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LUAU for the whole family!
by Cindy Barney http://www.PartyBasic.com as featured in the Moms Network "connecting @ Home" National Newspaper for Moms Jul/Aug 2002 Edition. Vol. 2 Issue 4
TIME: approx. 4 hours - late afternoon into sunset
DECORATIONS : Turn your backyard into a tropical paradise! Use grass skirting around the food table with flowers and pineapples and/or coconuts on the table. Decorate a gift table, if needed and use card tables with themed table covers for the eating area - alternate candles and flowers from table to table - at the end of the party offer one table centerpiece per family. Set up a couple bamboo pole torches in "safe" locations for nighttime lighting. Provide leis (Hawaiian poly or flower) for your guests. Either provide or have your guests dress the occasion! Men can wear hawaiian shirts and the ladies, grass skirts over shorts. Another fun decoration is to hang inflatable monkeys from a tree. Also, don't forget the tropical patterned plates (dinner and dessert), cups and napkins (dinner and beverage).
ACTIVITIES :
1)Set up a volleyball net, even if you don't know how to play - this is a fun and inexpensive activity for the whole family!
2)Start a Conga Line.
3)Limbo Contest.
4)Hula hoop Contest
5)For little ones, set up a small baby pool, fill with clean sand and put shovels and other sand toys in it!
6)Even do a Treasure Hunt - put people into groups. Give each group a map of the yard. Have each of the maps lead to different directions of the yard and leave notes to follow and ultimately they will all end up in the same spot, with a small prize hidden at the "x" spot. Have a wooden box at the "x" spot, with enough prizes for each person (1 per person - plastic beach safe containers or fish squirts make fun, inexpensive prizes).
MUSIC : Find some fun tropical music (steel drum sound) and even throw in a little Beach Boys and Baha Men. Dance the night away.
FOOD :
1)Clean out a couple pineapples and fill with cut up cubed fruit and serve whipped topping & yogurt (mixed together) in a small dish as a dip.
2)Kabobs - use any of the following: chicken, shrimp, beef, mushrooms, onion wedges, tomatoes, pineapple chunks - soak the kabob sticks in water prior to putting the food on and grilling. You can even stick hotdog pieces on a kabob for little children.
3)Chip and Dip in a tropical serving tray.
4)Cheeses cubed up with foil flower picks.
5)Shrimp Cocktail.
6)Nice big salad. Make with leaf lettuce, mandarin oranges, small chopped walnuts or pecans (check for nut allergies with guests), raisins, and sprinkle a little coconut last (very lightly). Serve with a rasberry vinaigrette dressing.
DRINKS : Virgin Pina Colodas, kiddy cocktails, lemonade, pitcher of water with lemon wedges - no matter what sort of drink you provide, have lots of fruit available to put in it and a tall decorative hawaiian straws.
TIMELINE : *Invitations, party suplies, tropical serving plates, picks and straws, prizes & decorations should be ordered 1 month before the date. Order enough for the entire group - at RSVP time you'll have an exact count - it's best to have extra if a last minute guest shows up. *Send the invitations out 2 to 3 weeks in advance with RSVP for one week prior. *One Week- make final guest list, have music picked out, camera/film, arrival of all supplies you ordered, materials for all activities and the treasure hunt maps are made, finalize any grocery list and make sure you've borrowed any tables you may need (mark with masking tape for easy return). *2 to 3 Days Prior - shop for food. *Day Before - prepare most of the food and store in refridgerator. *Day of - decorate early, then set out foods right before start of occasion - Put a husband in charge of the kabobs on the grille and have fun - little secret: sneak in a nap, since the event isn't until that evening, just a short one will refresh you! As far as goody type prizes, each family will take a candle or fresh flower setting from their table home and everyone receives small prizes from the games. Goody Bags are not necessary for this occasion. The above is a recipe for FUN with FRIENDS and FAMILY!
We wish you a Happy Luau!!!
by Cindy Barney http://www.PartyBasic.com
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