. Family life presents daily opportunities for lessons in thoughtfulness and consideration.

Respect is simple. If everyone in the home treats themselves and others with respect, then they will become respectful young adults. This shows that you care about yourself and the people around you.

Finally, we have honesty. Simply put, if children see honest behavior, that is what they will learn. If they observe deception and little white lies, they that is what they will learn.

Understanding these three principles makes it easier for kids to appreciate the standards and traditions they live with and also to understand how they can be different home to home. It's important for parents to be clear that their children must respect the standards and traditions of the homes they visit. They learn this both from their own parents and from the people they visit.

For more information about etiquette in the modern world, please visit EmilyPost.com or read the Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th Edition.

www.rosannainc.com

6th Annual Tablescape Contest Winners Announced!

This year’s theme was centered on dressing up home-cooked meals. I was interested in how you dressed your table for holidays, family get-togethers, and Sunday night dinners. You certainly delivered! We received many entries and they were all so lovely – I had a very hard time choosing the winners!

First Prize: Chahyun Hwang

Chahyun’s table was absolutely stunning! She dressed up her table for her best friend’s bridal shower with lovely mercury glass votive holders and vases, beautiful flowers, and the Rosanna Dauphine candle sticks in white. Chahyun also cooked everything on the extensive menu from scratch – it looked absolutely scrumptious in the photos she sent! Rosanna Décor Bon Bon, Gelato Cups, and Napoleon Flatware were use during the main course, while the Eat Dessert First plates were used to present dessert.

Second Prize: Lisa Hexom

Lisa’s table is pure glitz! Her parents live in Coronado, CA (or “Crown City,” as locals call it), are retired Navy, and have enjoyed entertaining friends and family for years. Lisa wanted to throw a special, “Fit For a King” party that would wow her parents and their guests. Kings Road Redux certainly delivered! If the beautiful place cards and floral arrangements are any indication, the party went off without a hitch!

Third Prize: Lisa Moore

The story Lisa sent in with her photos really spoke to me: She grew up eating family meals and she still carries that tradition on today with her family. What with today’s busy lifestyle, she feels the act of pausing to have face-to-face time, sharing a meal together, and showing you care is very important. I couldn’t agree more! Lisa sent in photos of her family’s Easter breakfast. She used the La Vie Boho collection and Parisian Glass goblets beautifully!

I want to thank each and every person who submitted a table setting – it was so hard to pick! I hope the theme inspired you to sit down to a home made meal with your loved ones and take the time to enjoy each other’s company.

Prize Info for Winning Entries

Entries that have been chosen will be notified by email by a member of our customer service team within one week with details on how to claim their Rosanna gift certificate prize.

www.rosannainc.com

Savoring the Last Hit of Summer

The end of summer can be a rude awakening. Parents and children return from their vacation reluctantly, sporting golden tans developed over the course of a long, carefree summer, resigned to the fact that it's time to reenter the world of responsibility and adhere to the structured schedules of school and work. No matter that this happens every year, the abrupt change in season never fails to prompt a cascade of shoulder shrugs. As much as I enjoy fall after it arrives, I squeeze summer to the last drop.

Lovely and bright sunflowers at a farmer's market in Oregon.

To prolong the feeling of summer for as long as possible, I have a few tips: First, practice denial. Instead of spending the last days before school starts anxious about the fast-approaching end of the holiday, I simply pretend I have much more time before my girls begin school again than I actually do. Denial can be a beautiful thing. The older I get, the more I see how a little innocent suspension of reality can be a wonderful way to suspend happiness. Second, make sure you don't overschedule yourselves or your children. Be in the moment and make the most of it!

My family's end-of-summer retreat, our home on the Oregon coast.

The end of summer still affords small windows of opportunity to take mini-breaks or day trips with your family. If you can, try to schedule some special time to visit a favorite place that will give you that last hit of summer. These mini-vacations renew the spirit and help us keep our families united before the mad dash on fall activities, and they create memories of well-being for us to draw upon during the hectic months ahead. For our last shot of summer, my family goes to the Oregon coast. We pick wild blackberries, stroll through the antique malls and farmer's markets, and make delicious meals from local, fresh ingredients (I like to use the Farmer's Market Collection to serve meals like these in). It's a lovely way to end the summer and begin the fall with grace and ease.

Some of the many fresh offerings at a local farmer's market in Oregon.

