Impromptu Celebration Table

If you are anywhere other then maybe Florida right now (lucky Kristin!), you are with me when I say, “DANG IT’S COLD OUT!” For the Annapolis area this is pretty much as cold as it gets and temperatures under 25 degrees leave me wanting to camp out under the covers, eat Cheetos in bulk, and watch episode after episode of Downton Abbey (just about at Season 2!).

To combat the cold weather blues, we had some friends over this weekend for an impromptu celebration of a new job.  I only had a few minutes to pull it together, so this is a demonstration on what to do for a dinner with under an hour to prep.

First, I quickly found a frame and using my label maker and some wrapping paper made a little centerpiece. Sure, if I’d had time for a craft store run I could have really gone all out and this would be gorgeous, but for less than 10 minutes this was a pretty good effort.

Next I displayed some cute pastries from Whole Foods on a cake plate.  Pretty and quick.  Sweet!

Of course it’s not a celebration without some bubbles!

A cheese plate highlighting the location of her new job in Washington, DC makes an easy and yummy appetizer.  Sometimes it can be hard to pick out cheeses that you know are crowd pleasers.  Two of my favorites that I return to time and time again are Manchego and Campo de Montalban.  Save those names in your phone and you will never again feel lost at the cheese counter when in a rush!  ps – Aren’t those Wheat Thins classy, ha!

The finished product was a success in having a little extra fun on an otherwise cold and ordinary night!  And toasting to a good friend’s success always feels great!