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Five Tips for Hosting a Pint Size Party

Today we’re breaking it down with five tips for hosting a pint size party, brought to you in partnership with Apartment Guide! If you’re like me, you love to entertain, but a huge budget to pull together a fancy spread to wow your friends just isn’t feasible. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love hosting great parties. So with that in mind, today’s tips are all about how you can host a pint size party for $150 or less! The best part, these ideas are totally scalable whether you’re entertaining for a few or a crowd. Oh, and I’m also announcing the winner of the Target gift card giveaway from Apartment Guide so read on to find out if you won!

Tip 1. Make It Personal

{Patterned lettersheets from Smock.}

As a blogger, I’m plugged in all day long. My MacBook Pro and my iPhone are never far from my side. But I have to say, I am still hopelessly in love with real paper mail. When entertaining, just say no to email invitations while still watching your budget by penning each guest a handwritten note inviting them to join you for the festivities. Some simple and pretty stationery and a great stamp are all it takes!

Tip 2. Pick a Theme

{Photo from You + Me.}

The easiest way to pull together a party without a lot of fuss is to set a theme. I personally love hosting a game night. Movie nights, pool parties, craft nights, fondue parties, bonfires, and poker nights are all favorites of mine, too! To stay on budget, hit up your local RedBox for movie night picks or scavange local thrift shops for fantastic deals on board games so you can build up a stash of crowd favorites on the cheap.

Tip 3. Mix a Signature Cocktail

{Rosemary grapefruit cocktail from eat make read.}

My favorite way to save money when entertaining is to focus on one fabulous signature cocktail. I let people know in advance what I’ll be mixing up and invite them to bring their own beverage of choice if they’d prefer something different. It’s a nice way of offering guests a refreshing drink without having to stock an entire bar. My favorites are crisp white sangria for summer bashes and a tasty French 75 for movie nights.

Tip 4. Small Bites

{Sliders and popcorn from What Katie Ate. Photos by Katie Quinn Davies.}

I love hosting with a bunch of yummy finger foods and small bites. Think sliders, popcorn, cheese boards, and bite-sized desserts like beignets. For great recipe ideas, check out Apartment Guide’s picks for top cooking blogs or if you’re feeling up to a larger dinner party, check out their guide for hosting a feast on a budget.

Tip 5. Keep it Comfy

{Photo from Pottery Barn.}

For entertaining a small group, keep it comfy! Think versatile seating like big fluffy pillows, poufs, floor cushions, ottomans and side tables that double as stools. You can all pull up around the coffee table for a game of Scrabble or a movie night. Or take it outside to lounge under the stars on your balcony or camped out in the yard. (For more on maximizing your space, check out Apartment Guide’s tips for optimizing a small living space.)

And the winner is…

Congratulations to Simone Anne, the winner of a $50 Target gift card provided by Apartment Guide!

Apartment Guide is not just the go-to source for finding and moving into your dream apartment. They also have a bunch of inspired ideas and resources for entertaining and living. (Such as how to add a splash of the color of the year and my current obsession, Tangerine Tango, to your decor!) Check out their tips at Moving Today and on the Apartment Guide blog. And for even more lifestyle and entertaining ideas, be sure to check out Apartment Guide on facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

Editor’s Note – Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partnered with bloggers to participate in their monthly blogger programs. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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Simone Anne

Thursday 14th of June 2012

Hi! I just saw this! I am so excited that I won, but now I am afraid that you gave away the gift card to somebody else! :( What do I do to redeem it? Thank you SO much!

Natalie Stern

Thursday 22nd of March 2012

These are some wonderful party planning tips. I am a huge fan of using appetizer sized bites instead of an entire sit down dinner. This alone can definitely keep entertaining costs down.

GawgusThings

Monday 19th of March 2012

What great ideas! I've just been asked to host a party for someone so I'll be following these tips :) Emma x

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