SUPERMARKETGURU FOOD &
HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSFLASH!
Celebrate Good Times…
Published on: January 24, 2004by Shauna Harrison
… or bad times … or OK times ... or just plain ol' times. Do we really need a reason to celebrate? Uh, no. You can throw together a little shindig for just about anything you really want to. Like I've said in the past, there's nothing quite like a gathering of a bunch of your closest friends (or strangers, whatever) to lift your spirits. You can always find a reason to get together. It might just take a little planning. In order to get more than two people together, you have to plan at least a week in advance in order to coordinate everyone's schedules, and that still won't guarantee attendance by all. Our lives are so busy and so hectic that we've lost that ability to just spontaneously gather.
Recently my friends and I have made more of an effort to see each other, and I can tell you that it's made me a much happier person. We've actually done the spontaneous thing a few times too! I know … hard to believe! It can be done and no, you don't necessarily have to go out and spend a lot of money. With a little thought, effort, and cooperation, you can have a good time tonight.
WHO?: As much fun as a solo party might be, a get-together by definition should include other people. Figure out who you want to be there. Are they friends from work, school, college, the gym, friends of friends, or friends of friends of friends? Do you want everyone to know each other? Do you want to introduce (read: set up) some of your friends from one place to those of another? Is it a family thing? Girls only? Couples only? Single and bitter only? Who you invite will often set the stage for the entire gathering. Try not to create any unnecessary drama for you or others and you know what I mean by that.
WHAT?: Is it a birthday party? A Superbowl party? An "Oh, I'm sorry you guys broke up" mood lifting get together? Or, for that matter, a "Woo-hoo! You finally broke up" get together? A dinner party? A "I finally finished my exams" party? A Sex in the City-watching night? A "let's play hooky" day? A wine and cheese? A beer and pizza night? A coffee date? Chick flick viewing? A BBQ? A picnic? A brunch? A day at the spa? An "I don't feel like doing anything, let's just veg" night? Whatever it is, the theme, reason, or lack there of will determine the whole event. Make sure everyone is aware of what it is.
WHEN?: The theme will also help determine the time. Lunch for example, usually will take place at lunch time. I know, I'm a genius! Superbowl parties generally are on Superbowl Sunday (which is quickly approaching, by the way). You get what I'm saying. The day, time, and length of an event is all hinges on what you are going to be doing. Some are more flexible than others and some can more easily be "thrown together" last minute. A dinner party for 10 people is less stressful on all if you don't tell everyone that it will take place in 20 minutes, but if you are meeting for coffee, 20 minutes can be quite feasible. Also consider if it is an ongoing event like dinner or watching a particular show together on the same day every week.
WHERE?: Location, location, location. It can be anything from your kitchen table, to your couch, Starbucks down the street, the park, a restaurant or wherever. Try not to change location too many times before the event occurs and if something does change, double check that everyone is aware of the change. Otherwise, inevitably, someone will show up at the wrong location at the wrong time on the wrong day (more than likely, you know exactly who that person will be, so maybe triple check with them to assure they know of the changes!) Again, if it's an ongoing event, figure out if it is always at your house or if you want to rotate houses. I suggest the rotation to spread the love a little more.
WHY?: This goes along with the WHAT. WHAT you are celebrating or getting your mind off of usually has a WHY that goes right along with it. Really, the WHY, when it comes down to it, is just that you want to be with your friends, meet new people and socialize. The end.
HOW?: The granddaddy of them all. HOW? How are you going to pull it off? Do you need to start preparing your five-course dinner at 10am, or can you run down to the store and pick up some chips and salsa and call it a day?
If you are cooking, plan ahead. Get everything you need two to three days before the event and prepare anything you can early. Save yourself the headache and stress of last-minute snafus with extra planning. Also, give yourself enough time to do the cooking so that its ready when people are getting hungry and antsy.
If you are just having people over to watch movies, just make sure you either have people bring things or have your fridge stocked with snacks and drinks. People always get hungry, so be ready. Oh, and, don't forget the movies!
If a potluck is on the schedule for the evening, early planning is essential. There is nothing worse than going to a potluck that has five different kinds of soda, but only one main course. Assign people to bring things so that you don't have overlap or underlap (I know that's not a word, but it makes sense there, doesn't it?).
If it's a dinner at a restaurant and there are more than a few of you, a reservation is key. You don't want everyone to blame you because they have to wait an hour and a half to sit down at a table.
If you're dealing with a breakup that needs some cheering up, Kleenex, my friend, is so necessary. Some homemade (or at least home-baked) cookies never hurt. When all else fails, head to the mall.
If you are just doing the spontaneous "we'll figure it out when you get here" thing, well, then, um, just figure it out when they get there.
The bottom line is it that life is so much better when you are around people you love and who love you. You don't really need a "real" reason, but if you feel like you do, make one up. Then, of course, you have the "real" reasons too, which should never be overlooked. So, bring your good times and your laughter too, we're gonna celebrate our party with you ... come on now ... cel- ... OK, I know, let it go.
