Ooh La La.....My Parisienne Luncheon

                                                                             

 Welcome....Last Saturday was my PARISIENNE LUNCHEON  and what a wonderful 'fete' it was.  We had a memorable time and I wanted to share it with you.

      Le Table was Grand

                                                           

This view is from an upstairs balcony and was taken just before the guests arrived.

The beautiful cutwork tablecloth and napkins were my mothers as were the crystal goblets and beautiful green and cream plates. They date back to the mid 1930's. The 'silverware' is really

a mix of my goldware pieces. The napkins are really two that are put together. The inside being an off white laced edged napkin and the outside are the cutwork napkins and they are gathered with a dark green silk ribbon (the same green ribbon that tied the invitations together). Inside was tucked a silk rose and carnation. The color of the rose here is not true. It's really a beautiful shade of dusty rose.

     The placecards

                                                                           

   

                             

                     La pièce maîtresse (The centerpiece)

                                                                               

The centerpiece is made up of  silk flowers that I purchased at a Flower wholesaler. They actually look real and are arranged in a cream colored soup tureen. It is centered on two 9 foot runners in pale apricot -peach and sage green that are bunched up at the ends. Lengths of pearls are draped at the corners of the runners.


Le Menu

The menu card was displayed on a small antique gold easel on the table. It was printed on ivory cardstock as was the placecards.

Le Salades

                                                     

 I shared how to make the salads in a previous post. Here I used fresh blue violets from my friend Paula's yard instead of pansies. The dressing is a pear viniagrette.

        (Photo looking down on the salad.)         

   Le Principal (the main course)

        The main course is called  Chicken Friand or Chicken in Puff Pastry over fresh steamed Asparagus Spears. The recipe will be posted later this week. It is seriously to die for. You really will want to make this.        

Le Dessert

                                                                                   

The 'piece de resistance.' Dessert was a dense chocolate cake with a white chocolate mousse 'frosting' and sweetened raspberries & sauce. Very Very decadent.

                                                                              

Les faveurs (the take home favors)

                                                                                

Aren't these darling.  These Marie Antoinette cupcakes are made with a white cake mix. I just ran out of time to do anything fancier. The skirts (cupcake wrappers) and Parisienne Ladies are put on card stock and my fun friend and neighbor Michelle came over to help me with them.  It ended up being a true labor of love and we laughed and laughed at trying to get the right head with the right skirt. A complete tutorial and the story of doing these cute cupcakes I am putting on a future post.  I bought and downloaded the Marie Antoinettes from an etsy company... Paper Scissors Cake.http://www.etsy.com/listing/94423199/marie-antoinette-soiree-printable.They have alot of other fun cupcake downloads too. My sweet friend also helped me put the puff pastries together and the darling salads together. We have alot of fun doing these things and I appreciate her immeasureably. 

                                                        

THANKYOU for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed our Birthday Luncheon Soiree... 'Fete a la Parisienne.' Recipes and tutorials will be posted soon.

Nann

I will be participating in some of these linky parties:

Show Off Your Cottage Monday CowboyUPhttp://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/

