Daily Party Dish

Halloween Scavenger Hunt Party Game

Looking for a fun way to entertain a group of kids at your Halloween party this year? Consider organizing a Halloween scavenger hunt. This spooky and fun Halloween themed game is one of our most popular games at Party411.com, and for good reason!

There are 11 frightfully fun clues to follow, each written in a mysterious rhyme that will challenge your group to work together to puzzle the solution out.

We show you step by step what you need to do for each clue to set up the scavenger hunt. For example, here is the first clue -

There's a special place that you must go to.
To discover a cauldron of witch's brew.
Dunk one team member's face to find
the apple of your team's design.

And here is what you do -

Set up a cauldron of "Witch's Brew" where everyone can bob for apples. Tie a different color of string around the stem of each apple, and make sure the teams know which color they are and that they must bob for the apple with their team's color on the stem.

See? Easy. You can check out the whole set of clues at the Halloween Scavenger Hunt. 

If you are planning on a Halloween party with this scavenger hunt you should definitely sign up for our free newsletter Party Talk. The next issue will have an exclusive printable of this very party game. Sign up now!

Have a Happy Halloween!

- Kathleen

2009 Emmy's Viewing Party Ideas

My husband and I are inviting a group of friends over to watch the Emmy’s this year. We had a small Emmy’s viewing party last year and it was a blast watching and debating the winners. We didn’t do much last year besides order pizza because it was a spur of the moment gathering, so this year I am putting more thought and effort into planning. Already I have a ton of ideas. Are you having friends over to watch the Emmy's on Sunday September 20th? Maybe you can use some of these party ideas. And I would love it if you can share some of your own!

Emmy Viewing Party Invitations

I usually hand make my own invitations but I really like our Hollywood ticket invitations, and I haven’t used them for a party yet. So I am going to send those out.

If I was going to make my own invite I would probably make it like a winner’s envelope; heavy cardstock, folded with a gold seal and personalized for each guest…

And the Emmy goes to…
Christine and Aaron Phillips
for best miniseries!

I could then switch up what award they are receiving depending on the guests. Maybe I will do that next year...

Emmy Viewing Party Decorations

For decorations I am going with a red carpet Hollywood theme. I actually have some great Hollywood decorations from an Oscars party we did a few years back, so I am glad I get to reuse them. Here is what I plan on using –

Red Carpet Runner – The perfect entrance to the party. You could make your own with red fabric, but that would be much more expensive. I was thinking I may try to make some paparazzi silhouettes to line the walls of our front hall too.

White Twinkle Lights – I have a bunch of these up in my Christmas box upstairs so I am going to bring them down for indirect party lighting.

Movie Night Buffet Caddy – This silverware caddy is a newer item in our store, and I think it is super cute.

Movie Buff Award – These are a great deal, 12 for less than $7. I am going to use them for all over room decorations and then party favors for the guests to take home at the end of the night.

Hollywood Print-fetti and Silver Star Confetti Mix – Confetti is my party decoration staple. I like to scatter it on the buffet and on the tables around the room. I have silver stars already, and I am going to mix in the clap board confetti to give a little extra Hollywood flair.

Personalized Hollywood Stars – I have a hallway that is perfect for a “Walk of Fame”. I am going to cut out stars and write my guests names on them with gold pen. That’s a cute invite idea too, I will keep that in mind for next year…

Lights Camera Garland – I am debating on this garland. I love the look, but I may hand-make a banner. So it may go over the buffet and dessert table. Maybe not. What do you all think?

Nominee Posters – I plan on printing out pictures of the nominees and shows from the awards and featuring them around the room. It will probably skew to the nominees I want to win (Jim Parsons and Family Guy, I am looking at you) but I will try and get all the favorites in. I am going to replace our wall artwork and family photographs with these printouts and see how long it takes everyone to notice that our wedding portrait is now Steve Carell.

Emmy Themed Party Menu

I am not stopping my theme at the invites and decoration. A fun and easy way to theme your menu is to take cues from the nominees! Here are a few ideas off the top of my head to get you started -

Thai Take Out - Big Bang Theory
Thai food makes a regular appearance as the food choice of this geeky group. Except on Thursdays.

Sheldon - “We don't have Thai food on Thursday. We have pizza on Thursday.”
Leonard – “Yes, but we all agreed that the third Thursday of every month would be Anything Can Happen Thursday.”
Sheldon - “Apparently the news didn't reach my digestive system, which, when startled, has it's own version of Anything Can Happen Thursday.”

