wedding festivities: lingerie shower
May 21, 2012 § 3 Comments
Well, my sister Brynn Bralley is now Brynn Campbell. She and Tyler were married on Saturday. It was a stunningly beautiful ceremony and a fabulous reception. I can’t believe my sister is married!
Brynn and Tyler’s first dance
The weeks leading up to the wedding were exciting but busy! I’ve been swamped, but I wanted to back track for a bit and share some of the lingerie shower my sister Brass and I hosted for Brynn. We served brunch with coffee and mimosas and had a bit of fun with the decor.
I draped the table in lace fabric and placed purple flowers in a green vase (purple with pops of green were Brynnie’s wedding colors).
On the menu:
~ Doughnut Holes from Shiply’s Do-nuts
~ Hashbrown Bake (Recipe via Celebrate‘s Spring 2012 issue)
~ Fruit Salad (fresh fruit drizzled with honey, tossed with sliced almonds)
~ Pink Panty Mimosa (See recipe below)
Then comes our favorite part…
Panty bunting! We raided the clearance bin at Gap Body and found a supply of sheer panties that would go lovely against a window.
We hung them with string and tiny clothespins (which we found at Joann’s Fabrics). Extra panties were sitting in a basket on the floor, so girls got to grab one as a favor as they headed out.
Ok — recipe time! Here’s how you make our signature cocktail.
Pink Panty Mimosa
Makes 8 to 10 servings
1 bottle champagne
3/4 of 1 (128-ounce) raspberry lemonade*
1 cup raspberry liqueur
Fresh raspberries
Combine champagne, lemonade, and liqueur in a large pitcher. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
*I used Simply Lemonade Raspberry.
Serve this cocktail in little mason jars for an extra dose of vintage elegance.
So happy for my sister!
what I ordered: Birmingham Restaurant Week
September 2, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I still consider myself a Birmingham newbie, so I found Birmingham Restaurant Week to be the perfect time to check out a few places and try some dishes for a good price. I went to two different places during the week: One was a great deal, the other wasn’t so much.
The first place I went to was Rojo with my roomie. And I’m ashamed to say that the price for the food most definitely was not worth it, and I probably should have just known that if I had actually checked out the menu prices. I think I would have spent the same money had I ordered all three courses anyways. I don’t even really want to say what I paid. I mean it’s really not that bad, but not ideal for a lady on a budget. Also, I would have most likely ordered something else if I was going to pay that money anyways.
I had never been to Rojo, so I wanted to check it out. And yes, I was mildly disappointed in what I paid. But I did like the atmosphere of the place a lot. It’s fun, funky. More of a bar scene, but definitely cool, eclectic fare. It has both an American and Latino menu, serving everything from a Philly Cheesesteak to a spicy Paella.
I ordered the Shrimp Tomatillo Tacos, which were kind of bleh (didn’t feel the shrimp was as fresh as it could have been, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the salsa. Plus the tacos were screaming for something creamy…like sour cream or cheese?)…but the queso appetizer I ordered was incredible. I couldn’t stop eating it:
The queso has chorizo and jalapenos in it — holy moly was that fantastic.
For dessert, I ordered the Chango: cheesecake wrapped in a flour tortilla, deep-fried, and served with whipped cream and chocolate. I couldn’t eat it all at once. I had to take the rest home. But it was amazing—so amazing I forgot to take a picture. I just dove right in.
~~~
Now my other Bham Restaurant Week experience was with my sister, Brynn. We went to Bottega Cafe on Saturday for lunch. For $10 each, we each got a half pizza, a side salad, and an absolutely delightful olive oil sponge cake. Plus, the service was wonderful, and it was all in all a very fun experience!
What I ordered: White Pie — fennel sausage, ricotta, onion, and provolone
What Brynn ordered: Grilled chicken and pesto with aged parmesean and mozzerella
Olive Oil Sponge Cake -- came with a fluffy, sweet cream and raspberry sauce
I’d say Bottega Cafe was the winner for the week. Looking forward to next year!
In the mean time, Roll Tide. Charlotte, one of my bffs from high school who now lives in DC, is coming to visit me this weekend! We’re going to the Alabama vs. Kent State game (she’s never been to a college football game!). I am so excited to share the Alabama experience with her, and I can’t wait to introduce her to some great Southern cuisine. I’m really hoping for some Big Bad Wolves and Waysider and/or Rama Jama in her near future.
