by KJ Howe
With the holiday season upon us, our social calendars are filled with celebratory events for work, family, and friends. Hairdressers are double-booked, red lipstick flies off the shelves, and the stilettos and bling escape the back of our closets. It's time to party!
Back in the day, a party was just a party, but these days, themed parties are the way to go--the more outrageous, the better. For example, I recently attended a party where everything echoed the Academy Awards...yes, those two "Oscars" sandwiching me stood perfectly still on a stage for over two hours as people traipsed down the red carpet (and were interviewed) on their way in. What fun!
I'd love to hear about your themed parties, real or imagined, that you might find enjoyable. The commenter with the most entertaining idea (remember, real or imagined!) will win a $10 Barnes and Noble gift certificate. Let your imagination soar!
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the Bandits this year and to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Look for that mistletoe!
83 comments:
Oh my gosh- KJ, that party sounds awesome! Or, at least like it was a lot of fun!
We've done murder mysteries - and had to dress in character- Ancient Rome, China in the 20s, modern day...
Also with JCL there were a lot of roman themed things- everyone had to wear togas - well, the newest members wore slave togas :P then "citizens" wore togas, and senior members wore costumes, either minor deities or major deities... lots of fun there.
Too tired to think of a super cool themed party. Keep migrating to "international" - which would be fun, but huge and... "messy."
Also! For all you Bandita friends in the US, I have $10 restaurant.com giftcards to give away [30+], and would be more than happy to send you one - just let me know if you'd like one!
Also, KJ - forgot to mention [was blinded by the gold "Oscars" :P] I love your dress!!!
Wow, KJ! You look gorgeous!
Anyway, I'm recalling the GR's family reunion from a while back, and thinking that it was one of the most entertaining parties I've been to in an age (um, it's true that it could be argued that I don't get out much ;)) It might be a bit hard to get dressed properly for though--I don't have ready access to a chicken costume...
Congrats on the GR, Limecello!
And a big thank you to you and the other Banditas for the fun year round, KJ!!
Hi KJ
I wanted to remind everyone that one comment from Kim's blog will receive a special bandita prize of rooster cookie cutters and mix.
Themed parties - I've been to some murder mystery parties where you're supposed to figure out who done it, but that's about it on a big scale. Most of the parties we attend are more of a food-related party. My favorite had a theme of aphrodisiacs. The main course was tenderLOIN. Appetizers included weiners and nuts, as well as oysters. Can't remember all the other dishes - but it was fun.
When it comes around to my turn again, I think I'll have a theme of the last dinner served on the Titanic. I have the cookbook...
Congrats limecello have fun with him
Well it is Christmas Eve here in Australia actually as I type this is is 5-00pm so it won't be long and Santa will be arriving YAY.
I haven't been to many themed parties at all the one I remember most was a Christmas party many years a go with a 70's theme and I loved it mainly because that was the era I grew up in and it bought back lots of memories and it was fun digging through the closets finding stuff that I could wear.
Merry Christmas to all I hope your Christmas is filled with lots of love and fun and thank you Bandits for another awesome year.
Have Fun
Helen
I don't know about a themed party but I always said if I got married again (Ha! Ha!) I wanted to get married on Halloween and everybody come in costume and after the ceremony we'd have an old fashioned reception/party with bobbing for apples and all that good stuff.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! to Helen, Anna, Christine and all our other Australian friends
Hey, Lime, congrats!
And don't forget the 12 Days of Bandita Christmas prize as well. It's been an absolute bonanza of goodies leading up to Santa Day!
Kim, what a fabulous photo. And you know I adore that dress - you wore it to the last RITA awards and I had serious envy. Mind you, some of my envy is that you've got a figure to wear something so spectacular! It's an absolute peacock of a dress.
About the time I turned 21, there was a huge fashion for themed parties. For example, my 21st was an Australia party and I went as Ayers Rock. No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you! Snork. Haven't been to so many themed parties since. Sounds like it would be fun to start up the tradition again.
And hey, guys, it's Christmas Eve here in Oz! HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Hi KJ,
The Oscar party sounds fun. One our friends once celebrated a birthday with a Hawaiian themed party. We bought a bunch of decorations from Party City and tried to make it look like we were at a luau. We didn't get the coconut bras, but we bought a bunch of plastic leis. Coming up with a Hawaii menu was harder. Merry Christmas.
