You’ve had your entertaining break from the holidays, now it’s time to get ready for spring festivities! The first of our two Spring Entertaining classes will focus on early spring soirees, including Easter, Passover and general “it’s finally getting warm again, let’s have a party” parties.

The class, on March 24th, will take place from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Seats are $30 a piece and include the following:
Fresh entertaining ideas
Budget outline
Tablescape examples
Cost effective and trendy recipes – that you get to taste! – courtesy of Canape
Wine
Tips on assembling floral centerpieces, courtesy of Stems

For more information or to RSVP, send an email with your name and preferred email address to contact@southernprotocol.com. We’re looking forward to having you!

I take it back: Cameron Diaz was my unquestionable favorite from Sunday night. The more I have seen pictures and footage of her walking the carpet, the more I fell in love with it! I actually first swooned for this Oscar de la Renta when it walked the runway, and was thrilled to see someone wearing it, even if it wasn’t me.

And for once, Miss Diaz showed up with hair and makeup that I actually LOVED! Her hair was clean and wavy, her makeup was perfectly tanned and bright. A definite high score for the Zoe team.

I love a challenge. Especially when a successful, innovative solution to said challenge is $500. Even more especially when said challenge involves putting together appropriate outfits for various occasions.

What am I rambling about? Macy’s Daily Fashion Challenge, of course! In a brilliant PR move that plays to the internet generation (as well as the thousands of people that while away their time in the office on procrastination-encouraging websites), Macy’s has created a game challenge that allows YOU to be the fashion director. How glamorous!

Each day they release a different scenario that you must find the perfect ensemble for, using only Macy’s current clothing obviously. Today’s challenge: “You’re about to meet your future in-laws, what will you wear?” Oh the possibilities! The site demands you “use [their] new mix and match tool to combine the season’s hottest styles and accessories into an outfit that’s uniquely you!” The best part is that you can enter your outfit daily for a chance to win a $500 Macy’s gift card – and let me tell you, Macy’s has seriously stepped up their trendiness game. I would be ecstatic with a huge gift card there (or really anywhere for that matter, so maybe I’m just desperate).

So say goodbye to a solid 45 minutes of time you’re supposed to be filing important business information or taking serious phone calls – and say hello to your new part time job of Macy’s Fashion Director That Only Gets Paid If My Outfit Is Better Than Everyone Else’s. Dream job? I think so.

A week from today Marion Square will be transformed into a mini Bryant Park…let the countdown to five days of Lowcountry fashion begin!

In order to make sure you have that runway-worthy outfit for every night of next week (especially the final night gala on Saturday), almost every fabulous boutique in Charleston is participating in the Go Fashion Shopping Event. All this week receive special discounts and deals from the stores listed here when you mention the promotion!

Bon Appetit has been on a roll lately with their recipes. A handful of featured dishes in the March 2010 issue will be insanely helpful to the busy mom, no-fuss cook, or tired-at-the-end-of-the-day employee: one dish dinners.

I admit that I am a sucker for pictures of recipes, both in Bon Appetit and any cookbook I own. If it doesn’t have a picture, it’s not as likely to grab my attention. This week’s Taste of the Week had a picture that about made me grab my keys and head to the store for necessary ingredients – a delicious twist on eggs baked in a spicy tomato sauce (this recipe is also healthier, thanks to the addition of artichoke hearts and potatoes).

Eggs in Purgatory with Artichoke Hearts, Potatoes, and Capers (4 servings)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1.5 cups chopped onion
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
Coarse kosher salt
1 8-10 ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed, drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice (preferably fire-roasted)
8 ounces red-skinned or white-skinned potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tablespoons drained capers
8 large eggs
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, chopped thyme, and crushed red pepper; sprinkle lightly with coarse kosher salt and saute until onion is tender and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add artichokes and minced garlic; stir 1 minute. Stir in diced tomatoes with juice and bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover skillet and simmer 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

Meanwhile, cook potatoes in small saucepan of boiling salted water just until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain. Add potatoes and capers to tomato-artichoke sauce; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Season to taste with coarse salt and pepper.

DO AHEAD: Tomato-artichoke sauce can be made up to 6 hours ahead. Cool slightly, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm sauce before continuing.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Pour tomato-artichoke sauce into 13×9x2-inch glass baking dish. Using back of spoon, make 8 evenly spaced indentations in sauce for holding eggs. Crack 1 egg into each indentation in sauce (some of eggs may run together slightly in spots). Bake until egg whites and yolks are softly set, 12 to 16 minutes. Carefully remove baking dish from oven; sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over and serve.

Enjoy!

How fabulously glamorous did everyone look at the 82nd Academy Awards last night? I can’t remember the last time that I was so smitten with so many dresses. I am obsessed with golds and champagnes for formal occasions, so I’m sure you can imagine my delight when diva after diva exited limousines in my color of choice!

Without question, my number one favorite from head to toe was Sandra Bullock – was it her night to shine or what?! She actually looked like an Oscar in her Marchesa dress…but an Old Hollywood, super feminine version. While every other starlet had her hair pulled back into a bun of some sort – which I do love, it’s sleek and you can see faces – she had a smooth slight wave that made me want hair extensions. And the red lips? You know it was a hit at Southern Protocol. The dress was shiny, which usually makes me nervous, but all in all I adored everything about her look.

Miley Cyrus’s Jenny Packham dress was amazing in and of itself, but it really was not a great fit on her. I’m pretty sure her chest isn’t overly large, so why she couldn’t bare to go up a cup size in the top is beyond me! I do love the juxtaposition of the structured corset and flowing, sparkly bottom – but her thick makeup made her look much older than she really is. Still, I would kill to just wear that dress around my house for a day!

Demi Moore makes me extremely anxious about aging…because I know that no matter how much I pray about looking half as flawless as she does at age 47, it’s just not going to happen. Her showstopping Versace dress was an unbelievably perfect color for her; monochrome with her skin without washing her out, and hugely fluffy while still hugging her enviable figure.

Based solely on principle, I find myself liking anything Chanel. Case in point: upon seeing Sarah Jessica Parker last night, I was a bit “eh, that fits her like a sack, don’t like it.” Fast forward to when she sweetly chirped that it was vintage Chanel, and my opinion somehow morphed into one of “well I guess it IS interesting and pretty!” Final decision: it is a cool dress, but it was so ill-fitting on her.

So happy with the turnout last night! I can’t wait for all the tabloids to come out with the after party outfits…THOSE are always a sight to behold!

We couldn’t be happier to extend our love and congratulations to Catherine and Erik Ricketson, our gorgeous and so-in-love couple that tied the knot this past Saturday at the Creek Club in I’On. The day was absolutely unforgettable, and the romantic, whimsical atmosphere the bride envisioned was perfect with the modern lines of the Creek Club (recently renovated!)

Huge, fluffy flowers, romantic scented candles (as decor and favors, too), granny smith apples hiding in centerpieces, and a beautifully simple cake were the details that made Catherine and Erik’s dream wedding happen. We couldn’t be happier for the two of them, and wish them a safe trip back to DC!

Special thanks to the one-of-a-kind vendors that helped make Saturday great:
Beyond Expectations Catering
Stems
Amelia Claire’s Sweets and Treats
Peter Finger Photography
(pictures featured on blog courtesy of Jennifer Bearden, who came to get some detail shots for us before the guests arrived!)

While relaxing and feeling uber-trendy at Bin 152 on King last week (which, incidentally, ALL of you need to check out – its rustic, cozy feel and knoweldgable owner and staff make for a great night on the town), our table got a draft of something fabulous. Was it wine? No. Was it the cheese platters? No.

It was the perfume of a woman who kept walking by our table. Eventually, perhaps it was the vino that gave us courage, we just had to know the name of the light as air perfume – so we asked! The answer? Dolce and Gabbana’s Light Blue, and my mom went out and bought it at Sak’s the next day.

So many currently popular perfumes are WAY too over the top in their scents; too floraly, too musky, too something. Either that, or they fade away within an hour and you can’t smell the expensive eau de toilet you put on that morning. Light Blue is fresh and long lasting – and we weren’t the only ones asking the lady the name of her signature scent! With notes of rose, jasmine, musk and apple you’re sure to be noticed walking into a room, too.

I know we’ve already done the Cocktail of the Month, but I ran across this picture-perfect cocktail on a Southern Protocol favorite website, Glam.com. How absolutely hilarious are those bow ties?! Instead of grabbing the same old-same old bottle of wine this Sunday night, try this much more festive option and you’ll really impress your guests.

Gold Dusted Black Licorice Martini
2 parts vanilla vodka
1 part Black Sambuca

Shake with lots of ice, strain. Garnish with black licorice and gold dust (which can be found at any craft store in the baking section). And of course you HAVE to decorate them with the black bows, which can also be found at any craft store. Cheers!

Our friends over at adorable bridal boutique Maddison Row have planned quite the social butterfly calendar for this month, affectionally calling their string of events March Madness. They’re hosting everything from trunk shows to charity benefits, and of course capping it all off with their glamorous Charleston Fashion Week Bridal Couture show. See below for the full calendar of events with their descriptions!

March 13th and 20th: Cinderella Project Charleston
Volunteers needed to help every economically challenged Charleston teenage girl get the dress of her dreams for spring dances.

March 12th and 13th: Carolina Herrera Trunk Show
Show-stopping, Old Hollywood bridal gowns? Enough said! Make your appointment ASAP.

