Premier Favor Designer KateAspen to Sponsor

Young Survival Coalition’s Tour De Pink Atlanta

Atlanta, GA, September 25, 2009—Kate Aspen, a leading designer and manufacturer of wedding favors and gifts and baby shower favors, has signed on as a sponsor for the Young Survival Coalition’s Tour de Pink Atlanta, as part of  the company’s In Favor of a Cure™ initiative.

The fund-raising bike ride on October 17, will benefit the Atlanta Chapter of Young Survival Coalition (YSC), the foremost international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women suffering the effects of breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for these women.

Some Kate Aspen employees are biking while others will staff the rest stops throughout the northern suburbs of Atlanta, where the company is based. Kate Aspen is also donating favors for event gift bags. Along with participation in this inaugural, local event for the metro Atlanta chapter of YSC, Kate Aspen provides ongoing support for national YSC through its Pink Ribbon Collection—three pink ribbon-inspired favors which include a favor box, a photo frame and an eco-friendly, plantable favor. These meaningful favors launched two years ago as part of their In Favor of a Cure™ initiative.  Kate Aspen donates ten percent of proceeds from the sale of these favors to YSC.

Kate Aspen president and CEO Jennifer Fallon notes, “Kate Aspen is a female-owned, female-focused business with women in 80% of upper management roles and 85% of staff, so women’s issues—especially breast cancer—have a profound, personal effect on our organization. We’re especially proud that our favors can have a positive impact for YSC.”

To further illustrate their commitment to the In Favor of a Cure™ initiative and to YSC during the month of October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), The Aspen Brands Company, parent company to Kate Aspen, will turn their signature teal logo bow pink, to remind others of the ongoing need to find a cure.

About Kate Aspen

Kate Aspen is a leading designer and manufacturer of favors and gifts for weddings and baby showers.  Kate Aspen distributes wholesale to the trade, and you can find our product at leading retailers nationwide, both online and in brick and mortar stores.  The company attributes its success to its focus on practical, affordably priced, beautifully packaged favors. In 2009, Kate Aspen president and CEO Jennifer Fallon was named an Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.

For more information about In Favor of a Cure™, the Pink Ribbon Collection and to find a retailer near you, please visit KateAspen.com. For more information about the Tour de Pink, Young Survival Coalition and its mission, visit their Web site at www.YoungSurvival.org. For photos or an interview with Jennifer Fallon, please contact Donna Laurent at 678.282.0053 ext. 745 or dlaurent@TheAspenBrands.com.

Don’t tell, but there are a whole bunch of us here hiding a secret crush on David Tutera.  Have you seen his work?  Oh my!  Awesome, unique, incredible – all those adjectives pale in comparison.  But don’t just take our word for it.  Go look at his gallery here.

Then you can join our secret crush club, because I know you’ll want to!

Fabulous Favors by Kate Aspen

I just got off the phone with a good friend who got married recently.  She wanted my mother’s recipe for sausage and cheese balls because she’s hosting her family for Thanksgiving – 3 short months after her wedding!  Wow!  She’s brave in my book, because between her and the new hubby, there will be fifteen people joining them – that’s seventeen for Thanksgiving!

But she brought up a good point, and of course I’m going to share.  She’ll be using our Fall Favors as a sweet take-home gift for her relatives.  Impressive!

So cheers to all you sharp, think-ahead ladies!   Happy Thanksgiving planning!  Don’t forget the favors!

Fabulous Favors by Kate Aspen

The wedding was delightful.  You love the bride and groom and know they’re going to make the best couple ever!  So here you are at the reception and what? ” Spotlight’s on me? A toast?!? Um, ok, sure – I’ll be delighted – er…”

Our five favorite wedding toasts to keep in your pocket (just in case):

An Old Irish Toast

Wow them in another language

“Cento anni di salute e felicità !” which translates into “100 years of health and happiness!”

Poignant is always good

“May the best of your yesterdays be the worst of your tomorrows!”

If you’re good at memorizing…

“May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
And may you be in Heaven
a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”

A group favorite

“May you live each day like your last, and live each night like your first.”

Cheers!

Fabulous Favors by Kate Aspen

Have you ever considered doing a genuine English high tea for a bridal shower?  No, not just finger sandwiches and cookies – a bona-fide high tea is a big deal, and your guests will be so delighted!

While afternoon tea is dotted with tea biscuits, lemon curd and clotted cream, along with a few assorted tiny sweets and savories, a true high tea is more like an American dinner, but with hot tea and lovely china cups and saucers.  Start with a savory bacon, onion and herb bread pudding, followed by a light salad with real English Salad Cream, and move on to Potted Shrimps (actually quite delicious) and Old English Chicken and Ham Pie.  Add a few little savories on the side – like Cheese Scones and a rustic English bread, served with a strawberry jam and maybe some home made lavender honey!  You can find the recipes here - and most you can make in advance.

A Spot of Tea Etiquette

When serving lemon with tea, lemon slices are preferable, not wedges. Either provide a small fork or lemon fork for your guests, or have the tea server can neatly place a slice in the tea  cup after the tea has been poured. Be sure never to add lemon with milk since the lemon’s citric acid will cause the proteins in the milk to curdle.

Milk is served with tea, not cream. Cream is too heavy and masks the taste of the tea. Although some pour their milk in the cup first, it is probably better to pour the milk in the tea after it is in the cup in order to get the correct amount.

Tea cups with a handle are held by placing one’s fingers to the front and back of the handle with one’s pinkie up again allows balance. Pinkie up does mean straight up in the air, but slightly tilted. It is not an affectation, but a graceful way to avoid spills. Never loop your fingers through the handle, nor grasp the vessel bowl with the palm of your hand.Do not stir your tea, with your tea spoon, in sweeping circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o’clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o’clock position two or three times. Never leave your tea spoon in your tea cup. When not in use, place your tea spoon on the right side of the tea saucer. Never wave or hold your tea cup in the air. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer…

Compliments of WhatsCookingAmerica.net

Lots to think about, so here’s my idea.  Research High Tea traditions and etiquette, then make yourself up a “High Tea Guide” – a little booklet with all the interesting things you discover.  Then make it part of your invitation – and “request” that your guests wear gloves and hats – what fun!  Then bring out the good china, pull out the white tablecloths and have a ball!

And don’t forget the favors!

More tea anyone? LOL!

Fabulous Favors by Kate Aspen