We spend so much of our time planning parties for our little ones; which I have definitely enjoyed over the past two years. But listen. After all the blood, sweat and tears we put into this thing called parenting, Mommy and Daddy deserve a party. A GOOD ONE.
If party planning were a love language, it would be mine! I LOVE a party, even better if it has a theme! I feel like a theme gives the party a focus and helps guests feel festive! I’ve thrown a lot of parties-some I go all out and Pinteresty-and some-well, I go to the Dollar Tree. So today…..we’re focusing on fun (and EASY) party themes for the grown-ups!
February :: Mardi Gras Party
I’m from the South, so Mardi Gras is a big deal. There are places like Louisiana where schools are off for the local Mardi Gras parades!
The great thing about this celebration is that there are defined colors….so you can just buy some purple, green, and yellow decorations! Grab a King Cake at your local grocery store and BOOM! Throw some beads around everyone’s neck as they walk in the door to set the spirit! Let’s face it y’all….our Bourbon Street days (sans toddlers) have sailed, so we may as well bring a little of NOLA here to Texas. This year, Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, February, 28, 2017, so get to planning!
Planning Tip :: Party City and U.S. Toy both have super cute and affordable decorations! Use this Backdrop with these sequin masks from US Toy ($6.88/dozen).
To help you bring a little French Quarter to your table, here’s a simple family recipe for homemade beignets:
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- 1 package active dry yeast (I use Fleischmann's)
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 7 cups all-purpose flour
- 1\/4 cup shortening
- Oil for frying
- Powered sugar for topping
Ingredients
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- In a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast over water; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt, eggs and milk. Blend in a mixer. Add 4 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Add shortening; beat in the remaining flour. Cover and chill for several hours; overnight is better. Roll out on a floured board to 1\/8 inch thickness Cut into 2.5 inch squares. Deep fry at 360 turning until both sides are golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.
May :: Kentucky Derby Watch Party
Nothing says PARTY like a big hat and a Mint Julip, am I right? The Kentucky Derby is a perfect party opportunity because it incorporates an actual event that everyone can watch and rally around!
It gives us a chance to lose the lounge wear on a Saturday and get all dolled up!We incorporated a “Pie Contest”, so desert was already taken care of! The guys will no doubt enjoy the “competition” aspect of the party with a “betting board”. (Put your hubby in charge of this and he’ll be on it in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.) Throw some roses in jars and call it a day! I LOVE this blog post by Chris Nease with Celebrations at Home; she has some great tips for a Derby party! This year, the Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 6th, 2017.
Here’s a pie recipe that’s sure to send you into the Winner’s Circle:
- Mix together all ingredients; pour into graham cracker crust. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with whipped cream and sliced almonds for topping.
September :: Miss America Watch Party
Okay, sorry men, but you are not invited to this one. (It takes place the first Sunday of NFL season, so they can have a little watch party of their own.) I’ve done a few Miss America watch parties in the past, and they have ALL been a blast.
(Now listen, I’m not here to argue the ethics of pageants. It’s like the Presidential Election. Like it or not, it’s gonna happen, and it’s gonna be entertaining. Typically, my non-pageant friends are the ones who are best at picking out the winners!)
To get your contestants guests in the “spirit of competition”, make some sashes with white ribbon and glitter paint. I even found a 12 packs of little crowns in the party section of Hobby Lobby.
Everyone will have a blast at picking out their sash…..you can get super creative with some titles! (Miss Demeanor, Miss Understood, Miss Behave, Miss Take, go crazy!) I also print out the judging sheets so everyone can participate in the judging process! Click here for a great blog that has some tips and printable judging forms.
And nothing is more bonding than munching on some unhealthy snacks while you watch gals strut around in bikinis. (Ladies. Don’t fret. They haven’t had their little tummies stretched to the unimaginable limits of child bearing yet.) Some years we did heavy appetizers and this year, for example, I ordered pizza and called it a day. Since I LOVE themed snacks, here’s some easy ideas:
- “And the Wiener Is….” (Little Smokies in the crockpot)
- “Na-cho Crown” Cheese Dip
- “Add-a-Cup {Cakes}”
- “Second Place Salad”
- “World Peace Pizza”
At the end, you can award a small prize to whoever did the best on the judging forms…and don’t forget to practice your surprised faces!
Just DO this one ladies, and I promise you’ll have a blast! They haven’t announced the official date of the pageant yet, but based on the past few years, it should take place on Sunday, September 10th, 2017.
October :: Murder Mystery Party
Send the kids to Grandma’s for the night and turn your home into a real live game of Clue! We attended one a while back and it was SO MUCH FUN!
The one we attended was a “Casino Murder” theme and we were given our character assignments a few weeks ahead so we could shop for outfits. (My hubby found an entire seersucker suit at Goodwill.) The hosts were amazing and even cut the breaker and put the tape outline on the floor when someone was “murdered”. It’s a perfect party for a lively group of friends and it’ll keep you laughing for a long time!
There’s a ton of resources for this (even some kits on Amazon Prime), but from a quick glance, Your Murder Mystery Party and Playing With Murder have some great options. There are also several companies that provide kits with different themes, character descriptions, and even ideas on food to serve.
December :: Christmas Re-gifting Party & Waffle Bar
I love a good Christmas party (well, I love ANYTHING Christmas) and the re-gifting idea is a fun element to add. For our last co-ed Christmas party, I asked everyone to bring a TOTAL RE-GIFT, something that they had been gifted with and had no interest in keeping. You know we’ve ALL got them.
We used the “White Elephant” concept in regards to opening gifts and y’all, it was the most hilarious thing. There were John Wayne movies, a Shake Weight, and even a REAL mounted stuffed squirrel head. This kept everyone from having to go out and buy another $20 gift and is a fool-proof way to get your guests laughing. Of course it stirs up great conversation like “WHO the HECK and WHY the HECK did someone give you that?!
A great idea to keep the food casual is a Waffle Bar! This “breakfast for dinner” concept feels cozy and is super easy! I mixed up the batter before the guests arrived and poured it into Dixie cups! Put some toppings in dishes and DONE!
I hope this has given you some great ideas and inspiration for your next party! I’d love to hear about any of your favorites or great ideas to add to the list! PARTY ON MAMAS!
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