Sunday, 18 July 2010

Last Night


Last night's soirée went down a storm; bellies filled, booze guzzled, songs sung and guitars strummed, the house was inspected and marvelled at and my wardrobe was rifled through and tried for size. We even managed to do all the washing up before bed so no mess this morning...hoorah!

I meant to take photos of the food but having fun got in the way. Here's the welcome drinks and nibbles. The low-level table was originally a door salvaged from a delapidated Rajasthani haveli.


I've collected retro cocktail accessories and tableware since I was a kid. The 1950's linen napkins are embroidered with leaping deer and raffia-covered Chianti bottles.


My girls got all the attention. The wine goblets are recycled green glass.

The peanut dispenser proved popular and the chilli nuts were replenished several times. The watermelon was steeped in vodka for 24 hours.


The pièce de résistance had to be our 1960's "Party Tree". I decorated it with cornichons, silverskin onions, pimento and jalapeno-stuffed olives, extra spicy Mexicana cheese, sweet peppers and cherry tomatoes.

After this lot we served a selection of home-made thin crust pizza, Papas arrugadas, Greek salad and bulgar wheat salad with broad beans and mint followed by a choice of apple pie and ice cream or Eton Mess with home-grown berries.

Jon modelling the lei he bought at yesterday's jumble sale.

On the left are our "High Class" cocktail forks. I snaffled another box from a jumble sale I'd been to yesterday, talk about good timing. I'm a vegetarian and steered well clear of the continental meat platter but the seven carnivores tucked in with abandon.

Jacqui performed her party piece.


Vintage Berketex Maxi (99p eBay), Jaeger suede belt (Courtesy of my friend, Nikki), Silver jewellery (India), Hair flower (Jumble sale)

Not quite so perky this morning.

37 comments:

  1. Well you bloody well look perky luv!! I like your style with food, awesome ladies on glasses, I've forgotten what they're called, I meant to comment on them when you bought them just recently but was busy, its so nice to have funky stuff AND use it :)

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  2. Wow! Looks like a great night was had by all. I love the outfit, Vix and you can see your lovely, lovley curtains in the window. Gorgeous. xxx

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  3. AH, your dress is so lovely and I like the way the colours flirt together. That belt is very pretty, too. Oh, I love olives, might I join you?;-)

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  4. Gorgeous colours in that print. The tree is fab.

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  5. I love your party tree - I have to get me one of those, the kids would love it!
    It's clear that you went to loads of effort, and you look fab too. Hope the effects wear off quickly.
    Kandi x

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  6. Wow, it looks like you had a fantastic party, Vix! And getting the washing up done before bed - good grief, I bow down to you!

    Lovely outfit and it sounds like you had a brilliant time! I hope you recover from that hangover soon!

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  7. Looks fantastic. You're retro partyware is brilliant. And you don't look like you are suffering at all. x

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  8. Sure wish I'd have been there to inspect and marvel at your house! You DID look fantastic. Hope you can crash a bit today.

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  9. The hostess with the mostess... You are looking fabulous, Vix - love the green-pink maxi dress; the whole ensemble is beautifully tropical. The party piece of your friend is very intriguing! xxx

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  10. Dear Vix,
    that party tree is something else, I love it!
    Your menu sounds absolutely divine & what a gorgeous host couple you guys make...x-tra style points to Jon for wearing a lei.
    Rest up & you'll be ready to roar again in no time my darling :)
    Take care,
    Jem
    ...xXx

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  11. Oh, how fun! Looks like a ball, how I would love to have been there! Oh, and isn't it lovely to get the washing up done before bed? Makes the hangovers so much less painful! XO!

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  12. I love your blog, especially your vintage clothes and the photo of George and Mildred! I used to love that programme too and Man About the House. BTW, the 'Party Tree' is way cool!

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  13. Whoaa, you know how to eat!!, love the food treee :PPPP

    Gx

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  14. Looks like a great night. Loving your retro tableware! Gorgeous dress ... :0)

    Shirl x

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  15. love your maxi! you look so beautiful!

