Soiree :: halloween + chili cook off

 This weekend we hosted a chili cook-off and Halloween party for the kiddos.  The kiddos didn't disappoint, we had a watermelon, an ice cream cookie sandwich, a ninja turtle, & the little Man went as a mad scientist.  Playing off his costume, I created a mini dessert bar around the concept of a mad scientist's laboratory.  The dessert bar featured candy, 'bones' (pretzels with mini marshmallows dipped in white chocolate), and delicious smores dip.  Guests could take home their treats in mini treat bags that read 'Organs for Transplant'. The laboratory came alive with custom signs, a page from a vintage neuroanatomy textbook, skulls, vials, a doll's face in a mason jar, and a fake heart under a bell jar that sat on top of a copy of Grey's Anatomy (the text book not the TV show). 

 The chili bar included fries (for chili cheese fries), baked potatoes, cornbread, Fritos (for chili cheese nachos in a bag), mini corn dog muffins, cheese, chives, and cream cheese.  Everyone voted on their favorite chili based on the following categories: flavor, aroma, texture, and color, and the winner walked away with the coveted golden spatula.  I added burlap, red plaid, and golden pumpkins to the table to add fall colors and textures, and used wired baskets and a pail as serving baskets to add a rustic feel. It was such a fun way to celebrate fall with our friends, I can't wait to do it again next year!

{Chili Bar sign via}



6 Month Backyard Baby-Q Bash: Featuring a Brownie Sunday Bar

We celebrated the little man's 6 month birthday with a backyard Baby-Q Bash.  While the Mister was busy manning the grill, I set up a super fun and super delicious brownie Sunday bar.  Step one was to pick a container, sugar cone or cup; step 2 was to scoop as much ice cream onto the brownie as desired; step 3 was to add your toppings (which included strawberries, hot fudge, sugar cone crumbs, chocolate chips, sprinkles and of course brownie crumbles), and step 4 was to devour your creation.  I love interactive food stations, they're a great way to involve your guests and have fun with your food. 

Soiree :: Ciao Chitown

Our friends just moved to California last week.  And although we will miss them, we had a blast sending them on their way.  We served some of their favorite Chicago foods & fun desserts, which included truffle cake pops, Sprinkle cupcakes, and a fruit pizza, in the shape of California.  To tie everything together, we created cute signage with the ORD to LAX theme, that included longitude and latitudes of Chicago & Huntington Beach.  And because they'll always be Midwesterner's at heart, we gifted them HOME T-shirts, and this Chicago skyline print for their new home.  Here's the inspiration behind their Ciao Chitown themed party.  And if you're looking for the signs used here you can find them over at our Etsy store.

Cup of Cheer

We hosted our annual ugly sweater/secret Santa/beer & cookie exchange earlier this month, which is always so much fun and so great to see all our friends.  This year we featured a "Cup of Cheer" hot cocoa bar.  The toppings included: large marshmallows dipped in chocolate, white and dark chocolate stirrers, cinnamon, whipped cream, Bailey's Irish Cream, mini marshmallows, Ghirardelli's peppermint bark, with candy canes & Pirouette cookies as stirrers.  The hot cocoa mix was handmade, it was featured on last week's Tasty Thursday, & on CNB's daily dose, and I purchased those adorable clear mugs on Amazon.  My wining combination: 2 tablespoons of hot cocoa mix, a white chocolate stirrer, whip cream, and a dash of cinnamon.