I love any opportunity to host a good dinner party (as seen here, here and here), especially when there's a theme, and extra especially when its for a birthday.
We hosted 10 people on Friday night for an early birthday celebration. Being a work day, the menu had to be easy, and mainly 'make-ahead' dishes. Pulled pork seemed like a cost effective, delicious option, and from there, a southern-bbq theme emerged. Filled with festive plates from my new favourite store, a $10 bouquet diy-ed into center pieces, spicy collard greens and kickin' kentucky mules, the evening was a smashing success. We ate, we drank, we giggled. On repeat.