Diner en Blanc Los Angeles - An East Culver City Wonderland

On Saturday, September 29, Diner en Blanc once again returned to Los Angeles! Diner en Blanc (in English translated to "Dinner in White") began as a simple gathering of friends in Paris nearly 30 years ago. Now it is hosted in cities all over the world in the most elegant of public spaces! It is a flash mob style, "chic picnic" where guests are dressed elegantly and dine on fine food and wine while enjoying fabulous entertainment.

Having attended three of the previous four Los Angeles events, it is an amazing undertaking with many volunteers, complicated transportation, and unique entertainment! While the event itself is quite magical, it is also a bit of an undertaking as an attendee as well. Attendees are expected to provide everything needed for the dinner including table, white chairs, white cloth linens, white plates, real silverware, real glassware and of course an elegant picnic dinner! And of course a chic all white outfit. A lot to prepare and a lot to transport!

When the 2018 Los Angeles event came along, my friends and I just could not commit immediately and tickets sold out quickly. The theme was "Wonderland" this year and as a big Alice in Wonderland fan, I did not want to miss out on the celebration! Rather than attending the main soiree, I went back to the roots of Diner en Blanc and hosted friends at my own house in "East Culver City". While my house and yard are not large, I was still able to keep the dining location "secret" until just before just like the real event!

So how did I pull off a magical event at my own home without spending a lot of time or money? Read on for all of the details!

Decor

The decor was the biggest effort for this event. I knew I wanted to host it outside and while the landscaping in my backyard is beautiful, I needed to bring the "magic" as well as Wonderland to life. In Alice in Wonderland, the playing cards are caught painting the white roses bushes red so I used that as a jumping off point for decorating my own hedges. Of course as it is Diner en Blanc the roses stayed white! I purchased faux flowers from Michael's and inserted those into the hedge and then added strands of white lights to add that beautiful glow once the sun went down.

As for the tablescape itself, I built the centerpiece around the concept of the Mad Hatter's hat. I found a white top hat from Target and added the proper 10/6 sign to tie in theme. To keep it simple, I used more flowers from Michael's and a feather to complete the centerpiece. Real flowers would have been beautiful as well but I was concerned that they would look droopy by the time we sat down as there was no way to place them in a vase. In addition I scanned pages from an Alice in Wonderland book and included a page at each place setting. We all enjoyed reading the passages aloud during dinner though for some they were confusing out of context! I also cut out the various playing card symbols from glitter foam to add some dimension to the table. Finally I used two white tea cups with blooms and "Drink Me" tags to bring our own "mad tea party" together. Classic tea lights from my collection completed the table.

I focused primarily on decorating the hedge and the table however did include some signage in the trees that led back to our dining area and also some croquet set pieces to tie in with the Queen of Heart's rose garden. The signs include "This Way", "That Way", "Up", "Down", "Go Back", and "Yonder" with the Disney animated film as inspiration.

The entire cost for the décor was approximately $20. I purchased the flowers, hat and glitter foam. I already owned the book so used my home printer for the signage and book excerpts. As for the linens, dishes, etc., I already owned everything I needed since they were all basics. I used a table I owned and borrowed the chairs, tea cups and lights from a friend!

Menu

The menu was kept simple with everyone bringing a contribution. We started with some appetizers before heading to the "secret" location. Then we enjoyed a three course meal that began with a lovely fall salad. I prepared the entrée and went with this delicious Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken. Since we did not have to actually pack a picnic, we had the luxury of a hot entrée. This recipe was great because the cooking didn't have to be hands on until just prior to serving. I made a few minor modifications to this including adding a little bit of chicken stock and substituting pre-chopped white for yellow onions (a great time saver). I also already had chicken tenderloin pieces so used them instead of the full breasts. Once seared in the pan, the chicken cooked for a bit on low before I turned it up to high. I want to say it was less than an hour total. It was cooked through and very juicy. I would highly recommend this entrée for a dinner party or a Tuesday night! I served it with a side of Quinoa and Kale from Aldi. No photo because we were too focused on eating but here is a photo of our sweet ending! One of my guests made delicious vanilla cupcakes (gluten free no less) and put them in cute Alice in Wonderland wrappers! We also had macarons to complete the tea party theme!

I added some other touches like an Alice in Wonderland playlist (happy to share upon request!) and dressed like the White Rabbit!

I also experimented with making a video before everyone arrived. It is a one take, non-rehearsed, selfie video so please be kind in the comments! You will notice in the video I tried out an alternate name "Champagne Parties on a Beer Budget". Possibly a spin off blog? Let me know what you think!