Angela’s Double Fudge Brownies - The Office
“I hear Angela’s party will have double-fudge brownies, but it will also have Angela. Double fudge brownies? Angela? (weighing hands like a scale) Double fudge brownies? Angela?”

"Sabor De Soledad" Cheese Puffs - 30 Rock
You will probably just have to use regular cheese puffs. If you do happen to find Sabor De Soledad brand, be careful not to get preggers from them.

Jello Pudding Dirt Cups – Dirty Jobs
These dirty dessert cups might not be gross enough for Mike Rowe,you’re your guests will love them.

And don't forget the drinks...

Vicodin Cocktail – House
Any cocktail will do. Pick your fave and substitute the name to fit your theme.

Tipsy Paula Punch – American Idol
A fun play on all those Paula rumors. Try this tasty Slush Punch.

Dharma Wine or McCutheon Whiskey – Lost
You can print out Dharma logos at Lostpedia

Heineken - Mad Men
Sterling Cooper's client and a show sponsor. Perfect

These are just a few of the many possibilities! I am sure I am forgetting plenty of obvious ones, so share your ideas with me (and everyone else) in comments.

Emmy Viewing Party Activities

While your watching the Emmy’s, have everyone guess the winners. Here are 2 printable sheets with all the major nominations on them –

     

Emmy Nominations Sheet  1    Emmy Nominations Sheet 2

Last year we also played the Award Night Drinking Game. Here are the loose rules we played by, modify how you see fit –

• If anyone thanks God, their Lord and savior Jesus Christ, etc. take a drink. 
• If anyone thanks his or her mom last, take a sip of someone else's drink.
• If anyone says he or she is “humbled” or “blessed,” take a drink.
• If the winner says, "I was just happy to be nominated", take a drink. 
• If anyone cries, take a drink.
• If a winner says, “I wasn’t expecting this and I don’t have anything prepared,” only to launch into a long acceptance speech, finish your drink.

Well, that’s about it. I am still planning and would love to hear your ideas for food, decorations or anything. So leave me a comment with what you are planning, or what has worked for you in the past!

Kathleen

Camp for Moms! Now, that is a party!

This past weekend I went to “Mom’s Camp” at a local overnight camp! What a great weekend.  Mom’s camp is just like overnight camp you remember as a kid…swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, horseback riding, hiking, rock walls, campfires with S’mores, yoga classes… you name it and it was available!

But there is a twist – the campers are pampered all weekend long.  Counselors were on hand to serve us gourmet catered meals with wine and cocktails at every meal.  Snacks were available all weekend long. (Who can resist hot apple pie and fresh popped popcorn at midnight?)  We were also treated to professional massages.  What a life!

Surrounded by good friends and wonderful weather, we were free to relax, play or spend the weekend any way we chose! 

Now, you don’t need an organized camp weekend like this to enjoy friends and relax.  Gather some friends for an impromptu weekend away or even an evening away.  You don’t have to throw a theme party! The point is to be together and have a great time.  Then it’s always a party!

Campingly Yours,
Amy

Personalized Photo Stamps

Everyone loves to get an invitation in the mail, right?  We get so much junk mail these days that when you see an envelope hand addressed with your name, you just get excited!  Keep this in mind if you’re having a party.  Your guests will be thrilled just seeing the envelope.

Ok, now it’s time to take it to the next level of excitement!  Instead of a stamp with a flag (yawn) or an old president (double yawn), how about a stamp with the photo of the host or guest of honor at the party?!  Real postage with the photo of your choice!  Too cool. 

We’re thrilled to offer photo stamps with our invitations that feature photos and will soon be offering them with any invitation!  When you order your invitation, the order form will ask you if you want photo stamps included.  You say “yes!” and it’s as easy as that!  We’ll do all the work and you get all the glory from your family and friends. 

Check out our invitations page for more information. 

- Amy

Woodstock Anniversary Music

 

I went to the library last Friday to get my usual dose of graphic novels. (Yes, I still read graphic novels and I’m ok with it.)  I was happy when I noticed a wonderful display of CDs dedicated to 40th anniversary of Woodstock.  I read about a Woodstock Party Playlist recently and I was intrigued.  I recognized most if not all of the artists but I wasn’t familiar with all of the songs.  This was an easy way for me to rock out to some classic music from one of the most influential musical festivals in history. 

