party planning perfection.

have i mentioned that i love this time of year? why? well, because there are just so many reasons to celebrate - birthdays, weddings, long weekends, and graduations (just to name a few) and since i am in the party spirit today, i have to share with you this eco-fabulous grad party thrown just down the road in shelburne, vt by the party planning pros at martha stewart living. (oh i wish i had known! i soo would have crashed it!)

the details:

• the event: a graduation party for a recent university of vermont graduate - whose mom happens to be the editorial food director at martha stewart living. lucky him (and lucky us!)
• the venue: the coach barn at shelburne farms
• the theme: "sustaining family through education, connection, community, and, of course, food." oh how i love a good theme!
• the food: all local - including cheeses from shelburne farms and vermont butter & cheese creamery, meats from vermont smoke and cure, and local pickled vegetables. burgers were made from misty knoll farms turkey and grass-fed shelburne farms beef (served in recyclable paper bags rubber-stamped with various vermont motifs.) and dessert was island homemade ice cream.
• the drinks: colorful cocktails from vermont spirits maple vodka and boyden valley rhubarb wine. and magic hat beer (obviously)
• the photo shoot background: a map of vermont, on, what else, but a chalk board.
• the favors: popcorn. maple spiced kettle corn served in vermont branded paper bags.
• the result: party planning perfection.

{go here for the whole story - plus more photos, recipes and party planning tips}