The Oscars: Ellen Degeneres hosting the show and you, the party!

During the Red Carpet:

Mini Pizzas

(Offer your guests a red sauce and white sauce, for the base, as well as a variety of delicious gourmet toppings for them to individualize their freshly baked mini pizza - fresh herbs, goat cheese, ricotta, broccolini. We suggest the pre-made dough from Trader Joes. Some unique, gourmet topping and pizza ideas can be found here). 

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Beer & Wine
(While we LOVE a signature cocktail, craft beers flights and wine flights would go well with the gourmet pizzas. In addition, the party guests could choose their favorites. "And the winner is...") 

During the Award Show:

Dessert Bites 

(Cheesecake bites, lemon bars, brownie bites and rice crispy squares. In addition, fresh fruit like strawberries and pineapples cut into bite sized pieces. Our favorite lemon bar recipe is here and brownie recipe here. And some unique rice crispy treat recipes here). 

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Champagne Cocktail Bar

(Recipes for nine different champagne drinks have been compiled here. Or go simpler and have a variety of garnishes to add to a basic almond champagne - sugar cube, pomegranate seeds and peach puree).

Notes for the Host:

- It's always good to have sparkling and flat water available for your guests. 

- It's nice to have coffee and tea available for your guests, to accompany the array of bite sized desserts.
- Sprinkle gold star confetti on the dessert table and hang pom pom garland to add some glitz to the decor.

Enjoy the show!

namaste, m&s

the planning continues

...there are other tasks to tend to.
 

 Ideas for the signature cocktail

** Champagne Bar: prefect for the cream, silver & peaches- themed gathering (recipes & how-to via Mint Love Social Club).

** Mint Love Julep: for the peach & mint-themed gathering (recipe via Mint Love Social Club). 

** DIY Cocktail Station: we love the gold details on this DIY cocktail station. Perfect for the black, white & gold theme! (recipe & how-to via Hostess with the Mostess).

** A Fall Themed Cocktail Station: although it may be wintertime, we love the fall season and feel that this theme can blend with a winter themed-party quite nicely (recipes & how-to via Waiting on Martha).  

...of course, one can always hire a mixologist.  

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Must haves for the menu

** DIY Crostini station: who doesn't love crostinis? Find a sweet & savory station at thekitchn. 

** Tapas: a tapas menu from The Fresh Market. How delicious do mini brie tarts with lemon curd sound?! yum.

** Simply party food ideas from Martha herself.  

...of course, one can always cater. How delicious & fresh does the food from Kitchen 12000 look? (for those in SoCal) and the food from The General Store (for those in NorCal) is amazing!!! 

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Clever ways to capture the evening's memories

** DIY Photo Booth: with mustaches of course (how-to & details at Made+Remade).

 

** An Instagram Photo Booth: a clever costume idea from Glitter N' Glue; it could also by used for a photo booth and people can hold cardboard hashtags!

Each picture is taken twice with a polaroid camera. One photo is given to the guest and the other, put in a photo album for the birthday girl (we mean birthday grown-up). In addition to this guest favor, these are also cute!

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Some outfit inspiration

namaste, m&s