PlumParty

Tip #50

SPRING FLINGS

Entertaining Ideas for a Season in Bloom

WE ADMIT IT.
We switch to iced coffee mid-April. We wear open-toed shoes in torrential downpours. We pack away our winter coats on the first day with a high of over 45. Each year, we’re guilty of trying to force spring just a leeeeeeeetle too early. But we can’t help it—there’s something so optimistic about the first hint of spring. Longer days mean more time to play, so rouse your pals from their long winter’s naps to celebrate the big thaw. We say, when spring fever hits, let it burn, baby, burn.

GARDEN VARIETY
Ring in spring with an exuberant garden affair, or, if your garden access is somewhat limited (meaning limited to your living room overlooking 6th Avenue), bring the outdoors in with a posy party punch-drunk with color. Go daisy crazy with flowers everywhere: on your invitations, on your tables, on your papergoods. For centerpieces, float fragrant gardenias in glass bowls or cluster tea roses in julep cups or wire teapots. Plant our mini topiaries and “Petite Fleur” pails filled with blooms throughout your venue for a lush and lovely greenhouse effect. Our tulip cocktail napkins and rose candles pack your party with flower power. Use oversize butterflies, our ten-planter bed of roses and Spanish-moss-in-a-bag to transform any space into a garden of earthly delights.

If your soiree is outdoors, set up genteel garden party games like croquet and horseshoes. Serve lamb burgers with mint pesto on our scalloped floral platters, accompanied by crisp salads in our sienna nasturtium ramekin dishes. Cap off the meal with hibiscus ice cream. Send guests home with a potted moss or fern or single stem in a handsome bud vase.

OPEN UP AND SAY "OM"
Come April and May, we notice that it’s harder to twist our girlfriends’ arms to join us for a sundae-fest or to spend a lazy Saturday watching a Lifetime movie marathon. They’re in the spring shape-up zone, with tunnel vision on bikini season. Just because clothing is covering less surface area doesn’t mean you have to put entertaining on hold. Book a yoga or Pilates instructor to come to your house (or the beach or the park) for a private group session (we love this as a shower idea!).

Create a calming air in your party space with candles rooted in pails of sand. Line tables with earthy elements like our stone table runners and onion grass bundles. Say namaste to the heavenly bodies in your midst with a round of our “Go Goddess” game. Treat guests to a smoothie bar, brimming with fresh fruit, juices, sorbets and frozen yogurt. Use our Bambu veneerware serving pieces to be kind to Mother Earth. Brew frothy chai tea lattes and serve in our cherry blossom thermoses. Favors like personalized yoga mats, yoga decks, healthy cookbooks or bags of homemade granola tied with ribbon make the soothing vibe last.

GREEN DAY
If you get your kicks from swinging sticks, spring is your ace-in-the-hole season. For big birthdays, retirement parties or just for the love of the game, organize a “Two for Tee” golf outing or an at-home fete honoring life on the links.

Our golf invitation will bring the club champs out to play. Set up a tavern on the green with our Astroturf runner as the backdrop. Present Back-Nine Burgers, Bogey Hoagies and Sand Trap Trail Mix with our golf papergoods. Sweeten the game with golf bag cookies, chocolate truffle golf balls and cupcakes decorated with green frosting and sugar crystals. Wash it down with green-bottle brews on iron driver coasters. Send guests a-putting with our picks from the pro shop, like our tee time gift bags filled with balls and tees, good luck tokens or golf desk sets.

RAINED OUT?
May flowers are a by-product of April you-know-whats—every spring hostess needs a rain contingency plan in her back pocket. Our fave rainy day party saves:

1. Board Game Olympics (with chocolate trophies for the winners)

2. Movie Marathon: Pick a theme and rent anything on-topic. Try rain, for starters (Purple Rain, Singin’ in the Rain, Rain Man, etc.)

3. Tis The Season: Rent a season of a hit show on DVD and catch up on the buzz

4. Spring Cleaning Swap (have friends bring eBay-bound closet discards to trade…one fashionista’s trash is another fashionista’s treasure)

5. Mudslide Mania: Pass out old sweats and tees and shuffle the gang into the backyard for some good old-fashioned playing in the dirt. Make sure your hose is working first. Mudslide cocktails and sundaes all around!

6. Salsa Lesson: Book a pro to come over and show your party how to turn a rainy day into a steamy fiesta