My family and friends like to play games like Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories and such, so we have game parties or picnics, dividing up in teams, and it gets very competitive. We have so many friends and families, around Christmas one of us will have a party for game playing, with everyone bringing their favorite one, and we see how many we get to, eating and drinking merrily along.
Happy Holidays!
Hi, KJ! I agree with everyone--you look gorgeous!
About the time I graduated from high school, themed parties were popular, so my graduation reception theme was Hawaiian. My mom decked out the rec room of our house with huge tissue flowers, leis, fishing nets, a grass skirt around the punch bowl, etc. She had fruit salad, cocktail meatballs, ham sandwiches, and it seemed as if every piece of food had fancy toothpick umbrellas stuck in it.
I don't have themed parties for adults, but I do theme parties for my daughter's birthday and it depends on what her "in thing" is at the moment. We've had horse, butterfly, Hawaiian, princess, etc. parties.
What an amazing picture. I would pick a Gone With the Wind party. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone here!
I'm just stopping by to say Merry Christmas! Here the Christmas Peace has already been declared.
The Declaration of Christmas Peace 2007 -it's excactly the same every year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v0M4RszdS8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve
Oh, and themed party. Hmmm. Maybe Lapland themed party.
KJ, that is a gorgeous picture! You look wonderful *g*
I haven't been to many themed parties but if I was to throw one I'd throw a 1980s Party! Not only were the fashions hilarious but it would take me back to the glorious days of my youth ;-)
Wow, you look beautiful!
We are preparing for a Christmas blizzard, so I'll say my idea of a perfect party would be one involving a large sleigh and some very warm cocoa.
Much holiday cheer to you all! :)
Lime has the GR, she could have a Rooster themed party. No KFC served please!
KJ, you look GORGEOUS, as usual !! Love that dress! And it looks like you had a good time.
I would love to have a Regency House Party theme party with a Clue-like twist. Of course I'd have to fly everyone to England, rent out a remote luxurious estate and have it catered with authentic Regency foods. Everyone would have to have an entire wardrobe of Regency clothing. A murder is committed and everyone has a role to play and everyone is trying to discover who the murderer is. And of course at the end of the week there would be a grand ball where all would be revealed.
And if I had my every wish, I would have a number of eligible men invited as special guests. Say .... Richard Armitage, Gerard Butler, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen and maybe a few others as well. And yes, of course, the cabana boys and the gladiators would HAVE to come as well!
Happy Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas depending on what time it is where you are! MWAH!
Never really done a themed party--but I would LOVE to do one ala Harry Potter. Mainly because I'd love to see what food would be served, what would be created to give the rooms a Hogwarts or HP world feel. With the last two movies coming out in the next year or so, I guess I could work on that. I imagine there would be a lot of HP parties celebrating the releases of the last two movies.
When it comes around to my turn again, I think I'll have a theme of the last dinner served on the Titanic. I have the cookbook...
Now THAT would be cool!! And everyone could dress in that turn of the century glittery ballgowns and black tie! That'd be so awesome!
Hey KJ, awesome picture! Those guys are so cool, and your dress is definitely gorgeous!
My best themed party was the surprise party my husband threw for me to celebrate the sale of my book. We had tons of people, kids and adults, and everyone had to tell us what their superpower was when they arrived. (This goes with the book -- the heroine has psychic powers.) We made tags they could wear announcing their superpower.
It was a hoot. Not very fancy, but really meant a lot to me.
Ms Hellion, I think someone in England got sued by Ms. Rowling for a Harry Potter themed party -- can you believe it?!
Minna, thanks for sharing the story of the Christmas Peace with us. I just love that tradition.
Pam, I want to come to your game party! We've been having lots of fun with games this year as my kids get old enough to play along. Our current favorites are Apples to Apples, Taboo, and Sorry!
Wow, Louisa, you REALLY know how to throw a party! :-) I definitely want to come to yours. I'm not very good at solving mysteries, but I am good at seeking comfort from strange, gorgeous men...
Wait. I guess that means I can't bring my husband along. Hmmm.
You look gorgeous as ever, KJ!! Jeri Ryan would be envious *g*.
