adult party

The Margaritaville Birthday Theme Party

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For pirates of all ages, shapes, and sizes there is little better than a Jimmy Buffett themed birthday party for fun and play. Much more than good music Jimmy Buffett has created a lifestyle all his own through his music and with the enthusiastic support of his fans. His music isn’t limited to one genre and doesn’t appeal to one specific culture, instead the appeal is nearly limitless, which makes this a great theme for a birthday party that is open to an audience of all ages though a firm favorite for celebrating the big 4-0 as the result of “A Pirate Looks at 40.”

To pull off an excellent Margaritaville party blenders and ice are a must. The next thing you need to worry about is food. Some great food ideas for a Margaritaville themed party would be boiled shrimp, build your own cheeseburgers’ (in paradise of course), complimentary finger foods and fixings, and a little bit of sponge cake and/or fruitcake probably wouldn’t hurt things at all. They would definitely work wonders to the Jimmy Buffett approved theme of the party. If you are in serious need of inspiration for menu ideas check out the menu at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Café.

If you are in the right climate and the weather is cooperative a patio or backyard party is definitely the way to go. Decorate with tiki lights, shark fins, flowers, coconuts, and any other tropical themes that capture your attention and imagination. Be sure to put grass skirts on the tables you set up with the fabulous foods and place a nice tiki bar for serving the required margaritas. You can also choose to serve non-alcoholic margaritas to the little ones if there will be children in attendance and have them available for adults that are driving or do not wish to partake. Have fun with the food and keep it appropriate for a tropical or Jimmy Buffett theme.

Music is a must for this particular birthday party theme. You simply can’t recreate Margaritaville without the sounds of the town blaring out across your speakers. You do not need to limit the music of the evening to Jimmy Buffett though he should play a prominent role in the entertainment for the evening. Other great sounds that will compliment the theme of the evening include the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, and Bobby McFerrin. Of course use your imagination and go with your taste. My personal preference would be a showcase of all things Jimmy Buffett for the evening but that doesn’t work for everyone.

Be sure to take measures to ensure that everyone makes it home safely if you are serving alcohol and work to make sure that everyone has a fun and memorable evening in Margaritaville. You might want to include contests such as the loudest “Hawaiian shirt” for extra fun or the most memorable flip-flops. Remember the goal is to have fun and make sure that everyone attending has fun also. If you have the equipment Jimmy Buffet karaoke is a must and video recordings for future black mail and a recording of the revelry are also highly recommended. All in all, Margaritaville is a place that many of us dream of going to escape the every day. Wouldn’t it be a great theme for a birthday party that makes that day a little more special than the rest for everyone invited and not just the one celebrating?

The next time you are lost for a great theme to add to your birthday party theme inventory, consider the benefit to one and all of adding an evening under the stars and on the sand to your plans. Margaritaville is the perfect setting for a truly festive celebration no matter how old the pirate in your life may be. Just remember to keep the saltshaker in sight at all times and the party should go off without a hitch.

Throwing a Mardi Gras Birthday Bash

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Mardi Gras is almost synonymous in many circles with fun and festivity. From the novelty of getting ‘throws’ from the parade routes to the revelry of the movie and exotic spices in the food and the great flavor of the drinks that flow freely Mardi Gras is known as a great time to be had by one and all. Though few around the world will ever experience the true debauchery of an earnest French Quarter Mardi Gras you can use the Mardi Gras theme and the “let the good times roll” attitude that has made the New Orleans spin on Mardi Gras a sight to behold around the world to your very own celebration of life. Life is, after all, what Mardi Gras revelers are celebrating first and foremost.

If you are wondering where to begin this is a toss-up. I’m not certain which is more important when it comes to bringing the feeling of an honest to goodness Mardi Gras celebration worthy of the Crescent City. Would it be the food or the music? I guess that depends on the things that are most important to your celebratory needs and what kind of facilities and equipment you have available for most. The music for Mardi Gras should be fitting of the season and of celebrations, yes even if the one celebrating is a bit over the hill (be sure to include a genuine New Orleans funeral march in the mix if this is the case however). You can find excellent sources of Mardi Gras music in CD format online for your listening and birthday party pleasure.

