ManyWhiteBowls

CHOCOLATE ... For My Sister

When you have a Sister, ( known as The Beautiful Sister in this Blog ) who is a silent achiever - walks quietly upon this Earth - has the most contagious laugh - treasures her Family & Friends above all else - has known great despair - knows the meaning of *enjoy today for tomorrow may not come* - won't suffer fools - is the absolute meaning of all things Wife, Mother & Daughter - Compassionate and Brave - then how lucky am i to call her The Beautiful Sister..... for i would love to think that if she were not my younger Sister, then our paths would have crossed anyway and we would have been dear friends.

TBS was turning 50 - and i wondered what i could do from the opposite side of Australia - to help her celebrate the Event - as she so deserved.

The Beautiful Sister loves Chocolate and what better way to surprise her for her 50th Birthday - than an Evening of all things Chocolate - and Cocktails on the side.

The planning for this Event started back in January - when i suggested to my Partner in crime (The Beautiful Sisters Husband) that i could do this - YES, i can plan an Event Evening from the West Coast and fly everything across with me to their home in the Country over East.
I have *planned, cooked and set up* before - nothing new - only difference is - its all going to be 5000+ Klms away.
One 4.5 hour plane trip - followed by a 2.5 hour wait in the Terminal - and then just another 1.15 hour trip to their home Town...thats only just over 8 hours of travelling...with 3 suitcases and 3 lots of hand luggage.
How hard could it be ..............seriously ..............how hard?
My belovered Husand shall be travelling with me -
Sure, we have to walk out onto the Tarmac to catch the Country Flight - sure, not much leg room or excess luggage room - sure, its Winter, it could be pouring - but when we do something for Love - all is possible.
It Shall Be Done...................................yes.

A Theme - we needed a Theme.

An After 5 Chocolate & Cocktails...
After 5 colours - Black & White - everyone has that little something *Black or White* in their wardrobe.
We need a splash of Colour - RED - yes, a splash of Red.
Not *being home* for just on 2 Years - and not seeing TBS's new home they moved into - i thought keeping it all Black & White would surely work with whatever colour scheme she had in her Home.

The Guests - I know some..........but many don't know me.

TBSs Husband could provide the list of guests...
I could write them out - post from here - and with todays technology, RSVP's could be delivered back to me any number of ways..........perfect.
I don't know alot of them, but i can phone first - introduce myself, tell them the plan, tell them it is a Surprise......tell them to find that little *Black or White Number* they have hidden in their wardrobe, bring it out of the wardrobe, shake it up, dust it off and have it ready for the 17th of July.
Yes, this also can be done...................................yes.

All things Chocolate - my list of things to make

A Red & White Birthday Cake of course...
Coloured Chocolate Cake Balls...
Rich Dark Chocolate Terrine....
Minted Chocolate Hearts -
White Chocolate & Cream Filled Jelly Cakes -
Personnalised Chocolates ............ (Link Below)
Red Wrapped Hearts -
White Chocolate Mouse -
Dark Chocolate Biscuits - White Hearts - Black Stenciled Floral Patten -
Dark Chocolate Biscuits - Men In Black with White Bow Ties -
Assorted Chocolate Rocky Road -
Another Splash of Red - Vodka Jelly Shots -
Dark Chocolate Mud Cup Cakes filled with Milk Chocolate Ganache -
More Red - Red Velvet Cupcakes -
White Cup Cakes filled with White Chocolate Ganache -
and so on and so and so on.

The Tables,,,,,,where do i start to look?

What am i going to place all this Chocolate in and on?
Platters - will TBS have enought White Platters?
I have Many White Bowls - many White Platters - can i risk sending so much China over East without breakages?...............oh dear.
Think i need to call on the help of my Mother and TBS's Friends.
I need height to this Chocolate Table -
My belovered Husband and i can make Black Stands - yes, we can do this - we have done it befoe - we can make them so as they can be dissmantled - send over East - and assembled for the Evening.
Glassware - Large Glass Bowls - for the Chocolates to sit in....I can find them - pack securely and have them shipped over East -

Cocktails - These can be ordered on line ...............surely.

Let my Fingers do the walking - Find a Company that not only sells Cocktails online but will ship to a Country desination....Yes, i found one - In NSW......perfect...... (Link below)
Glasses - TBS's Husband must know of somewhere where i can hire Cocktail Glasses from.
Long Tables, yes, i will need long tables to accommodae the Cocktails and Glasses.
Tableclothes - i will need long Black Tableclothes.
Servingware - how am i going to serve these cocktails - will TBS have enough large bowls?
Might the Mother be able to help me out here - might some of TBS's friends?
Can't risk it - will find what i need here and have them sent to my Parents home.

Flowers - every Birthday Lady needs Flowers.

White ............ of course.
White makes a statement
White says - uncluttered - clean - stunning - fresh - elegant.
White Flowers it shall be.
TBS's Friend who now lives in another State will know just the place for me to order Flowers from................................. perfect.
This Friend is someone who loves and appreciates beautiful flowers and plants of all kinds.
Its Winter - what Flowers will be available?
Bulbs - yes of course - Bulb Flowers - how perfect.
TBS just loves all Bulb Flowers....they are so precious and in bloom for such a short time - but ohhhh, what a show they make.............TULIPS..... they shall be White Tulips - not readily available in the Country - will make sure these can be ordered ahead of time.

Another large Vase - for her Lounge Room - yes, something that says Regel.
Oriental Lilliams - of course - they are White - have the most divine scent - and again will make a statement...,standing tall and elegant.
A scent that will drift throughout during the Evening.

And so it began - 6 Months of planning - making - baking - booking Air Fares - gathering guests Names and postal details - phonecalls between the Mother and myself - ordering Glassware - ordering Personnalised little Chocolates - searching for Cocktails - finding just the right Black and White Invitations - designing a Birthday Cake - finding just the right floral stencil for the biscuits - finding Black & White Straws for the Cocktails - finding Black & White drink Napkins - finding XL long Black Tableclothes - odering Black & White goodie Bags for the guests to take a little *something* Chocolate home in - making White large magnolia type flowers for the top of the White Cupcakes - making White Butterflies for other Cupcakes - find large glass glasses for the chocolates to sit in...no lids, wide open neck glass containers i want - find and buy the materials to start making and painting the Black Stands for the table - phonecalls to TBS's friends, so as to track down large White Platters - finding suitable Red Napkins for the Chocolate Table - not cheap hard and scratchy ones, but soft to the touch , that won't stain any Ladies *white* clothing - buy Jelly Shot Galsses - Mini White Teaspoons - Red Chocolate from the States to cover the Cake Balls - Minted White Chocolate from the States, to cover the other Cake Balls - Black Doillies - check to see if i have enough Red Cupcases - enough Black ones and White also - Order Black & White stripe ones - think and order what style glasses i will need for the cocktails - choose Cocktail flavours - order Cocktails - find and order Black & White paper Lantens to hang above Chocolate Table...to carry the theme above the actual Table -
Find something Black & White to wear myself - Black Stillethos, ohhh yes, those i have - Take the belovereds Black Suit to the Dry Cleaners - Order enough Red, Black & White Regalice for cakes and cupcakes - Liquere Chocolate, must organise those also - when looking for XL Long/Wide White Tableclothes becames impossible , asked the Mother to make them .. what a beautiful job she did - every stitch so straight .. every corner so sharp .. pressed so crisp - asking TBS's friends if i could borrow someones KA so as to make everything..they said yes, how wondeful of them - Buy, Paint and put together a *name* plate for the Table - Balloons, we need large balloons, in White, Black & Red.