Party Girl

If there's one thing we WASPs know and love, it's cocktail parties.

Give us social patter, hors d'oeuvres, and something to sip on -- we'll take it from there.

Little soirees like this are so easy to host. You can even throw one on a school night!

A few haute tips:

1. Stock the bar, but don't go overboard. Serve wine, beer, vodka, and mixers. (And hey, if your friend who drinks bourbon asks what he can bring, say, "How about a bottle of Makers?")

2. The night before the bash, set out a couple of silver serving trays, glasses, an ice bucket, and your monogrammed linen cocktail napkins.

3. On the day of the party, run to the market at lunchtime and grab provisional nibbles. Shamelessly use the fridge at work to house those treats until you're ready to bolt at 5:00 p.m.

4. For weeknight partying, I suggest making one killer appetizer and buying everything else. For example, you might serve Prosciutto, Fig & Mascarpone Bruchetta (see recipe below). Supplement with crackers, a couple of different cheeses, olives, and those fabulous salt-and-pepper cashews from Trader Joe's.

5. Dim the lights, crank up the iPod, and have a Thursday night blast!

Prosciutto, Fig & Mascarpone Bruschetta

Note: This recipe is adapted from a wonderful blog last updated in 2008. Kirsten, if you're reading this, I hope it's OK to use this photo. I miss your delectable posts!

• Ciabatta bread (or any crusty bread)
• Prosciutto
• Black mission figs (though any dried fig will do)
• Mascarpone cheese (there's no substitute for this)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• One clove of garlic, peeled and sliced in half
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Slice the bread into bruschetta-sized pieces. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, and toast at 350 until warm and slightly crisp. (Note: If you have a grill or a grill pan, use it as a tasty alternative to toasting in the oven.)

Remove the toasts from the oven or grill and rub them with the garlic clove (as Kirsten says, just to scent the bread). Spread each piece with mascarpone. Top with sliced figs, prosciutto, another tiny drizzle of olive oil, and freshly ground pepper.

Enjoy!

Five Preppy Picks

Is it just me, or are we headed for a very pink and green spring?

1. These cute boots make me long for a rainy day. Even the bow is waterproof, people.

2. Check out Milly for Clinique. Race (or click) over to Bloomingdales by February 21 to score this bag.

3. We all love Trina Turk's dresses, but have you seen her housewares? I could do a whole room around this pillow.

4. Take note of this fabulous Calvin Klein frock paired with monochromatic makeup. Bravo, Kate Bosworth. Bra-vo.

5. Finally, here's a darling Lilly top that just begs for crisp white slacks, gold jewelry, and a cocktail!

Greek Tragedy

Oh. My. Goddess.

Have y'all heard about the sorority drama unfolding at Cornell?

If not, Google the words "Pi Phi" and "dress code." The blogosphere is all aflutter.

Cornell Sorority Issues ABSURD Dress Code Guidelines

In Ithaca, sisterhood is pronounced 'no muffin tops!'

Crazy-*$$ dress code

When I first heard about this, I thought these were guidelines for everyday living, which would be straight out of Mean Girls. In fact, they're rules about what to wear for rush, issued by the rush chair, and organized according to each round of parties.

Thanks to the wonder of the Internet, you can read the whole manifesto here.

Admittedly, the girl who wrote this is opinionated, shrill and demanding. Hilariously so. But if memory serves, sorority rush chairs are always mad dictators who obsess over details. It's part of the gig.

What makes this so funny is her deathly serious delivery ("These are life lessons so read carefully") manner ("I'm going to be doing dress checks...") and specificity ("no weird accessories like plastic glittery butterflies").

This does present a bit of a PR situation for the sorority, and for Cornell. Perhaps celebrity Pi Phi Jennifer Garner would like to weigh in.

Every teeny thing that happens in college is such. a. huge. deal.

Personally, I'm just relieved to be a grown-up. Well out of school and free of all this undergraduate hoo-ha.

Whether or not I wear pearls today is solely up to me.

Haute Idea

Grey's Anatomy actress Melissa George is one smart starlet.

