Martie Knows Parties on Better TV! Staycation Party Ideas & Holly Montag

WATCH OUR TV SEGMENT ON BACKYARD GETAWAYS! ITALY, BEACH & CAMPING!

We did a segment with Audra Lowe on Better TV in New York that will air Monday, July 26. It's all about making the best of your summer at home--- check it out! We talked about staycationing--- backyard Italy, camping and everyone's favorite, the beach.

Holly Montag from The Hills and I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here was on after us--- she's very cute. I told her this pic should up my hip quotient (HQ) and she said I upped hers! So smart, that Holly Montag! And she love loved the Vietri products we had sent in for the show so she's got good taste on top of being smart and adorable. Holly wanted the red Vietri pedestal planter we used for a beverage cooler for her Hollywood home.

 You can watch the segment on the web or on TV in your town--- check out the list of Better TV cities here. Hope it's good!! Let me know if you decide to have a destination backyard party! Send pictures and we'll post them!

Staycationing This Summer? How About Italy?

Have your vacation plans been put on hold this summer? You can create a backyard getaway to your favorite places with a little creativity and very little cash. Use some souvenirs and items you've collected from vacations past to bring the party to life. Even if you just throw this party for your family---- it's a great mini-getaway right in the backyard! Any place you want to go can be recreated right in the backyard. How about a seaside cookout? A trip to Italy, New York, Napa, Chicago or Spain? It's super easy--- here are a few ideas to get you started on your own backyard getaway!

Florence, Rome, Venice or The Amalfi Coast. Take the flavors of a summer in Italy- fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and make a late afternoon Italian-style picnic or a Capri cookout with seafood and pasta. 

Everyone loves Italy. If they have been, they want to go back and if they haven’t been, it’s certainly on the list of places they’d like to go.

By adding one beautiful platter or bowl, you can make over your table completely. This Vietri pattern with an Italian coastal village scene completely transforms this table from everyday to Italy. And use food as decorations—breadsticks, lemons, etc make beautiful centerpiece for this party.

Play Bocce ball! It’s played all over Italy and in Little Italy, too! You can buy this game almost anywhere these days and online.

Limoncello—the Italian lemon liqueur tastes like the Amalfi Coast. Float a little of it on top of Prosecco or drizzle it over gelato, sorbet or fresh berries for dessert. Instant Italy!

ITALY MENU- This is one of the easiest menus to make. Cook your own favorites; simple or elaborate!

Prosecco- The Italian sparkling wine... inexpensive and delicious!

Bruschetta- any kind. Fresh tomatoes, olive oil, basil, a dash of balsamic vinegar, S&P is easy and classic.

Antipasto Platter- Italian cheeses, olives, prosciutto, salami, breadsticks, almonds and spreads like tapanade. I make a great one with artichoke, lemon, capers and olives. No recipe, just put the artichoke hearts in the food processor and whirl until smooth. Add the other ingredients to taste.

Pizza- Frozen or fresh, I like to do these on the grill. Add a drizzle of olive oil and some Parmesan over the top before grilling. Yum.

Pasta- Any kind. Make your favorite. If you need ideas- let me know.

Gelato or Sorbetto- Make or buy it at Whole Foods. Vanilla gelato is great with limoncello drizzle. Lemon sorbetto is wonderful with Prosecco like an ice cream float. Crumble some Ameretti cookies over the top.

We did a few backyard getaway parties on Better TV in New York! Watch the video!

Party Music: Summer Playlists!

Lately, I've gotten several emails from readers asking for ideas for party music. Making music for a party is easier than ever if you have an iPod. It may be a little old school, but I still love having a band and live music for any party I throw. It just adds an element of excitement you just don't get from your iPod. Second choice would be a DJ--- again, that live element makes the party so much more fun. BUT-- if your budget doesn't allow for either of those options (and believe me, you can get a band or DJ for a lot less than you may think) head to iTunes and put together a playlist that fits the theme. You can make a variety of playlists: start with some quiet tunes as guests arrive and ramp up the volume and the beat as the night progresses.

Here's a starter for those of you looking for ideas for your summer party playlists: 

Top 25 Summer Songs Playlist

Good Vibrations- Beach Boys

All Summer Long- Kid Rock

California Love- 2 Pac

Three Little Birds- Bob Marley

It Must Be Summer- Fountains of Wayne

Summertime- Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff

The Boys of Summer- Don Henley

Summertime- Kenny Chesney

Hot in Herre- Nelly

Smooth- Santana with Rob Thomas

Summer Breeze- Seals & Crofts

Beautiful Day- U2

Hot Fun in the Summertime- Sly & The Family Stone

Summertime Blues- Alan Jackson

Summer Nights- From Grease- John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

California Girls- Beach Boys

Island in the Sun- Weezer

Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison

Margaritaville- Jimmy Buffett

Summer in the City- The Lovin' Spoonful

Heat Wave- Martha & The Vandellas

Dancin' in the Streets-  Martha & The Vandellas

So, we've left the last spots open for your favorite summer song! Email us and tell us your summer favs!

Martie Knows Parties: Big News Soon!

I can't wait to tell you the big news but I have to wait a few more days......... but this photo's a little preview. I'll tell you the rest of it very soon but here's a little hint: 

A party's about to start and it's got my name all over it. :-)

Martie Knows Parties on MyRecipes.com

Stay tuned!

Fourth of July Parties: Martie's BBQ Rib Rub Recipe

Hey - I got a shout out from my friend from high school days, Terri Merren who lives quite a glamorous life in the Cayman Islands these days with her beautiful family. Terri tells me that she tried my rub recipe for beer can chicken on ribs and they were awesome! Since I've had a few emails today asking for a rib recipe, I thought I'd tell you what Terri said about the rub so you can try it. Trust me, I am not a ribmaster. I know how to do some pretty mean ribs but my dear friend Sam Jackson is the ribmaster--- and as long as he's around, I really don't have to cook ribs. Plus we have the legendary Dreamland BBQ or Big Bob Gibson's BBQ withini easy driving distance.

Here's the recipe for the rub. You can cook your ribs inside in the oven wrapped foil and finish them off on the grill. That's what Terri did and I watched Alton Brown do that as well. Try the rub and let me know!!

Martie's BBQ Rub Recipe

2 T. Brown sugar

1/4 c. Paprika

2 t. Cayenne pepper

1 t. Granulated sugar

2 t. Kosher salt

1 1/2 t. Dry mustard

1 t. Black pepper

1 t. Garlic powder

1 t. Onion powder

1 t. Celery salt

1/4 t. Chipotle pepper (optional but gives a nice smoky flavor)

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl or plastic Zip loc bag. Will keep in a cool dry place for about a month. 

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