When do You send out Invites?
posted by Annie
In the age of Facebook, it’s easy to get bombarded with invitations to “Events.” I don’t even have that many Facebook friends and I get them all of the time. Most of the time, I feel guilty about being on Facebook (I know it’s an enormous time-waster) so I rarely even sift through them.
But what happens when the tides are turned? When you want people to read the invitation you’ve put together, RSVP, and then actually attend?
I’ve started trying to give people three weeks notice. So far, so good. And I’ve sent invites out on Facebook, but I’ve taken to calling people as well to invite them to events that I’m having.
For example, on January 26th, I’m having an informal gathering to talk about Young Living Essential Oils. (email me if you’d like to attend, it’s on the Upper West Side, I’ll give you more details when I hear from you) Anyway, I put the invite out via email to some friends on January 5th. That same day I posted the event on Facebook. Then last night (a week after the initial invite, but two weeks before the event) I invited specific people via Facebook whose email addresses I didn’t have. So now I have another week and a half to try to get to my perfect number of people.
Am I bombarding people? I have no idea!
But for a less business-y event, like a simple birthday brunch for my family, I sent the invites out today via Paperless Post. Is that too soon? The event is on 01/23.
I checked with Emily Post. I figured she’d be a good source.
Quick Tips for Rude Situations #12: Invitation Timing
Whether you’re mailing invitations or inviting guests by phone, timing is key. Send an invitation too late and the guest may already be booked; send it too early and it might be misplaced or forgotten. The following guidelines aren’t set in stone, but will give you an idea of when to mail various types of invitations.
| The Event | When to Invite |
| Anniversary party | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Bar or Bat Mitzvah | 1 month |
| Bon Voyage party | Last minute to 3 weeks |
| Casual party | Same day to 2 weeks |
| Charity Ball | 6 weeks to 3 months |
| Christmas party | 1 month |
| Cocktail party | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Debutante Ball | 6 weeks to 3 months |
| Formal dinner | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Graduation party | 3 weeks |
| Housewarming party | A few days to 3 weeks |
| Informal dinner | A few days to 3 weeks |
| Lunch or Tea | A few days to 2 weeks |
| Thanksgiving dinner | 2 weeks to 2 months |
I’m just not sure. I would label my birthday breakfast as a “Lunch or Tea” in which case, I am right in there in the proper time. A little less than two weeks, but nothing over that. (And, yes, it’s for my immediate family, who are only a few people, but still, it’s the principal I’m curious about.)
So what do you think? Do you send out paper invitations at all? Would you send them out sooner than an email invite? What’s your favorite mode of inviting people?
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Mom’s Apple Pie
posted by Annie
Judging by the splash marks, Mom's cookbook has been well-used.
My mom had a few of us over on Sunday night. And she was saying how one of the easiest desserts to make is apple pie. That was all I needed to hear. But then once I tasted it, I knew it had to be an entry for All Abode!
She showed it to me from her Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Hers was the fifth edition, printed in 1972. Awesome.
Apple Crumb Pie
5 to 7 tart apples (5 cups) 1 9-inch unbaked pastry shell 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/3 cup sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 6 tablespoons butter Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pare apples; core and cut in eighths. Arrange in unbaked pastry shell. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Mix 1/3 cup sugar with the flour; cut in butter till crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or till done. If pie browns too quickly, cover edge with foil. Cool. Pass whipped cream.
Shout Out to the Party Angels
posted by Annie
I realize on Wednesday night as I was making my third (failed) batch of deviled eggs that I needed a hand. Fortunately, a friend of mine had called and volunteered to come over early to help set up with our Beatles Rock Band party. I put her on the job.
It seems that whenever I have people over, there just seems to be one or two people who go above and beyond to help make the party a success. My Christmas party had them, my husband’s birthday party had them, and last week’s party was no exception.
So, thank you Party Angels! I wouldn’t be half the hostess I am without you! (And I wouldn’t have half as many deviled (more…)
Beatles Party Menu
posted by Annie
Rocking it, Beatles Style
Two nights ago we celebrated Bealtes Rock Band
Beatles Themed Foods
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Walrus Treats
posted by Annie
These were a big hit at our Beatles Rock Band Party! The name comes from the lyric from “I Am the Walrus” where it says, “Sitting on a cornflake.” So I looked for desserts that had cornflakes in them. Then I amended one a bit to make it more to my liking. They went over big! I made two batches throughout the course of the night. (must be that of the five ingredients, two of them are butter!)
