Happy Hour: A Booze-Free BBQ

Jun 29, 2012

I usually head home to Montana for the 4th of July, because you really can’t beat celebrating in a small town.  Sadly, given that Independence Day is inconveniently happening on a Wednesday, I will be stuck in D.C. this year.  Sad face.

On the plus side, I was invited to a small barbecue at the home of one of my mentors.  I was prepared to bring my customary hostess gift–homemade sangria in a glass pitcher that they can keep–when I noticed that the invitation said, “As this is a family event, no alcohol will be served at this gathering.” 

I’m sorry?  Does that say, “no alcohol?”  At a party, in D.C.?

Well…alrighty, then.

Since I can’t bring alcohol, I’ll be bringing a delicious dessert that I spotted on Annie’s Eats

It’s called Roasted Cherry Chocolate Tart, and doesn’t it look completely and totally ah-may-zing? In fact her entire blog is incredible.  The only way to cure my envy is to make and devour as many of her recipes as possible.

(P.S. Stop drooling.  You’re embarrassing yourself.)

Lucille Scalloped Dress ($90)

Since this fete will be outside, I’ll need a cotton dress to keep me from melting into a puddle of goo on the patio.  I think this light and airy scalloped-eyelet dress from J.Crew is the perfect solution. 

Happy Hour

share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. anon says:

    Southern girls are taught how to wear white for such events. its an exercise in the near impossible. Is DC considered southern? Y'all can do it!

  2. Ellie says:

    I would never survive in a white dress with that dessert! It's just an open invitation for me to be a klutz!!

  3. arlington says:

    that dress and that tart cannot coexist in harmony, only mutual annhilation

  4. helixy says:

    I've never been to a family event where alcohol wasn't served. Psh! The dress is adorable, but I would also lose to the dessert. 😛

  5. lisa says:

    I had no idea you were from Montana. I'm sitting in Bozeman, reading your blog, hoping that I will some day have style.

  6. Hill Mama says:

    I feel the opposite way about the 4th… there is no where else I would rather be than the Nation's capital.

    I love that dress, especially in the purple color.

  7. CynthiaW says:

    Wow – I might rethink going after realizing that there was no alcohol! Unless I'd already RSVP'd – doh.

    Maybe not though – it took me forever to recover from last 4th of July. I don't drink that much and we went to a (family) party with some serious drinkers – I was definitely hurting the next day and I didn't even drink that much compared to other people there!

    The dessert looks yummy – but add me to the list of people too afraid to attend a BBQ in a white dress.

  8. Ellie says:

    I bought this dress (at full price!) to wear to Gold Cup and really like it.

  9. sara says:

    This dress is fabulous. I recommend going to a J.Crew store, if you can, as it's marked down significantly more than online (or, it was at my store). It also comes in a very fun grape purple, which I own. Happy 4th!

  10. Sophie says:

    That pie looks delicious! Hope you fared well in the DC storms this past weekend!

  11. KJ says:

    Belle – Love your go-to hostess gift of sangria in a pitcher. Do you also have a go-to place for cute glass pitchers? And/or a link to your favorite sangria recipe?

Join The List

Stay up to date on the latest from Capitol Hill Style!

sUBSCRIBE

Happy Hour: Atlantic Beach Pie

There are two kinds of people in this world: People who eat cake on their birthdays and people who don’t.  And some of the weirdos in the latter category (I said what I said) eat pie as an alternative.  So if you’re a “birthday pie” eater with a late summer celebration coming up, may I […]

4

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

The Find: The Only Wire-Free Bra That Didn’t Fail Me

After Sloane was born, I developed a seething hatred for underwire bras.  The trouble was that I had also developed a larger, slightly droopier bust.  It was a cruel irony.

12

READ MORE 

The 2010s Trends I’m Loving and Leaving Behind

Our tween and teen nieces spent the first half of 2023 reviving our high school fashions.  From peasant tops to low rises, I felt like I was back bopping to N’SYNC in my mint-green sedan for a minute.  Now, our 20-something direct reports are bringing back the 2010s in a big way, and I am […]

10

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

Happy Hour, Posts, Style | August 18, 2023

Happy Hour: Atlantic Beach Pie

There are two kinds of people in this world: People who eat cake on their birthdays and people who don’t.  And some of the weirdos in the latter category (I said what I said) eat pie as an alternative.  So if you’re a “birthday pie” eater with a late summer celebration coming up, may I […]

4

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | August 18, 2023

The Find: The Only Wire-Free Bra That Didn’t Fail Me

After Sloane was born, I developed a seething hatred for underwire bras.  The trouble was that I had also developed a larger, slightly droopier bust.  It was a cruel irony.

12

READ MORE 

Posts, Style | August 16, 2023

The 2010s Trends I’m Loving and Leaving Behind

Our tween and teen nieces spent the first half of 2023 reviving our high school fashions.  From peasant tops to low rises, I felt like I was back bopping to N’SYNC in my mint-green sedan for a minute.  Now, our 20-something direct reports are bringing back the 2010s in a big way, and I am […]

10

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | August 16, 2023

The Find: Bright and Striped

For the past few years, the wardrobes of many influencers have tilted toward the beige and boring.  I’m all for a good basic, but staple pieces can only take you so far.  Sometimes, you need to wear something that has a little something extra, and this sale-priced tee certainly does.

2

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO