In order to break the monotony of my regular fall/winter back to school routine, I hosted a shindig. It was a Game Night (which I will be posting about soon so stay tuned!) and I have to say it was sheer perfection! It was the best of everything; company, food and drink, activities and conversation. There was more than enough food, even though this was a low budget event. There were no awkward moments, even though there were new guests added to the mix. There was a good time had by all, even though at some point the night had to end. This is the part I’m having the most difficulty with. Once all the excitement of the planning, prep, and even clean-up is over I am left with what I call Post-Shindig Blues.

While I have been able to experience various shindig problems and offer some solutions that have worked for me, this is one that I am stumped with. How to ease back into the everyday life after coming off the shindig high. So, when you have put away your last wine glass and have planned on what to do with your party leftovers how do you cope with post-shindig blues? I know this is a dramatic contrast from fun and frivolity and the problems of having too many dishes to wash. However, after thinking about it, in the end the cool thing is that I had an opportunity to have fun and laughter with good friends, and that those opportunities are there for me to have time and time again. Maybe I have answered my own question. While the blues are just temporary the friends and memories will last forever; and there will be more memories to make in the future.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I think the reason I had to BBQ again was because of a few lessons learned. They all boil down to one tip.

1. Start early.

It sounds like a no brainier, I know. I tend to have a plan in my head, but not execute it until the midnight hour. This has caused me to be a bit more frantic than I’d like. Planning ahead gives to time to work out all the logistics; items you need outside, what to serve the cooked food in and how to keep it warm. The lists can go on and on, but starting early lets you figure all that out before the guests arrive and allows you to enjoy more of your shindig.

By planning early you can have most of the food prepared, or at least the first wave. With most of the food prepared guests are able to self-serve and you have time to replenish without guests hovering like vultures around the grill.

In the end it’s all about having fun, for the guests and for you as well. If you’re not having a good time, what’s the point?

This is a site I’ll continue to watch as I add to my collection of entertaining items and I thought I’d share it with you.

I could always go the way of The Amazing Plate Caddy, but something tells me I can balance it all in style.

Plates n’ Glasses

These 2 plates not only balance your tidbits, but they mind your drink as well.

Although this 12 piece set is currently out of stock, it’s worth a mention. This colorful plate and glass set not only makes it easy to wine and dine, but it makes identification easy as well. The plates look to be on the larger side so you can make sure to get a sample of everything on the first trip to the buffet.

These plates work with your own “standard” wine glasses. These plates give a rustic look, perfect for an afternoon of wine and cheese. Pair these plates with this Servingware. They are on the small side (I mean, they are supposed to fit on top of a wine glass) and can only fit a few slivers of cheese, some grapes and olives. To be fair, they are for appetizers, not the meal.

Good Grips

These plates are sans glass, but they make holding on to your grub a bit easier with their smart design. These plates are of ample size for more than a few canapés.

Update
While in the middle of this post, I received my Napa Style catalog and discovered that they had a few different types of plates available. Here is a wooden design in appetizer and dinner sizes. This plate is currently not for sale, but it still worth a mention. The ceramic plates, in creme and orange are available in sets of 4.

Home Wet Bar also has styles that hold you glass in wood and plastic. There are also these plates that sit on top of of your glass for your jungle theme.

It looks like everyone is having shindigs these days. I really can’t blame them, what better way to pass the day/afternoon/evening, than with food and drinks and friends?

Invitations

So,  as I mentioned before, this is an annual event, however, I wasn’t completely honest.  I have only had one of these BBQs before since moving into my house and I am hoping to make this an annual event; this will be my second year.  Last year I invited just about everyone I knew, literally.  I also included my neighbors since I was new to the area.  Between using evite and passing out fliers I had over 30 people attend my first BBQ shindig.  For a more intimate BBQ, try this invitation from invitationbox.com.  For more of a splurge, try these invitations from impressinprint.com.  They are on the pricey side, but they are fun  and different.  Save money on both styles by writing the information on the invitations yourself.

Menu and Serving

I kept the menu easy, burgers, dogs, chicken, sausages (hot and mild), pasta salad, corn on the cob, and chips and dips.  I was feeding over 30 people!   For something a bit more impressive, take a look at how you can transform a typical BBQ menu into something worth toasting a Margarita to.  These  outdoor grilling tools from Williams-Sonoma can help turn Jalapeno peppers into roasted poppers, chicken into roasted chicken with veggies, and chips and dips into ultimate nachos.  For the serving items, it might be time to dig out those housewarming gifts.  One thing that I have found key for any event, especially for an outdoor shindig, is to have a utensil caddy.  This one from Oriental Trading is affordable, decorative, and even has an area to keep napkins safe from those outdoor breezes.

Decorations and Accessories

Outdoor shindigs don’t usually require much in the way of decorations, the outdoor scenery usually takes care of that.  However, there is room for some finishing touches.  Mexican Oil Cloth that can be used as a chalkboard tablecloth can also double as a quick table dressing that is decorative and easy to clean.  Candles and outdoor party lights can provide lighting for those late night guests who stay well after the last of the summer sun.

Depending on the theme of your party, some of these small accessories from Oriental Trading Company will be the icing on the cake!

Try these Palm Tree Straws or Mini Margarita Shot Glasses for a Margaritiville theme.

Try these Hibiscus Flower Picks for appetizers or these Bright Flower Petals for your Luau theme table scape.

Try these Chili Pepper Straws and Inflatable Cactus Cooler for your spicy Fiesta theme.

Whatever you try and however you serve it, enjoy these few months of warm weather and long days. Enjoy the company of friends and family and have as many BBQ shindigs during this great summer season!

Trying something new this time around.  No shindig theme, no shindig items to try, nothing to covet.  I had been thinking about what frustrates me when I plan get-togethers with friends; those annoying things that tend to happen more times than not, yet I’m the only one who notices.  If the rest of the crowd is having a good time then I should let these little things roll off my back…and so should you.  My Top 3 are as follows:

1. People will RSVP that they are able to come and will not show up.  While annoying, it’s not the end of the world.  Since you planned food and drink for them, that just means there is more for the rest of the group to enjoy.  The converse is also true; guests that have not responded all of the sudden show up.  While the latter happens less often, the more the merrier I say (no really, I do say that!).  If it’s a potluck, they are bringing a dish to add to the buffet anyway.
2. The food runs out.  This usually (hopefully) isn’t an entirely true statement.  While the main dishes seem to fly off the table, the munchies such as chips & dip, hummus & pita, cheese & crackers, seem to always be leftover.  I always try to overstock on the “this & that” items so as to have something easy to snack on with the late night few while we talk the night away.  The great thing is the leftover fruits and veggies can made great salad fixins and chips & dip can serve as midday snacks for the next day.
3. Just when you think you have chosen the best date ever for your shindig, it happens to be the perfect date for others to plan parties of their own.  I typically plan to invite more people than I can accommodate since 9 times out of 10 about 1/3 to 1/2 of the invitees won’t be able to make it anyway.  Of course there is the off chance that everyone is able to make it; but as of today, I haven’t run into that problem yet.

If at the end of the party guests are thanking you for a lovely evening it’s been a succesful night.   That’s what shindigs are about, the  fun, not the frustration.

Drinkware

Are your guests getting their drink cups mixed up?  I have to admit that those red plastic party cups, while they hold lots of drink, are hard to keep track of.  Have your guests stake their claim by using these Etch It cups.  It’s okay that it’s not a true chalkboard; no concerns of chalk dust to float into your drink.

Servingware

Simple and practical.  These two options for cheese trays from Kegworks are not only simple is design, but are practical in function.  Not only will they look great on your table, but will let guest be able to tell the difference between the Brie and the Gouda.  The Slate Cheese Serving Tray gives more than enough room for cheese presentation and identification.  The Cheese Tray with Charcoal Slate Insert  combines a traditional wood tray with a slate insert..  Line your crackers and fruit in the wooden tray and serve the cheese from the slate tray.

Accessories

Now that your drinks are labeled and cheese tray chalked up, what about the table?  The Lingo Tablecover from Realm Dekor allows guests to mark their spot at the table.  For an easy DIY project, create your own chalkboard tablecloth by using Mexican Oil Cloth that comes in various color and patterns.  For those special occasions when you want to break out the napkin rings, try this set from MoMA.  These Chalkboard Napkin Rings serve a double duty as holder for the napkin origami challenged and as place cards.  If the table has any room left on it, this slate vase from Kimberly’s Events’ Chalkboard China Collection will make for a great centerpiece.

Scatter the use of these chalkboard decor items from party to party, or use them all at once for a themed End of Summer/Back to School event.  Don’t be afraid to try something new, you can always erase and try again.

Invitations

I think that a tea party deserves something a bit more formal than my usual evite invitation.  Due to the time involved searching for just the right accessories, I’ll have the forethought covered, and because of the smaller gathering, I’ll have the cost covered as well.  Mailed invitations it is!  While the following invitation doesn’t scream refinement, I had to include some of my kitchness into the event.  These teapot invitations from Plum Party are fun and are the perfect price at $16.00 for a box of 10.

Menu and Serving

This is where the fun part comes in, the prepping and presentation of the food and drink.  At Amelia’s Teas and Holly we were served our own teapots of their loose tea in dainty tea cups, some atop saucers, and some atop of a snack set plate.  These vintage snack sets are practical and quaint and are perfect for dainty treats.  If you aren’t familiar with how to properly prepare loose tea, you can always go the route of the traditional teabag.  The tea from  Tea Forte not only has a great taste, but a different look.  If the snack sets are too traditional for you, Tea Forts also provides various contemporary tea service sets.  Their Dolce Vita collection provides an updated service for your tea party that still demands a sense of decorum.

Our meals were served on vintage 3-tiered desert stands; each tier filled with mini crusttless sandwiches, scones, quiche, pettifours and truffles.  You can switch out the mini crust-less sandwiches for other savory bites such as Pasta Frittatas or Mini Crab and Lime Quiches.  Swap out the pettifours for Goat Cheese and Apple Tarts or Peach and Almond Strudels.  No need to switch out the truffles, there is no substitution for chocolate.  All of the recipes can be found in one of my favorite appetizer cookbooks, The Essential Appetizers Cookbook.

Accessories

Lace tablecloths, linen napkins, and fresh flowers is all that is necessary.  However, for something fun and slightly less formal, try these low key cocktail napkins from Plum Party and this tea cosy from Eden & Eden to add some lightness to the formalness of it all.

Just like  fondue, a successful tea party depends on a good mix of conversation that will sustain several pots of tea.