Pajama Party...for Bridesmaids, Hen Parties & Bachelorette Parties

You remember those days...your mom dropped you off at a friend's house and before long, there were 5 to 10 (or however many their delusional parents would allow!) giggling girls with sleeping bags and the latest issues of Tiger Beat in their overnight bag ready to party all night. You brushed and rolled each other's hair, talked about your latest crush, played "Bloody Mary" in the bathroom till you were all too scared to sleep and no one would go to the bathroom alone, and ate a mountain of potato chips and popcorn. Finally, about 3:00 a.m. after your hostess's dad came charging up the stairs after hearing a loud crash and told everyone to go to sleep, you all gave it up only to be awakened by the smell of pancakes in the kitchen way too early.

Flash forward a few years and you're planning a girls' night out with your friends or a party for your bridesmaids. You don't want to go out clubbing and you don't want to do the typical bachelorette party. How about trying a growing new trend...the adult pajama party? Now before you start having visions of big pink hair rollers and pulling a muscle playing Twister, hold that thought! Adult slumber parties are way more sophisticated than that these days!

First, pick your date and invite your gal pals with an invitation you designed yourself, maybe in the shape of a pillow or a pajama top that will reveal your message underneath. Make sure it's clear from the invitation that this is a real live spend-the-night party, so everyone won't be packing it in and going home at midnight. Take a good look at your living space and make sure it can accommodate several air mattresses (hey, you don't really expect them to sleep on the floor, do you?) and room for dancing. not necessarily happening simultaneously, but then again, you never know!

Plan your menu to include delicious foods beyond the typical slumber party popcorn and chips faire. Crank up two fondue pots, one for cheese and crusty bread, and the other for fruit and chocolate. Make sure to provide a veggie and dip tray and other low cal yummies for friends who are dieting. For extra fun, have an ice cream sundae making buffet with all the toppings, so guests can whip up their own delicious dessert. Again, include some low fat or sugar free option for friends that are watching their diet.

Have a friend who's a great mixologist help you develop a signature drink for the evening...Pink Pajamas Martini perhaps? Bloody Mary Bloody Mary's? Off To Dream Land? Or you could have a mini wine tasting and as a little fun craft activity, have guests make their own wine charms to keep track of their glasses. They're really simple and quick to do. You can buy the wire forms for them in the jewelry section of Wal-mart and pick beads that match the color scheme for your party and one unique charm for each guest...maybe one that suits her personality or represents one of her hobbies.

Of course, you can't just get all your friends drunk with no other entertainment, can you? Well, you could, but that's fun at another's expense which is just WRONG, so plan some games that your buds will love. You could play some fun boxed games like Apples to Apples or have Minute to Win It type games which could be downright hysterical. Some great Minute To Win It games that would lend themselves well to a pajama party include Hanky Panky game where participants stand with one hand behind their backs and are timed to see who can pull all the tissues out of the box the fastest using only ONE hand. There's also the Nose Dive game where your friends will stick their nose in Vaseline and pick up cotton balls then move the cotton balls to another bowl. First one who moves all their cotton balls wins. One of the most fun Minute To Win It challenges that would be a hoot at your pajama party is Face The Cookie where participants balance an Oreo on their forehead and try to move the Oreo into their mouth without touching it. (Make sure someone is filming this one for YouTube blackmail purposes later on!)

If everyone has way too much Pink Pajamas martinis and is no longer coordinated enough for Minute To Win It, roll up your rugs and dance! Record a string of dance hits including line dance, two step, and beach music. If you're from the South, you know what beach music is and you know the official dance of South Carolina is the Shag. If you're from the UK, you're reading way too much into that title!

If your budget can afford it, go to the local cosmetology school and arrange for a student cosmetologist or two to come and give facials or manicures. Or arrange for a massage therapist to come and do mini-massages. It'll definitely be appreciated by your party guests! Party favors for your guests might include make-up samples, nail files, bath gel, and a cute pair of fuzzy slippers!.

For your bridesmaids, a landmark birthday, your work buddies, or for your BFF's, a pajama party can be a blast and a party that will have your friends talking about for years to come. Just make sure you invite me, I saved my best Victoria's Secret p.j.'s for the occasion!