Party Preparation Preview

HI Everybody !
This is just a quick update ... The Party is less than 1 week away , We are working to prepare the house , the yard and the supplies . We have been in contact with all the people who are taking RSVP's and we figure we are expecting 50 - 70 people for the attendance . Tomorrow I am planning to decorate the down stairs " TIKI BAR " and inside party area . When planning your party if you have a separate INSIDE Party area its better to get it decorated in advance , This will save frustration days before the party . Now on a personal matter , I've had 2 surgeries in the past 2 weeks and it's been very frusterating to do preparation and be slow due to pain issues . But it will be a GREAT Party ...... Cooking will be limited because it is POT LUCK , but the cooking I will be doing will be Thursday & Friday .

People have offered to help , I am a perfectionist so if people come and do messy work I get even more frustrated . It's easier to do by my self . Tomorrow , since it's gonna rain here in RI until Wednesday , I'll be decorating the inside Party area . I will post pictures of the decorations tomorrow evening , I hope you'll come back to check it out .

I HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW !!!!!
TTFN ...... SEE YOU SOON ....

NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS FOR THE DESIGNATED DRIVERS & CHILDREN

Today's blog is about NON-Alcoholic Cocktails , So designated drivers , tea-totalers , and even children can join in the party fun .... with out the obvious side effects that alcoholic drinks have .
These drinks are fruity , refreshing , and equally exotic , you'll hardly notice the difference . These drinks can be enjoyed at any time of the day , in any situation .

NOW ON TO THE DRINKS ........


BROWN HORNY TOAD

Serve in a Highball Glass ....

Ingredients ;
2 measures pineapple juice
2 measures orange juice
1 measure lemon juice
1 teaspoon grenadine
1 teaspoon sugar syrup
Pinch Ground Cinnamon
Pinch Ground Cloves

To Mix ;

shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice into highball glass ....

Garnish with an orange and lemon slice ...........................

CARIBBEAN COCKTAIL
Serve in a tumbler ....

Ingredients ;
fresh mango ( peeled )
a Banana
juice of an orange
Dash of fresh lime juice

To Mix ;

Blend Mango and banana with the juices and a few ice cubes until smooth . Strain over fresh ice into a tumbler .....

Garnish with slices of Banana and a cocktail umbrella ............


HONEYMOON

Serve in a cocktail glass

Ingredients ;
1 measure clear honey
0.5 measures fresh lime juice
1 measure orange juice
1 measure apple juice

To Mix ;

Shake ingredients with crushed ice and strain into a cocktail glass .......

Garnish with a Cherry................



The Last NON - Alcoholic Drink I'd like to tell you about is . . . .

STARBURST

Serve in a high ball glass

Ingredients ;
1 Banana
1 Kiwi
10 Fresh Strawberries
5 fl oz Apple juice
Crushed ice

To Mix ;

Slice fruit and place into a blender with apple juice . Blend and pour into a highball glass . . . . .

Garnish with strawberries ........


These are just a few cocktails for your non drinking guests , They'll love that you thought of them while planning your party . Designated drivers are usually limited to water and soda , sometimes coffee or tea ..... But this will give them a pleasant way to join the fun ..........

Now , just a little update on the upcoming party ..... Basically it's 3 weeks before the party and the plan for this week is to clean . My plan for this week is to clean the house . My husband is busily taking care of our yard , taking care of lighting , weeding , cutting back plants , painting furniture , and making our yard a peasant surrounding . I'm in the process of cleaning our house and preparing the guest rooms for over night guests . Once this heavy work is done we will have the next 2 weeks to concentrate on the party . I'll keep you updated ..... My next post will be pictures of our preparation for the party . I hope you'll come back and take a look at what we're up too .......

HOPE TO SEE YOU THEN . . . . .

SHOT GLASS COCKTAIL DRINKS FOR YOUR PARTY !

Hi Everyone .... I'm back ....

On Tuesday I discussed drink ideas for your party , some people like a little harder of a drink ....
Soooo , Today I'd like to give you a few REALLY GREAT shot drinks for your party , they are both colorful and fun . NOW I'd just like to reinforce if your going to be drinking , ALWAY'S HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER WHEN TRAVELING !!!!!!!

NOW ON TO THE DRINKS .......


THE FIRST DRINK IDEA IS .........
THIN BLUE LINE

Served in a shot glass

Ingredients ;
0.5 measure of triple sec
0.5 measure of vodka
4 - 5 drop's of blue curacao

To Mix ;
pour the triple sec and float the vodka carefully over the top of it . Then , with a straw or dropper , add the curacao drops ....
** This cocktail works better if you chill the ingredients before you make them .



THE NEXT SHOT COCKTAIL IS ....

