After just one week of snow, ice, freezing rain and bitter cold, I’m all done with winter.
All. Done.
I don’t know about you, but a tropical escape sounds perfectly wonderful. Warm breezes, sunshine, blue water.
If you are like me with no hope of tropical escape in the forseeable future, bring the fun to your home with a Tropical Escape themed party.
Invitations
Send a simple invitation using some bright flowered paper or cardstock. If you can find something with a Hawaiian theme, even better. Encourage guests to wear Hawaiian shirts or flowered dresses to fit in with the theme. Flip flops are a must.
Set The Scene
You don’t need to spend a fortune on decorations. Keep it simple and use things like pineapples and coconuts to decorate the tables. You can cut a coconut in half and nestle candles inside or leave whole and pile beside pineapples for a fun centerpiece.
Turn the heat up so your house is warm and has a more tropical feel. Having to huddle near the fireplace doesn’t exactly say warm and tropical.
Silk leis, grass skirts, raffia table skirts and other fun items can be found inexpensively at party stores or online. One source I use is Oriental Trading for inexpensive party supplies. They have oodles of luau items available.
You could also use seashells for decorations. Fill canning jars with sand and top with a votive.
Make sure each guest receives a lei to wear upon arrival as well as a big “Aloha!”
Fun and Games
Hawaiian music playing in the background is a must. Whether you choose “Tiny Bubbles” or maybe Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii” there is a good list of music available here.
Encourage a hula contest or get everyone going with the Limbo. Here are a few more game ideas.
Have a flip-flop contest with prizes for the cutest, ugliest, most creative, etc.
Give each guest a tiny box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts as a take away from the party.
Food
You can have a fairly simple menu with kalua pork, sweet potatoes, tropical fruit and don’t forget the shaved ice!
To make the pork you’ll need:
pork butt
liquid smoke
salt
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Score the fat of the port butt into 1-inch squares and rub with salt. Sprinkle liquid smoke lightly over all sides of the meat and into the fat. Wrap securely in tin foil and bake in oven for at least 4 hours. Shred the meat and serve. You can add sweet potatoes to the oven 1 1/2 hours before the meat will be done.
Have fun with this party theme and see if it doesn’t chase away the winter blahs.
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Savvy Entertaining 