8/30/2010

A Garden Party

Yesterday, my girlfriend Nick (Nicole to some, Nick to me) was hosting a ladies Garden Party Luncheon at her home.  She’s an amazing entertainer, the consummate host, and superb cook.  She invited a number of her girlfriends including me and ten other girls.  Initially, we were all to wear dresses at her request but due to the weather forecast she advised us we could wear pants if we wanted too.  It turned out to be a beautiful day. We both love to entertain and are always trying to come up with fun and creative ways to bring our friends together.  With anything that she plans, you can be assured it will be a fun filled day.  She even had ten trivia questions that everyone had to answer and whoever, got the most right won a $10.00 gift certificate to Whole Foods.  Congratulations Tuti! 

Nick always makes entertaining look for effortless (even when she spent all weekend preparing).  I equate entertaining to interior design,  it’s a skill, an art, and it all has to come together.  Anyone can throw a fabulous party when you have money or decorate a house but I love seeing what everyday people do on real budgets.  I had such a great time, I had to share the pictures with you.  I hope it inspires you to have your own garden party!

Her back yard space behind her apartment.  She planted all these flowers herself.

P1010877 Friends Below:  Cathy, Roxie, and Trish

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Cosmos and Loves Lies Bleeding Flowers P1010875

Friends Below:  Sanam and Denise

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The Beautiful Table Setting

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Flower arrangements up close, made by Nick in pretty red vases.

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Friends Below:  Ann (me), Tuti, Sanam, Nick (the hostess)

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Instead of wine charms, she used stickers and put each persons initials.  Clever idea.

P1010879 Everyone picked a number and you sat according to your number. I was number 12.P1010865

 

MENU

REFRESHMENTS

Fresh Lemonade

Maddelana Chardonnay

Maddalena Vineyard Monterey Chardonnay

APPETIZER

Mixed nuts with Spices

P1010883 FIRST COURSE

Fresh Zucchini Soup with Goat Cheese Rounds topped with Fresh Chives

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MAIN COURSE

Homemade Grilled Pizzas topped with Pesto, Cheese, Mushrooms, Artichokes, Tomatoes, & Basil

Mixed Green Salad with Chick Peas, Cheese, Salami & Your Choice of Dressing

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DESSERT

Homemade Banana Ice Cream & Caramel Sauce topped with Fresh Baked Madeline's.P1010923

Nick and I use to work with Tuti.  We just reconnected and it was the first time I saw her and her daughter Sanam in ten years.  How fun!  What a great picture.

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Garden PicturesP1010868

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P1010916 We start out lady like but this is how the party ends!

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Cheers to You!  I hope you have a FABULOUS week!

 

 

ITEMS USED FOR PARTY:

  • Tables & Chairs were Rented at her local Rental Shop.
  • She used Red & White Fabric to enhance the table.
  • All Vases are from Home Goods / She used four.
  • Flowers were from a local flower shop / discount store.  She bought various greens and flowers and made her our arrangements.
  • Dishes are actually plastic from Target.
  • Wine Glasses are plastic as well from Target.
  • Stickers were used for the initials on the wine glasses.
  • She made her own napkin rings tying paper ribbon with a number.
  • Soup bowls are from Crate and Barrel.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

truly beautiful! I love everyone of the ideas. Wish we all could have been there.
Laura

Peggy and Fritz said...

Thanks Laura - wish you were here you would have loved it. xo

Karen said...

What a beautiful table setting and such a great looking and sounding meal. I agree with you---real entertaining, such as your friend created, is so welcoming and it inspires me to have a ladies lunch sometime soon.

Great pictures.

72 and sunny said...

so pretty! I love that she used all plastic dishes and you wouldn't even know it! who says you need some fabulous venue. With a little ingenuity, you can have a photo shoot ready spread.

72 and sunny said...

also, way to throw a girls party where everyone gets to get dressed up on a sunday afternoon and just enjoy each other.

Nick said...

Thanks, Annie, for bragging about me. I had such a great time. Your pictures are great! xo

Peggy and Fritz said...

Megan the dishes and wine glasses look just like China and glass. It's amazing. All we needed was white gloves and it would have been like a real ladies luncheon from back in the day. It was perfect. Karen you always do great get togethers. Can't wait to see your post when you do yours :)

Maria Killam said...

You are so beautiful!! What a gorgeous party, I wish I was there!!
xo
maria

syl said...

Everything looked wonderful from the table to the food. Annie i`m so happy you took lots of pics since I was not able to make it. So proud of my neice Nicole.
Love,
Auntie Syl

Peggy and Fritz said...

yeah Auntie Syl...I'm so glad you figured out how to comment. Before I did this - I had no clue thanks to all my friends who left comments on FB. Maria thanks so much for your comments. I'm addicted to your blog and actually Nick and I read it all the time and I just forwarded it to my friend Erin who I'm helping with colors for her loft. I thought she should check out your blog for concept ideas. Your fabulous. Thanks everyone.

Anonymous said...

Way to go Nick....everything looked beautiful. And she looked very cute!

Erin said...

Ooops the last comment was mine...forgot to add my name.

Erin

French-Kissed said...

So very nice to hear from you...thanks for stopping by FK and thanks for sharing this lovely get together. It is refreshing to see that there are still women out there who know how to entertain and host a gathering. You are right, it doesn't take a lot of $ to throw a great party, just desire, imagination, creativity and then a little effort. Looks like you all had a wonderful afternoon.

~jermaine

Peggy and Fritz said...

Jermaine thanks for stopping by, I agree with you. It's becoming more uncommon but it's always special when you have friends that enjoy it. Your lavendar blog got me thinking of my blog today on baths! Now I just need some of your fresh lavendar and a big bank account to redo my bathroom :)

Christi said...

what a great party! i wish we had a little outdoor area like that in our apartment but alas we do not ... the menu looks yummy. what a great time!

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