al fresco done right.

we were lucky enough to have a lovely dinner party with some of our favorite dc 'frateau' inhabitants. aka: five young boys living in the district who were in need of some tlc. three lasagne, caprese, and the most delicious choco cookies i've ever made and we had the fixins for a simply wonderful evening. add a little jeniver from our trip to amsterdam and it was perfect. a glimpse of the evenings pics:

i really love our outdoor space. it was a simple concrete block when we first moved-in and after a little elbow grease and a ton of potting soil we have a fabulous urban oasis. we utilize the space as much as possible. it's fast becoming my favorite place in the home. 

we have a super-long table. it was one of my love's must-keep-items. he's had it forever and i must admit that it's not only great for adult beverage games, but also for dinner get-togethers. the only downside is that it is really difficult to find a tablecloth long enough to cover it entirely. thus, the use of butcher paper. we picked up a roll for less than $10 from the hardware store and we use it to cover our table. my favorite part-you can write on it and play games. i love to scatter a few crayons on the table either as a centerpiece or on each place-setting. it's a super-cute and fun detail. 

again-the best $10 we've ever spent at the hardware store. we got three of these tins for the price and they are perfect as beverage coolers as well as cute outdoor storage for my gardening supplies.

i love making drinks ahead of time and labeling them with masking tape and adding a little rustic yarn. it makes it look like you spent a ton of time making drinks when really it saves time and most importantly, clean-up. plus, you can make sure you don't over-serve yourself...a habit i get into after a drink or two.

i hope you get to enjoy the summer sun too. i'm sure more parties are forthcoming and i'll be sure to share the love with y'all. loves!