Tailgate Party!

By: Poppie

Fall is my favorite time of year.  The leaves are starting to change colors, the heat is fading, the kids are heading back to school, but most importantly, it’s football season!!!  And football season means Tailgating Parties with family and friends! 

What started out with a few sandwiches and a couple of beers before the game has evolved into a great American sports tradition, especially among the college football crowd.  Every year my sisters and I take turns hosting a party at our house and this year will be no different.  In fact, we've already got the first game planned out.  Call us over achievers, but one can't be too zealous when it comes to football!

Whether you are heading to the game to tailgate, having a party in your home, or out on your patio, here is my ultimate guide for anyone to host the best tailgating party of the season! 

Think of your Tailgate Party as a mini production along the lines of camping meets sports bar. Here's is a list of party must haves:

ü  Grill and grill supplies.

ü  Coolers (best if with wheels) and don’t forget the ice.

ü  Seating (coolers can double as seating).

ü  Decorations such as flags, banners, streamers, and other team affiliated materials.

ü  Radio, boom-box, or portable television.

ü  Blankets, lighting, citronella candles or torches, bug spray, sunscreen, and so forth for both day and night games.

ü  Card tables and table covers.

ü  Food and beverages (tip: If traveling, select  food  that can either be cooked ahead and transported to the event or cooked there on a grill).

ü  Plates, napkins, silverware, cups, bottle opener, trash bags (to clean up your area afterwards), and so on.

Menu:

Hot items:  The grill is a centerpiece of many tailgate parties. In addition to traditional burgers, hot dogs and brats, you can grill kebabs, chicken, ribs, pork chops, or fajitas. A big pot of chili on a portable burner is another popular food option.

Cold Items:  If you prefer to leave the grill at home, you can always pack sandwiches for the occasion. Cold subs, sliced into manageable portions, with all the condiments are the classic choice. If you’re budgeting, you might want to consider making the rest of the menu potluck. Get your friends to bring side dishes, snacks, and desserts to round out the menu choices.

Drinks:  Do I even need to mention beer as a staple?  Depending on the size of your party, a keg may be an easier choice since it serves many people. Another option is serving beer or soda in these fun “referee” koozies to keep them cold.  Another new trend is making signature drinks in your team colors - such as red for a Husker Party (okay, I had to sneak my team in there at least once! J ).
Ps- Please drink responsibly at all parties you host or attend this season!

Decorations:

Bring poster board, glitter and markers to make posters. Make sure to buy supplies in your team's colors. Helium balloons, also in team colors, are a good way to decorate and designate your venue area. Don't forget that markers work on balloons as well. While you're stocking up, grab some body paint so that you and your guests can paint your faces if you like.

Ambience: 

Another way to designate your area is with flag banners or tape around your party area.  Use football themed paper or plastic plates, cups, and accessories for your food and serve on a football field table cover.  Or buy the table cover in your team color (let’s say red or white) and buy green place mats and draw a football field on the placemats for extra ambience.  If you have room, time, and strong men, forgo the folding chairs and bring an old couch covered with a slipcover in your team color to make your guests feel extra comfortable.  Don't forget the penalty flag to throw down when the ref makes an unfair call.

Wardrobe:

Hype the #1 Fan Contest by letting everyone know ahead of time that there will be a prize for most enthusiastic wardrobe. Bring the beads, face paint, hats, glitter, tattoos, foam fingers and anything else you can glue to your body and let the good times roll. For prizes, think game-day paraphernalia like team cups, key chains, bobble heads or, if you are feeling generous, tickets to the next game.  (Ps, if you decide on this for your prize, please invite me to your party, especially if you're a Husker fan!)

Whether college or a pro game, a well planned tailgating party, complete with organized set-up, a variety of delicious food, fun activities, fanatical fans, and all the essentials, can add to the team spirit and make your party the Ultimate Tailgating Experience!

