5 Tips for a Quick Party Clean Up

My favorite feeling is at the end of a really great party where there is still good food around, the house is decorated and besides a few dirty dishes the house still feels really clean from the pre-party scour. I’ve also felt the opposite feeling, where I’m tired and there is Mount Kiliman-dishes piled high in my kitchen! Here are my basic tips for having a quick party clean up. (I’d love to hear what you do for a quick party clean up in the comments.)

1. Start with a Sparkly Clean House

This might seem a little obvious but it’s easier said than done. It takes some planning to prep the main dishes the day before so that the day of the party you’re starting with a clean kitchen. I even have one friend who schedules a cleaning lady to show up a few hours before her party starts so that everything is sparkly clean.

2. Rent Dishes

Most people don’t realize that renting out dishes is surprisingly affordable. Besides having enough “real” plates to serve your guests, the best part of renting dishes is you can return the dishes dirty. Seriously, you just drop them off, leftover-shrimp-tails-and-all and don’t have to lift a finger. Seems almost too good to be true.

3. Use Disposable Plates

Disposable plates used to automatically mean you were going for a casual vibe. But the last few years have brought a lot more dare-I-say “classy” options in the compostable/biodegradable plates and cups category. My favorites are Bambu Plates and Susty Party.

4. Keep the Waste Baskets in Sight

Right before a party starts I make a mental checklist of the basics: bathrooms, coats, garbage, and water to make sure I’m not forgetting anything crucial. By putting the waste baskets out your guests will know where to place their cocktail napkins etc and will cut down your clean up time. Help them, help you!

5. Send leftovers home with guests.

Have the tin foil ready or if you want to be really fancy keep these on hand for special leftover boxes.

I love working with Glad as a sponsor because their Forceflex trash bags are my favorite. (I’m not being paid to say this!) They are doing a Trim Your Waste program where readers can enter to win big.  Check it out!

This post is sponsored by Glad®. Take small steps to reduce waste and earn a chance to win big. Sign up for Glad’s Trim Your Waste program here.

photo credits: Heather Zweig / Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day

How to throw a Fancy Donut Party

Move over cupcakes, donuts are here and it’s hard for anyone to compete with warm sugary fried bread. (I mean, have you ever put a donut in a microwave?) These delicious treats are so good they need a party all their own. Enter: a fancy donut party. This spread was very easy to put together and I like things that are easy but have a big effect. A donut bar would work great as a dessert table at a wedding or even a shower. Here is the DIY for the donut hole croquembouche. (Or for a more casual party don’t forget the Donut Tree.)

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Father’s Day Soda Collection

Here is another Father’s Day gift idea. I love giving gifts of gourmet sodas because people really get into experimenting with the different flavors. (For Christmas I gave my sister’s family a giant crate of 50 different rootbeers–it was a hit.) Most cities will have a specialty soda store where you can buy these, here in California I usually go to BevMo. You can always order stuff online but the shipping can get pricey so its usually better to pick it up in person. (PS – Remember my rainbow soda bar?)

Materials Needed: Wooden Crate, Vintage Sodas

This project doesn’t need any instructions but we found it easiest to take the crate to the soda shop to test how they all fit. And beware, the crate of sodas gets heavy quick!

Photography by Sarah Hebenstreit of Modern Kids Photography for Oh Happy Day
Art Direction by Jordan Ferney
Styling by Milan Shimono Lee
Crafting by Caitlin Barker

ShoeMint Giveaway

This time of year, I always like to stock up on new shoes for the summer months. One of my favorite websites to visit for affordable (but high quality) options is ShoeMint. Their shoes are made from real leather and suede and they’re constantly adding new styles to keep up on all the current trends. Right now, I’ve got my eye on the Lynne Sandal for everyday use and the Hellin Heel for date nights. So today I’m super excited to announce that ShoeMint will be giving 5 new pairs of shoes to one lucky Oh Happy Day reader!

(Giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to our winner, Hannah #319!)

Entering is super easy, you’ll just need to:

1)   Visit the ShoeMint site and sign up (it’s free!)
2)   Let us know which pair of shoes is your favorite in the comments below.

Plus, if you’re a first-time ShoeMint user, you’ll get 20% off your first purchase! So what’s stopping you? Let’s get some new kicks for summer!

One winner will be chosen to win five pair of shoes (of their choice) on Monday, June 3. Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers only. This post is sponsored by ShoeMint.

Favorite Party Ideas This Week

1. Wow the guests at your next summer barbeque with Oh Joy!’s Fruity Striped Ice Cubes.
2. Love this simple dinner party by Clyde Oak and The Fresh Exchange (via Anthology.)
3. A Cup of Jo’s Donut Cake is perfect for a 3-year-old birthday party.
4. We can’t wait to test out the “recipes” Studio Choo’s New Book.
5. Martha has an awesome idea for turning paper into a Pop Art showpiece.