A Theme

As I get older, I find I’m more inclined to stay at home than to go out. Of course, after long stints of reclusiveness, it’s only natural that I need to go out and socialize, to be in a loud room with people buzzing about. It’s very rare that Brad and I go to bars because, well, it’s so much cheaper to buy some beer for the house, have people over, and actually be able to have a conversation instead of shouting over some crappy band.
In this instance, to keep things fresh, I love doing a theme party.
Having people over is fun enough, but add some sort of theme to the situation and it gets crazy better!

I understand why some people might find the idea of a theme party childish, because who didn’t have a party with TMNT or Barbie paper plates, cups, tablecloths, and party hats? However, I feel like age actually makes these parties so much more fun. The sky is the limit! Themed cocktails and costumes and a place of your own (usually) to decorate!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a couple of years, then you may remember my Prohibition-Era 25th birthday party!
What started as a small idea tossed around over drinks turned into a really successful evening, with amazing people surrounding me in beautiful 20s-esque garb drinking gin cocktails and brown bottled beer without the label.
 

Not that we always have to have a theme for my birthday, but in 2013, we decided to do a brunch. I, like so many others out there, love brunch, but it’s not something we have a lot of in NEPA. Sunday Brunch is one of those beloved occasions, and little to no places have it around here. So…why not make our own?
We had sweet and savory items, such as a yogurt station courtesy of my sister and bacon and egg cups via Brad. The drinks were mimosas (oh so good) with a variety of juices and Bloody Marys, something I don’t particularly enjoy but that a lot of my guy friends do! I also really like making them for Brad. Maybe one day they will grow on me…

 

To wrap up a list of things we’ve done, last night, Brad decided to hold a “Bottom-Shelf” shindig for some of our friends who were in just for the holidays, the ones we rarely get to see, especially when they have so many people to see!
Since the holidays are over, it’s safe to say that most of us are broke from celebrating and gifting. So Brad decided he would still have a party, but keep it really really cheap. We got the best of the cheapest beers (no more than $15 bucks a case), store-brand chips and snacks, $1 party pizzas, and yes…there was even Ramen! The recommended attire was sweats or the crappiest, most comfortable things you own! It was a small party, but so fun! Any excuse to drink in sweatpants around friends works for me!

Miller High Life is actually a go-to beer for me. It’s so cheap but it’s delightful!
PBR is a given and Lionshead is our hometown brew, the stuff I drank while learning to drink in college.

The gist of this post is…HAVE A THEME PARTY!
Being around your favorite people will always be fun but adding dress codes and drink menus always makes for a more memorable occasion! There are so many more themes I would love to try (more on that later, hopefully), but it’s all about what you want to do. Ugly Sweater parties are classic, and they don’t always have to be about Christmas (there are plenty of ugly sweaters without holiday motifs). Do your friends love a particular movie/TV show/book series? Find related cocktails and dress like characters would or do! Want to relive an era you never got to experience? Go back in time! Want to dress up for no good reason? Break out the champers and wine and fine cheese and make sure not to get it on your gown or tux! Even the simplest idea, like BEER, can turn into a creative theme.

Have fun, everyone!
Oh, and if you’ve ever had an awesome theme party, do tell!

A Surprise

Growing up, we didn’t have or attend many (or any) surprise parties. It’s been a fairly new addition to my life.
I love the everything about a surprise. It can raise some anxiety for me, but it’s fun to sneak and plan and eventually change someone’s day from one plan to another. About a month and a half ago, my friend Nicole’s boyfriend (Ed) DMed Brad and I on Twitter to see if we would be willing and able to attend a dinner in Philadelphia on December 15th to celebrate Nicole’s birthday. It was early enough to make that the only plan we would have on the date. So we knew it was coming, but we had some waiting and planning to do.

Finally, the day arrived! Brad, my sister, her boyfriend, and I got in the car and headed to Philly to meet up at El Cantino Real, which was an awesome Tex-Mex restaurant. Since it was a large group of us, we enjoyed so many appetizers from a pre-fixe menu (nachos, fried pickles, veggie wing bites) along with some tasty entrees (I had the brisket tacos…so good!).
Watching Nicole and her boyfriend walk up to the tables and register that we were there was the best part…seeing her face go from confused to shocked to just plain happy…that’s why I love surprises! I know they don’t always work out, but this one was a success.
I just wish we had more time to hang out. I really need to get to Philly more.