Luau Party

Luau Party

A Hawaiian Luau is one of the most popular themes used for parties today. Think about it- it’s all about sand, sea, and fun in a relaxing beach setting. A Hawaiian theme can liven up any party because of its tropical appeal, and bright, colorful hues. 

But where to start?  There are hundreds of ways to plan a Luau party so I’ve put together a few of the best ideas for a party your guests will be talking about for quite some time.

Invitations

Hawaiian invitations can come in various designs, including seashells, hibiscus flowers, and even scenery from the beach.  For those who want to be creative, homemade invites are also a budget-friendly option. All you need is some paper, coloring materials and a bit of patience and hard work.

Dress

You can’t call it a Hawaiian party unless everyone is wearing their best beach attire.  Men can wear Hawaiian shirts and beach shorts, while women can wear hula skirts, bikinis or floral sun dresses.  You can also give out leis or flip flops to the guests as soon as they enter the party area.

Décor

Presentation is also very important for Hawaiian parties. Use brightly colored plates and party supplies.  For a unique twist, have your guests eat on tiki or hibiscus plates.  Another fun idea is to use Luau Raffia Round Placemat plates to serve food on.  For a centerpiece, use coconut cups and add some colorful flowers to them.  Arrange in one central area or spread throughout your venue. 

Ambiance

You don’t have to be on the beach to hold a successful Hawaiian party. As long as you have proper decorations, you can hold the party indoors or your backyard. Try using bamboo garland, tiki torches, and sea shells around the place.  Have colorful lanterns hanging all around.  If you can, use actual sand. For a dramatic touch, have a sandcastle in the middle of your party area or in an area where children can create their own.   If indoors, use a scene setter to really get that tropical feel. 

Favors

Some people like to give favors to their guests as a sign of appreciation and so they will always remember the event. There are numerous options you can consider for these items. It all depends on what you like and what will fit in your budget.  Some fun favors are: leis, flip flops, hibiscus tattoos, or mini fans.

Menu

Try serving melon, coconut, or mango shakes as drinks. Mai Tais are always great for an alcoholic drink choice. Use umbrella drink holders for a tropical touch. A fun idea for children is to serve drinks in your own "Hawaiian Cola" with these cute labels.  below).

As for the main course, serve seafood delicacies with fresh vegetables as the side dish. End the meal with a yummy fruit salad dessert or, if you don’t want to use real sand, try this cute sandcastle cake as a centerpiece and yummy dessert option (see recipe below).

 Having a Tropical Luau will never be difficult as long as you properly prepare for it. Keep these considerations in mind as you organize the event. When everything is set, put on your bikini, lei, and grass skirt, and get ready to have an enjoyable and refreshing beach party! 

Recipe:  Sandcastle Cake

Ingredients:

2 boxes of favorite cake mix
3 cups of brown sugar
Ice cream cones (about 5-7)
2 cans of frosting (white works best)
Square cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch works great)

Extras:

Toothpick flags or pinwheels
Seashells or starfish
Plastic palm trees

Directions:

1.     It is important to have all the ingredients at room temperature.

2.     Preheat oven (check cake mix box for temperature). Grease and flour 3 different sized round or square cake pans; tap out excess flour.

3.     Follow directions on cake mix box.  You made need to use 2 or 3 boxes depending on the size of your cake.  Bake until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 

4.     Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool upright in the pan for 15 minutes. 
After cooling, tap the cake pan gently on a work surface to loosen the cake. Set the rack over a sheet of waxed paper, invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan.

5.     Very lightly frost all pieces of the cake with frosting; this just needs to be thick enough to add the sugar and cereal.  

6.     Then carefully stack the cake with the biggest cake on bottom and smallest on top on whatever serving tray you choose.

7.     Crush some cereal very finely in a bowl and add brown sugar to it.  Mix well.  Sprinkle brown sugar mix over top of cake and on surrounding plate.

