I read this article and I like how one of the commenters said that he doesn’t always make time for his friends when his schedule allows. He said he sometimes just stops by if he’s in the area of their work or home. Sometimes he only stays for 10 mins but he puts forth the effort. I think that is important. Not dropping by unannounced but making time….any time to see people you love. Though many people have families and a busy schedule to maintain, it’s important you also maintain those relationships outside of social media. So I’m all for having fun ways to get together with friends or cousins etc. It may be a once a month like having a monthly “happy hour” at home or it could be a weekly gathering.

It doesn’t always have be on the weekends, as I think it’s even better to sometimes let loose and have a bit of fun during the week. Who doesn’t want to recharge on hump day and have something really fun to look forward to on Mondays? So this will be the first of a 5 part series where I give you a few fun party ideas to have with friends (or family).

There are so many wonderful ways to display a cheese and meat spread and looking at these insanely gorgeous pics makes me want to do one soon. I like this idea of a cake stand stacked to create a tower…

Toothpicks and mini labels for the toothpick flags telling guests the kind of cheeses served…

Use chalkboard platters or paper…

Make sure you have a variety of crackers, olives and grapes…

Give height to items further back by placing platters on phone books or sturdy boxes…

Figs, blackberries and nuts round out the platters…

Labeling is key on case someone is allergic to certain types of nuts. Wine glasses or apothecary jars filled with bottle corks are a nice touch…

Continue reading for more inspiration and a listing of what wines pair with what…

Ensure you have enough knives to cut through blocks of cheese. Bonus points if you slice half of the blocks ahead of time…

Fresh herbs and pine branches will look really festive this time of year….

I want to create these bites!! They were made in muffin tins…

Cheese is like peanut butter, very feeling so don’t feel the pressure to have more food. Stick with small bites or maybe even bread and leave it at that for a wine tasting party.

I am not hip to what pairs with what but I love spicy cheeses like pepperjack and jalepeno cheddar. Aldi has so many options and at a fraction of regular store costs. I even see nice flavored cracker options at Dollar Tree. So you’re biggest expense will probably be the meat. World Market has some of the prettiest packaged wine and rhey have tabs tellinf you what meat and fish pairs well with it. I love whites and sweet wine like a Reisling and Moscato. What wine and cheese combo do you enjoy? Stay tuned in a couple days for part 2 of another fun party idea.

{Images via (in no order) a cup of jo, blueberries and blessings, tablespoon, savory sweet life, love letters to home, firmly held, remodelista, stone gable blog, hostess with the mostess, a thoughtful}

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