Party Talk

This Super Bowl…Get ‘Em Out of the Kitchen!

             Every year I have a Super Bowl Party. Every year, every guest ends up in the kitchen for what seems like hours. I hint. I beg. “The game’s on…you missed that play-action pass...you missed the last commercial with the horse, the dog and the parakeet!” Nothing works. Not even a drop kick into the family room (I reserve that for relatives).

 

              This year I have a strategy. Everything will be prepared ahead of time. Everything. My menu will consist of cold snacks, cold meats, cold drinks. To kick off my super bowl party, I’m making signs that represent a football field.

 

My next play? Arrows on my fancy football fields outlining different plays and a playbook for each telling my guests how and where they’ll find what they’re looking for. Want crab dip in pastry shells covered with shreds of cheddar? Well…a 4-3 defense will get you there. Want a beer? It might take a Straight T Formation, but the Bud’s on tap.   

 

Do I know what I’m talking about? Not really, but you get the picture (or the play). What’s important is that the premise is good, and I know one or two football aficionados that will be happy to help me in exchange for a hot meal (not that night, tho! And not cooked by me!!)…

 

See you at the line of scrimmage!

The Party Girl

Games to play while watching the BIG GAME!

For me, watching the commercials during the Super Bowl is my favorite sport of the day.  And like me, not everyone at your Super Bowl party will be 100% focused on the game.  So what can you plan to entertain those die-hard fans, as well as those just along for the ride? 

There are plenty of party games that will be enjoyed by both sides of the fan spectrum; a betting pool, trivia, a round of "TV is the enemy" for stress relief, or a game of betting squares.

Check out Super Bowl Games and Activities for these and even more great ideas!

And share your own tried and true ideas for game day activities by commenting at Super Bowl Party Chat!

Cool Jazz- a new theme for your Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras comes early this year so it’s time to start planning your “Fat Tuesday” celebration now. We’ve added a new theme this year that’s very cool:

Cool Jazz Party

To most of us Mardi Gras means New Orleans, and New Orleans means jazz! This uniquely American music makes a great back drop for a party. There are some nice decorations and party supplies available and we’ve created some wonderful new personalized invitations for Mardi Gras.  And of course the music will be great. 

Also new are Life Size Jazz Musician cutouts that are a perfect way to greet your guests.

And don't forget that Mardi Gras is just two days after Super Bowl Sunday. We love the idea of combining these events so the Party Girl wrote another brand new theme; The Super Bowl Mardi Gras Bash.  Two new themes that will help make your Super Mardi Gras celebration the best ever.

Cool!

Super Bowl Mardi Gras Bash!

 

This year Super Bowl weekend falls at the beginning of Mardi Gras in 2008. That means two of the most festive holidays of the year can now be celebrated with one big bash!

The idea is to mix football and Mardi Gras.  Party411.com has personalized ticket invitations that you can order in purple and yellow. You can mix football and Mardi Gras decorations, like beads, lights, balloons, and crepe paper. Hand out noisemakers in Mardi Gras colors to help cheer on your favorite team!

Serve game day snacks along side Gumbo and other New Orleans style food.  For dessert, stick with the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. 

Have guests bet on the game and give out beads to the winners.  There are lots of things to wager on, but I'll get you started:

• how long the game will last
• who will be the MVP
• who wins the coin flip
• who scores first touchdown
• who has first turnover 
• score at the end of each quarter
• number of penalties in a quarter

Getting excited about your Super Bowl Mardi Gras Party? Check out the full theme for more great ideas!

Want more for ideas for a Super Bowl party? Get them at the Super Bowl Party Planning Guide, and share your great ideas or burning questions at Super Bowl Party Chat.

Need ideas for your Mardi Gras party? We’ve got ‘em!

 

Legally Brunette!

 

This was a fun theme for a party we did for a Bat Mitzvah.

 

We bought Legally Blonde movie posters (available online) and added the Bat Mitzvah girl's photo for a great sign in board.  We, of course, had a lifesize photo cutout of the Bat Mitzvah girl welcoming guests.

Seating cards were fake subscriptions to fashion magazines attached to fuzzy shoe keychains.

 

Inside the ballroom, there was a sea of beautiful balloons in all shades of pink, with rose mylar balloons (of course - her name is Rose!) and pink linens.  Centerpiece bases were stuffed Chihuahua toys, which were donated to a children's hospital, sitting on a bed of red and pink roses.

It was a great party!  See more of Our Parties here.

Party411 can plan your next theme party!  Let us know if you would like more information on any of the products seen in the photos or if you have theme party questions!

January is…

National Hot Tea Month - so it’s the perfect time to host a tea party!

January 5th is Elvis Presley’s Birthday - a great theme for a party at your house!  Get an Elvis Cutout, set the mood with music themed decorations, and have a lip sync contest using all of his hits. Make sure to swivel your hips like Elvis the Pelvis!

January 6th is Great Fruit Cake Toss - it’s in Manitou Springs, Colorado, but you can host your own. How hard could it be? BYOF.  A fitting end to your fruitcake, no matter how you used it in December.

January 26th is the Anniversary of the Patenting of the Dental Drill  - I don’t know about you, but I think this is a great idea for a Little Shop of Horrors party! Patented in 1875, this tool has scared the pants off us for over 125 years.

See more Stuff to Celebrate for January, or take a sneak peek at February!