Double Party Time: America & Brad's Bday Party!

Whew! Am I coming? Am I going?  This past week was a busy one! 

I have been busy preparing for Brad's bday!  So it's at least been a fun/good kind of busy! I've been preoccupied buying good gifts for Brad, preparing his party, and planning out a few festivities for his actual bday.

We live in one of the best spots for Independence day fireworks. We're right across the street from an awesome fireworks show, plus we can view another show in the not so far off distance.  Due to the fireworks and the fact that the 4th is a holiday for all I was completely set on having people come over for Brad's bday on the 4th. An evening of food, fun, and fireworks!

So we had a house full of people celebrating last night.  I served up my very first ever "nacho bar".  I had all the fixings for anything from basic nachos to ultimate nachos.  As for the main course I had Chicago-style shredded beef sandwiches with Hawaiian BBQ wings. For sides I offered pasta salad as well as a corn salad.  My first time ever making a corn salad.  For the all important birthday cake....what did my husband choose?  Well his request was for a chocolate cake.  I took it one step further and made him an ice cream cake!  Can you believe it?  I actually pulled off an ice cream cake!  I was so excited to make the ice cream cake for him.  Brad LOVES ice cream!  Ice cream cake is perfect for him.  I finally felt confident enough to attempt one.  I'm proud to say it was a success!  Many more ice cream cakes will be made in this household!  It's like a whole new cake world for me!  An entirely new bunch of possibilities of flavors!  Woo-hoo! Let the experimenting begin! ;)

I'm glad the amount of people that came could come last night. I had a lot of fun planning Brad's birthday party.  I love entertaining!  Man, have things changed for me!  I remember a time when I wasn't too into entertaining.  I had a few seriously minor parties I hosted during college but then after college I had a long spell of not playing hostess.  Even avoiding being a hostess a few times.  Now though I've completely fallen in love with hosting things.  I like to let my imagination go wild as I plan different things.  Fun times!