Beaujolais

Wine parties were held the world over last night for the ritual uncorking of Beaujolais Nouveau.  Bottles of 2013 Beaujolais were opened at midnight on November 20th.  Japan is the biggest market and usually the first to uncork but the US consumed more than 2 million bottles in 2012.  A young wine, not suited for storage, it is marketed during the month of November each year.

December celebrations

This month brings us a plethora of party occasions:  Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and the Winter Solstice.....lots of feasting with these festivities.  Yay! 
While embracing the traditional, I also look for unusual occasions to celebrate.  That is why my December event will be a "the End of the World" party. There are theories that this will occur on 12-21-12 according to the Mayan calendar.  Follow along as I'll share my ideas in the next few posts.

October celebrations

October is National  Clock, Apple, Dessert,  Energy Awareness, Pizza, Popcorn popping,  Roller Skating, and Stamp collecting Month.  you can also hold a party to celebrate the birthdays of  John Adams, Teddy Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Picasso,  Grover from Sesame Street, Little Orphan Annie, or Mickey Mantle,

Anniversaries this month honor the first singing of the Star Spangled Banner, the first airing of Captain Kangaroo, the first demonstration of the light bulb, the first publication of the Peanuts comic strip, the premiere of American Bandstand, the launch of the first space vehicle, Sputnik I, the organization of the International Red Cross, and  the opening of the Guggenheim Museum.  How about a fall themed party on Look at the Leaves
Day?  Or getting into party clothes on Tuxedo Day?   Happy Halloween

August celebrations

August is American Artist Appreciation, Foot Health, and Home Business Month; also, National Catfish, Golf, Inventors, and Water Quality month.  We  can celebrate National Clown, Elvis, Apple, Smile, Dance, and Air Conditioning Appreciation weeks,too.
How about a birthday party for Francis Scott Key, Betty  Boop, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, Bill Clinton or Wilt Chamberlain? Other special days commemorate the debut of MTV, the founding of Switzerland, the first income tax, the issue of the Lincoln penny, the establishment of the Coast Guard, and the patent of the waffle iron.   I'm sure to celebrate National Chocolate Chip, Filet Mignon, Creamsicle, Peach Pie, Watermelon, Sponge Cake, and Ice cream sandwich days.
And let's not miss Middle Children's, International Left-handers, Book lovers and Sea Serpent days.
A party is called for on Wiggle Your Toes, Dream (MLK speech delivered), Be an Angel, Sit Back and Relax Days.
Enjoy the last month of summer!

International Picnic Day

What a fun party!  Spread your blanket and lazily eat.  Caviar, crackers and champagne or a sandwich, salad and soda. High brow or low down good, do it your way.  (Buzz:  someone suggested that if you place a food item several feet away, the ants will all go there and not disturb you)

June celebrations

June is National Fruit and Vegetable, Rose, Tennis, and Iced Tea month.  The month also celebrates Dairy, Great Outdoors, Drive Safe, and Zoos and Aquariums and includes National Fishing, Camping, and Clay weeks.  June's special days include Donald Duck's, Superman's, Oscar the Grouch's and Garfield's Birthdays; anniversaries of the first US space walk, hot air balloon flight and the Ford motor car; Fly a Kite and Power of a Smile Day, Father's Day, Flag Day, and a most welcomed First Day of Summer and last day of school.

Entertaining ideas

This morning I attended a class at Pottery Barn on Backyard Entertaining.  These are always fun when I can remember to go (thank you, Sue, for the reminder.)  The focus was on a red, white and blue theme with Memorial Day and the Fourth of July approaching. A clever place setting was created with a small galvanized pail (3 for $15) which held a flag napkin, cutlery, a beverage and a bottle opener. What a great idea!

I found another theme for summer entertaining (only 31 days away!)  I bought a fishnet tablecloth, shell napkins and small buoys which I will tie around the napkins and add a tag to serve as a place card and will also be the party favor.

Finger Food Friday

A tip of my hat to Sue for naming this night.  I love themes!  We all brought appetizers and with wine enjoyed the first warm evening on her outdoor bistro.  It was wonderful! 

May celebrations

May is National Asian Pacific American Heritage, Asparagus, Flower, National Bar-B-Que, National Egg, National Duckling, National Hamburger, Salad, Strawberry and Older Americans Month.  If those aren't enough reasons to party, how about Mother Goose, International No Diet, Dance like a Chicken, National Tap Dance, Pack Rat, Kite, Limerick, and/or No Socks Day.  There are also two special days: National Teacher (Always the Tuesday of the first full week of May) and Mother's Day (on the 13th)   Enjoy!

Shoe swap party

 A fun idea for a party came from a suggestion by Deb.  She asked about my school vacation plans and all I had on the agenda was sorting out my Spring wardrobe and putting away a 'mountain' of shoes.  One thing led to another with plans being made right then and there for a girls night out on the last day of vacation.





