How to Have a Cheap, Fun, Girls' Night In - Hosting an Old Fashioned "Charm School"

This is such a fun idea for a girls' night in! It can be done on any budget, and is one of the most creative things you and your friends will have done in ages!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drinks (served out of a glass pitcher is best)
• Dainty finger foods
• A chair for each woman
• A little space to move around.

1. Go to a library and find (or request, if you cannot find) a book for girls on Charms or Manners. Anything with the words "Girl's Guide" in the title is usually good. The best book I have found for this party is called "Charm - The Career Girl's Guide to Business and Personal Success" by Whitcomb and Lang. It was a textbook published in 1964.
   
   The older the book you can find is, the more fun your party will be!

2. Send out the invitations! Send them properly addressed, in Calligraphy, if possible. No texting or emailing these invitations! 4 to 6 people are the right size for this party. Any larger and it becomes difficult to maintain control. 6 really is the perfect number.

3. Decorate for your party properly. Use tablecloths, doilies, real flowers, etc. If you are serving a meal, use your nicest plates, and napkin rings.
   Finger foods such as cucumber sandwiches, small cupcakes, etc. should be served. Avoid anything that has to be dipped, like carrots or chips. Do a google search for a bunch of great finger food recipe.
   Drinks should be served into glasses, preferably stem ware, from a glass (or crystal) pitcher. Lemonade or pink lemonade, (spiked or non) and ice-water with lemon should be the first two beverages. However a nice punch (spiked or non) could also be served.

4. Gather resources from the book! For example, if your book has a section on grooming, it most likely has a list of items used to "obtain a glowing complexion" such as special creams.
   Most also have a section on accessories and dressing. There are usually tips on "How to Polish your nails to a healthy Glow." And "How to properly apply Nylons so they do not Run." Get a good supply of beauty products. The more old-fashioned they are, the better.

5. Have fun at your party! There are so many ways you can have fun and laugh at these old books! Try the "Gentle Exercises" designed to give you a "delicate figure." Practice making "lady-like small talk." These books are a hoot to read, and go through, although you also very often come across an idea that is still relevant today!

Tips & Warnings

• Invite friends who are ok with acting a little silly. You don't want anyone who will sigh and complain about how boring it all is, and can't you just go to the bar instead?

[JoyfulOne]

on 5/12/2009 How fun!