A TBS Primer: A Halloween Soiree On A Budget for the Chic, Fabulous and Us Procrastinators

I usually do little more for Halloween than try to evade the candy-grubbing kids in our neighborhood—all six of them! Hey, why should I buy a monstrous bag of candy for only six kids? I’d rather pretend that I’m not home. Furthermore, since The Boy is off at college (Go SMU Mustangs!), the fun for me has almost been vacuumed out of Halloween.

Since Halloween 2010 is over the weekend, I’ve been giving some thought to a soiree. A few friends, a few cocktails, a few bites, and a few BWUAHAHAAHAHAS are the perfect potion for a swanky Halloween cocktail party! If you’re not sure what’s on your agenda, I’ve included tips for a budget-friendly partay!

Costumes? On such short notice, encourage everyone to simply wear black. Masks are optional. One of the most stressful elements of Halloween is trying to figure what you’re going to “be.” Make it easy for your friends. You might also have favors; they are plentiful in Dollar Tree-ish stores.

Your backdrop? Rent Carrie, Friday the Thirteenth, or any scream-inducing movie, pop it in, and put the TV on mute! Dim the lights, ignite a few candles, and pop in your iPod with a Halloween-inspired play list. I’ve included some suggested tunes below:

• “Ghostbusters,” Ray Parker, Jr.
• “Thriller,” Michael Jackson
• “The Monster Mash,” Boris Pickett
• "Jaws"theme
• "X-Files" theme
• "The Munsters" theme
• "The Adams Family theme
• “I Put A Spell On You,” Nina Simone
• “In the Midnight Hour,” Wilson Pickett
• "Twilight Zone" theme
• Also include various Halloween-esque sound bites.

Decor? If you’re inspired to carve a pumpkin or two into jack-o-lanterns, do so this weekend. As mentioned above, your lighting will be the saving grace, so pop a couple into the scarily-etched gourds. Not that ambitious? Well ... buy a few of those $1 plastic jack-o-lanterns and place them throughout your entertaining space. Fill them with treats! If you’re so inclined (and it’s in your budget), pick up festive cups and napkins.  My dear friend Eddie Ross whipped up a fiendish feather wreath for just a little cash. Here are his instructions.

Libations? Dependent on your audience, grab a case of beer and a few bottles of wine. It is critical that you whip up a signature drink! Try a Almond Joy or Milky Way Martini or Witches’ Brew.

Bites? Finally! Think tapas. An antipasti platter. Nuts. Popcorn. Skewers (veggie, shrimp, chicken satay, etc.). Reference The Minimalist’s small plate recommendations for ideas.


Entertainment? Should the natives grow restless, keep them entertained with: karaoke, Halloween MadLibs, or Halloween-inspired charades (using a stack of index cards write words related to Halloween, split in two teams and the guessing game begins).

Cheers to hoping you’ll do something fun on All Hallow’s Eve. All that’s missing from this concoction is you and a group of great friends!

What are YOUR plans this year?

Free Entertainment Weekend: The Broke Socialite's Playlist

Happy Friday, Dahlings!!!!

This weekend will be fairly low-key for our household. Football on Saturday. Visiting family on Sunday. One of the things that I most enjoy on any given weekend is listening to music. I guess it's become an escape for me. Marry easy listening with a bottle of wine and a few bites and there you have a great evening at home. With a son nearly on his way to college (and all of the experiences associated with his senior year of high school), Mr TBS and I are nesting more these days.

I've begun to think about what I might want to hear this weekend and came up with this playlist:

"Holla Back Girl" - Gwen Stefani
"Just Fine" - Mary J Blige
"Roxanne" - The Police
"West End Girls" - The Pet Shop Boys
"Golden Time of Day"- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
"My Prerogative" - Bobbbbaaaaayyyy Brown
"Forever, For Always, For Love - Luther Vandross

I'm sure there will be others.

What are YOU listening to these days?

Happy Friday! Have a Great Weekend!!!

A Holiday Gift To Yourself: Your Life's Playlist

I was reading Diane Von Furstenberg's website (performing my regular 'have they added a plus sized line?' inquiry) and noticed that her staff has compiled a list of songs which inspire them. What a wonderful notion. I'd never thought of that: what songs contribute to the tapestry that is TBS? You know...there are songs that represent different ages and stages of my life...and I think it'd be wonderful to create my own personal playlist comprised of songs selected from iTunes. Happy Holidays to Me! Here's a portion of my playlist:

Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry
She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
A Long Walk - Jill Scott
At Last - Etta James
Joy and Pain - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Just Fine - Mary J Blige
On and On - Erykah Badu
There's Hope - india.arie
Ribbon in the Sky - Stevie Wonder
Show Me What You Got - Jay Z
Irreplaceable - Beyonce Carter (awwww)
Shackles - MaryMary

What are some of the selections on your life's playlist?