Category Archives: Parties

A Deco St. Patty’s Day Party!

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That’s right, its party time again so why not a deco St Patty’s Day party? For those who have read the prior party posts, I turn to my trusted The Party Book by Mary J. Breen. To start, invite 40-60 of your closest friends for an evening of gay frivolity. Invitations can be shamrocks cut from green construction paper or card stock decorated with shamrock stickers. Don’t forget to inform your guest they will be expected to be “A wearing of the green”!

For the proper ambience, cut large shamrocks out of green card stock and attach to floral wire. These can be placed in potted plants or bud vases. Your artistic creations can also be taped to the walls and lampshades to set a festive mood. Dangling some from the ceiling off crepe streamers as well as setting out clusters of green and white balloons will set a jolly mood.

Now for the fun. Have ready an assortment of crepe paper, construction paper, glue, tape, glitter, string, pins and several scissors. As the guests arrive, they can spend some time creating hats, brooches and anything their imaginations can come up with to wear throughout the party. They can even make extras for your fashionably late arrivals.

Time for games! Blarney Stone is a nice ice breaker. Guests sit in a circle and a small stone, (the Blarney Stone) is handed to the first guest. They must wish aloud something they wish the person next to them must do. This continues until you, as the host, blows a whistle at unexpected intervals. The unlucky guest holding the stone must comply with the wish bestowed upon them. Oh, the hilarity of it all.

For something REALLY offensive: One Third of a Pig. You need to have one more female participant than male. Your male guests sit in a circle with an empty chair between them encircling the ladies. The ladies walk in that circle to a jaunty Irish tune played on your piano or whistled by your male guests. At random intervals, you give the signal to stop and the woman run to sit in an unoccupied chair. The unseated woman is “a third of a pig” (I warned you this was offensive). The women who are seated should engage in polite conversation with the gentleman to their left for one full minute. If the “third of a pig” sees a seated lady fail to engage in conversation with her partner, she may call her out and switch places. After one minute, the whole is started again with the next unseated lady becoming the “third of a pig”. This continues until one female guest loses three times and becomes a “whole pig”. She stands in the center of the circle giving her best example of a pig – oinks and all! (I can just imagine the looks on everyone’s faces as they read this now – priceless.)

Assuming you still have guests after the prior game, something a whole lot less offensive, Gumdrop Threading. Fill a large bowl with green gumdrops. Give each guest a needle with a length of thread. See who can string the most gumdrops in two minutes using only one hand. (I suggest keeping a few Band-Aids available.)

Here’s fun one, Irish Jack Straws. Arrange a pile of green candies in the center of the table and top with a small candy or plastic pig. (Hmm, I see a theme developing.) In turn, guests remove a candy from the pile and continue until the pig falls. That guest is “out”; the candies and pig are reset and the game play continues until only one player remains. The pig becomes their prize.

Now for some Irish Croquet. Create wickets out of heavy wire and set around the floor. Give your guests a wooden spoon and a potato. The game is played in the traditional way except cheating is encouraged. (I know a few people who would like that.) If caught, however, the player must start all over again.

To calm things down after all that revelry, guests join in an informal sing along of favorite Irish tunes such as “Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms” (it brings back such memories) or the ever popular “The Harps That Once Through Tara’s Halls”, “Kathleen Mavourneen” and of course, ”When You and I Were Young, Maggie”.

Don’t forget to feed your guests! A molded gelatin salad of finely chopped apple and cabbage shaped like a shamrock served on a bed of lettuce makes a tasty treat. Minced pork and relish on potato rolls, and cream cheese with nuts and chopped peppers or chives sandwiches served with Minted Fruit Punch follow. Pistachio ice cream and cupcakes iced with green tinted frosting ends the night on a sweet note.

May the road rise to greet you

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’,’Tiquen Guys)

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A Deco Valentine’s Day Party!

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February is almost upon us and you know what that means! A deco Valentine’s Day Party.  According to my vintage party go-to book, The Party Book by Mary Breen, “This is the one day in all the year when you may indulge in unabashed sentiment.” (You go, Mary!  Wait, I didn’t mean the way it sounds.)

 

Needless to say, the theme will be red and white balloons and hearts. Lots and lots of hearts. Big hearts, small hearts, broken hearts and mended hearts. Hang them from the ceiling and hang them on the walls. Miss Breen suggests, if you are rather ambitious, you can stretch a large paper heart with a jagged tear down the middle that your guests can make a “heart-y” entrance through. (Her words, not mine.)  My suggestion is to augment the heart theme with color copies of vintage Valentine cards.  I’ve sprinkled a few examples throughout for your enjoyment (and horror!).