Masterpiece Monday

DebbieDoos Newbie Party http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/04/thrift-store-chair-resurrection-newbie-party-started.html
On the Menu Monday http://stonegable.blogspot.com/2012/04/on-menu-monday-week-of-april-16-2012.html#more
  Pink Saturday http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/04/pink-saturday-april-28-2012.html    Show And Tell Friday, I'm Lovin' It Friday, Show Off Your Stuff, Inspiration Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Friday Favorites, Flaunt It Friday, Frugal Friday, Friday Unfolded, Tickled Pink, Vintage Inspiration Friday, Saturday Nite Special, Country Momma Link and Greet Party, Show And Tell Saturday, Sundays Best Par.tayhttp://my1929charmer.com/  Sunday Showcase, Sundae Scoop, Seasonal Sunday, Made By You Monday, Show Me How, CraftOManiac Monday, Masterpiece Monday, Party Time With Cheri, DIY Project Parade, Craftastic Monday, Craft Catwalk, Making Monday Marvelous, Creative Bloggers Party, Mad Skills Monday, Show Off Your Cottage Monday, Metamorphosis Monday, Handmade Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, Tip Me Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Table Top Tuesday, Love It And Link It Up Party, Show Me What You Got, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Tutorial Tuesday, Tutes And Tips Party, Show And Tell Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Creative Share Wednesday, We Did It Wednesday, Whatever You Want Wednesday, Home Decor And Organizing Party, Share The Love Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, It's A Keeper Thursday, Craft Soiree, Fresh Cut Friday
Share your cup Thursday http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2012/04/share-your-cup-thursday-6.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HaveADailyCupFromMrsOlson+%28Have+a+daily+cup+from+Mrs.+Olson%29
Lets Dish http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/
Thriving on Thursdays http://www.domesblissity.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursdayhttp://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Whats It Wednesdays http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

The Bunny Hop http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/

Cozy Home Scenes http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/      

Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday  

Tabletop Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

Pink Saturday

Bernideen's Tea Time Blog

                                                                                             

'Fete a la Parisienne' ....The Story and Your Invitation

The name of my soiree that I am having on Saturday is
 'Fete a La Parisienne'.


 Here is the invitation and you are invited.....

A N D...... HERE is the STORY that started it ALL


In the March issue of Romantic Homes Magazine

 I came upon an article about a French Party entitled

Fete a la Laduree by Mandy Lock.

 I was spell bound!

                                                      

Her Beautiful Invitations (little boxes with macarons), the Tablesetting, Menu Cards, Chairscovers, Linens & Food ... every single detail just left my mouth gaping.

                                                      

 Aren't her photos and details just GORGEOUS!     

 I had just reviewed the Macaron Book on my blog and here  were Macarons included in this elegant spread. Right then and there I decided to have a luncheon like it for some of my friends and then share it with you here.

I contacted Mandy  Locke at her blog

 http://www.ala-parisienne.com/.

Her blog is absolutely beautiful. And she graciously designed the color invitations and menu cards that I purchased from her and downloaded to my computer. Her prices were very reasonable too. She would have filled them in but I,
 as of then, hadn't decided on the wording. 


Here again is a photo of the invitations that I gave out or sent to my guests. Aren't they just beautiful!

I changed it from Fete a la Laduree to

Fete a la Parisienne for my luncheon.

In this photo you see the Invitation folded, laced and double beribboned with a bow. Very Elegant and Very French.

THANKYOU for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed the story and seeing the invitations for my soiree. I love to hear from you. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Nann

I will be linking to these fun linky parties:

Centerpiece Wednesday http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2010/06/red-white-and-blue-table-decor.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/FVkHY%20(The%20Style%20Sisters)
Share your cup Thursday http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2012/04/share-your-cup-thursday-5.html

Wow Us Wednesdays  http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Whats It Wednesdays http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 

The Bunny Hop   http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/ 

Cozy Home Scenes http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/04/table-setting-with-spode-chinese-rose.html#more
Thriving on Thursdays http://domesblissity.blogspot.com/2012/04/thriving-on-thursdays-linky-party-15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Domesblissity+%28Domesblissity%29

 Sundays Best Par.tay http://my1929charmer.com/

           Seasonal Sundays   http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

           Sunday Showcase   http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

           Newbies Party  http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/04/goodwill-transformation-take-ii-newbie-party-started.html

A Show Stopping Salad

Greetings! This  Saturday I will be giving another  birthday luncheon. The luncheon theme  is   'Fete a la Parisienne.'  Today I am sharing a Show Stopping Salad that will be part of the four course menu that I'm serving. I call it.....

   Elegant Bouquet Salad 

I have had this recipe for a number of years. It is elegant, fast and easy to make besides being delicious and brings the wow factor to the table.

