Recently, I’ve realized that I am a terrible blogger when it comes to social events. I get so involved with chatting, eating, drinking, and being merry, I totally forget to snap photos. Of course, I always manage to take some photos, but never as many as I want… and tonight was one of those nights.
Tonight, David and Marie invited a bunch of friends over to their condo for a Tastefully Simple party. Tastefully Simple is a company that offers all sorts of easy-to-prepare foods, which are available through independent consultants, who offer at home taste-testing parties. Basically, it’s like Pampered Chef, but only with food.
Over the course of the evening, we got to try all sorts of samples from Tastefully Simple. The food was sure tasted delicious, but I doubt it’s very nutritious!
Even still, Mal and I ordered a few of our favorites from the evening: Nana’s Apple Cake Mix (Mal loved this!), Beer Bread Mix, and Warm Cheesy Chive Dip Mix.
Dave and Marie also served some yummy appetizers during the tasting.
As always, I dominated the Buffalo Chicken Dip. It’s my favorite! 😀
I also did a number on the Pumpkinhead beers tonight! 😉
Clearly, Bella had no interest in taste-testing or beer-drinking, but isn’t sure adorable!?! 😉
M & T! 
Today was a really fun day, but, man, am I ready for bed. My whole body is tired.
Gooooood night! 😀
42 Comments
Everything looks so good, especially those appetizers wrapped in bacon. Mmmm. 🙂
oh what a fun night! i’m interested to see that beer bread!
I’ve been to one of those parties before. They’re so much fun! I love the dips they sell 🙂
I have that beer bread mix at home from a gift basket I once got…can’t wait to try it now. Maybe with chili one night?
I recently hosted a Tastefully Simple party. My house is FULL of their food because of the discounts I got :). I am trying to save it for enteraining so I don’t eat it all myself!
Gosh, I second that on a great day and needing to go to bed now! I am heading in that direction now!
I personally think it’s WONDERFUL that you get so caught up in having fun that you forget to take photos! Life is about the moment, not [always] about recording such moments for your blog readers 😉
I’ve had some of those products before–they’re good!!
sounds like a fun night – i have never heard of that!
buffalo chicken dip sounds like heaven right now…i have the late-night munchies!
I’ve been to a Tastefully Simple Party before. The dips are great, but I don’t think I had the buffalo one. And if my memory serves me correct I think the bread can be made with a can of soda instead of the beer. It’s been a few years since I’ve been and the bread mix I ordered still sits in my cabinet to be made. Probably no longer good.
The Garlic Garlic is really good. My mom used to do Tastefully Simple parties a few times a year. They’re really fun 🙂
I love your black/grey cardigan – so cute! Is that bacon wrapped shrimp?? Mmm delicious!
Tastefully Simple has always been one of my favorites..their seasonsings/spices rock!
Looks cute and fun! The warm and cheesy chive dip sounds so goood.
I’m the exact same way with not taking photos at social events. I get so caught up in catching up with people that I never pick up the camera.
buffalo wing dip is so good! and i agree with Hannah- it’s good that you get caught up in life sometimes, and I think you have plenty of pictures!
I rarely take pictures at social events either. But sometimes it’s better just to live in the moment and enjoy yourself! 🙂
Looks like fun! But yeah, the food from magazines and what not is hardly ever nutritious unless it comes from Cooking Light or something like that…no doubt it was delicious, though! Sometimes ya just have to splurge 🙂
I do the same thing at social events…get totally wrapped up in the commotion. It’s ok!
It’s funny you mentioned Tastefully Simple…I was just given a book and asked if I wanted to have a party myself. No, the food isn’t exactly nutritious, but it’s delicious! And a good excuse to get together with friends, so I’ll probably be doing one soon. 🙂 (P.S., the beer bread IS phenomenal, isn’t it?!?)
Oh my gosh, I hate these kind of parties! I feel like my “friends” that do them are just taking advantage of me and I feel so obligated to buy something, never something I would do as a business! Glad you had fun though.
I agree with above, Arbonne/Tastefully Simple/Mary Kay – it is so rude! It is just a way to use your friends for money.
Marie,
I respectfully disagree. If you’re good friends, you’ll support one another in anything! Why not help out a friend who’s trying to help support her family with some extra money? If you don’t like the particular brand, it’s okay, don’t attend. I don’t feel at all like friends are using me when I’m invited to these parties. I’m happy to support them! If a friend of yours works at a particular restaurant or other business, wouldn’t you patronize that business to support them? A final point, do you read customer reviews before purchasing products online or get others’ referrals about products? This is much the same!
That looks like so much fun!
When I put in major miles, I always wanted beer at night. You are running at a solid pace, you are on track to run a great marathon!
I love Tastefully Simple – especially the Nana’s Apple Bread and the Wahoo Chili Dip! 🙂
TS food is pretty good — I’ve tried a few of their dips. Sure they aren’t the most nutritious, I will definitely agree with you there!
I don’t agree with commenters above who claim that Mary Kay/Avon/Tastefully Simple/etc are just using your friends for money – I think there are sellers who come off that way, but I think there are plenty of sellers who do it correctly: without pressure and just sharing a fun line of products!
ooh that sounds like a fun night! i love pampered chef products and could probably spend a ton on them given the chance. tastefully simple sounds great as well. enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Yumm those look good but I know I would have been too cheap to buy anything! But on second thought I probably would have been guilted into buying something….
gah I love Pumpkinhead so much. I hate that it’s seasonal!
Do you feel like you always have to buy something when you go to parties like that?
I kinda feel guilty and get something anyways!
Parties where you have to buy stuff are the best! My mom and her friends host them all the time. I love that they feel like a big shopping trip, but with all your friends and free food!
i’m attending one of these parties in a few weeks…looks like fun! not sure if i’ll buy anything…i get so cheap when it comes to those parties, but the guilt can override it. at least i’ll get tasty eats!
Mmm, TS stuff is so good. I was a consultant for awhile last year. ESPECIALLY love Garlic-Garlic!!
Hi Is that ok to take some of your recipes and use them for my blog.
they sound very good.
thank you
I love beer bread! I made it from a Trader Joe’s mix a few weeks ago. We couldn’t get enough.
Hi Tina, do you have a direct contact e-mail? I looked around on your blog but didn’t see one. Maybe I’m just missing it. Anyway, I’d like to share something with you similar to this post but don’t need to write all the details here unless you’d prefer I do that.
Thanks!
@Leanne: tina@carrotsncake.com
Hi! I recently started reading your blog and I really like it. I’m a Mass native living in Florida so I like seeing the familiar Boston/New England sights on the blog. Love the fig/gorgonzola pizza recipe and I want to try it this weekend! I recently was in Cambridge for work and met BostonSportsWoman at a blogger event my company put on and she let me know how your blogs are related, in a sense. Its so great to see a group of smart, tech-savvy women doing their thing! Cheers!
-Lauren
Thanks Tina. I send the e-mail 🙂
I’m a Tastefully Simple consultant (not a shameless plug ~ LOL). I only keep the seasoning blends because I would eat everything myself! It’s all really that good. My consultant stopped selling it and I needed to support my habit so I became one! LOL
Everything looks delicious – what a great addition to any party! 🙂