This post is sponsored by Glad. Glad asked me to put together a One-Bag Party, which means all of the waste only goes in one bag. I love this concept. Visit Facebook.com/Glad for more details!
We moved in almost a year ago but a lot of our friends hadn’t seen our apartment yet so last Saturday we decided to host a giant housewarming party. If you remember we live in a 500 square foot apartment so I wasn’t sure about entertaining all those people until we decided on an open house style party. We told guests to stop by for a visit any time between 11am and 6pm. I was still a little bit nervous to throw a party for everyone we know in such a small space but we have an excellent backyard and a really fun stoop so I figured we could always overflow into the outdoor spaces. Honestly, I think it might be one of my favorite parties I’ve ever thrown. It had a very relaxed vibe. I liked that people didn’t feel like they had to stay very long and that people stopped by on their way from one weekend activity to the next. We also had guests that stayed for a few hours and guests that stopped in more than once. It was great because we actually got a chance to have good talks with almost everyone that came through. When I’m planning a party I like to focus on a couple things that make the party feel special and keep the rest of it simple, for the housewarming I decided on Florals and Food.
For the Florals: Since it was a housewarming party I wanted to keep the house pretty close to its original state so people could see our apartment but I decided to put up a garland on the front door to welcome people in. I ordered a eucalyptus garland from the Flower Mart and picked up some peonies, tulips, and wax flowers that I added myself. It wasn’t cheap, it cost a little over $100 but considering it made such a big impact it was a good tradeoff. It only took about an hour to make and hang and I was really happy with the results. I hired Julie Manwaring to make a “come on in” sign that we attached with wire. (Watch for a DIY post coming soon.)
For the Food: I asked my friend Andrea Pimental to cater the food. She is a genius and is so great to work with. I told Andrea I wanted most of the food prepared before the party so I could just bring out a few new dishes every hour. I bought a bunch of small pots and bowls for $1-2 (mostly from CB2 and Crate & Barrel) and handed them over to Andrea to work her magic. The food was amazing. It was so fun to bring out new fun things to eat through out the party. For breakfast we had yogurt parfaits, scones, baklava, avocado and grapefruit salad. Then in the afternoon we got out strawberry tarts, shrimp skewers, panzanella salad and few other things I’m forgetting now. You should’ve heard the oohs and ahhs when I brought out the tray of Butterscotch Pots de Creme. The last few hours we mostly sat on the stoop and ate homemade popsicles and watched the people walk by on our busy street. (Andrea posted the whole menu with recipes here.)
For the One Bag Party: I chose elements that were reusable recyclable and compostable to reduce on waste. San Francisco has an excellent compost program so a the cups and the paper napkins were compostable. The little pots and bowls were reusable but came in cardboard boxes that we recycled. In the end our one bag of trash consisted of the bamboo plates and utensils and some of the food packaging. Not bad for a 50 person party! Glad wants to challenge everyone to have a one-bag party. And they asked me to select some items that a reader could win at home.
(Giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to our winner, Cindy #913!) There are two ways to enter to win all the item pictured below. Winner will be chosen on Monday April 29th!
1. Leave a Comment Below describing what kind of One Bag party you would host and if you want to enter twice then
2. Enter on Instagram (you must have an Instagram account to enter this way) see details on the @ohhappyday instagram account.
Photography by Paul Ferney + a few iphone photos
Florals by Jordan Ferney, assisted by Irene Yu
Food by Andrea Pimental
audrey r.
April 26, 2013
My boyfriend and I are in the complicated midst of buying a house and relocating from NYC to the foothills of the Adirondacks. We are both artists and wanted to find a happy home we can invest our time and (little) money into. The process of the loan qualifications has been incredibly long, punctuated with points of surprise and stress. But in a month or so when all is said and done, we will have the beginnings of our home, homestead, and home business/studio on a country road. At which point, I would love to pull the old boards from the stack in the barn, set them up on sawhorses, and throw a beautiful outdoor party for all who have helped us make the move. Decorated with flowers from the yard in my large collection of jars and strings of lights. Cheers!
Karen
April 26, 2013
How very timely for you to publish this! I have just committed to throwing a Memorial Day Open House, for the purpose of having EVERYONE over whom we always say, “We should get together sometime!” So I have invited 140 people. •___• Luckily, I don’t live in a 500sf apartment, but my house is not all that spacious, either. I do hope the weather cooperates! Thank you SO much for the plethora of inspiration!