I was all excited to share some photos I took with you. I brought my Canon Rebel specifically to take some nice photos I could play around with and edit and share here on the blog. Instead of transferring the photos over from my SDHD card, though, I accidentally highlighted every photo and DELETED them instead of copying and pasting or transferring. Because they were never actually on the computer, they completely disappeared. I tried to undo it, but no luck. I’m so bummed.

Because I had no intention of using anything but my Canon photos, I barely took any on my phone, and I’m so bummed I can’t share the little memories I have of the night with anything but words. Here’s a photo of the beer Maria and I chose to drink…

Oh man, just looking at this makes me sad of all the neat pictures I took of the restaurant. I didn’t even look at them before transferring!

UGH.
Guess it just wasn’t my week/weekend in terms of little bad luck moments.

 

 

 

Also, I just wanted to post here that I am continuing to pray for and mourn the loss of those involved in the horrible and devastating attack in Connecticut this past Friday. 
I really hope that we can open our eyes to the terror of violence and the confusion of mental health so that things like this can be prevented and altogether avoided.
“Until then, we’ll just have to muddle through somehow.”

The Roaring 20s

On Saturday, we held a Prohibition-Era themed party for my 25th birthday. It was one of the best nights of my life. Pretty much everyone I love in one place, dressed to the nines in some adorable ‘20s style fashions. We “broke the rules” and drank hooch, with an emphasis on some cocktails that originated during the 1920s (French 75s are my personal favorite, though it’s probably because I’m partial to gin). Beer was sipped from bottles without labels. Oldies blasted from the gramophone (which had an iPhone in it, streaming Pandora, ingenious).
Charlie Chaplin’s silent movies played on the TV. There was always a fake cigarette in someone’s hand.

There wasn’t a single ounce of drama. Just an amazing night with friends, on a little journey back in time.

Also, though I certainly didn’t stay in that state, there is something so fabulous about getting ready to the sounds of a jazzy 1920s singer, with wave clips in your hair, filling in your eyebrows and smacking on some dark lipstick. I highly recommend.

 

P.S. There were way more people at the party than these pics show.
Unfortunately, they aren’t the most flattering photos and it was also hard to take pictures when you’re having fun!

The (Extremely Amazing) Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to apologize for disappearing from the blogosphere since Wednesday. It has been crazy these past several days, though, and I couldn’t break away! The big thing was my birthday on Saturday! I am now 25. Woop! Anyways, I didn’t really make a huge deal about it on the blog, but Brad and I have been planning a 1920s Prohibition-Era Speakeasy themed birthday party for a while now. Hard to believe that my little random thought turned into an actual event. I couldn’t have asked for a better evening. Mason jar cocktails, all my favorite people in flapper dresses and dapper shirts and suspenders, and the realization that my life is even better than I could ever hope or ask for.

Unfortunately, with the good comes the sad. My friend Jenna (here’s one of a few posts featuring her) moved to California to live with her boyfriend (and my friend, seen here), and we had to say our “Bye for now”s. An Olive Garden date and some tearful hugs were a nice way to close that chapter. The book isn’t over, though. Just moving to the next one.

This weekend reminded me, though, that life is SO GOOD. I had off on Friday as well, and I just had the best three days of beautiful weather, birthday surprises (Canteen 900 seeing my tweet and bringing me over a surprise cupcake! Brad’s brother and sister-in-law coming in from Boston to attend the party! So many adorable presents!), and the best friends a girl could ask for.

To everyone who came to my party, wished me a happy birthday, and are simply in my life…I love you and can’t thank you enough!

“Weekend Update”

When I work Saturdays, the weekends are even shorter and sweeter than usual. It’s important to not let lost time bring me down. The highlight of the weekend came with Brad’s aunt’s birthday party. Did you know it was the first surprise party I’ve ever been to? It was Margaritaville/5 o’ clock Somewhere/Jimmy Buffett themed, so Hawaiian prints were necessary.
Can I just say how much I love theme parties? Apparently, we will be attending a 1950s themed party next weekend, and I have tons of theme ideas for when I have my own place to throw parties. Parties are already great, but making people dress up/down is that much more fun.

Also…cake pops are pretty much the bomb (I went there).

The reason this week will be a good one? It’s only 4 days! That’s right, I have a long weekend straight ahead. And it’s one of the best kinds, because I have Friday off (Fridays are an hour longer where I work…bleh). So, even if it’s a rough week in general, I have that to look forward to. Brad even asked for the day off. We are both getting haircuts and enjoying some time to ourselves.

Here’s to a great week, gang!