JAMAICAN SLAMMER

Serve in a shot glass

Ingredients ;
0.5 measure golden rum
0.5 measure triple sec
0.5 measure dark rum
5 drops lime juice

To Mix ;
Pour the dark rum into the shot glass . Next float the triple sec and then add the lime juice before floating the golden rum on top .



THE LAST ONE I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IS GREAT FOR 4th OF JULY , MEMORIAL DAY , LABOR DAY ............

RED , WHITE & BLUE

Serve in a shot glass

Ingredients ;
0.5 measure grenadine
0.5 measure peach schnapps
0.5 measure blue curacao

To Mix ;
Pour the grenadine into the shot glass , Next float the peach schnapps , then the blue curacao........
** This cocktail works better if you chill the ingredients before making ....

IT'S GREAT !!!!


So , those are my ideas for some excellent shot cocktails for your party .
I just want to repeat ..... ALWAY'S HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER !!!!!!
So on that note I'll bring this blog to a conclusion , Next time I'll discuss some non-alcoholic drink ideas so that the kids and those FABULOUS DESIGNATED DRIVERS can join in the fun ......

SEE YOU SOON ....... REMEMBER VISIT MY STORE @

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/partyngifts?refid=store

for GREAT Deals on Party Supplies and gifts , or bookmark me for future purchases .......... I hope to see you soon .....

CLASSIC PARTY COCKTAILS - Easy Drinks for your Party

HI EVERYBODY !!!
Today I'm going to give you some excellent drink ideas for your next party .... But first let me update you on the upcoming party .

The guys got together last Sunday to call and confirm invites , it's now less then 4 weeks until the party . They did a lot of calling and a little drinking .... But it did turn out very productive . When throwing the perfect party make sure everyone knows plenty of time in advance . The bigger / more important the party the longer in advance you should have a head count . At this party we are providing the main course and having people bring side dishes so 2 weeks in advance is good , but for something like a formal wedding you have to have a head count a good month before due to the fact you have to plan a whole meal , especially if your using a caterer . For a catered party you should have return written confirmation , but for this kind of Pot Luck a phone confirmation is fine . When people ask " What can I bring ? " let them choose their specialty , just say what do you want to bring , I'll either add it or put your name next to it . This allows people to make what they have the time and supplies to make . So I'll continue to update you on this subject .
In the mean time , as I said the boy's , while they were planning needed something to drink ,

So here are some of our favorites .....



BLUE HAWAIIAN

Served in a wine glass .....

Ingredients ;
2 measures white rum
1 measure blue curacao
3.5 fl oz pineapple juice
2 measures cream of coconut
crushed ice

To Mix ;
add all ingredients together in a blender and blend for 20 - 30 seconds , pour into wine glasses ....

Garnish;
Garnish with a pineapple wedge and dress it up with a cocktail umbrella .....

IT'S GREAT !!!!


MARGARITA


Served in a cocktail glass , with salted rim

Ingredients ;
1 measure gold tequila
1 measure triple sec
1 measure fresh lime juice
cracked ice


To Mix ;
Frost the rim of the glass with salt , shake all the ingredients with the cracked ice , strain and then pour into the salt frosted glass , and enjoy .....
You can also make frozen margarita simply by adding ingredients to a blender and use 1/2 to 3/4 cup ice , do not drain pour right into salt frosted glass .... These are GREAT on a hot day ....



SEX ON THE BEACH

Serve in a highball glass ....

Ingredients ;
1 measure vodka
1 measure peach schnapps
7 fl oz fresh cranberry juice
3.5 fl oz orange juice
ice cubes

To Mix ;
shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice cubes ...

Garnish ;
Garnish with orange or lime slices






LONG ISLAND ICED TEA

Serve n a highball glass

Ingredients ;
0.5 measure vodka
0.5 measure gin
0.5 measure white rum
0.5 measures tequila
0.5 measures triple sec
1 measure fresh lemon juice
a dash of sugar syrup
0.5 measures cola

To Mix ;
Build ingredients over ice into a highball glass , top with cola ....

Garnish ;
Garnish with a slice of lemon , or lime





ZOMBIE

Serve in Highball glass ....

Ingredients ;
1 measure lemon juice
2 teaspoons of grenadine
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 measure spiced rum
7 fl oz orange juice
1 measure apricot brandy
3.5 oz guava / mango / other exotic juices to = 3.5 fl oz
1 measure light rum
0.5 measure of dark rum

To Mix ;
In a highball glass pour the ingredients in the order as above

Garnish ;
Garnish with lemon and or lime slices ....

NOW .... My favorite ....

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL .... also known as the classic champagne cocktail or the business brace ....

Serve in flute glass ....

