All the bridal party ideas you can handle!

Party Supply checklist for Swap Party

2012-07-26T08:53:00.001-07:00

Party Supplies

Bins, boxes, or trunks to keep items organized
Extra shopping bags
Labels or poster board
Stickers in assorted colors
Garment rack or clothes-line

(optional)
Hangers

(10 per guest—optional)
Full-length mirror

(optional)
Poker chips to use as tokens

(optional)

Swap party page

2012-07-26T08:51:00.001-07:00

Party Basics

Why do it: Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your closet, a swap party with friends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers.

Whom to invite: Friends with similar taste. For a good variety of merchandise, eight people is a manageable number, though anywhere from 3 to 20 is doable.

Invitation or e-mail? Send Real Simple’s free customizable Evite (available at realsimple.com/evite). Give guests two weeks’ notice to start gathering their belongings.

Tricks of the Trade

A swap can easily get out of hand when there’s four-ply cashmere or a Le Creuset Dutch oven up for grabs. Here’s how to maintain order.

Be clear about what’s swap-worthy.Ask friends to bring clean goods in gently used condition (that is, no ratty gym shorts or a Scrabble set missing the letter Q). Guests should also come with an extra tote bag for carting home their finds.

Stock up on supplies. Guests can claim desired items using color-coded stickers. Hangers and poster board (for signage) may also come in handy.

Establish a system. Choose one of the following swapping strategies, which should be explained in your Evite or at the start of the party.

Take turns shopping. Draw straws to pick who shops first. Limit the number of items to three per turn to keep it fair and moving fast.
Use tokens. The host hands out a poker chip for every item a guest donates. If a person brings 10 items, she gets 10 tokens with which she can purchase 10 new items.
Keep the numbers even. Everybody goes home with the same number of items that they donated.

Tip: Give guests room to spread out their items by clearing off surfaces, such as dining and side tables, and using bins and trunks to serve as display space.

Swap Option: Clothing and Accessories

How to organize: Set up a garment rack with hangers, or string up a clothesline, then prop up a full-length mirror. Make signs, and sort fashions by size, type, season, or even personality. (Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda, anyone?)

What to consider: You may want to invite people who are roughly in the same size range (though anyone can trade bags, jewelry, and scarves). Remind guests to wear tights or modest underwear the day of, which will make try-ons less awkward.

Swap Option: Children's Items

How to organize: Make it easy for parents to find what they need; group items by age (baby, toddler, 5 to 7, 8 to 11). From there, sort into categories―clothing, games, books, crafts, toys, dress-up costumes.

What to consider: Be sure the people in the group have children of different ages. You don’t want to get stuck with a room full of bouncy seats and baby monitors when everyone’s kids have already moved on to walking and talking.

Swap Option: Books, CDs, and DVDs

How to organize: Separate novels, music, and movies by genre. Or mix them up in sections, such as classics, cult favorites, new and notable, and mainstream hits. Lay them flat if you’ve got the space or sideways in bins so the spines are readable.

What to consider: Nothing is better than a personal recommendation: Ask guests to write one-sentence summaries on sticky notes and attach them to the covers. Member of a book club? Refresh your library by organizing a swap with another book club.

Swap Option: Housewares

How to organize: Anything for the home―appliances, electronics, vases―can be organized according to what room it belongs in. So blenders and colanders go to a section for the kitchen; artwork and throw pillows, the living room; and so on.

What to consider: Think of the party as a guilt-free form of regifting. There’s bound to be someone in the market for a still-in-the-box ice cream maker or a never-been-lit scented candle. Just make sure the person who gave it to you isn’t on the guest list.

Swap Option: A Hodgepodge

How to organize: Since anything and everything is allowed, you want to keep the swap from looking like a junk sale. Designate and label areas of the room as different departments, as in a store (housewares, gardening). Use bins to keep it tidy.

What to consider: People can go overboard when cleaning out their garages, so think about how much space you can dedicate to the swap. You may want to suggest that guests limit the number of items or their size (in other words, nothing bigger than a bread box).

Where to Send Leftover Goods

After the party, make sure the remains of the day go to a good home.

To donate clothing and housewares:

Goodwill: Most Goodwill branches will pick up furniture or large bags of clothing. Contact your local Goodwill to find out whether pickup service is available in your area (800-664-577), or go to goodwill.org.
The Salvation Army: Call 800-728-7825 or go to satruck.org to find a local branch or to see if there is pickup service in your area.
Dress for Success: This organization accepts women’s interview-appropriate attire. Drop off items at one of its locations (in 46 states), or mail donations. To find a location near you, go todressforsuccess.org.

