Par-Tay

Parties use to be monthly, even weekly affairs back when our grandparents were young. In the last 40 years parties have really suffered. But with the economy stuttering, parties are making a comeback. It is good cheap fun and it takes your mind off of financial woes! There are two kinds of parties: big ones and small ones.

Big parties usually mean invitations that are mailed and require R.S.V.P.s, a theme, decorations, impressive food, entertainment, and lots of planning. Big parties include: New Year’s Parties, Milestone Birthdays, Baby/Bridal Showers, Super Bowl Parties, Christmas Parties, 4th of July Parties, and Halloween Parties.

Small parties include family birthday parties, BBQ’s, game nights, and spontaneous get togethers. Small parties are easy and can happen with a phone call or email invite. One of my favorite small parties happened when we were stuck in a blizzard, I mean a full blown scary blizzard, for 3 days. At the end of the 3rd day I called the neighbors and invited them to our home for lunch. I made a big pot of potato soup, rolls, cookies and sliced up every veggie we had. We were all thrilled to see someone new after 3 days of being cooped up in our homes. It was a great noisy party. It lasted all day.

Here are a few ideas to help you pull off a party without much effort:

• Don’t worry about your house. Worry about who to invite and what to eat. No one really cares about your house. Just make sure it smells good. No one wants to party in a house that smells like feet.


• Don’t over think the guest list. Just make sure you have at least 2 fun loving people who know how to make conversation in the group (besides you, of course). Don’t invite people you feel “obligated” to invite. They can throw their own party. And don’t be afraid to tell people if they need to get a babysitter.
  

• Make the food simple. Something salty (chips, nuts, pretzels) something sweet (cookies, brownies, M&Ms) something healthy (veggies, fruit) and something to drink (we drink pop at our parties). It’s okay to let guests to bring something simple if they offer to help. It’s also good to have food that is interactive, like fondue, ice cream makers, make your own scone, or a chocolate fountain (this would be a great present for me). Don’t be afraid to put people to work in the kitchen doing fun easy tasks – it makes them feel like they belong.

Here are 2 easy make-ahead recipes that are a hit at every party:

Feta Spread:
1 jar red peppers (about 1 cup)
2/3 cup sundried tomatoes
½ jar pesto (2/3 cup)
Garlic
2 green onions
Splash lemon juice
2 cups feta cheese
6 T mayo
Splash hot sauce
Chop garlic (2 cloves) in food processor add rest of ingredients except feta – process. Stir in feta by hand. Serve with bagel chips, pita chips, crackers, veggies. So yummy!

Sweet Chex Mix:
6 cups Honey Graham cereal (store brand is good)
6 cups Corn chex (store brand)
1 cup cashews (or any nut)
1 cup coconut
Bring the following to boil for 3 minutes (High Altitude – 4 Minutes)
1 cup Karo
1 cup sugar
¾ cup butter
Pour over cereal and cool on wax paper. Break apart and store in sealed container.

• Play music loud. Not James Taylor – he is too serious. James Brown is more like it. The soundtrack for "Muppets in Space" is perfect (really). You have to play the music loud so people start talking loud and then they think they are having fun because they have to raise their voices. It really works.


• Think about your lighting. Is it flattering? Light some candles and light the fireplace too.


• Paper plates and cups. Get the big plastic cups and have sharpie markers so people can decorate their cups. Give a prize to the coolest cup.


• Introduce people to each other and brag about them. They will feel great and your party will be great.


• Have a mixer or two planned if people don’t know each other. I love Liar Liar. People write their name on a paper and then write 2 or 3 things that are unusual about themselves that others might not know (homecoming queen, ate a rattlesnake, piloted a submarine) . You call 3 people up and read one of their items and then all 3 people tell a story about how it was them. People try to decide who is telling the truth. Great fun.


• Have a game that pitches boys against girls. It forces the men to talk to each other and it feels flirty to compete against your husband. He’s so handsome!


• About halfway into the party pull something warm and yummy out of the oven like pizza, cinnamon rolls, cheesy French bread, potato skins. This forces people to mix and mingle with new people.


• As people start to leave be sure to walk them to the door and thank them for coming.

Now – don’t be expecting lots of invitations to parties just because you threw one. You will be disappointed. You aren’t throwing this party so that you’ll be invited to parties. Most people don’t throw parties. You do it because you are a fun person who loves your friends. And they will love you.

Now it's time to par-tay!