Tag: party plan

Feel Good Friday, Hope Wissel, Tasty Tuesday Recipes

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

Hope Wissel

The term “charcuterie” refers to the preparing of cured meats, like prosciutto, bacon, salami, etc., but these days when people say charcuterie, they are usually referring to a fun, meat and cheese board.

It is a perfect way to nosh yummy goodies over a glass of wine, a cocktail, or even a mocktail.  It’s a fun way to get creative and add pops of color to your menu to impress your guests. From the board up, here’s how to make an epic charcuterie board.  Whether you are hosting a party or enjoying a family movie night, these are alway a lot of fun.

 

THE BOARD

You don’t have to get fancy here! A simple flat, sturdy surface will work—in any shape or size. You’re going to add layers of goodness on top, so any wooden cutting board, platter, or plate will do the trick.

COLOR & TEXTURE

What makes a great board pop is layers of color and texture. Think bright: reds, greens, yellows, and oranges—strawberries, cherries, olives, sliced peppers—and texture, shiny and smooth, along with rough and edgy—think figs, crackers, and dips.

START WITH DIPS

These are essential – they deliver the extra punch of flavor to each bite. Put your dips in small bowls, along with olives and pickles, cubed cheeses, jellies, and mustards, placing them on your board first, then build the rest of the ingredients around them. This will anchor your ingredients and you can use different shapes and sizes to add depth and variety.

Try:

Nacho Cheese Dip Mix – best served with tortilla chips, salsa, and sour cream

Ooey Gooey Queso Hot Dip – serve with tortilla chips, pretzel bites, veggies

CCB Dip – delicious with raw vegetables, potato chips, or crackers

MEAT & CHEESE

Have fun with the style here—serve cheese in cubes, slices, and wedges, including brie, bleu, fresh cheese, and cheddar. Genoa Salami, Italian Dry Salame, Peppered Salami, Prosciutto are great additions to your board—variety is what will make it stand out! You can even wrap Prosciutto around pickled asparagus spears and layer them on the board. Don’t forget your

CRACKERS, CHIPS & BREAD

This part is important – the delivery vehicle for all that goodness! Try to add two to four different kinds here. Get fresh baguette from your local bakery and make home-made chips and crackers to really take this over the top! We love the versatility of Whole-Grain Rosemary Crackers because you can make them with sesame, sunflower, or chia seeds in place of the flax seeds in the recipe…or a combo of all three!

Whole-Grain Rosemary Crackers – pictured

Everything Bagel Crackers

Pita Chips

FRUIT, VEGGIE & GARNISH

After you’ve stacked your board with your bread, chips, and crackers, it’s time to fill in the gaps with fresh fruit, veggies, and garnishes. There are no rules here! Just go with what you have on-hand, and what makes sense to you! Apple slices and grapes are obvious choices, but you can go nuts here—really! Add almonds, walnuts, cashews, along with apricots, kumquats, and more! The possibilities are endless. Garnish with fresh rosemary, mint, or parsley to add that festive green colour.

And, one last tip, try to add something sweet, savoury, salty, and spicy to every board to perfectly balance the experience and suit every taste in your bubble!

What are your best tips for making “boards”?  With summer coming, what will you add to yours to make it POP?  Share your ideas with us…

Have an Epic Day!

Business Tips and Tricks, Hope Wissel, Relax, Reflect, Recharge

What is Your Passion?

Hope Wissel

The New Year triggers LOTS of talk about setting BIG goals, and following your passion.  So, what are you passionate about?

Passion is defined as: a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.

 

Sadly, for me……I feel like my MS has stolen this from me.  😦  I have always kicked off January excited about what the year would bring…. Over the years, my passion for things has changed – I have to admit I don’t think I was really passionate about anything (or at least I don’t remember) until I started volunteering with the South Jersey AIDS Alliance.  That is when I started to understand what the word passion was all about.  My passion for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS continues even 25+ years later.  It may not be as evident now but there was a time when everyone knew it was my passion. Then my passion became a larger group of underserved populations (the homeless, the underemployed, etc.) when I began working for Bethel, a non-profit with a soup kitchen, food pantry and many other programs.  Making a difference in the lives of people was what I wanted to do……

Then Thirty One entered my life.  In the beginning it was just a hobby then it became a passion. Sparks are flamed by my hostesses, my customers and my team.  it brought in a steady income and allowed me to make a difference in the lives of others.  Now, 10+ years later, my passion seems to be smoldering.  As I kick off the new year…..I can’t seem to latch on to a goal or get excited.  I still LOVE ❤ ThirtyOne and the life it has given me yet I am struggling.  I know I can still make a difference, but I need to figure out how.

