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Your email address will not be published.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

The Beauty Edit: An Under-Eye Concealer That Actually Works

My dark under eye circles have been the bane of my existence since I was 12. Is the cause lack of sleep? Dehydration? Sinus issues? Stress? Who the hell knows. But there they are, every day, telling the world that I am an exhausted working Mom.

7

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

The Range: A Business Look from Boden

Every now and again, I spot a piece on sale and I have to have it. I need it. I cannot live without it. Recently, I spotted a jersey tee at Boden that takes a casual top to the next level, and I just needed to share.

5

READ MORE 

Saw It On Social: The Battle of the Spendy Swimsuits

Sloane loves the pool. She jumps from the deck into the water with a crash, never considering her own safety, only to emerge on the surface, shouting “Again!” The pool is my daughter’s happy place. But no place where I need to wear a swimsuit in public is a happy one for me.

22

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

Beauty, BPGP, Top Posts | July 25, 2024

The Beauty Edit: An Under-Eye Concealer That Actually Works

My dark under eye circles have been the bane of my existence since I was 12. Is the cause lack of sleep? Dehydration? Sinus issues? Stress? Who the hell knows. But there they are, every day, telling the world that I am an exhausted working Mom.

7

READ MORE 

Features, Posts, The Range | July 25, 2024

The Range: A Business Look from Boden

Every now and again, I spot a piece on sale and I have to have it. I need it. I cannot live without it. Recently, I spotted a jersey tee at Boden that takes a casual top to the next level, and I just needed to share.

5

READ MORE 

Features, Posts, Saw It On Social | July 24, 2024

Saw It On Social: The Battle of the Spendy Swimsuits

Sloane loves the pool. She jumps from the deck into the water with a crash, never considering her own safety, only to emerge on the surface, shouting “Again!” The pool is my daughter’s happy place. But no place where I need to wear a swimsuit in public is a happy one for me.

22

READ MORE 

Features, Monday Mornings, Posts, Style | July 22, 2024

The Mondays: July 22, 2024

The Crowdstrike/Microsoft Meltdown forced me to take a few days off this weekend. No laptop. No billable hours. So we packed Sloane up for a visit to a local llama farm, stopped by the pool, went for coffee, etc. Few things are as funny as watching a 23-month old feed carrots to a ravenous rescue […]

2

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO