Host with the Most

Today we had Jes answer one of the hardest questions posed to someone hosting an event. What are your top 10 tips to being a fabulous host and still have fun? This is a difficult task but check out Jes' great tips and tricks below.

1. Give yourself a budget, but be sure to not only put your cash into décor and food but possibly into hiring some supportive event staff like a bartender or someone to help you clean up in the kitchen! This will make your life uber easy and freed up to be a phenomenal host!

2. Do what you know and what you do well!! Don’t try to cook Indian food if you never have before for your first time hosting a party.

3. Dress comfortably but show yourself off as the host. If you’re going to try to pull off those seven-inch heels while hosting an event you are either stupid or a gladiator from roman times. Dress so you feel like a rock star but be comfortable and who you are normally; just raise the bar a bit. If you’re into the all black look, go ahead and rock out a hot pink shoe or an awesome feather in your hair to let your guests know that you are the woman to know!

4. Make things simple on yourself. Pre-prepare anything you can in terms of food etc. you can freeze items and defrost when its party time and pre mix some cocktails too. Do as much as you can before party so you can relax and be with your friends.

5. Check out your surroundings and make sure your environment is party ready. If you’ve had a running toilet, fix it because you know that puppy will choose to break during your event. If you have major valuables that you don’t want your drunken friends to mess up, by all means hide them!

6. Create “no enter zones” in your home. Just because you invited folks over, it doesn’t mean that they are welcome to look in your underwear drawer.

7. If you are having an outdoor event, be sure to turn off your sprinkler system a few days before your event. Your ground will be a mud bath if you don’t. Be sure you have proper bug repellents, and outdoor lighting as well.

8. Make the invitation process easy! Go electronic or if you go with paper, make sure you keep track of your RSVP’s with an excel spreadsheet constantly. It’s very important to know who is coming to your party because it will affect your supply level, and yes its okay to do an electronic invite for a cocktail gathering.

9. When pouring the libations do small pours. If your guests are going to be there a while make sure the alcohol flows but doesn’t flood! A bottle of wine should server at least 4-6 guests and cocktails should be mixed with quick shots of alcohol not a lingering long lasting shot. Trust me, you will be happy you did this!

10. Don’t let guests leave your party drunk!!!! Whether you believe this or not, you are legally liable for anyone who leaves your event wasted and worse yet in a car crash. Be sure to have a trustworthy taxi cab service on hand.

I know this is beyond 10, but my last tip is to HAVE FUN!! Why go through all this shit if you aren’t going to have a good time?

Photo Credit: Mad Men AMC

Jes' Invites to Remember

This was a doggie vest Save the Date, so obviously Jes loved it!

With Spring in full bloom and Summer just around the corner parities and entertaining is at the front of everyone's mind. The first impression guests get of your party is the invitation so unique ideas are the best way to show the events style from the very beginning. Below are some of Jes's Favorite and most memorable invites from events she has designed and produced!

- We designed a great invitation for the launch of a new razor. Instead of paper invitations, we sent out gorgeous girls with long legs in short shorts who rode around Manhattan on pink Vespa scooters, personally delivering an invitation to each guest in the form of a razor with the details printed on it. The idea made quite an impression - the attendance rate was phenomenal, thanks to those leggy girls!

- For a one-year-old's birthday party invitation, we created a simple iMovie on a Mac mode from baby pictures and a soundtrack of "When I'm 64" by the Beatles. After the thirty-second slideshow came a page with the party specs. this type of things can be done with PowerPoint too - just e-mail it, send out a flash drive, or burn it onto a DVD.

- For a vodka launch, we sent out carved potatoes. Most people go the super-sexy model route with alcohol, but we had an artist carve the details into an actual potato, as one would using a lino block. You could even make potato prints this way if you ink them up. We sent the potato out in a box with scruffy tissue strands, much like a pet rock.

- There is nothing lovelier than using a child's piece of art as an invitation. To me, this is the most personal, charming invitation one can receive, because after the wow factor dies down from receiving a potato in the mail, all you are left with is the gimmick itself and not a treasured piece of original art.

- if you want your guests to remember your event, you could send out conceptual thank-you cards. We once did an urban awareness event for young twenty-somethings with a sex-ed expert on deck talking about safe sex. To thank them for coming, we sent a replica of a condom package with a real condom inside - hopefully one they added to their already existing collection.

There are more fabulous invite ideas and tips in Jes' book Party Like a Rock Star.

Spring has Sprung

Today with the blue skies and crisp air it really felt like spring! One of the best things about Spring is the feel of celebration in the air. With the warm weather, cute clothes and fresh foods people are just in the mood for a good party. Are you thinking of throwing a seasonal bash soon? Below are some tips from Jes on designing your own Springtime Garden Party!

