I love giving parties, do you need some ideas?

[ShirleyKnot]

Hello!

If you don't know me I'm Shirley and I'm a great lover of planning parties. I do a blog about it (which I'm not going to link here, but if you look on the bloggers network for PartySpanner you'll find me)

ANYWAY

If you're chucking a do, I might be able to help - I'm not a business, I don't charge for my ideas or owt, I just love to trawl the internet find good invite ideas, games and food.

Jump in and I'll see if I can help.

I think a cone of sweets (definitely including a flump, and maybe some gummi bears?) with a reflector tied on the top would be fab.

look what I found - far too expensive for party bags, but maybe as a pass the parcel present??

Here are the reflectors

Found some cones too. Now to find some bulk buy gummi bears and flumps... :)

What size cellophane cones do you think I should get?

The ones I got were about 30cm long? They came with ribbon too

Those reflectors are way better than mine. Mine are on thid weird plastic line with a crocodile clip thing. They will be great on bags of sweets esp gummy bears.

Def going to craft shop tomorrow. Dd has asked to make a butterfly but i want teeny pom poms as i want to make fingerprint reindeer cards so they will be good noses. I think i may have got the idea from someones pinterest. Prob stealths.

It seems buying 50 cellophane cones is cheaper than getting 30

I need 26 but might as well get spares

TheDr'sWife - not themed, just a get together, partly housewarming. It has to cater for a few bland tastes, so I thought Italian or French are easier to do that with (blasphemy, but YKWIM). I had a look through some Jamie Oliver recipes and some HFW. They all seem pretty labour intensive but I have Thu p.m. and Friday all day off work so can spend a bit of time. Now I'm all curious about the Mafia thing, i'll have to go back and read it, I may surprise my friends :)

I did a search for 'mafia' but can't find anything. Any help?

It was right at the beginning of the thread. I'll cut and paste, it'll be easier...

"ShirelyKnottage Wed 21-Sep-11 12:08:48
Morde

Ooooooo. Do you want to do my Mafia party? I've got this idea that just won't bloody go away and you can have it if you'd like?

Lots of lovely Italian food. I would like to do Antipasto for starter (easy peasy) Braciole for main and either tirimisu or cannoli for puddings.

Good Italian Red and white wine and Perroni beer, Grappe (to aid the pissedness) and good coffee.

Get a poker tournament going (cigars optional) and maybe a cheap http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roulette-Play-25cm-Wheel-D60521F/dp/B004F0IC6K/ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_4 roulette wheel. A game of Mafia maybe?

Play lots of Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack music - maybe get a soundtrack to Goodfella's or The Soprano's? (Probably not too expensive to download)"

I can't remember if you're party is kids or adults but I'm sure it would work for either with a little tweaking.

stealth - I found that CraftPlay place online today. Not as cheap as in the shop but not far off for most things... The aprons seem to be £3-odd rather than 25p though! craftplay

Going to order the plates/cups/bunting etc this weekend before my 10% off vouchers runs out...

Question is, do I get these ones or these ones?

I think I'm swaying more towards the first ones as I like the bear tutus and the bunting.

ALLO!

OK, not caught up on thread yet but see that FFS (ha) wants Mafia ideas?

Forget the Bracciole, far too complicated and you can forget the cannolli too.

Do the antipasti Easy, quick and you can get loads of cheats in the Supermarket (platters of meat etc)

How about lasagne for main with a nice green salad and garlic bread, or do you want something more challenging?

Buy a tirimisu for pud and you're done!

BF - I like the stuff in the second link more.

Hi Shirely - the antipasti link doesn't work. No, i'm not dying for anything too challenging. I bought a few garlic breads and an onion kind of fancy breads today so I think it will be Italian. I like the lasagne idea, it would be my second or third time cooking this so that's adventurous enough for me. A friend is bringing a walnut cake. DH is bringing me some coffee from Kenya.

BF - thanks for providing the cut & paste above, I'm really warming up to the idea now, maybe I can get DS to work on it.

BF - I like the second ones better, a little bit different and very party-like.

Ahhh see shirley suggested exactly the same as me. I consider myself ordained into party planning now.

Blathers get that first set. I had the second set and they looked a bit creepy. The first ones are more picnicky. Do it.

Im making xmas stuff today but then i'm back to gruffaloing this weekend.

I like the first ones too, Blathers.

I have become OBSESSED with making Christmas stuff. Really, really bad.

Would anyone like to see my BOOZE?

I am impressed by the Christmas obsession, Shirley - I haven't even though about Christmas yet (and have completely missed the boat on ordering a goose - supplier depresses me too much by having order form waiting when we get back from summer holiday!)

However, I did allow myself to be distracted from a stream of birthdays long enough to make a witch's cloak for DD - it is rather beautiful, if I say so myself (black panelled cloak with stand-up collar and pink lining) and completely over-engineered for the 2 parties she will wear it to .

I had a goose last year.

MEH.

Yes, I feel a bit meh about goose too, but DH really doesn't like turkey...

Shirley i'd like to see your booze. You do mean booze and not boobs right?

Ive made and part cooked my stuffing so i can chuck it in the freezer and my fruit is soaking ready to make delias christmas cake tomorrow. Ive wrapped all the christmas presents and stashed in a box. Then wrapped all dd's birthday presents and and stashed in another box. Then i decided i want to ger her three more things just as dh text saying i think we should dd these three more things. Bonus!

Dh did say to me yesterday that this christmas he refuses to do the rounds dropping gifts to family. He says im to relax over christmas and enjoy my pregnancy. Dc2 arrives 5 weeks after christmas and ive barely given them a thought with party stuff to plan. How terrible.

Stealth - how about a duck? MILES more meat on it. I was so disaapointed last year, the bloody thing cost me well over £60 and fed 4 of us - but NO leftovers at all (apart from all the lovely fat )

at DrsWife. I can show both if you'd like? Your DH sounds wonderful

Boozy stuff here

OH and guess what?

I am having a party-ette for Halloween tomorrow. SEE? I just can't bloody help myself.

Making lovely owl cupcakes tonight - citing!

Bleugh to parma violets shirl, but pass me a little nip of each on the postnatal ward later would ya? Really want to try werthers voddie!

Oh and my dh does sound wonderful but a small voice in my head is saying 'i bet if i relax a bit, he things he'll overcome the i dont fancy sex there's a human writhing about inside me cheers dh'.

I LOVE Parma Violets (this one will be my own personal stash I think as everyone else I know thinks they're VILE)