OK, so the 33 1/3 party went surprisingly well, all things considered. It's a good thing I overplan because nothing ever works out completely, which means the plans reach a rational, tolerable level despite not meeting my goals. It probably makes sense to just plan a manageable amount from the start, but that's too easy and my love of complaining wouldn't be met.
I have been high-strung and anxious for the last couple of weeks and, considering my state yesterday morning, it looks like the party was causing a lot of the issues. Now I can focus on other exciting things, like the assignments I didn't want to do before and more shifts at work because I'm retarded.
The house was tidy and previous empties were returned ($13.50 worth!) before I set to work on the menu. Through the course of the day I eliminated things to make because I was running out of time and, quite frankly, could be arsed to bake for 6 hours. I wound up making a variety of dips and birthday cupcakes. The only thing to write home about (or, in this case, blog about) is the cupcakes.
Holy cow, do I love black & tan cupcakes. I saw the recipe on Chockylit in the cupcake roundup and b&t cupcakes are easily one of the oddest things I've made, but so worth it. I used Longboat Double Chocolate Porter for the cupcake and Harp's for the icing. I had some disturbing, distracting personal things on my mind in the midst of making them and wound up forgetting to put in sugar (sugar!!!) in the base for the first batch. I realised while filling up the papers for the second round, so emptied the batter back in the bowl, added an estimate of sugar, and repoured. To counter, I put a little extra Harp's into the icing since it was almost entirely sugar and butter. Then I realised that I put in twice the required eggs after everything had been baked! Rather than throw it all away (they did look OK) I put a little warning note on the cupcakes explaining the issues and left it up to the guest to decide what to do. I tried one of the sugar ones and it was pretty good, though really sweet. Eventually I tried one of the non-sugar ones on a dare with another friend and those ones were FANTASTIC. Like, they kicked the sugar ones' asses (if cupcakes... um.. had asses...). I referred to the original recipe listed on the cupcake recipe because the guy forgot to mention adding eggs to the cupcakes. I will make these again. Oh, yes, and it will be a double or triple batch.
Over the course of the evening, the house got pretty full and it was so lovely to see friends I haven't seen for a while. (H&B, so very sorry I didn't get to unpack you on Friday! My brain... it sucks.) I made everyone wear nametags and fill out ballots for the door prizes (seriously, they looked at me like I was insane, but at least I got to talk to everyone at least once). I don't think anyone really believed me when I said I had door prizes.
I used a toy mic/amp I picked up at the Toys'R'Us (it's my new favourite toy) to make the announcements and set the first round of winners on the basket of stuff I made/collected. They were freaking out! Like, it reminded me of how excited grade 3s and 4s got in Japan when I did really fun games, where they grab handfuls of hair and scream and jump around like crazy with flailing arms. So then everyone was all into the draws and it kept them from leaving, which in retrospect was a good plan.
It was pretty fun. I don't really know if everyone had fun, but I did everything I could to make it happen for them, so if they didn't it's their own faults. (Such a gracious hostess, aren't I?) I would be inclined to have another party when I get speakers for my computer.
Having an unbirthday party is a really great idea because people still bring you presents. Some of the highlights:
- "Polka Time" record
- ABBA's singles double album
- sweet-smelling spring flowers
- hockey tickets!!!
- alpha female stickers
- an assortment of beer!!!
- a sweet picture of a wrestler
- a cookbook and fake fur
- a helmet, lock and lights
I am lucky to have such excellent friends, including friends who leave an assortment of booze behind. Yea, booze!
Now I am not as stressed out and am hoping to respond to a couple of requests for attention from friends. There are also visitors coming to town shortly and that will be a whole new level of good times. And, you know, 33 1/3 doesn't seem so bad.
Currently listening :
Terrible Things Happen
By The Aislers Set
Release date: 31 July, 1998
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