When I was at Uni and just after, there were lots of themed parties ... tarts and vicars (a la Bridget Jones) was always a popular one. Also done dinner on the Titanic, togas, 50's, Halloween, Victorian ball and Hollywood.
These days I'm so boring and don't like having to wear costumes. But if I had to, I'd go for something where i could wear a gorgeous dress, even more gorgeous shoes ... and be escorted by Cary Grant!
Ohhhhhh...those WERE Oscars...I thought it was the name...
Um, never mind.
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!
JCL? What is this JCL. I must know. Roman theme. Yes, I must know this.
And aww flchen...you ARE a BB thus a member of the GR's family. Today is the day of miracles so let me get the magic rooster wand...uh.oh oh...NO!! Too much power...ZAPPPPPP
Um, flchen...let me know if you start sprouting feathers..
(Back to the Santa watch)
Merry Christmas, Eve! Limecello, love the idea of murder mysteries (being a thriller buff). International does sounds like fun--especially when I picture all the potential outfits and foods!
Limecello, thanks for the kind words about the dress. And no offense taken...I'm happy to be overshadowed by the Oscars. :)
flchen1, thanks for the compliment. Means a lot today as I have bronchitis and you don't want to know how bad I look in my housecoat and slippers!
Now that's a party with lots of clucking!
Donna, I want to come to that aphrodisiac party!!! That sounds like a blast. So does the Titanic one. Great ideas. :) Thanks for reminding everyone about the other prizes.
Helen, the 70s party sounds fabulous. I keep picturing John Travolta in a white suit. :)
Linda, intriguing idea about getting married at Halloween...but what if your fiance is in costume and you marry the wrong guy??? Sounds like a great premise for a romance novel!
Anna C, I think of you when I wear that dress because you liked it so much (and I appreciated the vote of confidence)--when I first bought it I worried that people might think I was an actual peacock and start pulling out my feathers. :)
I'm not going to touch the Ayers Rock one... LOL You are so much fun.
Merry Christmas to Oz!!!!!
Jane, I adore Hawaii so please invite me when you host that get-together! I learned how to surf there and that was a very special moment, getting up on that first wave. Nothing like it. Thanks for stopping by today.
Pam P, love that idea of having games--and that would be perfect for all ages (unlike the aphrodisiac one!). I'll come if I can join in a Scrabble match.
Deb, happy you like the dress. This Hawaiian theme keeps popping up...makes me want to go to the airport!
Kids parties are the best because kids get right into it with no fear of looking silly. Somewhere along the way, we start caring what others think. How can we stop that???? :)
Happy Holidays!
Maureen, I just read Gone with the Wind for the first time (I know, where have I been?). I was absolutely overwhelmed by the setting, the phenomenal writing, and Scarlett herself. All I can say is that if she doesn't want Rhett, I'll take him!
Minna, thanks for sharing the Christmas peace. Have a fabulous holiday!
Beth, the 80s are my absolute favorite. The music from that decade dominates my ipod! I did leave the big hair behind though....
Hope you have a wonderful time with your family!
Gillian, thanks! Please stay warm and bundled up. I'm also looking out at snow and my mind keeps going back to Hawaii...
Louisa, I loooove the way you think. Can I please sit beside Johnny??????? I just saw PUBLIC ENEMIES and loved Johnny in it.
Sending out a big holiday hug to you today.
Kirsten, I love the idea of superpowers. How about wishing for the power to bring men to their knees????????? LOL Congrats again on all your success. We're very proud of you!
Anna S, tarts and vicars sounds like a blast. As for Jeri Ryan, I don't think she's quaking in her stilettos! LOL
Now, let's get down the important stuff...what size shoes do you wear? Can I hope for 8 so I can raid your closet???
Joan, I hope Santa is extra good to you this year. You deserve a big hug of happiness from the man from the North Pole! Wishing you all the best for 2010.
Wow, KJ! That's one gorgeous dress. And the two guys aren't bad either. :-)
I only ever went to one theme party, as well as I can recall--it was a murder mystery game party. It was fun.
