A shower in technicolor

Last weekend I was up in Cape Cod for a bridal shower; this week was part two at my house. Hosting a party is always a lot of work, it has been a marathon since last Monday trying to get everything ready.
While it would have been easy to have the shower at a restaurant, or to have it catered at home, that is just not how we roll. If you are going to host a party with amazing food, you might as well take all the credit.
shower in technicolor
shower in technicolor

Cheese
A huge cheese platter is essential. I think cheese is probably my favorite food group, though it's right up there with chocolate and pasta. In the back is the Curried Chicken Salad I made. I should have gotten a better photo. It is one of my favorite dishes, a mix of sweet and spicy curries with apples and dried cranberries.
dessert is served
Feast your eyes at the dessert table. I made the Chocolate Muzzettes, {Recipe} The Coconut Cupcakes, and the Fruit Tart. {Recipe}
This fruit tart was my baby. I spent about five hours making it and it was divine. The filling is a mixture of white chocolate, cream cheese, and whipping cream. After spreading it over the crust, I licked the spatula, and the proceeded to scrape every last bit out of the bowl, it was so amazing. 
As tempted as I was to post 100 photos of the tart, I kept it to one. However, if you click through to flickr, there are three more.
The chocolate covered strawberry bouquet was my Mother's creation, the 'pebbles' in the vase are yogurt covered raisins.
photo album
One of my gifts to the bride was a photo album filled with all the photos I took at last weeks shower.

rhinestone necklace
As for me, I'm finally wearing the dress I bought for the shower last August. I should have just worn it at some point during the last seven months, but had this weird mentality about "saving" it.

I had fully intended on having this post up last night, but after the late night on Saturday, followed by a super early morning on Sunday, trying to get all the last minute prep done, then the clean up after the guests left - by 7pm all I wanted to do was relax on the couch and watch The Office (which was one of the better, funnier episodes as of late.) After that, the next thing I knew was that it was 1 AM and I was still on the couch. So no post. Today's outfit will just be on flickr.
shower in technicolor
The Rundown
Dress Lauren Conrad for Kohls - Cardigan Down East Basics - Shoes Me Too - Belt Thrifted Banana Republic - Vintage Rhinestone Necklace and Earrings Thrifted
The favor boxes were filled with dark chocolate covered oreos drizzled in pink white chocolate. 


Congrats to Louise of Coffee and a Cardigan, the Turquoise and Caicos Nail polish Giveaway winner!

51 comments

  1. Your dress is so cute! I love all the preparation. That chocolate covered rose bouquet is fantastic. :)

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  2. the pop of pink is perfect! :)
    http://indieelectronicalternative.blogspot.com/

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  3. Great dress and truly amazing party! Looks like you had a wonderful time! xo style, she wrote

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  4. What a beautiful dress! Love the chocolate covered strawberry bouquet idea. and I love yogurt covered raisins.

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  5. Beautiful outfit! All the food look so delicious especially that fruit tart. You should consider opening a restaurant or catering company. :)

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  6. Everything looks awesome and I love that dress. Those dipped strawberries look ridic!

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  7. That food looks fantastic, especially the tart!

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  8. I really love this entire post! First, your dress is wonderful..so chic!! Tell your mom to sell the strawberry/rose things on Etsy...I love them. I would buy some for my daughter's wedding reception!!
    You did a great job with the party and the look!

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  9. Hello Martha S - stunning fruit tart! I love all the lovely touches!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  10. I often get ideas in my head about where I want to wear specific items, and don't wear them until that moment/day, so I totally understand why you hadn't worn that dress until now. It looks perfect for a bridal shower! I love the hot pink belt- it's the perfect touch of color!

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  11. What a feast, a very precious thoughtful gift and gorgeous party favors! And I love how the belt makes your waist look so tiny! :)

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  12. I think you look super cute but oh my goodness...that tart is amazing!!! I cannot believe you made that, I am so impressed!!!

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  13. That tart sounds fabulous, I think I desperately need one :)

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  14. Please, pretty please, share your curry chicken salad recipe! :-)

    Also, holy legs, Batman! Seriously, nice stems. :-) You look fabulous!

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  15. This dress is so pretty, and it looks great with a pink belt! Everything at the shower looks wonderful! If I ever get married, can I hire you and your mom to do my party planning? Looks like you had a lovely day!

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  16. i'm in love with the ruffles on your dress and the pink belt really adds a pop of color!

    and your mom is so creative! i love the chocolate covered strawberry bouquet.

    cute & little

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  17. I love Cape Cod!!! This dress is a perfect one to save, because it's one of those dresses that seems memorable..I dunno, I just get what you mean.

    You look lovely and are such a good friend for doing all that!

