steal this idea!

this afternoon i went to a "girl party"--one of my neighbors had a wedding shower catered by a good friend of hers who does events over at the ritz in laguna niguel. and it was fabulous! three cheers for papa (nana's on vacation so he stepped up to the task!) who watched cars and played legos so i could enjoy some much needed girl time! the wedding will be in maui and everything from the initals embossed in sand on the wine glasses to the hors d'oeuvres nestled in seashells hinted at the celebration to come. of course i took pictures!

proscuitto wrapped goat-cheese filled dates with fresh basil (with bamboo spears and grass ties):


these were beautiful AND so so delicious: gorgonzola cheese dolloped in fresh figs with some intense balsamic and fresh basil and crisp apple slivers:


these were gorgeous and promising-- red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. we had done something similar for sal and jenn's baby shower but i must confess nana's cupcakes blew these away. admittedly, the chef told me she was quite disappointed with how they turned out, she had tried a new recipe using oil instead of butter and chocolate chips. i thought they tasted flatter and much drier than the moist melt-in-your-mouth version that nana made. but, these are ABsolutely gorgeous!



my favorites (not pictured) were some home made crab cakes with finely diced mango salsa in these gorgeous pink scallop shells and a nutty quinoa with some chicken sausage, dried cranberries and walnuts (i'm definitely adding those ingredients to my next tj's run). and there was a homemade cherry tart, hot spinach parmesan dip and good wine and great conversation! feeling very rejuvinated and inspired ;)