She and a pal invented HemmingMyWay, a set of adhesive snaps that allow you to alter your own jeans or pants in an instant.

For daytime, tack up long, glamorous jeans and wear them with flats. At night, simply un-snap them and pair the same jeans with your highest heels.

Genius! And it complements my preferred method of getting dressed, which is to start with swoon-worthy shoes and work my way up.

Just goes to show that all our brilliant ideas are worth pursuing. If you've got one, get moving.

Hope your week is chic and inspired!

Chic and Eek: Workout Edition

I don't know about you, but my workout gear is pretty basic. Stretchy black yoga pants. Tiny tank tops. Sporty underpinnings. Chanel sunglasses.

Shows you what I know. These days, celebs are adding a dash of Lady Gaga to their excercise ensembles.

Y'all will be longing for Jennifer Love Hewitt (she of the bikini-clad tennis match) once you feast your eyes upon Venus Williams.

And how about Katy Perry, leaving her dance class still dressed for the Moulin Rouge?

(Side note: Check out the rock on her finger! It seems she is indeed engaged to AnnabelManners.com alum Russell Brand.)

Thank goodness for Reese Witherspoon, who looks reassuringly adorable before, during, and after all athletic pursuits.

That monogrammed tote bag alone gives me hope.

Stars. They really are just like Us!

Birthday Bother

Hi Annabel,

I hope that you can help with this. My daughter is going to turn 7 soon. Her birthday is on Feb. 14. Every year we have a party, and people inevitably give her Valentine-themed gifts. Heart necklaces, pink and red clothing, etc. We are all just "over" it, including my daughter. I know that it is Valentine's Day, but it's also her birthday. The rest of the year, we attend birthday parties for kids who get normal presents that they are excited about and we always try to pick out something really thoughtful and nice.

I am working on the invitation and my question for you is, can I put something on there that politely asks people not to bring heart-shaped gifts? How should I phrase it?

Thanks!!

Fed-Up Mom

Dear Fed-Up,

That's a tricky one. Of course you want your little girl to have a fabulous, memorable birthday that isn't overshadowed by any other holiday or event. You want people to celebrate her (instead of the fact that Target just slashed prices on Valentine's Day gear).

Alas, I'm afraid there's no polite way to dissuade guests from bringing any particular type of gift. When someone gives you a present, good manners demand that you unwrap it and say thank you, even if it's the lamest/laziest/sorriest/most short-sighted thing you've ever seen.

My only bright idea is to identify an incongruous theme and weave it into every element of party planning.

Katie's just crazy about mermaids!

Dive into the fun -- please join us for a birthday party under the sea!

People will be less likely to arrive with Valentine's Day gifts (though you may end up with countless mermaid dolls and DVDs).

Another thought is to organize her birthday around an activity (like karaoke, dress-up, or watching a new princess movie) that gently steers guests toward gifts inspired by the party rather than the date.

Last of all, you might consider celebrating early or late. Have a family party on the 14th, then invite your daughter's friends over a few days later. Surely nobody will bring Valentine's Day presents to a party scheduled for February 20...

Hope that helps!

Graciously yours,

ANNABEL MANNERS

P.S. Love the little dress pictured above? Click here.

Got an etiquette question? Send it to annabel@annabelmanners.com!

Divine Dresses

Oh, but I love this time of year. It's not a question of whether there will be enough breathtaking gowns to satisfy my darling readers, but rather which ones to showcase.

Today's favorite by great leaps and bounds? Anne Hathaway in Paris for Fashion Week. (Excellent illustration of my beloved three Fs: fit, fabric and form.)

Then there's Rachel Weisz looking chic as ever at an awards ceremony in London.

Kate Hudson thoroughly redeemed herself at the SAG Awards after a shaky showing at the Golden Globes.



And my heavens, how about Diane Kruger! This glam slam is reminiscent of my #1 Oscar getup of all time.



In a related story, I'm dying to try this on, just to see. Baby blue is my color, y'all.

Can someone please explain why it's a gazillion dollars? And why I'm not even a tiny bit cross with Michael Kors over this minor impediment?