My Favorite Things Party Theme

Last night I went to a "My Favorite Things" party.  It is now one of my favorite party themes.  (see other party themes I've recommended in the past.)

The hostess was inspired by the idea posted on the adorable blog Bushel and a Peck.  Thirty guests were invited and asked to bring their favorite appetizer or dessert as well as their favorite item (under $5) wrapped for 5 people.  I went to my favorite store, SurLaTable and picked up cookie cutters in the shape of a bat, a pumpkin, a christmas tree and a heart. Just in time for the holidays! I included my Very Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever with it.

When we arrived, each guest wrote her name on 5 pieces of precut decorated paper and put them in the bowl.  We enjoyed Italian Cream Sodas and everybody's apps and desserts.   I learned so many new recipes I am excited to try, especially some bite-sized goodies like pigs-in-a-blanket and banana bread bites.  Everyone was handed a bag with their custom designed label (designed by me!) as we took our seats. One at a time, each lady would introduce herself and explain what her favorite item was.  Then she would pick out 5 names from the bowl and hand those 5 people her favorite thing.  At the end of the evening, everyone left with 5 different items.

The top 5 creative items I remembered were:
1. A Finch Bird Seed Kit
2. Homemade creme brulee
3. HairWraps for when you get out of the shower.
4. Trader Joes Recycle Bags
5. A month supply of Styrofoam Cups with straws.

Candles, lotions, cleaning supplies, and candy kits were the most popular items shared.

A favorite things party is a fabulous way to share time with friends and learn a little something new about them.


In the meantime, what ideas do you have for a favorite things party? What would you share?

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A "sweet" 40th Birthday Party Theme

If you have a friend who is turning 40 but doesn't want to make it a BIG DEAL...this party theme is a "sweet" idea. 

The "sweet" theme was inspired AFTER the invitations were sent and the rsvp's started coming in.  Over 10 people regretted they couldn't celebrate our friends 40th because they had other plans.  The adjective "sweet" preceded the birthday girls name in every one of these regrets.

So the party became an intimate gathering.  We booked a "suite" at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach (suite 1125 offer the following views.)  

In the hotel room I decorated a manzanita branch with the birthday girls favorite flower and used it as the centerpiece.  Sprinkles Cupcakes and Gelsons Market supplied her favorite sweets - cupcakes and french macaroons along with assorted platters of gourmet cheeses, meats, fruit, and crackers.  The cocktail of the evening, a Chief Lapu Lapu geared us up to dance the night away to the 80's tribute band FlashBack Heart Attack at the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach.  Get an Imix of the songs here.

The birthday girl went home with a beautiful box of birthday wishes I typed on custom designed notecards as well as a set of beautiful bracelets from Brighton. Set up your wishlist for your party today!

This event turned out to be a great night in honor of a truly special and SWEET friend.

And if you have a friend who frets turning 40, here are 10 reasons why it is really NOT that bad! 

1. 40 is the new 30!!!

2. You're not 40, you are 18 with 22 yrs. experience!!

3. Enjoy the moment because when you are 50 or 60 you will wish you were 40.

4. Just think of all the wisdom you have, pass it on and make a difference in the world!

5. Turning 40 is better than the alternative.   

6. Look for balance in everyday of your life. Don't sign up to do things that will overwhelm you.

7. Like fine wine we get better with age! 

8. Best birthday ever, really! Life starts at 40!

9. It only gets better. What you have learned the first 40 years seems almost irrelevant as you develop into your new and spiritual self. You love deeper, appreciate life more and divine great pleasure in the little things and the world around you.

10. Depends are cheaper at Stater's   

Do you have a great 40th party theme to share? Please share below. 

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New Year's Bowling Bunko Party Theme

How do you plan a party in January for twelve of your girlfriends when you're home (and hubby) has had it with entertaining? You serve them a Seagram's Sweet Tea Palmetto along with Thai Chicken Wraps and take them to a bowling alley.