 

I thought this was a sweet way to start.

I thought this was a sweet way to start.

Start off the festivities by having each guest randomly pull a heart cut from card stock from a bowl. Each heart has the name of another guest. Supply crepe-paper, ribbons, doilies, scissors, paste and anything else you can think of for them to create a “special” valentine for their “love”. (Which in our more liberal times could be quite entertaining.) Each person is encouraged to write a poem, or sentiment to their intended – be sure not to sign them! The finished valentines are collected by the host (that would be you) who “delivers” them. In turn each valentine is displayed and read aloud. The other guest have a delightful time guessing who sent it.

 

Hmmm! What exactly does this mean?

Hmmm! What exactly does he mean?

For those of you who have ever had your hearts torn out by past love (something that I have never experienced – cough, cough!) here’s the game for you. Each person is given a piece of red construction paper. With their hands behind their back, they tear out a heart shape. No paper folding and no peeking! The results are examined and the person with the beast torn heart wins a small prize!

 

Although there are several more games given for your guests to enjoy I’ll only give you one more.  This one is for the ladies and a partner of her choice.

 

This isn't suggestive at all.

This isn’t suggestive at all.

Hang a wire across a room about 6 feet off the ground. From it, hang hearts from strings at various lengths. In turn, each lady is given safety scissors (no Lorena Bobbits please!), blindfolded and spun around several times. She is then handed one end of a piece of string several feet in length and her partner holds the other end. The object is, with only three snips, to try to cut down a heart. The partner may not speak but can tug on the string to assist the player toward success. Any lady who succeeds in cutting down a heart, wins a small prize. (I’m thinking a few pieces of chocolate – yum!)

 

After all this fun, refreshments are served. Sandwiches cut into heart shapes. Sponge cakes iced with strawberry icing, red Jello molds with whipped cream (the real stuff, please) and fruit punch (soft and hard). The table can be set with – you guessed it – the ever easy deco-rations outlined in previous post. Just substitute a red heart or if you are feeling really fancy, a red heart against a doily.

 

Whatever you elect to do this Valentine’s Day, be sure to let someone know you care about them. Hugs to all and Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

This one's for Anthony.

This one’s for Anthony.

Chris & Anthony

“The Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys”

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Merry Christmas the Deco Way

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Christmas (how very un-PC) is around the corner, the snow is gently falling (just not here) and it is time to get together with friends and family for a Deco Christmas Party!  Mary J. Breen, author of The Party Book states, “Here are some frolicsome holiday games for people who like to romp and run.”

 

A) Who uses the word “frolicsome” anymore?  I think I will!

B) “Romp and run” (to paraphrase the Drowsy Chaperone) has a different meaning now, but back then it just meant fun!

 

Start by deco-rating with fun and easy deco-rations.  Just modify the Hallowe’en centerpieces (see my deco-we’en post) by substituting a fir tree, star, snowflake or other appropriate design.

 

Change out the Hallowe'en cat for a simple fir tree dec-rated with foil deco-rations.

Change out the Hallowe’en cat for a simple fir tree deco-rated with foil deco-rations.

 

Speaking of fun, here are her suggestions for your Yuletide  gathering:

 

Deck the Tree:  Cut a fir tree shape out of a large sheet of green paper drawing a series of random dots on the back; tape the tree to the wall.  Provide your quests with several gummed holiday seals. (You can use some of the 10 billion you’ve gotten in the mail this year.)  Have someone play several lively Christmas (there’s that word again!) tunes on the piano while your guests march in a circle in front of the tree, trying to  deco-rate it as they pass by while keeping up with the march.   Mary Breen assures that this part of the game “is like tossing rings at a target  while the merry-go-round is in motion”.  (She’s so darn cheery!)  After the tree is deco-rated, remove it and using a pin pushed through the seals, determine who is closest to the dots on the back.  Winners are rewarded with a small prize.

 

Next on the agenda is the Cranberry Relay: Divide your guests into several teams and have them line up in rows giving each guest 5 cranberries.  About eight feet in front of each team, have a funnel inside a tall glass.  In turn, each guest moves to the front of their line and tosses their cranberries (hopefully not their cookies) into the funnel.  When each guest has had their turn, the team with the most cranberries in the glass wins. (Just add Vodka!)

