Good Morning Darlings!

I trust you all had a safe and fun New Year’s Eve. Last year we stayed home but this year we attended two parties that blew the doors off. Couldn’t greet the new decade with a pizza and a coke, you know.

The first party was given by our friends Wesley and Mark at their loft, nicknamed “Remark Central”, because of Mark’s considerable dj skills. It was filled with interesting people, images and food. There is always a theme – last year being a masquerade. In anticipation of this year, I picked up several fabulous masks in New Orleans during our travels. But I didn’t consider that the theme changes every year. This year was “Red, White and Black”. And so we all dressed in the appropriate manner. Eric donned his tux with a red tie and I wore a black dress with fabulous new red shoes. And of course, my new red hair.

A look:

With Tracy’s makeup man, Danny’s help, I was transformed from daily blogger to disco queen. My eyes were shadowed with multi-colored glitter (a first!) and more makeup than I knew existed. But playing dress up is fun and Tracy and I enjoyed an afternoon getting ready.

Tracy is the mistress of dress up. She has costumes and wigs for every occasion. Hers is the ultimate playing dress up closet. You need it, she’s got it. I borrowed some very swanky earrings for the occasion. And my shoes, oh my darling shoes.

Mother Nature was particularly agreeable this night as well. With a positively balmy day in the upper 60s and an evening only dipping into the 50s, it was perfect party weather, with not a bit of humidity in the air.

And look, I met a kindred spirit with the same shoes!

My new shoe pal was Emily, there with her sweet husband.

Prior to the party we carb loaded at Figo, a local pasta joint. It was terrific and a great way to begin a night of celebrating. I had the mushroom ravioli with boar ragu. Somehow, I missed taking any photos of our dinner. But there were eight of us. Eric and me, Tracy & Colin, John & Lacey, Jennifer and Tara, straight from New York City. Tara said she didn’t mind one bit not being in Manhattan for the big night.

Mental note: make sure John and Lacey get on our party list. Loved them!

Same for Tara and Jennifer. Don’t you love her sparkly top?

And then there is our dear friend and host, Wesley. Wesley is something of a renaissance man. He is an expert gardener and knows everything about cheese. Truly. He used to be the cheese expert at Whole Foods. Plus, he is riotously funny.

And he set out quite the spread for the party. I didn’t get a chance to sample much as we had just eaten, but it looked gorgeous.

And there was Wesley’s partner Mark, spinning the hits in front of a screen counting down to midnight.

The crowd was starting to build.

We met lots of new people.

I won’t pretend I caught everyone’s name, because that was just not the case. But everyone was very nice and I had some great snippets of conversation all through the evening.

And it was great hanging with the folks we do know.

Like Colin.

Say hello to Colin’s little friend.

I always like a bit of whimsy.

And Wesley’s friend and favorite artist was there and brought him some delightful gifts.

I especially loved this victorian piece with the ipad slipped in. Isn’t that too much?

Before midnight, Eric and I slipped out and joined our darling friends and neighbors in our own neck of the woods.

For a hot tub party at the home of Rick and Denise. First, we went home to change and scrub off all the makeup. I can’t believe I went to the next party with nary a speck of makeup, but it felt so good to be rid of my disco eyes. I pulled on my favorite jeans, grabbed a hoodie and headed out the door.

As for the next party – it was a blast. Let me just say, there were Mentos in Diet Coke explosions, fire works, a hot tub over capacity and more than our share of champagne. I could post photos, but some thing are better left to the imagination. And I can’t share everything, can I? Where’s the mystique in that?

It was a perfect New Year’s Eve. A million thanks to Wesley & Mark and Rick & Denise, the consummate hosts.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to  – oh, who am I kidding? I am enjoying the silence. lol