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 Hosted an Oscar Party

I love award season and being that the Oscars are considered the Superbowl of these events, I look forward to our annual Academy Award Party, hosted with Lake House Lyn. The soiree starts at 5:00 so we don't miss any of the best (and worst) red carpet looks and this gives us plenty of time to start on the 3 rounds of food (healthy snacks, hot appetizers and dessert) 

I've read very mixed reviews of the red carpet style, but I thought most of the dresses were stunning - Very few of them disappointed me...unless we're talking about Anne Hathaway. High neckline = No necklace. Pale pink ill fitting style? Looked like a bad bridesmaid get-up. I love her, but she rivaled Megan McCarthy for worst dressed/90's flash back.

My Top 3:

Alexander McQueen, Elie Saab, Roberto Cavalli

Runners Up:

Miu Miu, Alexis Mabille, L'Wren Scott

And here are some photos from OUR red carpet event where even though we were all in jeans and sweats, was JUST as fabulous ;-)

(cupcakes, black & white cookies, hand dipped tuxedo peeps)

Who was your best/worst dressed? Where did you watch the show?