Life at Chez V - Scenes From the Weekend

Derby de Mayo Recap

Derby de Mayo fiesta was loads of fun.  Tons of good food, friends, and family.  There were some ‘staches,’ some pinata smashing, a baby drinking bubbles, and my husband lopping off the top of his finger on the margarita machine blade.  Good times…

birthday girl!

gift bags

birthday boy looking very Dr. Zhivago meets El Guapo

Pieti is really into bones right now

right before this handsome guy drank the bubbles...

'El Guapo, would you say we had a plethora of pinatas?'

we had to call in the heavy to bust open the pinata...

good times, indeed!

Party photography by Merrilee Luke-Ebbeler

kisses, mrs. V

Life at Chez V - A Pragmatic Birthday Approach

Never Say Never

All the finger and toe crossing in the world didn’t prevent the inevitable which is to say that I also succumbed to the vomit show.  Talk about the pits.  I still don’t feel right with the world.  So please excuse my unexplained absence.

In other news, The Monster is turning 4 this weekend.  I am really into parties and birthdays but I am very glad that my cousin is hosting the Derby/birthday party this year instead of me.

Admittedly, at first, I was sort of bummed not to be hosting my Derby bash, which conveniently coincides closely with Pieti’s birthday.  But after this past week of enduring sickness and exhaustion at Chez V (I am currently suffering another round of insomnia on the heels of that creeping crud - at last count I haven’t slept 4 nights in the last 6), I couldn’t even imagine planning/hosting a party 4 days from now.

From a previous joint birthday party I hosted for Pieti and Lew

that party was a 'Bubbles and Bubbly' birthday/Mother's Day fete

The party, falling on May 5th, is aptly a Derby de Mayo party this year.  Pieti’s birthday is a day apart from her cousin Lewis, so for simplicity sake, we are celebrating Derby, birthdays, and Cinco de Mayo in one fell swoop.

In the past, I was one of those smug creative types who swore up and down to never have a licensed character birthday party – you know, of the Dora/Thomas/Spongebob/Hello Kitty variety.  But her cousin is REALLY into Super Mario right now and Pieti is in between obssessions, so Super Mario it is for the children’s portion of the day’s festivities.  And I, for one, am in no shape to object.

In addition to some of my traditional Derby Party fare, I am also contributing the gift bags for the kiddos.  At least in this, I can exercise my creative muscles a bit.  Because frankly, that Super Mario stuff is super spendy.

So this week, I am never saying never and happy to do so.

kisses, mrs. V

Party Details and Super Bowl half-time recap

Boogie Down and Not So Much Boogie Down

The party was a smashing success.  THUMBS UP!  As George would say. Could not have pulled it off without the help of my mother and stepfather.  Thanks Momma for the use of your house!  And my dear cousin Jennifer helped me prep the food.

Here a few pre-party shots.  I apologize for the dark pics but it was a rainy day and I am NOT a photographer.

Welcome!

the bar

before I stocked it

the dining room

before the buffet was filled with food

Lots of good food, good peeps, loud music and TONS of dancing.  Many many laughs.  I could hardly walk yesterday after dancing in 4” heels all night but it was sooo worth it.  Clearly I am not 22 anymore. 

Nor are you Madonna.  Even though my infamous high kicks have often resulted in broken heels or a busted butt, they are WAY better than your sad attempts at kicking.   Did you really do yoga for all those years?   I mean, I get that you are trying to concentrate on remembering the words to songs that are 20 years old, and that all those injections prevent your lips from actually moving, and shimmying around a stage in those high heeled boots can prove tricky.  But when it takes you 10 minutes to do one cartwheel, it is time to re-think your ‘performance.’ 

What did you think of her performance?  Because according to FB some people thought she rocked.  Were they watching the same show or just 3 sheets to the wind by half-time?!

Note:  I used to be a Madonna fan.  But that was long ago, before she started feigning a British accent. 

kisses,  mrs. V

Party Planning - It's all in the Details

Whirly Gigs and Zingers

For the big bash, I am incorporating a few details to make this party really special for my brother.  In my mind, making an occasion special is all about the details.  The little things that to a casual observer or acquaintance might get overlooked.  But for those in the know  - the ones that truly know the guest of honor - they get it.

Often I get heckled about perfecting the details.  My husband thinks it’s insane that I would stay up into the wee hours of the morning folding 20 tissue paper flowers in coordinating colors.  How about doing calligraphy and water color place cards for an outdoor brunch?  Or that I would labor for hours on the layout and colors of an invitation and the coordinating accents.  Finding just the right RGB combination can be maddening and gratifying at the same time!  Then there was the time I spent an entire week and dozens of trashed cupcakes in an attempt to get the right consistency and tone of icing to match the invitation.  Now, that last bit is probably a tad insane.

DIY pinwheels - these were harder to make than anticipated

The other day, I shared one such detail - the drink menu featuring drinks named after George's various nicknames.  Today I am sharing two more little details:  his love of pinwheels, and his one-liners.  George is infamous for his concise repartee. They have become part of our family lexicon over the years.  Everyone has been on the receiving end of one of his zingers.

These labels are destined for gold drink cups

I made the pinwheels by slightly modifying this tutorial by Amanda Jane Jones as seen on Oh Happy Day.  I printed a gold background rather than yellow for the back side of the striped paper and I used dowel rods rather than pencils b/c I needed something longer but that proved the tricky part b/c the little tacks I used were wimpy and crumpled a lot when I tried to hammer them into the dowels.  Lots of cursing ensued but I worked it out.

because everything is infinitely cuter in a smaller version

Big and mini together forever

So know this about me.  If I am throwing you a party, I am most definitely spazing about the details.  For all outward appearances it might even look like I am in pain from all the concentration and worry about getting it just so.  But all these tiny details are meaningful little gestures that speak volumes about you and my love for you.  After all, that is what giving a party is all about, showing you how much I really care.  And appearing to be a rockstar while doing it!

kisses,  mrs. V