Murder Mystery

If there is one thing I love, it is party planning.  I have been planning this post in my mind since we had the most fun party ever, last October! I know, I am little late, but better late than never?!?

Preparing for this one was so so fun.  We had a Murder Mystery Dinner Party- Roaring 20s theme.  

We used the game: How to Host a Murder. The Chicago Caper.   I received this game from my mother in law for Christmas many years ago. I was determined not to let another Christmas pass without playing it. 

The hardest part was finding 3 other couples that were into it, for real, and then coordinating schedules.  

The boxed game set comes with everything you: invitations, timeline & costume suggestions, even a menu suggestion, name tags, clues, and a dvd to walk you through that included period music for ambience.  I have to admit, since none of us had ever attended one before, it was a little confusing, but not much. The instructions were great. 

So I assigned roles to each person and included those with the invitations, so they would know how to dress.  Every single one of us bought up Goodwill for our costumes, except me.  I just made mine. Super cheap! I will write a post just on that soon. {Post is up-click here!}

So now we had: 8 players, a date set.  It was time to plan the menu and the decor. 

 I made a sign for the front door:  Speakeasy.  We wanted to do some sort of secret password to get in, but couldn't get it together in time.  I made a bar sign and a menu sign. I love it when I go to someone's house for dinner and they have a menu displayed.  

See the Welcome sign to left: made by kiddos. They were so excited to see us in costume, yet so disappointed we wouldn't let them stay for the party. 

  I went for Black, White and Red Theme, it really turned out cute.  Fresh flowers and glass bottles/ jars, and silver bar & serving sets. I had almost everything already. I bought a Silver Shaker at a Consignment shop for $2. Everything else I made or took from around our house. 


 At our bar, we had Pink "Champagne" Punch, Sweet Tea & Lemonade, Arnold Palmers, Assorted Sodas, and Waters.  I bought some cute sodas at Trader Joes that looked vintage. 

Source: http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/2011/07/trader-joes-vintage-root-beer.html

 We had mostly non- drinkers at the party, so I didn't include alcoholic beverages this time. We also had a fancy humidor filled with cigars to smoke out back.   

Appetizers included: Mixed Nuts, Olives & Cornichons, Sausage Cheese Balls, and Salami and Cheese slices.  

The Main Course was:  Homemade Fettucine Alfredo, Stuffed Shells (Beef & Mozarella), Ceasar salad, garlic bread.  Yum-o, Everyone was stuffed. 

Once everyone arrived, we started out with drinks, snacks, and cigars on the back porch.  Then played one round, then dinner, then another round, then dessert, etc.  Until all rounds were played.  

Things i learned: 
 1. Don't make a menu that has you in the kitchen for a lot of the party
2. It can drag on quite late, so be prepared to move through each round and move on. 

Here is me that night: 

We vowed to do another one, soon. My vote is for the Roman Times.  I can just see me in a toga, 300 style. 

Source:http://spettacoli.blogosfere.it/2007/03/300-coriandoli-muscoli-e-belle-donne.html

The How to Host a Murder is a whole series of games.  Check them out, come back and tell me how yours went.