Love Me Some Mardi Gras!!!

I told you it's been party time around here this month!!!  Our HOG Chapter celebrated Mardi Gras...Fat Tuesday last week.  Doing theme activities is something I love and last week was no exception. Amazing what a little purple, green and yellow will do to brighten up a meeting...never mind sparkly masks and some strings of beads!!! Here's a peek!!!

Souper Sunday

Want to do a fun event with friends?  If so, then plan a "Souper Sunday" party!!!  Just ask your friends to bring their favorite soup to share or a favorite dessert.  It's that simple and a great way to have a fun get together for an afternoon or evening.


We attended Souper Sunday not too long ago and the soups were absolutely delicious.  We sampled Baked Potato Soup, Potato Soup, White Chicken Chili, Cajun 15 Bean Soup, 3 variations of Vegetable Soup, Italian Sausage Soup, Creamy Chicken N Veggie Soup and Clam Chowder.  Yep...it was a feast!!!  I made Neapolitan Cupcakes for the dessert table and they were yummy!!!!  Then top off your party with a game of East/West Hold Em!!! 


Dave shared his Italian Sausage Soup recipe with us and the next time we have a Souper Sunday I hope everyone will bring along copies of their recipes!!!!  It would be a great way to add to your soup recipe collection!!


Dave's Italian Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound ground Italian Sausage (hot or mild-your choice)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 cups water
1 can sliced carrots
1 can Italian green beans
1 can Northern Beans, undrained
1 small Zucchini, cubed
1 can sliced mushrooms
1 cup Spinach, chopped or torn
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
Brown sausage with garlic, drain grease.
Put all ingredients in stockpot (except Spinach) and simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until zucchini is tender.
Remove from heat; add spinach; cover and let the heat of the soup cook the spinach.

Valentine's Party...H.O.G. Style

Each year our H.O.G. Club (Harley Owners Group) tries to do something special for Valentine's Day.  This year was no exception...we had a Valentine's Party (yep.. a theme party) on Saturday evening.  There was lots of food, fun and fellowship as we gathered together to celebrate.  No motorcycles though...we all had to carry food items and gifts so... cars were the mode of travel for this night.

We have some very creative people in our club and that creativity was evident Saturday night.  Teams participated in  "Valentine Feud- Internet Survey" which showed their knowledge (somewhat...lol) of Valentine's Day; played "Left/Right Love Story" and exchanged Valentine gifts in "Dirty Cupid" ( a game where you can steal gifts)!!  Oh, did I mention the food....it was delicious!  Plus... there was chocolate candy everywhere!!! :)

Yep....lots of fun, food and fellowship for all!  Happy Valentine's Day H.O.G. family!!  Let's do it again next year!

Theme Parties Aren't Just For Children!

Back when my daughters were young, I planned a few theme birthday parties for them.  In those days, theme parties usually centered around the decorations, cake, activities.  Today theme birthday parties have evolved to include not only the decorations and cake but also include costumes, games, special places...you get the idea!!

Theme parties are also popular these days with adults too!!  My favorite is a murder mystery theme party-guests come dressed according to the murder mystery theme and have parts to play.  Dinner is served in the midst of the party as everyone tries to use the clues they've gathered to figure out who has murdered one of the characters.  After dinner, participants make their predictions and the mystery is solved as the final scenes are played out!!  There are even awards presented...can't beat that!

I've been involved in two murder mystery theme parties in recent years- a Hollywood Murder Mystery and a Western Murder Mystery.  Let me tell you..there is nothing quite like these theme parties!!  It's not everyday I get to transform into Audrey Hepburn or a saloon girl (except at Halloween)!  Not only are the costumes lots of fun but the decorations and activities are terrific.  The Western Murder Mystery had gambling tables, card tables, a saloon ...made you feel you were really in the "Old West!! 

I love theme parties!!  What's your favorite theme party???