Did I let Satan steal my passion?  Or is God leading me towards another path?  You may know what I mean – those days when nothing feels right, no excitement or joy in what you are doing, just kind of going through the motions.  These days I always wonder…….is this an MS thing, or a recovery issue?  I ask for guidance and yet nothing comes, WAIT, right?  God’s time, not mine.  Can I stamp my feet & throw a tantrum?  Will it get me the answers?  LOL. Probably not.  I feel like it would take longer to hear them.

I’m enjoying cooking again – the new bigger kitchen combined with trying new recipes created the spark.  I don’t always understand how you can be creative when you have to cook dinners every night?  I never knew how good I had it.  When Belinda was growing up, it could be the same thing multiple nights since there was always a practice (gymnastics, field hockey or cheering) to rush off to.  When I moved in with hubby, he worked night shift so I only needed to cook 2 meals per week.  Yes, I was spoiled and didn’t even know it.  LOL.  Fast forward to retirement and a BIG (okay big for me) kitchen and I am enjoying trying new things and sharing about them.  Is it a passion?  Who knows – some days it seems like it and then some days it seems like a chore?

Creating angels and sewing has become another new escape.  I am exploring.  I have the Etsy store which does okay and I am booking craft shows on a limited basis for the spring.  Creating sparks another part of my brain which helps with my MS issues too.  I also love hearing the stories of why people pick certain angels as they talk about family and friends.

Working through the steps in my recovery, and learning about me is an ongoing journey.  I’m reading again too – light things which don’t take much thought.  I’m learning MS has stolen many of my emotions and feelings while in my addiction I stuffed the feelings.

I came across an old link from John Maxwell’s word of the day which was PASSION.  Click the link to hear him talk about this AWESOME word. it will definitely trigger some thoughts…

Whether it is your business or something in your life……. I ask you again – what are YOU passionate about?  I would love to hear about it.  Share your passion with us.

Have an Epic  day!

Hope Inspires, Hope Wissel, Making a Difference

Thirty-One Gives

Hope Wissel

At Thirty-One, giving is part of who we are

The name Thirty-One comes from Proverbs 31, which describes a community-oriented woman who gives back and helps others. From the start, community and giving have been at the heart of every decision we make as a company. As Thirty-One grew, we realized we had the power to make a real impact in the world. So, to help us take our mission even further, in 2012 we created Thirty-One Gives, our charitable program. The mission? Empower girls, women and families to build the confidence and self-esteem needed to live a purposeful, thriving life.

Why girls, women and families?

The Thirty-One sales field is a community made up of thousands of women, and we’ve seen firsthand how the opportunity to own an independent business can change lives. We believe confident girls become strong women who lead healthy families and build thriving communities. When women are supported and celebrated, they go on to make a positive impact in the lives of others!

Since its founding, Thirty-One Gives has donated over $100 million in product and cash to charitable organizations that share our mission. From breast cancer research to children’s mental health awareness and support for military families, we’ve forged partnerships with leading national organizations that support important causes near and dear to our heart and to the hearts of our Consultants. 

Giving in action: How we give back

One way we’ve made giving a part of our everyday business is through the Round Up! program. At checkout, every Thirty-One customer has the opportunity to Round Up! their order to the nearest dollar or make a donation of any amount to support our mission. Proceeds from Round Up! benefit a different philanthropic partner each season, allowing us to spread resources and hope to different causes and proving that every cent truly makes a difference.

Between Round Up! and donations of cash and product, we’ve been able to accomplish some pretty amazing things, from donating thousands of dollars to support organizations that combat domestic violence to providing care packages for families with children in the hospital. Not to mention the thousands of fundraisers our Consultants have held to raise money and collect donations for causes they believe in.

