All posts tagged with: Entertaining

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Theme parties are a great way to get a group of friends together. With a few key items and attention to detail, you can turn a modern room into a disco inferno! Here are some tips to hosting a successful 70’s retro disco party.

The cheapest way to get a costume is to break into your parents, grand parents, aunt and uncles closets and attics – they are more than likely to have a few retro / vintage pieces that would work great. If that’s not an option, head to your local thrift store – there are always good finds if you look close. Alternatively, vintage shops have wide selections of authentic clothing, however, you’ll pay a higher price.

Having the right snacks on hand will help set the mood. Borrow retro dishware from friends or buy is from second hand stores –people will certainly notice the detail here. Here are some great examples of traditional 70’s party food to serve:

• Celery with cheese whiz
• Devilled eggs
• Triscuits with sausage, marble cheese and a olives
• Ritz cracker and cheese whiz
• Pickles – yum yum’s, gherkins, and sweet onions
• Jelly fruit salad

For décor, it’s easy to change the mood of the room by using fabrics. Look for brown, gold, orange, purple and lime green – fall colour palettes with contrasting bright colours work best. Use them to cover couches, tables and other furniture. Changing a lampshade is another easy way to take a room back in time. Don’t forget the disco ball!

Finally, set the tone by playing era specific music playing the in the background. Bee Gee’s,  Dr Hook, Village People, Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge, and Kenny Rogers are just a few of the artists to ensure you have loaded into your retro iTunes playlist.

Serve classic cocktails including Tom Collins, Greyhounds, fruit punch and Pink Lady’s!

Alright folks, many of you have china tucked away in your china cabinets, storage closets, basements and attics – it’s time to bring them out and have a traditional English High Tea. It’s simple to do and a lot of fun. Besides, why not put your china to good use – after all, it was meant to be used, not stored away forever.

An easy English high tea would include cucumber, egg salad or salmon salad sandwich cut into four pieces, tea and biscuits.

To make a perfect pot of tea, pour cold water into a kettle and let it come to a hard boil. While the kettle is boiling, pour hot water into your tea pot. When the kettle is comes to the hard boil, dump the hot water from the tea pot, put in your fresh tea, and add the freshly boiled water. Cover and let steep for four minutes. When it’s done steeping, remove the tea and discard.

Depending on what kind of tea you are serving you can add sugar, honey, lemon, milk or cream.

When attending a tea party, remember standard etiquette says only the Tea Mother can serve and pour tea from the pot, unless the he / she grants you permission.

Now, go find your china and enjoy it!