Walrus Treats
yields 12 medium-sized squares
1/3 cup butter 1 (10 oz) pkg marshmallows 4 cups Corn Flakes 1 1/2 tablespoons butter 1 cup coconutLightly brown the 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and coconut. Melt 1/3 cup of butter and marshmallows over low heat. When melted removed from heat. Add coconut and Corn Flakes to melted marshmallow mixture. Press into a buttered 13 x 9 inch pan. Note: flip the marshmallow bag inside out, put your hand in that so you have a plastic bag glove and use this to press the mixture into the pan. Submit a Recipe to All Abode
Deviled “I Am the Egg Man” Recipe?
posted by Annie
Rockin' 09/09/09!
In honor of The Beatles: Rock Band
Which leads me to my big question – who’s got a great (and easy!) deviled egg recipe for me? I’d love it to be a recipe that has bacon on it since that will incorporate lyrics from both “I Am the Walrus” (“I am the egg man) and “Piggies” (“to eat their bacon”).
Help me out!
Dan and Liz Did It Again
posted by Annie
My brother tweaked this recipe to avoid the hot kitchen
My brother and his wife had another celebration! Whew! This summer they’ve had people over for their son’s first birthday, their son’s Baptism, my brother’s birthday, and their other son’s birthday.
Per usual they did an awesome job of entertaining! This time around there were twelve adults and two children.
My nephew wanted to have a pizza party. So pizza we had. Danny and Liz also made some great sides to go with it. And this broccoli dish was one of them.It’s kind of similar to the one that I’ve posted before, but I like this one for a group since it can be cooked on a grill and won’t heat up your entire kitchen when you have a crowd.
It’s from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients.
Note: the recipe was doubled for 10 people without a lot left over.
Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli
4 to 5 pounds broccoli 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced Good olive oil 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves (about 12 leaves)Turn on your grill so it’ll reach 425 degrees. Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast on the grill for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned. Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1½ tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot.
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Few People Over
posted by Annie
I’m having a few people over tonight to share with them how great I think Young Living Essential Oils are! I had one of these at the end of June (See that day’s post about it).
So while I’m sifting through the last minute details, I thought I’d share tonight’s menu.
There are only going to be about five or six of us. (Thankfully, or else my apartment would get a little too warm in this August heat!) Since it’s during a dinner-ish time (7-9PM) I figured I want to have at least a little something to eat as well. So here’s how I organized what I’ll be serving:
Wet Lavender Lemonade NingXia Red and Pellegrino PellegrinoCrunchy I just picked up a bag of Veggie Stix
which I’ll put around the room near to where people will be sitting. Just for something to munch on.
Hearty Since I’ve made it before and it doesn’t require my standing in front of the stove for too long, I’ll be serving 3 Bean Baptism Salad. It’s vegan, it’s vegetarian, it’s gluten free. Perfect for anyone! Well, anyone who likes beans.
Sweet Homemade Ben and Jerry’s Strawberry Sorbet
Only things I have left to do are straighten the living room and buy some fresh flowers.
Fun!
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Basic Crepes
posted by Annie
I have a thing for French things and people. I love them! Just plain love them! And their food is so amazing, it just makes me so happy. Luckily here in New York there are a bunch of French restaurants and cafes that my husband and I frequent, so I’m able to get my fix.
Crepe Maker
But while I was on vacation last week, my aunt – a fellow Franco-enthusiast – brought (more…)
Reader Submission About Displaying Photos
posted by Annie
A reader sent this in response to what I’d posted about a host having photos of a guest of honor scrolling on the television. She had lots of great ideas, with specifics like dimensions and such. So I figured I’d pass them along.
The photos on the TV idea is an update to a technique that I have used for years. When hosting a party to honor one or two people (i.e. graduation, anniversary, birthday), I like to find photos – old and new – and inexpensively reproduce them at Staples or somewhere with access to color and b/w copies. I enlarge the photos to 11 x 17 or 9 x 14 size – I like to vary – and I hang the photos in interesting spots around my home. If I am outside, I use the windows and door to the patio for posting pix. The guests love looking at the old and new pictures and I always try to include photos with many of the guests and the guest(s) of honor together. This makes for easy conversation starters for those people invited to the party who do not know the majority of the other guests. It also is fun for those who “know” everyone there. I try to only find flattering photos of the honored guest(s). It is their day after all!
I use removable double sided poster tape for easy cleanup and to preserve furniture)
Awesome! I love to hear how other readers are decorating their homes for parties! If you have a technique that you like to use, please let me know!
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