party ideas from evite users

Housewarming Harvest Party posted by Melissa on 9/30/08

For a fall party: Buy a bunch of pumpkin gourds and scooped out the top and put a tea-light candle in. *Using a knife, make a light dimpled outline of the tea-light's diameter then use an apple corer to remove the insides (just until the seeded part). Adding scented tea-lights is a bonus touch. Putting out several autumn table clothes (red, orange, gold, etc)are great- I had purchased mine at the thrift store($2-3 each)for added color. I used tons of baskets and bowls with cloth napkins to present the food in. I made twice baked potatoes (filling can be made 2 days ahead of time and the whole assembly can be done one day ahead- just bake when ready). I also served butterscotch & chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin & blueberry muffins, apples & grapes, veggies, and chicken. Almost all of these can be done either days before or hours before guest arrive. Don't be shy about using a slow cooker to do your meat, either. **For a game I borrowed an easel and a white board (with markers) from our church and played a personalized game of pictionary. The game was called "What are we missing" and I had written out things like a "snow shovel" for people to draw in 30 seconds. All the things listed were items that we did not own. It is fun, competitive, engaging, and informative (in case someone wants ideas for Christmas). hee hee hee... Here is a recap: candles, preferably scented to add a homey feel, cheap table cloths and cloth napkins add color, baskets bring in a country feel, make food ahead (potatoes, pumpkin, apples, grapes, and butterscotch all say "autumn") & try to personalize games. That should be a good start.