Need ideas for a corporate Christmas party? Planning a children’s Christmas party? Here are simple but effective Christmas party ideas for the planner who has to please  a ho-ho-whole lot of people.

Now is the time of year when Halloween planning subsides and Christmas party planning takes over. You may be one of those people who attends a ton of these parties every year but has never thrown one. Maybe you're the Christmas party queen or king and people look to you for their party ideas. Well, we've taken some hassle away, whether you're the belle of the ball or the newbie host. These ideas will make planning an office Christmas party or kids Christmas party much simpler.

Corporate Christmas Party Ideas:

Themes are where it’s at for any Christmas party, especially an office Christmas party. Adults need a little incentive to participate and fun themes provide that motivation. Festive themes with an adult twist are big hits, like a “Christmas Cocktail Party” or “Saint Nick’s Pub Party” where guests can enjoy a round of “North Pole Karaoke” and belt out favorite Christmas songs.

Office Christmas party food should be centered around the guests as well as the holiday. Eggnog is always a favorite holiday beverage. A bowl of red punch beside a bowl of green punch is a neat and simple holiday decoration as well. Need ideas or someone to provide the festive treats? Many local caterers create holiday menus for special occasions like office Christmas parties. This takes the strain off of the planner (you); which is like a Christmas gift to yourself!

Corporate Christmas party games are as much fun as they sound. Christmas party games are a chance to bond with coworkers you may not see often. Offering door prizes is incentive to play and to attend. Big or small, door prizes are a surprising boon to holiday cheer.

Keep in mind that departments make great teams. Be careful not to treat the games like team-building activities (even though they are). A relaxed environment and semi-competitive spirit are as essential to Christmas party games as mistletoe is to the decorations.

Children's Christmas Party Ideas:

Want tips for throwing a kids' Christmas party? Take your cues from the little ones. Here are the top ten kids Christmas party ideas that we have found.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #1: Use bright colors in the decorations, foods and giftwrap of any door prizes or presents. Kids love bright and happy colors, such as blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, red and pink.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #2: Take a hint from pop culture for the theme. Look at popular television shows, books, movies, sports and music to decide which theme is right for yours kids Christmas party. For example, if your kids are into The Jonas Brothers, have a "Christmas With The Jonas Brothers" theme. Your theme should flow smoothly between your decorations, music, games and gift choices.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #3: The more candy, the better. Kids love sweets, but their parents may not be thrilled with the idea of a lot of sugar. Please both by thinking outside the candy box for your treat ideas.  A "Gingerbread House Decorating" Party (see below) is a fun place to start, and it puts a limit on the amount of sugar consumed during the evening. Even sugar-free candies go over well with children, so long as they are packaged or presented in an appealing way.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #4: Games rule. If you plan to have games, have lots of them. