And the Oscar for Best Party Goes To…

Welcome Friends! 

I had a fabulous time watching the Academy Awards last night!  How many of you did the same?  I loved popping in on Facebook and Twitter to see what everyone was thinking.

There was some ranting going ON!

But today it’s all about who stole the show with their looks, what wins were most shocking, and at my place, the FOOD!  😀

Let’s Start the Show!

First things first, Guests, please load up your plates with this year’s Oscar treats!  Food included:

• Chilled Green Beans with Lemon and Sea Salt
• Bacon and Blue Cheese Bruschetta
• Crab Nachos
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Sunflower Crackers with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Spinach Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Potatoes with Lavender
• Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
• Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders with Mustard and Poppyseed
• Aloo Mater with Rice

AND SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT! 

There’s still our annual “Oscar-served” pudding parfaits with strawberries, and Lemon Curd Cake with Raspberry Sauce!

Time to Talk Wardrobe!

What were some of your favorite looks this year?  I do wish there had been more color on the Red Carpet this year, but everyone truly looked STUNNING!  There wasn’t a single dress I disliked.  The ladies who really nailed it though, I think are:

Best Actress Winner, Jennifer Lawrence

She looked amazing and was so charming on the Red Carpet!  She looked young, but glamorous and very natural with her make up!  I’m thrilled for her!  22 years old, her second nomination, and her first win!  She’s also been a phenomenal spokesperson for people with mental illnesses since her shooting of Silver Linings Playbook.

Nicole Kidman

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman

Possibly my favorite dress of them all, I thought Nicole Kidman looked killer!  Presenting this year, I thought she had the whole package – a well fitted, gorgeous gown, romantic updo, minimal jewelry but all around great look!!!

Kerry Washington

I said I loved color, and Kerry Washington’s dress was so elegant and beautiful for spring on the Red Carpet!  Her jeweled bodice looked great on her, and I loved the soft, smooth skirt and train of her dress in that bubblegum pink!

Best Actress Nominee, Jessica Chastain

I caught Jessica’s pre-show interview and she picked this dress because it reminded her of Old Hollywood – Marilyn Monroe, and I couldn’t agree more.  Critics raved for her look and how the flesh tone dress is stunning on her pale skin with the pops of red from her hair and lips.  You know this redhead was a fan!  Plus, she took her grandmother as her date, y’all!  So cute!

Charlize Theron

Presenting with Dustin Hoffman, Ms. Theron looked amazing in her chic white gown and I loved the short hair with it!  And did you guys catch her dance number with Channing Tatum??!!  She reminded me of Julie Andrews in Sound of Music!

And the Oscar Goes To…

Were you pleased with the Oscar wins this year?  Here’s a recap of the big ones:

Best Picture:  Argo

Best Director:  Ang Lee, Life of Pi

Best Actor:  Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Best Actress:  Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Best Supporting Actor:  Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Best Supporting Actress:  Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables

Best Original Screenplay:  Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

I was overall VERY pleased with the variety of films recognized this year.  I had expected a sweep of either Les Mis or Lincoln, and it wasn’t the case at all!  Almost all of the 9 nominated films for Best Picture won in some of the categories.  Amour won Best Foreign Film, Zero Dark Thirty won Best Sound Editing; the only film not to receive an Oscar but was nominated for many was Beasts of the Southern Wild.  I had high hopes it would take the Best Adapted Screenplay award, but that went to Argo.  I’m sure we’ll hear more from the cast and crew of this film in the years to come!

May I present your Oscar?

And I have to announce the winner of my Red Carpet Giveaway is…

*opens envelope*

Patricia Sands

Congrats to Patricia, and to all of you who entered my Oscar Prediction contest, it was a very close race!  Patricia chose 5 out of 6 nominations correctly!!!  You can make your acceptance speech in the comments section! 😉

Memory Making Moments

There were a few call out performances at the Oscars this year, including its theme of Music in the Movies!  There were stellar performances from Barbara Streisand during the In Memoriam portion, as well as the ENTIRE cast of Les Miserable joining together on stage for a Les Mis medley!

My favorites were of course – Adele! Taking home the Oscar for Best Original Song, Skyfall, from the James Bond film, Skyfall, she was awesome!  And it seemed so fitting with the Academy also recognizing 50 years of Bond movies!

I also loved the performance of my favorite Bond song, Goldfinger, by Dame Shirley Bassey!  This video shows the awesome montage of Bond films they made followed by Bassey’s performance.  Sing it, sista!

By the by, Joe took a shot of me pre-party start when I wasn’t expecting it, and now we’re calling it my Bond girl shot.  What do you think?  I believe my Bond girl name would be…Cinema!  But who will my James Bond be?!

Just For Fun

What would your Oscar face look like if you just found out you won?

(My friend, Cat, and I – AKA the Sequin Sisters – share some examples!)

Oh my God, I won!!!

We call this Screams of Success vs. Tears of Joy

Well, you win all the pudding parfait you can eat!

Happy Oscars Everyone!