Weekend fun

I never thought I would say this, but thank god its Monday!? I hope your weekend was every bit as lovely as mine and all of the mommies had a great day.

Our party was smashing success.

 I can safely say that it was the best party we ever had.

Thai chicken

The key was having the kids bouncing happily away in a bounce house and keeping the adults well lubricated and fed. We had crabcakes, salmon and lobster phyllo cups, lamb chops,and these amazing Thai chicken hors d'oeuvres that were a new thing for us.

Mini cupcakes meant that there were no half eaten slices of cake all over the place.

My croquembouche was a bit lopsided.

Last time I made one was for a New year's eve party and it was great. The caramelized sugar did not like the humidity.

The whole thing was exhausting and I ended up wearing bunny ears.

Sunday was a great day to share with my little girl. We saved the present opening until her actual birthday.

THEN, I got to open my mother's day gift!

My husband and I were in an antique shop months ago and I mentioned loving those canisters. The man went back secretly and hid these in anticipation of Mother's day. He gets a gold star.

I also got a handmade card from my 18 year old son that read:

Happy Mother's day

Guess what?.....

Chicken butt.

Awesome.

Shaken not stirred

In a few weeks some good friends from Pennsylvania will be visiting. This will be their first visit to our house in Virginia and we are all excited.
I have been trying to get a few odds and ends together before their arrival. My deck needed a serious "zhush" so that they have a comfortable place to smoke. It will be a rather grown-up sort of weekend so I am glad to have my older kids to care for the little one while we behave badly.

Just to get in the mood I am showing a round-up of bar carts from my Pinterest board Bar Carts.

First is my own set up that will need a little thoughtful stocking.

There are some fabulous carts here.

This is probably my favorite

Which one is your favorite? Do you have a bar cart?

In search of birdbaths ** updated**

Is this Baccarat?

My husband and I have been on a bit of a bubbly kick. 

Three evenings in a row we sampled different proseccos, Italian sparkling wine.

We really like Moet et Chandon but it is a bit much for an any old time cocktail.

We prefer the coupe style glass, or birdbath, to the flute.

Cheapie flutes on the left

I own five birdbath crystal glasses that I could swear I was told are Baccarat.They are really lovely and while I am a firm believer in using fine things if you have them, I am am reluctant to use these on an everyday basis.

We have been using my super cheap flutes that I bought for a buck a piece for a party that never happened. I have no problem using the nicer flutes it's just that we would rather use coupes.

That brings me to my Valentine's day gift idea.

The impossible to shop for husband of mine will be getting new or vintage birdbaths if I can find them in the next 48 hours.

Wish me luck!

Do you use  "the good stuff" regularly?
** UPDATE 13 FEB**

 Yesterday I found a vintage set of four birdbaths at an antique shop. The dealer must wanted to git rid of them because they were marked down to $5!  SCORE!
I wrapped them up for Valentine's day along with an antique book and a vintage monogrammed box just in time to hear my husband open the garage door, that's why I have no pics.

Holiday cocktails

For those of us that did not host Thanksgiving it is nice to have a little get-together post turkey.

This year we traveled and since we have been in Virginia less than a year we really don't know enough people to have over but this is a favorite from years past and good if hosting a crowd.

64 ounces cranberry juice

2 liter ginger ale

750 ml spiced rum preferably Captain Morgan

cinnamon sticks

whole cloves

black pepper

Begin by bringing the cranberry juice, 3-4 cinnamon sticks, tablespoon of cloves and a few black pepper berries to a simmer. Remove from heat cover and cool completely.

When party time arrives this cocktail can be mixed individually (equal parts each) or as one giant batch of Christmas punch.Garnish with a cinnamon stick, serve over ice or chilled "up" in a martini glass.

It is spiced and tastes like Christmas but you don't taste the alcohol so watch out or you'll end up under the tree!

My husband and I aren't big fans of champagne unless it is Moet et Chandon and at the holidays we always seem to end up with a bottle that we just don't like. The poinsettia cocktail is the remedy.

chilled champagne or sparkling wine

Grand Mariner or triple sec

cranberry juice

We make these individually by adding a small drop of Grand Mariner to a 3/4 full glass of champagne and filling the rest with cranberry juice.

This little beauty is best for those of us that had too much turkey and pie.

It is one shot of vodka and the rest ginger and lemon peel sparkling herbal water with a splash of cranberry for color. The herbal water is pure flavor and bubbles, no sweetener. I garnish with candied ginger.

I hope your holidays parties are sparkles and fun.