PARTY THEME: HOST HAPPY HOUR AT HOME

You got the new client, or are in the middle of a brutal project, or maybe you and your gang just need to blow off steam at the end of a long week. Instead of hitting the local bar for after-work cocktails, get the gang together at your place with this easy happy hour that’s not only fun but a lot more affordable than a night on the town!

Watch my Tequila Bar Happy Hour Video and get recipes from MyRecipes.com

Set up a bar on your kitchen counter or wherever you have plenty of space. Make it self-serve with stations for frozen drinks, a rimming station, and lots of fresh fruit and juices.

Set up a bar on your kitchen counter or wherever you have plenty of space. Make it self-serve with stations for frozen drinks, a rimming station, and lots of fresh fruit and juices.

 Start with the Invitation

Since this is an impromptu party, an emailed note or an E-vite will do the trick. Sending an invitation to your guests is important for several reasons. First, it allows you to define a start and end time so guests will know it’s not an all night event. If there’s a bar, some guests don’t know when to leave. Asking guests to RSVP will also let you know how many to plan for and will keep you from overspending on food.    

You don’t have to have a “themed party” but you should definitely have a party theme for every get-together. It makes menu selection and decorating easier if you have a game plan to work from. For this after-work happy hour, I like the idea of a buffet style party with plenty of variety.

You just cannot go wrong with a Mexican theme. Everyone loves a margarita and Mexican food is very easy to make or to get.

You just cannot go wrong with a Mexican theme. Everyone loves a margarita and Mexican food is very easy to make or to get.

A Tex-Mex or Mexican inspired theme is always a winner. The food is not only inexpensive, but really filling! Who can resist chips and salsa? I know I always fill up on them in a restaurant. And everyone loves a margarita. A buffet with these items will allow guests to graze and talk easily, the key to a successful party. More importantly, since everything is self-serve, you can relax and enjoy the festivities.  

After a long week, you want a party that you can pull together in minutes but still looks really festive. The easiest way to do this is to select easy “make-ahead” recipes like Mexican Pizzas and take some help from the store or a favorite restaurant where you can. Frozen taquitos are really good when you add homemade salsa. Bean and Corn Salsa, fresh Salsa Verde, or Cutting Board Salsa are all easy to make recipes and add homemade flavor to any store bought dish… And you can find delicious fresh salsas at most grocery stores today if you don’t have time to make one. Set up the salsas in a station like a caterer would: Use big baskets of chips in different colors and flavors. Use another caterer’s trick: Get out your serving pieces before the party and label them with a post-it so you can plate everything quickly. You won’t be scrambling through cabinets as guests arrive looking for one more bowl or platter!       

Mix and match your serving pieces for this party, it is perfectly okay if they don't match.

Mix and match your serving pieces for this party, it is perfectly okay if they don't match.

At Happy Hour, the Drinks are the focus…. So keep it simple with one liquor choice and build your cocktail buffet around it.

Tequila is the key ingredient for cocktails for this party. Chill it in the freezer before party time so it is really cold. Set up your drink buffet with several options so guests can sample a variety of different drinks. A tasting station with mini tequila shots and some pre-mixed margarita recipes like this Strawberry-Banana Margarita, Frozen Mint Margaritas, and of course, a Classic Margarita will allow guests to try an old favorite or sample something new. Offer a variety of juices, rimming supplies, and garnishes so guests can get creative and make their own cocktail like this one, the Orange Beach It’s a spin on the classic Tequila Sunrise: blanco tequila, orange juice, cranberry juice, a squeeze of lime, with a little Grenadine floating on top. Garnish with a lime wedge.  

The Orange Beach cocktail is a spin on a Tequila Sunrise.

The Orange Beach cocktail is a spin on a Tequila Sunrise.

Offer guests lots of fresh fruit  and juices for their frozen margaritas. Watermelon, pineapple, and mango are always favorites. 

Offer guests lots of fresh fruit  and juices for their frozen margaritas. Watermelon, pineapple, and mango are always favorites. 

Set up a rimming station with both sugar and salt options.

Set up a rimming station with both sugar and salt options.

Next, let’s work on the Decorations.

You don’t have to have decorations for this party; the buffets will pull double duty as décor. But you can add a little flair using a Mexican blanket as a tablecloth and inexpensive tin lanterns or glassware from Mexico. Use whatever you have around the house. Limes, lemons, and other fruit used in your beverage selections can also be used as decorations. Just fill a vase or a bowl with them and place it on your serving table and remember that using different textures and heights help create visual interest on a buffet. Use bright fiesta colors or use colors inspired by the Mexican Rivera like aqua blue or sea green. If you don’t have enough dishes, try the dollar store and don’t be afraid to mix and match your good stuff with cheaper items to pull it all together.     

Use your food and beverages as decorations for this party. Mix in a few bright items in fiesta shades or some paper plates and napkins in a Mexican fiesta theme and you're set.

Use your food and beverages as decorations for this party. Mix in a few bright items in fiesta shades or some paper plates and napkins in a Mexican fiesta theme and you're set.

 

The entertainment for this party is the conversation… but some music playing in the background adds a little ambience.

Put together a playlist of tunes that can play for the length of the party so you don’t have to change the music. Keep it low key as not to drown out the conversation. It’s always fun to have an activity planned. You can get a DVD of salsa dance steps if you want to keep with the theme and have the space. Another idea is to put a basket full of playing cards and simple board games like the tower building game Jenga where guests can help themselves to the fun.

So don’t head to the bar next Friday after work; ask your friends to come over for Happy Hour! They’ll be delighted that you went to so much trouble for them and you’ll love knowing that you didn’t!   

