Fall in Love (at a fall BBQ wedding shower)

One of my dearest friends is getting married Halloween weekend (Tim Burton theme - can't wait!), and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the impending nuptials than with a shower.  The proposed  shower date fell during the first weekend of fall, which inspired the theme "Fall in Love".  I enlisted the help of another good friend, and we co-hosted the shower at my place.  I love to share hosting duties, because it helps keep the costs down, keeps the ideas fresh, and gives you and your co-host a great excuse to have a party planning party. 

My search for the perfect invite was initially unsuccessful, so I asked the honoree to send some favorite photos of the happy couple.  I used one of the photos to create a custom invitation on Shutterfly.  It was less expensive and more personal than the other invitations that I found, and they fit the theme perfectly. 

I trolled Pinterest for decoration inspiration, and found tons of great ideas.  I wanted to make sure that the decor reflected the theme but I also wanted to keep the cost down, so many of the decorations were either homemade or borrowed.  I outfitted the front door with a simple burlap wreath.

I made a garland for the mantel out of paper bag flowers, scrapbook paper pennants, and sisal rope and I used popcorn kernels, split peas, and red kidney beans in hurricanes to jazz up pillar candles.



Since it was a couples shower, we wanted to have substantial food that would satisfy the guys.  We decided to go with pork and chicken barbecue with all the fixins' - baked beans, corn on the cob, and potato salad.  I borrowed a burlap running to use under the spread, and found some last minute inspiration in BHG to identify the various barbecue sauces.

For munchies, we had some BLT dip w/ crackers and veggies.  BLT dip is so easy - mix equal parts mayo and sour cream, add some bacon bits and small diced tomatoes (drained), and add salt & pepper to taste.  Good and done!  I also picked up some caramel corn that I served in a tall, pretty glass container.  Our local popcorn shop will dye the popcorn to match your particular occasion, but since caramel corn is the perfect fall color I went with it as is.  It looks great displayed in an apothecary jar or other pretty container.

For dessert we had pie rather than cake, since I associate pie with fall/winter.  The bride-to-be requested something chocolate, so I went with my Fudge Bottom pie.  I used a premade crust to keep it simple, there's no baking involved, and it was as easy as pie (pun intended). 

Fudge Bottom Pie

1 bag of chocolate chips

1 1/2 c half & half

1 box instant white chocolate pudding mix

1 c whole milk

1 c heavy cream

2 - 3 tbsp powdered sugar (or to taste)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 graham cracker pie crust

Combine chocolate chips and 1/2 c of half & half in a sauce pan, and melt the chips over low to medium low heat.  Stir continuously while melting.  When the chips are fully melted, pour the chocolate mixture into the bottom of the pie crust. 

Combine the remaining cup of half & half and 1 c whole milk with the pudding mix, and mix until the right consistency for pudding.  Add this on top of the chocolate mixture.

I use a Kitchenaid with the whisk attachment to make the whipped cream for the top.  Pour 1 c heavy cream into a chilled bowl, add the powdered sugar and vanilla, and whisk until peaks form.  This is the third and final layer, and I just spread it out on top with a spatula.

I recommend chilling the pie overnight (at least four hours if this isn't possible), and then serve.  It's rich, so cut small pieces.  I promise you'll love it!

From Paris, just a little bit tardy

My husband and I were very fortunate to swing a trip to Paris in March.  We were there for about seven incredible days, and we immensely enjoyed ourselves.  I love getting recommendations before I leave for a trip, and I wanted to share some of mine with you.

Accommodations - We stayed at the Emeraude Hotel Lodge Du Centre and were very happy with our budget choice.  It is located in the theater district, not far from Metro stations.  It was within walking distance of the Galeries Lafayette.  The staff was very friendly, the room was small but clean, and we had a great little balcony where we would have afternoon glasses of wine.  It was right across the street from a Franprix (grocery store) and there were lots of restaurants nearby. 

Food - We were trying to stay on a budget, so no mind-blowing 4 course meal recommendations here.  We ate at a lot of sandwich shops and small bistros, but we had great food almost everywhere we went. 

• Our favorite bakery for sandwiches was a chain Paul.  
• We had a really nice dinner at Chartier, which was right near our hotel.   The waiter was extremely helpful - drawing pictures of menu items since we don't speak much French, and steering me away from intestine.  I had the special, pot au feu, and it was great. 
• A friend of ours recommended Angelina for hot chocolate and dessert, and it was AMAZING!  We split a limited time offering Mont Blanc at their location at Versailles, and it was to die for.  The hot chocolate is super-rich, so stick to a small (especially if you're ordering a dessert too).   
• I love chocolate, and wanted to bring some home for myself and for gifts.  We stumbled on the cutest shop Jeff de Bruges, and I'm so glad we stopped in to check it out.  The chocolates were super cute, and they were delicious.  I bought a small menagerie of Easter chocolates for a very reasonable price (compared to other places we looked).   

