PARTY THEME: PLAN A GIRLS NIGHT ‘IN’ PAJAMA PARTY!

Martie Duncan May 31, 2014

NEED A BREAK? CALL THE GIRLS FOR A PAJAMA PARTY COMPLETE WITH ALL YOUR FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURES!

Photography: Arden Ward, Arden Photography

You’ve shuttled the kids, cleaned up after the new puppy, crammed for a test, put up with some real pain in the neck at work, and/or got your heart stomped on yet again. Your whole attitude needs an overhaul. There’s nothing better than a night with the girls to kick back, relax, and talk it over. Instead of going out on the town, why not stay “in” and indulge in all of the guilty pleasures you don’t get to enjoy very often? Junk food favorites, gossip magazines, Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, and Cosmopolitans were on the agenda for this party but your gang can design your own brand of fun. Cooking, cards, karaoke, or your favorite cheesy romantic comedies can be the cornerstone for your girls night in party. Everyone can wear their pajamas and come ready to relax!

FOOD

Mini Cheeseburgers and Pigs in a Blanket are so easy, you don’t need a recipe. Nachos are always a hit but cheese or chocolate fondue is even better. Ask everyone to bring their favorite guilty pleasure treat but double check with everyone to make sure you don’t end up with four plates of Rice Krispy treats.

MAKE A LUSH CANDY DISPLAY OF HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE TREATS PLUS FAVORITE CANDY IN YOUR PARTY COLORS

OLD SCHOOL PIGS IN BLANKETS ARE EASY AND ALWAYS A FAV

SLIDERS ARE SIMPLE TO MAKE OR YOU CAN GET THEM FROM YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT.

FONDUE IS FUN-DO! WHITE AND DARK CHOCOLATE FONDUE IS SIMPLE AND DECADENT. DIP FRUIT, MARSHMALLOWS, OR BITES OF CAKE, ETC

DRINKS

Serve a signature cocktail or drinks that fit the theme for the evening. Since Sex in the City was on the agenda for our party, Cosmopolitans were on the menu. Rim each glass with pink sugar found in the cake icing section for a festive touch. Pre-mix a large pitcher of your signature drink so you don’t have to play bartender all night. That way, you only have to refill the serving pitcher when necessary.

SOMETHING PINK DRINK BAR WITH COSMOS, SPARKLING ROSE,  AND INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES OF ITALIAN SPARKLING SODA — SOMETHING PINK DRINK BAR WITH COSMOS, SPARKLING ROSE, AND INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES OF ITALIAN SPARKLING SODA

Get my recipe for a classic Cosmopolitan.

DECORATIONS

Put out lots of pillows, throws and comfy blankets so guests can cuddle up on the coach to watch the movie. You don’t have to go to a lot of trouble for decorations, just use the food and drinks to dress up the table. Colorful candies and treats in one color can be used as decorations by displaying them in clear bowls and vases. Lollipop sticks from the craft store make a doughnut or marshmallow sculpture to add height and interest to your table. Grab a bouquet of flowers in your party colors at the grocery and pull it apart to use in assorted vases. For an informal party like this one, use stylish paper plates and napkins to cut down on clean up.

ADDING LOTS OF HEIGHT AND DIFFERENT TEXTURES MAKES ANY BUFFET LOOK BETTER

USING CRAFT STICKS FOR SKEWERS GIVES VISUAL INTEREST AND HELPS GUESTS TAKE ONE EASILY...

I ALWAYS USE MY FOOD AS DECORATIONS WITH A SIMPLE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT LIKE THESE HOT PINK GERBERA DAISIES TO PULL IT TOGETHER — I ALWAYS USE MY FOOD AS DECORATIONS WITH A SIMPLE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT LIKE THESE HOT PINK GERBERA DAISIES TO PULL IT TOGETHER

MAKE ANY STORE BOUGHT BOUQUET LOOK EXPENSIVE BY PULLING IT APART AND PUTTING IT IN SOMETHING UNEXPECTED LIKE THIS CANDLE HOLDER

ENTERTAINMENT

In addition to watching your favorite movies, you can easily make and watch your own! Use pictures of your past good times and make your own movie using an app or software. With iMovie, you can even do this on your iPhone or iPad. Add your favorite tunes from back in the day as a soundtrack.

GUILTY PLEASURE FUN: ASK ALL THE GIRLS TO BRING FAVORITE GOSSIP OR FASHION MAGAZINES TO SHARE

Call the gang and treat yourselves to a girls’ night IN party; it’s a chocolate covered attitude adjustment just when you needed it!

PARTY THEMES: FARM STYLE BACKYARD BBQ

Martie Duncan May 14, 2014

Need an idea for a big birthday party or something unique for a rehearsal dinner? With popularity of weekend farms and trips to the farmer’s market, enjoy all that summer has to offer by transforming your typical backyard BBQ. Add farm fresh produce, some bales of hay and your party will take on a whole new feel. Get your grill on this weekend and invite your gang over for backyard barbeque—farm style!

Martie's Beer Can Chicken

Spiked Lemonade Signature Cocktail

The Easy Way to Make Grilled Corn for a Crowd

Farm Style Backyard BBQ

Can't Wait to Make a Plate!

Grilled Pineapple and Grilled Caprese Skewers

Grilled Peach Pound Cake Parfait

DECORATIONS

The beauty of a casual barbeque in the backyard is the word casual. You don’t need much more than baskets of fruit or vegetables, a few bales of hay and maybe flowers from the yard for decorations. Instead of setting up a table, I used the back of an old farm truck for our buffet. A picnic blanket, quilt, or burlap can be used for a tablecloth—design your color palette around that. I’m all about trying to use what you have in a new and different way. Drape some holiday lights in the trees or bring your candles outdoors and display them on a wooden or metal tray to add some style to your party decorations. Bales of hay are available at a nursery or from your local landscape company. Throw them around the yard—they add atmosphere and can be used as extra seating, too. Provide colorful bandanas to use as napkins. Galvanized tin tubs are inexpensive and can be used for other household chores (like washing the dog) after the party is over!

Make sure to have a backyard survival kit for guests complete with bug spray, sunscreen, fans, and wipes. Make up a refreshing station: put hand towels in an ice bath so guests can freshen up and cool off if the party is on a hot day. Here’s a link to my article on what to include when you are hosting a party outdoors.

PARTY FOOD

Change up your normal BBQ menu by adding lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, like my famous grilled sweet corn, grilled peaches, and bruschetta skewers with homegrown tomatoes. Remember, the key to great grilling is to use fresh ingredients, have the right tools and plenty of patience. Make sure to let your grill or charcoal come to the right temperature before adding your food. Don’t turn items too soon or too frequently; allow enough time to get that char and those prized grill marks! Here are my recipes for a farm stand BBQ:

BBQ RIB RUB

MOM’S BBQ SAUCE

TRADITIONAL ALABAMA STYLE BBQ RIBS

HOMEMADE QUICK PICKLES

POTATO SALAD

BEVERAGES

I am a big fan of the signature cocktail. Mix them in advance and guests can serve themselves with ease. It is also easier to estimate quantities so you control costs better than you can with an open bar. For this party, I made a lemonade station with regular lemonade for the kids and a ‘loaded’ version spiked with bourbon for the adults. Since it was a hot day, I also iced down lots of beer and lots of bottled water in a galvanized tin tub.

ENTERTAINMENT

Since this party was actually at a farm, we fished, rode the tractor, and played games until everyone was exhausted. We did get up a quickie game of whiffle ball—that plastic baseball game we used to play as kids. I could almost hear my mom calling me in for dinner as it began to get dark— it really took me back. Some other ideas are badminton, croquet, and horseshoes.

You can host this ‘down on the farm’ backyard barbeque anywhere. You don’t even have to have a backyard or an outdoor space to create a casual mood. How rustic you want to go is up to you. You may not want to drag bales of hay into your high rise apartment, but by using some of the ideas I’ve shared and adding some country music to your party playlist, you’ll create a laid-back atmosphere— even if you have to grill it up inside

SUMMER FUN: HOW TO MAKE A S’MORES BAR!

Martie Duncan May 14, 2014

Want to add a little DIY fun to any outdoor party or just make some memories on a summer night? Build a S’mores bar! It’s really easy to create some old school fun… and who doesn’t love S’mores?

S'mores Bar design for a large party or wedding

S'mores Bar for a large party or wedding

First question: what kind of party are you having? Casual? Elegant? Don’t worry. You can create a S’mores bar with unique ingredients to suit the style and theme of your party. Use containers and vessels to suit the decor and mood of your event. Since this one was very rustic, we used wood, tin and burlap to decorate the table and display all of the toppings.

Make a S'mores bar for your weekend get-togethers!

Add different toppings to your S'mores Bar

I like to make the marshmallows easy to reach so I create a little “sculpture” with them. For roasting, use something you can put into the fire— wooden skewers work well, but only if you soak them in water for at least 30 minutes first so they don’t burn up. Since you are using skewers or pointed objects, make sure you have adult supervision when you have children on the guest list.

Select ingredients that will suit your menu. Traditional s’mores ingredients include: Hershey bars, graham crackers, and Jet-puffed marshmallows. New twists include: Nutella chocolate hazlenut spread, sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, raspberries, coconut toasted marshmallows or peanut butter. Add different types of cookies: Biscoff, Almond Thins, and ginger snaps are all good choices but any flat cookie will work.

Now, simply toast up your marshmallows to the desired degree of doneness. I don’t like mine too burnt, but I know some of you do. Spread Nutella on your cookie. Layer sliced strawberries or raspberries. Add your toasted marshmallows and top with another cookie spread with Nutella. Your guests will love this variation on a campout classic!