A community with heart

Not only is Thirty-One Gives about empowering and giving back to women, girls and families –it’s about relationships. We’re only able to do what we do thanks to the passion of our entire community of Customers, Consultants, Insiders and Home Office employees. If you’ve ever bought a Thirty-One tote or hosted a party with us, you’ve been a part of our giving story. The next time you shop with us, consider rounding up to continue supporting our charitable efforts. When we all work together, we can make a huge difference.


My customers have donated over 500 chemo comfort bags, as well as zipper pouches for our troops, dialysis comfort bags, Easter baskets, Mother’s Day gifts, and supported countless families in the community.  Fundraising opportunities are available.  My next give back program is for Rooted in Love – mini zipper pouches filled with necessities to share some kindness with women who are struggling.

Thank you for helping us to make a difference.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Hope Wissel

Kindness Is Always In Style

Hope Wissel

 

Show it. Wear it. Share it.

Kindness has been our theme for the whole month of February.  Each day, I have challenged my followers to do some act of kindness and the results have been AMAZING!  

A little kindness goes a long way, so why not show it all year long.  You can spread kindness everywhere you go with inspiring, personalized phrases on some of Thirty One’s top-selling styles.

Now you can show your savvy fashion sense and your kind heart to the world. We believe “kindness creates change” and you can help make it happen! Choose from one of our sample phrases below or create your own!

  • Kindness Creates Change
  • Kindness Can Change the World
  • Spread a Little Kindness
  • You are Capable of Amazing Things

 

 

 

Modern Tote in Jade Distressed Pebble w/ Modern Font in White.  If you like BIG classic bags – this one is for you! It has become my all time favorite for every day use.

Around Town® Tote in Chestnut Distressed Pebble w/ Headline Font in White.  Another fan favorite for those who like a large bag but prefer the “north south” direction.  

 

Rubie Mini in Black Distressed Pebble w/ Script Font in White.  You can never have enough minis.. add a wristlet strap and they become a wristlet you can fill with your necessities when you go out.  Use them as a catch all so you can keep those large purses organized.

All About the Benjamins® in Denim Distressed Pebble w/ Inline Message in Off White is one of our top selling wallets.  Enough room for your cards and even your cell phone.  Add a wristlet strap and you are ready to go.

Kindness Is Inspiring Others

Lifting someone up with a message of hope and inspiration is the perfect way to spread kindness. It’s amazing how just a few simple words on a purse, tote or bag can make someone smile and brighten their day. Of course, an inspirational message on a backpack or tote makes an ideal holiday, graduation or birthday gift, too.

Whatever inspirational message you want for your own bag or special gift is up to you. Let your creativity flow! But, in case you need a few ideas, here are a few to get you started.

DREAM BIGGER (shown on Adventures Backpack in Twinkling Plum w/ Rounded Font in Off White)  Be sure to grab one of these backpacks before they are gone at the end of this month. 

Believe in yourself (shown on Essential Storage Tote in Rose Blush Metallic w/ Script Font in Plum) These are perfect for all of your shopping needs.  Did you know TWO Essential Storage Totes will fit inside a Zipper Pouch?

 

Impossible? No. I’m Possible. (shown on Zip-Top Organizing Utility Totein Window Pane Plaid w/ Curled Font in White)

Be a rainbow in someone’s cloud (shown on Takealong Weekenderin Vintage Slate w/ Fun Dots Font in Marigold)

 

 

Let Love Shine (shown on Fresh Market® Thermalin Charcoal Crosshatch w/ Black Font in Aqua) A grocery shopping MUST have especially during the warm summer months.  Our thermals are GREAT for either keeping things HOT or COLD.

Every day is a second chance (shown on Deluxe Utility Tote in Denim Distressed w/ Modern Font in Navy Blue) Did you know that 2 Essential Storage Totes filled will fit in a Deluxe Utility Tote?

This girl is on FIRE (shown on All Packed Duffle in Charcoal Crosshatch w/ Modern Font in Red).  Whether going on a weekend trip, or the gym this is the perfect bag.  It even has a separate compartment for your shoes.    

Need help with an inspirational saying or in picking a product to meet your needs?  Reach out and I will be happy to help!

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 



Products shown are from Fall 2020 season, available from Sept. 1, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021. For more information about product availability, contact your Consultant or go to mythirtyone.com.