PARTY IDEAS NOVEMBER 2015
Housewarming
PARTY GUIDE
FAMILY DINNER CLUB
PARTY GUIDE
Party
GIFTS
Top Party Trends from the Experts at Evite
CONTENTS
5
FAMILY DINNER CLUB PARTY
17
RECIPES
21
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
36
HOUSEWARMING PARTY GIFTS
25
HOUSEWARMING PARTY GUIDE Warmly welcome guests to your humble abode by planning a homey housewarming party.
2 | Evite
INVITATIONS
Get the gang together to eat, drink and relax with this premium Evite invitation. Invite guests
Eat, Drink & Relax
Plan an evening full of food, friends and fun with this premium Evite invitation. Invite guests
Good Food
3 | Evite
Invite friends over for a fun-filled evening friendship with this free Evite invitation. Invite guests Gather Together
‘Tis the season to celebrate! Get together with friends and family by sending this free Evite invitation. Invite guests Get Together
Gather for a fabulous fall feast by sending this free Evite invitation. Invite guests Cheese Board
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How to Start a
Family Dinner Club Make mealtimes easier—and more fun—by organizing a dinner club with another family (or three!). Get these tips on how to start your own family dinner club, brought to you by Rubbermaid® Easy Find Lids™.
DINNER PARTY PRO-TIP
Families can bring food to each gathering in storage containers, then use them again to take home leftovers. (Tip: Since the lids to Rubbermaid® Easy Find Lids™ containers snap onto the bottom of the containers themselves, they won’t get lost.)
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8 | Evite
9 | Evite
DINNER IS SERVED
Consider choosing a theme for each meeting (such as comfort food, Mexican, backyard BBQ or makeyour- own-pizza night), then make your meal to match.
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DO-ITYOURSELF DINNER
A family-friendly buffet bar, such as this baked potato bar, is a sure hit. Offer toppings, from bacon bits to shredded cheddar cheese, in small containers (like Rubbermaid® Easy Find Lids™ Containers).
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12 | Evite
13 | Evite
CRANBERRY GRANITA For dessert, stick to something simple like this easier-than-it-looks cranberry granita.
Get the full recipe
15 | Evite
DECORATIONS Keep decor simple and kid-friendly: Lay down a patterned tablecloth to help hide food stains. Then let kids cut flower bouquets or branches from your backyard and arrange them in vases in the center of your dining table. For child-safe candlelight, purchase LED pillar candles or tea lights.
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DO-AHEAD BEST DRESSED SALAD INGREDIENTS SALAD DRESSING 1 small shallot, minced—about 2 tablespoons 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil
SALAD
1/2 English cucumber, sliced 1 1/2 cups of canned mandarin oranges, drained 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup sliced almonds 2 - 6 ounce bags of Italian blend salad lettuce 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Rinse lettuce and prep cucumbers and oranges— set aside. Combine all of the salad dressing ingredients in a Rubbermaid® 3 Cup Easy Find Lids™ Glass Container. Seal the lid and shake for 30 seconds to combine all of the ingredients.
Pour the dressing into the bottom of a Rubbermaid® 2.5 Gallon Easy Find Lids™ Plastic Container.
Over the dressing, layer the heartier ingredients— cucumber, oranges, cranberries and almonds. Next pour in the cut lettuce and top with the feta cheese. Seal the lid onto the container and place into the refrigerator or cooler until ready to serve.
Toss salad and serve.
17 | Evite
CRANBERRY GRANITA INGREDIENTS
4 cups of sweetened cranberry juice 1/2 cup sugar Juice of 2 limes, about 1/4 cup 2 cups fresh cranberries for garnish
Stir the first 3 ingredients together in a small pot and place over low heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and cool.
Pour mixture into RubbermaidŽ 1.5 Gallon Easy Find Lids™ Container. Freeze until icy around edges, about 45 minutes.
Using a fork, scrape icy portions into middle of container. Freeze again and repeat step of scraping icy crystals with a fork 1-2 times until the granita has flaky crystals all the way through, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep frozen.)
Scrape granita into serving dishes and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
19 | Evite
FAMILY ACTIVITIES Kid-focused activities help keep little ones occupied. Lay out a jigsaw puzzle and a pack of cards so kids can play games like Go Fish. Or consider playing a party game to keep kids entertained: After everyone’s seated, instruct one player to close his or her eyes. While their eyes are closed, everyone else takes one item off the table (such as a spoon, napkin or salt shaker) and hides it in their lap. The first player then opens his or her eyes and tries to guess what’s missing from the table.
21 | Evite
INVITATIONS
Tell your friends to make themselves at home...in your new home! Host a housewarming party with this premium Evite invitation. Invite guests
Happy House
Break in your brand-new home by hosting a housewarming open house with this premium Evite invitation. Invite guests
Charming Doorway
After you get your shiny new space in tip-top shape, invite friends over for a funfilled housewarming open house with this free Evite invitation. Join Us
Invite guests
Turn your new house into a home by inviting friends to a housewarming party with this free Evite invitation. Invite guests Red Window
Home sweet home! Welcome friends to your new digs by sending this free Evite invitation. Invite guests Our Nest
Want to see more invitation designs? Get the party started 24 | Evite
Housewarming Party Guide Warmly welcome guests to your new abode by planning a homey housewarming party. Read below to get top tips, brought to you by RubbermaidŽ Easy Find Lids™.
HOUSEWARMING 101
Priority #1: Breaking in the new home, whatever that means to you and your friends — dinner party, game night, dancing until dawn...it’s up to you.
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Priority #2: Not breaking your new home. Just bought new furniture and put down carpeting? Stick with no-stain white wine, Champagne or sparkling water, and set up a designated smoking area outside where errant ashes won’t collect on furniture.
Decide whether you want to host a daytime or evening housewarming: Having a party in the morning or afternoon shows off your place inside and out in the best light, but an evening affair may feel more festive. 28 | Evite
DECORATIONS
You’ve just moved in, so the pressure is off. Still, you only get one shot at a first impression -- and now’s your chance to bask in the oohs and aahs as you introduce your guests to your new digs. Even if you’re still moving in, hang some photos or artwork to make it feel more like a home. Add flowers and a simple banner and you’re ready for your first guests.
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30 | Evite
DISHES
Remember, spending time with friends and family is the reason you’ve invited everyone to your housewarming. Serving room-temp finger foods will keep you out of the kitchen and in the mix.
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32 | Evite
DRINKS
Serve something special like Champagne to commemorate the occasion. Don’t forget to have nonalcoholic alternatives such as sparkling water, cider or soda on hand as well. Set out lemon and lime slices in small bowls, such as these Rubbermaid® Easy Find Lids™ containers.
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PARTY FAVORS Package store-bought sweet treats in clear plastic favor bags or small plastic containers (like these from Rubbermaid® Easy Find Lids™) and attach one of our free printable gift tags for a personal touch.
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34 | Evite
ACTIVITIES
Leave a guest book by the front door and ask everyone to sign it and/or share new-neighborhood recommendations on home help, such as a handyman, plumber or cleaning service.
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GIFTS
If you’re attending a housewarming, it’s common courtesy to come with a gift. Consider bringing something your host can use on a day-today basis, like storage containers for easy kitchen organization— you can even print out and attach our free printable labels to make pantry organization a snap. Or check out our top 5 housewarming gifts for more ideas.
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36 | Evite
JOIN THE PARTY