Vodka Party

[Jamie Lee]

Once upon a time, I was known for my annual vodka parties.

They always started the same way - car keys were surrendered at the front door. After a while, guests (all women) began to arrive in "jammies" under their winter coats.

I shopped all year long for the event. Summer time, I bought rafts (yes, rafts) from the dollar store. During white sales, I bought twin-sized flat sheets for cheap. I hounded "two for one" sales for slippers.

My invitations always reminded guests that dinner would NOT be served. Snack treats only.

I set up two six foot folding tables. After a few years, I ended up with laminated drink "recipe" cards, but in actuality, I ended up making most of the drinks myself.

The Bloody Mary "station":

Tomato juice

Jalapenos

Celery Sticks

Green Olives

Worchester Sauce

A bunch of hot sauces

Pickled Garlic

Celery Salt, black pepper, garlic powder

Pickle Spears

The "Sunbreeze" station: (EASY)

Cranberry juice

The Martini "Station":

Baby onions

Green Olives

Vermouth (Natch)

Lemon twists

Green olives stuffed with blue cheese

Extra green olive juice (for dirties)

Fresh jalpeno slices

The Blender "Station":

Ice, blender (DUH)

Orange juice

Grape Juice

Margarita Mix (yuck)

Daquiri Mix (Double Yuck)

(Never said all my friends drank well! )

I always froze my vodkas alla Martha Stewart - in emptied milk cartons with herbs, flowers and greenery.

My choice for vodkas: A local (read, cheap) vodka, Stoli, Absolut, a pick of flavored Smirinoff vodkas.

Snacks: Pretzels, chips, dips, brownies, cookies, popcorn (if IRC).

I always had a breakfast bread pudding and sliced fruit hidden (lest we feasted in our drunkeness) and donuts and/or coffee cake for the morning. Coffee, not to be obvious!

My house was a tiny two-bedroom. The first two down would usually claim my queen-sized bed in the master bedroom. The next two down would usually take the double bed in the second bedroom.

One lucky gal would get the couch, and the rest of us would be resigned to blowing up rafts, making a pseudo-bed with the flat sheets and crashing where-ever.

My cats loved it! All those warm bodies just for the asking!

Things I wish I'd done:

1. Infused vodkas - Rachael Ray has a number of infused vodkas here (She is not my fav, but I think these are somewhat inspired.)

2. More food - I could have made more food - maybe even made it into a dinner party.l

3. Another bathroom! I stock-piled bath towels, and single-serve bath soaps, deoderant, body sprays; but one bathroom is just not enough for 8 women!

Party On!