It was a fabulous New Year’s Eve. We kicked back with a select number of cool friends around (not too many, not too few), it was raucous at times, chill at times, and so fun we almost forgot to count down to midnight. I think a few people were actually a little annoyed that we interrupted the dance party for such a mundane event.

So yeah. Awesome.

AND I continued my streak of totally forgetting to take photographs of things, and while there were lots of people taking photos, none of them has volunteered any of them to go on the internet, which should also confirm that yes, it was a good party.

I’ve decided I need to designate an official photographer (who is not me) at any events I want to go on BB&B, because I’m clearly just never going to do it on my own. Too much rushing around, answering doors, making sure food is properly finished and presented, refilling drinks, changing playlists, introducing people – you know the drill of throwing a party. Maybe one day I’ll remember to take photos…

So what won the champagne tasting? It’s so predictable that’s shocking.

The widow herself: Veuve Clicquot.

The Veuve and Perrier-Jouet were probably the most expensive champagnes there – no one was going to go nuts on a really nice bottle on a night when our taste buds probably weren’t in top form – and the Veuve won hands-down. The Perrier-Jouet actually was almost in last place. To test the results, I opened a bottle the other night and um, YUM, it’s tasty. My theory is that because it’s a drier champagne, all the sweet ones we tried blew out the subtler flavors of the Perrier, making it taste kind of not so nice compared to all the others.

So eh, it’s not an exact science. But it’s a fun one.

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Don’t you love that POP rush of air when the cork finally releases from the bottle?

I’m giving a champagne tasting party for New Year’s Eve, and I’m so excited about it!

Each guest will bring a bottle of champagne, and I’ll set up a blind tasting using about half of each bottle – the other half will be reserved for the person who brought it. Each taster will score each champagne 1-5 with their names next to their score, and then I’ll average the scores and find out which champagne is the winner! Very democratic.

Almost a little too democratic, which is why we have tasters put their names next to their scores, so they can go back and find out which one(s) they scored highest. That way everyone will know which one they liked best, and which one was most popular overall. Very useful for future champers buying.

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I love this! Such tasty and homemade food (including my Dill, Sour Cream and Onion Vegetable Dip) and drinks (she had three homemade specialty cocktails to choose from) made the party feel special in a way it wouldn’t have with store-bought platters. We’re bringing back the homemade dinner party!

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Isn’t it the cutest thing ever? She made us seriously, I kid you not, the tastiest most gorgeous little cupcakes I have ever had. Magnolia Bakery, eat your heart out. Mini cupcakes win.

We paired them with ice cream and toppings, and slathered as much icing as we wanted on each one.

With pink champagne and trashy reality television – it was a great night.

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The candlesticks I wrapped with the cutest yellow and white polka dotted ribbon. Using a lot of double-stick tape, I started at the top and wound it around until the bottom was covered and looked billowy and lovely. SO easy. Just make sure you have a lot of ribbon – I must have used 5 yards per candlestick.

I wrapped the vase with this thick Japanese-style paper that I found, and I think it ended up working really nicely with the polka dot candlesticks. You wrap a vase just like you would a present, and just cut the top corners so you can fold them down with tape and make a clean top edge.

Tomorrow: the brunch menu!

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The napkin went on the plate, the “grass” went right on top, and the egg nested in the middle. Really, a quite simple presentation (once the eggs are dyed!). Easter-y, but not too much.

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I was inspired by Martha Stewart Living’s April issue to put sticky vinyl letters on eggs and then dye them. Unfortunately, my letters didn’t stick very well and the dye got under a few of them.

But no matter…I wrote in the rest of the names with a gold pen and hoped the fuzzy letters made for extra charm.

Tomorrow: napkin nests for the egg placecards!

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