Farmer's Market collection, $22 - $56. Available at RosannaInc.com

Remember, summer doesn't officially end until September 22nd. Enjoy every moment you have left!

www.rosannainc.com

Lovely Lavender with Girly Obsessions

We're partnering with our friends over at Girly Obsessions again! This time around, Ashley from GO is posting on my blog and I'm posting on hers. Make sure to take a peek here!

I feel so lucky to have recently spent two wonderful weeks in France, celebrating my five year wedding anniversary. My husband and I took a five-stop road trip from the Loire Valley to Nice. Since our anniversary fell right in the middle of lavender season, my mission while in Provence was to find the perfect, most picturesque lavender field. Of course, I didn’t realize this would take three days of driving down very small back roads, while testing my husband’s patience and facing my fear of bees. But...I’m slightly obsessive and was in search of this vision I had in my mind.

We actually found an abundance of lavender, lovely fragrant fields of vibrant purple, each one more beautiful than the next. Throughout Provence, lavender and lavender scented products were everywhere, in the form of everything from bath salts and soaps, to ice cream and home decor. If it weren’t for my already too heavy suitcase, it would have all come home with me.

But since it couldn’t, the first thing we did when we got home was planted lavender in our garden. Not only will it serve as a reminder of our trip, but there is so much you can do with the fragrant herb and I thought I’d share some of those ideas!

---

To dry the lavender (if you can part with the purple blooms), prune the flowers just as they open. Combine long cut stems into 3-4" bundles and hang in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. The flowers should dry in about 10 days. The bundles themselves work well as a beautiful, rustic table decoration, simply placed on a surface or put in a vase.

To use the buds for cooking or other various crafts, when completely dry, strip the flowers off the stems and store in a tightly sealed container like a jar or plastic bag. The dried flowers can be placed in organza sachets and used around the house for fragrance, in drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh, or can be tucked into your pillow for a restful nights sleep. They can also be put in a tea bag and used to scent a warm, relaxing bath.

For cooking, lavender has a sweet, floral taste, with a citrus undertone. It can be used in many dishes, and works well in place of rosemary in many recipes. I prefer it in baked goods and sweets, including one of my favorites: honey lavender ice cream. You can also make a simple lavender sugar by blending one cup of sugar and two tablespoons of dried lavender bugs until the sugar is tinted purple with no signs of buds. Keep this sugar on hand to add to lemonade, tea or baking sweets.

And here is a very simply recipe for Lavender Lemonade, perfect for hot summer days! This refreshing drink would taste even better if served in Rosanna's Pressed Glass Highball!

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 heaping tablespoons dried culinary lavender
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice
• 4 cups water (plus more to your taste)

Directions

In a medium post over medium heat, combine 2 cups water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Remove from heat. Stir in honey and lavender. Cover and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain out lavender and pressed buds into the bottom of the strainer to release any syrup left behind.

In a large pitcher, combine lemon juice, lavender syrup, and water. Stir and chill. Serve cold, over ice.

Enjoy!

GirlyObsessions was founded by Ashley and Sara. Besties. Lipgloss addicts. Cupcake fanatics. Their site is devoted to sharing their love (well, let's be honest, obsession) for all things girly, from makeup and baking, to shoes, fashion, and celebrity gossip. Find us online at www.girlyobsessions.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GirlyObsessions, or follow us on Twitter @girlyobsessions.

Fourth of July Celebration Tips with Alexandra Hedin!

I'm partnering with my friend Alexandra Hedin this month for posts on celebrating Independence Day in style! Stop by her blog here to see my post on blending cultures to create your own very special 4th of July. Below you will find her stylish ideas.

The Fourth of July is by far my favorite holiday to celebrate. There is none of the pressure of the Christmas season, with just as much fun, family - and occasionally sun! I absolutely adore it. Add to that a killer color combo and I'm positively swooning. It's no wonder that every year we gather together a huge group of family and friends, fire off the cannon (yes, we have a cannon), and party through to the next morning. We've even been known to karaoke.

Creating the perfect party every year is not hard - even when we know it's for more than fifty people - because we make the most of the food ahead, make all the drinks D.I.Y., and kick off our shoes. Here's what I would make, if I were you, with recipes gathered out of my book, Entertaining at Home.

Menu

Spiced Popcorn

Herbed Goat Cheese Spread (recipe below!)

Steamed Clams and Mussels

Roasted Potato Salad

Baked Fried Chicken

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

For a cocktail, I'm making a version of an Arnold Palmer that's delightfully refreshing and very much grown up. We're calling it Mr. Palmer's Punch.

