How to host a fun-filled pajama party?

Some need an occasion to throw a party; some others just create an occasion in order to throw a party. I threw a pajama party because I wanted to celebrate sleep, currently the most important element in my life. When I was younger, I really didn’t care much about sleep, it was considered as a waste of one’s precious time, but now as an adult I realize that sleep is one's best friend, without it one is just a lump of a mess fumbling through life.

- Me trying my best to function as a normal adult between 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM -

In order to host a memorable pajama party there obviously are some requirements.

Bed being one, pajama being another, music, movies and games, food, friends and good spirits, both consuming and the feeling type.

Establishing a priority list is an efficient tool while planning any party, it helps you focus on the necessities and the priorities.

Priority Number One: The Location.

As they say in the real estate business “Location” “Location” “Location”. You need a good space that you are comfortable with, that can provide all the amenities you need and can handle the amount of people you wish to include within your celebrating sleep party hereinafter referred to as the Pajama Party. The venue I selected was Roda Boutique Villas (Tel: 043825999), located in a secluded corner in Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE. It was a three bedroom villa, which could host up to eight guests, with a well equipped kitchen, lush bedrooms and lounge areas, a convenient patio and car parking facility. The only thing missing was a swimming pool, include that and you have the perfect location. Nonetheless, Roda Boutique Villas was excellent, from check-in to check-out everything was smooth sailing, their hospitality was top notch and the villas were very well done up. We had a minor issue with the air conditioning, we called the help desk and they were at our gates within a few minutes and the issue was resolved within a few more minutes. When we called in for extra sheets and blankets at an ungodly hour, they accommodated the request without a hint of hesitation. I scored top marks from my guests on this one. (Insert a big grin here)

Priority Number Two: The People.

As with all parties that one plans in, of paramount importance is the people that you invite to it, and for this one, I had the perfect bunch. This was a group that loved one another, cared for one another and selflessly thought of the other more that oneself, truly a wholesome group of lovely friends.

The invites were sent out mentioning the date, location, time and theme and a Whatsapp group created with its title as “Pajama Party”, solely because how else would one coordinate a group activity in today's day and age without a group chat. (Insert another big grin here)

Priority Number Three: The food.

Food evokes togetherness. Everyone is seated around a table, sharing food, indulging in interesting conversations, laughing and basically having a good time. Hence food is very important; it needs to fit the energy and the preference of your guests. We went for one easy choice of KFC Bucket Meals and one it’s the easiest food to eat while intoxicated mixed grill.

Priority Number Four: The Entertainment – Music, Movies and Games

Since I am slightly trailing in this aspect, I delegated this to two of my friends one the Technological Genius and the other a Music Connoisseur. Granted the technological genius forgot his laptop charger, and me in order not to lose the opportunity to use this dialogue, repeatedly repeated “You had one job, ONE JOB”. Not one to wallow in issues and fret over the problem, an alternative solution was attained within an hour and everyone involved lived to tell this tale.

For games we unanimously selected to play Charades whilst guessing names of English and Hindi movies, divided into two teams, the arrogant ones who had found their comfortable spot and refused to move and assigned the team according to the location they sat at, and the other obliging tender-hearted team who adjusted themselves in the small uncomfortable space allocated to them. One would say such behavior is improper, but one doesn’t care.

- The arrogant team turning a blind eye to the blatant injustice of team allocation style -

The game was never played with the intent to win, it was mostly played for laughs and boy did we get a bunch of laughs, one cracked us all up so much, we literally had tears running down our eyes. Moments like this in life scream brilliance. (Insert a big smile here)

Once we ran out of funny movie titles and google refused to give us any more titles, we created a game wherein scenes from Malayalam movies were acted out and the teams had to guess the name of the movie. Could be the start of a new trend within our circles, you never know.

Games we intended to play but didn’t play were: Ping Pong, although a Beer Pong was arranged for, Badminton, Pictionary, Uno, Scrabble, and Cards.

Movies we intended to watch but didn’t watch were: Train to Busan, Hell Baby, Tucker and Dale Vs Evil, 21 Jump Street 1 & 2, and Wedding Ringer.

Always remember that all of your meticulously laid down plans may not materialize, so ensure you don’t throw a “Monica”, and just go with the flow.

- My Reaction to being told the laptop charger is missing & the friend assigned to get UNO forgot it -

The night was slowly coming to an end, some danced to the music, some others had quiet conversations, and some dozed off. Others decided it was the perfect time to go have a cup of tea, and so they left the comforts of the villa, slid into a car, watched the sunrise and had a warm cup of tea, and then finally deciding that it was time to sleep. It was after all a sleepover, and what is a sleepover if not for some sleep.

Priority Number Five: The Morning After

Barely three hours of sleep later, it was time to cook breakfast and have a relaxed meal. The expert cooks whipped by eggs, sausages and toast. I tried helping with the pancakes but my ineptness was noticed by the pancake maker and I was asked to vacate the premises.

Breakfast Menu included: Eggs, the staple food for any breakfast, sausages, mushrooms, broccoli, baked potatoes, raspberries, pancakes and chocolate sauce, toast with the option of nutella, jam, peanut butter, or just plain butter.

- Visual Representation of the Pancakes, I did not make -

This was followed by a warm and wonderful Malayalam movie called “Aanandam” which showcased the life of a group of friends on an industrial tour, which seemed like the apt movie to watch surrounded by your own warm and wonderful friends.

Post movie, it was time to leave the Pajama Party venue, nearly 15 hours had gone by and although all were sleep deprived, the consensus was that everyone had fun. And ultimately isn’t that what every party wishes to achieve, a good time and good memories; maybe also the awareness that the last and the least priority at every Pajama Party is provided to our much beloved and ever-elusive sleep.

- Actual footage of me crying in the morning due to sleep deprivation -

- Dramatic Representation of my Relationship with my Alarm -

- ZZZzzzzzzzz -

- The Candid Capture -

The Friend with the hand to his head is sat that way because we were on a photography / selfie marathon, and he had given up by the time we reached our 743rd photo.

Men, no stamina whatsoever!