Chic Geek: Throw a Party!
Mar25

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Chic Geek: Throw a Party!

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a blogumn by Delia Hauser

It’s spring!  (But we don’t have the money to go out with our friends anymore…) So, invite people over!  Bring the party home.  EVERYONE should throw more parties; breakfast parties, dinner parties, slumber parties, make your own pizza parties, cocktail parties…you get the point. Entertaining at home doesn’t have to be expensive or even very formal.  I throw A LOT of parties, huge and small, so I’ve laid out the steps that I use to plan them all.  You can then invest in a few of my finds and start having friends over more often!

1.    Know your limits. What is your home’s maximum capacity and what can you afford?

favors32.    Send out invites by mail, email or evite about two weeks before.

3.    Figure out your party favors.  Yes, they may seem a little formal or cheesy, but I promise it is one the best feelings to get one. Give your guests a small bag of cookies, a cupcake, or old-fashioned candy and toys in vintage bags.

4.    Write your menu one or two weeks before. It can be as simple as store bought hors d’oeuvres or as complex as cherry cabernet venison; it really doesn’t matter as long as you present it well.  ALWAYS have water in pitcher2one pitcher (with cucumber, lemon or mint) and one tea or punch in another and save TONS of money by asking your guests to bring the wine or beer.

5.    If you hate baking, simplify your dessert. Serve warm fruit with ice cream or buy cupcakes and add some adorable toppers.  My dad’s a pastry chef and he SWEARS by the Pillsbury pie crusts.  If you want to impress your guests with an amazing pie, just roll one out into a pan, add fresh fruit with a little sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter.  Top with the second crust and voila!  A pie.

6.    Once you plan what you’re serving, make your grocery list. Include everything from ice to butter to napkins.  Don’t leave anything out!  Now rewrite your list by aisle.  Seriously.  It saves so much time.

pomkit7.    Decorate! It can be as simple as arranging your platters at different levels on the table, but if you’re feeling sassy, add some old-school bunting or paper pom poms to spruce things up.  A few candles and one bouquet of flowers on a dinner table is all you need to make it special and busting out your linen napkins will even make that grilled cheese seem important.

8.    Two or three days before, do your grocery shopping.

9.    One day before, clean your place just so it LOOKS clean. A party will only add more dirt, so you’ll have to clean up after anyway.  Prep absolutely anything you can now; chop, cook, mix dips, rinse pitchers and platters, etc.

icebucket10.    On the day, wake up early to get started.  Cook, set everything out, check toilet paper levels and breathe.  Throwing impressive parties is more about being an amazing host than it is about slaving in the kitchen for hours before hand.  A huge part of that is thinking one step ahead of your guests.  Don’t leave out the basics; the corkscrew, bottle opener, silverware, cups, ice, water, and all serving spoons should be on the table before they get there.

11.    If it’s well planned, you should be able to enjoy your own party too! Laugh off any mistakes or broken dishes and have fun!

After the jump, a bunch of items to make any party even better.
Cakebox Cookies shortbread rounds –

setthetableSet the table…

a.    Vintage linen set – $
b.    Oldstyle pitcher – $15
c.    Junk Culture party set – $
d.    Red Hen Studios linens – $8
e.    Gathered Nest bowls – $24
f.    Banglespark platter – $10
g.    Fabulous canisters – $28
h.   Kimaroo’s tablecloth – $
i.    No Carnations platter – $15
j.    Vintage Shop bowl – $30
k.   Charm City platters – $12
l.    Mud Stuffing pitcher – $75
m.  Banglespark pitcher – $16
n.   Banglespark bowls – $18
o.   Table Chic tablecloth – $18
p.   Vintage cocktail picks – $3.50
q.   We Think We Can pot – $17

decorateAdd some decoration!

a.    Whimsidoodle lights – $54
b.    Jack and Izzy party pack – $78
c.    Ravenhill bunting – $35
d.    The Academy garland – $30
e.    Turvys bunting – $24
f.    Pom Love pom poms – $15
g.    Starlit Nest bunting – $15
h.   Ay Muyer! paper flags – $10
i.    Pink Grapefruit Style lantern – $3.95
j.    Enigmachck bunting -$14


Buy your favors…or bake them!

favorsa.    Madison Craft pocket mirrors – $40
b.    Cakebox shortbread rounds – $14.95
c.    Maria Elena Events cookie cakes – $40
d.    Michelle Shopped necklaces – $9.50
e.    Hey Yo Yo popcorn bags – $5
f.    Boston Bag Lady vintage rings – $3.75
g.   Layer Cake Shop cupcake kit – $12
h.   Layer Cake cupcake toppers – 6.75
i.    Lilly Bon Bon cupcake toppers – $
j.    Bake It Pretty baking cups – $4.25
k.   Layer Cake Shop icing flowers – $
l.    Millalove cupcake toppers – $15
m. Bake It Pretty cupcake toppers – $2.75

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Throwing an Easter party? Delia has some must-have cake toppers, gift tags, and even Easter cards at her etsy marketshoppe. Also, you’ll get 20% off your purchase with the below coupon

dcoupon