question of the week: summer get-togethers

This Friday is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, so let's talk summer outings. Parties and get-togethers are great all year round, but there's something about the summer that gives them an extra sparkle.

Maybe it's the fireflies or blazing barbecue.... Or the long, lazy days and warm nights that follow.... Or all the fresh, juicy fruits, ice-cold beers and melty ice cream and popsicles.... Or memories of flashlight tag and shivering under a towel after a long day of swimming....

 

twiigs.com

for those about to chalk

What is it with kids and chalk? Growing up, my friends and I were obsessed with it. It helped that we had an in — my best friend's dad was a principal, so chalk was in constant supply. Regular chalk was great, the fat chalk was awesome whenever we got our hands on it, but our fave was the colored chalk. And nothing topped taking it outside to draw on the sidewalk.

It seems chalk hasn't lost any of its luster. At my niece's 5th birthday a couple week's ago, Crayola's 3D Sidewalk Chalk was the big hit. It looks like regular, unassuming chalk, but put on the wacky 3D glasses, and your work starts to resemble those amazing sidewalk artists. (Maybe that's stretching it a little.)

Here's how it works: When you put on the glasses, the warm colors appear to be raised from the pavement, while the cool colors sink down. The one problem is that it works best when you alternate the colors to really get that 3D effect. But hand a kid a piece of chalk, and try to explain why it's not going to work if they draw a blue and purple tree. So a little adult help will really go a long way. If you want to go all out, get the Rainbow Rake and alternate warm and cool colors, then let the kids draw whatever they want between the lines. With the backdrop in place, you're sure to get some pop.

Best of all for moms and dads is the clean-up — one spray of the hose and your sidewalk is ready for a whole new day of multi-dimensional hopscotch and murals.

recipe for sloppy heroes

As tempting as it sounds to just throw burgers on the grill, this Father’s Day I wanted to put some pop (har har) into the menu, so I came up with the ultimate recipe for a sloppy joe — or perhaps a better name would be sloppy Giuseppe.

This isn’t any old Manwich; it’s an Italian-inspired hero that truly lives up to its messy moniker.  Bigger than the classic version, it’s loaded with not-so-sweet “secret sauce” that’s guaranteed to ooze out of the bun, and it may even require a fork and moist towelettes. Dad will love it!

Adding Italian sausage to the ground beef mixture gives it a boost in both flavor and texture, and make sure to toast the buns before filling them up to avoid the dreaded soggy sloppy.

sip, see, baby!

Like this design? Create an Evite invitation with this image.

I was reading the GoodyBlog and came across a post about a sip and see party. I know my way around a Slip 'n Slide, and in DC I enjoyed the adorably named Kiss and Ride, but this party idea was new to me.

A quick search online revealed that a sip and see is an informal baby shower held about two months after the baby is born during which guests are invited to sip some bevvies and see the new baby. Smart! Sounds like just the thing for women having a tough pregnancy, people welcoming home an adopted child and proud parents eager to invite friends and family over to view and coo at their new baby.

How informal you make the party can depend on the parents-to-be's preferences: Host a casual-style shower with games and a set arrival and departure time or an even more casual open house, where people pop by at any time during the allotted hours and stay as long as they like.

Either way, planning is minimal. Set up a buffet table of snacks for guests to graze on, and, of course, you need some liquids for the sipping. Serving tea would work nicely, as would a big fruity punch (and a second alcoholic one, if you're so inclined).

As for gifts, most sites said they were either not necessary or could be a small, thoughtful item. According to the GoodyBlog, this party is a southern tradition. Well, thanks, y'all, for this fun variation of the traditional baby shower.

Has anyone been to a sip and see? Tell us about them!

message in a bottle (er, bag)

Give your guests a warm welcome with luminarias that carry a greeting. Here’s all there is to it:

1.) Figure out what you want your message to say. Pay tribute to the guest of honor with "Happy B-Day, Bob!" Or blow a kiss to all your guests with a general message, like this one I made for an upcoming cocktail party: "Good evening / You look great." Just remember, the more letters, the more work it’ll be — each one takes about four minutes to make.

2.) Get enough lunch-size brown bags and white bags to make double-layered luminarias (brown on the outside, white on the inside) spelling out your message, making sure the white bags are the same size or slightly smaller than the brown ones so they fit inside. You can buy brown lunch bags at any grocery store. White bags are harder to find — I got mine at Smart & Final — but the white background will make your messages really light up and stand out.

question of the week: dads rule

We celebrated moms for Mother's Day, and now, with Father's Day this Sunday, it's time to send our dads a little love.

