Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, 2011 Issue No.5

Known as Chicago’s Well-Heeled Hostess, Kelly Lyden loves to plan a party. Nesting Newbies challenged her to create a little girl’s birthday party sans the princess theme! Kelly delivers a preppy-silhouette soirée in green-and-black color scheme with a pop of pink…a stylish party fit for any fair maiden.

Photography by Sisterrazzi Photography

Typically, you’ll find that fondue is for small groups…but Chef Lea McIntosh figured out a fun way to serve it to a crowd!

First, she planned for the following stations and spread them throughout the party space:

Meat fondue station with chicken, steak, sausage and prawns

Fresh fruit and dessert fondue station

Cheese and nut platter

Lea says that it’s always a good rule of thumb when planning any party to SKETCH IT OUT! Here is her drawing for the meat station and you can see that the final station is very similar to her sketch. “This also helped me make sure I had all of the service pieces, from platters, to sauce bowls, to utensils,” says Lea. “Without the sketch, I might have easily forgotten something and could have been running around at the last minute. Instead, by planning ahead, I was able to enjoy my guests.”

You’ll notice that the meat is raw. “When serving fondue for a large crowd, it’s best to prepare the meat to order.” Lea recommends recruiting a few of your friends who would enjoy socializing while acting as sauté chefs.

Lea likes to give her guests lots of options so the meat selection included filet mignon, New York strip, chicken breast, prawns, and Italian sausage. She used 20+ pounds of meat for 50 people. “This is more than usual; however, the meat station was the highlight of the evening and there wasn’t anything left!”

Lea’s Fonduta Di Parma is a great fondue choice for the meat station. “As with all cheese fondues, the heat needs to remain low, so the cheese doesn’t separate,” Lea advises. “Be sure to occasionally stir the fondue to avoid burning or separation.”

Recipe from “Crockpot Chic,” Nesting Newbies Magazine, Issue No. 2, page 14

There was an ample supply of fresh, handmade, mini-braided challahs, miniature honey rolls, baguette slices, plus a variety of tasty condiments to round out the station. Lea suggests bottled barbecue sauce, gourmet mustards, or Asian condiments such as Hoisin Sauce, Sweet-N-Sour, or Teriyaki.

Lea utilized every possible surface for her party. “I have a coffee table with a glass top, so I used it to serve the vegetable fondue station. A variety of freshly blanched vegetables surrounded an elevated Gouda Cheese Fondue with traditional buttermilk ranch sauce for dipping.

To complement the fondue stations, Lea presented an artful cheese platter. Guests love the beautiful display, and the delicious selection of cheeses. Read all about creating your own creative cheese platter in The Cheese Stands Alone in our Winter issue of Nesting Newbies. Turn to page 46. There’s a helpful video bite, too.

The dessert station was to die for! Chocolate fondue with lots of sweets perfect for dipping: pound cake, macaroons, Rice Krispie treats, marshmallows, and fresh fruit! For the fondue, Lea whisked heavy cream into melted chocolate until it reached the right texture. You might want to try her original WhatChaMaCallIt Chocolate Fondue.

Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, 2010 Issue No.4

Casbah Cool for Warm Evening Entertaining

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It begins with an idea, and Lea had one. A really good one. “I want to show our readers an alternative way to barbeque,” Lea McIntosh explains. “I envision a low table, with lots of cushions for casual seating, and the hostess at the head of the table with a small, portable grill right next to her. Then she can be a part of the party—not stuck behind the scenes cooking. I picture Casbah-like entertaining for the dog days of summer—laid-back…lots of laughter and conversation…pass the food as it comes off the grill and nosh all night.”

Read how the idea turned into a joyous day at a fabulous location, with a table styled by a oh-so-hip designer, and attended by popular bloggers…

Photography by Natalie Wi, Allure West Studios

If you’ve taken a look at Issue 3, perhaps Lea’s innovative Jarfaits, portable parfaits for a take home treat, caught your attention. Well, Lisa Moore’s picnic in a jar caught our attention! Lisa is a fan of Nesting Newbies and she’s a twenty-something mother of three who enjoys entertaining, parties and decorating…sounds like our favorite kind of newbie : ) Lisa writes Moore Minutes, sharing the beauty she finds in everyday life {sweet!}

Lisa recently did a post we’d like to share…The Charms of a Summertime Picnic. In it she says, “Jars are an excellent way to hold picnic food! They transport easily and look much prettier than tupperware. It’s a simple way to add beauty to the table and still keep it functional {what a cool idea}.” Take a look at a few examples:

Tapioca pudding with fresh blackberries and whip cream

Layered green salad with homemade dressing

Check out the rest of the story on her blog.