1. Entertain in a room with natural sunlight, or even better outside! (just be wary of April Showers!)

2. Create small seating areas out of patio furniture or old-fashioned wrought-iron tables and chairs.

3. Use potted plants, like mini potted roses, gardenias, and azaleas, for everything, including your table centerpieces. Hang potted ferns from above, and cover serving areas with natural moss accents. Spring is all about new life and growth so having live plants is ideal.

4. Don't be afraid to get uberfeminine and lush -- use a lace overlay on top of your tablecloth.

5. For another centerpiece idea, grab a mismatched collection of vintage milk-glass vases and glassware to hold blooms. Go ahead and mix up your flatware too, and serve your tea in an eclectic array of antique teacups and saucers.

6. Bring in some butterflies! They don't have to be the real thing, but place silk butterfly accents in all your plant decorations to create a realistic garden atmosphere.

The whole point with a Springtime Garden Party is to embrace the colors, accents, and mood of the beautiful nature around you!

Sparkle!

Check out BizBash's feature on the event here!

This past week we designed and produced a launch event for the new make-up line by Tarina Tarantino exclusively for Sephora. The event took place at Siren Studios in Hollywood and was attended by celebrities, stylists, and industry insiders. Check out the photos below to see some of the amazing features from the party. As always, we love to hear your comments so leave them!

The step-and-repeat where guests talked to press was designed to look like the top of a vanity with the logo inside a huge 10 foot frame. Guests were introduced to the theme from the very start as they walked the red carpet.

Vanities displayed the Tarina Tarantino product. The backdrops are the patterns and characters from her Fashion Collection. The vanities were given more Sparkle by accents of Tarina's jewelry.

As guests walked into the party they were greeted with an oversized image of a girl looking into the "Sparkle Factory" where all of Tarina's creations are made. This image gave guests a feeling of really being inside a huge factory (a pink and sparkly one!) To the right you can see the design for the bars. Each bar was custom designed to look like a vanity. The bartenders served through the mirror frames. Guests LOVED to take photos behind the bars.

Lounge areas gave guests a place to relax while taking in the party. White and mirrored furniture was used and then lit in accents of pink. Amazing octopus chandeliers hung overhead in shades of pink.

Overall the party gave guests a true sense of "Living the Sparkling Life!"

Very Valentine's Cocktails

Last night Jes hosted a twitter party with @Gloss, @UsWeekly, and @Alywalansky and one of our follower's favorite tips were the cocktail recipes from Jes. In case you missed it, check out the drinks below. These are perfect if you are having a sexy V-Day as a couple or celebrating Singles Awareness Day!

Peppermint-Cop-A-Feel

1 1/2 oz. Godiva, Dark Chocolate Liquor

1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps

1 Sprig of Mint

Eros Cocktail

1 1/2 Raspberry Liquor

2 Dashes of Amaretto

1 1/2 oz. Vodka

1 oz. Sour Mix

Hot Lips

2oz. Raspberry Schnapps

2 oz. Vodka

3 oz. Cranberry Juice

Hot-n-Heavy

1 Splash of Dark Rum

1 1/2 oz. Sour Raspberry Pucker

1 1/2 oz. Strawberry Vodka

Fill 1/2 with 7-Up

Fill 1/2 with Cranberry Juice

Cake and Drink it Too

1 1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1 Splash of Pineapple Juice

Flirtini

1 oz. Triple Sec

3/4oz. Vodka

2 oz. Pineapple Juice

Top with Champagne

Jes Hosts a V*Day Twitter Party: Tips, Trends, Style, Advice & Giveaways

RED ROSES, TEDDY BEARS, CANDY GRAMS & BALLOONS? NOT!

Whether you're single, attached or undecided,
Jes can help you plan the V-Day celebration that's perfect for YOU

TWEET LIVE WITH JES
FEBRUARY 11TH
8-10pm EST

presented by
MyGloss.com UsMagazine.com
@mygloss @usweekly

Click here to read our disclaimer.

Beauty 360 Gifting Suite for the Golden Globes

CVS Presents Beauty 360

Golden Globes Gifting Suite

This past weekend we designed and built the set for Beauty 360 as a part of the On3/Access Hollywood Golden Globes Gifting Suite! The suite was a great success and was attended by stars and nominees like Neil Patrick Harris, Jennie Garth, Anna Lynn McCord, Busy Phillips, Shenea Grimes, and many others!

Beauty 360 had a suite with hair by Ric Pipino, make-up by Vincent Longo, facials and skincare by Borba, lashed by Pop Beauty, and nails by Nailtini. Below are some photos from the set, let us know what you guys think!

The set was designed to reflect the clean contemporary look of the Beauty 360s stores.

We had a custom sign made from Lucite for the Beauty 360 logo. The wall glowed blue from behind so the sign was able to glow also.

Ric Pipino provided the hair styling at the event, he was great!

