I am soooo relieved! The Summer Soiree Painting On The Patio was rain free and a huge success. Yay!

Painting on the patio

The worry started as soon as Tom Skilling released the 7 day forecast, one week prior. The first initial forecast was for rain, of course I thought, always my luck. As the week progressed I watched every weather person I could find; Tracy Butler, Jerry Taft, Weatherbug, Yahoo weather – you get the gist. When the day arrived, it was quite overcast and the sky looked like it could open up any minute. thank you mother nature – it never did.

Summer Soiree Sky
The ladies began the evening with sangria that I “kicked up a notch” and my go to infused cucumber water with fresh mint from the garden. Looking at this refreshing picture, I wish there was a icy glass full sitting on my desk right now. (of the sangria – ha!)

Sangria

Appetizers included The Barefoot Contessa’s Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwiches. And why  yes! I did use a mandolin to get the cucumbers that paper thin. Thyme was fresh from the garden.
Bite size

Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwich

Homemade taco dip and fresh caprese cups were also on the menu. The basil in the garden was in abundance and the tomatoes at the grocery store were looking perfectly ripe and yummy too. Add fresh mozzarella balls packed in the most fabulous dipping oil. Simple, perfect and light! I served the appetizer cups on the Pottery Barn 3 level galvanized tray. Super trendy look!

Tomato Basil Tray

The summer soiree party was also about releasing 10 new stencil designs that the ladies were super receptive about painting. I am thinking “Home is where your story begins”  is sure to be a favorite.

Home is where your story begins

Astilbe

As painting was winding down we served strawberry rhubarb crumble and brought out the Smores station. Gathering around the firepit with the Smorstix was easy peasy. These bad boys need to be at every camp site! Like the label says, it the perfect marshmallow stix. We agree! 

Smores bar

Smorstix

We closed out the night with a few group and individual photos. And after flipping through all the amazing pictures, I have decided that I want to have a paint night – every night outside.

Summer Soiree Final Photo