Thursday, April 25, 2013

I’m not 100% sure I have my priorities straight?



I’m not 100% sure I have my priorities straight.

I am trying to pack for a trip to New York (which makes me feel really, really good) and am pretty much having an existential crisis because I’m trying to keep my packing to one checked and one carry on items only. And I am FAILING. Horribly.

Why?

Shoes.



In New York I will be meeting with important type people. And will have to wear clothing of the business variety. 

What I have realized is, I have either not enough, or too many shoe options.

See.. all my outfits require slightly different types of shoes. And I don’t have space for all of them. But I don’t have any sort of Neutral shoes that go with everything.

So I’m either packing four shoes in addition to whatever I’ma be wearing on my feet or I just go barefoot and tell people I’m a hippie.

Which is a really, really bad idea in New York because, while it’s super awesome there, the sidewalks are nasty. I'm  always worrying about the important things.

So I’m surrounded by a bunch of really pretty, not at all practical shoes and I’m trying to figure out if I can ask my hubby to carry three pairs of shoes for me without getting in a convo about me needing so many shoes.

Oh You Fancy Huh –Progressive Dinner Party

Oh You Fancy Huh –Progressive Dinner Party

Especially when I hear Drake ask if I am… Don’t get me wrong, I am!
 I volunteered to host a portion of a dinner party at my home 
Well, I brainstormed a lot of new tastes and flavors I wanted to impress my dinner guests with. I made a list of “fancy” recipes and dishes I wanted to research for my dinner party. I even asked the ladies while at the golf Clinc at www.hawksridge.com

Then, I realized two things:

1. I can't cook! The cooking challenge for a dinner party is not easily overcome since my darling hubby would not arranged for a Chef.  The only thing to do is host the Drink's and 
hors d’oeuvres  portion of the Progressive Dinner.  
But, I refuse to pretend to be anything but myself. I am fully open and honest with my flaws (probably a little too much, but I digress).

2. This Dinner is Saturday and I really only have a day or two to plan, shop, prepare, drink and host. 

I am  super crazy busy right now and didn’t have a chance to even review the challenge before my girlfriend Christina called and we had to meet for lunch and cocktails.
Life is complicated. Food and my drinks are not. Don’t read too much into it.


A super-deluxe, elegant dinner party primarily takes careful planning. Let me tell you about how I accomplished it, and exactly how I went about it. and it worked like a charm!
You've tackled the table and the tipples but where's my Pinot Grigio?




I had to consider several phases so that I could manage it with a maid (if I were only lucky enough to get one) or to cope with it all by myself. Another angle to consider was the mechanics of the affair — what to


serve and where, don't forget the lighting. Candles are always perfect for lifting the mood. And, they can "hide a multitude of sins".


By arranging a dinner party where different courses are served in different homes, it removes so much of the stress and strain and you can truly enjoy yourself. Half of our concern, I think, is the desire to have the party run smoothly. With this method you can’t fail to have an apparently effortless dinner party.


Needless to say, a progressive dinner party must be a gastronomic delight. But it must also have some dash and originality about its presentation, Manage the mood and there should be no clichés anywhere — in the menu, in the decor, or, we hope, in the conversation!


The real secret to a good dinner party is alcohol and lots of it!


Made-up, manicured and coiffed, we celebrate all things like a diva


I know, right? It’s almost too easy…












You know I would never utter an ugly word about my guests, but I think you might enjoy to hear some of the snippets of conversation from the Wine and H'ordorves to keep it even more hilarious, Enjoy!


“I hate that sushi place. The people there are douchey. It’s Douchey Sushi!”


“Don’t act surprised that people are entertained by me”

“I can sing"


"I really liked the first wife"

“If someone patted me on the butt like that, I would go right to sleep”


“She doesn’t when I do it”


“You’re not doing it right”


“We brought a bottle of good wine…and a bottle of plonk”


"Excuse me while I burp"


“How do you just chat people up. It’s magic, isn’t it?”


“Part of the solution, part of the solution.”


"When you’re here, you’re family. You know, like the Olive Garden”


“You could always supplement your income by hooking”


“Hooking?!”


“Yes, hooking”


"We hosted the football tailgate party"

It was an evening of good company and great food!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Because I'm NICE!!!!


What the *&#% happened to today???

Today was insane. Completely and utterly insane. It went by so fast that I’m a little bit worried I’m in a coma and that all this is a dream and its actually still June 2011 and I’ve been hit by a car because I ran in to traffic to avoid my godawful day. I think I’m like the priceline negotiator. He just hands shit out right? His boss should just fire him….. I’m going to tell you guys my shameful secret.


I’m a TERRIBLE Listener/negotiator. Yep that means I’m super good at TALKING!


Because I’m nice!


I hear you talking but I already know what you’re about to say so I’m gonna keep talking….bla bla bla bla Emily Post is rolling in her grave. She is the one who judges bad manners right? Yeah! She’d be mighty pissed.

O. Happy Day!


I love Progressive Dinners, a lingering meal spiced with much socializing and drinking. They are so much fun! So I agreed to host the appetizers and drink portion of our “Neighborhood progressive Dinner” When I am preparing to host a dinner party the first thing I do is set the tone for the party. This is a casual dinner party right? 

O. my gosh.  How fantastic! Simple yet spectacular!!!!! Can’t be much for me to prepare?


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

PROGRESS!


Progress! Let's drink to that! 




MIAMI... i think.

This is just a test. I am in Miamiland with Christina!!!! Gotta fly back home before my hubby gets off of work. We have yoga tonight. XOXO! Janet