The food of New Orleans is glorious indeed though many necessary ingredients may be a bit difficult to come by once the bayou has been left far behind. No matter where you are though it is quite possible to order many boxed mixes of New Orleans favorites that will work well with the Mardi Gras theme for your birthday party. If you want to hold true to the spirit of Mardi Gras you will opt for King Cake rather than a traditional birthday cake though a normal cake decorated in the purple, gold, and green of Mardi Gras will do in a pinch. Red beans and rice, jambalaya, bread pudding, gumbo, and oyster po-boys are excellent fits for a Mardi Gras theme if ingredients and the mood strikes.

Purple, gold, and green are the colors of Mardi Gras so be sure to use them well when decorating for your Mardi Gras themed birthday parties. Great party favors include items such as beads in the famous colors of Mardi Gras, doubloons, and feathered masks. The idea is to be fun and festive and you don’t really need to spend a fortune in order to do this. Most party supply stores can get everything you would need for an unforgettable Mardi Gras birthday party no matter what time of year it is. Whatever you can’t find locally it is more than likely you will be able to find online with minimal effort to suit your Mardi Gras Birthday party needs.

If it’s a large gathering with people of varying ages, you may want to use a punch bowl with non-alcoholic hurricanes to make it a little bit more authentic. If this is an adult only gathering be sure to include a little bit of the good stuff in the mix for that oh so potent kick. Hurricanes have taken on a bit of a new meaning in the aftermath of Katrina though it is still an important drink in the New Orleans tradition.

Let the party take you where it leads but remember that the real goal is to celebrate yet another year of living with as much zeal as possible. Regardless of anything else those who live, work, and play in the City that Care Forgot knowing how to throw a real good bash. Check out favorite Cajun recipes, order a boatload of good drinks, bring in great friends, and pipe in the music for an unforgettable event.

Bring the Barbecue to the Birthday Party

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Grown-ups deserve to celebrate their birthdays too. Birthdays are after all a celebration of life and one more year on the planet. It makes sense however, that grown-ups would like a little something more substantial than the typical cake and ice cream and childish fantasy theme for their celebrations. This doesn’t mean that grown ups have forgotten their fantasies however and this leaves a lot of room for interpretation on the theme of barbecues when it comes to a great birthday celebration.

You can go the Cowboy way when it comes to a birthday party barbecue and throw a shindig that would make old “W” proud. Texas sized ribs, hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, and country music for all. Be sure to wear your cowboy boots and have gingham table clothes for this event that should be a family friendly way to go. Don’t forget to bring all the “fixin’s” or ask the guests to pitch in their best dishes in true southern tradition. This is a great way to go for those with big families that want nothing more than an excuse to celebrate their lives together.

If the cowboy way doesn’t exactly ring all your bells and whistles there is always the notion of a Caribbean barbecue. This is a party that would make Jimmy Buffett proud. Speaking of Buffett it’s probably a good idea to bring some of his music along to set the tone and there are plenty of other Caribbean or island inspired musicians to get you through the evening. Caribbean Jerk is a great rub or sauce for the chicken or fish you throw on the grill and you can make do with other traditional Caribbean fare for your dining pleasure and that of your guests.

You could also go the humorous route for your big day and go the redneck barbecue birthday party route. You will want to use cheap paper plates, cheap plastic furniture, a metal tub filled with ice and RC Cola (r), plastic forks and knives (the Sunday best of course), and typical redneck food such as pigs in blanket, gumbo, fried chicken, and potato salad. This can be a really fun party if all the guests get into the festivities and dress and act the part. It is definitely a barbecue that will be remembered, and talked about.

One of the favorite types of barbecues for a birthday bash, however, is the Luau. There is something about those Hawaiians that really know how to do a barbecue the right way from the very beginning. Decorations should be island and tropical in nature. Be sure to use coconut cups for drinks and have plenty of Spam on hand (it’s a delicacy there)! You will also want to be sure to have plenty of leis for all your guests and grass skirts, hula music, and plenty of loud Hawaiian shirts for the duration. In fact, a Hawaiian shirt contest (for the loudest of course) is almost a pre requisite.

A barbecue is a great way to bring friends and family together to celebrate birthdays. If you are a little lost as to what to do to celebrate your grown-up birthday or that of a loved one, try one of the ideas above or choose your own unique spin on the theme of a barbecue.

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