{Real Parties} Red & Aqua 40th Birthday Bash

In February I got to go back to beautiful Kansas City because my best friend Susan turned the big 4-0!!  I know it sounds trite but I can seriously remember our high school years like it was just yesterday...ugh!

In keeping with true 'Susan tradition', this party was elegant and oh so fun! It was great to see all the KC blondes and the Colorado brunettes that flew in for the event.

Initially, it was supposed to be a surprise party.  Susan's husband Johnny tried so hard to keep it a surprise but in the end, I'm glad that she figured us out because it would have been a nightmare to try to coordinate. So when Susan and I spoke party, she said she really didn't want a specific theme, just for it to be a gender friendly, red and aqua cocktail party.

Antipasti Island:  I used her full kitchen
island as the 'cheese board display'.  Since it
was a cocktail party with hors d'oeuvres only,
I wanted to try to make a big impact. 

goat cheese lollipop &, prosciutto wrapped asparagus

Some of the other hors d'oeuvres that were catered in from a
local restaurant...sooo yummy!

tortellini skewers with pesto dipping sauce

The cake made by a very beautiful &
talented gal, Rachel Sexton... this girl can
do it everything!  I gave her the colors and style
and she worked her magic!

Susan & Johnny

Happy 40th Suz!  Love you always!

A special thank you to Melanie of Scout for taking all these magnificent pictures...if not for you, all I'd have is my iPhone pics! (I seriously need to learn how to operate my big fancy camera)

{Real Parties} Crab Boil

When I think of summer, one of the things that comes to mind is a crab boil.  Plus, I think it's a great no nonsense way to entertain. 

My friend and neighbor Ellen just celebrated her big 4-0 and asked me to help in planning her party and to make the cake.  When she said she wanted to have a crab boil I was thrilled and I knew exactly what I wanted to make and luckily Ellen was really open to the design so I opted to make the cake look like a bushel of crabs.

I ended up making the favors, favor tags, signage and the centerpieces.  Ellen came up with a great suggestion of putting out instructions on 'how to crack into a crab' for those who have never cracked into crabs before.  I think it was a brilliant idea and I love the way they turned out.

  'bushel of crabs' cake with crab sugar cookies

'how to crack into a crab' signs and sunflower centerpieces

Ellen found these wooden crab cutouts that we used to label the food with

Yummy!!

old bay snack mix favors for the adult guests

crab bean bags favors for the kids

everybody having a blast

a few of the Chase Ladies

Happy 40th Birthday Ellen!