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  18. 1. love your dress and shoes
    2. you look gorgeous
    3. yum that food looks good
    4. your photography is amazing!
    5. you are amazing and my inspiration!!

    love ya babes, xoxo J

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  19. So here's the thing: if I ever have some sort of event I'm panning to adopt you into my family first so that I can be part of an amazing event like this one! You did fabulously! And looked stunning as well!

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  20. Love your dress, the pattern is so pretty. And you look like you did a good job on the party front the spread looks amazing!

    Daisy Dayz Home
    Cross-Jones-Photography Home

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  21. Wow, you must have put so much work into this event!!! And your tart? It belongs in a magazine!!! Seriously! It is beautiful

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  22. *sigh* thanks for the food, it was lovely. i feel like i just ate every single bite in that table. so delicious looking. you look good too by the way. lol

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  23. so beutifull post!
    so nice pics!
    love your shoes!

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  24. It sounds like it was really lovely, and that was such a sweet present you gave her, I bet it took you a long time to put together. And yummy sounding favor boxes.
    AND you look gorgeous, I love the lighter colours!

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  25. Great dress- you looks great. Love the red belt and shoes you've worn it with.

    x
    Michelle
    www.michellesstylefile.blogspot.com

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  26. I've only just had breakfast, but your food photos are making me hungry1

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  27. I am seriously impressed by your and your mom's cooking skills! That tart looks incredible. Just had dinner but seems like I'm hungry again!

    Lydia x

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  28. Guh. Your food is GORGEOUS. Seriously? Looks like it should be in a fancy schmancy bakery window. Wow - I am impressed!!! Love love love that dress too. Every time I see more of the LC line at Kohl's, I'm more impressed with the girl. She has reeeallly cute stuff.

    merci!
    Shannan

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  29. Love your dress and it looks like you put a lovely shower together for your friend!

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  30. You look beautiful! And I love that dress - it's so unique!

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  31. Your fruit tart looks phenomenal, and that dress is fantastic on you! I love the neutral layers with just the little pop of pink.

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  32. Everything looks so amazing, including your beautiful outfit! You're so talented!

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  33. The strawberries bouquet is so so so beautiful. I think your mom rocks! Lovely outfit but I especially dig the pink belt against the soft colours of your outfit.

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  34. wow that food is great and the table looks gorgeous. Great job!

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  35. you must hev been the best party host ever if I look at that desert table! x

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  36. I love the photo-book idea and the adorable fruit tart. Amazing, sweetie. Im so impressed and you look amazing too. Happy Tuesday
    Kisses

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  37. Lyddie you look fantastic !
    I also love all the detail in setting your table and food.
    What a great job !
    :)

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  38. WAO, yoy did a fantastic job!!! All the desserts look sooooo yummy! You also look super chic in this dress. I especially love how you added a pop of pink with the belt. Great post!

    www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com

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  39. Wow, I'm so impressed! This shower looks amazing--the food is gorgeous (and looks delicious!) and you look great as well! I love the way the pink belt stands out against the pretty print of that dress!

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  40. Looks like an amazing party. You dress is really beautiful and suits you perfectly

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  41. I do love cheese platters. I usually am the first to like the oddest tasting cheese, too. Filipinos have this Christmas eve cheese called queso de bola for Noche Buena, but I'm not sure if it's a Spanish thing too because those words are in Spanish!

    Nice pattern on that dress!

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  42. I love your dress and the addition of the pink belt is so cute
    Brett

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  43. You look gorgeous! And the food! MY GOD. Are you Martha Stewart or what?

    Melanie@UnravelledThreads
    Follow @UnraveldThreads on Twitter!

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  44. Everything looks so amazing, including you!

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  45. Wow the food table looks amazing, I'm super impressed!!!

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  46. Whoaa I can't believe you made all that, it looks delightful! I can't believe you held out that long to wear that dress either, I probably would have put it on as soon as I got home. I love the asymmetric detail :) And you're in bare legs! I saw someone in bare legs today... but it was like 45 degrees. For me it's still too cold!

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  47. Oh my goodness!!! First of all, you look beautiful in that dress, secondly, what an amazing baker - I can't believe you actually made that gorgeous fruit tart! And thirdly, you're such a great friend for doing all this! Wish we all had friends like you :)

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  48. Wow you should take ALL the credit everything looks fabulous including you ensemble!

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  49. You did such an amazing job on all of the food!!! It all looks pretty enough to be in a magazine!

    That dress is adorable too... I think I need to check out Kohl's more often :)

    Rochelle

    http://rochelleapproved.tumblr.com/

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  50. Gorgeous outfit. I like the lighter colours. You did a fabulous job with the food. That curried chicken sounds so yummy.

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