REVIEW: celebraTORI

celebraTORI

Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to Entertain Friends and Family

by Tori Spelling
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (April 3, 2012)

Let me start off by saying, I heart Tori Spelling.  She's funny, witty, down to earth and quite crafty.  Truly, she seems like the bff next door... except oh yea, she grew up in mansion!

In Tori's fifth book, celebraTORI, she gives any girl next door all the tips and tricks needed to become the party planning superstar of the neighborhood!   The book starts off with an introduction from Tori detailing just how "a party planner is born" and includes some old family photos (I love the personal touch on everything she does).  She then tells us how "style and budget make friends" - did I mention I heart Tori?  She may have grown up with a family who thought nothing of spending ridiculous amounts of money for a single party or event, but Tori is the creative, DIYer!  She writes, "Spending huge amounts of money on a few hours of fun when you have three kids to put through school and life - it's just not practical.  We can't live frivolously - we need to save.  I like finding less expensive ways to achieve the effect I want."  Amen sister!

celebraTORI is divided into eight main chapters: Essentials, Getting Started, Decor, Flowers, Food and Drink, The Dessert Table, Finishing Touches, and The Parties.  No detail is left untouched, right from creating the guest list and setting the budget through the party activities and favors.  celebraTORI is full of do's and don'ts, Tori's personal favorites, and endless how-to's.  Some of my favorite of the how-to's are:

• Tulle Balls... Fancy up any space with some cardboard and a few yards of tulle fabric.  They'll pretty up an adult party and make any young Princess feel extra special.
• Let Them Eat Cake Martini recipe... A mix of vanilla vodka, pineapple & cranberry juices, agave nectar, half & half and amaretto = yum-o!
• Cupcake Cone... When Tori demonstrated these on the Rachael Ray Show, I was hooked!  They might be meant for the kids, but I want one!  In fact, I just might have to try Tori's Red Velvet Cupcake recipe and make them into Cupcake Cones.

If you're still thinking "a fancy party planning book from a celebrity is not for me," let me just say Tori's crafty and realistic approach comes through all throughout celebraTORI.  She mixes and matches, uses what she already has, makes what she needs and is all about the food being mini and easy.  What other celebrity author would admit "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Lipton onion soup mix, combined with sour cream, is still my favorite dip, hands down."  The photography throughout celebraTORI is fun and inspirational. Tori's family and friends appear throughout the book, adding a personal touch and a look into her life. 

If what you want in a party planning book is all of the ideas - from invitations and menu to activities and favors - for a particular theme party, Tori includes four in celebraTORI: Cowboys and Lace Party,  Do-It-Yourself Spa Brunch, Game Night, and Cocktails in Caftans.  Don't they all sound fun?  Pick up a copy of celebraTORI today and get your party on!   

About the Author: Tori Spelling is an actress whose career spans theater, television, and film. She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sTORI telling, Mommywood and uncharted terriTORI.  Tori both starred in and executive produced the comedy series So NoTORIous on VH1 and the popular reality series Tori & Dean: Inn Love and Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood on Oxygen. Tori lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Dean McDermott and their three children, Liam, Stella and Hattie (they also have a number of furbabies).  Baby #4 is due in October.  Check out her website & blog here!