Hello all!!
First let me apologize for not getting back to you sooner with the follow-up to the party. Yes, sometimes work gets in the way..not that I am complaining mind you. I love the sight of money in my bank account, don't you know. I also was away in Las Vegas for a design convention. A convention in Vegas does not suck, I promise you. What better place to see how to really throw a party!!
Ok, let me tell you how the party went.
It was a huge hit!! My friend Monique didn't have to lift a finger because I had it all under control. Let me share a few tips for any party that are huge time savers.
Planning: You don't have to take weeks to plan a party, but you can do certain things in advance that will make throwing a party much easier. One of these things is having glasses, plates and flatware already on hand. I would rather not use paper plates and plastic glasses...unless it fit my theme for the party that is. Instead, I have clear glass plates in various sizes, glasses in various shapes and sizes and stainless steel flatware that I have picked up on sale that I use for parties. After holiday sales and restaurant supply stores are great inexpensive resources. You would be surprised how inexpensive a restaurant supply store can be. Don't try to be fancy at this type of store. Just find nondescript pieces that can be versatile. I like simple clear glassware because it molds itself to any party colors or themes. I also have clear glass pitchers and serving pieces for parties. You can also use white serving pieces as long as they are simple in form and pattern. Once you have all the decorative elements in place, the clear glassware works perfectly. I do buy quality paper napkins because they help bring a theme together nicely and you won't be doing laundry for days afterwards.
Use your resources: My friend Monique has a neighbor who makes amazing Mexican food. When we invited her to the party and told her the theme she offered to help with the food preparation as a birthday present to Monique. This saved us time and money. When you invite people to a party they will usually ask if there is anything that they can bring. Take them up on the offer, but with good direction as to what they can bring. I have a friend with a large grille/smoker in his backyard. I have thrown large outdoor parties during the summer and asked him if he would cook the meat. I purchased the meat and he cooked it which saved me so much time. Granted, I knew he was a good cook before I asked him. Also, you can get something from a local restaurant in bulk for a party. We purchased tortilla chips from a local restaurant that are far better quality than if you purchased them from a grocery store....and they were still warm when we served them.
Keep it simple (Make it look fabulous):
You don't need to have a million selections on the party menu. Just a few good recipes that will also suite varied palettes. A table will also be more appealing with something en mass verses many little plates of many different things on them. The menu for Monique's party was Tamales (chicken or pork), the fabulous grilled tequila lime chicken breasts, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, tortilla chips (quality from a local restaurant), charro beans and let us not forget the fabulous birthday cake. For a special occasion order a cake/dessert from a local bakery and it will make all the difference. Monique's cake helped make the party extra special and it was far more delicious than anything from a store. When you see the photos from the party, you will understand what I mean. Speaking of photos...notice the flowers on the table. Fresh flowers are a simple way to make any occasion special. You don't have to be a florist to make a beautiful arrangement. I like to use one or two flowers en mass to create arrangements. We will save the floral tips for another time as that can be a great topic on it's own.
Guest lists: Think ahead about the number of people you are going to invite, as well as the vibe that you want the party to have. Certain people can make or break a party. If you have friends that don't get along, it probably isn't a good idea to invite them to the same party (also on that note...think about if they are really people that you want to associate with if they can't be civil at a party that you are throwing).The size of the party can also make it or break it. Take into consideration the size of the party venue. Too many people crammed into a space is a party disaster. Too few people in a large space will make your guests uncomfortable and have them wondering why people don't like you enough to at least come for the free alcohol. Think about it. The people that you invite also need to fit the occasion. I have been to large parties with a diverse array of people and had a wonderful time. I have also been to large parties that bored me senseless. One example of a large party gone bad is having everyone from work over and then inviting your next door neighbor who isn't in that line of work. Your neighbor will be incredibly bored while everyone else talks about work. Some of the best parties that I have ever been to or thrown have been quite intimate. Having a few people over can be a fabulous thing as long as they are the right people. A great combination of interesting people can be a magical experience. I have been to dinner parties of less than six people and had the most amazing time. The intimate setting was relaxed and the conversation flowed so easily. That was the result of a great host and guest list.
I will now post a few photos of the party. Enjoy them and please feel free to write me and ask any questions that you may have. I promise you that someone else if probably wondering the same thing.
Just remember to keep it fabulous. Keep it simple. And finally, enjoy the ride...it is a party afterall!!!
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