DIY Weekend + Birthday Brunch
Sometimes you just need to get things done.
This weekend, Shaun and I spent most of Friday night and Saturday spackling, painting and installing a new closet system in our den closet. It's a fantastic storage space, but it needed a whole lotta TLC. So I'm a little tired today. And a lot sore. Admittedly we did take a small break on Saturday night and headed to Michael Anthony's in Newport for some drinks, appetizers and basketball/giant moon watching over the Hudson.
Sunday marked my mom's birthday. It's a big birthday month for the Cannon-Humistons. If you recall, last week I whipped up this little beauty when we celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday with dinner and dessert at our place. Last year, my sister Kimberly and I threw our mom a dinner party at the old Humiston residence (more on that here, here and here). This year, my mom obliged to do something similar...but this time, Mom wanted brunch. At the new Humiston residence. So from DIY closets to DIY brunch, it was a busy one.
Mom, Dad and me
I absolutely love brunch. There is simply nothing better than breakfast food and prosecco-laced cocktails in the late morning/early afternoon. It's casual, fun and pretty darn delicious. I also love hosting. I bet you didnt know that. :)
For this little soiree, I set up our little bar with wine glasses and drinking glasses. I also used one end to house the desserts until singing time and to display some beautiful roses that my parents picked up for the occasion.
To start, we dined on smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers, blue cheese + honey on crackers and a giant bowl of fruit.
Mom, Dad and Kimberly
Oh and Shaun was on drink patrol. He mixed up some rum & diet for Dad, white wine for Mom and mimosas for Kimberly and me. Gotta love him.
Kicking off the main attraction, Kimberly made a fantastic salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries, sliced almonds and a honey mustard vinaigrette. It was just about the best salad ever.
We also got to work on a strawberry baked oatmeal (a healthy one that you need to make immediately so I'll be sharing later this week!)
and a goat cheese, roasted pepper and basil frittata. Oh and we also whipped up a little mushroom frittata while we were at it.
And in case that wasn't enough food for ya, you know we had to get down with dessert. In addition to a glazed blood orange loaf cake that I had frozen from last week...
...I was on a mission to make a dessert that Mom would love. For as long as I can remember, Mom has proclaimed her love for malt. Specifically Whoppers, the quintessential chocolate malt candy. So I researched (and researched) until I found the perfect recipe for some stretchy-pants-inducing chocolate malt cupcakes. Oh yeah. I went there.
Stay tuned for the yum-inducing recipe later this week because no doubt you will want to subsequently get your malt on immediately. We lit some candles and sang Happy Birthday!
The only thing missing from this fun, food-filled day was my sister Christine who is off at school. Miss you Stine Bean!
So that was how we spent the weekend. DIY'ing, spending time with family, cooking and eating ourselves into a coma. How did you spend your weekend? What was the last thing you DIY'd? What's the last thing you needed to break out your stretchy pants for?
15 Comments | March 20, 2011 | Share Article | Email Article | tagged Birthday, Brunch, party food | in Parties Print Article | Permalink
Reader Comments (15)
Looks like an awesome brunch and those cupcakes look amazing! We have a zillion birthdays in March in my family.
The cupcakes were amazing! Actually everything was, I'll be making the roasted red pepper and goat cheese frittata soon! I also may have eaten 1 (or 2) cupcakes throughout the rest of the day yesterday!
all of your food looks amazing! what a fun time with your fam!! can't wait for the strawberry oatmeal recipe
I think Brunch is my favorite too!! It's the best of all worlds!
This weekend I was in a wedding (first time as a BM) and got my taxes done! I wish I took more naps though :(
Those desserts look great!! I spent the weekend celebrating my birthday too! I am semi glad the celebrations are over bc I def had to bust out the stretchy pants last night.
Happy Birthday Allison!
What a beautiful brunch! I agree, brunch is just the best, both for eating and for hosting! Also, it has been way too long since I've had a mimosa...
awwwwwwwwwww what a sweet bday brunch for your mom!!!! =) The food looks awesome and you guys got some great family photos! (minus your sis! aww! I bet she totally would have been there if she could! <3 )
Happy belated birthday to your mom!! I love this - especially when its all DIY!!! It means so much more to cook everything than to just go out to eat. Esp when the hubby starts with the drinks. PS - salmon and cream cheese is my favorite.
That brunch spread looks delicious! I spent this weekend shopping for business attire and watching basketball! I totally wasn't ready for this week to start!
OOOH, want that baked granola recipe STAT! :-D
It sounds like a productive and enjoyable weekend :)
I haven't done anything DIY in a long time...but I have broken out the stretchy pants recently! This weekend I had brunch with a blogger friend...and although it was great and healthy---I was stuffed!
Stretchy pants definitely required as we say goodbye to spring break...lots of food and fun! (And that strawberry oatmeal - recipe please!!!!!)
I cant believe how much you look like your mum! i hope she had a fantastic birthday,if i was her though im pretty sure i wouldnt have shared those cupcakes out!
Malt is one of my favorite flavors!!! Vanilla and chocolate malts make me so happy!