Though I guess you could count DragonCon as one looooong themed party, with the theme being the power of imagination. A wide-ranging horde of costumed people always show up, and many of us not in costume wear what the dh calls "appropriately decorated t-shirts." *g*
Limecello, congrats on the rooster! Your toga parties remind me of Latin Day in jr. high school. We all dressed up for that, but we didn't have a party. *sigh*
Fedora, I'd forgotten the GR's birthday party. I think we finally figured out it was Joan's gmail account he hijacked to put it together. She's had Demetrius take appropriate steps about that. Glad you enjoyed it.
Donna, your party ideas sound like great fun! I had to laugh at the "food-themed" comment. All our parties are food themes in that the guests seem to hover near the eats most of the time.
I also echo Kim's comment in thanking everyone who has supported the Lair this year via guesting, commenting, or just lurking and to join her in wishing everyone a joyous holiday season and a fabulous 2010!
Linda Henderson, I can't wait for Jeanne to see your comment. She is SO into Halloween!
And your comment reminded me that I used to belong to a writer group, since disbanded, where we came in costume at the meeting closest to Halloween--not a costume party, just our regular meeting. But we had to read something scary, too.
I came as Joan of Arc (from the Shaw play, and I had a rented sword--plastic, alas, and a rapier, not a broadsword) one year and as Sue Grafton's wonderful Kinsey Millhone the next. And I remember reading the scene in the woods from the end of To Kill A Mockingbird. It was all great fun!
Helen, as Donna said, Merry Christmas to you and all the banditas and buddies in Australia!
I went in the living room a while ago and found the boy scratching the dog on the sofa. The tree lights are on, too. He looked up at me and said, "This is Christmas Eve, isn't it?" When I said it was, he gave me a nod and a little smile.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to EVERYONE!
KJ, I echo everyone else on your fabulous dress and how fantastic you looked in it.
I can't remember any themed parties except Halloween. We MUST throw one or two in 2010 in the Lair! I've already seen some great ideas so we should have no problem settling on one (that does not involve Fo or I or any other Bandita dressing as a geologic monolith) and letting the FUN begin!
AC
P.S. Lime, I would certainly LURVE one of those restaurant gift cards! Aunty NEVER turns down free food (hence the geologic monolith reference).
Ms Hellion, I think someone in England got sued by Ms. Rowling for a Harry Potter themed party -- can you believe it?!
I read that! She was charging people to come to the party (to pay for cost of decorations and food). I don't really blame her; and yet I don't know if I can blame WB either. *LOL*
Kirsten, super-powers? Great! Can I have one? I think I'd like either flight or telepathy.
Louisa, your Regency party sounds fabulous! Did you see that show on PBS, part of their "___ House" series that was Regency-set?
Did you see Gosford Park? Kind of grim, but really well done, we thought.
Kim, I adore that dress! Never be shy about wearing it.
Louisa, I want to come to your party, if only to keep my Richard out of your clutches ;-)
Hey, guys, it's very early in the morning on Christmas day here so:::
M*E*R*R*Y *** C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*
Aunty Cindy - and I would love to send you one! :)
I need your email address - couldn't find it on your profile/webpage. Also I'll need a state for the form.
Anyone else want a $10 restaurant.com giftcard? I have 24 left for today, right now!
Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!
Kim, what a gorgeous lady you are! An Oscar party sounds so glamorous and fun. I love the idea of the red carpet with the paparazzi and the interviewers. What a blast!
Listen, I'd be lucky to get an invitation to an Oscar MEYER party, I'm just sayin'. ;-)
And hey, if y'all get a moment, do stop by the Lair tomorrow. It's Christmas and the Banditas are giving away an incredibly bountiful basketful of bodacious booty!
Nancy, that was one night I would have liked to "take home an Oscar". LOL
Hope you have a fabulous Christmas!
Anna C, has Santa come to your place yet??? How's he look this year?
Thanks for the vote of confidence on the dress. If anyone stares at me strangely, I'll tell them Anna Campbell likes it, so there!
HO HO HO Santa has arrived here in Oz as I type this it is 6-00am Christmas morning and there are lots of pressies under the tree but I have to wait till all of the family gets here to open them I can't wait to see my grandchildren when they get here.
I would love to be going to some of these parties they sound like lots of fun.
Merry Christmas to everyone and thanks again for another awesome year from all of the Bandits and Bandita Buddies you Guys rock.
Have Fun
Helen
Ms. Kate, you can be my date at the next Academy party and you can have Oscars carry you in on a gilded litter! Hot dogs will be on the menu!
