I’m getting a slow start today. I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. We had a good weekend but I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer yet. I always feel nostalgic and sad about change this time of year. San Francisco gets its warm weather in September and October so luckily we still have some hot days ahead of us yet. One thing that got me excited for the Fall was I sat down and scheduled out some parties I would like to host over the next few months. Planning things out a bit helps me remember when to send invitations out so I don’t feel overwhelmed when all of a sudden I realize the party date is two weeks away. I always forget to give people enough notice! Are you throwing any big parties for Halloween or the Holidays or New Year?
Here are some parties I am thinking about throwing.
-A house warming party (is it too late after 4 months?)
-A Fall Harvest Party (something simple but with amazing food.)
-A Progressive dinner party around San Francisco in taxis at Christmas time.
-Renting a Cable Car to go caroling.
-Birthday Party for Moses (I’m scared to ask him what kind because I know he’ll request Angry Birds.)
-New Years Day Open House (I love having people stream in through the day so you really get a chance to talk with them.)
A note to my friends: Halloween and New Years Eve is on you guys.
Pictures: Zig Zag Streamers | Progressive Dinner | New Years Fondue
Cecelia
September 4, 2012
I’ve decided to host a Canadian Thanksgiving party (and yes, I live in DC). I think it’ll be a good warm-up for the main holiday parties, and I’m going to make everyone dress in red & white. Plus, TWO Thanksgivings! What could be better?!
rachael
September 4, 2012
wait, a dinner party IN taxis? taxis as in taxi cabs? what the heck!
haha! no. You take taxis from apartment to apartment because parking downtown would take half the night.
Natalie Bowman
September 4, 2012
I freaking love Fall.
Here’s what I’m planning:
– Violet’s 1st Birthday (with lots of chevron, crepe paper goodness and giant balloons in shades of teal and violet, of course.)
– Neighborhood Fall Block Party with pumpkin decorating and apple cider
– Laduree-themed 40th Birthday Grown-up Slumber Party for a pal with champagne tasting and a crepe station
– Classic Thanksgiving Dinner for 18
– Pinterest Gift Party – where we make gifts we’ve found on Pinterest, wearing outfits from Pinterest, eating food from Pinterest.
– Christmas Karaoke and White Elephant: theme is still tbd, looking for ideas and inspiration from you!
I love the idea of the New Year’s Day open house…
The New Diplomats Wife
September 4, 2012
ooooooo! laduree themed sleepover? I like the way you think natalie!
and love the idea of cable car caroling – what a fun spin!
holly
September 4, 2012
great list! we have done caroling in cable cars in sf many years in a row as a kid and some of my best memories are from those outings!! always at night, with a stop at Ghirardelli square for hot chocolate.
Natalie Bowman
September 4, 2012
Thanks, Ania. I’ll let you know how it goes.
amanda (simplemittens)
September 4, 2012
progressive dinners are the best!
Joanna
September 4, 2012
Last year, I started our First Annual Soup Party. We had it in early December so as not to compete with the standard holiday party schedule, and I made four soups, served in borrowed friends’ crockpots. I kept some cider on the stove and some good beers in a cooler, and it was low key and hearty and delicious. I’m looking forward to doing it again! (It’s also good for lots of silly puns like, “let’s have a SOUPER time together” or “why STEW at home when you could come and visit?”
Joanna
September 4, 2012
PS – Jordan: I tried to pitch the New Year’s Day Open House party to my husband, but it got vetoed… He reminded me that people watch football that day 🙁
Katie
September 4, 2012
Funny you posted this today. I was just thinking about a holiday luncheon at my apartment in December. I feel like I need to have a “save the date” for this one as people always seem to book up. I would be interested to know…do you let your friends know ahead of time before the invite goes out, or just pad the invites as you know a couple people won’t be able to make it? I like to get a headcount ahead of time so I know what to rent (renting party stuff is the BEST).
Happy party planning!