On the way to the bowling alley we played CASH CAB.  The twelve girls were split into two teams of 6.  I drove the first team down to the bowling alley giving them a chance to win money for their team.   They got three strikes before we got there.  The second team answered the same questions and won!  I got the questions from the CASH CAB app (2.99) BEWARE it is addicting!

There is a game you can play at the bowling alley called ALLEY HOLDEM however I didn't order it in time.  I would love to try this in the future.  Prize money went to Most Strikes, Highest Score, Most Spares, Lucky Draw and Lowest Score.

DECORATING IDEAS
The combination of turquoise, silver and black is a classic for new years parties.  I simply reused our New Years Eve Decorations.  Then I served a phenomenally,  fabulous Dessert in champagne flutes.

Do you like what you see?  Then become a fan of the 30days of blog on facebook or share it with others via the link below.  I get inspired when I can help others!

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Asian Appetizers

At our last ladies poker night, the only thing I left with was a few extra calories from these fabulous vegetable wontons. Here's how they were made. (For best results - prepare the filling and sauce and chill overnight.)

INGREDIENTS

1/2 green cabbage finely shredded

1/3 cup carrots, finely shredded

3 minced green onions

1 bunch of cilantro chopped

3 minced garlic cloves

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1 TBS soy sauce

1 TBS sesame oil

25 Wonton Wrappers (once filled with a tsp. of filling, wet the edges of the wontons 4 sides, fold into a triangle, then pinch the corners together) Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.

SAUCE INGREDIENTS (whisk all ingredients together and chill overnight)

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup Soy Sauce

1/3 cup water

2 TBS sesame oil

1 tsp red pepper (or chili oil)

This is a perfect appetizer to make with the CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD we served at the spa party since many of the ingredients are the same. For dessert, we made our own fortune cookies with poker predictions, such as YOU WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY TONIGHT.

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A DING DONG CAKE CONTEST

Inspired by 30daysof...Resolutions #8, we hosted a neighborhood block party this week. Neighbors brought a dish to share and we roasted hot dogs and homemade Crockpot Chili. Neighbors brought a side dish or dessert. While the adults mingled and played TABLE TOPICS, the kids ran a lemonade stand and all proceeds were donated to CHOC.

We got the lemonade stand from Sunkist Lemonade Stands.  (Website features recipes and how-to tips for kids) They also run a program called TAKE A STAND. (join group on Facebook).

The biggest hit of the block party was the DING DONG cake.  I used 83 DING DONGS for the version above.  When making the cake I had the idea to have a contest.  For the next 30 days ending October 17th, upload a picture of your DING DONG cake to the 30daysof fan page we just started.  If your cake is the winner, you will receive a $100 donation to the charity of your choice and the TABLETOPICS conversation game to play with your neighbors.  

Of course all the ding dongs were not eaten (as most cakes aren't).  Our solution, we froze the uneaten ding dongs and now play ding-dong ditch with the neighbors who didn't attend.  We ring the doorbell, leave the dingdong and run!  So fun...and the kids love it.

Send in your pics of your ding dong cake to the 30daysof... Group on Facebook.

 

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Friendly Traditions - Start a Bunko Group

This year marks a 10-year monthly tradition of playing Bunko together. Our group started with 12 girls just married. A third of us were first time stay-at-home mommies deeply in need of adult conversation. Some wanted to reunite with old work friends and keep in touch better. We all wanted to GET OUT once a month - and spend fun time with friends.
We didn't set any rules except to supply dinner if you are a host and call if you can't make it. Themes were not mandatory but throughout the years, the themes these creative woman come up with is what I look forward to.
The latest party theme was a "Little Black Dress" Bunko by Karri. She set the table with elegant crystal and draped pearls around the napkins and centerpieces. She found initialed pearled ornaments and placed them next to each placesetting along with our personalized score card. For the main course she set up a mash-potatoe bar which was served in martini glasses. A light salad and shishkabobs skewered with tomotoe, mozzarella and basil were great accompaniments to the elegantly served carb. After dinner she read us an excerpt from the book, The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. It is a moving essay about women's remarkable capacity to support each other, to laugh together, and to endure. And yes, I cried.
We played one round of bunko (which is usually one round too many for me) and afterword enjoyed cake and sugar cookies adorned with a picture of Audrey Hepburn and her signature black dress. The theme was very simple and elegant.
Many bunko groups begin and end within a matter of months. Most don't last becuase women let their busy lives get in the way. If you start a bunko group, make the effort. Show up and don't make excuses. Perfect your entertaining skills. It is in times of difficulty when we need our friends the most. It is a tradition I hope to continue until all of us are rolling our dentures and sharing pictures of our grandkids.