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  16. Looks like a brilliant night - love the nibbles - esp. the party tree. Very impressed that you managed to do the washing up last night! xx

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  17. hehe, the peanut dispenser is just too cute! the food looks lovely! and the vodka soaked watermelon? genius! ohh, i am so going to have to try it one day :)

    love, jazzabelle. xxx

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  18. Looks like a fab party and Vix that dress is gorgeous.

    Dx

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  19. What a marvellous spread you put on,my dear!!!Every detail is so perfect!!Right down to you looking so incredibly divine!!!!
    O,how I wish I had been there,fossicking away in your house,getting jolly on vodka watermelon!!!
    LOVE Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  20. Such a nice set-up. I especially love the peanut dispencer. I also like your beautiful dress.

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  21. I think I NEED a party tree, it's fantastic! All the food looks and sounds seriously good. Your dress looks very pretty and I'm amazed at how many things the belt goes with.

    xx

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  22. You look so beautiful in maxi dresses!! The food looks absolutely marvelous!! xoxoxoxoo

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  23. Oh my gosh!! All of this sounds so much fun and I love the details--the girls on the glasses, the place, the food, the act by your friend etc etc Just so much fun! :) Following you for more! :)

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  24. You look fabulous, as did your party decorations. That 'tree' was terrific.
    p.s. I just noticed your favorite books (on your profile)...you and I share many favorites!

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  25. You have such wonderful things! I think I have a houseware crush on the party tree and everything else is either very stylish or yummy looking or quite often both.

    And you're looking very pretty in pink :)

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  26. You look so fantastic. It looks like a very fun time. Wow. Hope you had lots of fun.

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  27. Oh, what an amazing table! So many yummy things! And I love that cute peanut dispenser!

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  28. Hi Vix, you look great and very summery. Love the color of your dress but I think what I loved most was that party tree! I have never seen one like it. Also love that you put your little cocktail girls to work, I'm sure they were the hit of the party.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, glad you enjoyed your little tour. I really love my little casa it has good vibes.

    Have a great week, Bonnie

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  29. YUM YUM YUM, I wanna come to one of your parties, that food looks DE-LISH!! Loving the party tree aswell!

    And to top it all off you look fab!! Love that dress!

    If I did come to your parties, you may not have so many clothes left by the end of the evening haha ;P

    Sal xXx

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  30. My darling Vix... I will need to come back to give this post it's proper due (it's now after 2am here!) but I just have to say... YOU LOOK GORGEOUS!!! and damn perky!! Quick scan tells me you had a marvelous night! will be back!

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  31. I love the pink on you! and looks like a fun little get together!


    Enter my giveaway for a chance to win a necklace from Jack & Ginger!

    xoxo
    Miss Neira

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  32. That looks so delicious! I love the little pinup doll you have there also lol.

    Your dress is gorgeous.. the colors are beautiful

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  33. Love the party tea and peanut dispenser..so unique!!I love the rajasthani table and how u set up the appetizers.so classy!!

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  34. Looks like a great evening! I have never seen or heard of a party tree before but now I really want one!! Your maxi is gorgeous!

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  35. Please can I come next time you have a dinner party?! All looks fantastic. Could I be really cheeky and ask how you steep the water melon in vodka as I have 12 people coming for a barbecue at the weekend and think certain of them would definitely appreciate this (myself included, obviously!). My email is carm@tesco.net Thanks, Vix. Lovely dress too, by the way x

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  36. What a stunning maxi dress! Whilst on holiday I nipped into a charity shop, inspired by your finds! This is a big deal for me, as a child charity shops used to make me physically ill - sick, shake the works. Found some beautiful sherry glasses, perfect for my drink of the moment. Thank you!

    x

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  37. Oh Vixen!
    How much i have missed your blog.
    Your curls are absoliutely lovely!
    Same goes for your dress.
    xx

    purple-peeptoesblogspot.com

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Lots of love, Vix