Elegant Bouquet Salad

Dressing:

½ cup mayonnaise

½ teaspoon dried tarragon leaves

¼ cup raspberry-flavored syrup

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 

Salad: 

1 or 2 large cucumbers, cut into 8 (2 inch to 3 inch) sections

1 head red leaf lettuce (8 to 16 large leaves)

8 pieces curly endive

1 (3.5-oz.) pkg. fresh enoki mushrooms

Edible flowers, if desired

• In small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients; blend well. Set aside.
• Hollow out and discard center of each cucumber section, leaving about 1/4 inch around outside. Place 1 cucumber section, cut side down, on each salad plate.
• On work surface, layer 1 or 2 lettuce leaves, 1 piece endive and about 1/8 of the mushrooms. Roll and gather lettuce at bottom to enclose endive and mushrooms. Tuck rolled lettuce into 1 cucumber section. Repeat with remaining lettuce, endive, mushrooms and cucumber sections. Garnish with edible flowers. Serve with dressing. Makes: 8 salads.                                                      Recipe and Photo .... Pillsbury.

        

           THANKYOU  for joining me today. I love having you drop by. I'll be posting the invitations, tablescapes, menu and recipes soon. So stay tuned :)

     Nann

I will be linking to these fun parties:
Share

Metamorphosis Monday http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/04/beautiful-front-porch-renovation.html#more
StoneGable for On The Menu Monday~
Newbies Party http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/04/transforming-a-terra-cotta-pot-with-annie-sloan-chalk-paint-newbie-party-started.html
A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~
Cozy Home Scenes http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/
Wow Us Wednesdays http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
 Whats It Wednesdays http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 
The Bunny Hop http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/
Lets Dish  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Centerpiece Wednesday  http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2010/06/red-white-and-blue-table-decor.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/FVkHY%20(The%20Style%20Sisters)
Share your cup Thursday http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2012/04/share-your-cup-thursday-5.html

Wow Us Wednesdays http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Thriving on Thursdays http://domesblissity.blogspot.com/2012/04/thriving-on-thursdays-linky-party-15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Domesblissity+%28Domesblissity%29

Sundays Best Par.tay http://my1929charmer.com/

Seasonal Sundays http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

  Sunday Showcase http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Day Before Easter Grandkids Party

WELCOME!  Today I want to share with you our Day before Easter Party with 17 of our Grandkids. And of course their parents came too (smile). And what a time we all had!!

               A Fun fun Over the Top Sugar High cake

 Kaia's birthday was on Easter and her mother made this cake for her birthday. She got the idea off of pinterest. No explanation on how to make it was needed. We added birthday candles for the singing and blowout. I can't imagine the grams of sugar that is

in and on this cake.

The Grandkids Easter Egg Hunt

  We prepared small little baskets with thier names on them that contained fuzzy ducks and chocolate goodies. We put them around the yard with all the candy filled eggs. They also got an egg with their name on it that contained money. You see just a few of the grandkids here in the picture collage.

An Edible Easter Craft they all made

All the kids made these darling donut bunnies and put them in clear sacks with a little ribbon. Even the adults had fun making these. My daughter Heidi who did this with the kids got her idea from Pinterest. Aren't these just adorable!

They all  Dyed Easter Eggs....like over 7 dozen

Then they all Frosted & Decorated Sugar Cookie Eggs

 

And then we had a delicious dinner of

Sloppy Joes

Yummy Deviled Eggs

Karen's Homemade Potato Salad

Kristi's Fresh Garden Salad

Plus a ton of other things. Everyone contributed. And of course there was all too much candy and other yummy goodies.

I also took orange napkins and folded them to look like carrots with fork and pipe cleaner stems that were served with the food. I got the idea off of pinterest but had a dickens of a time figuring out how to do it. So after many, many tries I ended up doing it my own way and was very happy in the end. And I felt mine looked better than the picture and the fork & stem actually stayed in the napkin without falling out.

Doesn't this look like a fun party. Well it was!!! And the kids and all the adults all loved it. We just had such a great time!!