Anna
April 26, 2013
I would throw a welcome summer party!
Sara
April 26, 2013
A vintage-inspired tea party
karin
April 26, 2013
i’d love to have a spring patio party to celebrate the awakening of the garden after a long new england winter – decorating with flowers and feasting on fresh herby vegetable dishes and delicious fruit desserts. divine!
Tressa FM
April 26, 2013
I’m about to graduate from college (first in my family!) and am hoping to have a “one-bag” party at my father’s little organic farm!
Lauren
April 26, 2013
If I can figure out how to make S’s 1st birthday a one-bagger, I will do it! This is a great idea, and I’m very committed to reducing waste where I can.
Sarah
April 26, 2013
A summer family birthday garden party (all 5 us celebrate in the summer months)
jessamyn
April 26, 2013
I would throw myself a great 35th birthday party this summer! I feel a bit “meh” about getting older, and do wish that someone would throw me a party, but I think part of being a grown up, is doing what you want done, yourself. This would be great for our backyard, a park, or maybe renting out the local community pool for swim fun!
Krista
April 26, 2013
Baby shower I am planning for this summer
Yusula
April 26, 2013
I would have a “thank you” party for all the people who help me through the year! (people who offer free child care, buy me a tea when I need it the most, who have listed to my rants/raves, who encourage me)
Sharmyn
April 26, 2013
A Spring Feaste to celebrate strawberry season in our garden. We’ll have platters of finger salad (new spring onions and baby lettuce from our garden, hunks of feta and balsamic-marinated strawberries and a honey-lemon vinaigrette ) with little reusable ramekins to dunk our greens into. Warm baguettes torn apart with crocks of sweet strawberry butter and for dessert yogurt panna cotta made in my receylced french yogurt pots (the lavender ones) with a strawberry-orange compote. Large cloth napkins made from over-dyed vintage sheets, elderflower soda, and of course full access to the strawberry patch. Will we even need one bag? Won’t you please come?
Melissa
April 26, 2013
My clever husband built us a pizza oven from recycled bricks. Our friends have been vying for a invitation for a pizza feast. I would host a wood fired pizza open night -which I would love to continue to do once a month.
Jenny B
April 26, 2013
Definetly a summer party. I need something to look forward to, since these AZ summer temps can be a drag. 🙂
Beautiful party, Jordan!!
Christina
April 26, 2013
I like smaller gatherings for they are easier to prepare and make far less waste because one can just use normal plate and cups and doesnt need plastic equipment. However, big gatherings are really awesome as well.
This summer i would host a bbq in the garden. nothing says summer quite like a big salat, a good glass of chilled white wine, some nice steaks and the company of your friends.
kelsey
April 26, 2013
I would love to throw a movie night! Drinks on our little back deck in the mission on a warm night with a movie and popcorn bar (lots of different flavors) to follow! Maybe the popcorn and drinks could follow the movie theme. Fun!
Margit
April 26, 2013
A Memorial Day kite-flying party on our beach!
Kristie
April 26, 2013
I would plan a garden tea party. I love how all the food was prepped in advance.
Yolanda
April 26, 2013
Well, Mother’s Day is coming up, and so is my birthday, and so is my daughter’s high school graduation! I think my daughter will get the most elaborate (but not very) party. I’ll have to check with her about the menu, but I love the floral garland, and there will certainly be chocolate!
Lyndsee
April 26, 2013
I might stick with finger foods to avoid plates and silverware. So maybe bahn mi, chips, ice cream cones, popsicles.
Pen H
April 26, 2013
I want a patio marine party!
Alex R
April 26, 2013
I’d host a spring cocktail party–a joint birthday party for my boyfriend, and a celebration for when I’m admitted to the bar in May!
Jennifer
April 26, 2013
I’d do a fun kids’ party…those always seem to end up with so much trash, it would be a good challenge! Love that drink dispenser…and everything else!
