by Lawyerish
I don't entertain very often, but when I do, I of course want to provide good food, plentiful drinks, and cheery decor. However, I'm not big on crafts, homemade decorations, or fancy hors d'ouvres -- I use the excuse that I don't have time for those things, but in fact they're just not priorities for me and I kind of suck at them. So I do what I can to put things together in a nice/low-effort way, and beyond that I figure the conversation and festive atmosphere are enough to ensure that people have a good time. So far, it seems to be working.
Here are some elements of my Lazy Woman Entertaining (using my daughter's first and second birthday parties for illustration; they were virtually the same party, and pretty much every party I ever throw will be similar, as well):
Decorate with inexpensive, hastily bought flowers and (for kid-centered events) large bunches of balloons:
The flowers totaled about $12 at our corner deli, and the ribbons on the vases were $1 per spool at Michael's (I used the rest in the gift bags). The balloons were from a neighborhood toy store and we planned to give them as favors along with the bags, but I completely forgot. They serve a dual purpose of providing color and covering the big blank wall above our dining table, where we have yet to hang anything despite having lived in this apartment for six years.
A banner made by a crafty family member with a Cricut machine:
In theory, you could make something like this yourself. You could also have someone make it for you for free if they are generous (as my mother happens to be). Or you could buy one on Etsy.
Kid- and adult-friendly drinks:
Izze sodas are colorful and not chock-full of HFCS, plus the bottles are straw-friendly; sparkling wine has universal party appeal (last year I served Sofia Sparkling Wine in a can because it is adorable, but this year I went with bottles of inexpensive but dry and delicious cava and Blanquette de Limoux (both are sparklers that are cheaper than Champagne but eminently drinkable -- we killed three bottles!). I ordered cute plates, cups, and napkins from Diapers.com -- they have a whole inventory of kid-party stuff and since I don't have a Target nearby that was a godsend.
A lowbrow, semi-homemade spread:
Pigs in blankets (Nathan's mini-hot dogs wrapped in Pillsbury Crescent rolls), crudites with Whole Foods dip, Amy's Organic frozen pizzas, kettle or pita chips, hummus, bakery cupcakes (I made the birthday cake, but I fully support outsourcing that, too). And of course, birthday cake and ice cream.
Favor bags for kids AND adults:
Paper gift bags were from Michael's; stickers from Sarah + Abraham (where I also ordered custom invitations that are crazy adorable); contents for the adults were chocolate-covered Oreos and chocolate-covered whoopie pies in festive foil wrappers that I found at Home Good, plus sea-salt caramels from Whole Foods that I put in glassine bags from Michael's and tied with the aforementioned ribbon. For the kids, the favors varied by age but included Fun Doh, stickers, Late July packets of peanut butter crackers, and Whole Foods cheese cracker snack packs. (See how I loaded up the adults with sugar and gave the kids quasi-healthy snacks? Not bad, eh?)
At this year's party, I put our coffee table along one side of the room and laid out 8x10 foam boards, washable brushless paints, and loads of stickers for the kids to make art. This was successful in that it kept them busy enough that the adults could eat, drink and be merry without too much hovering required.
With entertaining this easy, I am already looking forward to next year!
