My Graduation Party Preparation

I love to throw parties. We like to have a couple big ones a year- I always worry we aren't going to have enough food, beverages, and people to fill the house. That never seems to be the case, and they always turn out a pretty big hit. When I was thinking about what I would like to do after graduation, I thought a party would be the perfect idea. What a fun way to mix family and friends together- we can start at 4pm and party all night.

Here's how I am going about throwing my graduation party:

First Step

.Invitations:

Second Step

. Food.

{{ The BBQ joint we are using is Hello My Name is BBQ

we are going to order BBQ chicken, BBQ pork, mac-n-cheese }}

--------Additional snacks and dessert---------

{ Cheese and Crackers}

{ Chips and Salsa}

{ Veggies and Dip }

{ Pasta/Potato Salad }

{ Cupcakes }

Third Step

.Beverages:

For the various people attending { friends and family} we are going to offer various beverages including soda, lemonade, wine, beer, and champagne.

{{ Fun lemonade ideas }}

{{ I should invite this guy to carry the Keg! }}

{{ Fun soda options for the kids. }}

{{ champagne toast }}

Fourth Step 

.Aesthetics  { decor, tables, seating }

{{ Paper lanterns are an easy cheap way to bright up your outside party }}

{{ Need more flowers outside? I always save our coffee cans thinking I will be able to find a use for them. Well I finally found a cool way to utilize them! This is a super was to make your backyard or house smell and look beautiful }}

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{{ If you are like us and don't have a long table available for food 

  you can rent a buffet table and tablecloths. 

We are going to rent that along with 2 round tables and chairs to go with for seating}} 

Fifth Step

. Games/Activities.

We are debating what the most age appropriate activity to offer would be. Currently we are thinking corn hole for the day and beer pong for the night.

Sixth Step

. Music.

 Play your favorite tunes! We will probably keep Pandora on all day/night.

Date Night

A few weeks ago Ivan and I planned date night, but I cancelled because I was not feeling well. So tonight we are going out for our favorite meal- a cheese plate. 

The Belmont has our favorite cheese plate in town, it is accompanied with onion relish, olive oil, green beans and okra, grilled zucchini, and mustard: the flavor is amazing, especially served with fresh cut bread. We usually pick 4 cheeses { cows milk, gouda, blue, and goats milk } and 2 meats, usually a salami and lamb prosciutto.

The Belmont also has really amazing mixed drinks. I always get The Porch Swing, it has pink grapefruit juice and is just delicious!

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Pasta Carbonara

-------------INGREDIENTS------------

1 box vermacelli pasta

1 lb bacon
1/4 lb ham (lunch meat)

1 yellow onion, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 eggs

8 oz fresh parmesan, grated

salt

pepper

parsley

oregano

---------PREPARATION--------

Cook bacon in your oven for 45 minutes, until crispy. I usually cut the bacon before I cook it so I don't have to chop up steaming hot bacon.

Cook your onion and garlic in 2 tbsp of bacon fat.

Cook pasta until al dente. Turn off heat. Pour 1/2 cup of the pasta water into your skillet with the onions and garlic. Drain the rest of the pasta and return back to the stovetop.

Pour you onion and garlic over pasta mixture over the pasta, then add your eggs one at a time. Add bacon.

Season the pasta accordingly, and stir in the parmesan.

:) Enjoy!

This meal is one of our favorites,  It's easy- cheap- flavorful. I hope you enjoy this as much as Ivan and I do. :) 

Black Bean Burgers

Black Bean Burgers

-------------INGREDIENTS------------

2 cans of black beans

1 can corn

1 can garbanzo beans

1 tomato, diced 

2/3 C breadcrumbs

1/3 C crushed walnuts
2 garlic cloves

1 yellow onion

2 Tbsp cumin

2 Tbsp Adobo

2 Tbso Badia seasoning

salt

pepper

parsley

oregano

avocado

sour cream

buns

cheese { I used cheddar and provolone } 

---------PREPARATION--------

Mince garlic and onion and place in a bowl.

Add breadcrumbs and seasonings.

Blend together the corn, black beans, and garbanzo beans. Add nuts.

Place your blended beans and corn into the bowl with the onions and garlic.

Stir in the diced tomato. 

Mix all ingredients together and form into patties. This mixture will make about 8 patties.

Fry in a skillet with just a little bit of butter. Once the patties are golden brown, Cook on both sides { this takes about 7 minutes each side}. top with cheese.

Place patties on buns and top off with avocado and sour cream

Enjoy!!

I'm....G.R.A.D.U.A.T.I.N.G!!!

So today I officially picked up my graduation tickets. On May 11th, I will officially be a college graduate. It has been years in the making and there have been a lot of bumps, breaks, and accidents along the way. I haven't had the best track record with my higher education and it has taken many years to finally complete. Maybe it's because I am untraditional and have a hard time seeing the big picture in taking Spanish and Biology classes, maybe it's because I needed to take the long road to get to be where I am today, or maybe it's both.

Either way- I am done. Well I have two weeks remaining of class left, then I am done. I will finally have a Bachelorette in Accounting.

Want to hear a  cool { well I think it's cool} little story in how I fell in love with accounting and decided to get a degree in it? ...
Well it begins in 2009 when I met Ivan. I was very young as I had just turned 22 that month. I had been living in Charleston for a few years and pretty much right after we met and began dating we moved in together. We were inseparable so it just made sense for us to take the next step. Once I moved in to his apartment, I started getting an itch for going back to school, getting a good job, and bettering our current situation. Two years later we were in the position to buy a house.. it was during that process that I realized how much I loved numbers. While the stress of not knowing whether the deal was going to go through and the inspections etc were not the most fun, I had a blast working numbers and figuring it all out. My mortgage broker told me that I had a niche for the industry and said I needed to major in accounting. With much consideration and thought- I changed my hospitality major to accounting. So here I am today, 1 year later- graduating. It's crazy.

Next up..

My Masters of Science in Accounting

then maybe?

 My PHD?

California Club Sandwiches

California Club Sandwiches

-------------INGREDIENTS------------

1 Loaf of your favorite breach { 3 slices per sandwich }

1/2 Lb. Boars Head Turkey

4 Pieces Boards Head Swiss Cheese

1/2 Avocado

1/2 Tomato

4 Eggs

Bacon

Garlic

Mayo

Frozen Fries

---------PREPARATION--------

Layer garlic, then mayo on one slice of bread. Top off with swiss cheese then cooked bacon.

On the second piece, add avocado and tomato slices

On third slices, add a little more mayo, turkey and cheese.

Place your first slice, then second and top off with the third.

Cook in a skillet with a little bit of butter.

Cook fries according to package.

WaLah!

Split Pea Soup topped with bacon

Split Pea Soup topped with 

bacon

-------------INGREDIENTS------------

2 carrots, peeled

2 onions, cut in large slices

3 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp. olive oil

6 C chicken broth

2- 16oz bags of frozen peas

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

oregano

salt

pepper

basil

3 pieces of bacon, cooked

---------PREPARATION--------

Drizzle olive oil on baking sheet and cook Onion and Carrots in the oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until thoroughly cooked. Add Garlic in the last 5 minutes.

Bring chicken broth to a boil and add the peas. 

Add the veggies and seasonings.

Stir in lemon juice

Puree with immersion blender. Top with bacon.

enjoy!