Herbed Goat Cheese Spread

8 ounces goat cheese

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon tabasco

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

1/4 cup fresh chopped dill

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients together with a fork. Refrigerate at least one hour or up to one week. Serve with crackers, vegetables, or a loaf of bread!

I hope you have a fabulous holiday and celebrate the Fourth of July surrounded by people who make you smile. Don't forget, life is a party!

Alexandra Hedin is a Lifestyle and Entertaining Expert based in the Pacific Northwest. Her simple approach to making every day lovely has made her an admired contributor to magazines and television across the west coast.

In Winter 2010, Alexandra's debut book was released. Entertaining at Home features ten complete parties including menus, simple recipes, crafts, and helpful tips for hosting your own event. The beautifully photographed book includes hundreds of photos to inspire and tempt any hostess-to-be to take her next even to the next level.

Alexandra has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, Design*Sponge, and on the Seattle affiliates of CBS, ABC, and FOX. Her parties, recipes, and crafts can be found in every issue of 425 Magazine.

Alexandra grew up in the bustling kitchen of a home economics teacher helping to feed a large extended family for holidays and regular weekends together. She still spends her free time cooking in her Seattle kitchen for her husband and three young children.

Find Alexandra online at www.alexandrahedin.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlexandraHedin, and follow her on Twitter @alexandrahedin.

Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest

It's that time again! The Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest is on for another year and the theme is all about dressing up your home-cooked meal. What does your meal look like? Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, even dessert - I want to know!

Everyone is so busy nowadays that they often don't have time to sit down to a home-cooked meal, let alone prepare one. I have always felt that sitting down and eating a wholesome meal with your loved ones is one of the most important aspects of life. Not only does it provide you with the chance to reconnect to those you hold dearest, it is much healthier and more nutritious than the prepared food to go you might pick up on the way home from a busy workday.

In addition to the health advantages of sitting down to eat a home-cooking meal, there are many other added benefits. Columbia University's Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse has conducted the same study since 2001 to determine these benefits:

• Teens from families who didn't eat dinner together on a consistent basis were more likely to experiment with drugs.
• Increased family dinners have shown a positive link with improved academic performance.
• Families that eat together regularly show higher rates of discussion about all aspects of their childrens' lives, including sports, current events, school, and their friends and social lives.
• 70% of teens who eat dinner with their families at least 5 times a week reported that their parents were proud of them.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• 3 or more family meals per week are associated with a 12% reduction in the likelihood of being overweight, a 20% drop in the odds of eating unhealthy food  on a regular basis, and a 35% reduction in disordered eating.
• Kids are 24% likelier to eat healthy food like fruits and vegetables, breakfast, and take a multivitamin.

Use your creativity, mixed with Rosanna collections, and remember that home-cooked meals don't necessarily have to take place inside! Share with us the story behind your tablescape design. What does your favorite, go-to meal look like? Birthday cake for a special someone? What about Sunday breakfast or an easy weekday meal? Winners will be chosen by me personally. So join in for your chance to win a $500 Rosanna gift certificate, and be featured on Rosanna's Table Talk blog!

Get Setting!
Our Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest will start on June 18th, 2012 and end on August 31, 2012. Winners will be announced shortly after. For a little inspiration, take a look at the photographs from our last few contests:

2011
2010
2009
2008
2007

The Prizes
1st Place: $500 Rosanna gift certificate
2nd Place: $200 Rosanna gift certificate
3rd Place: $100 Rosanna gift certificate

Official Rules
1. Anyone with a passion for Rosanna-ware and tablescape design is welcome to compete, regardless of age.
2. Set the table for at least two. No actual food or Rosanna products are required.
3. Contest begins on June 18th, 2012 at 12:00am PST and ends August 31st, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.
4. Submit up to 2 photos of your tablescape and the story behind each design. Digital submissions must come as jpegs, around 4x5 inches, no less than 72 dpi and no more than 180 dpi.
5. When entering, make sure to include your name, city, and an email or phone number where we can reach you. We respect your privacy and will not give out any of your information.
6. Photos in hard copy will not be returned.
7. Rosanna, Inc. reserves the right to use and/or publish photos of your tablescape submissions however we see fit. Photos may be published on social media sites. Publishing does not necessarily constitute a winning entry. By submitting your photo, you agree to these terms.
8. Please email all entries to info@rosannainc.com.
9. Mailed entries should be sent to:
    Rosanna, Inc.
    Attn: Tablescape Contest
    6755 East Marginal Way S.
    Seattle, WA, 98108

Good luck!

With love,

www.rosannainc.com