I borrowed a Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, and three Woodstock CDs.  I was going to listen to each one in order in it’s entirety but I decided against it.  I made a playlist and put it on random.  I have to say this music is incredible.  Now I know why the other Woodstock’s didn’t have the same amount of success; the artists simply weren’t as good.   

The original Woodstock had performances by Hendrix, Joplin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jefferson Airplane, to name only a few.  That is an all-star cast of performers.  Then when you look at the music of the entire decade, you can't help but be impressed.  I don’t really want to knock the music of today but are my children going to listen to it?  I doubt it; in fact they’ll probably make fun of me.  The music from the sixties stands the test of time, and will continue to do so. 

I wish I was older so I could justify throwing my own Woodstock theme party.  I don’t care that the anniversary has officially passed, the music is still good and I know everyone would have a blast. If I were to throw this party is there any artist I need to check out? Please let me know, so I can throw an incredible party.

Party on the Patio

My family recently threw a Summer Birthday Party and we now have an excess of beverages.  There was some talk of throwing a Poker party but that idea didn’t appeal to me or my mother because neither of us plays.  This was of course the perfect opportunity to throw our annual Party on the Patio where we invite all of the "old folks." It’s always a fun time and I’m really looking forward to it this year.

Now the old folks are in fact very old.  The group consists of my grandma, and all of her brothers and sisters, and their brothers and sisters.  The average age of the group is probably 80.  That being said these people are all young at heart, my grandma always jokes that she’s only 38. These people are always full of hilarious one-liners and great stories.

My favorite part of the patio party is when the food is cooking on the grill and the guests just start talking.  Once they start they do not stop, and I love it.  I hear the most amazing stories not only about my family history but also personal anecdotes that not even my parents have heard.  This has an interesting impact on my parents and aunts and uncles because they turn into well behaved children, listening to all that's being said.  Everyone wants to know what it was like for them to grow up through some of the most exciting times in American history. It’s one thing to read these stories in a history book, but it’s entirely different when you can put a face to the story.

I’m excited to have this Patio Party because in the past it’s always been a success.  This year we plan to expand the invite list so there is even more potential for hilarity.  My Uncle Bob sings songs that will bring tears to your eyes.  It’s really not fair to us.  So if you have a porch or a patio invite some friends and family over and relax.  Enjoy the summer weather while you can!

Dog Days of August Puppy Party

Our dog Basil has always been very social. From the time he was a puppy we would take him to our local dog park to socialize. He also is buddies with several of the neighborhood dogs.

One of my favorite parties on Party411.com is Dog Day Afternoon. It's all about getting your friends and their four legged companions together for an afternoon of socializing.

I decided that it would be nice to host a doggy party in our (newly) fenced backyard. I sent out these cute dog themed invites with a little doggy bone attached to them.

The invite is our Dog Theme Party invite. Here is the wording I used - 

Puppy and parent are invited...
To a Dog Day Afternoon! 

Come and Pawty in Basil's backyard
(The Strawder Home)

at 2 pm on August 9
BYOB (bring your own ball)
Don't Make Us Beg! - RSVP 555-555-5555

The day of the party everyone gathered in the backyard and my husband grilled for our human guests. We had iced tea and lemonade, and lots of water for the dogs. As a treat I baked homemade dog biscuits.

It was pretty hot so we set out a big plastic kiddie pool for the dogs to splash in. The dogs played in it for a little bit, but mostly it was used by our human guests to soak their feet in!

We bought some tennis balls and Frisbees to scatter around the yard, but the dogs played with each other more than the toys. Everyone took some toys home at the end of the party.

From what I hear, all the doggies were pooped out for the rest of the evening, I know Basil was!

 

- Kathleen

Perfect Guy's Birthday Outing

A couple of weeks ago I attended a Perfect Guy’s Party .  The Jimmy character is also my father so I was involved in the party all the way through.  He talked about what the Birthday Outing entails but he left out an important part of the perfect party, anticipation.  I look forward to this party every year, because it comes at the perfect time. When the party actually rolled around the house itself looked ready to party.

Golf.  I play only once a year.  My team is called Team Awesome, and it’s a fitting description, because we’re awesome.  We're so good we only play once a year, to give others hope.  We played the best we ever had this year, and as a result we didn’t finish last.  We were so overjoyed we did victory laps when we found out.  We have been last for three straight years, so now we’re a team on the rise and everyone needs to watch out.

Food.  We got back and the grills were already getting ready.  It’s important to be patient when grilling food because if the grill is too hot, you lose.  And when you’re cooking for 60 or so people you want the food to be good.  To be honest, we probably had too much food.  There were burgers, brats, chicken, sausage, beans, potato salad, fruit and desserts.  We’re still making our way through the food.  If I see another hamburger I’m going to lose it.  Although if I see a cookie, I could probably stomach it.

