Peony Dinner Party

Just yesterday, I noticed that my peonies have had a major growth spurt in the last week. Although I love roses, I just get so impatient for them to bloom, so I am pretty sure God created the peony for those of us who are lacking in the patience department!

What is not to love about the peony? I think they are just beautiful and the added benefit of no thorns, beautiful green foliage and their yummy scent makes them even more spectacular!

Last year a few friends were wanting to get together for dinner. It was the last week of school. Need I say more? Busy, busy week with school activities, commitments, teacher gifts etc. but there is never a "good" time for everybody to get together...so, instead of procrastinating, we planned it! Even if only a few of us could make it, we were going to have a Spring Dinner Party!

No fancy invites, no fancy dinner. It was kept SIMPLE.

I called the girls via land line and then figured out a MENU for the evening that would work with our week. I LOVE PARTY MENUS!

This was the menu: Sparkling Lemonade
Homemade Bread or Artisan Bread from Costco...depending on time
Willamette Valley Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Large Pasta Salad with Rotisserie Chicken
Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Since the day of the dinner was going to be busy until that afternoon, I had made the cupcakes up ahead of time and stuck them in the freezer...I bake them without the wrappers and then put them in the wrappers before placing them on the cake stand.

I ran to Costco in the afternoon for the rotisserie chicken and Bebe Spring Mix. I got home, put the salads together, baked the bread and had time to decorate with a few things I had put together earlier on in the week.

Back to the flowers...the peonies were in FULL BLOOM...so, their colors were my inspiration for the party: Pink, yellow and white.

It was simple and so much fun to just sit and enjoy friendship. So there we were a group of friends talking, eating,and laughing. The birds were taking their evening baths, the water was bubbling away in the fountain and the neighbors weren't mowing their lawn...and to think we almost didn't get together because of how busy we all seemed to be. Sweet friends, sweet bouquets of fresh cut flowers, and sweet memories!

Please check out the Reluctant Entertainer to see what delicous scents others are filling their homes with.

Also linked to PINK SATURDAY!

pinkalicious thursday