I was so the kind of kid who played the "my dad is cooler than your dad" game. I had a lot of weapons in my arsenal. My dad can draw Donald Duck perfectly and do magic tricks. I don't think I've beaten him in any card game ever (the man remembers which cards have been played, which is both annoying and impressive), and he always gets holes in one in mini golf.

He built my bookshelves and a picnic table and always knows which tool to use to fix stuff. He has traveled around the world, eaten every exotic food offered to him and has a special smoking jacket he wears each Christmas Eve. Smooth.

I know there are a lot of other great dads out there. Tell us about them!

q: should I bring a host gift?

Absolutely. If you've thrown a party, you know how much time, effort and money go into it. Bringing a gift for the host can help offset those costs, and it's a handy way to help yourself get invited back. And by the way, guys, a "host gift" does not have to be something girlie like scented soap. It can be beer and stuff.

So the next question ... what should you bring? That depends on how formal the party is and how well you know the host.

For a casual get-together, beverages or food for the party is always a welcome gift. If you don't know the hosts well, stay away from alcohol in case they don't drink.

For a gathering that takes more time and planning, think like a party planner: Give a gift the hosts can use at the party if they're in a pinch. Some party staples people can always use more of include pitchers, vases (especially handy if another guest commits the party foul of bringing cut flowers with no vase; see below), wine openers, wine stoppers, coasters or a CD of party music. Place your unwrapped gift in a party bag filled with tissue paper so the hosts can easily bust it out if necessary.

At a more formal event, bring a gift that lets the host indulge after all of their planning: muffins and tea for the morning after, a bouquet of flowers, a good book or gourmet chocolates. For a really lavish affair hosted by a close friend, spring for a gift certificate for a massage or an after-party clean-up service.

Some gift ground rules to keep in mind:

• Don't upstage the host. If you're bringing food or drink for the party, find out what the host plans to serve and bring something that would complement it. In other words, a flaming baked Alaska would be a tad much at a pizza party.       

• Don't add to the host's stress. If you're buying flowers, have them arranged in a vase so the host doesn't have to run around looking for one. If you're bringing a dish, plate it.

• Do include a note. Hosts have a million things to think about during a party, and trying to remember who brought those great chocolates will drive them crazy the next day.
  

one-stop shopping

Father's Day. Graduations. Engagement parties. Weddings. Housewarmings. Summer visits to family and friends. This is the time of year when I have lots of gifts to buy and very few ideas of what to get. The goal is always the same: I want to get something new, unexpected and personalized to the recipient.

Enter Lolita hand-painted crystal stemware and accessories in all sorts of styles (martini, wine, margarita, pilsner, champagne, mojito, hot beverage) for every occasion and hobby, from birthdays to bunco, poker to princess. Each glass even comes with a fun cocktail recipe on the bottom. This could work.

I'm thinking a golf-themed pilsner glass for Dad, love-ly champers glasses for the newlyweds, lime-decorated mojito glasses for the new homeowners, king and queen bottle stoppers for my gracious summer hosts and maybe a sassy martini glass for me to congratulate myself on getting all my shopping done. Cheers, dears!

i'd like a pop soda coke tonic with lime, please

Okay, show of hands. How many people have been to a party where someone innocently says something like "Can you pass the pop?" or "Oooh, I want jimmies on my ice cream!" and conversation stops. Gasps are heard. Uncomfortable glances are shared. And then, slowly, a debate ensues about the correct name for each item.

I live for those moments. Regional differences in what we call our food are endlessly fascinating, and these initially awkward instances often become a great ice-breaker among guests. People talk about their hometowns, share childhood memories, tell stories about having been made fun of for calling something by the "wrong" name.

Here's your chance to make your preferences known.

twiigs.com...

party like a pro

Like this design? Create an Evite invitation with this image.

In my day-job life, I interview event planners and caterers about the ginormous parties they throw. These parties can cost over $100,000 and often include celebrities and/or aerialists.

There isn’t a lot that applies to my life.

That said, every now and again, I’ll get nuggets of information that seem completely usable, which I tuck away for future party-throwing use. Here’s a few:

• Candles provide a much cheaper centerpiece than flowers. For a colorful focal point, fill a low bowl with water and float candles and cranberries in it.

• An all-organic menu will cost you about 30 percent more than a regular menu.

• Riesling white wine is a food-friendly favorite.

• Supply seating for 1/3 to 2/3 of guests when throwing an hors d'oeuvre-type party.

• When cooking, sablefish is far more forgiving than halibut. (Me: "Forgive me, halibut." Halibut: "No.")

Over and out.

Have questions about planning your own parties? Contact us and we'll do our best to answer them on the blog. Have your own handy party tips? Comment below!