Disclosure: This #GameNightIn shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
As I get older, it seems like it gets harder and harder to find quality time to spend with friends. I’m at that age now where most of my friends are married and have started families, and there seems to be less and less time to spend together. Long gone are the days of clubs and wild parties.
Most of my friends I’ve met at work, and being teachers, our lives can be pretty stressful. When we aren’t at work, grading papers, or planning lessons, we like to spend our free time in peace and quiet! Sadly, most of my conversations with my friends lately have been on social media or through text message, in the comfort of my pajamas, snuggled up in blankets on the couch.
With the end of the school year coming up soon, things have gotten even crazier for us, so I thought it was the perfect time of year to plan a girls’ night for my friends. I planned a Girls’ Game Night Party with a little help from M&Ms® and Hasbro®, where we could hang out, play some board games, enjoy yummy snacks, and have FUN!
On a recent trip to Walmart, I picked up a few board games for my party–original Monopoly and Jenga–and some M&Ms to fix up some delicious treats. Walmart had everything I needed to easily put together a relaxing and fun game night:
I wanted to throw a party inspired by these classic board games, but with a girly twist. This meant lots of decor in bright colors, and LOTS of polka dots (they’re just so cute and girly, dontcha think?). I created a sparkly backdrop by hanging fringe tinsel curtains in rainbow colors, and topped them with brightly colored tissue fans and hanging circles. The circles and polka dots reminded me of another Hasbro classic, Twister, so I tried to incorporate them in everything I could, from the cups to the napkins to the centerpiece. I even used a Twister game board as a tablecloth for the buffet!
Making creative centerpieces is one of my favorite parts of party planning. I always love to add a little height, so I started with a plain white crate I bought at a craft store. I also bought glittery blue letters that spelled out “PLAY,” which I glued to the crate sort of haphazardly, to give it a fun little touch. I finished it off with brightly colored polka dots that I created with permanent paint markers, to tie it in with the other Twister-inspired decor.
On top of the crate, I made an edible centerpiece by filling a glass bowl with rainbow rock candy sticks, rainbow candy coins, and playing card confetti.
I don’t like my guests to leave empty handed, so I made up some really quick and easy favors. I had some extra Monopoly playing pieces, and thought they would be perfect to create game night-themed favors! I glued the playing pieces to the lids of mason jars, spray painted them gold, and filled the jars with M&Ms. They turned out so cute, and everybody loved them (especially the M&Ms inside)!
The menu was one of my favorite parts of the whole party. I like to serve finger foods at parties–they’re so much easier for guests to enjoy! They’re portable and fun for guests to snack on.
Even more fun, each of my snacks was inspired by a Monopoly property! My signature drink was fruity, pink, and delicious–Park Place Punch (raspberry & cherry drink mix, pineapple juice, water, gingerale, and raspberry sherbet):
My chips and dip were Virginia Avenue Ranch Green Onion Dip (cuz Virginia is in the South, the South is full of farms… a.k.a. ranches–get it?!?):
I also baked up some Tennessee Avenue Lemonade Cookies (with frozen lemonade concentrate in the batter and the glaze):
Mediterranean Avenue Caprese Skewers (halved grape tomatoes and cubes of mozzarella threaded onto skewers and sprinkled with salt and Italian seasoning):
New York Avenue Mini Pizzas (mini bagels topped with pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, and turkey pepperoni):
And my favorite Boardwalk “Popcorn” Cupcakes (the popcorn was made from mini marshmallows cut in half and smooshed back together, with boxed cake mix and frosting):
The centerpiece of the menu, though, was my M&Ms Popcorn Cake, made with my absolute favorite game night snack!
This “cake” is seriously good–it brings together sweet and salty and buttery flavors all in one! All my friends loved it, and I think you will too.
M&Ms Popcorn Cake
Ingredients:
3 bags microwaveable popcorn (I use light butter flavor)
3 cups plain M&Ms
2 cups pretzels, crushed into small pieces
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
1 package mini marshmallows (16 oz.)
1. Prepare a bundt pan by spraying it lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Pop the popcorn according to the directions, then place it in a large bowl. Pick out the unpopped kernels from the bowl and discard.
3. In another bowl, mix together the M&Ms and pretzel pieces. Stir together to mix them all up.
4. Pour the M&Ms mixture into the popcorn bowl and stir to distribute the candy and pretzels throughout the popcorn.
5. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the stick of butter. Add the marshmallows, and stir until melted and gooey.
6. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture and use a spoonula (or spatula) to stir until the popcorn, M&Ms, and pretzels are thoroughly coated in marshmallow cream.
7. Transfer the marshmallow popcorn to the prepared bundt pan, pressing the popcorn down into the pan and flattening the top. Cover with foil and let set for at least one hour.
8. To remove the cake from the pan, gently run a knife around the edge of the pan to release the cake. Place a plate on top of the pan, flip over, and give it a good shake. The cake should easily spring free.
That’s all there is to it! It’s a seriously cute dessert for a super fun girls’ night!
If you want to make your own M&Ms Popcorn Cake, you’re in luck! Right now you can get a coupon for $1.00 off any one bag of M&Ms, 38oz or larger. Click here to grab yours!
We had such a fun time hanging out and playing games. Some of us took it more seriously than others (you can totally tell I’m the serious one… NOT!). It definitely brought out the competitive side in some of my friends!
Hasbro’s board games and M&Ms are the perfect way to spend time with your family and friends. I think we’ll be making game night a regular thing at our house. Maybe next time we’ll even invite the guys!
What are your favorite game night ideas? I’d love to hear yours! Leave your ideas in the comments below.
I’d like to thank Nicole, Courtney, Stephanie, Maria, Lucy, and Angie for joining me for such a fun night. Here are a few more of my favorite snaps from our Girls’ Game Night Party:
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