Friday, September 25, 2015

5 Tips for an EZ Halloween Party!

The Headlines:


Planning Parties are Fun!

But they're also hard.

Here are 5 ways to make them easier. 




It's about this time of year, or before, I start to think about Halloween.  It's a holiday I've, finally, come to embrace and it's another reason to throw a party.  But parties are a lot of time & money.  Everyone needs a little help along the way.  Use these 5 tips and your party will practically plan itself!  Boo-ya!


1 - Send (a DIY) E-card
Start with your card.  I'm a big fan of paper invites but sometimes ya gotta take the EZ way out!  So why not create your own?  I have an App called A Beautiful Mess - check it out HERE - which allows me to put graphics, pictures and filters on my photos.  Therefore, I take this photo of a pillow on my sofa...


and turn it into this:



Then I send it over my phone or email.  Easy.  done.  Next.

2 - Enlist help
Look closely at that invite.  I ask for help!  I used to HATE asking people to bring stuff to a party at my house but I got over it.  I don't ask all the time... but sometimes.  It really takes off some of the pressure.  Not to mention, people really LIKE to help.  They WANT to bring something.  Usually.  So let them!

3 - Make an EZ Main Dish!
Serve food that you can whip up in 2 seconds flat.  Or 10 seconds.  Just easy stuff.  Crockpot required!  For a Halloween Party... Chili is always in order.  I gave you a CHILL CHILI recipe last year - find it HERE - this year I have another that's just as easy but with a few more ingredients!

Some people may even use it as a dip... because it's a little thicker - it has flour in it!


Chili/Dip
Here's what you need: 
2 lbs hamburger
1/2 tspn. cayenne
6 tblspns flour
2 heaping tblspns taco seasoning
2 cans black beans
chopped green onions
chopped cilantro
4 tbspns 4 butter
2 cups cheese
2  1/2 cups milk
3 cups salsa
1 cup water

Here's what you do: 
Place all the ingredients in a crock pot.  Make sure the flour is mixed in well or it will clump.  People will be eating dough balls in their chili.  Not good.  Then, leave pot on low for at least 5-6 hours.  I kinda forget exactly how long... just monitor it.


Until it looks more like this... the beauty of this Chili/Dip is there's really nothing to serve with it except maybe for some extra cilantro because everything is INSIDE!  It's rich and thick... perfect to put on top of HOT DOGS.  Maybe some tortilla chips.  And look at that... your main dish is DONE!



4- Add 1 or 2 Show Stoppers!
If you're throwing a party you need a few things that will stop people in their tracks.  Be it a drink, a dish, a treat or something fun to do/look at.  You can try this Cantaloupe Martini



 It is - stop you in your tracks - good.  And, as always, EZ.  The recipe is HERE ... or you can always use this Fabulous  BOO Cupcake recipe (with a special surprise inside)



that will make the kids and adults, for that matter, sing your praises.  Get it HERE!  Or try this semi-healthy alternative:


It's an Apple Dip.  Perfect for FALL.  My friend has made this for years.  Super simple.  It just turns a  healthy food - up a notch!

Here's what you need:
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 tspn vanilla
1 tspn milk
 3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup powered sugar

Mix it all together and serve!  You can add some simple cookies with it too... Yum!


Finally, do this NOW:

5 - Decorate
This part you can enjoy all month long.  I did a blog on Halloween Decor last week.  Read it HERE ... just some simple ideas that you can throw together so easily - but so much fun!

Now isn't that SCARY?  Your party is planned!  One more BOO-YA!

9 comments

  1. Of course - or start your own! it's become a tradition... tons of fun!

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  2. Oh that apple pie dip sounds delicious!! I'm going to have to try it. Pinning.

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  4. You are so good at the (easy) party planning..seriously! LOVE this!

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  5. OMG this is like 4 posts in one! Great party, can I come?! PS--make a pinnable graphic for each of your recipes and it becomes 3 posts we can pin!!

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  6. OMG this is like 4 posts in one! Great party, can I come?! PS--make a pinnable graphic for each of your recipes and it becomes 3 posts we can pin!!

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  7. see.... i don't know how to do that! errrgggghhhhh!

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