The last month has been an absolute blur. I am generally always busy, but this fall I experienced an entirely new level of frantically busy. Here's a breakdown of what's been going on around here:
November 10: Margarita Ball
November 17: Friendsgiving (hosted)
November 22 - 25: Thanksgiving and family time (hosted)
December 1: Jason's sister's 30th birthday party (prepared all the food)
December 3-7: FINALS
December 8: Sister's Graduation (100% responsible for party)
Finals are always difficult, but this is the first semester that I really didn't know if I was going to make it. I cannot remember being so tired. How tired? I dumped a cup of water into the ice maker and turned off the kitchen light while in the kitchen, tired.
So after an 8:30 Friday final (which should not be allowed), all I wanted to do was sleep for the entire weekend. But, instead I drank the strongest glass of coffee available and ran a billion errands for my sister.
Because you see, she graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on Saturday and I was responsible for throwing her graduation party. I've been planning this party for months, and I'm happy to say it turned out exactly how I envisioned and hoped. I'm so proud of her.
And now a crash course in throwing a graduation party.
Sweets and Beverages Table
I ordered the cookies from Sugar Mama a baked goods business run by a high school friend's mom. She made the adorable UT themed cookies for us. If you're in need of baked goods in the Central Texas area, I cannot recommend her enough.
My sister made her own cake. I made "Bevo Bellinis" which consisted of champage and a peach thyme puree. The table was decorated with a picture of my sister, taper candles, and gerber daisies in khombucha bottles that I've been saving vases.
The appetizers consisted of caprese bites, cuccumber hummus bites, goat cheese stuffed bacon wrapped dates, and spicy sausage balls (thanks Kristen for the recipe!). The meat appetizers were still in the oven so I didn't get a picture of them...and then they disappeared within minutes.
I served a full seated dinner, which meant I needed to rent plates and goblets. I ended up purchasing silverware and champagne flutes from Ikea, because you'll never know when you'll need service for 20, and it was cheaper than renting them.
You can't read then menus, but dinner included rolls, Caesar salad, Chicken Marbella (recipe sounds super weird, but it was delicious) on fettucini, and roasted asparagus spears.
The tables were decorated with the same gerber daisies and taper candles. Each place setting included a burnt orange napkin, menu, dinner and salad plates, and a water goblet.
I served water in prosecco bottles that I've been collecting for a while. #partyplanningturnsmeintoapackrat. Each bottle was labeled with a longhorn tag.
Can you tell how exhausted I am in this picture?
And lastly, I hung a giant photo wall in the dining room. I traced the Texas onto the paper using a projector and a transparency and then drew a large banner and some other UT appropriate decorations.
That's pretty much everything!
Congrats Hyacinth. Love you.