Party Supplies

Bins, boxes, or trunks to keep items organized
Extra shopping bags
Labels or poster board
Stickers in assorted colors
Garment rack or clothes-line

(optional)
Hangers

(10 per guest—optional)
Full-length mirror

(optional)
Poker chips to use as tokens

(optional)

Bar Checklist

2012-07-26T08:36:00.001-07:00

Liquor

Wine

Red
White

Beer

Light
Dark

Mixers

Garnishes

Accessories

Glasses

Martini glasses
Highball glasses
All-purpose wineglasses

cheese and wine party checklist

2012-07-26T08:31:00.002-07:00

Cheeses: Serve a selection of 3 to 5 cheeses (see below for suggestions).

Accompaniments

Wines

4 bottles red
4 bottles white

Optional Upgrades

Essential Party Supplies

2 to 3 cheese boards, platters, or plates for the cheeses
5 to 6 small bowls and plates for the accompaniments
3 to 5 cheese or other knives for cutting and spreading
4 to 5 spoons and spreaders for the accompaniments
12 or more wineglasses

Extra Party Supplies

pie party

2012-07-26T08:20:00.001-07:00

black and white party

2012-07-26T08:17:00.003-07:00

Perfectly cutting a cake

2012-07-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

Party Planning Checklist

2012-07-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

Three Weeks Before

Make an invitation list.

For a large cocktail party, invite 20 percent more people than you can fit, since typically only 70 percent to 80 percent of invitees attend.
Decide on a theme, if you want one.

Make, buy, or borrow any decorations or music you may need to fit the theme.
Send invitations.

Mail, e-mail, even phone invites are all acceptable.
Plan the menu.

Assemble the recipes (choose only those that can be prepared in advance, perhaps even frozen, with just warming and assembling required on party day). Make a list of how far in advance each can be made, and compile a shopping list. Place an order with your local delicatessen or bakery, as needed.
Related: No-Stress Gourmet Buffet
Line up any help you may need.

Consider hiring a high school student or a professional to help with pre- or postparty cleaning or to pass drinks or appetizers, replenish buffet food, tidy up, and generally take some weight off your shoulders.

Two Weeks Before

Clean any crystal, china, and silverware you’ll be using.

And launder and iron linens.
Come up with a playlist.

The music should be upbeat and sufficient to last throughout the party. For a summer party, click on the link below to download a playlist.
Related: Songs for Summer Entertaining
Do a first round of grocery shopping and cooking.

Prepare any dishes that can be frozen.

One Week Before

Clean the house thoroughly.

This way, you’ll need only a quick once-over before the party. (To maintain it for the rest of the week, try the 19-minute daily routine at www.realsimple.com/quickcleanup.)
Set the stage.

Arrange the furniture as you’ll want it for the party, making sure that guests can move easily from one part of your house to another. Designate a coffee table or side table for coffee and dessert, if you’ll be serving them. Tuck away things that will be in the way, precious items that might get broken (or even be taken), and any clutter. Figure out the lighting: Using low-wattage bulbs or candlelight will create the right mood.
Take inventory of cookware and serving dishes.

If you don’t have enough for every dish you’re serving, consider purchasing inexpensive pieces from a discount or thrift store. Label each dish with a Post-it so you’ll remember what you plan to use it for at party time.
Stock the bar.

Plan three bottles of wine for every four people, three to four cocktails per guest for a two- to three-hour cocktail party.

Three Days Before

Notify the neighbors.

Let them know you’re having a party if you expect it to be large, loud, or parking-intensive.
Decorate.

Arrange candles, put up theme decorations, etc.
Check the medicine cabinet.

Remove any personal items you wouldn’t want guests to see.
Set up clean-up stations.

Place a box of salt, Wine Away (red wine stain remover), club soda, and a couple of rags in a wicker basket, and store a few in strategic places in case a nasty spill occurs.
Specify a place for coats.

Make space in a closet and fill it with hangers. You could also choose a bed for coats (make sure the room is especially tidy and free of valuables, so you won’t need to worry about them), or purchase an inexpensive portable garment rack.
Finish grocery shopping.

Make a detailed cooking schedule for your remaining dishes.

One Day Before

Set the tables.

Or set up the buffet.
Buy and arrange flowers.
Finish as much of the cooking as you can.

Also, for any foods that require cooking on party day, do as much prep (dicing, marinating, rinsing lettuce, etc.) as possible.
Give your house a once-over.

Do whatever touch-ups are needed.

Day of the Party

Finish any last-minute cooking.

This should be absolutely minimal!
Place chairs.

Don’t worry about having enough seating for everyone; fewer seats will encourage mingling.
Display food.

