As you know, a couple weeks ago I had the amazing opportunity to attend Shakira’s album release party in LA with my friends at Target. Since I couldn’t actually invite all of you along (I sincerely wish that had been possible), I thought I’d host a little album release party of my own, share it here on IBC, and hopefully pass along a few ideas.
I’m a huge fan of music, so I’m always excited when one of my favorite artists releases a new album. No matter who your favorite artist is, having an album release party is not only a fun way to celebrate the new music, but it’s also a great excuse to get together with friends for some good food, drinks, and conversation.
First, let’s talk decor. For this particular party, I went with a green and blue color scheme – specifically mint green, spring green, teal, and navy. I’m totally obsessed with that color combination, and it felt very spring-like to me. I also liked how the touches of navy made everything look classy! Still another reason I picked these colors is because I’m really loving the new Oh Joy! Party collection at Target. (The collection includes several of these colors.)
I picked up lots off goodies around this color scheme: crepe paper balls, paper lanterns, napkins, plates, straws, etc. What I love about having a color scheme is that it takes much of the guess work out of choosing decor. Just follow your color scheme. I also purchased a few neutral items that worked perfectly for the party, but could later be used around my house.
I’ve been loving Target’s collection of blue and green vases. They have such a funburst of color and a little sparkle. I also bought two of these over-sized basket trays. They are genius! I love baskets for serving food, so I will be using these all summer long. Plus, they add beautiful texture to my table. I appreciated all of the comments on them in my Instagram post a few weeks ago. I was glad you were loving them, too!
Of course, I tucked in some fresh flowers. A natural / botanical element is a must for any party decor. I decided to step outside of my color scheme to add a little variation to the table. I just picked up some cut flowers at my local grocery store and made a few mini arrangements.
For the food, I decided on light appetizers: homemade hummus, chips, salsa, and a crazy delicious Jalapeño Corn Dip (recipe coming to IBC soon). Cheese and crackers are a must for me as well. They are perfect conversation food. I also served up some Vodka Meatballs. To make them, I just warmed frozen meatballs and Simply Balanced Vodka Pasta Sauce (all available from Target) in a slow cooker. Then I served them up with some fancy toothpicks, shaved Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. So simple, yet so delicious!
Since I think every party deserves its own signature cocktail. My Empire Peach Fizz was inspired by Shakira’s newest single, Empire. It’s fun, fizzy, and totally delicious! Here’s how to make it.
Empire Peach Fizz
Here’s what you will need:
Simply Balanced Sparkling Peach Mango Juice Beverage
1.5 ounces peach vodka
.5 ounce peach schnapps
Splash of grenadine
Peach ring skewers (attach a peach gummy ring to a wooden skewer)
To a glass filled with ice, add a splash of grenadine. Then pour in the peach vodka and peach schnapps. Top with Simple Balanced Sparkling Peach Mango. Garnish the drink with a colorful straw and a peach ring skewer.
Last, but never least, dessert. I kept the dessert pretty simple, but still beautifully bold. Vanilla cupcakes with my Go-To Cream Cheese Frosting dyed mint green. I also offered an assortment of colorful gum balls. Have you seen these at Target? They are gorgeous and come in almost every color.
I created little cards with the name of each food and drink item. For a fun twist, I incorporated Shakira’s songs (both new and old) in the names. To make the food card holders, I used some large gold paperclips, bent open. The card was taped on with washi tape. So easy, but so cute!
I sent my guests home with little gifts bags. Clearly giving everyone a CD could get quite expensive, but a goodie bag is always a fun touch. I think it’s also nice to include a few recipes from the evening. This is a great way for your guests to remember and recreate the party.
Throughout the evening, Shakia’s record was on repeat with a few other favorite tunes in the mix. As enjoyable as it is to listen to the songs you’re loving on repeat in the privacy of your own home, it’s considerate of your guests to provide some musical variety, while still staying true to the theme of your party.
Shakira Album Giveaway
And since this fabulous party wouldn’t have been possible without Shakira, I think a little giveaway is in order. I’m giving away three copies of Shakira’s new album! Her deluxe album with three bonus track is sold exclusively at Target! To enter to win, leave a comment below with your favorite party hosting tip or trick! This contest will end on Monday, April 14.
Good luck and thank you so much for joining me for my little album release party! I hope you were able to pick up a few tips and tricks for hosting one of your own.
This giveaway is available to IBC readers worldwide. You must be 18 or older to win. Void where prohibited. The giveaway ends on Monday, April 14 at 11:59 pm EDT. This post was created as part of my collaboration with Target. As always, the thoughts and ideas are my own.