Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Labor Day Party Theme Ideas

August 24, 2010 by Shanna Hatfield

Labor Day is coming right up. How is that possible? Where did the summer go? If you find it, let me know. I’m convinced I didn’t get my full share of summer-time fun this year.

Since we can’t bring summer back, instead think ahead and plan a Labor Day party for the long weekend. The key is to keep it casual and relaxed.

The Labor Day holiday was first celebrated in the early 1880s  as a way to honor workers for all of their contributions to the strength and well-being of our nation. In that spirit, encourage honor your guests with a relaxing party. Fill your outdoor gathering area with lawn blankets, comfy chairs, and oodles of pillows.  The theme of the day is taking it easy!

Patriotic decorations are perfect for Labor Day. Mix things up a bit by adding a warm gold or bright yellow color to the red, white and blue  scheme. Use candles and flowers from your garden for decorations. Keep it simple by slipping cut stems into mason jars or empty tin cans with the labels removed. Tie with a raffia ribbon close to the top of the container.

Your invitations could have a barbecue theme, patriotic colors, stars, flip flops or paper lanterns. Just choose something fun that speaks to you.

If your event will last into the evening hours, make sure you have plenty of warm light through tiki torches, lanterns, garden stakes, hanging lights, or candles. Also, make sure you have citronella candles strategically placed throughout the area to thwart the insects.

The menu should be foods that are simple and easy. You can go potluck or go the route of a traditional barbecue with hamburgers and hotdogs. Just remember your condiment rules. You could also barbecue skewers. Keep the menu simple and easy for you. Round out your main dish with a  big green salad, a loaf of french bread, watermelon slices and a slam-bang dessert like decadent chocolate cake.

Make one or two signature beverages instead of offering a bunch of options. Fill a bucket, kids wagon or large bowl with ice and set in individual bottles. Have pitchers or jars of ice water. Whatever beverages you decide to offer, just make sure you have gracious plenty.

You can have games available like lawn croquet or horseshoes. If you have a large gathering you could split the attendees into two teams and play a game of flag football, softball or volleyball. Just remember to have fun!

Don’t forget the music. You can play some theme-appropriate tunes like “She Works Hard for the Money,” “Working 9 to 5,” and “Working in  Coal Mine.”

Do as much prep work as you can ahead of time so once your guests arrive, you are focused on them, not on the 36 things that you don’t have done.

Sit back, relax, take a deep breath and enjoy this last hurrah of summer-time entertaining.

Happy Entertaining!

Shanna

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Holidays, Party Theme | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Optimism

August 23, 2010 by Shanna Hatfield

Word of the Week: Optimism

op·ti·mism

op-tuh-miz-uhm
–noun

1.

a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
2.

the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.
3.

the belief that goodness pervades reality.
4.

the doctrine that the existing world is the best of all possible worlds.
We spent the weekend visiting our families and I was reminded once again of my Dad’s continuing optimism. Pick a topic, and most likely his outlook on the subject is optimistic.  I think he shared that particularly gene with me. No matter how today may turn out, tomorrow is always going to be great!

Posted in Family, Musings | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

The Hamoneer

August 20, 2010 by Shanna Hatfield

Anyone watching calories or on a strict diet will want to just skip today’s post entirely. For the rest of you, enjoy!

Way back when I was growing up, on the rare occasions we went into the big town, not just our little hometown, sometimes my Dad would take us through a drive-in for the best hamburgers on the planet. They didn’t serve fries there. No, sir. They had deep-fried tater tots that were cooked to crispy perfection and salted within an inch of their life. Their milkshakes were thick and creamy and delicious. But the thing you had to go there for was the hamoneer. It was a hamburger with some thick slices of deliciously wicked bacon that were beyond description.

I didn’t care back then what was in the hamburger, all I knew was that it tasted great and I was lucky enough to have one to enjoy.

When the drive-in went out of business, I may have even cried a few tears. No more hamoneer burgers – ever. It is a loss I have suffered from acutely over the years.

Then one day, I found cottage bacon at the grocery store and  decided to give it a try. Hello, hamoneer!  This bacon tastes just like the kind the drive-in used to put on the burgers.  So Hubby and I recreated the hamoneer and boy, was it good! For those of you who have not yet been introduced to cottage bacon, it is bacon made from the shoulder of a pig, resulting in lean pork meat that tastes like a fantastic combination of ham and bacon.

Just make your burger as usual, add cheese, top with the bacon and enjoy. If you want a real hamoneer experience, make sure you add a special sauce (mix ketchup and mayo in equal amounts) to the bun.

Yum!

Start with some cottage bacon, a delicious blend of ham and smoky bacon, there isn't anything quite like it

Assemble your burger as desired with whatever condiments strike your fancy. For an authentic Hamoneer experience, mix up a special sauce using equal parts ketchup and mayo and spread all over the bun.

Posted in Easy Recipes, Musings | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Summer Sunset

August 19, 2010 by Shanna Hatfield

With the days of summer winding down toward fall, it seems even more important to grab on to every moment and squeeze all the fun, excitement and joy out of it we can. One of the best places to do that can be in your very own backyard.  Really!

How many of these beautiful summer evenings have you just sat and watched the world go by from your backyard? Not nearly, enough, I’m guessing. I know I haven’t.

At the party I was at last night, the hostess with the mostest had all her guests gather in her backyard. It was bliss! Everyone was relaxed and casual and enjoying one another. Isn’t that really what it is all about?  Relaxing, living in the moment, enjoying the company of family and friends?

Despite the often disastrous state of my own backyard, we can watch some of the most amazing sunsets take place over our neighbor’s pasture and beyond to the distant hills. Nature paints the most gorgeous portraits if we just take the time to really look at them and enjoy.

So I challenge you to slow down, take a deep breath and watch a few of these unbelievable summer sunsets while they last.

Happy Entertaining!

Shanna

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Musings | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »