New York New York...upcoming trips May 20-22 and May 28-30. Book by April 20.

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?"

Who says that the eye has to be queer and the guy straight…or even a guy for that matter? Right here in Northern VA you can get the total package "makeover."

• Your Home Redecorated
• Your Wardrobe Restyled
• And a Few Simple Entertaining Rules

Kick off spring with the new and improved you. Be prepared to wow your friends and family!

Sign up today for this great opportunity to get on the right path to the new you. Space is limited for this all-inclusive package.

The Cocktail Party

A cocktail party can be more daunting than a dinner party if you don't remember the rules.

The Key Factors:

• If you invite 20 people, expect 12-15.
• Do not serve from the kitchen. Set up a bar.
• Have someone (not you) tend bar. Ask a friend or hire a local bartender ($15-20/hr).
• Multiply the number of guests times three for the number of glasses you need.
• Use small plates and finger foods. This is not a dinner party.
• A cocktail party should be two hours in length sometime between 7PM and 10PM.
• The area you select should be cozy, but not overcrowded.
• Keep furniture to a minimum. You want guests to stand and socialize, not sit in the corner.
• In order to cut down on the number of bottles of alcohol you need, select a signature drink(s).
• Don't forget to have non-alcoholic beverages (again choose a small selection) for the designated drivers.

In honor of Spring and taking are cue from the spring fashion colors (turquoise, coral, green, raspberry), here are a few signature drink suggestions:

The Go Girls are champagne drinkers so here are a few ways to change the champagne:
1. Add 2 dashes of Chambord or pomegranate juice to champagne.
2. Add 4 dashes of Blue Curacao to champagne.
3. Shake ice, a measure of Creme de Menthe and Irish Whiskey, strain into a champagne glass and top with champagne.

Every household that is going to have cocktail parties should have a decent bar manual or classic cocktail book. Here are a few ideas (see the Classic Cocktail Book for recipe):

Bellini-tini
Put ice cubes into a shaker and add 2 measures of vodka, 1/2 measure of Peach Schnapps, and a teaspoon of peach juice.
Shake until a frost forms.
Strain into a chilled glass and top with champagne.

Ruby Rita
Use ruby red grapefruit juice with tequila and cointreau

Blue Moon
Vodka, tequila and blue curacao topped off with lemonade!

Must have books for party planning:
150 Classic Cocktails, Hamlyn.
The Last-Minute Party Girl by Erika Lenkert. This must have book contains party etiquette as well as quick recipes that are great for any cocktail party.
The Cooking Club Party Cookbook which is full of great party ideas and recipes.

Don't forget that the BusyB will help you plan your next party so you don't look frazzled when the first guest arrives.

Decorating:
By ON THE GO 4 U Design Consultant Suzanne Copenhaver

Accessories are the little extras that personalize your home and with just a little attention to the details they can really make a room sparkle. They don’t have to be expensive or unique but they should express who you are and what you find interesting. Accessories are what you use to set the mood of your room. They can be as simple as candles or pictures of your children, or something more elaborate like valuable antique candlesticks. It is all in the presentation.

You can make more of an impact when things are grouped together-groups of photographs, candles/candlesticks. The basic rule is odd numbers-3 assorted candles look better grouped than a pair. The exception to the pair rule is a formal setting. In this case, pairs are appropriate. If you are using candles or candlesticks, vary the height. The same goes for framed photos. Stick to one type of frame (wood, silver etc.), but don’t have them identical in size or style. Above all avoid the shooting gallery effect-everything lined up in a symmetrical row like soldiers.

To spice things up or just make your arrangements more spring-like, tuck in small clumps of spring flowers, in small vases or bottles, among the pictures or candlesticks. If you don’t have a garden or access to fresh flowers, there is nothing wrong with using high quality silk flowers. If you use them with candles with the same scent, you get a real feeling of freshness. Remember that most of the early flowers are shy types like crocuses and mini daffodils, and look best if used sparingly. If you use candles, only one should be scented. You want to give an illusion of spring, not smack people over the head with it.

For that spring-like feeling in your home, don’t over accessorize. Small changes work wonders and a little bareness inside will echo what nature is doing outside. I have seen lovely arrangements made with a pile of round river stones and a pot of crocuses. A pill bottle or perfume bottle with some violets will have the same pleasing effect of surprise inside your home that you get when you are walking outside.

Find out if you need a design consultant or a personal shopper in our article published on Ezine Articles.

Rejuvenate!

A few months ago, I read an article entitled Get Energized! by Jennifer Matlack at Woman's Day Magazine. At the time, I thought summer is barely over. We should still be energized. Now, however, after a fairly mild winter, but a downright blustery March (that darned ground hog was right!), I think we are all ready for some ways to boost our energy levels.

Here is a summary of a few of Jennifer's tips:

• Make Lemonade: Substitute lemonade or citrus candy for coffee in the morning.
• Work the Water: Swim, take a bath, soak your feet.
• Eliminate Clutter: Messy areas make you feel stressed and overwhelmed.
• Go Natural: Get outdoors as often as you can.
• Sing Sing a Song: Need we say more? Sing!
• See Red: Why do you think our offices are red? It is invigorating!
• Drink Up: Lack of water makes you feel fatigued.

For the complete list, read the a rticle in Woman's Day's September 2004 Issue.

Book & Music Review
And Now Restaurants Too!

Books:
Our top book pick for this month is not a single book but a publisher. Our focus in this month's ezine is recapturing that light step, springing into action, etc. For fun reading no matter which book you pick up, we recommend any of the lighthearted, fun books from Red Dress Ink.

Music:
Grammy's or No Grammy's...we still have our favorites and Catie Curtis tops our charts this month. Her album Dreaming In Romance Languages has some great lyrics to make us think about where we are heading and how we are leading our lives. A must have for your CD rack!

Food:
In Sterling, VA we recommend O'Faolain's in the Regal Cinema Plaza. Thursday night is Piano Man in the bar with $5 cosmos and martinis. From the menu we are partial to the shepherd's pie but with spring coming why not try the salmon or lamb. O'Faolain's also serves a Sunday brunch and has a great lunch special for those in a hurry.

In downtown DC, try Ten Penh. The Asian cuisine is fabulous, the atmosphere relaxing and we love the name's play on its address (10th and Pennsylvania). Go on a warm evening and sit outside on the patio...and don't worry about parking. They have a valet for $5!

Have you read a book or been to a restaurant that you think ON THE GO 4 U readers would enjoy? Send us an email. No time to read a book? Call us now!