8.     Decorate by adding whole pieces of cereal around the edge of the cake.

9.     Take cones and cut squares in the top of the cones to look like towers.  Strategically place the ice cream cones around the cake.  To keep cones from falling over, I used a toothpick to hold them in place.

10.   Add extra ambience by adding seashells, starfish, or plastic palm trees around your castle area.  Put toothpick flags or pinwheels in the top of the cones.  Viola!  You have a spectacular beach castle cake for your Luau!

Summer Bug Party

Summer Bug Party
by Poppie

I am not a bug person.  In fact, if it was up to me, bugs would be eliminated from my life forever, with the exception of butterflies since they are pretty and don’t bother me.  My kids, however, do not share my sediments towards these small (or in some cases big) creatures.  They love to dig in the dirt or look under a rock to find different bugs.  And of course, they have to show me their find; which despite my queasiness, I smile and say, “That’s great, hun!”

Needing a summer party idea that hadn’t been done before, I decided to put aside my feelings and have a Summer Bug Party.  It’s an easy party to do and works for all ages and genders.  It can also be tweaked into a great children’s birthday theme as well.

I wanted the decorations to create that summer picnic ambience.  First I hung some danglers with assorted types of bugs on the end.  I used a gingham table cover and napkins and placed little plastic bugs all over the table. I put utensils and napkins in a picnic basket and added a butterfly to it.   As a snack, I put out “ants on a log” which is celery, peanut butter, and raisins.

As the kids arrived, I gave each child antennas instead of a party hat along with some bug eyeglasses so they could see like a bug.  Each child also received a sheet of stickers with lady bugs on them to decorate a poster my children had made announcing our Summer Bug Party theme.

As a party favor I filled ice cube trays with water and placed a toy bug in each cube, then let them freeze overnight.  The next day, we added one bug ice cube to the kids’ drinks along with regular ice cubes.  I added a butterfly straw to each drink as well.  The kids enjoyed the “surprise” in their drink and got some neat take home gifts as well.  You can also buy readymade fake bug cubes as well and strategically place where you would like.

I wanted something easy for a cake, so I created a simple, yet unique, caterpillar cake.  Bake any number of cupcakes frosted with green frosting and place them into a hump-shaped line, with one red-frosted cupcake at the end for the caterpillar's face.  Add eyes, black antennae and many small, black feet.  A double row of cupcakes works great for a large party.

Of course our activity was to take a bug net and magnifying glass and catch as many bugs as we could find in an hour.  Since I didn’t want to find actual bugs, I hid plastic bugs around the house and outside for the kids to find.   I labeled a clear jar with each child’s name and added a gingham ribbon to go with the theme.  Whoever found the most bugs got a prize.

Even though the idea scared me at first, it turned out to be one of the best summer parties we have ever had and was surprisingly easy to pull off.  Nobbies had everything I needed to make this party happen so I didn’t have to spend tons of time planning it either.  So kick off your summer in style and host your own version of this easy to do summer party.

A College World Series Party

A College World Series Party

Being American means at some point you have to take in a baseball game. Even if you don’t like baseball, going just for the atmosphere is well worth it. Two of our Nobbies stores just happen to be in the Omaha area which also just happens to be the home of the NCAA Men's College World Series which starts June 18, 2011.

This year marks a turning point in the College World Series history as it is the first year it is being held in the new TD Ameritrade Park and not in the old Rosenblatt Stadium. In fact, the new slogan is “History Happens Here”.
 

TD Ameritrade Park

This year, make history by starting a new tradition supporting your favorite college baseball team with a baseball party on the day they play.  Here are a few ideas to make it a great party.

Have a Slogan for your party to put on invitations or posters. A few examples are:
"Corey’s Home Run Happening’!”
“Grand Slam Gathering!”
“Hey now…Be an All-Star at Jason’s Party!”
“We’re gonna have a BALL at Taylor’s Baseball Bash!"

Guests should be dressed in their team colors. Of course you must have foam hands ready for guests to hold up during the game.

