The Makings of a Pinterest Party {Girls’ Night In}

I fell into the habit of an annual Girls’ Night In party.  But as one of the guests leaving Saturday night said, “We should do this every month.”  Once a year might not be isn’t enough.

Last year, a group of friends converged at my house the night before I flew off to Seattle.  We made bracelets out of t-shirt material, and sent them off to an orphanage.  That was awesome.

This year, a few months ago, I decided on a Pinterest-themed party, since quite a few of my friends use the site as much as I do.  Potluck-style.  Everyone brings a few dishes, inspired by pins from Pinterest.  And I planned a craft that I also found on Pinterest.

We started pinning things to get the ideas flowing.  One friend remarked that it looked like mostly desserts and cocktails.

I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.

But it actually ended up vastly different.

Only two desserts.

Mom Juice and bottles of wine.

And lots and lots of deliciously savory food.

**Although the food and craft ideas originally came from Pinterest, I pointed the links below directly to the originating web site page to save you clicking through**

Crazy Feta Dip.  (I couldn’t stop eating it.  Doubled the recipe and plan to use as a spread for sandwiches and a layer for pizza this week.  Word to the wise: you have to like feta, otherwise skip)

Bacon-Wrapped Dates, studded with bleu cheese crumbles.  (I seriously hate dates, but we could not stop eating these)

Buffalo Chicken Dip. (an old-standby, and Nick was thrilled to see leftovers of it the next day)

Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken with rice.  (awesome tummy-warming food)

A Tomato Tart.  (flavor-packed little bites of bliss)

Baked Brie Bites.  (in a word?  addicting)

Crab-Topped Cucumber Bites (light and good)

Garlic Biscuits (yum)

Roasted Cauliflower Poppers.  (Love these)

Caramelized Onion Yogurt Dip.  (so good that I bought the ingredients to make it the very next day)

Deviled eggs.  (Not Pinterest, but I had a craving)

Biscoff Brownies.  (one of Nick’s favorites, made by a friend of mine.  he was stoked to see some on the kitchen counter Sunday evening)

Carrot and Zucchini Walnut Bars with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.  (loved these, full of vegetables, only sugar in the bars is honey)

I feel like I’m forgetting a few things, but if I did, perhaps one of the party girls will chime in and remind me.

We ate.

And ate.

And ate.

And, um, drank.

And laughed until the tears rolled down our cheeks.  Or I certainly did.

We even lost power for a bit, mid-party.

We used Maxwell’s water spray bottle when girls got out of hand.

Meekly raising my hand as the first one caught in the line of fire.

All.in.good.fun.

We learned things about each other that we never knew, and have more visuals than I care to admit.  Some of my friends who hadn’t met each other learned some pretty awesome six degrees of separation connections.  We discussed everything from medical procedures and new favorite books to waxing and other random topics that will stay at my dining room table.  What gets said at Girls Night, stays at Girls Night.

Forever and ever, amen.

After we got through the first round of feasting, we cleared the table and began crafting.  I chose these nest necklaces, and they were super simple to make.  Well.  Kind of.  In theory they are, but my fingers are so not coordinated for these types of crafts.

It must be the chipped nail polish.

But that’s when you balance out everyone’s talents.  My friend, Lisa, finished mine up, and then helped me make one for Madeline.

And then promptly finished necklaces for two of my other friends as well.  And then liked the craft’s concept so much that she went out and bought supplies to make (and sell) more the next day.

She doesn’t cook.  But she’s got mad skillz in the crafting department, and hand-washed all the dishes from the night.

Those are the kind of friends people need.

Word.

Five hours later, we made plans for our next not-waiting-another-year Girls’ Night In (in June!), and the girls made mad dashes for their cars in torrential downpours.

Good times.

Always.

Tomorrow?  Eat.Live.Be.  And a new recipe.
Thursday?  March 2012 goal, show and tell.
Friday?  Details on a NYC exhibit for kids and grown-ups alike.
Saturday?  Review on a Middle Eastern restaurant.