One to two hours before guests arrive, set out appetizers and snacks that won’t spoil. Wrap them tightly to ensure freshness; tear off the wrap when the first guest rings the doorbell.
Greet guests as they arrive.

Things should be organized so you’re free to mingle, not tied to the kitchen.

Marshmallow infused vodka

2012-06-19T14:04:00.003-07:00

1 750 ml bottle vodka
1 16 oz bag marshmallows
large clean jar with tight fitting lid

Directions

1Place marshmallows in jar.
2Pour in vodka.
3Seal, and allow to sit for 24 hours.
4Strain through a double layer of dampened cheesecloth. Dampening the cheesecloth stops it from soaking up any of the vodka. (I like to strain several times. rinsing the cheesecloth and wringing out between each round.
5Store in sealed bottle in refrigerator. Keeps for several weeks.
2 oz marshmallow-infused cake vodka (see below for recipe link)

2 oz cherry soda

1 maraschino cherry
Directions
1. 1Chill all ingredients.
2. 2Pour vodka and soda into a mixing glass - stir.
3. 3Pour into martini glass.
4. 4Drop cherry in bottom.
5. 5Enjoy!

Reese's Peanut Butter Banana Bread

2012-06-19T06:58:00.001-07:00

marshmallow dip

2012-06-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

Cotton Candy Cupcakes

2012-06-19T06:13:00.003-07:00

LOVEFROMTHEOVEN has the best ideas, for cotton candy cupcakes! YUM!

Peanut Butter Ball

2012-06-18T09:42:00.001-07:00

Shrimp Scampi

2012-06-18T09:28:00.002-07:00

Guacamole Salsa

2012-06-18T09:15:00.002-07:00

Candy Button Recipes

2012-06-18T09:05:00.006-07:00

for directions please go here!

Cherry Cola Cupcakes

2012-06-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Creative Bark Treats

2012-06-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Overload

2012-06-18T07:50:00.002-07:00

Jello Shot Cupcakes

2012-06-17T13:15:00.003-07:00

Pretzel, chocolate chip cookie

2012-06-17T12:18:00.002-07:00

Brown Sugar Buttery Popcorn

2012-06-17T12:15:00.003-07:00

I love you more than cupcakes

2012-06-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

Glassware, starbucks

2012-06-17T11:55:00.002-07:00

Pizza Making Party

2012-06-17T11:52:00.002-07:00

Fresh mozzarella, cut it into cubes. one package of sliced cherry tomatoes, and a handful of fresh basil, slice it into strips and dump on top of the tomatoes.

Cook at 350, until it looks like this!

Top with balsamic vinegar and serve with bread! YUM

All the bridal party ideas you can handle!

Party Supply checklist for Swap Party

Party Supplies

Bins, boxes, or trunks to keep items organized

Extra shopping bags

Labels or poster board

Stickers in assorted colors

Garment rack or clothes-line

Hangers

Full-length mirror

Poker chips to use as tokens

Swap party page

Party Basics

Tricks of the Trade

Swap Option: Clothing and Accessories

Swap Option: Children's Items

Swap Option: Books, CDs, and DVDs

Swap Option: Housewares

Swap Option: A Hodgepodge

Where to Send Leftover Goods

To donate clothing and housewares:

Party Supplies

Bins, boxes, or trunks to keep items organized

Extra shopping bags

Labels or poster board

Stickers in assorted colors

Garment rack or clothes-line

Hangers

Full-length mirror

Poker chips to use as tokens

Bar Checklist

Liquor

Wine

Beer

Mixers

Garnishes

Accessories

Glasses

cheese and wine party checklist

Cheeses: Serve a selection of 3 to 5 cheeses (see below for suggestions).

Accompaniments

Wines

Optional Upgrades

Essential Party Supplies

Extra Party Supplies

pie party

black and white party

Perfectly cutting a cake

Party Planning Checklist

Three Weeks Before

Make an invitation list.

Decide on a theme, if you want one.

Send invitations.

Plan the menu.

Line up any help you may need.

Two Weeks Before

Clean any crystal, china, and silverware you’ll be using.

Come up with a playlist.

Do a first round of grocery shopping and cooking.

One Week Before

Clean the house thoroughly.

Set the stage.

Take inventory of cookware and serving dishes.

Stock the bar.

Three Days Before

Notify the neighbors.

Decorate.

Check the medicine cabinet.

Set up clean-up stations.

Specify a place for coats.

Finish grocery shopping.

One Day Before

Set the tables.

Buy and arrange flowers.

Finish as much of the cooking as you can.

Give your house a once-over.

Day of the Party

Finish any last-minute cooking.

Place chairs.

Display food.