Ingredients ;
1 measure brandy
1 white sugar cube
Angostura biters
Champagne .... I like pink it sweeter

To Mix ;
Cover the sugar cube in Angostura bitters and place into a flute glass add the brandy and fill with champagne ......

IT"S THE BEST !!!!





The Last Party drink I'd like to mention is .....

SEA BREEZE

Serve in a highball glass

Ingredients ;
2 measures vodka
5 fl oz cranberry juice
2 measures grapefruit juice


To Mix ;
build in highball glass over ice ...

Garnish ;
Garnish with a lime slice ....





These are just a few of our favorites , all drink ingredients are for one drink , to make more drinks just double , triple , or quadruple the recipe . Some of these drinks can be made in pitchers before the party ( just don't add the ice until serving , and remember to stir before the pour ) . My next blog will be on FANCY SHOT DRINKS for your party . So check back soon for more delicious drink specials ....

Also check out my store @ http://stores.shop.ebay.com/partyngifts for great deals on party supplies decorations , and gifts for all occasions .

I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON ..... TTFN

Easy Centerpeices ! Part 3

This is the last step your almost done ...........


Now that you have your centerpiece almost complete , the last step is to fill in all around the top covering up all viewable styrofaom . Don't worry about seeing through the bottom of the glass there will be a candle burning there and will cover that . WA-LA you are done !!!
Wasn't that the easiest thing you've ever done ???


These are some other centerpieces I've made the sunflower one I made with some inexpensive trays from the dollar store and some old glasses I got at a yard sale . The pink one I made for a friends baby shower , it was a girl and they were a big hit . We raffled them off at the end of the shower and the people who won them were just thrilled . We will be doing the same at the reunion party and I'm sure I'll see them in someones house years from now....



I hope you will join me next time when I will be reviewing some new alcoholic and nonalcoholic drink ideas ..... I'll see you soon ............ Please take a minute to visit my eBay store @ http://stores.shop.ebay.com/partyngifts?refid=store for great deals and party ideas , or bookmark me for future purchases . You can also sign up for my newsletter for bi-weekly special offers .... I hope to see you there !!!!!

Easy Centerpeices ! PART 2

Now that you have the perfect flowers now you need to put it together . You can use lace or ribbon to decorate your plate , I will be using the 2 heavy duty plastic plates this time . This way you don't have to be so neat . First I'll be adding lace around the edge of the plate and then hot glue the 2 plates together for stability . If using glass plates , glue lace on the underside of the plate .


The next thing you need to do is glue 1/2 the styrofoam ball to the center of the plate. Cut the flower stems down to about 2-3 inches and put one row of flowers around the bottom of the ball.
Next , decorate your glass container and hot glue it to the top of the ball in the center of the flowers **** THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT **** Make sure your container is in the center of the ball and that it is level or else your candle will burn crocked ....

Easy Party Centerpeices !

O.K. these are probally the easiest centerpieces you'll ever make . It's now about 5 weeks before the party . You need something eye catching for the tables or food serving area , or maybe for a gift or head table . You can make these easy and inexpensive centerpieces in just 1 afternoon . All you need is some silk flowers and some of those old glass containers from all those old candle's you've burned , come on we all have them and so do all our friends .... then all you need is some ribbon , lace , some styrofoam balls and some inexpensive but heavy duty plastic or glass plates ..........................................

Collect all your materials , for one centerpiece you'll need1 glass ,or 2 sturdy plastic plates
1 glass container
1 styrofoam ball
ribbon or bows or adhesive letters for decoration
about 8 - 10 silk flowers , depending on the size
( I like to use big flowers like carnations , sun flowers or open roses )
then you'll need a glue gun , scissors , and of course a little creativity .......................

Pick flowers that most match your theme colors . In this case my husbands class colors are blue and white . I searched high and low for blue flowers , I didn't find any so I am going to show you how to turn white carnations any color you want .
First start with an old pump spray bottle , this will shoot a finer mist and its easier to control the color . Add 1 oz. of water and 1 whole container of food coloring in the color you want . Use the color chart on the food coloring box to make other than the 4 colors included in most food coloring packages . Shake well then , I prefer to do this next step outside , mist the flowers until they are the color you want , you may have to mist them twice to get the color you want . Then leave them someplace to dry , I prefer the hot sun... In just a few minutes I'll tell you what comes next .....

MY FIRST POST - How we decided to throw THIS party !

This is my VERY FIRST POST EVER . I have decided to start a blog because I love to throw parties . My husband and I are extremely social people , Especially my husband , and we love to entertain . We have a beautiful yard , the kind of place you can just sit back and relax . Our parties are always a success and years after people still talk about them .
Everybody always asks " How did you do all of this ? " Well if it's something you love to do then it's not really a big job . Some parties take weeks of planning and some we can throw together in less than 1 week . A few parties we've done so many times , such as our BIG HALLOWEEN PARTY , they take minimal planning but a lot of decorating ( we do have some friends who love to help so it's not really a chore , its another party ) .

