Anatomy of a Dinner Party: a day in the life of a hospitalityaholic
 

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Baking Fails

Friday, June 13th, 2014

Good Morning Darlings,

Does every cake turn out perfect?

Um, no. I really felt for these baking fails. I laughed so hard I cried.

 

 

And here’s one from my own archives. I tried to make Crystal a lemon layer cake. I swear that cake was trying to run away. It kept sliding off the bottom layer. A personal best! Not.

 

Share your baking fails with me!

xoxo,
Patti

Clint & Patti’s Big Adventure

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Good Morning Darlings!

Last Thursday Clint & I played hooky together. Clint planned an entire day of surprises that just delighted me to no end.

What did we do on our play day?

Cake Quiz!

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Good Morning Darlings!

Although my birthday was in February, my dear friends over at Cake Hag have been trying to get my birthday cake to me.

I got it this weekend. The only stipulation? I had to guess what the cake was filled with.

Check it out.

FFF-My Birthday, You Get A Gift!

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Good Morning Darlings!

As I sit here in my office at my tiny desk, on my birthday Friday (actual birthday on Sunday), I can’t help but be so grateful for everything in my life. My incredible husband, Eric, my amazing besties, my good friends, and all of you out there in tv land. Or blog land, I don’t judge.

Happy Birthday To Me!

But since I love you so much, I thought I should give you a gift. CSN has so graciously offered a $65 gift card to their massive online store. Last time we did a giveaway with them, my bestie Clint won and couldn’t say enough great things about the wine glasses and linens he received. Clint said everything was packaged in the most pristine way and both items were gorgeous. And they have virtually everything you could want. You could buy me an offset spatula! Or, holy Toledo, they have Le Creuset, too! Check out this set of bright yellow cookware – wouldn’t this make you smile everyday?

Just like sunshine!

So, my little darlings…comment away. I would love to hear your idea for my perfect birthday celebration. The winner will be announced on Wednesday by a random drawing.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Marvin Gaye – Got to Give It Up, Part I (because it’s my birthday and this is my favorite song, of all time..)

Danny’s Seafaring Birthday

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Good Morning Darlings!

Yes, this is my birthday week, but last week we feted our darling Danny at McCormick and Schmick’s with some yummy seafood. There were 10 of us and we just gathered, drank, laughed and enjoyed our plates of seafood. I think the photos (snapped by our friend, Eric Rice) say it all.

A special menu with a special message for our birthday boy.


Our group


Holly, Eric and Me


My sweeties John and Danny


My boys and me sharing a giggle.


Patrick and Andrew.


Eric, Danny and Bruce


Bruce, Danny and Sweet Rose

It was a fabulous night with some of my most favorites!

Happy Birthday my darling Danny! I love you!!!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Johnny Cash – Oh Danny Boy

Shane Has A Birthday

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Good Morning Darlings!

Last week my good friend and neighbor, Shane, celebrated a landmark birthday. Yes, he is now 21……

And of course, all the neighbors were there to toast him. We love a good party, you know. So Shane ordered up some pizza, we brought wine and beer and showed up. We are always good for bringing the adult beverages. We’re good like that.

With my buddy Shane.


I even made a cake. Now, I know what you’re thinking…really? After two misfires? Yes, really. And it turned out well. Looks like my cake mojo is back! Although I have a beef with one Miss Betty Crocker. I picked up the cake decorating tube in a nice yellow only to get it home and read that I need a Betty Crocker frosting tip to use with it. What? Really Betty Crocker? I think not. So I wrote it out freehand, sans the silly little cake tip I was told I needed. It was legible. That’s all I will say.

Not so bad.


Shane seemed happy enough with it.

And so we gathered and ate pizza and cake, washed down by wine and beer. A good time was had by all.

Lovely photo of Valerie and Shane....


...photobombed by Justin. lol


Tracy and Crystal


Jay and Rick


The guys enjoy a slice.


Humphrey was so good all night!

It was another great night in the neighborhood. Happy Birthday, Shane!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to the Paul Weston Orchestra – The Theme From Shane

Birthday, Belated, Belicious

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings! Okay, so belicious isn’t a word, but I liked how it sounded with the other words. Sunday night our besties John and Danny whipped up the most fabulous meal for a belated celebration for my sweetheart, Eric. You know we never need a reason to party.  What’s that you say? It’s Tuesday? Pop open the bubbly!

Poor Eric has been on crutches this past week due to a bad ankle, so he gave Danny a lesson on balancing on crutches when we arrived. Hilarity ensues.

Danny had never used crutches before. It's kind of a balancing act.

The food is insane. Come on in to take a look!

Eric, It’s You

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Yesterday was a wild whirlwind of a video shoot, but today, it is time to celebrate. It is my perfect husband’s birthday. Tonight we will celebrate by recreating all his childhood faves. Chili dogs, Groovy Mike Sells Potato Chips, Onion dip, Real Coca-Colas in glass bottles. A group of our besties will gather together in our home and it will be a ball.

And macaroni and cheese. Apparently it’s everyone else’s childhood favorite. What was yours?

Anyhoo, I am going to indulge myself by posting some of my favorite photos of Eric from the past year. Happy Birthday, Honey. I love you madly.

xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Three Dog Night – Celebrate

and…Etta James – At Last

The Four Most Read Posts – Number 4

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

On Friday, Anatomy of a Dinner Party, will be one year old. I can’t believe how quickly the year passed. So many new friends, so many fun happenings, parties and vacations!

I thought you might like to read the top four posts of the past year, so we can remember the good times together. Number four is our macaron making class with Helen of Tartelette. It was a super fun day with 12 of the most lovely women I have ever met. It was also the day after Sugar Coma, so we were all in tasty sugar mode.

Jennifer and Wendy filling their pastry bags

And now, without further adieu, I bring you the Merry Macaron Party With Tartelette. Enjoy!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Beatles – Birthday

John’s Special Birthday

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This past weekend we were so happy to host a dinner party for my bestie, John. Conjured up by his sweetie, Danny, we planned and plotted to have 10 of his favorite friends gathered to fete our darling birthday boy.

For this occasion I decided to leave the table bare (I tend to forget how pretty it is…) and set it with silver chargers, white plates, white napkins nestled into silver napkin rings and a small arrangement of white and red roses. It was elegant without being fussy.

Simple Is Sometimes Best

Come On In For More Birthday Fun