For your bunko group, do you have themes? Share your favorites here. In the meantime, enjoy the following video of a reading from The Middle Place.

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Ladies Poker Night

You say, girls can't play poker. Want to bet? You'll lose that bet with our group of girls who recently finished our first evening playing texas hold'em. There were no cigars at this event, only margaritas, appetizers and a dessert...o.k. and a cheat sheet here and there. It was a blast! Not only did we laugh a lot, the competitive nature in all of us came out. Seriously, economic times are tough. Who can't use a couple extra bucks, even if you have to po"ker" or po"kem" to get it. If you want to plan a poker party of your own - here are some tips on how to get started.

The Lowdown:

- Invite 8 people to play and set table accordingly.

- 1 deck of cards per table

- Set out poker chips in increments of what your buy in set at. Our buy in was $20. 20 white

chips @.10 = $2.00, 25 blue chips @.20 = $5.00, and 13 black chips @ 1.00 = $13.00

- Set out cheat sheets of what wins for each girls.

Before the game starts you must determine the answers to these questions first:

- Do you want to end at a certain time and the person with the most chips wins?

Our pot was $140. First place received $80, second place - $40, and third place - $20.

- Do you want to increase the blinds every hour?

- Is there a max bet or do you want to be able to play - ALL in?

- Can the girls buy in again if they get out early?

Those are the basics of the game and should help you get started. Watch the poker channel or rent the movie ROUNDERS with Matt Damon. That should teach you the art of bluffing which is what poker is really all about. You can work on reading other players tell and perfecting your own strategy and keep the girls wondering what you are holding. (This of course didn't happen in our group and we played every hand to the river and "shared" with each other what we had. )

Half of us left with empty pockets but we all had full stomachs from the fabulous appetizers and desserts. Here is the recipe for the mini cheesecakes that were served.

For crust (put in food processor for best results)

-15 whole graham cracker (10 ounces total), broken.

-1 sticks chilled unsalted butter, diced

-1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar

For filling
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- .875 cups sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1.25 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1.5 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 medium eggs

For topping
2 cups sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Or Top with whip cream and a sliced strawberry as shown above.

Make crust:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Get a mini cheescake pan. Combine graham crackers, butter and sugar in processor. Using on/off turns, blend until crumbs begin to stick together. Press crumbs onto bottom and 2 3/4 inches up sides of springform pan. Bake crust 10 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.

Make filling:

Beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and salt in large bowl until very smooth. Beat in flour. Add eggs and beat just until blended, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Pour batter into crust just a sliver below the top of the tray.

Bake cheesecake until outer 2-inch edge of cake os puffed and slightly cracked, center is just set and top is brown in spots, about 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Transfer cake to rack. Cool 10 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.

Top with Topping. Chill in fridge for at least an hour.

Decorate your own poker centerpiece.

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30 days of...Party Themes- St. Patricks Day

Have a little Irish in you, do you? This St. Patricks Day Party theme features three activities, delicious food ideas, music, invitation ideas and decor for yourself, your guests, and your cupcakes.

stpatricksblog

Publish at Scribd or explore others: How-to-Guides & Manu party details st. patricks day

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30 days of...Party Themes

It's time to Partay!  I just posted 30 days of...Party Themes for you to choose from.  The list is comprised of themes for kids as well as adults.  My favorites are:  Scavenger Hunt Party, Fear Factor or the Regifting Party.  Here is a list of all 30 to inspire your next gathering with friends and family.