We are about to embark on a new party , and with this blog I intend to take you with me through the planning process . I hope you will keep coming back to my blog to see how we are doing . I will give you tips on planning your own party , tips on the perfect buffet , drink and cocktail ideas . I will share pictures and ideas from past parties , and show you how once the party starts your work is done and you can enjoy your party too .

The NEW party we are about to undertake is a " 36 Year Class Reunion " for my husbands graduating class " THE CLASS OF 1974 " . The whole idea for this party started at a 4th of July party at a friends house , the husband was in my husbands class , there were 3 members of my husbands class there and you know men after a few beers they began talking about the old times .Those times before their knees hurt , their hair turned gray or balded , and the belts on their pants got just a little higher . Of course they began to relive their glory days of high school , that one special touch down , that girl "they should have married " , and as always " Those Kick - Ass Parties " . All this lead to talking about last years 35th Class Reunion , .....
Now I just want to say this is no way intended to disrespect the people who have put together the last bunch of reunions they have been every 5 years since I've known my husband and they've been GREAT , but very formal and kinda expensive for the average joe , average price being $60.00 per person and buying your own drinks/rounds at an expensive hall became a very expensive evening on the average over $250.00 per couple , and that's an expensive night out for us ........ BUT I'M REALLY GETTING OFF THE SUBJECT HERE .......
Some of their concerns were that a lot of people from out of town didn't come because besides the price they also would have had to get rooms which would have brought up their price quite a bit so they felt this excluded a lot of people . We do live in a summer beach town and hotels are expensive in the summer , they also felt kinda uncomfortable in such dressy formal settings , unable to be themselves , these are GREAT guys but in their suits they have one personality and in their jeans their much more relaxed I think . The last thing was that although the live band was good , and a band from their past , it was just too loud to sit and socialize , to reunite with old friends , I say again NO disrespect to any of the reunion planners ....

So as the night went on , and the beers went down , they began planning . Their first plan was to make it more affordable for the average joe ..... As I said we have a beautiful and relaxing yard , So the party would take place in our yard , ( Price = 0 ) .... Their next plan was to have the party be more like " The parties they had in high school " this simply means everybody will bring a dish , BYOB , although they are planning on getting some beer , and we will be in charge of the main course , as we do at a lot of our outside parties ( Price = $75- 100 depending on # of people excluding beer ) . * Main courses are very easy and if done the right way there is no cooking once your guests arrive , unless they have to warm something up , but we'll go into this more in later blogs . The last thing they discussed was a kind of theme to the party , they didn't want to call it a reunion , as to cause no disrespect to the organizers of the " Class Reunions " , so my husband , being a teacher with a passion for numbers decided , They graduated school at 18 years , they have been out for 36 years , that means they been out double the years they were in .... So we decided ....OUT DOUBLE THE YEARS YOU WERE IN ..... WHATS HAPPENED TO YOU ! ( I'm not really sold on the name yet but I can make it work ) . Then it was time for them to have some fun , this was the first year in our state they could by law shot off their fireworks . But before that they did agree on a date and who would orchestrate the first e-mail draft . Within a couple of days email drafts were coming in and people who weren't even at the party were emailing that they would be there , at " The party like the old days ......"
Since that night we have sent emails , called people and now it's a little over a month until the party and we'll be moving to the next step , most of the class has been e-mailed or called but their are still a few class mates we still need to send invitations via snail mail @ last known addresses . We'll be getting together with the other 2 planning members of our team to cross reference lists , and get those out , although some people have been hit 1-2-&3 times already from people just forwarding to other classmates . This should be another great party !

I do hope that you will continue over the next month to follow along I will include Steps on planning the party , decorations and places to find them , food and preparation , with photo's and finally the out come .... After this party we will directly begin planning our yearly Halloween party that's always a good time .

I also would like you to check out my eBay store @
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Party-N-Gifts?refrid=store ,
Where I feature party supplies , decorations , party crafts and much more to make your party a success , Bookmark my store for future reference and sign up for my biweekly newsletter which offers specials and new listings . I will be using a lot of the products I'm selling and I will be including reviews of the items as we go along . I also feature gifts for all occasions . My store on eBay is small right now but it will be getting larger as we go along , I hope you visit many times to see all the new deals ! So visit me @ http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Party-N-Gifts?refrid=store .....

I will be posting on Tuesdays on a regular basis about this upcoming party plans , but I will post blogs at other times throughout the week on related preparation for any party you might be having . I will include receipes and favorite party drinks , ( I will also show you variations on making non - alcoholic versions ) , and much more so keep watching for my next post ....