What’s That Thing in a Jar?

Fall is a great time to throw a party. I love celebrations, but as I enter my 25th year of throwing parties, I realized how difficult I made things early on. No one ever told me that a party that starts at 7 p.m. does not mean for me to change into party clothes at 6:59 and work myself into exhaustion until the guests arrive. It does not have to be that way. Step into the Jar Love and make life easy on yourself. It’s a statement that you want to have fun at your own event and the cleanup is so fast.

My new Web site (www.thatthinginajar.com) is full of ideas, recipes and menu ideas. Cookbooks themed in all four seasons will follow. The great thing is the recipes come from gifted chefs around the globe along with great cooks from right here in the Atlanta area, foodie friends and a Bravo Top Chef or two. We recently had a tasting party and all 14 courses were served in various sizes of jars. Call it redneck tapas, whatever. Just try it. It’s campy and fun and has sass. (I love sass.) The point is this: when you are relaxed your guests can be too. The pressure is off with jar food, and it frees everyone up to enjoy the party. It’s a perfect recession theme—inexpensive and down-to-earth.

Feel the love and sign up today. Our blasts include recipes, events, entertaining ideas and classes at info@thatthinginajar.com. Also sign up as a fan of That Thing in a Jar on FB, too.

Big Red Fire Truck

Unforgettable parties start with making a memory, someway somehow. What could be better for a fall festival or that special boy’s birthday than having a big red fire truck pull up, sirens and all? Boys love fire trucks—it’s almost an American obsession and rite of passage for boys in the 4-foot-and-under set. Bryan Dobson, a full-time firefighter with 18 years in service, is the owner of Red Hot Fire Truck Events. He is the coolest guy, one who remembers what being a kid was like. He stays busy with two fire trucks, one named Lola and one named Brutus, working to bring fun to parties and festivals all over town. Live music is builtin with a 300-watt sound system. So it’s a DJ and major entertainment all in one. A great budget entertainment idea is to combine birthday parties with friends or family and include a fire truck as the main attraction. What a blast!

by Toren Anderson

Toren Anderson owns a media relations boutique firm specializing in upscale lifestyle. Contact her at info@intheloopatlanta.com.

Photography is by christopherhornadayphotography.com.