A perfect fit!  The bottle of wine and the bottle holder.  Deb was so clever to find this pair.  They are so cute and so shoe-tible for this party.  Thank you so much.  (The pump is even in her colors!)


The napkins carry out the theme with clever sayings like "true love comes in pairs" and "stimulate the economy one shoe sale at a time".

 

                                                             Canape spreaders even supported the theme.

Humorous Day

April is National Humor month and today is Humorous Day. Q: How many procrastinators does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: One - but he has to wait until the light gets better.  :)  Jokes liven up a party.  I've been known to circulate printed jokes that support a themed event to all present.  I've even timed the delivery by giving one or two jokes to one or two people to tell sporadically throughout the event.  This device depends on the event; rarely effective in a large group as individual conversations prevail and your audience is few but a small group setting works.  

Friday the 13th 2012

Another Friday the 13th!  This is a fun theme for a party.  Check out my blog (use search tab below right) to see how I did it last year.  A little late for this Friday but there is one more on the calendar this year in July.  If you want to plan for then you might be interested in my 'party in a box'.  See thepartybee.com for details.

April celebrations

April is Autism Awareness Month, International Guitar Month, Keep America Beautiful Month,National Child Abuse Prevention, Frog, Garden, Humor,Volunteer, Math Education, Poetry, and Stress Awareness Month.  There are occasions to party on the anniversary of the installation of the first home phone or the opening of the first public library, Earth Day, the discovery of the North Pole, Passover,  Leonardo DaVinci's birthday, National Sibling Day, and one of my favorites, No Housework Day.

Sheelah's Day

Partying today extends St. Patrick's Day frivolities another 24 hours.  Yesterday was celebrated by drinking Irish whiskey and that ends today with a 'drowning ceremony' when a shamrock is 'drowned' in the last glass of the evening.  Slainte!

March celebrations

March is American Red Cross month as well as National Frozen Food, Craft, and Nutrition month.  We also celebrate Music in our schools and Woman's History month. Bubble Gum week begins March 6.  You can also host a party for Dr. Suess', Barbie, or Big Bird's birthday, the invention of the parachute, Coca-Cola and the rubber band.

        And of course, everyone is Irish and 
               parties on St. Patrick's Day, the 17th.

Pizza Night

Last week I was transported to Italy via a menu.  Kitty's daughter, Jill, a Sicilian by marriage, treated us to authentic pizza creations.  The array of toppings was bountiful as were the suggested pizzas. 

  We learned which ingredients are used before baking and which are to be applied as toppings.  The combinations were varied and all were delizioso.  Each began with tomato sauce spread on the pre-baked crust.  Then you made your own using the suggested menu above or a pie individualized to your own tastes.  My creation included fresh mozzarella, baked breaded eggplant, roasted red pepper and shredded mozzarella before baking.  Afterwards I layered on proscuitto, arugula and shaved parmesan.  Jill suggested a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.  A veritable feast and I finished it all!  

Jill's ricotta pie was, according to her, an experiment since ingredients varied somewhat here.  What a happy surprise!  Scrumptious!  Grazie

February celebrations

February is American Heart, Black History, and International Friendship Month.  Also, National  Cherry, Embroidery, Grapefruit and Snack Food Month.  We also celebrate the anniversary of the patent for the bottle cap, the day Monopoly first went on sale, Yellowstone becoming the world's first National Park, the founding of the Boy Scouts and the debut of Mr. Roger's neighborhood.  Birthday parties are in store for Elmo, Levi Strauss (Inventor of jeans - now that's a reason to party!) Longfellow, and Babe Ruth.  Chocolate reigns this month with World Nutella Day, the anniversary of the founding of Hershey's, and Valentine's Day. While there is an actual No Brainer Day, it isn't difficult to figure on a party for Leap Day as February 29th only occurs once every 4 years, and that's a long time to wait for this party. There is a day set aside for Random Acts of Kindness but this shouldn't need a special day but be a daily practice. 

Soup 'r Sundae

Plans are underway for this party that's a play on words for the biggest day in football.  For me, it's all about food and friends.  As the name indicates, the menu will have a choice of soups followed by a make-your-own sundae bar.

Chinese New Year

The Year of the Dragon begins on January 23rd in 2012 and lasts for 15 days.  The start date varies each year but the traditions remain the same.  Visits from friends and family are important and red envelopes with a coin inside are often exchanged.  The house is cleaned to remove any bad luck from the previous year to allow for good luck in the new year.  New clothes are worn, usually red and hair is cut. Certain foods are considered lucky.  Noodles are eaten for long life, fish for abundance, and round shaped food like coins symbolizes wealth. The festival is marked by parades and fireworks.  Gung hay fat choy!

Thesaurus Day

Today is thesaurus day, your source for "what's another word for______?" So.... let's be social, gather with friends, assemble for fun, have a blast, celebrate, carouse, kick up your heels, raise the roof, let loose, create an affair, plan a function, host an event, have a ball, feast, fete, revel, get your groove on, live it up, make merry and party!