Weekend Glimpse

There was a little party at my house this past weekend! A dear friend was having a birthday, so we threw together a little informal surprise party. It was such fun!

Please ignore the Christmas tree that is in the pictures below. I am lazy.

 Party hats and confetti, waiting.

 Table set.

 Confetti fun.

 Hiding, about to surprise the guest of honor.

 The birthday girl, surprised!

 Party hats.

 Birthday candles.

Confetti, everywhere.

I'll have some more photos in a few days, showing off the lovely cake and other such things.

Not pictured:

- chicken pot pie

- tiny gold stars

- ICP planning

- Jimmy John's

- sunshine

- suitcases

- cat snuggles

- baby shower

Weekend Glimpse: Christmas Soirée

This past weekend we had our annual Christmas Soirée, and it was just wonderful. I love hosting this party, and every year seems to be more fun than the last.

I did take plenty of photos, but the lighting in my house is abysmal at night, and there was no time for staging the food, so I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos.

First up, and most importantly, the sweets!

From top:
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
- Vanilla Bean Marshmallows with Dark Chocolate
- Vanilla and Raspberry Cake Truffles
- Nutella Berry Bruchetta (modified: no salt, mint, almonds)
- Sponge Candy
- Meringue Kisses
- Lacy Brandy Snaps

And then for the savory treats:

From top:
- Pork Tenderloin Sliders
- Parmesan Bacon Pinwheels
- Peppers and Pasta Skewers
- Crab Rangoon
- Prosciutto and Camembert
- Feta and Sundried Tomatoes with Pretzel Crisps (not pictured)

And then the drinks:

From top:
- Sparkling Cranberry Blackberry Punch
- Ice Water with Limes
- Peach Sangria (modified)

A few dark shots of food set-up:

And last but not least, our dear guests!

 Lovely ladies talking

 More lovely ladies

 My sweet friend Michelle and I... she was an angel and helped me for hours getting ready for the party. I also had a friend help me clean, another helped me prep food, and several helped lay everything out... I am so grateful for their assistance!

 Sponge Candy and menfolk

 Christmas tree and Heather's head

The guys enjoyed a roaring fire outside.

There you have it! I can't wait for next year.

Autumn Place Settings

I can't believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner! I'll be hosting a small dinner this year, and have been planning my tablescape. I haven't nailed down the place settings yet, but here's some lovely examples I've been inspired by...

Source: marthastewart.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Source: jennysteffens.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Robyn on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Colleen on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Alexis on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Erin on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Jeani on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Erin on Pinterest

Autumn Tablescape

I had the pleasure of helping design the table for our Italian feast, and it was great fun. The hostess and I decided to steer away from the typical autumn color scheme, and went with cool tones of purples, blues, greens, and black.

A bouquet from the farmer's market supplied plenty of pretty posies, supplemented with a few greens clipped from my garden.

Small circles of wood, stacked and scattered down the center of the table, provided the perfect base for our woodland tablescape. Bits of dried moss tucked in here and there completed the look.

We added a few mercury glass votives, and the candlelight did it's magic.

The table was set with blue and white dishes, mismatched green glasses, silverware with blackened handles, and deep blue linen napkins.

Mini pumpkins, spray-painted with chalkboard paint, made the perfect placecards. I sent each guest home with a bit of chalk so they could decorate their pumpkin how they wished.

I love how the table turned out!

Italian Feast

This past weekend we enjoyed an Italian feast with friends. Each couple took a course, and we each presented and served it in turn. It was marvelous evening, to say the least.

The menu:
Appetizer: Antipasto di Terra: Fagottino al Provolone
Salad: Insalata Caprese
Bread: Focaccia with Rosemary and Shallots
Pasta: Ravioli: Sausage & Spinach with Lemon Basil Oil, Artichoke & Bacon with Roasted Heirloom Pepper Sauce, and Butternut Squash with Garlic Parmesan Cream.
Entrees: Chicken Bryon and Beef with Mushrooms (can't remember the name!)
Dessert: Zeppoles with Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Cream and Plum Sauce
Drinks: Frescos and Espresso

And now a visual feast for you (all the awesome photos by Micah Coston)...

I highly suggest hosting a dinner like this with your friends... it's a great way to try new dishes or cuisines without too much pressure on one person!

Book-themed Baby Shower

I just stumbled across this lovely book-themed baby shower on MarthaStewart.com. As a lover of literature myself, I adore this idea. Check out the details...

And the best part is, dear Martha gives you the entire party plan. I know this is a dream come true for you timid party-planners! There's DIY instructions for the decorations, which include a mini-book garland and covered books. A nursery-rhyme menu is included, complete with recipes. My absolute favorite? Free printable invitations, bookplates, and bookmarks designed by my beloved Rifle Paper Co.

This would be a wonderful theme to adapt for a birthday party! It could also be a great option for a second baby when the usual essentials aren't needed but you still want a little party.

Click here for the full party plan from MarthaStewart.com!