Nisha
April 26, 2013
I’ve been hosting dinners the first Friday of every month and we cut down waste by buying food in bulk and cooking enough food to last us for lunches & dinners for the next week as well as that evening. For my next dinner I’d like to take advantage of the good weather and the fact I live near GGP. I’m thinking of having a capture-the-flag game followed by a picnic dinner. I could serve food on skewers like kebabs with veggies, followed by fruit skewers and smores. All the skewers can be metal (reusable) or bamboo (compostable) and I’d bring drinks in recyclable bottles so I might even get done with no trash!
cailan
April 26, 2013
we’ve been in our new home almost a year now – a one year anniversary housewarming, maybe? I just love what you did with yours.
meg
April 26, 2013
I would throw a housewarming/block party with our neighbors. We just moved into this house with a shared pond in the backyard, and we have the best yard to invite everyone. We want to get to know our neighbors better–may as well make it a celebration. 🙂
Susan H.
April 26, 2013
I’m hosting a tea party for my daughter’s 10th birthday – the take-home-gifts for the guests are mix-match tea cup/saucer sets from a local flea market.
Hilary A.
April 26, 2013
I’m having a 20’s themed murder mystery party next month & would love to do that challenge!
x Hilary
hilary .l .adams@ gmail . com
debbie
April 26, 2013
yes! a backyard summer movie party!
Mandy
April 26, 2013
I want to host a “Memories of Home” party where everyone brings a dish or snack from a favorite family recipe. We have friends from all over the US and world so there would be a great variety of dishes and favors!
Jenny Z.
April 26, 2013
an afternoon tea party! think kind of like ‘alice in wonderland,’ but more practical and with a feel of breezy summer.
Nina
April 26, 2013
Oooh! I just found out that I’m pregnant with twins, due in November, so I would do a late-summer all day baby shower. Not sure I can afford it without these supplies, though!
Grace
April 26, 2013
I’m dreaming of hosting a baby shower for my brother and his wife. They haven’t been successful yet, but I’m quietly hopeful they’ll announce something soon. I’d try to use my vintage silverware and borrowed plates to cut down on waste.
Maegan
April 26, 2013
As a busy mum of 3 amazing kids I would host a mothers retreat!! Leave the kiddies at home and enjoy brunch.
Jenny
April 26, 2013
I’d do a backyard BBQ using lots of recycled products or items I already have on hand. Love the one bag concept!!
Kallie B
April 26, 2013
I would throw a summer BBQ in our back yard with our closest friends. Other than food packaging, we’d use all reusable plates, cups, and silverware in my party and home stash. I would decorate with foliage from around our neighborhood, and keep things simple. I need to do this now!
Jennifer
April 26, 2013
killer giveaway! where can i find that tablecloth if i don’t win?! 🙂
i’d throw a breakfast for dinner bash–my favorite!
annie b
April 26, 2013
We just moved to Wisconsin, so we want to invite the great new people we have met over for a local beer, wine, and cheese party.
Sarah W
April 26, 2013
Oh what a great giveaway! I’ve been eyeing that drink container since you posted about it back awhile ago now! I would do a Welcome Sun party in the picnic area of our neighborhood park because I’m just so darn excited that the sun is here!
Andrianna
April 27, 2013
I would love to throw a summer surprise party for my mom’s birthday!
Gee
April 27, 2013
I reckon I’d trow a barbeque in one of the parks near home!
I’d do it as soon as the weather gets a bit better 😀
SAM HALL
April 27, 2013
Oooh super sweet party. I would love all those perfect party items for a lovely mother’s day brunch for my mom and all of the special women (aunts, godmothers, sisters) that have shaped my life. xx
Sabrina
April 27, 2013
I’ve been considering an “it’s summer” shindig.
Eliina
April 27, 2013
I would plan a birthday party!
Eliina
April 27, 2013
I would host a birthday party!
Em
April 27, 2013
A lot of friends have been travelling lately so a party to show off pix and talk about the trips-party!
Darcy
April 27, 2013
My baby girl is about to turn one in a couple of months and I’ve been daydreaming about all the possibilities for her party. I want it to be special and memorable. I would love if the party only produced one bag if trash…talk about easy cleanup! I’m in love with all of these products and would just be thrilled if I won them!
Noell A.
April 27, 2013
LOVE this party, so pretty!!!
Tayler
April 27, 2013
I would throw a backyard birthday party.
Shelley
April 27, 2013
I would host a nature-inspired baby shower for my friend.