Oopsies and Lessons

So the party went AWESOME!

The ONLY bad part was that the flow of the party didn't quite happen, and I planned for too many people party favor wise.

So I've learned, of the people who say they're coming, you should probably only expect half of them to attend. Make enough food to feed the full amount, but only make favors and what not for half, and have some back up just in case.

The flow of the party ended up having to mingle less and enjoy myself more. Everyone gathered around to play poker and roulette on their own, and REALLY got into it. There wasn't a dance contest, but one of my friends came in and did some 1920s dance, full out. And awesomely. We ended up playing a card version game of Mafia instead of doing a murder mystery. But it ended up being a lot of fun anyway, and everyone sang happy birthday and HARMONIZED :D And my cakes were GORGEOUS and made by my mommy.

As far as the calendar planning, it REALLY helped. The homemade root beer also went off without a hitch!

I'm glad I overplanned on everything except the party favors, but it was still awesome =)

Thanks to everyone who made it so great. <3

Since the party is over, I'll use this blog to either post funny/interesting/random things or to plan others' parties or my own.

:D It's still a few days before my birthday! <3 So I still have some awesome partying to partake in <3

Flow of Party

This is basically a schedule and flow chart for my party so that there will always be something interesting going on. I've also decided to do a murder mystery within my party :D yay

So here we go:

7:00 PM - Guests begin arriving, socializing, ice breaking, mingling, etc. Introduce Poker Tournament and Dance Contest.

8:00 PM - Introduce murder mystery and hand out roles

8:30-9:00 PM - Dance Contest

9:30-9:45 PM - LIGHTS OUT, Murder begins

10:00 PM - Birthday Cake and singing

11:00 PM - End of Poker Tournament

12:00 PM - Murderer is revealed

The Murder Mystery is Murder at the 4 Dueces.

PARTY DRESS

Lookylooky!

Party dress




BEEP. Enjoy!

10 days left until the party!

Fail schedule

With school starting, and my mother's birthday August 27th, I'm a bit behind in my schedule for my party, but it's not too terrible. I took my mother out for her birthday this past weekend, and as such I was unable to buy the items for party favors, but that's alright. If I don't have the party favors made this week, it's alright. As long as I remember everything else. It won't be difficult to buy all of the favors and decorations all at once and work on the favors over a weekend.

I'm not upset, I'm rather relaxed about this issue.

I have pictures of me in my dress for the party, I will try to get those up and posted soon. I have yet to decide what to do with my hair.

ALSO, we're ahead of schedule in the sense that ALL of the root beer has been made and is fermenting (the CO2 is trapped, so it will not ferment in the way that beer does, which needs the CO2 to be released, plus Root Beer ferments hot, while beer ferments cooler).

Hope to see you kids at the party :D

(PS. I still need music if anyone wants to give/suggest more)

Preparation Calendar

So coming up with the idea, the budget, and the items for the party was the easy part. Now we're getting into the nittygritty. With a mere 48 days left until my party, I've started a preparation calendar.

August 22nd-

Begin buying party favors. Have made by the end of the week (August 29th)

August 30th-

Begin buying decorations (including Roulette Wheel).
Have all decorations by Sept. 12th
Buy items to make headband.

September 1st-

First reminder e-mail to group for party.

September 8th-

Second reminder e-mail

September 12th-

All decorations in hand.

September 13th-

Begin cleaning

September 15th-

Third reminder e-mail

September 16th-

Begin decorating
Buy ALL food

September 17th-

Finish decorating
Bake any food that is not precooked/set out to defrost
Send out FINAL reminder e-mail

September 18th- (THE BIG DAY)

Morning/Early Afternoon (or until done):
Begin cooking food
Start setting out snacks/drinks
Reclean, touch up decorations
Set out party favors

Early evening-
Get pretty!
Put up animals
Open up home

7 PM

EVERYTHING GOES DOWN

Within this calendar, I'll put in when we need to buy the items to make boot leg root beer and how long it will take to ferment, as well as when we need to start and if we want to bottle or not. When we make the root beer, I'll detail the account of how to make it. It will probably start on September 4th.

I'll update this as the time comes closer for me to start getting stuff down and ready.

Much love, kids <3

I've been gone!

Sorry I haven't updated in a long while. I've been in Houston, kidlings. I loved it.