Images courtesy of Lisa Moore.

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Pinkies Nail Salons was one of the girls-day-out sites featured in Chill, Making Time for a Time Out, in the third issue of Nesting Newbies Magazine.  Connie and Derik, Pinkies’ owners, have more to say regarding the “tootsies” topic:

Why is a pedicure important?

Healthy feet are vital to overall health.  According to Foot Care Direct, the average person walks approximately four miles every day or 115,000 miles in a lifetime.  Strenuous activity increases the miles.

Pedicures are an excellent way to help keep your feet looking and feeling great.  A pedicure cleans feet, provides nail care, and promotes circulation.  A good pedicure can be very relaxing and therapeutic.

Not only does it feel luxurious to pamper you and your toes, getting pedicures on a regular schedule also offers physical benefits.  Your nail technician helps improve the appearance of your feet as well as your overall comfort by removing dead skin and calluses with pumice or other implements.  Having calluses on your feet can cause uneven pressure when you walk or stand, causing pain when on your feet all day.

The massage in a pedicure or manicure is one of the most important parts. Many technicians use foot reflexology.  This helps stimulate the blood flow to the feet and legs and provides the relaxation you feel when someone is massaging.

Using certain scents in pedicures provides additional benefits above and beyond the physical.  Certain scents and oils may improve circulation, focus, memory, and mood.  The smell of citrus invigorates the mind, while sugar excites, and lavender relaxes.  Leaving the salon with pretty toes may seem like the only reward you get, but you are also gaining a good mood and better health.

How You Can Give Yourself a Pedicure at Home:

This is something that couples can do together. Light a scented candle to create a relaxed atmosphere.

• First remove old and chipped nail polish from toenails using nail polish remover.
• Next soak your feet for a few minutes in warm soapy water, and then pat them dry.
• Cut the nails of the toe using a nail cutter, and file them straight across.  Filing is a must to smooth rough edges.
• Then apply a cuticle cream and massage it into the cuticles with a tipped orange stick.  Do not attempt to trim cuticles with a metal nipper unless you are a professional and have experience with this tool.
• Clean and exfoliate feet using a pumice stone. Some hard rubbing may be needed on thick heels and ball of foot calluses.  This removes dirt, grease, and dead skin.
• Soak your feet in water again.
• Apply a nourishing cream to the foot, ankle, and lower leg to moisturize the skin.  Give the foot, ankle and lower leg a very long, luxurious massage.  This is best if your partner does it!
• Clean the nail beds well with alcohol to remove any of the oil from the lotion.  Apply a base coat, two coats of polish, such as OPI or Essie, and finish with a good quality top coat such as Seche Vite.
• For men or women who do not prefer polish, a “shiny buffer” gives a beautiful long lasting shine to a natural nail.

Pinkies Nail Salons is a collection of locally owned and operated salons across the Bay Area—Los Altos, Lafayette, Burlingame, San Ramon, Danville, and San Francisco. Owners Connie Kulberg and Derik Landry ensure each salon provides clients a relaxing and indulgent experience at an affordable price. Our exfoliating scrubs, private label lotions, and polish give your feet, hands, and nails all the love and care they deserve.

Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Winter ’10

One of the easiest menus to pull together for a party is a wine and cheese tasting. Or is it? Grab your keys, head off to your local market, and find your way to the cheese counter. Now, choose.

“With over 1000 varieties available, it can be overwhelming to navigate through all the choices,” says Chef Lea McIntosh. “Selecting cheese can be as intimidating and complicated as choosing a fine wine.” It’s no wonder we all end up with the same old wedges of cheddar and Monterey Jack in our shopping bags.

Getting to know cheese could become a new hobby or life’s passion, but for those of us who just want to throw a good party, Chef Lea has developed two selections—one using American artisanal cheeses and one with international choices. Each selection offers your guests a wonderful tasting experience. “I want you to have a stress-free introduction to the world of cheese, and you’ll see how the cheese stands alone as the only course you’ll need to serve for entertaining.”

Photography By: Natali Wi