I just celebrated a birthday (45th), which falls nine days after Christmas (January 03). Even though there is a lot of stuff going on and the winding down after the holidays, my birthday is typically really good! I have always wanted to have a Redneck-White Trash-Tacky theme party, so why not do it on a birthday? The party was actually quite fun and a mix of my friends, family, Ernesto's family, and next-door neighbors. Not everyone came in costume, but the ones that did...well, let's just say it was "over the top, right on target, spot on excellent!"Ernesto and I went for the cut-off flannel shirt, Larry-the-Cable Guy look. I sported curlers and a zany pink handkerchief thing that my mom had since the 70's and I KEPT IT to wear someday (granted, not in public). I wore a silver owl necklace with faux turquoise eyes (RIP, Aunt Naomi), camouflage shorts, a faux tattoo "sleeve," and leopard slippers.
My sister Wendi and friend Angie went with the Super Trashy-Tacky Look.
They had outfits that should not be worn (ever), and both admitted to wearing dark chonies under their leggings (fashion faux-pas!). Gaudy jewelry, loud makeup and their heels were possibly designed by some 80-year old retiree in Boca!My brother-n-law, Eric, was almost unrecognizable in his sideburns, too-tight football jersey, fake tattoo, very old pair of glasses that were wired at the temple to keep them together(!), camouflage pants and "faux" Crocs. Other friends went the Redneck route and Heidi wore a Muumuu! Check them out in the group photo:
Eric and I:
I just have to share a FEW more party details -- my cake arrived with a huge chunk out of it, my name was misspelled to "Garsee," and it had a toy tractor, motorcycle and Barbie rings on top! In addition to hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza, we served Slim Jims, vienna sausages, lots of canned beer, an assortment of snack cakes (Ding Dongs, Twinkies), tuna casserole, pork rinds, nuts, sunflower seeds, cheetos, and my sis and brother-in-law brought a canape plate of bologna, spam, & cheese slices that were cut out in various shapes, including dinosaurs (ala Spamosauros!).I had a laundry line hanging in the living room with various articles of clothing, some quite large (thanks, Savers!). The hall bathroom had the plastic Madonna nightlight on, a clothesline and a vanity full of tacky drug-store items that should reside in the medicine cabinet or under the counter! Hemorroidal cream, sanitary pads, douche, lubricating gel, AquaNet, Pepto Bismol, etc.
We gave out tacky prizes for the games, like Spam and scratch lottery tickets. The three prizes for best costume included gift certificates for the Dollar Store, Goodwill and WalMart! Everyone left the party with goodie bags, that had some specially selected White Trash items, like a lime green dish sponge, chocolate praying hands, romance novels, and fir tree air fresheners.
I was quite spoiled by friends and family: I received several Frida Kahlo items, a lovely fleur-di-lis pendant, Kohl's gift certificate, dragonfly pin, Vintage Elvis doll, Elvis books, a small purse featuring Marilyn Monroe, gift certificate to La Casa Blanca (AKA the White House) -- a local restaurant, some wooden elk carvings, vintage apertif glasses, a sterling/turquoise bear claw pendant, an electric wine bottle opener, candles, new martini shaker, picture frame, bath set, black leather chaps and vest, a leather passport holder, watch/earrings/gloves (from Kazuko in Japan)and eclectic monkey napkin holders. Omigosh I think that's it! Plus, some cute cards, ecards and phone calls from Colorado and Idaho!
