Winter 2007 USAA.com Magazine

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Budget $50 or Less Approximately 12 to 20 Guests winter 2007 16 usaa.com party smarts By shelley levitt How to entertain with pizazz... whatever your budget. M a n y a f a b u l o u s p a r t y hasn’t been thrown because would-be hosts fretted they couldn’t afford it. That’s a pity, since money has little to do with memorable fêtes. “Great parties aren’t about impressing your guests with fanciness, but offering warmth and hospitality,” says Lauren Purcell, co-author with her sister, Anne Purcell Grissinger, of Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! Here’s a guide to entertaining with style, whether you’re feeling thrifty or you’re in the mood to splurge: usaa.com Need help with your overall budget Log on to usaa.com/magazines and e-mail a financial advisor for free advice. I m a g e s c l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p l e f t : G e t t y , i s t o c k ( 3 ) , d r e a m s t i m e ( 1 ) , i s t o c k ( 1 ) $250 or Less Approximately 20 to 30 Guests $500 or Less Approximately 25 to 35 Guests Eat, Drink, and Be Safe If you’re planning to serve alcohol at your party, follow these tips to ensure your safety and that of your guests:
Food Drinks Invitations Decorations Tips ■ Fresh popcorn sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and black pepper ■ Bean or artichoke dip with chips or fresh veggies ■ Mini grilled-cheese sandwiches Total: $25 ■ Iced tea ■ Pitchers of ice water with fruit ■ If you serve alcohol, go cheap. You can’t afford to spend more than about $15 on it. ■ Free e-mail invites (Try evite.com, hallmark.com, bluemountain. com, or other e-card sites you like.) ■ Work with what you have. Take a mirror off your wall, place it on a coffee table, and cover it with candles of all sizes and shapes, says Stacie Krajchir, a lifestyle/trend expert. ■ For a holiday theme, pile ornaments or miniature pumpkins in glass vases or bowls. Tip: Instead of putting sliced asparagus, celery, and carrots flat on a tray, stand them up in a pretty bowl. Put a shallow dish in the center to keep them upright. Total: $10–$25 Total: $0 Total: $0 ■ Chilled asparagus spears with lemon dipping sauce ■ Mini quiches ■ Oven-roasted tri-tip (about $40 for 6 to 7 pounds) or glazed baked ham (about $50 for 6 to 7 pounds) with dipping sauces or salsas ■ Mixed nuts tossed with butter, salt, and pepper and roasted in a 450-degree oven for 10 minutes Total: $150 ■ Herbal iced tea garnished with fresh mint sprigs ■ Sparkling water with lime slices ■ Expect your beverage budget to double — up to about $60 — if you choose to serve alcoholic drinks. Total: $30–$60 ■ Buy boxed invitations at a discount store. Plan to spend about $10 in postage. Total: $20 ■ Float white tealight candles in pretty bowls, and color water with a few drops of food dye. ■ Place colorful feathers, rather than pricey flowers, in vases and decorate tables with feather boas. Get feathers and boas at craft shops, floral supply stores, and Web sites such as createforless.com, floraltrims.com, and plumesnfeathers.com. Total: $15-$20 Tip: Use small picture frames bought at discount stores to display the names of beverages you’re serving. Just put a frame in front of each pitcher or punch bowl to identify its contents. winter 2007 17 usaa.com ■ Steamed edamame (soybeans) tossed with salt and sesame seeds ■ Marinated olives ■ Baked brie and sourdough baguette ■ Layered bean-guacamole-salsa dip ■ Green salad sprinkled with goat cheese and dried cranberries ■ Seafood lasagna ■ Do-it-yourself pound cake bar with a variety of toppings Total: $250 ■ Sparkling cider punch ■ Fruit-blend teas garnished with fresh fruit slices ■ Fruit juice “mocktails” (For an elegant touch, serve iced white grape juice and club soda in cocktail glasses.) ■ Coffee (regular and decaf) ■ Remember: Alcoholic or specialty drinks could cost $100 or more. Total: $50–$150 ■ Create your own invitations using brightly colored paper or card stock and your printer. Remember to budget for postage! Total:$25 ■ Drape tables with bolts of brightly colored fabrics (unfinished is fine). ■ Create a table runner with low vases filled with small bunches of flowers. ■ Place a vase of large flowers (try lilies) in a focal point. Total: $50–$75 Tip: Remnants go for as little as $2 to $3 per yard at fabric discount or outlet stores. ■ Stock for a sleepover. Let guests know you’ll have places for them to sleep. To be extra safe, ask for their car keys when they arrive. ■ Stay off the streets. Keep phone numbers of taxi services available and have designated drivers on hand. ■ Make it a single. Premix the drinks before the party to save on cost and to make sure your guests limit the amount of alcohol they consume. ■ Play it straight. Have as many nonalcoholic drinks as alcoholic ones, if not more.
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Winter 2007 USAA.com Magazine

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