Decorate It Forward

I recently was invited to a Houseparty for Marzetti's Simply Dressed dressings.  A houseparty is a party that you apply for and can win at HouseParty.com and the host then gets a package supplied by a sponsor (Marzetti) and they provide whatever they want.  In her case, the them was Simply Dressed and Marzetti provided coupons to purchase free dressings and recipe cards.  The host supplied the food and other things to make salads and recipes and Marzetti provided her guests gifts:  coupon cards, wonderful insulated shopping bags and one really cool salad bowl with a built-in freezer pak for the host, one for a guest.  The party was so much fun, the host really put on a feast and we got to try all kinds of new dressings.  I didn't even know that Marzetti had anything but coleslaw dressing, so it was really an eye opener.  And the insulated bag was super nice.  I had so much fun, and the host asked us to fill out surveys on line to provide the sponsor feedback.  In doing so, I signed up for my own HouseParty account.  Unexpectedly, I won my own Kmart Decorate it Forward party! 

I have to tell you, at first, my reaction was pretty crazy.  I was excited to find out I won a party!  I love Christmas and I recently moved.  I thought it was a great idea to invite people over and to have some fun.  Since our theme was Decorate it Forward, I decided to buy some things off the want list at the humane society and have my guests fill stockings so we can take them up there for the holiday.  We purchased some fleece material (so they dogs/cats have something to lay on) and we filled up stockings with chews, cat toys, dish soap, swiffer mop refills and other things off of the list.  Kmart provided me as host a $20.00 giftcard and a coupon for 15% off of their Christmas store.  My idea was to purchase my guests each their own ornament to Decorate it Forward. 

The kids had a blast decorating gingerbread houses and gingerbread trains.  The adults had fun putting together a foamie gingerbread house I got a few years ago that never got put together.  Then we played a game of Christmas Song Pictionary.  Kmart gave each of my guests a coupon to use for their own decorations, so I stuffed a mini stocking with the coupon and some delish candy I purchased (at Kmart, of course!) and I used those as favors for everyone who attended.  It was fun, and all I had to do was throw a party  and fill out a survey!  These parties are hard to come by, apparently there are some pretty amazing sponsors out there.  So check out HouseParty.com and see what you think, and possibly win a host spot for yourself with some great freebies and fun!