Tag Archives: Vote

How to Throw an Election Day Party

The 2016 election cycle is one for the books, and Americans on both sides of the aisle are geared up to pick their next president and let the sordid dust settle. In a matter of days, voters will cast their ballots and eagerly watch in anticipation as the tallies are marked. Rather than biting your nails on Nov. 8, grab some discounted Independance Day supplies and invite friends over for an election night party. Here are some tips, activities and fun recipes to get you started.

Bad Lip Read Newscasters

Instead of zoning out in front of the endless stream of CNN speculation leading up to delegate announcements, hit mute during these monotonous moments and let partygoers fill in the blanks. Inspired by the Bad Lip Reading YouTube Series, guests have the opportunity to let their improv chops and creativity shine.

Watch Old Campaign Ads

From gleeful Kennedy jingles released before color television was standardized, to LBJ’s famous “Daisy” ad, reflecting on how campaign ads have evolved over time is enlightening and amusing.

Campaign Logo Design

Bring some .99 poster boards and markers to your event and host a logo competition. Ask guests to redesign candidate’s logos for laughs and conversation.

Campaign Cupcakes

Cupcakes are bipartisan, even if your guests are not. Whip up some tasty, timely desserts with this patriotic recipe.

 cupcakes

What you’ll need:

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

2/3 cup sugar

6 ounces.unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

Pillsbury Aqua Blue Vanilla Frosting

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme White Frosting

2 teaspoons red food coloring

How it’s done:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and begin combining flour and baking powder into small or medium bowl. In a second bowl, mix sugar, eggs, extract and butter briskly or with electric mixer. Combine both bowls and add milk to mixture. Evenly distribute cupcake batter into wrappers set in your baking pan and insert into oven. Bake 10 minutes, using toothpicks to check the dessert’s consistency. Let rack cool for 15 minutes and frost with colorful frosting and sprinkles. For red frosting, mix white frosting with red food dye. Serve lukewarm.

Presidential Pizza

While other hosts are ordering Dominos, put a personal touch on your party pizza by making it yourself. Check out this simple recipe for a mouthwatering margherita pizza everyone can enjoy.

pizza

What you’ll need:

Boboli Original Pizza Crust

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves chopped garlic

1/4 cup tomato sauce

8 ounces swiss cheese, thinly sliced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 cup fresh basil

How it’s done:

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees fahrenheit and mix olive oil and chopped garlic together in a small bowl to spread on crust. Spread pizza sauce and chopped basil on crust and top with cheese, tomato and more basil. Bake for roughly 20 minutes until crust is golden brown. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes and serve hot.

Partisan Chips and Salsa

Hit up your local grocery store and grab a few bags of blue and white corn tortilla chips to serve with a (preferably red) salsa of your choice.

chips and salsa

Fixed Term Fruit Kebabs

Whether you’re celebrating or mourning President Obama’s departure this November, these universal kebabs are another easy snack you can prepare in less than 10 minutes.. Pick up some bamboo pickers and slide on sliced strawberries, blackberries and bananas for a healthy alternative to chips and pizza.

kebobs fruit

Drinks for Delegates

A lot of you may be playing drinking games on Nov. 8, but if you’re interested in keeping your party PG, grab some red, white, and blue sports drinks to maintain the party’s theme.

patriotic drinks

The Hottest Period Drama Sex Scenes of All Time

Though the words “Merchant Ivory” may have some people thinking of stiff upper-lipped prudish classic novel adaptations, fans of the genre know better. The period-drama is ripe for sexual tension with massive, passionate payoff.

Here are five of the steamiest period-drama love scenes that we just keep coming back to, over and over again.

1. Ralph Fiennes and Kristen Scott Thomas in The English Patient

It swept the Oscars in 1996, winning Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress with its story of star-crossed lovers Katharine Clifton and the mysterious Count Lazlo (played by Ralph Fiennes), who turns up years later as the mysterious burn victim—“the English patient”—at the end of WWII. Katharine and Lazlo meet on a mapping expedition of Egypt, but alas, Katharine (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) is married to Mr. Darcy. I mean, Colin Firth. Anyway, she’s married. But the sexual tension between Katharine and Lazlo is so immediate and so intense that neither can resist. Though many cite their first romp, in a bathtub, as “the” sex scene of the film, my personal favorite has always been the scene which takes place in a hallway outside a Christmas Party sing-a-long of “Silent Night.”

“Swoon,” Lazlo tells Katherine. “I’ll catch you.”

2. James McAvoy and Kiera Knightley in Atonement

Robbie is the son of the groundskeeper of Cecilia’s massive family estate. It is 1935, and the gulf between the two, in terms of class, is unlikely to be breached. But Cecilia loves Robbie with a passion that can only occur in impossible love. Finally, after a crude letter (of Robbie’s to Cecilia, never meant to be read) is delivered, the two find themselves finally alone in the family library. Keira Knightley, in a stunning, clinging emerald green dress, tells Robbie she loves him. In one of literature’s most explosive library sex scenes, the two finally consummate their relationship, only to unwittingly set Robbie’s devastating demise into motion.

3. Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander in A Royal Affair

In this true story of the 18th century royalty in Denmark, the gorgeous Alicia Vikander plays unhappy queen to an oafish king. When a dark and handsome doctor (ENTER: MADS MIKKELSEN) is enlisted to help the king control his impulsive behavior, it’s inevitable that the Queen finds a sympathetic companion . . . and more. The sexual tension comes to a head during a masked ball, where Vikander finally hands Mikkelsen the key to her room. The rest is (true) history.

4. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Keira Knightley in Anna Karenina

Period-drama queen Keira Knightley breathed new life into Tolstoy’s classic heroine Anna Karenina in the 2012 film adaptation with the help of her costar, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. I suppose dancing at a ball was the period-drama equivalent of locking eyes at a crowded bar, because when Vronsky lays eyes on Anna we know it’s just a matter of time before the two get together, and boy, do they ever. Vronsky and Anna are both wild and desperate, and the way he looks at her (through Johnson’s piercingly gorgeous blue eyes) would make any woman want to jump into bed with him.

Side note: IRL, Taylor-Johnson is married to Sam Taylor-Johnson, who directed him in 2009’s Nowhere Boy. Despite the fact that she is 23 years older than him, they have two children together. He even took her last name. Do you need any other reasons to love him? Nope.