Partying has taken on a whole new meaning since becoming a parent. Don’t get me wrong, I like dressing up, freezing my bum off, standing in line, and having a hangover as much as the next guy . . . wait, what?
The Oscars are a big deal. Despite the annual post-Oscar trashing that everyone engages in (“The speeches were boring,” “The host was a nob,” “There wasn’t enough twerking,” etc.) the Academy Awards still sparkle with all the glitz and glamour that the entertainment world holds.
The Oscars are still worth oohing and ahhing over. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they are the gold standard in going big.
It’s with that in mind that even I—the most curmudgeony of partiers, much like YMC’s Party Mummy—can get excited about hosting my own Oscar shindig. In my pajamas, mind you.
Here’s a checklist to help you organize your own sparkly-yet-subdued Oscar party:
THE THEME:
“Stars”
This theme is incredibly easy to pull off, and also has the benefit of being a clever double-entendre. The stars of Hollywood AND you in your pajamas under the night sky!
THE INVITES:
This anti-party deserves a fitting guest list. Limit this to:
o People who are permitted to see you in jammies
o Those whose jammies you don’t mind seeing
o Fellow party-poopers
With the “Stars” theme, you can throw together a gorgeous invite from Paperless Post. They have a whole set of Oscar-themed invitations.
THE DÉCOR:
Head to your local Dollar Store, and your cart will be bursting with cute, cheap, and on-theme items to make your night-in a special one. You’ll probably be able to find:
o Star napkins
o A “red carpet”—a plastic picnic tablecloth secured to the floor works well (for doing your jammie photos, obviously!)
o Glow-in-the-dark jewellery
If you want to take the set-up to the next level, a party store can help you with:
o Star helium balloons
o A “real” red-carpet
o Adorable paparazzi photo backdrops
Bam! A stellar set-up that only took moments.
THE ATTIRE:
Ask your guests to wear their coziest jammies, with some paparazzi flair, such as:
o Boas
o Tiaras
o Top hats
This year the Oscars are featuring an interactive Twitter red carpet. If you follow @TheAcademy and tweet a red carpet-ready photo of yourself using #MyOscarPhoto, you could have your photo featured on the red carpet! Celebrities will then pose in front of a video wall showcasing your tweeted photos, which will be tweeted back to you. Just be sure to first sign this online release form.
THE EATS AND TREATS:
Keep it simple, satisfying, and fun:
o Sliders
o Delish Onion Ring Poutine
o A veggie tray (even celebrities need their vegetables)
o These Hanukkah star cookies are right on theme.
THE COCKTAILS AND MOCKTAILS:
o The “official” drink of the Oscars is Moët & Chandon. What a shame.
o YMC’s Party Mummy also makes a mean mocktail for the designated drivers or the under-nineteen crowd.
THE MAIN EVENT:
Use this printable party ballot to predict the night’s winners! The party guest with the most correct predictions wins the SHWAG BAG!
THE SHWAG BAG:
In the spirit of party minimalism, make one adorable little Shwag Bag for the winner of the Oscar predictions. Inside the bag, you might include:
o 2 movie passes
o Your favourite fancy popcorn
o A DVD/Bluray of one of the nominated films
Being a parent doesn’t change how fun you are, it changes how you are fun. I am counting the hours until our family’s Oscar Pajama Party. Who knows, I might even go really crazy and get some new slippers for the big night. Whatever I wear, I know my family will love me . . . ”they really love me!”
If you’re planning for guests, you might want to check out this post:
Hotel Secrets to Make Your House Holiday-Ready
If you need to remove those pesky price stickers from any of your party supplies, check out:
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