It has been a while since I had 35+ ladies over to my house for a party. And after the success of our Margarita Mama’s party a few weeks ago, I have to say, (plug your ears, hubbie!) I have the bug to do it more often!!!
This was the 3rd Annual Margarita Mama’s party, a fundraising sign-up party for our elementary school. Me and 3 of my mama friends hosted 35 moms from our school over to my home for food, drinks and lots of great conversations.
The Prep
Anticipating a lovely evening in June, I prepped my patio with a new love seat (from Cost Plus World Market), pillows (similar) and freshly potted plants (pots: Homegoods, plants: Homedepot). I had my hubbie hang party lights (Costco) across the lawn and clean out our pond of the grimy gook that has accumulated over the winter. Everything was coming together so nicely.
The week leading up to the party was beautiful. 70 degree weather all week…AND THEN…(du du DUUUU!!!!)…the lovely rain decided to make an appearance again. The schizophrenic spring weather that just can’t make up it’s mind on what it wants to do. Here in Portland, Oregon, in the spring, one minute we will have beautiful sunny skies, and then another minute it will down pour!!!! But only for about 10 minutes and then it’ll stop. Or like today, we awoke to a thunderstorm, yet this afternoon it’s suppose to clear up and have a high of 78 degrees. *sigh* It’s nuts! In fact, the day before the party, we got so much rain in a short amount of time that I had a waterfall coming out of my gutter on the front porch. Oh me, oh my!!!! This was just-not-good. NOT – GOOD – AT – ALL!!!!!
Alternative Plans
The morning of the party, I sipped my coffee on the back patio where it was beautiful and sunny. I checked the forecast on my iphone and sure enough: 30% chance of rain starting at 2pm thru 8pm. I couldn’t risk it. Right then, I went in the house, grabbed my sketch pad, headed back out to the space and started sketching. How could I have the seating on the patio under the glass overhang so that EVEN if it WAS going to rain, our guests could still escape to the outside during the party?
Not 30 minutes later… the texts started coming from my other hostesses:
“I’m wearing jeans!” “Do we need more tequila?” “Can someone pick up 3 bags of ice?”
The party prepping had begun.
When In Doubt, Start Drinking
There was light rain throughout the whole day, that day. It wasn’t too bad. But then…10 minutes before guests were supposed to arrive…the skies opened up and it POURED!!! Seriously. I just couldn’t take it. So…in my white dress and sandals, which I refused to change because of the weather, I just started sampling margaritas. 🙂 Aaaahhhh…everything is fine when sipping a margarita! 🙂
Margarita Bar
And that was the highlight of the party: our Margarita Bar! Three kinds of Margaritas: Jalapeno Infused Lime, Grapefruit, and Watermelon. Each of these were so sooo delish and believe it or not, suuuppper easy! The hardest part was keeping the drink dispensers full! (And this is no joke. I refilled all of them at least 2 times thru the night!)
Margarita Recipes
Here are the ingredients:
Jalapeno Infused Margarita
- 4.5 cups Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Infused Limeade (almost 1 bottle)
- 4.5 cups Tequila
- 3 cups Triple Sec
Grapefruit Margarita (this is similar to my fav: The Paloma)
- 3 cups Grapefruit Juice (I use Simply)
- 3 cups Tequila
- ½ cup Fresh Lime Juice
- 6 Tbsp. Simple syrup
- 3 cups Club soda
Watermelon Margarita
- 3 cups Watermelon Juice (Blend chunks of fresh watermelon in a blender or food processor till smooth. Strain and discard the remains; add approx. 1 tsp. salt to balance flavors)
- 3 cups Tequila
- 1.5 cups Triple Sec
- 1.5 cups Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 Tbsp. Simple Syrup
No secrets here. Just pour the ingredients into a beverage dispenser, stir and let your guests serve themselves!
Printables:
Secret Ingredient
Oh, I guess I left out one little detail! (And it may be considered a secret :).) Before filling your glassware with ice, you must salt the rim! I use Kosher salt mixed with Chili Powder. Oh yaaaaaasss! It’s salty and crunchy with just a weeee bit of heat. Ratio depends on how spicy you like it, but I do about 2 to 1, 2 parts salt, 1 part chili powder. Mix it up on a small plate, rub a fresh slice of lime along the edge of your glass, invert the glass onto the plate, rub it around, and voila! Your glass is ready to fill with crushed ice followed by your favorite Margarita mix.
Final Tip
One tip for having a margarita party: have LOTS of tequila on hand! Or, do as I did and phone a friend asking them to bring you MORE TEQUILA!!!!!
Thank you to all of the lovely ladies that came out to support our school while sipping some margaritas! HEY! And guess WHAT?! After that quick downpour before the party, the rest of the night IT DID NOT RAIN!!!! Not a drop! And many of us DID head out to enjoy the covered patio (with a few throw blankets to cover the legs of course). Wooohoooo!!!!
Oh it was a good party!!! 🙂
Xo,
Melissa
Melissa K Manos Designs 