Crystal
September 4, 2012
I’m the same way with kid bday parties. My son turned six a few months ago and really wanted a Transformers party. I wasn’t feeling it so I sneakily talked him into an architect party.
Emily
September 4, 2012
I am always in party planning mode! I love the fall! A huge harvest dinner is in the works, and always a Halloween party! Oh! I turn 30 in a few months and am thinking of planning my own party. Is that weird?! 🙂
allysha
September 4, 2012
Angry birds! Ha! At a Family Reunion we actually made angry birds and pigs out of pom poms, googly eyes and felt. They turned out pretty cute! You know, for an angry bird.
Emily
September 4, 2012
Just yesterday I made a list for the halloween play date party I want to host next month – a handful of toddlers in costumes and mini pumpkin decorating sounds like s much fun! Your post inspired me to look further ahead and start planning Christmas get togethers, your Pom Pom garland will definitely be on the list for our toddler-proof tree!
Cheryl Burchett
September 5, 2012
I am the opposite of you, I let everyone have those other holidays and I do it up big at Halloween! We throw a big party and in addition to going nuts with decorations and matching family costumes, we make crazy foods like meatloaf that looks like a burnt skull to watermelon carved to look like a witch (who is vomiting fruit salad)! Here’s a link to one of my party posts: http://lydiaburchett.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-food-sculptures.html?
nari
September 5, 2012
i’d love to see what you can do with an angry birds theme! bc my son would choose the same.
trish
September 5, 2012
It’s never too late….. I had my 30th birthday party over 3 years late (and it became my 33 1/3 )
and everyone loved it.
Also, I am thinking of an autumn picnic party in the woods with hot soup and warm gloves…
Alison
September 5, 2012
Your party ideas sound fantastic! I can’t wait for you to bring them to life!
Best,
Alison
heartofgoldandluxury.blogspot.com
Elaine Ellis
September 5, 2012
This was such an inspirational list. I think I’m going to try and do either a dinner party or general party in a pumpkin patch and then maybe do a Divali dinner party in November. I am jealous of the thought of renting out a cable car to do caroling but love the idea of doing progressive cocktails.
Aisha
September 5, 2012
I love your party ideas and cant’ wait to hear how they go. I needed some great ideas going into Fall and was just informed my daughters new preschools hosts themed parties throughout the year.
thanks for sharing
best
aisha
Katie
September 5, 2012
I don’t think four months is too late! It’s probably just enough time to get settled enough so you can actually entertain and have it feel like your home.
Jenna at Homeslice
September 6, 2012
Oooo.. sounds so fun! I guess I need to get my thinking cap on.. you’re so smart to start early!
DoeAndArrow
September 6, 2012
Our local library did a Angry Bird program with pig bowling, pig toss, and live action Angry Birds (dodge balls and decorated cardboard boxes). It was a huge hit!
Here’s a link to the pictures:
pics.hooverlibrary.org/Childrens-Programs/Angry-Birds-2012/
Odette
September 9, 2012
Your dinner party looks dreamy. This post makes me want to start planning right away.
how2home
September 10, 2012
A rooftop party in paris looks pretty perfect to me 🙂
Tan
September 12, 2012
Fantastic!
We’re planning on throwing two large dinner parties (not including my birthday or Christmas yet).
We just got back from our honeymoon in Morocco where we had a day of Moroccan cooking classes. Once we get a tagine we plan to have a Moroccan dinner party with the tomato salad, chicken tagine (using the saffron we brought back), orange slices with cinnamon and of course, Moroccan mint tea. Can’t wait!
Our second one is the opposite of your first commenter. Last year we hosted our first “Yanksgiving” dinner party. I’m Canadian but since Thanksgiving is such a fantastic holiday we’ve started celebrating the American one as well. We cram tons of people into our narrow apartment and eat all sorts of traditional American thanksgiving dishes. Half the fun is squishing us all in and feeling like one big happy family!
Barbara Collins likes holiday party planner
September 14, 2012
That’s awesome ,,really that’s great idea. Thank you for the sharing with us.