Super Bowl Snack - BBQ Pulled Chicken Bites with Tex-Mex Feta Slaw

With the Super Bowl less than a week away, I thought it was way past due to share this super snack I made for last year's festivities! One of my favorite things to do when making a food item for a particular event is to take classic types of foods and give them a new spin. For example, the Super Bowl is all about American snack foods, meat, and beer. I went with BBQ and made a tasty treat that while a little higher end than what you might find at a Super Bowl party it fit in perfectly. Unfortunately the photos I took were not very good but I promise you the food is delicious! I probably could have made twice as many!


BBQ Pulled Chicken Bites with Tex-Mex Feta Slaw

The slaw was inspired by the Feta Slaw in Cooking Light.

1 package Trader Joe's BBQ Pulled Chicken (or your favorite local brand or restaurant)
1 package Trader Joe's Puff Pastry, thawed (2 sheets, total weight 1lb)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (I substituted red wine vinegar and it turned out fine)
1 tablespoon canola mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups angel hair coleslaw (I used one bag (10 oz) Trader Joe's Shredded Green Cabbage)
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (I used Trader Joe's Fat Free Feta)

1. Heat the oven to 400. Combine vinegar, mayonnaise, and black pepper in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add coleslaw, cilantro, jalapeno, feta and green onions; toss to coat. As with most recipes, I suggest that you work with this as to your own preference. Want a little more heat? Add more jalapeno. Want more moisture in your slaw? Make more dressing. For best results, make at least an hour before serving so the flavors and meld.

2. Cut puff pastry into approximately 2 inch squares. I suggest that you measure you puff pastry and take those measurements into account so that your squares are even.

3. Spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray and press a piece of puff pastry into each muffin cup. Top with pulled chicken.

4. Bake for approximately 15 minutes (you may wish to check beginning at 10 minutes. They are ready with the pastry is golden brown.

5. Serve either with the slaw on the side or top each bite with the slaw before serving. This will make about 36 bites though you will likely have leftover slaw. It was even better the next day!

Super Bowl Decor

Last year I posted some fun decor items for your Super Bowl party. There are so many great inspirational sites out there with great ideas from the simple to the elaborate. I was impressed that Target has created some cute items of their own for game day. You don't have to be crafty to elevate YOUR Super Bowl game! Here are two of my favorites - mini foam fingers and astroturf coasters! Of course the foam fingers aren't in either team's colors but they are in MY alma mater's colors (hint: Ohio University - buy these out!).

Have a great Super Bowl everyone!

Product Placement Wednesday - Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer

Today I bring back Product Placement Wednesday to share a great product that is PERFECT for summer! 

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer

I will confess - my skin is under moisturized. I am usually in a hurry to get ready and don't have the time to wait for a heavy lotion to soak in before getting dressed. Plus in the summer who wants the weight of a thick moisturizer sitting on their skin? I live in California - it's summer here more than it isn't! Recently a friend was doing a promotion for this product and offered me a bottle as a sample. I had high expectations but this product has exceeded them. Application is simple - spray on the areas you would like to moisturize (it sprays upside down too so you can even reach your own back!) and then quickly rub the product to make sure it absorbs properly. Personally I like to apply and then brush my teeth. By the time I'm done, the Spray & Go is fully absorbed! There are three types - Total Moisture, Cocoa Radiant (with cocoa butter), and Aloe Fresh. So far I have only tried the Total Moisture but envision the Aloe Fresh to be perfect after a day in the sun - especially if you keep it in the fridge! 

This week Vaseline Spray & Go is on sale at Target! What better way to kick off summer than with freshly moisturized skin at a discount price! 

Happy Halloween on the Cheap

Happy Halloween! This is my favorite time of year - costumes, scary movies, and candy! What's not to love about Halloween?! Next weekend will likely be the big weekend for Halloween parties and I have got some great accessories to share with you that will make your bash chic on the cheap!

We all know what a gem Target is for our regular household needs, inexpensive DVDs, etc. however they are really outdoing themselves at the "Dollar Spot" these days. The following items can all be found there or in the Halloween section for just $1!

Halloween Coasters - The perfect way to keep your furniture safe from the libations you are brewing in your cauldron. At 8 for $1, you can pick up a bunch and not feel guilty about recycling them at the end of the night!

Bottle Labels - Printable bottle labels are all the rage. You can download them online (some are free, others may charge a small fee) or simply pick up these great labels for $1! They come either in a set of 4 wine bottle labels or a set of 8 assorted bottle labels

Favors & Accessories - Target has a great selection of party favors and accessories at that low low price of just $1. My personal favorite is the set of 8 glow in the dark fangs. Let's be honest - this is an item that is fun for all ages. Who DOESN'T want glow in the dark fangs?

Of course everything magical can't cost just $1 but Target doesn't disappoint with a few other great finds for a bit more coin.


Fancy Pumpkin Decorating Kit - Pinterest is full of clever ways to decorate pumpkins beyond the traditional carving. Thankfully Target put this kit together for just $5 that takes the guess work out of fancy pumpkin decorating! You too can fool your friends into thinking you are the next Martha Stewart!

