You may have heard, I love to throw a party. Big or small, formal or casual, well planned out to each and every detail or an impromptu last minute thing (my controlling nature prefers the former, of course).
sunday night dinner
In college with my own place, the hostess in me blossomed. My housemate and I would host Sunday Night Dinners each week, where a large group of friends would each contribute and we would have a great feast. A great way to both end the weekend and welcome the new week, our friends would linger into the late hours, not wanting the night to end. It was at these dinners where I also started to get creative in the kitchen, often planning my part of the menu early in the week before.
Although they were planned events, the Sunday Night Dinners were more casual get togethers with no real structure - just friends sharing a meal and socializing.
pageant nights
Later in college, I would host girls nights in a much different way - pageant nights. Each and every pageant that was televised, from Miss USA to Miss America to Miss Universe, I hosted viewing parties that began with a cocktail hour and ended with a dinner and of course, the crowning of a new pageant winner. Using a time saving hostess trick of making a signature cocktail for the evening, I would greet each guest at the door with said cocktail and choice of tiara to wear... from my collection. Dinner would be served shortly after the pageant began - I would always plan an appetizer, salad, main entree and dessert courses. Elaborately fun evenings - I sometimes think I should start them up again!
Pageant nights revolved around the televised event and girls being girls - aside from my menu planning, the night flowed along the schedule of the pageant. Easy planning there.
modern day tupperware party
Other girls nights are easy to plan as well - a candle party, purse party, housewares party (I always ask my girlfriends ahead of time if they are interested - if I get enough positive response, I go ahead with it). These are fun events, and again the only planning involved on my end is the menu. These parties are best with several small plate options - finger foods set out where guests can nibble and graze. Cocktails or wine also make the event lively and fun.
naked lady party
Come on, minds out of the gutter. Similar to the "buying party", another girls night in could be a Naked Lady Party - where all the girls show up with clothes, shoes, accessories they no longer want - and we swap! Everything unclaimed at the end goes to charity. These can include a potluck, to cut down on your food planning, and again don't forget the cocktails or wine. You have a fun girls night and come away with new outfits as well!
karaoke night!
One of my favorite impromptu get togethers? Karaoke night at my house. Cocktails or wine, small plate and finger foods, and the courage to sing just for the fun of it are all required for a successful karaoke party. Such a fun time. Always.
small plate ideas for girls night in:
spinach blini with pimiento spread
reuben rolls with homemade thousand island
seven layer dip with 'noocho cheese'
What is your favorite girls (or guys) night in?
Faith says
You are so much fun, I love your girls night in party ideas! The Naked Lady party sounds fabulous!
spabettie says
aw, thanks! wish you could come to one of the parties... Naked Lady parties ARE so fun, and hey, we all get new clothes!
ruthee says
i just started my subscription. I noticed your blog from gojee. anyhow, i was just thinking about how i have long lost my friends that liked to cook together, and that I want to try motivating them again. As much as I would do it all myself, i hope it were easier to find people willing to make it a collaborative effort. I laughed when reading your blog as I am getting geared up for the school year, and realized a sunday dinner party tradition could be great motivation not to leave a grueling day of sunday work to conclude each week! Thanks for throwing out some fun ideas! I hope to find some more boy inclusive... anyways, the picture of the pink drink with jalapeno slices was missing a recipe that I wanted !!
spabettie says
hi Ruthee, thank you for subscribing, and thanks for saying hello! glad you like some of these ideas - I loved the Sunday Dinners and would love to start something like that again - it was a nice way to ... start the week?
the drink with the jalapeno slices is my jalapeno margarita, link here --> jalapeno margarita