patio perfect party

(here's my article for the july issue of tastebud magazine. wish i had better pics.)

Our normal summer entertaining usually revolves around the grill but I wanted to try something different. My friend suggested having a ‘gourmet’ sandwich bar. Perfect! An evening picnic party. This idea works great for families and with most of the prep work done before guests arrive we could spend time playing in the back yard with the kids, talking with our friends and listening to great music.
First I wanted to set the mood: playful and relaxed. The centerpiece for the table was a picnic basket filled with plates, napkins, silverware and other essentials. I found great plates at Trapp’s in KCMO. The divided plates come in bright multi-colors and are recycled. Color was added to the table by placing single blooms of flowers in collected bud vases or recycled soda bottles (gerbera daisies or peonies cut from the yard work well for this). I laid out old quilts in the yard to eat on and set up the croquet set. My favorite detail was the hanging votive cups. Luckily there is a tree over our patio so the votives made the perfect floating chandelier. Even without a tree over the patio these look fun and festive hanging anywhere in the yard and entice people to stay after the sun sets. Find similar votive holders at Nell Hills, Curious Sofa and places like Hobby Lobby. Hang them at various heights with heavy fishing line or fun ribbons. I leave them hanging throughout the summer, they make family nights at home seem a little more special. To keep the party lively we created a playlist of songs that featured artists we knew our guests enjoyed. If there are young kids at the party don’t forget to add in a little Jim Cosgrove.

Now, planning the menu and drinks. We had one signature sandwich, a delicious chicken salad, sliced meats, cheeses and the makings for BLT’s. Fresh bread from Great Harvest Bread Company was a must. Great Harvest offers several varieties each day and don’t forget their great cookies, as well. Make sure to have a good selection of farmer’s market fresh lettuce, tomatoes, avocadoes, onions and cucumbers. To top off the sandwiches provide several condiment choices like mayonnaise with fresh herbs added, different types of mustard and home made vinaigrette. Serve the sandwiches with chips (we love Art & Mary’s salt & pepper), crunchy coleslaw or potato salad and fresh fruit. Because summers are hot here make sure to have plenty of beverages. Along with beer and wine we served a fun vodka slushy. Non-alcoholic drinks included raspberry lemonade and ice-cold strawberry water (this is so simple and pretty, just add sliced strawberries to a pitcher of ice water). Dessert completed the night: citrus cupcakes and Great Harvest cookies!
Great food, friends and fun-the perfect patio party!

Recipes:
Annie’s Chicken Salad
6-8 grilled chicken breast halves cubed
½ cup low fat sour cream
½ cup light mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon curry powder
Pinch of garlic salt
Pepper to taste
Add chopped celery, red grapes, water chestnuts and toasted almond slices
Toss together and add more sour cream and mayo to desired texture and taste.

Gigi’s Vodka Slushy
1-6 oz can frozen oj
1-6 oz can frozen lemonade
1 ½ quarts Cranberry juice
16 oz 7-up
16 oz squirt or fresca
1/5 Vodka
Mix in large container, freeze for 24 hours stirring occasionally
Scoop & enjoy!

Find Them Here:
Recycled Plates:
Trapp
4110 Main
KCMO 816.931.6940
Hanging Votives:
Curious Sofa
3925 W 69 Terr.
Prairie Village, KS 913.432.8969
Nell Hill’s
4101 N Mulberry Dr.
KCMO 816.746.4320
Fresh Bread:
Great Harvest Bread Company
83rd & Mission Rd (Corinth Shopping Center)
145th & Metcalf
Overland Park

Patio Playlist:
“And it Stoned Me” Van Morrison
“Better Together” Jack Johnson
“1,2,3,4” Feist
“Acuff-Rose” Uncle Tupelo
“You Still Touch Me” Sting
“Genius of Love” Tom Tom Club
“Here We Go Again” Norah Jones & Ray Charles
“Diner” Widespread Panic
“Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” Paul Simon
“Don’t Touch My Hat” Lyle Lovett
“Why Georgia” John Mayer

new skirt

a new skirt for lucy. sew simple to make-i picked three fabrics and cut 12" squares, sewed them together, made casing at the top for ribbon and a hem at the bottom. i'm kind of an impatient crafter and i like to get projects done in one sitting. this one took about half an hour - perfect for during the kids 'rest' time.

then later that night i wanted to try some embroidery. got out my stitch-it kit and practiced some stitches (i finally got the french knot and am so excited) while i watched the last few episodes of sex and the city. yes, i had to see them again before i went to the movie with some girls on saturday.

master bath

here is a peek at our master bath. it is not big at all but i love the way it turned out (when we bought the house it was pepto pink with very old white with grey speckled tile). we found this dresser at mission antique mall and my crafty husband turned it into a vanity. he cut the drawers so they function around the sink and cut a hole in the top to fit the sink. the sink and toilet are from the company toto. they make the best toilets and are an eco friendly company. (i know all of this because clay is a sales rep for them). we tiled the floor in a natural stone and the walls are painted a creamy brown. the color is portabello from sherwin williams. we also tore down a wall of the shower and added a glass door. now it doesn't feel like you are showering in a cave.

peonies & bedside tables

our peony bushes are blooming and i just had to cut some for the house. they smell so awesome, definitiely one of my favorite flowers. these are on the bedside table that i bought at mission antique mall. i love the color and curved legs of this table-it's really girly . fun vases from anthropologie and a cute store in downtown chico, ca ( i bought it when we went for a visit a few years ago), one of my favorite pictures there, too, of our family in the hospital after lucy was born.