St.Patricks Day Party 

Scavenger Hunt

Fear Factor Party

Pirate Party

Mario Kart

Tea Party

Board Game Night

Rock Band

Candyland Birthday Party

Luau

Mystery Party

Bunko Party

Pictionary Party

Crazy Hat Party

Bowling Party

Webkinz Party

Newlywed Game

Book Party

Cooking Party

Regifting Party

An 80's Kegsgiving

Cinco De Mayo/Mariachi Party

Wine and Chocolate Party

Mardi Gras Mask Party

Poker Party

Lingerie Party

Progressive Dinner Party

Casino Night Party

Awards Night

Celebrity Charades

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Fear Factor Party

PARTY!

The show Fear Factor intrigues me.  The fact that mind over matter always prevails led me to throw a Fear Factor Party of my own.   The guest list consisted of 12 couples who were each given the same rules.  No other details of the event were shared to prevent any pre-practicing.  Once the guests arrived, they provided their team name, picked their color of bandana, and decorated each others faces with war paint. 

The entry fee was a pitcher of their favorite mixed drink in which they received 10 points, but lost 25 points if they came empty handed.  They also lost 1 point for every minute they were late. We created 4 main events: You're such a baby, It's Hammertime, Eat it!, and Rock On! 

To See Pictures of the Event - click here.

"You're such a baby" details - Get 12 baby bottles and fill with a drink.  We chose beer.  Make sure to get the nipples with heavy flow. All participants must wear a bib. Once the person is finished with the bottle, their partner must eat a whole jar of baby food.  If the couple finishes each task, they each get 12 pts.  Team who finishes first, receives a bonus of 10 pts.

"It's Hammertime" details - Set up two "sawhorse" stations so guests can hit nails into wood. We stacked bricks and laid one heavy piece of wood across.  First the woman hit the three nails in.  Her partner could not start until she finished.  The fastest time received 12 points, 2nd place received 11 points, and so on.

"Eat it" details - We set up 5 platters ranging from gross (10 pts) to really gross (50 pts).  The items were fish eggs, sardines, escargot, chicken eggs (which was really guava), and baby octopus.  To enhance the experience, we put a raw octopus on the table, a raw pigs foot, as well as real "life" images of the items displayed on the table.   No order necessary, but full completion and digestion was mandatory in order to get points for the item.

                                          

"Rock On: details - Couples performed a song with RockBand.  One person sang, the other played one instrument, the guitar or drums. Players got to choose their song from the list provided. (I recommend printing out a list of the songs beforehand so the guests have an idea of what to sing.)  At the end of the performance a score is given, such as 43,000.  Use a chart to determine relative points.  0-10,000 = 10 points, 10,001 - 20,000 = 20 points, and so on.

"Bartendars Award" details - all the guests judged the mixed drinks and rated their top three, 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  The 1st place winner had 20 points added to their score as well as received a cash prize.  2nd and 3rd place finishers, had 10 and 5 points added to their scores respectively.

All in all the party was a success with a lot of surprises.  My best friend who did all the shopping and swore she wouldn't eat this stuff, threw back the jar of baby food, as well as swallowed every last bit of the fish eggs, sardines, snails and octopus.  Originally, her decorating skills impressed me but now I am completely impressed.  She is that amazing friend every person dreams of having.

Speaking of decorating, we have the good fortune of being friends with a Halloween lover.  She lent us her alien baby in a jar, giant spiders, bugs, fake fingers, and fake finger food.  Other items we decorated with were scary movie posters, skull heads, ARACHNIPHOBIA in the DVD player, and a skeleton with the head cavity opened and we filled it with dyed spaghetti strands to reflect a brain.

ALL in all, my friends did come very afraid of what to expect. (Don't they trust me?)  Some of them left proud at their bravery and skills, while others left grateful they wouldn't be getting salmonella. But as the hostess of the party whose greatest fear is to have a dud of a party, the fear factor party is my all-time favorite.

If you plan to host your own fear factor party, please share the details here.  

Party On!

  

 

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