Mad Men Party Ideas: Celebrate the Final Season

-

Mad Men is finally coming to a close. What better way to celebrate the complicated characters of Don, Peggy, Roger, Joan and Pete than with a Mad Men premiere or finale party?

Here are some ideas from my Mad Men birthday party a couple years ago:

Invites
Mad Men Yourself for your e-vite.

Decorations
Ads, ads and more ads! Go with icon Sterling & Cooper accounts: Lucky Strike, Heineken, Belle Jolie and Kodak.
I also set out bestselling books from the era and put my record player front and center.

Budget-Friendly Menu
Pigs in a blanket
Deviled eggs
Chips and dip
Veggies and dip
Cheese and crackers
Jello

And, if you want to be as fabulous a host as Megan, you have to do fondue. If you want to be more like the first (well, second, technically) Mrs. Draper, set out the china.

Drinks
Martinis are a must.
Sprite or 7-Up with cherries make good nonalcoholic options.
A full drink cart with ice in the bucket will really sell the experience. Check out the official Mad Men Cocktail Guide.

Games
Charades with clues from the Mad Men era will break the ice.
A Hula Hoop or Limbo competition will get everyone laughing like they've inhaled one of Stan's herbal cigarettes ...
This 60s Slogans and Taglines quiz is a toughie, or at least it was for my friends -- before our time. (For easier play, adapt the game to play in teams.)

Photo Backdrop
Snap photos of guests against a Mad Men backdrop. A Man Men or Sterling & Cooper sign, New York buildings or the ad agency's offices will do the trick.

And don't forget, have a drink and cigarette in hand at all times. In Sacramento, you'll find a selection of classic candy cigarettes at the candy stores in Old Sacramento. I got mine at Candy Heaven.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Halloween Decorations: How to Stuff a Life-Size Michael Myers

-
Image
Michael Myers is our grand finale of decorations, the big kahuna. The Michael Myers tradition started our first year in our first home. Aaron had the brilliant idea of stuffing Michael and placing him in my office window, which faced the yard. You had to walk right past the window to get to our door. You couldn't miss Michael; even people driving by on the street would slow to check him out. On Halloween, Michael amused many and frightened some. A few groups wondered out loud if he was real. Suddenly Michael would move (thanks to Aaron hididng in the office) and screams would ensue. Eventually, Aaron closed the blinds, quickly un-stuffed Michael, stuffed himself inside and hid behind the front door. I would answer and Aaron would creep out or jump out. More screams. The next day, we had a knock at our door. A group of kids asked Aaron if he could put the costume back on and chase them. But of course! The group waited outside, expecting Aaron to come out the front door
Keep on Reading on

Outdoor Oasis: How to Turn a Futon into a Porch Couch

-
Image
I refer to my back porch as my outdoor oasis, not because it's the most beautiful or detailed, but simply because the furniture is comfortable and the atmosphere is peaceful. It's where I go to unwind, relax and read. And now thanks to a recent project to turn a futon into a porch couch, I have the ultimate reading and napping spot. Last year, I wrote about getting rid of my busted up outdoor furniture, updating the salvageable and buying a futon to to use as my new outdoor couch . Shortly after I painted the $20 queen-size, solid-wood futon with outdoor white paint, I got busy getting ready for my move and never updated with the final result. I love it.
Keep on Reading on

Top 10 Tips for Packing Early for a Move

-
Image
I think I'm having the most organized move of my life, and that includes all future moves. I should be; this move is taking forever to actually happen. The tenants at my future home stopped paying rent over two months ago, and apparently that's how long it can take to evict someone in California. It's a frustrating saga I won't get into it. I thought I would, however, share some of my tips for an organized move, especially tips on what you can do well in advance of actually moving. 1. Create a box or basket of moving supplies. You want one place to hold packing tape, scissors, your labeling pen, etc. You also want an organizational system for all the pins, pens, screws and batteries you'll come across. (Make sure to separate the working batteries from the dead.) I like to use little jewelry boxes and small plastic containers to hold these items. After each box is sealed and labeled, the packing tape and Sharpie are immediately returned to this baske
Keep on Reading on