Chris Marsh Big Fun Wigs - Chris Marsh (of Project Runway fame) has designed the crazy foam "wigs" featured below. With each wig priced between $15 and $20, they are very affordable. With a wig like these, you can probably find something simple in your closet to complete the look! My personal favorite is the pink one titled "Pink Afro".

This is obviously just the tip of the iceberg at Target. Please let me know if you pick up any of these great items for your own Halloween bash or find another gem!

Happy Halloween!!!

Product Placement Wednesday - Oscar Mayer Sandwich Combos

Personally I am not a big fan of the "Lunchables" type of pre-packaged meals. To be fair, I am not a big fan in general of any pre-packaged "fresh" food. On a recent vacation, the only place to grab lunch was a general store type place as we were out a bit from any towns. Their selection of lunch items were all prepared in a factory (and looked like they had been on the shelf for awhile) so I opted for something a little healthier - root beer float flavored ice cream and a Power Bar (my traveling companion did a little better with a Power Bar, baby carrots and an apple though I think preferred my lunch...).

So I was heading out of town again earlier this month and took a quick spin through Target to see if I could find something for my airplane dinner. I used to get the Whole Kids meal from Whole Foods ($4.99 for a sandwich, chips, graham crackers, fruit leather and a juice box) but unfortunately that has been discontinued. Then I found it - this week's product....

Oscar Mayer Sandwich Combos

I tried the Turkey and Cheddar variety and found it to be surprisingly delightful! Besides the turkey and cheddar, a sandwich thin and deli mustard are included to complete the sandwich. My combo also included Wheat Thins and a chocolate Jello Pudding Mousse Temptation. Other options include the Honey Ham & Swiss and Southwestern Style Chicken. Each comes with a savory and a sweet treat and are all less than 400 calories!

While I am not planning on making these sandwich combos a part of my daily routine, they are the perfect item for low calorie meals on the go. Way healthier AND cheaper than buying food at the airport! I find the packaging to be a little wasteful but hopefully they will work on this as the product catches on.

Have any of you tried this product? What are your favorite food items to take with you on the airplane?

Product Placement Wednesday - Salon Grafix Dry Shampoo

What is dry shampoo? Dry shampoo is the perfect tool to use when you need to stretch your hair for just one more day between washes. It dries up the oil, adds volume and refreshes with a pleasant scent. Well, that is what it is supposed to do....

Many dry shampoos on the market do all of the above but they also do not blend well with an individual's hair color. Oscar Blandi makes both a classic and revised version but they are a little clumpy (I would choose baby powder over these options). Bumble & Bumble makes colored powder for a variety of hair colors - but what if you are in between colors?

That is where Salon Grafix comes in and knocks these big brands off their high horses! Salon Grafix Dry Shampoo is an invisible formula that works for any hair color while delivering all of the key facets of a dry shampoo. Because it is invisible, this makes it easy to use for the dry shampoo novice. Personally having tried all of the brands mentioned in this entry, Salon Grafix is the only one I will ever use again. To make it even better, it is a fraction of the price of the other fancier brands.

Salon Grafix Dry Shampoo is available at a variety of drug stores, Target, Walmart and Ulta.

Product Placement Wednesday - Chef'n Sudster Drinkware Scrubber

Those that know me well know that I drink a fair amount of wine. Wine glasses are notoriously a hand wash item though when you don't have a dishwasher everything is a hand wash item. I buy my scrubbers from Target and unfortunately they don't always cut it for cleaning my wine glasses and NEVER cut it for cleaning my champagne flutes. When I came across this product, I knew my problems had been solved. The Chef'n Sudster Drinkware Scrubber actually collapses to fit into the narrowest of glassware. Super easy to use and my wine glasses have never been cleaner. I use mine to clean all glassware but it is most impressive when cleaning items that traditional scrubbers could never clean. I purchased mine through Sur La Table though Amazon sells them too (however they are more expensive). If you hand wash wine glasses, this will improve the process drastically!

My New Favorite Cleaning Tool

So I had heard about a cleaning tool called a "grout pen" from my dad however when I asked the folks at Home Depot (figuring that was the logical place to go for something like this) they looked at me like I had made up this amazing invention. Turns out I didn't need to go to Home Depot but my local neighborhood Target now that Tilex makes a Tile and Grout Pen. If you have tile you need to buy this pen. I live in an old building and the grout in my kitchen is probably from the 50's. I used this pen on it and it is WHITE again. It wasn't as white as I would have liked when I initially wiped it off but it kept getting whiter as the bleach finished soaking in. I do recommend that you put on an old shirt to do this as while I was extremely careful I still got a tiny bit on the shirt I was wearing. Bleach + black = bad news.