a christmas dinner with friends

Fabulous food and decor at

the first Christmas dinner party of the season.

a beautiful holiday table set for twenty

We spent a fun Saturday night at a dinner party hosted by Liz and Martin. Martin plays ice hockey with my hubby, and the whole hockey team gets together every eight weeks for a delicious gourmet dinner. We hockey wives have really grown close, and we have a great time together.

Martin is a fabulous chef, and we were treated to a menu that included a seared salmon appetizer, the best tuna tartar I have ever had, a gingered carrot soup and rack of lamb.

Their home was so festive, especially the table decorated by Liz with the help of Michele and Penny. Speaking of Penny, she made the most incredible profiterole dessert and shaped it into a Christmas tree. It was served with her warm homemade chocolate sauce.  

Ooh, la la! 

each place setting included a special ornament and napkin from IKEA

a few of us hockey wives, me, Penny, Joann, and Sheree 

Liz is a fabulous hostess

Tuna Tartar with cilantro ~ AMAZING!

enjoying a yummy gingered carrot soup

Pretty traditional details on the table

Liz, Michel, Kathy, and Siobhan

a bite of salmon seared on one side with seaweed salad

Croquembouche ~ A profiterole christmas tree made by Penny.
Probably the best thing I ever ate!!

ciao! fabiana

my halloween dinner party preview

My guests are coming tonight.

  Sssshhh...here's a peek!

Welcome!

Dinner for twenty

Place settings with a spooky character representing each guest 

Loads of candles from IKEA

I just added a black and white photo between a glass plate and a larger white plate.

Halloween labels are easy to make for water bottles 

Bleeding candles - use dark red candles to drip onto white tapers

boo! fabiana

a stunning beach wedding

Last Saturday, we celebrated the wedding

of a friend and hockey team mate of my husband's.

This gorgeous location in Laguna Beach

was the perfect setting for a summer wedding,

and had gorgeous views of the beach.

After the ceremony,

the guests gathered around for 

cocktails and yummy appetizers.

The three foot tall centerpieces filled

with white orchids, hydrangeas and roses

were the perfect size to keep the

conversation lively at the table.

I love the hanging crystals, too.  

Did you notice the sand and seashells

at the bottom  of the vase?

The ice sculpture actually had

the signature drink of the evening flowing from it.

 It was a really tasty rum and curacao cocktail. 

Here are all the hockey wives in the photo booth.  

The bride & groom danced

their first dance as the sun was setting.  

The cake was almost too pretty to eat,

but of course we did. 

Look at the iridescent sea shells!  

Inside, it was chocolate and strawberry.

I was so excited about the fun candy buffet!  

And it was all sparkly and glittery too!  

Total "eye candy"!

Just the girls being silly at the end of the night with 

the candle cocktails from the table.

ciao! fabiana