Our current home renovation is fully underway. But you know I didn’t allow one wall to come down until we partied in the original space. We signed the papers on the house at 10am Friday and put together a random last minute party for that same evening.
Listen people, we don’t do all these home renovations just because we like seeing the beautiful outcome. Buying a home in desperate need of attention gives us another perfect reason to entertain. And we are NO ONE if not simple humans seeking any excuse to throw a shindig.
{See our last home renovation pre-party HERE. And that specific Before and After HERE.}
Some of you may ‘gasp’ at the idea of putting together a soirée last minute in a home that is minutes from being demolished. But let me tell you that this setting is EXACTLY the perfect place to host your friends.
Think about it: *Expectations are low. (unless you are a total monster, everyone has grace on the couple hosting a party in a dilapidated home they purchased only hours prior). Which leads me to the next major bonus: NO CLEAN UP! Can I say it again for those in the back? NO CLEAN UP! Don’t really have to clean before guests arrive either (a few cobweb dustings might be appropriate but don’t get too crazy). You certainly DO NOT have to clean up when they leave. Countertops filled with crumbs and muddy floors are the least of your concern when you know a demolition crew is just hours away from coming in to rip up floors and jackhammer thru some brick walls.
And while all this sounds a bit silly, to us it’s seriously fun! We would not enjoy spending time renovating homes if we couldn’t share the updates and progress with friends and family. It’s more exciting to share the home reveal when you’ve been able to share a true ‘before’ experience with others.
We are all so busy this time of year – it’s actually the perfect time to keep your celebrations simple and focused on the fun of being together – unless of course you need some alone time. In that case, may I suggest you be the one that does all the shopping for a party. You leave for a few hours and your family never needs to know how quickly this can be done. #winkwink
I’ll include our shopping list and quick party tips below. For this particular party, it was the perfect weather to have doors open, kids playing outside. And of course we had the luxury of allowing them to color and glue on walls. Not to mention, no parents had to walk around pretending their kids know how to pick up after themselves. Because no one enjoys picking up after themselves so we should really give each other grace on this front as well.
CHARCUTERIE BOARD (this portion feeds approx 20):
(we like to purchase all items from our local Central Market)
1/2 pound Capricola
1/2 pound of Mustard Seed Salami
1/2 pound Sopreseta
4oz goat cheese
4oz Manchego cheese (add a drizzle of honey sweet thang)
4oz Blue Cheese
Vine of Grapes
2 handfuls of Olives
Handful of Corshons
Praline pecans
Dijon and Mustard Seed mixture
Add in Apple/figs/strawberries/etc.
*The key is a good mixture of savory to sweet along with spicy to mild.
Various Crackers (we {HEATH} make our own using a skinny baguette sliced up. Then toast up the slices and top with olive oil/salt/pepper). We {ME} also buy Water crackers and I’m very visual so anything else that pops out at me that day.
Have music playing as guests arrive (we always use our BOSE speaker wherever we go). Let guests know where the drinks are if they are not immediately visible when they walk in. Offer to take any bags and let them know where you will be putting them so they can easily find it when they need to leave. And if kids are involved certainly just put away anything you don’t want juvenile hands touching. Keeps everyone more relaxed!
I wish I would have taken more photos during the party, but isn’t that truly the sign of a good time. So much fun, never thought to find my camera.
As I write this we are hopeful that we are just 6 weeks away from moving into this completely transformed space. In the meantime…feel free to invite me over to your place. I promise to always be a good time. And let’s make a deal that you don’t have to pick up before I arrive!