Experiences - Everyone goes for a different reason, so don't take our word for it and go try the things you want to try.  We purchased a 4 day Paris museum pass, which I definitely recommend, since it gets you into many of the places listed below.  It also allows you to skip the line since you don't have to wait to buy tickets. Here are some notes from some of the places we went:

• Eiffel Tower - We didn't go up into the tower, but I really didn't want to.  It was breathtaking to behold.  The hotel's desk clerk recommended that we get off at the Metro stop "Trocadero", and the view was so magnificent when you come around the corner that I teared up.  I've loved the Eiffel Tower since I was a little kid, and this was the first stop after dropping our bags at the hotel. 
• Musée du Louvre - It was great.  Overwhelming, huge, crowded, but great.  I regret that we only went once.
• Musée d'Orsay - This was my favorite museum.  I think the train station in the movie Hugo had to have been inspired, at least in part, by this beautiful space. I like that the art was arranged to make it easier to see many different types of pieces, whereas at the Louvre they are arranged very methodically. 
• Chateau de Versailles - The Palace was crowded with tour groups, which definitely took away from the experience (especially the Hall of Mirrors), but the gardens on the grounds were stunning.  We spent most of the day exploring the gardens and the other palaces and estates.  If you plan to do this, definitely wear comfortable shoes because it is a huge area to cover.  They have a tram, bicycles and golf carts for rent, but we chose to explore on foot. 
• Notre-Dame - Gorgeous!  We went through the cathedral and then went back the next day (early a.m. to try to get a good spot in line) to go up into the Towers.  I loved the view from the top of the towers, but hated the hike to the top (up a circular stone staircase single-file); however, the photos that I took from the towers definitely made it worth the torture of the climb.
• Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise - This is the final resting place of many famous people, including Jim Morrison.  His grave is barricaded due to vandalism, and it is really a shame to see how the neighboring monuments have been defaced.  We enjoyed our peaceful stroll among the intricate monuments.
• Les Catacombes de Paris - Crazy macabre and interesting.  In preparation for our trip, I read a very cool vignette in the book Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris by Graham Robb about how the catacombs came into existence, which definitely enhanced my visit.  It's also close to the chocolate shop mentioned above.
• Palais Garnier - Bravo!  We only did a tour, but I imagine it would have been amazing to see a performance in such a breathtaking venue.  If you are at all interested in opera/theatre/ballet, I would not miss it.
• Folies Bergere - We had no plans to go see a show while in Paris, but the theatre was just down the street from our hotel so we decided to check it out.  The theatre is definitely showing age, but it was a wonderful venue to see a show.  We saw the show Shadowland, and really enjoyed it.  It was a very pleasant surprise.
• Musée de l'Orangerie - A custom and fitting home for Monet's water lilies.  It's not a large museum, and is a great way to pass a couple of hours in the afternoon while exploring the Tuileries. 
• Musée Rodin - We didn't make it to the museum until late in the afternoon, so we focused on the outdoor sculpture garden.  If I were going to get married again in Paris, this would be a gorgeous place to do so.  The Thinker appears right at home, mulling in the midst of the manicured garden.
• Sacré-Cœur - We had our only negative experience here.  You walk up hill through a shady neighborhood to get to the steps that lead up to the Basilica.  When we reached the hill, we were inundated by men trying to make string bracelets on our arm, even after we let them know that we weren't interested.  It seemed like pickpocket central, and our plan to watch the sun set from a spectacular vantage point quickly changed when we realized that we definitely did not want to be in the area after the sun went down.   

Tips - Here are just a few things I wish I would have known before we arrived.  I read guide books, but somehow I missed the following:

• Cash is king!  I normally operate on a credit/debit card only basis, and it's entirely possible to do so in Paris, but it definitely seemed that the vast majority of purchases in Paris are made in cash.  At restaurants, the server would have to come back around with a portable swiping machine, which would delay our departure (good thing we were on vacation and were never in a hurry).  Many stores have a credit/debit minimum, and you need to be prepared to pay cash if your purchase falls below the minimum.  In summation, carry cash.
• Exchanging currency is expensive.  You can minimize the cost by activating your debit card for international travel before you leave, and then just withdrawing cash from the ATM just like in the US.  If you have to exchange at a currency exchange, it's normally less expensive to change further from the touristy areas.  Finally, if you don't like the rate that they give you at the currency exchange, it is negotiable.
• If you go to the theatre, be prepared to tip the usher who shows you to your seat.  We didn't figure this out until we saw most theatregoers offer some coins to the usher.  Also, be sure to arrive on time because when the house lights go down, there's a mad stampede to any open seat ahead of that in which you were ticketed. 

I was so overwhelmed upon seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time.  It was a dream come true, and I couldn't imagine why I had never been before.  If going to Paris is a dream of yours, don't needlessly complicate it - make a plan, buy a ticket, and go there!  It really was amazing, and I can't wait to go back.