precious

this is it...my favorite age. she is just the most precious thing. look at those legs and that ruffled bottom. trying to keep up with her big brothers, excited about everything, giving lots of hugs and kisses, starting to talk, backing up to sit on my lap to read her favorite books and oh, the drama! this is something new in this household. i mean the boys threw fits (and still do) but the hands covering the face and just crying when things aren't going her way, too much- I just have to scoop her up and let her know it's ok.

fabric + paper

an invitation i made for a friends shower inspired by the ones anna-maria horner made. this cute fabric is from the heather ross collection. too cute!

what we've been up to...

our night time walks after bath is done. (they put these outfits together themselves, seriously, i could not stop laughing as i pushed lucy in the stroller and watched charlie's cute lightning mcqueen bootie and those socks scootering through the neighborhood)

lots of soccer playing.

royals games.

serious backyard playing.

here is a look at my next article for tastebud. the theme for the issue was salad so i thought it would be fun to create a centerpiece out of planted salad ingredients. i used cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts mixed with non-edible plants such as verbena, coleus and dusty miller. other plants that would work: red and green leaf lettuce, arugala and edible flowers like nasturiums.
the little pots are an easy diy project. i spray painted them with chalk board paint from the hardware store and planted herbs in them. you can then label with the type of herb or use them for place settings and write your guest's name on them.
these great trays are from local designer kathi hardin with traybella. she creates fun trays in various designs and colors. they work great for serving drinks on the patio, taking items out to the grill, containing the piles of mail and paper work that seem to land everywhere and as the base of centerpieces.
the final detail for this table are the outdoor dishes from pryde's in old westport. the look so real that i passed them by until the sales lady told me they were for outdoors. they come in many fun colors and patterns from traditional to modern. i could spend a lot of time and money in this store!these great photographs are from sara farrar. her pictures make even the most simple of ideas look so neat!

the nadine

named after my grandma nadine who started this quilt top. i turned it into a large tote and lined it with heavy cotton fabric. it is listed in my etsy shop but if it doesn't sell it's going to be our summer park/pool bag!

totes

i have recently started writing for tastebud magazine here in kc. it is a free publication about all things food, drinks and local people and places. my first article was about setting a table for special occasions and how it doesn't have to be over the top to be unique. i used the tabletop from my mom's birthday i wrote about on this blog a few months back. tastebud is on the stands now and you can find it at local hen house markets, whole foods and lots of other coffee shops, etc.

my second article for the may issue is on reusable totes. here's a little preview:

paper and plastic are no longer the only options when shopping for groceries at the store or farmers’ markets. according to the EPA, last year Americans consumed more than 380 BILLION single-use plastic bags. the production of these plastic bags requires a great amount of oil and the majority end up as littler or in landfills where they break down into toxins that pollute our earth. an easy solution: bring a reusable grocery tote. this simple action is a way to spread the message of environmental sustainability and show off your ‘green style’ while shopping. there are the simple bags now offered by most stores but I thought I would search KC and the internet for some fun options.

the first pic is a selection from stuff: blue raddish appliqued canvas tote, a recycled plastic bag tote made from crocheting over 65 plastic grocery sacks, and a recycled rice bag from indonesia. the second pic is from bad seed farm: a local urban farmer's market that grows heirloom veggies and has a small shop in the crossroads. third pic is onw of mine that i will hopefully be making more for my etsy shop. the last pic is from it's only natural: printed logo on an organic cotton tote.

Where to find reusable grocery bags:
Locally
Stuff, 316 w.63rd, KCMO, http://www.pursuegoodstuff.com/
The Bad Seed, 1909 McGee, KCMO, http://www.badseedfarm.com/
It’s Only Natural, 407 W. Gregory Blvd., KCMO, http://www.itsonlynatural.us/
Bijin, 71st & Mission Road, Prairie Village, http://www.bijinsalon.com/

On the Web:
http://www.reusablebags.com/
http://www.melissavest.etsy.com/
http://www.delight.com/

also, check out my new blog @ www.designbotanica.blogspot.com. i will be adding photos from past weddings and gearing up to start doing flowers again! i would love for this blog to include inspirations for entertaining and weddings. lots of fun ideas and hopefully someday the time to create them!

good day sunshine

this new design makes me smile! i can't wait for the sun to come out here.

yellow

.lucy's spring shoes from puddle jumper.

.mama's new spring purse.

.inspiration /organization boards

made by topping a canvas with foam core and then wrapping with material.

.daffodils from the garden in our yellow kitchen.

.citrus cupcakes.

recipe:

white cake mix

1/2 cup oil

i can mandarin oranges, not drained

3 eggs or 4 egg whites

mix and bake according to directions

cool whip

i can of crushed pineapple, drained

1 box of instant vanilla pudding, dry

mix and top cupcakes when cooled

these are so light and springy!

a sign of spring

the first buds on our quince bush in the backyard!

diaper bag

this is the diaper bag i made to use with lucy. it was inspired by a picture in country living magazine. now it mostly spends time hanging on her closet door. it's amazing how quickly the baby stage passed, when i couldn't leave home without a bagful of supplies. now she carries her own cup and i throw a diaper and wipes into my bag and we're off...

ice cream

a new design for summer! it's coming, right?!