Oscars Style Recap

If you've been blogging along with us since the beginning, you know we have a thing for Oscar Sunday...typically, we're attending the annual party with the Family but due to the craziness on the calendar this month, we're all watching via text/snapchat at home in our PJ's and we're not ashamed to say...we don't hate it. Just because we're not partying together in person doesn't mean we're not in the spirit...while waiting for the red carpet, we were pinning our favorite ideas so you can keep them handy for next year's festivities.  Speaking of the red carpet, that may just be our favorite part...yes yes, we love the surprise of who will win (update: what the Mad Max outbreak!?) and what speech will cause the most retweets (update: Chris Rock tried his best to make one tired joke last all night long) but even more, we enjoy living vicariously through the gorgeous dresses & jewels that precede the show.  ---- After watching, we have come discussed and nominated our favorites for best and worst dressed.  Let's start with the best:
Alicia Vikander -- One of our favorite newcomers! Beautiful and wonderfully talented

Saoirse Ronan -- Ireland is one lucky place...her accent is as lovely as her ensemble

Margot Robbie -- She could show up in a paper bag and look fantastic! Good Lord...

Chrissy Teigen - The cutest baby bump & a gorgeous dress but that braid...

Rachel McAdams -- Gosling, eat your heart out.

Priyanka Chopra -- Everything about this was STUNNING. 

Charlize Theron -- Sometimes taking the plunge really pays off

And the not AS best...

Sandy Powell -- Wait, Tilda Swinton? Either way, this is just strange.

Kate Winslet -- Really sorry to mention her because she's a favorite of ours. However, we can't stop comparing this dress to the black garbage bags sitting in our basement. Kate, you're so much better

Reese Witherspoon -- Always gorgeous (inside and out) but that top...is NOT flattering.

Sofia Vergara -- Again, always gorgeous but the dress seems like something you'd find on the rack months after prom is over

Amy Poehler -- This dress would have been better if left inside out...

Heidi Klum -- If we could JUST loose the sleeve, huge improvements will occur...

Orlando Jones -- OrlandNO.

Who were your favorites on the red carpet? 

A Superbowl for Women...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...if you're a fashion-minded female, that is. Sunday was our annual family Oscar party (aka the Superbowl for women), hosted by the master entertainer, Lake House Lyn. For almost 10 years now, a group of us including cousins, friends, sisters (and now a few of our men who join in for the pre-show feast) gather to dissect our favorite (and least) red carpet looks, fill out our ballots and see who wins best picture (see last year's recap here).

Confession: I saw all but 3 films nominated for best picture and nothing made as big of an impression on me as Theory of Everything. I sobbed during the movie and cried during Eddie Redmayne's speech. I will never forget how I felt watching his performance.But I digress - There was so much talent this year so it made my "research" for the awards very entertaining.

Other than vying for the best ballot, the night revolves around food. AMAZING food. This year, everybody brought something totally different so we had quite an epic selection...please let me share with you:

•         Bacon-wrapped dates
•         Mini pretzel bun & cheese sandwiches
•         Stuffed Peppers
•         Caramel apple dip (with cream cheese!)
•         Homemade cinnamon chips and fruit salsa (similar recipe)
•         Mini hot ham and cheese sandwiches
•         Peanut butter cookies (recipe below)
•         Chocolate chip peanut butter waffles (Are you sick yet?)
•         Mini Oreo cheesecakes
•         THE Chicago popcorn mix
•         Avocado bruschetta
•         A make-your-own sundae bar 

Oh, and did I mention the mojitos were flowing? 

Now you can understand why it was hard to button my jeans for work today...#sorrynotsorry 

I brought over homemade cookies and waffles (I blame my Father for this sweet tooth. It's deadly). As a peanut butter enthusiast, I was elated to secure a jar filled with the perfect combination: Pb & chocolate. I thought using this for cookies would be a fun spin so of course, I turned to Pinterest and found this simple recipe. Hormel also has tons of easy and delicious ideas for peanut butter treats so if you're nutty over the spread like me, you're in luck.

There is no flour used in this cookie recipe so I actually ended up over over cooking mine because I was waiting for them to puff up (hence the sad shape you see here) but make no mistake, they were fantastic...especially in our ice cream sundaes. Ugh, God. I can't get to the gym fast enough...

After preparing my carb-filled desserts, I headed over the party where every inch was decorated in Hollywood decor starting with our very own red carpet,..

Don't forget the photo props...what is a party without them? 

Where did you watch the Oscars? Who was your vote for best dressed and best picture?

Because Kaitlyn Recaps the Oscar Party!

Every year, the girls in my family get together for an Oscar Party (hosted by my Mother, our very own Martha Stewart). It is one of our favorite traditions that is filled with small bites, decadent desserts, sweatpants and tiaras (my favorite combo) and of course, red carpet gossip. 

I decided to make mini Mac & Cheese pies, courtesy of Paula Deen. The recipe is super easy and similar to others on Pinterest, but once my eyes focused in on the Ritz cracker crust in this version, my decision was made. 

Here's a look at how the pies turned out:

I had some leftover pasta and topping so I decided to make a mac & cheese pizza pie…the perfect snack! By the way, I am that person who prefers that blue box mac vs fancy noodles any day so that's what I used here…comfort eats from your childhood never lose.

Not the official red carpet, but ours was nice and dry 

I love this rustic chalkboard ladder from Pottery Barn -- it was a great centerpiece for the table but will also be very versatile for future parties (I would love to set up mini appetizers on this!)

Cupcakes the size of your head (Thank you Standard Market!)

Fig jam…my new must have for entertaining.

A potent pitcher of orange cosmos

The hit of the night -- chocolate covered fruit from Edible Arrangements. It's amazing how women convince themselves... "it's fruit, so it's healthy" ;)

The ultimate summer salad -- strawberries, walnuts, feta cheese, blueberries, parmesan cheese, spinach, arugula and raspberry dressing. Is your mouth watering yet?

Oscar trivia coasters (obvi!)

Pink Moscato cupcakes wrapped in gold -- just the right amount of wrong

He's hoping he wore it best...

And lastly, thank you to Cupcakes & Cashmere for being a great party inspiration 

... the little touches mean the most!

What did you think of the show? We all agreed it was one of the best yet. 

You can't go wrong with Ellen Degeneres hosting (and Lupita Nyong'o's dress…GUSH).