Nothing excites my kids more (or me for that matter) than when we announce we’re having a party! Admittedly, we don’t have parties all that often, mostly because the anxiety of planning a menu and getting the house in perfect condition always gets the better of me. But as the kids get older, seeing the joy on their faces when we get together with friends and family makes me want to find new ways to have more parties – without the stress or anxiety that goes along with it.

Often we wait for the big moments in life to celebrate, but who says we can’t celebrate the small things that are just as deserving? Yesterday was a PA DAY in our region and what better way to spend the day off than with a few good friends. The kids work hard at school so when I surprised my son with a little afternoon party with some of his closest friends (and mine), well… let’s say it turned out to be the best day ever!

Keeping things simple is the key to minimizing stress when having guests over (and being able to enjoy yourself), so we chose to include Tostitos® tortilla chips, salsas, and dips into our simple menu of snacks. Having the cupboard stocked with Tostitos® is also a great idea for impromptu visitors or last-minute get-togethers. The variety of options are endless and they are the perfect snacks for every occasion. Making my role as host easy is exactly what I had in mind for our little get-together, so Tostitos® chips and salsa allow me to enjoy the best of both worlds – making my guests happy and getting in on the fun myself.

Spending time with my guests is also very important when having people over. It’s the absolute worst when you spend all your time in the kitchen and don’t actually get to mingle with your friends, so I made it a point to keep this get-together as simple as possible (but still impressive) and have all our snacks prepped and ready to go. In fact, other than pouring the Tostitos® chips, salsa’s and dips into their bowls, I only prepared one recipe and it seriously couldn’t have been easier! Yes, you’re probably thinking I went a little over-board when it came to the decorations, but honestly this isn’t what stresses me out. I love creating pretty spaces, so naturally I wanted our snack area to be as beautiful as possible. Don’t let this stress you out either. A few fresh flowers, signs, and colourful straws were all that was needed to punch up the fun factor.

I started recipe planning by looking for some inspiration on tostitos.ca which has an extensive library of easy ones for any occasion, or even based on things you already have in your fridge. With just a few fresh ingredients, and paired with your favourite Tostitos® chips, the options are endless and a definite crowd pleaser is easily within reach (with very little effort). From sweet to savoury, appetizers, or even desserts, see what you have on hand and then easily create a quick, yummy snack.  I had a couple of ripe avocado’s laying around (on a serious avo kick lately), so naturally I wanted to make a guacamole to pair with the delicious Tostitos® Multigrain Scoops.

I found this tasty recipe for Pomegranate Guacamole on tostitos.ca and love how the addition of pomegranate seeds (never thought of this) really amp up the pretty factor of this crowd pleasing classic – not to mention the sweetness factor too. I left out the Jalapeño because most of our guests would be kids, but the next time I make this it’s definitely going in.

See the recipe below to make this for your next get-together, or check out tostitos.ca for other simple and delicious recipes.

We kept this day-off get-together simple with a few board-games, a movie, and time to just enjoy each other’s company. The kids had fun playing, the mamas got to drink wine, we chowed down on yummy Tostitos® snacks, and the fun kept going all the way into the evening. Can every PA Day be this much fun?

*This post is Sponsored by Tostitos®. In exchange for this post I have received perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are always my own.

*Photos by Peony Photography