Merry Christmas!
Helen, hope you get everything you wished for!
Kate, I will definitely pop in to join you. Now that the boy's interest in electronics has replaced his desire for toys, our holiday isn't quite so unified as it once was. We could help with Lego sets and play with other toys. The video games are a little too complex for us, alas.
But I still use the N64!
And it really is an amazing basket of goodies!
Helen, Merry Christmas to you, too! I miss having a little one around the house on Christmas morning. They get so sweetly and innocently excited.
Themed parties! Love to attend them, hate to throw them! They're so much work.
Great topic, KJ.
My daughter's throwing an 80's prom theme party for her birthday this year, complete with prom dresses and hairstyles from the eighties. OMG, all that big hair! Plus vinyls and whatever else was in then, can't remember. Should be lots of fun.
Oh, and girl, you look super between those two studly Oscars!
Kim, Santa has indeed been to my place. In fact, I distinctly heard a reindeer moo as I woke up at a ridiculously early hour! And there was fluff from the ermine trimming on his suit all over the house. Sheesh! I'll have to vacuum now. Actually Santa seemed to be in a chocolate kinda mood this year. YUM!!!! I have to tell you one of the coolest presents I got was from a wonderful reader (who's not a complete stranger to this blog but I'm not sure if I can out her). It's a dog bowl with a crown and 'Wolfram' written on it. How cool is that? Got lots of other lovely stuff - feeling a bit overwhelmed, frankly. Think I need to calm down with some chocolate. I wish I had some... Oh, that's right, Santa's been! Santa for President!
Jo, I remember '80s big hair. I bet that'll be a fun party!
Anna, now all you need is a big dog to go with the bowl! What a sweet gift.
Merry Christmas!
Wow, KJ, that looks like it was one heck of a party!! Wouldn't minded being sandwhiched by two Oscars, as long as it wasnt' two Oscar-the-grouches. hehehe.
I don't really get out to too many parties and no themed parties, although one of my co-workers has an annual halloween party and everyone comes dressed up. This year a group of nurses and their husbands came as Gilligan and all the characters from Gilligan's island, with a big cardboard yacht and a tape of the theme song. Needless to say they won best costumes!
Now, IF I were to throw a themed party, I could get by with cowboy/western...but heck some of my guests wouldn't be dressed in anything unusual for them! BUT I might throw a M*A*S*H party....oh wait, some of my guests would come in work clothes. Hmmm, a pajama party? Opps, nope, I know someone would show up naked...hmmmmm let me think on this a bit!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to Anna C., Mme, Anna S.and all our readers East of the States! Santa hasn't been here, (athough my office looks like a drop-off point for him), but I got an early present...SNOW in Texas...yep, it's snowing and the ground and trees are dusted white. We usually get one snow day a winter, and this already makes 2.
(ROCKY-the-wonder-dog isn't as happy as I am about it!)
Hey, Suz--
The Gilligan costumes sound great! I'm sorry Rocky doesn't like snow. We once had a golden who not only chased snowballs but tried to wallow in the snow.
Merry Christmas!
Bok... Ahem, I mean, um, all seems to be well--no extra feathers yet, Joan ;) I do have a strange craving for corn though...
OH, whew...flchen...that's great....
As long as there are no sudden urges to scratch in the dirt..we're good.
Um, what's that noise????
Reindeer I hope?
Anna C, hilarious description of Santa's visit. Love it! I'm happy people are spoiling you--there's no better feeling than being loved.
Suz,
OMG on the pyjama party and guests coming naked...that could cause quite a stir, especially if it was a lawn party!
Merry Christmas!!! Sweet dreams of being sandwiched by Oscars (the gold kind)!
Hello there!
I would like to see a Brazilian Carnaval theme. It would be so much fun. Or a Japanese festival would be nice, pretty and fun. I love kimonos. One could dress like a geisha.
Sorry I am running late today, I have been to my sister's house have our Christmas dinner! We had a really good time! I'm for having a gone with the wind party myself and we can all dress as southern bells in our ball gowns!
I think a themed party I would love to see is for everyone to dress up as a character from their favorite book.
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
that looks so mcuh fun
i like the70 or 80;s music parties
pleae coun tm e in
kh
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