March 20th and 21st: Carol Hannah Whitfield (of Project Runway) Trunk Show
Come meet the sweetheart designer that made Charleston proud! It’s the designer’s first signature bridal collection trunk show, so you won’t want to miss out.

March 20th: the Maddison Row and Bella Bridesmaid runway show for CFW
1:05 sharp! Get tickets here.

As if going to Milan wouldn’t be enough of a fairy tale for any fashionista, sassy clothing line Moschino opens its very own hotel this month – one that is inspired by fantasy and fairy tales – in an old neoclassical railway station in Italy’s fashion capital. Maison Moschino is the hotel of dreams.

The hotel is absolutely stunning both inside and out! It boasts a huge lobby, bar, fitness center, 65 rooms and some junior suites. And because it would just not be good enough to have 65 identical rooms, all numbered 1-65 – yawn – there are six different types, all with their own themes. There are a wide variety of fairy tale inspired rooms: “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Sleeping in a Ballgown” (with the latter complete with a glam ballgown-inspired headboard), the “Forest” room (with tree branches spanning the walls)…the list goes on and gets more jaw dropping with each room.

The rates are obviously pretty pricey – for the most basic of rooms, “The Classic”, it’s 270 euros per night. Eek! But a girl can dream and marvel over the sheer glamour of a designer-decorated Milan hotel, right? Right.

I realized this morning that this March in particular isn’t just about tiny men in green suits with gold, but also about tea parties and mad hatters…yes, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland premieres next week! The fashion world has taken this movie in stride, filling shelves and online stores with limitless amounts of Alice-inspired trinkets and clothing.

OPI has now jumped down the rabbit hole, too (haha! It’s definitely a Monday…) and released an Alice in Wonderland inspired early spring collection. The colors are a tad reminiscent of the colors I chose circa 7th grade, but they are spot-on for the wackiness that is sure to Tim Burton’s take on the classic story.

And as always, half of OPI’s success comes from their cheeky names; this collection doesn’t disappoint: Off With Her Red!, Mad as a Hatter, Absolutely Alice and Thanks So Muchness. Festive!

More and more articles are written these days promising that you don’t have to drop serious cash to get a decent bottle of wine. Especially when many people are being a bit more attached to their pocketbooks, this is a great thing!

A great example of a bargain wine that a friend just turned me onto is Red Diamond. The Washington winery prides itself on creating bold wines in an approachable style. Their Cabernet Sauvignon is a new favorite of mine – and I am not even a big red wine drinker. Red Diamond describes its popular cab as “aromas of cassis and licorice with hints of leather that precede a rich, velvety-textured palate of red fruit jam and a sweet touch of toasty oak on the long finish.”

That’s a long, detailed explanation that sounds fabulously fancy – I just think it tastes good! And the best part? It can be found in most regular grocery stores, and only costs around $11 or $12. Cheers!

These particular coasters have popped up in gift boutiques and home decor retailers across the country, and they make the perfect conversation starter while simultaneously protecting your mahogany coffee table!

The flimsy material coasters have vintage photographs that look like they were just pulled from your great aunt’s albums, matched with hilarious taglines. The two in the picture above read “You kids put that homework away! These cocktails aren’t gonna refill themselves.” and “you’re just like your mother, except your mother has morals.” Love it.

The widest variety I’ve seen is on mikwright.com, and the website has an ENORMOUS amount of other hilarious odds and ends. These coasters are such a funny, cute way to add some personality to your home – and the perfect gift for any hostess!

It’s the month of leprechauns! I realize much more happens in March than the March 17th holiday, but Irish culture is so rich and fun that I thought a taste of the week honoring it would be perfect. I have always loved Irish Soda Bread, and love it even more when it is a recipe with raisins. As it turns out, a recipe with raisins is not technically traditional Irish Soda Bread (that version is called Spotted Dog), but it’s just so tasty I wanted to use it anyway!

Irish Soda Bread with Raisins (courtesy of Cathy Lowe)
-2 cups flour
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-1.5 tablespoons sugar
-6 tablespoons solid shortening (Crisco recommended)
-2/3 cup raisins, brown or golden or mixed
-2 teaspoons caraway seeds
-1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and sugar. Using a pastry blender or just your fingertips, work the shortening into the flour until the consistency is the same as that of small peas. Stir in the raisins and caraway seeds and mix to distribute evenly. Gradually stir in buttermilk, 1/4 cup at a time, using only enough to allow the dough to come together. Knead the dough for 1-2 minutes. Shape the dough into a round loaf and place on a greased baking sheet. Cut an X on the top and over the sides of the loaf. Bake for 45 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a rack.

Perfect for a snack, breakfast or even dessert, and is best when served warm. Enjoy!