Showing posts with label Japanese Garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Garden. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2011

A Sushi Date Night

 Casie's thinker was thinking of a great idea when she came up with this party plan!  An adult only sushi party was just what some of us parents needed to relax and enjoy fellowship with others. 

The atmosphere was so perfect and included short tables with guests bringing their own throw pillows to sit on, lanterns hanging overhead, tea, sushi, chopsticks, origami cranes and other little details that made it so inviting.  Come along to our evening of trying new foods and relishing in friendships while sitting together on the floor.  : )
 





 As you came down the steps entering the basement, the lanterns were lit down the stairway and rounding the curve.  Follow the path to..........

 a room dimly lit with hanging lanterns, sushi mats, chopsticks, and rich oriental colors ( don't forget the music).
As the guests arrived, they were directed to take off their shoes and head to the basement.  They found their name card and prepared for a meal of wonderful food.  After a "how to use chopsticks" demonstration and a demo on how to roll sushi, the food began getting passed and eaten.  So delicious!  Before dessert everyone shared their likes/dislikes with the sushi, what combinations they put in their's and their overall enjoyment of the food.   

 Ready to be rolled.

 Nicely rolled!

 Choosing just the right ingredients.

Making the perfect cuts to have nice little rolls.

Dipped Oreos with chocolate cherry blossoms.

You may cringe at the thought of sushi, but it is really quite tastey.  Sushi actually just means "with rice".  So, all the misconceptions of sushi containing raw fish is not true.  Yes, it can include raw fish, but it can also be fruit, vegetables, cream cheese, the list is endless as long as it contains rice. 

Each couple got to take their chopsticks and the sushi mat home to further practice their sushi making and eating skills.  This party was a great idea and enjoyed by everyone!  There doesn't always have to be a special reason to have a party.   Enjoying friendships, adult only time and delicious healthy food that we've been provided with are all reasons enough to CeLeBrate!

Friday, September 16, 2011

A Celebration to Renew a Promise of Love


Often times in preparing for a Celebration, we stay up quite late getting things ready.  This one was no different except for the fact that the event was to take place at 7:30 in the morning and that I didn't have my (Christi) party partner (Casie) helping me (Although my husband filled in the gap very nicely. Thanks, honey!).  This Celebration was put together out of honor for my parents. 

In our younger years, sometimes there are moments that we would like to do over again.  This Celebration was to create a new memory and renew promises in a new and sincere way.  Everything was created by me from the food, the flowers, the paper details, and everything in between.  The banner was especially fun as I made each rectangle into an envelope that contained notes and pictures from each one of us, my parent's children, grandchildren, and my dad's dad.  We sent the banner along with them on their weekend trip for their anniversary, to enjoy our words of honor to them.

My dad did have the card below picked out for me to have waiting for mom on her plate.  I was worried that it wouldn't go with the decor and when I opened it up, it was just perfect!  I love how those details even work out.  Enjoy all the pictures as they tell of a most memorable, beautiful, and renewed morning of love.

 "For My Wife
Our anniversary
is the perfect day
to renew my promises to you....."
































And off they went, headed to Traverse City, Michigan for a fun filled weekend away.  May this memory fill your heart with joy from the expression of love from a husband to his wife.  There are always reasons to CeLeBrate, even if it's a small intimate moment with just two people.

Decoration and Food ideas for the event:
Envelope Banner (Tutorial to come soon)
Chocolate flowers on muffins
Cherry Blossom Lemon Cake Pops
Flower Paper Red Poppies
Fruit Kabobs
Quiche: Bacon & Onion, Spinach & Feta, Tomato & Basil
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
M&Ms
Candy Mints
Basket of goodies
Lots of flowers, both fresh and fake
Black Lanterns with candles
Photos hanging from bridge
AND a Great Location!