Category: Party Planning

World’s Best Non-Alcoholic Wines for the Holidays

Let’s go straight to number One. ARIEL is more than mere grape juice! Simply put, non-alcoholic wine is wine, that has had the alcohol removed. Being around wine professionals for years watching traditional winemaking methods, wine is not foreign to me. The art of wine amazes me and after the juice is fermented, dealcoholized wine skips one step but for people who are interested in keeping it sober as a lifestyle or for around the holidays this is a necessary step in dealcoholized wine-making is to remove the alcohol in the final stages using cold filtration process. This allows people to enjoy the pleasure of a fermented beverage, but without the alcohol.

ARIEL Wines use premium, California-grown wine grapes. They have great spirit and are committed to making the highest quality, best-tasting non-alcoholic wine available in the market today. That said, ARIEL does not taste the same as wines containing alcohol, so it will not satisfy all palates. While ARIEL is made in a similar manner to regular wines, and if you are transitioning to non-alcoholic wines after being accustomed to drinking traditional wines, it may take a few ARIEL experiences before you get used to its lightness. However, this taste to that of traditional wines with alcohol is lighter, smoother and very enjoyable to drink.

whitewine2Everybody’s situation is different. You make your own decisions but people who are in recovery and who had to cut off drinking all together including their social life just to survive the difficulties of maintaing a sober lifestyle can benefit from this non-alcoholic wine experience. I highly recommend being sturdy and strong in recovery before pursuing drinking non-alcoholic wine. At least two to three-year sober and onwards. It brings back a sense of fun into your social life during holiday gatherings. This wine meets the legal definition of a non-alcoholic beverage, which states that the product must contain less than half of one percent alcohol (<0.5%). Believe it or not, ARIEL dealcoholized wines contain even less alcohol than most orange juices!

Anyways, finding this has been a treasure for holiday festivities and coming from a world traveler who has experienced every single wine from every country around the world, (personally could have been a professional somenier) that ARIEL is the only non-alcoholic wine in history to win a gold medal in a competition against wines with alcohol! It is recognized by 17 countries worldwide as the leader in producing the best-tasting, highest-quality non-alcoholic wines. It is true. The wine grapes for ARIEL Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are grown in the most storied estate vineyard on California’s Central Coast, this is key to why their wines turn out rich in flavor. So if you are looking for a tasty dealcoholized Cabernet or Chardonnay my hat goes off to these two.

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Second to ARIEL is Eisberg Alcohol Free Rose Wine  This wine is harvested and processed in the normal way, and the alcohol is removed at the end. It does have 0.05% alcohol in the wine by the end of the process, but that amount in a bottle of wine is negligible. This Rose wine is perfect for the day  and can be paired with light meals, refreshing salads, or, some spicy foods, with a sweet rose and strawberry flavor and a hint of cherry. Yum!

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Third is a charm and next on our list is FRE wines. This wine is great if you’re looking to go organic with your wine as well as your groceries. It’s made specially sourced white grapes from Bordeaux. Half Sauvignon Blanc. It’s fresh, tangy, and dry white wine that’s great as an aperitif, and accompanies seafood and desserts best. Fre wines are excellent for making celebrations extra special all year-long!

These are our top three choices, but there are plenty more non-alcoholic wines out there. You will find a glass that will suit you and your tastes exactly.

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Cheers to a fantastic and festive Holiday!

Kelly Krishna Dunn

Holiday Hot Chocolate Bar Set Up Ideas

Invite guests to come in and warm-up with a decadent hot chocolate. Whether you’re hosting an after-dinner event or a catch-up with friends, hot chocolate bars are always a great idea!

Here’s how to set up the perfect hot chocolate bar:

1. Gather your ingredients: The star of the show is, of course, hot chocolate. Make it from scratch using cocoa powder, sugar, milk, and a dash of salt. If you’re tight on time, store-bought packets work just fine. Just be sure to have plenty to go around!

2. Variations of hot chocolate: Offering a variety of flavors adds a fun twist. Consider white chocolate, dark chocolate, or mint chocolate. If you want to go the extra mile, consider adding specialty flavored syrups or a mocha option.

3. The add-ins: This is where your guests can get creative. Mini marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, crushed candy canes, flavored creamers, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg can all add unique twists to a classic hot chocolate.

4. The adult options: For an evening gathering, you may want to include adult add-ins like Baileys, Kahlua, or peppermint schnapps.

5. The mugs: While paper cups work just fine, a variety of mugs can add character and style to your hot chocolate bar. You can stick with a theme, mix and match, or ask guests to bring their favorite mug.

6. Keep it hot: Invest in a couple of insulated carafes to keep your hot chocolate warm throughout the party.

7. The decorations: Consider a winter wonderland theme with snowflakes and pinecones or go classic with a cocoa and cream color scheme. Either way, make your hot chocolate bar as visually appealing as it is delicious.

8. Don’t forget the sides: What’s hot chocolate without cookies or brownies on the side? Whip up some sweet treats or ask guests to bring a dish to share.

Lastly, remember the most important ingredient – good company! The fun is in the camaraderie, so invite a great mix of people and enjoy your warm, sweet event. Cheers to a delicious and cozy hot chocolate bar party!

Infinite Blessings,

Kelly 🙂

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

As the Taurus Full Moon Lunar Eclipse approaches on October 28, 2023, the energy around us starts to shift. We are in Scorpio season now and can feel our emotions are stirred. The veil that separates us from our deepest desires is lifted, and we see things that were previously hidden from us.

