girls night + the easiest dessert recipe evuuur

So, it's 1 week + 1 day until we say goodbye to Charlotte. I decided to throw a girls night with my best Charlotte girl friends. All of the girls knew at least one of the others..but a lot were meeting for the first time. I must say, I have some seriously impressive friends, that I am going to miss a TON.

Rachel - Architect in training [like me] + has her own business
Deb + Lynne + Alicia - All are new [and amazing] mom's and all are working as well!
Kelsey + Kath - Both in school to become Registered Dietitians and both have fun and addicting food blogs that I adore
Rosarae - Interior designer, starting her own business + teacher
Noelle - In sales, for a ridiculously sweet furniture company, Knoll + she's trying to start her own jewelry business
Anna - singer/songwriter, keeps the architecture firm I used to work for alive!!

Okay...on to the night! I told all the girls I was going to put together a really yummy + healthy salad bar. For some extra fun I asked them all to bring their favorite plate from home. Why? Well, why not! You know you have a favorite plate! Also, I had them bring their favorite salad dressing + wine. I also had an art project set up for them. It was without.a.doubt. one of my favorite nights in Charlotte.

The art project! For the past 4 years I've had my closest family and friends paint me a small 4"x5" canvas. I have them up on our wall in a grid pattern. I love having a little piece of everyone that I'm close with...and it has become a good conversation piece! =)

These are all the paintings I had before girls night


food time - chips + dip from Trader Joes - I am going to miss that store


Lynne's baby boy- Liam - 9wks old


Anna, Rachel, Kath


Deb, Lynne, Alicia, Noelle


all of the wines + salad dressings


Anna, Rachel, Kath playing with paint!


chicken + shrimp


tons of veg


ota.bar ingredients on a salad!! almonds + pepitas [pumpkin seeds]


Rachel starting things off


Rosarae + Noelle + their sweet bowl/plate


Anna, Rachel, Kath [I have at least 3 photos of you 3, standing/sitting in this exact order..what is up with this?? haha]


nom.nom.nom.




Rachel's bowl


Kath, ready to chow down


Alicia, Lynne + Kelsey


so pretty, Lynne!!


about to get my grub on


me!


some of the cool plates/bowls


Liam snoozed a lot of the time


I told Kelsey to arrange these chocolates however she wanted...I thought this was pretty intricate!


I grilled dessert...it was soooooooo simple + delicious!!! [recipe below]


we topped the dessert with vanilla bean icecream + the dark chocolate squares


Deb's 6wk old son, Bryson! He looks like daddy =)


Deb and Bryce!! Soooo cute [both of them!]


Liam loved painting, hehe


Look at what these awesome ladies gave me at the end of the night!! Soooo impressed!! Love my new artwork =) =)


Grilled Peach Marinade: [with 2 ota.ingredients]

4 peaches - cut in half and take out pit - you want to use slightly soft peaches
1/4c. balsamic vinegar
1T melted coconut oil
2T honey

-whisk all ingredients together
-add peach halves to large plastic bag
-add mixture to bag and shake around
-use right away or leave in fridge for 30min-4hrs

-preheat grill to med-high
-grill appx. 3-4min on each side

Top with vanilla icecream!! Can use marinade for grilling other fruit too fruit. I have also cooked the peaches in my cast iron pan, which worked perfectly.

I left the pineapple plain, but grilled for the same amount of time.

Stay tuned for more posts!

Niiiiight,
Ashley