Graduation Celebration!

With graduation coming up, it's time to start planning the celebrations! My idea of a party after the graduation, however, is only a dream because at TO the graduates board luxury liners (chartered buses) for Grad Night at Disneyland right after the ceremony. So Chelsea wants to go to El Torito Grill (in Sherman Oaks)Wednesday night, before graduation, so that Grandma and Grandpa can go with us. That seems like such a public celebration, so I'm planning a dinner at home this weekend to enjoy all of Chelsea's favorite foods and watch old family videos. 

Our menu will consist of:

Santa Maria grilled trip-tip
Mini-Macaroni-and-Cheese-Cups 
(recipe here: http://www.pincookie.com/mini-macaroni-and-cheese-cups/)
Boston Baked Beans
Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Raspberry Lemonade
          AND
Salted Caramel Cupcakes
(recipe here: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/salted-caramel-cupcakes/ )

Chelsea has always loved macaroni and cheese (Brandon and Heather, too) so when I saw these on Pinterest, I knew I had to make them for her. So far I have never made good mac and cheese from scratch. It's pretty pathetic that the best mac and cheese in the Hackney household comes from Kraft, or the frozen stuff from Trader Joe's. Even I love that! This is my last ditch effort.

For dessert we'll have her high school favorite: salted caramel cupcakes. I found a recipe for them on Pinterest, too. What would I do without Pinterest? The picture won't upload, so you'll have to look at my Pinterest entertaining board (http://pinterest.com/lhackney/entertaining/) or click on the link  I included (above) to see them. They look perfect!

I plan to decorate with a photo timeline banner. I'll use Heather's cute clothespins (from her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/152454141/striped-clothespin-magnets-with-mini?ref=shop_home_active ) to clip photos to a piece of twine, and hang it from the mantel in the family room. The flowers are made from vintage book pages of Shakespeare's sonnets, and Chelsea LOVES Shakespeare. It's a match made in heaven ;)  Since it's June, I don't have to worry about a fire in the fireplace!

I also want to use one of Heather's cake toppers (http://www.etsy.com/listing/121237719/mini-tassel-cake-topper?ref=shop_home_active ) on the cupcakes. I'm so lucky to have such a crafty daughter. Chelsea's favorite color is pink, so this one will be perfect. Luckily, the frosting on the cupcakes is vanilla, so it won't clash. Add a vase of pink peonies (saw them at Costco earlier this week), and I think I'm all set. I am not an "over-the-top" party mom, any more, at least. I guess I burned out doing the kids' birthday parties when they were little.

Next stop: Father's Day. Can't have Alan feeling unappreciated. Any ideas?