 

Wait! You want even more fun?  Provide each team with garland, tinsel, bells, crepe paper, etc., enough to deco-rate a tree.  One team member becomes the “tree” and stands across the room from their team members with the deco-rations in a box next to him/her. On the word to begin, each team member in turn, runs to the box, picks up a deco-rations and pins or places it onto the “tree”.   The action continues until all the deco-rations are used.  Much hilarity ensues (Mary B. is REALLY optimistic!) and the team with the best deco-rated “tree” wins.  (And the prize better be a good one!).

 

And the results are in!

And the winner is…

 

When all the laughter subsides, serve refreshments with “all the pomp and circumstance of an old English Christmas” (I keep using “that word”).  It is suggested carolers bring in the “wassail” bowl (hot spiced punch) and encourage the rest of the guests to sing traditional songs.

 

After your guests leave, take little un-PC break just like this Santa:

 

A very un-PC Vintage 1920's Santa ad.

Vintage 1920’s Santa ad.

 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys)

 

 

 

 

 

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The Deco Party

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Who doesn’t love to a throw or attend a party? In the twenties, thirties and forties, apparently many people did and they did their best to make it an event.  On our travels, I picked up a couple of books dedicated to “the party”: food, decorations and games.

Vintage party books
Vintage party books

The Party Book by Mary J. Breen (1939) starts her introduction with the simple words, “Let’s have a party!” and ends it, “Here’s hoping you’ll have a good time!” I hope the same for you.

 

Now anyone who personally knows me, will attest that I throw the most excruciatingly terrible parties. (For those old enough to remember The Mary Tyler-Moore show, a running gag was her awful get-togethers.  I ‘m in her league.) It is therefore ironic that Anthony can throw a party together that is both brilliant in guests and conversation.  It helps that he can mix a mean cocktail!

 

But I digress. In the book, parties are divided into several categories: Sprightly Parties for Everybody; Gay Parties for Lively People; Dances with an Air; Children’s Parties; Outdoor Parties and Picnics; Banquets; and Fun for Funds. Also listed are party games and stunts to keep your guest entertained.

 

Fear not, I don’t intend to spell out every party or detail but who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to throw your very own theme party in the deco style. P.S.: Please invite me!

Snow Frolic Party
Snow Frolic Party

“When winter comes – and you want to give a party, what could be better then a Snow Frolic, a realistic one with a Ski Tow, Ski Races and a Snow Battle Free-For-All…” Start by making your invitations with green paper using white ink and decorating it with a snowman or crossed skis in the corner. Add a snow effect by covering the invite with a fine wire mesh and use a toothbrush to rub a bit of the white ink over the invitation. (See how easy – who needs premade multipack invitations so readily available now-a-days?) Decorate the party space with fresh evergreens sprinkled with cotton or artificial snow. To blot out your ceiling, string wires across the room then hang tinsel and snow balls (cotton balls on thread).  Cover wall lights with blue cellophane and center ceiling lights can be covered with clusters of blue and white balloons.  Don’t forget the snowman made out of cotton!  (Then get out the spackle and touch up paint for later.)

 

 

I am already exhausted.  The instructions continue to limit teams for the games to 10 or 12, assuming you are inviting 60 guests (better start on those invites).

 

Speaking of games, the Free-For-All snow ball fight is the easiest to describe (and could be a lot of fun depending on the strength of the libations).  To start, white and blue balloons serving as the “snow balls” are placed on the floor.  The more you have the better.  Guests are divided into 2 teams – White and Blue.  The object is to destroy as many of the opponent’s balloons as possible while retrieving your own team’s within the three minute time limit.  Safe to say, there won’t be any balloons left intact at the end of the melee. The point of the game – well, actually there is no point, at least none given.

 

Afterwards, let your guests rest and serve them coffee and donuts.  “If you have a victrola, play the “Blue Danube” or some other waltz and the skaters will surprise you – and doubtless, themselves too – with their grace and skill on the ice.”  Oh, did I mention a suggestion was made to pull up your rugs and highly wax your floors to make them super slippery like ice?

 

This is just an example of the lengths and creativity gone into  ensure a memorable evening for your guests (and possibly your homeowner insurance).  I know I’d remember it!

Entertain your guests with this fun activity
Here is some more frivolity for your guests to enjoy!

More ideas later and happy partying!

Chris and Anthony, the “Freakin’, ‘Tiquen” guys!

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