Thankyou for joining me today. Its always so fun to have you drop by. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated. I read each and every one.

Nann

Linky Parties:

Newbie Party  http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/04/transforming-a-terra-cotta-pot-with-annie-sloan-chalk-paint-newbie-party-started.html

Seasonal Sundays http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2012/04/seasonal-sundays-96worse-before-better.html
Sunday Showcase http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Alison at Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Kate @ Chic On A Shoestring for Flaunt It Friday

Foodie Friday http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

The Bunny Hop  http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/2012/04/wednesdays-bunny-hop-party-35.html

Whats It Wednesdayhttp://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Thriving on Thursdays http://domesblissity.blogspot.com/2012/04/thriving-on-thursdays-linky-party-14.html

Tablescape Thursdays http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/04/teeny-bit-of-trouble-big-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29

An Easter Brunch Table

WELCOME! I had hoped to post this last week but with all the Easter  activites the time got away. I wanted you to see some of the delightful things that were done this past week through Easter Day. Very busy but very fun!

  Easter Brunch/Luncheon Table 

                                                                  

                                                                                                         

                                                                                  

The Plate that started it All

    I purchased these darling plates about a month to six weeks ago at Home Goods. I just fell in love with them. And they were the last four in this color. The price was very low and so I snapped them up. Easter was coming and I knew these would be perfect for a brunch/luncheon I was giving.

      First the table needed to be covered with a

   Tablecloth

 I chose a pale blue tablecloth with tiny white polka dots. I knew it would be perfect with the blue and white polka dots plates.       
                                                                                  

                                                 

 Mrs.Rabbit was the centerpiece

                                                    

                                         
                                      

  I put down lacey roundish/oval place mats at each place.

                    

      Then white milk glass plates on top of the placemats.

Followed by the blue and white polka dot plates. Older silverware

was then set by the plates. And it the middle of each plate

I put a little white lace paper doily and a white egg cup that I filled with flowers from a previous arrangement in each. I topped them off with some pink paper shredded 'grass.'

A while ago I purchased a dozen of these white hankies that I am using for the napkins. They are the perfect size for a ladies party. I bought them online from

http://www.giftwagon.com/handkerchiefs.html. The dozen were only $16 with the beautiful lace edges. And these are gorgeous!! There are many other styles for as little as $7 for a dozen.

These goblets were my mothers. And they date back to the 1930s. I love the beautiful cut crystal. My mother gave these to me before she passed away so that I could use them with my growing family. And I treasure them. Note of Interest: The goblets of that era are much smaller than the ones we use today. I put one of these next to another ornate goblet that I have and the size difference is amazing. But everything seems bigger today including the size of our dinner plates.

The completed table looking down from a balcony

Beautiful, feminine and lovely was the description given to the table by both friends and family.

Thankyou for joining me. I love when you come to visit. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Nann

I will be linking to these fun linky parties:

 Newbie Partyhttp://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/04/transforming-a-terra-cotta-pot-with-annie-sloan-chalk-paint-newbie-party-started.html

Seasonal Sundays http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2012/04/seasonal-sundays-96worse-before-better.html
Sunday Showcase  http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2012/04/show-and-tell-friday_12.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/Ufchl%20(My%20Romantic%20Home)

Alison at Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

Kate @ Chic On A Shoestring for Flaunt It Friday

The Bunny Hop http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/2012/04/wednesdays-bunny-hop-party-35.html
Tablescape Thursday http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/04/teeny-bit-of-trouble-big-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20BetweenNapsOnThePorch%20(BETWEEN%20NAPS%20ON%20THE%20PORCH)
Lets Dish http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/2012/04/let-dish-4-pansy-and-purple.html?showComment=1334203812675#c2056327602834970768
Table Top Tuesday   Tea Party Tuesday   Tea Time Tuesday!   A Delightsome Life!   Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays    Shannon at Cozy Home Scenes for Your Cozy Home Party     Judy at DIY by Design for the Swing Into Spring   Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday