Showing posts with label Bridal Shower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bridal Shower. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Rustic Burlap and Lace Bridal Shower


Last summer I was given the privilege of hosting my niece's bridal shower.  She requested decorations brimming with "burlap and lace, and just a little rustic charm."  

The weather cooperated for an outdoor setting.  It was a warm, breezy early summer evening-perfect for entertaining.
 

We set up Kate's Lemonade Stand to provide cool, refreshing beverages.


Gathered a few of our vintage furniture pieces and placed them in the backyard.  Added market umbrellas, which are neither rustic nor vintage but provided great shade!


Appropriately worn benches and stools provided seating as well as plant stands.




Beautiful baskets and pots of flowering shrubs created a nice addition to the landscaping.


As the guests gathered we offered a little Bride and Groom quiz.  I learned a few new things about the happy couple.  Things like who made the first move, who best knows the countdown to the wedding, who hates spiders more...the answers surprised me!


There were also favorite snacks of the bride and groom.  Take a few scoops!



Inside we served up quite a spread of deliciousness.  Homemade pies from grandma (who is famous for her flaky crusts), cookies, cake pops, strawberry tarts and other favorites of the bride.







If you haven't tasted homemade rhubarb custard pie you haven't lived!


Kisses, of course!



A vintage wooden box held bakery cookies along side cups and plates.



One of the bride's favorite quotes-


We had such good time planning, preparing and hosting all this fun.

Coming up...It's a Rustic Wedding Reception!





 photo Kelliesign.jpg


Monday, July 8, 2013

Summer Salads

MMMmmm Monday
I promised I would share a few salad recipes.  These were served at several bridal showers in June.  We had so many shower guests ask for the recipes that we thought we'd better share quickly!

Spinach Apple and Pecan Salad


Dressing:
(I usually double this recipe)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 ½ tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tbsp. prepared mustard (yellow is best)
1 tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. salt
¼ ground black pepper (very important to add)
Whisk in serving bowl.  Make day before serving and refrigerate.

1 pound spinach leaves
2 bags of Prize sliced apple slices (from Costco), cut into bite sized pieces
¼ cup thinly sliced red onions
¾  cup crumbled feta cheese
¾ to 1 cup of toasted sugared sliced pecans (heavily sugared caramelizes well)

Toss all ingredients and add dressing.  Serve.

Chinese Chicken Salad


Ingredients
1 head of Napa cabbage
1 head of iceberg lettuce
2-3 cups shredded chicken (used already grilled chicken strips from Costco)
1 package of won-ton chips (or Asian tortilla strips or noodles)
(add red cabbage and/or mandarin oranges for color)

Dressing
Mix in blender.  Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved.
1 cup canola oil
1/3 cup white vinegar
¼ cup lemon juice
2/3 cup sugar

Then add:
¼ onion (minced)
1 clove of garlic (minced—or ¾ tsp. minced garlic in jar)
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
Whisk.  Then add 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise.  Blend for about a minute.
Dressing can be made up to 1 week in advance.

Shred lettuce in large bowl.  Layer chicken over lettuce in bowl.  Crush Won-ton chips.  Sprinkle over chicken.  Cover and set aside.  (Refrigerate if needed).  Right before serving add dressing (about ¾ of it and add rest if needed).  With tongs toss the salad and dressing to all mixed.

Broccoli Cole Slaw


Ingredients:
2 bags (3-oz) Ramen Noodle Soup in Oriental flavor
3/4 stick butter
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 bags (12-oz) broccoli cole slaw (in bagged salad section of grocery store)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Chopped green onions, for garnish

Dressing Mix:
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup brown or white sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 ramen noodle seasoning packet

Directions:
Put the ramen noodles in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin while melting butter in a large skillet over low/med heat.  Add the crushed noodles and almonds to the skillet and saute, stirring occasionally (keep temperature at low/med heat).  Meanwhile, whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.  Place the shredded broccoli into bowl and toss with the noodles, almonds and sunflower seeds.  Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat.  Garnish with chopped green onions.

Blueberry Chicken Salad


Ingredients
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup diced sweet red pepper
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
3/4 cup (6 oz.) lemon yogurt
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
Bibb lettuce leaved, optional

Directions
Set aside a few blueberries for topping salad.  In a large bowl, combine chicken, celery, red pepper, green onions and remaining blueberries.  In a small bowl, mix yogurt, mayo and salt.  Add to chicken mixture; gently toss to coat.  Refrigerate until serving.  If desired, serve over lettuce.  Top with reserved blueberries. 
Yield: 4 servings.

 photo Kelliesign.jpg

Friday, July 5, 2013

Bridal Shower with a Vintage Flair


 That's what the bride to-be requested!  Loved the idea and love the soon-to-be bride so we started planning.  Years ago I helped a designer friend with her daughter's wedding reception and I remembered Marsha using vintage frames as serving dishes.  It was so elegant and fabulous that I thought maybe we could bring in our "vintage flair" using that same idea.  It worked beautifully.






We added exquisite vintage lace, pearls, heirloom candlesticks and clocks... 



A Crystal Chandelier...



Vintage crafted cupcakes and cakepops...




And a classic bouquet of  flowers.  Vintage colors made up of roses and hydrangeas.  (from Costco!)


My lovely assistant, Aleah (bride's little sister) entertained us with smiles and music the entire time we were setting up.













A variety of delectable salads, chicken croissant sandwiches, lemonade and cucumber water were served at the luncheon.  
(Watch for an upcoming post with recipes of summer salads-they were spectacular!)
  






And the desserts were all homemade by Grandma and Katherine .  I guess that is kind of old fashioned (or vintage) planning as well.  Thumbprint cookies, lemon bars, cupcakes, etc.    




One little shower game was played.  The bubble gum game.  How well do you know your husband-to-be?  Questions were asked the bride-to-be and if answered incorrectly she must pop a gum ball in her mouth.  With every wrong answer a gumball must be added to the "wad" she already had in her mouth.  Fun and funny game! 


Let the Wedding begin!  Congratulations Sariah and best wishes for a beautiful future.

By the way...the mother of this bride has 3 children getting married this summer...within weeks apart!  She's amazing!


 photo Kelliesign.jpg