Grand Prix Monaco

No, we did not just return from the Cote d’Azur to watch Monaco’s famous Grand Prix race... I wish. We did, though, try to create a little of the Mediterranean in our own backyard, though, when we threw a birthday party for my son (who just LOVES race cars) and my husband (who just loves French wines!).

The party was a perfect theme for both-- I could satisfy the french wine desire, since Monaco borders up to those lovely southern vineyards, and I pleased the car lover with vintage race cars!

We even added a little gambling, to add to the Monte Carlo mood. I was a bit concerned that our make shift blackjack and roulette tables would be ignored, but what a little wine and a gorgeous day will do for party goers... Many guests jumped right in to act as dealer while I made sure food was ready and folks were mingling!

I had such a great time creating this theme, that I couldn’t help myself but to make it one of bnute productions Party Kits as well. Check out the Grand Prix Race Car Party Kit page for details... and if you want any more ideas, feel free to send me an email!

Fireworks and Fun

Another fourth of July spent at Lake Tahoe... it just can’t be beat! Not only is the weather great, but the kids have their cousins to play with, and we get to walk outside the porch and watch a great firework show over the lake!

Our kids are less than enthusiastic about the fireworks show outside the back door.... if they had it their way, perhaps it would be on the other side of California... or even better, it would just be cancelled. Ever since they were babies, I must say, loud noises have always bothered them. (This is pretty hard to believe given how noisy our family is!)

So, my solution this year... give them some earplugs, and give them front row seats and see what happens. Well, it worked like a charm. My daugther watched eagerly... my son, a little more reticent on daddy’s shoulder after it started. At the end of the display, I went to ask him how he liked it and he was asleep!! I guess the earplugs really worked!

Here are more shots from our lazy days at the lake...

Wild West Weekend

OK, so my “big” birthday celebration didn’t just end with a psychedelic party (see Summer of Love), the partying had to continue for at least another week!

So, another celebration, means another party theme, right? (Call me crazy, I know!) Since my whole family (sisters, brother, parents, spouses, kids, etc.) all headed to Keystone, Colorado-- I thought why not a good ol’fashioned Wild West weekend!

Besides the great company, delicious meals, and tasty wines, the 2 highlights of our trip was our hayride and an outing to an old West town!

including Alma and Fairplay. I had done some “research” onOne afternoon, my sisters and I hopped in the car and headed towards South Park. Yes, this is the same South Park as the cartoon television show... South Park is located almost in the middle of the state, and the area consists of several towns the web before arriving, so I felt so knowledgeable when I told my sisters what a great roadtrip with would be for us.

We typed in Alma, CO in the GPS and headed out on our adventure. Thank goodness that was not the only stop, because we flew by the town of Alma with out even blinking an eye! Fortunately, Fairplay had much to offer. Not only did we find a great low-key deli for lunch, we stumbled upon a great shop for mountain cabin accessories as well as a completely recreated Western town.

After my sister shopped, we wandered through the western town. It included several different homes of the late 1800’s, and apocathary shop, a post office, a hotel, a bar, and pretty much ever other shop you’d find in an 1800’s western town. Apparently the many of the buildings are actually original... moved from neighboring towns, to recreate a town feel. Inside the buildings were hundreds of antiques and artifacts that brought the town to life. I must say, the doctors and the dentist’s office were quite frightening. The tools at those times were quite archaic!

A couple days after that adventure, we all headed out for a hayride. Again, another great western adventure.... lasso practice, horseshoes, a tasty dinner and a great colorado folk band to entertain us. The kids were in heaven, and the adults had a blast too. I must of been a cowgirl in a former life, because I do love being in the mountains and a good hayride!

The Summer of Love

A psychedelic Summer of Love party... I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate than to bring back the late 60’s to celebrate my “big” birthday!

Growing up, my birthday always fell on the last day of school, or during finals. Well, this year was no exception, my birthday was on the last day of school for my daughter. I must say, though, it couldn’t have worked out better... who doesn’t want to celebrate the last day of school with a party... even if it is a weeknight? There’s no school the next day, so let it rip.

The Dead, Led Zeppelin, the Doors and more... they all played loudly as the kids made god’s eyes and the adults relaxed with cool beverages and granola mix to munch on! (Yes, the food was in theme as well!) It was a great “mellow” way to start the summer!