 

Games.  What would a party be if we didn’t have games or entertainment?  It would not be very fun.  We had plenty of summer party games for the guests to enjoy.  We had horseshoes, which were incredible this year because they were neon orange and neon green.  Trust me; they were a site to behold. We also had bocce which is normally a hit at the party but this year it was a dud of sorts.  This is because we introduced cornhole to the equation.  This is probably my favorite summer game.  I would make that a suggestion you clarify rules before you start.  I say this because my house rules were ignored in a game I was playing.  Needless to say I wasn’t happy about it.  That being said I can comfortably call myself King of Cornhole.  We played till it was dark and then moved into the light and played till people went home.

In the end, this party lived up to the claim of Perfect Guy’s Birthday Party.  There was fun had by all and the food and games were phenomenal.  If you have a summer birthday you still have time to throw the perfect guy’s birthday party.

 

-Brian

Woodstock Anniversary Friendship Bracelets

When you think of Woodstock, you think of peace and love, right?  Well, celebrate peace and love by making 60s inspired friendship bracelets for your friends.

 

You need to start with an assortment of embroidery floss or string that you can get at most craft stores.  I chose 5 colors, but you can pick as many as you like.  (The more string you use, the wider the bracelet)

 

Start by cutting strands of the floss to about 6 times the length you’ll want the bracelet.  That should give you plenty!  Then make a knot near the top.  Leave room to tie the bracelet together.  Then clip the top (above the knot) to a clipboard.  I find adding a safety pin makes the bracelet stay on the clipboard better.  I used to tie them to my pants, but that’s your call.

Here are the “knotting” instructions:  

Step 1:  Take two pieces of floss from the right side of your bracelet and make a “4” shape with the left string (the blue in my picture) crossing over the right string (pink in my picture)

 

Step II:  Pull the left string (blue) under and through the right string (pink) and back over itself.  Holding the right string in one hand, pull the left string you’re your other hand tightly to make a knot.  Repeat this with the same two strings.  (You will do this 2 times for every color)

 

Step III:  Your “left” string now moves off to the right and you repeat the same step with the next string.  Hint: the piece to the furthest right on your bracelet will move left with you for the entire row, but you will not see that color in that row. 

  

When you get to the end of the row, start again on the right!

Repeat, repeat, repeat until you get the length you need!  Tie it on a friend’s wrist and you’re all set!

 

Tie Dye Cupcakes - Woodstock and 60's Theme Party Recipe

Everyone around the office is excited about the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock on August 15, 16, and 17th. Amy is planning a 60's theme party that Saturday, and we are having an office Woodstock party/lunch on that Monday.

Last week we tie-dyed t-shirts while enjoying some of Kim's jell-o shots (the latter really has nothing to do with the 60's, but they were quite tasty), so that covers a Woodstock party activity and favor. Now we are going to cover one of our favorite subjects ... food. Specifically dessert :)

Keeping with the tie dye theme, this Woodstock party recipe is for easy Tie Dye Cupcakes.

Tie Dye Cupcakes

What you need -

• White Cake Batter (either mix or homemade)
• Food Coloring
• Frosting (homemade or pre-made)
• 4 Bowls and Spoons
• Muffin Pan and Cupcake Liners

Make your cake batter according the recipe or instructions (I used a boxed mix for my cupcakes). Seperate into 4 bowls.

Add a few drops of food coloring to each of the bowls to make four seperate colored batters. Add the food coloring a little at a time and stir. You can always add more dye, but you can't take it out if you make it too dark!

Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 of the way with the colored batters. The easiest way is to gently spoon the colors on top of each other. Do not mix! Layer the colors randomly so the cupcakes are varied.

Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe or instructions on the box, and let them cool before frosting. I used a butter creme frosting and some colorful sprinkles as the finishing touch! Brian was nice enough to help me illustrate the fun tie dye centers :)

 

To add a little Woodstock to the presentation I decorated the serving dish with peace sign beads. You could also set some tie-dye napkins next to these.

So there you are, Tie Dye Cupcakes! They are the perfect recipe for your Woodstock theme party.

If you are planning on throwing a 60's theme party you should definitely sign up for our free newsletter Party Talk. The next issue will have an exclusive 60's Trivia Party Game printable. Sign up now!

Peace!
Kathleen