There was a fragrance bar in the center of the set with some of Beauty 360's fragrance offerings.

Borba took care of the skincare at the event and even gave mini-facials to the guests.

Vincent Longo provided the make-up, his products are beautiful!

After about 20 hours straight of building the set Jes was exhausted! We covered her up for a cat-nap with a furniture blanket (she only got 5 mins before we were busy again!)

Today Show Segment

Above is the Jes' holiday entertaining segment from the Today Show. Take a look and let us know what you think in the comments!

Jes in the Press: The Holiday Edition

From ways to channel your inner Don & Betty Draper for a unique twist on the holidays, to the Golden Chair:Guest Ratio, Jes' fresh, cool and uniquely-Jes ideas made her the go-to gal for the December party season!

In addition to live appearances on the TODAY Show, Martha Stewart Radio's Morning Living, Cosmo Radio's Cocktails with Patrick and Sirius' Me & Vinnie, Jes was featured on:

Us Weekly - How to Host a Mad Men-inspired Holiday Party
When fabulous was truly fabulous: Jes' nod to retro Americana...

Us Weekly - Last-Minute Holiday Decorating Tips
Jes predicted it first; the it color of 2010 and other stress-free holiday decor ideas...

Cosmopolitan - 5 Things You Should NEVER Do When Throwing a Party
Prevent a party crash-and-burn by abstaining from these cardinal party sins...

VIV Magazine - Tips for Memorable Entertaining
How to put a signature touch on your party...

MyGloss.com - New Year's Eve: Party Ideas, Recipes and Fun!
MyGloss turned to their resident expert for the latest and greatest in NYE entertaining...

Splendicity.com's Shopaholics Daily - Party On!
Blogger/Girl About Town, @alywalansky joins Jes' NYE Twitter Party festivities...

Woman's Day - Holiday Survival Guide
Jes' tip for a no-fail office Secret Santa gift...

YoungHollywood.com - Party Planner to the Stars Talks Trends
Going green, extra spice and other trends Jes' celebrity clients love...

Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune - the trend: How They Do it in LA
A Thumbs-Up "Party Like a Rock Star" book review...

Rachael Ray.com Official Blog - Jes Talks Trash with RR's Evette Rios
Evette and Jes discuss doing good and designer trash bins at this year's ViPP Bin charity event benefitting DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS)...

La Bella Bride Magazine - Wedding Tips: Mega Bling
Jes' beyond easy (and affordable) tips for adding mega bling to your Big Day...

Today Show Bling!

Jes appeared as a guest on the Today Show Sunday to talk about how to create a fun and fabulous table for entertaining. She shared her ideas with the viewers on creating a table with bling, that is also meaningful and memorable to your guests! Jes covered her table with a beautiful copper (the HOTTEST color in 2010!) tone cloth then added round mirror place-mats with amber plates, silverware, and glassware. She chose stem-less glassware for water and wine the keep the possibility of spillage down! Centerpieces were arranged with bold festive flowers: Gloriosa Lily and Golden Treasure Orchids. The flowers definitely brought the WOW factor and a pop of color to the table. The table was garnished by napkins tied with peacock ribbons, mirrored place cards, amber and gold candle votives, moss balls, glass balls, and amber diamond sea glass.

Behind the Scenes!

Jes and the jesGORDON/properFUN team were invited to NBC Studios to prep the set for Jes' segment on Saturday. It was an exciting yet a very different experience. Jes wasn't allowed to carry or touch any of her props herself. She had to let the Today Show staff unwrap EVERYTHING (even her clippers) and place EVERYTHING on the table. She had to verbally show the guys where and how the flower centerpieces and other decorations were to be placed. HA! Check out some photos from Saturday!

Visitors got to meet Jes!


Jes reviewing questions with Jennifer from the Today Show


This is surreal! They are doing everything for US, we are used to setting everything up ourselves!


Jes working on the centerpieces in the back room.


Jes and the Table!


Everyone at the studio wanted to take the table HOME!

Post by: Christine

Can You Hear Me Now?

Music is such a vital aspect to every party and event. However, especially at a house party it is hard to strike a balance between the volume being loud enough for everyone to hear and blowing people out of the room. One of the best ways to solve this it with Satellite Speakers. You can find great affordable indoor/outdoor options at places like Target and Best Buy. The speakers above are designed to give you top notch sound while withstanding the elements outdoors, and at only $32.98 they are a great deal. Place a couple in every area of the party and no one will feel left out of the vibe!

Jes is the Buzz on ABC

Jes recently appeared in a segment on ABC News Now about how we all can find ways to Party Like a Rock Star. Watch the clip above for some great tips and tricks from Jes on how to turn your holiday party this year into a celeb worthy bash!

BetterTV: Jes shows us how to tap into our inner Rock Star this holiday season...