subject: Entertaining Your Own Birthday Party [print this page] Once you reach "that age" (note that there really is no specific age to actually justify this term), you tend to skip out on your annual birthday celebration. Once in a while, however, it is good to simply entertain a small group of friends as a tribute to yourself on your day.
A small get together of close friends for dinner should be entertained in an elegant manner to mark your little occasion, as well as to show off your culinary skills. So have that special silverware and china ready for their grand debut.
Make your mini guest list, and be sure to call in your personal invitation. This not only makes it special, but it also helps you to confirm who can make it for dinner that evening. Obviously, you should avoid holding your little birthday bash if there is work the next day, so be sure to plan the date ahead.
White linen on the dining table makes for a simple way to achieve that elegant look for any household, so keep this handy. Placing a small flower arrangement should do just fine to add a little color.
Plan your menu for that special dinner date, and if you find that you are running out of ideas, ask your friends for some suggestions. You may even have people who will volunteer to bring in their special dish, and this could add to your little menu, making things more interesting especially if one of your friends happens to be a professional chef!
Intimate gatherings such as this usually start with cocktails, so be ready with those mini hors d'oeuvres you've been dying to try. For the less formal type of icebreaker moments, have the juice and crackers placed in the living room or the area you want your friends to hang out before the actual dinner.
No birthday party is complete without that birthday cake, so indulge a little and get your favorite flavor. No need for that corny icing and personalized greeting on it, get something classic like black forest cake, or tiramisu. If you have a knack for baking, why not bake your own favorite cake recipe?
Be prepared with a few party favors for about ten guests, because in spite of your personal invite to keep things small, someone just may bring an additional friend to surprise you. Party favors can range from homemade (if you like doing arts and crafts) to something funny and unique you bought at that small novelty shop down the street. Party favors can actually add a little zest to your mini party and make for a new topic of conversation a little later on in the evening.
Alcoholic drinks are usually the thing to be careful with during occasions such as these, because it really all depends on what type of friends you are having over. However, if you do wish to serve alcohol to some of your friends who do drink, be sure to keep servings at a minimum. Nothing disrupts a small intimate dinner talk than someone who cannot control himself when just a little tipsy.
Entertaining friends at home need not be that hard or complicated especially when you know that they all will get along just fine and the conversation will flow all throughout dinner. Entertaining also does not have to be that expensive, either. With a little personalized touch, your party will turn out just fine.