I have yet to make this party theme into a bnute productions Party Kit, but have plans in the future to add it to my collection. I really enjoyed researching the imagery for the party. I’m very familiar with the rock posters of the late 60’s (I’m sure half the guys in my dorm in college had at least one or two hanging in their room), but didn’t really put it together the Nouveau Art/Art Deco influence. If you’re interested, a great book to look at is called, “High Art: A History of the Psychedelic Poster.”

Nantucket

I’m a west coast girl. I did a 2 year stint in NYC and loved the experience, but came back west where family, friends and my heart lives. I do regret, though the lack of traveling I did when I lived on the east coast... after all, I was just a starving grad student, living in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

So when my husband and I got an invitation to go to Nantucket for a friend's lavish wedding, and my parents offered to watch our kids, we jumped on the opportunity!

What a great weekend. It started off with a clambake, including lobsters for all (can’t get more New England than that.) The wedding was in a classic town church, tall steeple and all... and the black tie reception at an exclusive golf course in Sankatay. We couldn’t have been treated more luxuriously.

One of my favorite parts of the trip, though, was a “walk about” I took with my husband. It reminded me of our pre-kid days... long walks exploring, just the 2 of us. We went to the town light house, then walked down the shore. So many shells! The battered white picket fences, the faded cedar siding on the home... now this is the East Coast! For some reason it seemed so different, yet so the sam as my west coast Lake Tahoe summer day experiences... lazy mornings getting a coffee in town, then head to the beach for a full day of fun. Afterward, we all head home tired from the water and sun to a great family meal, and perhaps a game of cards... as the kids run outside for more evening fun.

So, besides the humidity, bugs, sunrise vs. sunset, I think an East Coast summer vacation would be a lot like the west. Next time, I’ll bring the whole family!

Happy Mother's Day - A Day Spent Way Out Back

There’s a place in my parent’s yard... beyond the grass, beyond the trellis, and beyond the pool. It’s in the very back corner of their lot, near a persimmon tree. This place is known as “way out back.”

I have to admit, my parents lot is not that big... I mean, we are in California after all... land is quite a premium. But, to my parents credit, their yard is nothing to sneeze at either. It’s a great size... and it’s very well designed. It has hosted many, many, MANY great parties-- and I know many more to come!

Well, enough about the yard. Back to “way out back,” and Mothers Day, of course! When I was growing up we had a golden retriever named Chloe. She was the best dog (and I’m not prejudice, she really was!). Anyway, at night before bed, you’d let her out in the back yard and say, “way out back, Chloe, way out back.” No fail, she’d tromp all the way to the back of the yard, do her business and gallop in ready for bed. Very well trained! No land mines scattered around the yard. Who could ask for anything better, right?

Well, it was on Mother’s Day, EVERY year that my mom said... “This year, kids, for Mother’s Day, I’d love help in the garden...” We’d all groan a little, then try to cop a smile, since Dad was giving us the eye. Then she’d stay... “Why don’t you start in the ‘way out back’ and clean out all of Chloe’s poop... and if there’s time you can plant a flower or 2.”

Oh great.... now that is not fun gardening in anyone’s book, I must say. Somehow, even after year after year of cleaning way out back, I surprisingly like to garden myself... but I don’t have a dog. That may have to wait awhile, even though Chloe was the best dog EVER!!

It's Fiesta Day!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! I love this “holiday”... I know it’s a heavily Americanized holiday-- and possibly in Mexico they don’t celebrate it nearly as much as our Budweiser inspired society, but I still like the day. In fact, I think a Fiesta at any time of year is just a GOOD IDEA! Why, you ask?

First, I love Mexican food. I could live on chips and salsa (this is not necessarily a good thing...). Tostadas, tacos, tamales, you name it, I love it. I particularly love a good taco salad. My mom always made it growing up, and I’m keeping that tradition by making it for my family too.

Second, I love the folk art of Mexican paper cutting called papel picado. You know what it is... those festive paper flags, cut in all types of shapes. I definitely don’t think those have to be reserved for a fiesta... any time of year they look great!

Lastly, who stays away from a good pinata contest? I know, I know, it’s a bit creepy when someone picks out the head of their favorite character (say, a princess, or Barbie, or animal), and starts WHACKING at it. I say, stick with the symbols... a star, a number, or something that’s brightly colored, fill it with all sorts of goodies and have fun! At your next adult fiesta, try filling the pinata with adult-only trinkets... how ‘bout airline sized plastic liquor bottles, some starbucks gift cards, a little bottle of lotion (plastic, again)-- anything small is great!

Hope you had a great cinco de mayo... filled with chips, salsa and a pinata!