Photos by Arden Ward, Arden Photography

PARTY THEME: HOST A SANTA'S COOKIE WORKSHOP PARTY

I remember baking holiday cookies with my mom. I'd drag up a kitchen stool and stand on it while she mixed up the batter then she would let me spoon them onto the baking sheets. Baking cookies and cookie decorating is a timeless holiday tradition and creates wonderful memories for the kids in your family. Make this cookie workshop an annual party the week before Christmas. It’s a perfect holiday party theme for schools, churches, and neighborhoods, too.

A Santa's Cookie Workshop party is so easy to host and each child gets to take home his/her own special cookies for Santa.

holiday party ideas cookie decorating party for kids
Easy party decorations include cookie cutters and small kitchen tools as tree decorations.

Easy party decorations include cookie cutters and small kitchen tools as tree decorations.

Let the kids create their own cookie masterpiece for Santa.

Let the kids create their own cookie masterpiece for Santa.

Cookie Workshop Party MyRecipes.com 3.jpg

 This is the perfect last minute party for kids hanging around the house waiting for Santa to arrive. They can make their own cookies to leave for Old St. Nick and all you need to throw the party is listed below.

Send an email or even call in your invitation since it is last minute during the busy holiday season. Do ask for an RSVP... you need to know how many guests are coming so you don't overbuy supplies.

Bake plenty of plain cookies for the kids to decorate before party time.

Bake plenty of plain cookies for the kids to decorate before party time.

I usually bake all of the cookies in advance so the party doesn't take all day. I'll let each child cut out a few cookies when they arrive in their favorite holiday shape so there is that delicious smell of cookies baking as the party progresses. I like to make vanilla sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies and let the kids decorate them especially for Santa.

Clear off or pop up a large table and cover it with white or brown Kraft paper you can get at the craft store.

Put brown paper over your table to protect it. Place all of the decorating supplies in low plates or shallow bowls to make it easy for little hands.

Put brown paper over your table to protect it. Place all of the decorating supplies in low plates or shallow bowls to make it easy for little hands.

Line the center of the table with supplies like tubes of icing, sprinkles, candies, gum drops, etc.

Make a work station for each child and write their name above it in crayon so they know where they are to create their cookies.

Design a few simple cookies in advance so the children can have an example.

Food and beverages should be simple. I like to offer bite size treats with a hot chocolate bar for this party. Keep it simple and self-serve so your hosting duties are easy.

Set up a pretty buffet of cookies and candy plus coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa, and other holiday favorites.

Set up a pretty buffet of cookies and candy plus coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa, and other holiday favorites.

A few party games, caroling, a holiday movie, or a visit from Santa can keep the kids occupied while their creations dry. Make sure to have some paper bags, tin containers, Asian take-out boxes, or foil wrap available so guests can pack up their cookies to take home after the party.

Have plenty of supplies available for guests to take their cookies home after the party.

Have plenty of supplies available for guests to take their cookies home after the party.

Your little angel will love leaving his personal cookie creation for Santa, sure to become a holiday tradition at your house!

Your little angel will love leaving his personal cookie creation for Santa, sure to become a holiday tradition at your house!

PARTY THEME: BACKYARD OLYMPICS PARTY

One of my favorite party themes for summer fun for the 4th of July or a get-together with the neighbors or cousins is a Backyard Olympics party. Easy to host; all you need is a big back yard and some creativity! Old school lawn games like the sack race, three-legged race, egg and spoon race, wheelbarrow races, hula-hoop contest, bubble blowing contest are just the ticket for summer fun. This is also one of the most affordable party ideas because most of the games require very little in the way of supplies.

All photos: Arden Ward, Arden Photography

Backyard Olympics Party games Martie Duncan
Get the gang together for some old-fashioned fun by throwing a Backyard Olympics party this 4th of July.

Get the gang together for some old-fashioned fun by throwing a Backyard Olympics party this 4th of July.

Hula-hoops and other backyard game supplies can be found at the dollar store or toy store. Oriental Trading Company has many backyard party games available online.

Hula-hoops and other backyard game supplies can be found at the dollar store or toy store. Oriental Trading Company has many backyard party games available online.

Old fashioned games like the "wheelbarrow" race or the three-legged race make for lots of laughs and summer fun.

Old fashioned games like the "wheelbarrow" race or the three-legged race make for lots of laughs and summer fun.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

It is an All-American theme keep the menu classic with hot dogs and hamburgers or fried chicken. Whether you make the food yourself, get it at the store or your favorite restaurant, or asks guests to bring a dish, that's up to you.

Deviled eggs, potato salad, slaw, and pickles are traditional picnic side dishes that we can never seem to get enough of in the summertime. Apple pie topped with homemade (or store-bought) vanilla ice cream completes the All-American menu.

Dispensers of ice cold sweet tea, lemonade, and flavored water (orange is always a good choice) makes serving easy and keeps bartender duties to a minimum.

Set up a beverage station at the game course with a big tub of bottled water, sports drinks,  and other cold beverages on ice so the kids stay hydrated.

DECORATIONS

It is a Red, White, and Blue Patriotic theme for this party so use leftover 4th of July themed napkins, flags, ribbons, and other supplies to give an Olympic village feel to the table decorations. Hydrangea is a wonderful summer flower; use them in clusters and you'll only need a few stems.

Make quick lanterns using LED lights or glo-sticks and a piece of scrapbook paper. Easy, pretty, and functional, too.

ENTERTAINMENT

The games are the fun for this party. A frisbee toss, baggo, croquet, badminton, volleyball, bocce ball, and kickball are all great games if you have the equipment. There are so many fun yard games to play that require little or no equipment at all. Remember the wheelbarrow race, three legged race, egg toss, egg and spoon race, and