Use table covers in the color of your team or try this grass table cover. Hang baseball string decorations or banners around your party area. Make a centerpiece out of some mini foam baseballs for your table or fill a popcorn container with flowers, candy, or popcorn (in the color of your team). Strategically place some pom poms, bats, mitts, and balls around the table. Place a diamond shaped piece of the “infield” under each plate as a placemat.

For the kids, give them all hand clappers and a stadium horn. The louder they are the better right? For an outside party, have children practice their pitching skills by tossing water balloons.

Have a mixed CD made to play in the background with all the baseball favorites such as:
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Jack Norworth (1908)
• Centerfield - John Fogerty (1985)
• All the Way - Eddie Vedder (2007)
• Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
• Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball - Woodrow Buddy Johnson (1949)
• Cheap Seats - Alabama (1993)
• Joltin' Joe DiMaggio - Les Brown Orchestra (1941)

A baseball staple is to serve hot dogs (the ball park size), popcorn, and peanuts. Don’t forget the beer, but remember to drink responsibly. Give each guest so many baseball cards that they can “trade” for a drink of their choice. Serve drinks in stadium cups to give extra ambiance. Have an apple pie ready for dessert or make frosted baseball sugar cookies.

This is an easy party that makes a great tradition year after year. So take yourself out to the ball game by bringing the ball game to you.

Super Dad!

Super Dad!
by Poppie

My dad has always been a super hero to me. It always seemed like he could leap tall buildings in a single bound and always provide for me. Now my husband gets the privilege of super hero status in our house to our 3 children.

If you are looking forward to throwing a party to show your love for your dad, what can be a more ideal time than Father’s Day? And who is a better super hero than dad? This year throw dad a “Super Dad” party using his favorite super hero. A few popular heroes right now are Thor, Green Lantern, and Batman.

Ideas:
Have your children “invite” dad to a special party on his day with homemade invitations that they have made. Have guests wear their favorite super hero gear. Have kids wear a cape of their choice.

Decor:
Use dad’s favorite super hero as your fun theme. Get plates, napkins, and other supplies in that theme. Or combine themes if dad likes to reminisce about several past super heroes. Give guests a mask (such as a Green Lantern or Batman mask). Use action figures as balloon weights with several balloons in your color theme.

Ambience:
Hang signs that say “POW, ZAP, BANG,” and such around the party area.
Strategically place Kryptonite (ping pong balls painted green or green glow sticks) around your party area. Use comic book pages as placemats.

Favors:
Thor rubber wristbands
Green Lantern rings

Menu:
Serve dad’s favorites (you might have to learn to use the grill if his favorite’s include grilling items so he has the day off). Serve Hulk juice - 7 Up and lime sherbet (you can tweak this to whatever super hero your theme is). Make a super cake for dad (see recipe below).

With a little pre-planning, this is an easy party to pull off, at least for me, but of course, I’m Wonder Mom!


Super Cake Recipe:
Bake a 13" x 9" x 2" cake of any flavor. A great trick is to use white cake mix and add food dye (such as green) so the inside of the cake matches your theme.
Frost the cake in icing color of your choice. Using tinted icing, pipe a superhero symbol of your child's choice (such as Green Lantern) in the center.

Write your dad’s name (if you wish) next to the symbol. Or add an action figure by the cake to really set the scene.

Party.

Party

by Dottie

Party. What comes to your mind when you think of that word? For some reason, the first thing I think of is my youth. My mom was the queen of all things party when it came to her family and she still is. We had the most fabulous birthday parties every year. She never hesitated to give us exactly the kind of party we wanted. We picked the theme, the kind of cake and ice cream we wanted, the entertainment, location, guests, decorations, favors…just about everything except the budget!  Knowing my mom, she gave us these elaborate parties for next to nothing and you’d never be the wiser!