The key messages of this Eclipse urge us to cast our minds back to November 2021. What were the themes and situations we were dealing with then? It is highly likely that those issues have come full circle and have now reached a culmination point. This Eclipse marks the end of a cycle, and we are urged to shed the layers that have been holding us back and step into more of our authentic selves. As we take this leap, we reach a new chapter of our soul’s evolution.

Endings are powerful during this Eclipse, and we are encouraged to take action on something we wish to bring to a close. We must trust the process, embrace the changes, and step into our power with grace and courage. This Taurus Full Moon Lunar Eclipse marks a pivotal moment in our journey, a moment that will help us grow, evolve, and reach new heights of consciousness. It is a time of transformation and new beginnings, and we must approach it with an open heart, a clear mind, and a strong spirit. The Eclipse may shake us, but it is also an opportunity for us to rise and shine!

Happy Full Moon Infinite Blessings,

Kelly

Halloween Kids’ Recipes

Halloween is quickly approaching and I honestly can’t even believe it. Where did the year go? How in the world is it almost October 31st! I’m really enjoying this time in my life, raising a little toddler and sharing with her holiday traditions.

I love to put a smile on her face and this year we’re going to be the hostess with the mostess when serving any of these super fun Halloween snacks that are perfect for kids.

I put some links together to the recipes and hope you’ll enjoy some of my favorite kid-friendly & fun Halloween snacks!

Click here for some easy to make fun recipes.

Click here for spooky Halloween recipes.

Click here for Halloween dinner recipes

love, Kelly Krishna ❤

Continue reading “Halloween Kids’ Recipes” →

Labor Day Vegan Recipe Ideas

Labor Day parties can be some of the best of the year. During a summer of social distancing, we’re skipping the guest list and celebrating with our household. We plan on spending lots of time outside grilling vegetables and enjoying refreshing cold drinks.

Check out the link below that shares a variety of 15 Vegan Recipes for Labor Day. This weekend menu already has made me begin to prepare for our Labor Day BBQ.

The Ultimate Vegan Labor Day Weekend Menu

It includes all kinds of dishes: salads, desserts, sides, refreshing drinks, burgers and grilling recipes. The summer’s end is the perfect time to move the celebration outside.

Hope everyone enjoys!! Have a wonderful Labor Day!

love, Kelly Krishna ❤

Baby’s First Hanukkah Celebration

Every Hanukkah is special, and baby’s first Hanukkah is a milestone worth celebrating. It’s an ideal time to gather the people you love together and connect in a meaningful way.

Tonight we are having a party. Like so many other firsts, this is definitely party-worthy! Whether you choose to host a big bash or simply a small gathering of your closest friends and family, your baby’s first Hanukkah is a sweet, can’t-miss occasion perfect for getting everyone together to celebrate the holiday.

Traditional Hanukkah colors are blue, white, gold and silver, and that gives you a lot of room for when it comes to choosing your plates, napkins and other party decor. Shimmering star-shaped ornaments add sparkle to the room.

Lighting the Menorah is one of the key items in any Hanukkah celebration. Every night for eight days, you’ll light a candle to commemorate the miracle of light. If you already have a menorah, great! Get that out ASAP for tonight and set it up in a prominent location.

One of the gifts that you can get for baby’s first Hannukah is a personalized onesie, romper or shirt that doubles as your baby’s party wear. Other fun Hanukkah gifts for babies include “My First Hanukkah” bibs, personalized rattles, a play menorah, Hanukkah menorah blocks or a special dreidel that your baby will play with for years to come.

Happy Hanukkah!!

k 🙂

Trick or Treat

Halloween is an annual celebration of renewal. The meaning of Halloween is all about the inherent potential all life holds for us. It is a profound moment in which we can transform darkness by pointing ourselves into the direction of our own guiding lights.

The meaning of Halloween solidifies the presence of great transition in our midst. Our ancestors could instinctually feel shifts within nature, and so they anticipated internal shifts within spirit, mind and body too.

Halloween was and still is a landmark way to embrace the changes in our lives and prepare ourselves to meet amazing transformation in the months that lay ahead.

There is more to the symbolic meaning of Halloween than how much candy we get at the end of the night. It is a sacred holiday that originated from some very cool ancient people. Before the days of grocery stores, people had to provide for themselves. Halloween is a time of harvesting those provisions, and celebrating the bounty of the earth.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!

love, k 🙂

National Breadstick Day

National Breadstick Day recognizes the delicious goodness of dunkable pieces of warm enjoyment.

Breadsticks come in many forms. They can be soft or crunchy. Breadsticks can be flavored with garlic, onion, salt or cheese. They can also be sweetened with cinnamon and sugar.

They often accompany Italian meals. Pair them with pasta covered in alfredo or marinara sauces. Add them to a soup, if you prefer, enjoy them with your salad. The aroma of fresh-baked breadsticks warm a home and improve every meal. 

When it comes to dipping sauces, breadsticks satisfy just about everyone at the table. Restaurants and home cooks offer up cheesy, herbed and spicy sauces for dipping. If you can’t decide, order extra and try them all!

Today invite family and friends over for a beautiful meal and add breadsticks to the menu.

What are your favorite kinds?

Happy Friday #NationalBreadstickDay

love, k:)