I'm doing a huge photo and art upload today, so hopefully I will post again later with pictures of me in my dress.

I've decided to make a feather headband. I'm going to look at some designs and see what I can do. I have some peacock feathers and other such things right now from past art projects, so hopefully I won't need to buy anything more.

BAD NEWS

I will have the worst paycheck on the 8th :C VERY SAD FACE. So I have to be extremely careful with my money right now. I have a list of things I need to buy for now, and I can't go over that.

Happy 4th of July!

Blow up things! It's what our founding fathers would have wanted.

No news is good news... right?

Sorry I haven't posted anything about more birthday plannings. Once you get the general gist of things down, there's not much more you can do until... you know... it's time to DO IT.

What has happened is that my dress came in the mail a few days ago and looks FABULOUS on me. I still want to lose at least 10 lbs more by the time it's my birthday, but this will not affect how the dress looks on me other than perhaps hanging a little more loosely. I will post pictures soon.

What has also happened, in terms of Life, is that I've been distributing iPhones for the past two days to incoming Freshmen, thus I have been on my feet for 5-6+ hours at a time for two days and smiling mad like barbie, ergo I am very... very... tired. I have also been home alone for the past few weeks, off and on, and have grown used to being alone. With family now here, it seems my quiet reign of the household is over.

What is about to happen, is I'm about go to the store to buy blank CDs so some friends can burn their music onto them for me, so that I can start my collection of Music That's Close Enough to 1920s That I Can Play It At a 1920s Themed Party. Yay me!

What is also about to happen, is I'm going to be gone to Houston on July 13th, to see my best friend Ali, and basically blow people's minds by being awesome together. That is literally what will happen.

I have decided for my party, since I have 27 people saying that they FOR SURE are coming, is that it will be a potluck of sorts. BRING FOOD. Or else you can all just... not... have anything to eat. Or drink, for that matter. SO BRING FOOD AND DRINKS.

It seems like it will definitely be at my house, but this may change if I can get a small ballroom for CHEAP.

Also, I am not making presents required, but since I will not be getting many (if any) presents from family as their present(s) will be paying for half/most of my party, I encourage (not beg) people to bring presents*. Money is preferred. I am not begging. PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEOHPLEASE.

Not begging.

(It actually doesn't matter to me, but I would like to have a few presents** for my birthday :D please and thank you)

* note: Bringing food is not a present. Although I will treat you like a saint if you do.

** note: Should you give a present and it is not money, I would like weaponry, as I am preparing for the Impending Zombie Apocalypse. Anything pertaining to the genocide of Zombies is welcomed. Also, if you are a Zombie, please do not attend my party. I am always prepared, and I will DESTROY you.

That is all.

Have a good evening, lovelies.

Oh I'm back!

Hello childrens!

I bought my dress =) Yes, the one I posted down below. It ended up being $42, and that's fine. I just can't buy anything else for a while! Which that's not so bad as long as I stay home. *recluse*

I will be talking to people tomorrow about the 1920s music again. I'm excited, like woah.

So some people have been commenting on the fact that I've invited people so far in advance and here is my reasoning:

This sort of party is a large ordeal. I need to have time to figure out what I need, when I need it, how early I can get it, and how much it will cost. I also have to have time to plan how many guests, how much food and drinks, and decorating. Because of how much this party will cost ($500, and my parents said that they will help pay for it as my birthday gift), I have to stay far ahead of everything so that I will make SURE I have enough money for all that I'm doing. Right now, I'm having to save money for both my trip to Houston in a few weeks, and this party.

So of course I'm going to invite early and start planning early. It gives everyone a chance to mark their calendars and plan ahead, and it gives people time to choose if they want to help (which I DO need help).

Speaking of which, here's what I still need help for:

Music~
Dancing (I would love to take a few dance lessons on the dancing styles of the 1920s and to have other people learn with me)
DEALERS (I need dealers for the card games and for all of the casino style games, especially since there will be a poker tournament)
JUDGES (There will be a dance contest. I will be judging but I also need others to judge with me)
Decorators! (I'd love to have some friends come over and help me clean up and decorate my house!)
Newzies (I definitely want to have a little street team that helps with reminding people and encouraging people to come, but it's not necessary)

So if anyone can offer help, please do so!

This party may end up being potluck =)

New Mexico!

I will be in New Mexico until Friday! Please send me music or pictures that you find while I'm gone!

Bye childrens!

Money concerns

Times are tough as far as money goes. So, I need to start planning a budget for all of this.

So here we go, I'm going to do an estimate:

MY stuff

Dress- $40 (the price of the dress, plus shipping)
Music - (?? Looks like free, everyone is offering to burn me CDs, might be some money if I want some of the albums I found)

Sub Total= $40

Decorations
Rope lights - $30
Chinese Lanterns - $30
Balloons - $10
Metal Beverage tubs - $60
Posters - (?? probably free if I print them at ACU)

Sub Total= $130

Food
Veggie Tray - $30
Chicken wings - $15
Mini-wraps - $10
Mini quiche - $10
Shrimp cocktail - $6 (I FOUND ONE FOR 60, AND OMG)
Cream cheese dip - $6
Crackers - $5
Chips - $3
Chex mix - $6
M&Ms- $10
Ginger Ale/Root Beer/Various sodas - $30

Sub Total= $131

Party Favors
Pearls - $15
Bow ties - $15
Chocolate - $20
Poker chips - $5
Bubbles - $15

Sub Total= $70

Misc.
Roulette Wheel - $30
Dance floor - (?? I might build this myself, and I'm not sure about material cost yet)

Sub Total= $30

TOTAL= $401

I'll give myself a budget of $500, just in case.

That's still quite a bit, but I think if I save my paychecks well enough then I will be alright. Although, I desperately hope that someone's birthday gift to me is helping me buy all of this. That would be superb.

Or if my parents go in 50/50 with me.

Guest list

I just realized how many people I invited.

I'm going to plan for 30. Let's hope that's fine. :D

More music frustrations

It's getting DAMN hard to find GOOD fast music from the 1920s, remastered quality.

But I think I found a good CD:

Rob Fisher's Shaking the Blues Away

I LIKE it.

But I might be going ahead and breaking away from my historical accuracy for definitely music... I can't find a lot of music for the 1920s that I like and that I know will get others up and going. So I think I'm gonna also get something from The Charlotte Swing Band. It's hitting the 40s, but what can you do? I at least am keeping the promise that I'll stay within 1939, and Sing Sing Sing (my favorite, and everyone knows it) is from 1936, so I'm not a horrible person.

I also just found a good Big Band album from 1936-1937. So I'm gonna use that as well.

So far the only two songs that I know break away and go into the 1940s are Hellzapoppin' and Choo Choo Ch'Boogie. Otherwise, for individual songs, I just have My Baby Just Cares For Me and Sing Sing Sing.

The CD's I'll get:

Big Band Sounds - 1936-1937 ($9.99)
Charlotte Swing Band - Swing Masters Vol. 1 ($9.99) (I may get Vol. 2 and 3, both of which are $9.99)
And Rob Fisher Shaking the Blues Away: Good Tunes for Hard Times ($9.75)

I think that'll keep me covered for most of the night.

Videos of the dances from the 1920s

How To Charleston
A How To Charleston video. It's kind of silly, but it's good.

Charleston
Some more elaborate male dancing for the Charleston. It's hard to distinguish a lot of the 1920s stuff from the 1930s stuff-- I mean, it's hard to distinguish a lot 1990s stuff from 2000s stuff, you kind of forget that something is 10 years old or something.

Nevertheless.

Fox Trot

How To Foxtrot

Here's a How To for the Foxtrot.

Black Bottom

This is how to Blackbottom AND IT MAKES ME LOL. It is FAR BEYOND being PC at all.

The Lindy Hop Showdown

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I also want to know the song so bad =/

Jive

A Jive competition piece. The song is from 1946, but I may use it anyway. =/ I'm getting way off historically as far as music goes, but I guess I don't care. If it's fun to dance to, then I'm going to use it.

How To Jive

They use a song from the 1950s. WTF. But at least you can see how you Jive.

Dress!

I think I've found the dress I want.

It's just perfect.




It's rather good for me, since I'm still rather curvy, but it'll help keep the flapper look.

:D NOW to see if I want a cloche hat or a head band. Ridiculous bucket hat or ridiculous feathered headband?

We shall see.



MySpace Countdown Clocks

MySpace Countdown Clocks

Things needed

I think I'm going to need some dealers, lighting for the back yard, decorations for the house, a roulette table and wheel, and a dance floor.

The dance floor and roulette table and wheel are going to be difficult to find...

I really need some help with this.

I hope people can contribute.


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From my notebook

I started a notebook about two months ago to start planning this birthday party.

Here is basically what it says:

The Roarin' 20s Birthday

Speakeasy- PW 4 Deuces
Costume party
Make Momento invitations (like postcards)

Party Favors-
Faux Pas pearls and ties, chocolate, playing cards, poker chips

Food-
Veggie tray with dip
Chicken wings
Mini-wraps (ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, etc.)
Mini-quiches
Shrimp cocktail
Cream cheese dip and crackers
Bowls of chips, chex mix, and M&Ms

Ginger ale
Root beer
Other sodas (cans and bottles)

(Can I get big metal tubs to put these in?)

Costumes-
Gangsters (Tommy Guns)
Al Capone
Bugsy Siegel
Flappers
Fedoras
Zoot suits
Pearl necklaces
Head bands (with feathers)
Cloche hats

Music-
Charleston
Blackbottom
Lindy Hop
Ragtime
Jazz
Fox trot
Big band?

Games-
Casino style card games
Poker
Black Jack
Baccarat
Bridge
Roulette
Craps

Events-
Charleston Contest
Poker match
(need two prizes)


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Music

http://www.amazon.com/New-Orleans-Jazz-1920s/dp/B001N04W6Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1244475587&sr=8-4

I think I might buy that one.

What I really want is 1920s music that has been covered by a new band. Not to say I dislike the old bands and orchestras, but that I don't want it to sound scratchy like it's on a record player. Also not to say I don't like record players; I love record players. But I want it to sound like it's right THERE, in the same room. Not like a recording. I can't FIND that sort of thing though. So I hope someone else can.

I may be playing Sing Sing Sing, just because everyone knows that, and it's from 1936 so it stays within my time frame.

I'll probably start with jazz and music from my time frame, and then in the middle I may play more modern music because it's a dance party, and you know that everyone will want to just bust out in booty rolls and all that. Then I'll go back to the music of the era.

We shall see.


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Sources and references

Clothing/Fashion/Fads:
http://www.vintagedance.com/dress-20s.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/co/pscst/fads.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1920s_fads
http://www.bored.com/crazyfads/20s.htm

Speech and slang:
http://home.earthlink.net/~dlarkins/slang-pg.htm
http://lackadaisycats.com/glossary.php

Music:
http://www.1920-30.com/music/
http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/jazzpoems2.html

History:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakeasy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition
http://www.silentladies.com/Ladies.html
http://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/famous-people-in-the-1920s.html

Misc:
http://www.dinnerandamurder.com/themes/1920s.htm

And to be honest, the BEST website I have for SEEING 1920s style EVERYTHING is http://lackadaisycats.com

SERIOUSLY. Even though they're all kitties, it's like... the BEST thing ever. I swear.


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Planning a 1920s Birthday Party

The title of this blog is a quote from Al Capone.

So, my birthday is in a few months. I decided two months ago that I wanted to do a 1920s "Roarin' 20s" birthday theme, since I am turning 20.

I've had one other big birthday party, when I turned 16, and it ended up being ruined because a girl that was brought over without being invited stole $50 from the other guests. I had to pay them back with my own birthday money.

So this is a chance at another big birthday party.

I'm going to be using this blog to count down the days until my birthday and keep track of the planning. I think this will be a good "Book of Reference," so to speak, for others in the future who wish to plan a 1920s party. I've seen many other websites that have planned these parties, and they haven't been very thorough or they've been rather gimmicky.

Now, this will not be a perfectly historically accurate birthday party, but it will be as close as I can get. Basically, I'm allowing anything from 1920-1939 to be used. It's a huge amount of time, but when I looked at fashion and listened to music from the 30s compared to the 20s, it wasn't a HUGE difference. The dresses have a very definite difference, though. The 1920s were about slimming, becoming androgynous, daring society and changing the roles of women. However, the 30s threw back to a more feminine silhouette, reintroducing curves, busts, hips.

Anyway, I'll be cataloging everything from videos of dance, photos of fashion, albums of music, down to the very last party favors.

And possibly after I'm done with the party, I will still use this blog for other postings.


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