It’s hard for me to even think of which birthday party was my favorite.  Was it my 7th birthday party when I had a magician?  Was it my 8th birthday party sleepover when my stepdad told us scary stories and my uncle was outside make noises in the bushes? Was it my ice skating party in 6th grade where I was showing off in my new skating dress and I fell and jammed my thumb between the ice and the wall?  The roller skating party where we thought we all though we were so cute flirting with some jr. high boys til my dad caught us and literally dragged us off the rink back to the party room…how embarrassing! Was it the party my mom planned for me in high school on the same night as the homecoming game that I sort of sulked through because I didn’t want to be late to a football game that I went to be “seen” at and not watch?  I don’t know…nothing holds fonder memories than my birthday parties…even the party  where my “friend” proceeded to make fun of me and every single one of my guests to the point where most of us were in tears – 3rd grade girls can be so mean!

What I have learned is this.  No matter how elaborate or simple the party is…your child is going to love it.  No matter how much you spend on decorations or how many tokens you give them to spend at Chuck E. Cheese, they will have a blast.   No matter how many guests there are or how many days before or after their actual birthday the party took place, they won’t remember those details. Even if you planned a party on what seemed to be the most inconvenient night of their life at the time…they’ll appreciate it…one day! What they will remember is that you, their parents, the people that they can always count on, the ones who love them more than life itself, always remembered their birthday and honored them with a special celebration each and every year.  A celebration you put together with nothing else in mind but to make them happy.  Yet, just another selfless parenting act they won’t appreciate until they themselves are parents.

So no matter what the word party conjures up in your mind when you hear it, this is what I think. Parties are about making people happy.  For me, making other people happy,  makes me happy.

Friday the 13th Party Ideas

Does the thought of spending an evening with Freddie, Jason and 5 of your best friends give you goose bumps (the good kind)? Then why not plan a Horror Movie Night this Friday the 13th?  Rent a few of your favorite horror flicks and impress your friends with your spookiest party throwing skills…here’s how:

Ideas:

• Have guests come in their favorite horror film costume
• Have guests bring their favorite horror film
• Have guests bring their favorite scary appetizer

 

Snacks:

• “Finger” foods (see recipe below)
• Popcorn (a must for movies)
• Drinks…anything blood red will do…just give them a creative name like: Devil’s Blood, Bloody Mary, or Brain Hemorrhage

Décor:

• Start at the front door with a red carpet welcome mat...
• Have the party in your creepy spider web filled basement…maybe even turn on the fog machine for the full spooky effect. Break out of some your tombstones from Halloween and a few strategically placed limbs around the room wouldn’t hurt either!

Ambience:

• Dim the lights, light some candles, and close the curtains!  Oh…and you might want to warn the neighbors about the blood curdling screams they’re about to hear!

 

Favors:

• Sticky Glow Eyes
• Fake Blood
• Glow Sticks        

 

What to rent?

 

Here’s a list of the top 13 horror movies of all time:

• Friday the 13th (of course you have to have this one!)
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• Halloween (1978)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• Nightmare on Elm Street series (original 1984)
• The Saw series
• Psycho (1960)
• Carrie (1976)
• The Evil Dead (1981)
• Dawn of the Dead (1978)
• The Shining (1980)
• Poltergeist (1982)
• The Omen (1976)

Recipes:

Cheese-Finger Food

Ingredients:

• Mozzarella string cheese
• Green bell pepper
• Cream cheese

Instructions:

1. Wearing plastic gloves or sandwich bags over your hands to keep the cheese as smudge-free as possible, use a paring knife (parents only) to cut each string in half and then carve a shallow area for a fingernail just below the rounded end of each half.
2. Mark the joint right below the nail as well as the knuckle joint by carving out tiny horizontal wedges of cheese, as pictured.
3. For the fingernails, slice a green bell pepper into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Set the strips skin side down on your work surface and trim the pulp so that it's about half as thick. Then cut the strips into ragged-topped nail shapes and stick them in place at the ends of the fingers with dabs of cream cheese.