Wii Bowling Party: An Abby Gabs Tutorial

A little friendly advice, from me to you: when your husband/wife/significant other/roommate/little sister/self-built android comes to you and says, "Let's have a Wii bowling tournament party!" ----->just say yes. 

Because we did one this past weekend, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

Here are my tips to creating the world's awesomest Bowling Party, all from the comforts of your living room.

You Can Do It, Too: Wii Bowling Tournament Tutorial

Tip #1: Let Your Husband/Wife/Significant Other/Roommate/Little Sister/Self-Built Android Come Up With The Name Of The League AND The Event.

Because then, you wind up with a name like:

While it makes some decorations a little more difficult to create (YOU try putting that many letters on a banner), it makes everyone laugh when you step into the room to announce that the Inaugural Tournament of the Incredibly Excellent Bowling League of Awesomeness is about to begin. 

Don't worry. If you say it enough, you won't have to look it up every time. Promise.

Tip #2: If you have someone with minor OCD in your life, allow them to take over the planning, decorations, and food for the party.

In this little scenario, that person would be me. And I had an absolute blast planning bowling alley themed foods, bowling pin cards to identify said themed foods, meticulously wrapping the white plastic eating utensils with red electrical tape to look like bowling pins, and coming up with the most complicated bracket known to man.

Cheesy Bowling Ball

It only took four hours...ish.

OK, I lied. The bracket was too complicated for me. Brian made it up, I just wrote it all pretty.

Tip #3: Re-stock your printer with paper before you allow the OCD person in the scenario to begin creating decorations.

I made banners, lane markers, food cards, and more, just using my printer, some scissors, tape and string. I'm the MacGeyver of crafts, y'all.

Tip #4: Take pictures.

And once you've had a few beers, feel free to give the camera to your friends so they can capture some candids as well. Otherwise, you'll miss out on all of this:

Seriously, the best shots are often the ones taken after you bust out the booze. As long as they're in focus. Which brings me to my last tip...

Tip #5: Don't take so many pictures that you aren't allowed a little creative room to groove when it's time to blog about your party.

Because after three beers and a rum-and-coke, my camera was left in a corner somewhere, and I forgot all about a hundred different shots I wanted to take, including a group shot of the 11 bowlers that came to our party.

But never fear, Photoshop and our Nintendo Miis are here!

Back row, from left to right: Zach, Kristie, Arielle, Steven, Jenn, Ashley, Fred, Ray, and Sam
Front row: Abby and Brian

Seriously. That's one epically awesome team portrait--which is perfectly fitting for the Incredibly Excellent Bowling League of Awesomeness. (See, I told you remembering the name gets a little easier the more times you say it.)

I'm Not Good At April Fools Day.

It's because I'm so expressive.


If you come around the corner and see me making this face:

The Face

...one of four things is about to happen.


1. I'm about to prank you. IE: pie in the face, plastic wrap on the toilet seat, evil clowns jumping out from behind the closet door....


2. I'm about to lie to you. IE: Yes, honey, I was listening to that enthralling story about the new wine rep, not totally ignoring you while whipping our cat into a frenzy with the always-humorous shoe string game.


3. I'm about to lay down a Straight Flush on top of your not-so-royal cards. Seriously. I do NOT have a poker face. So if I'm making THAT face, and/or I'm giggling, you should fold. Immediately.


4. Ten of your closest friends are about to jump out with balloons, a cake, and a barbershop quartet to serenade you on your birthday. SURPRISE!!!


Don't believe me? Let me tell you about my husband's surprise birthday party last year.


First, let me say that the entire event had been planned to occur somewhere other than my house. It wasn't until a week before said event that I realized that it was Super Bowl Sunday, and, for some reason unbeknownst to me, the restaurant is closed on Super Bowl Sunday. So, I had to scramble to rearrange our plans, and to bring the party to us.


So. The day of the party, I'm a house-cleaning, food-cooking mad woman. The hubby thinks my parents are coming over for the game, and he keeps asking questions that I'm sure are going to eventually lead him to discovering the truth of our plans for the evening.


B: Why are you making such a huge pot of chili?
A: Because Mom and Dad are coming over.
B: Yeah, but that's enough chili to feed an army. That's not a pot of chili, that's a VAT of chili.
A: Yes, it is a vat....because I want there to be leftovers for tomorrow....and the next day.
B: Oh. Ok.


Ten minutes later...


B: Why are you putting out a veggie plate?
A: Because Dad likes veggies.
B: Yeah, but there's that huge vat of chili, and the cheese ball, and the chips and salsa. Now you're putting out veggies, too?
A: Yes, because Dad said he was really hungry. Plus, any leftovers and I can make vegetable beef stew later this week.
B: Oh. Ok.


Five minutes later....


B: Why are you wearing shoes?
A: What?
B: Why are you wearing shoes? Are we going somewhere? You're dressed and I'm still in my pajamas. I thought we were watching the game here tonight.
A: We are.
B: So why do you have on shoes?
A: (Pause and try not to kill the birthday boy) Because I'm getting ready to take the trash out.
B: Oh. Ok.


FINALLY I hear a car door close outside. Knowing it's our party guests, I immediately jump from my seat and run for the kitchen.


A: Gotta stir the chili!
B: (From his perch in his already-football-prone position.) Wait? Aren't you going to get the door?
A: Nope. Gotta stir the chili! Be right there!!!


See, at this part of the evening, he had to know something was up. Because you see, the whole plan hinged on HIM answering the door, since his surprise birthday party parade was springing the surprise from our doorway.


I hear him mutter under his breath, heave himself from the sofa, and answer the door.


Our guests: SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!
B: So, that's why she went to stir the chili.


Yes, he was surprised, and yes, it was a great party.

And yes, it was Transformer-themed.

Did I pull it off? Sure. Would I have pulled it off if he hadn't been getting over a cold, and was still doped up on Nyquil?


Definitely not. Because then, he would've seen The Face.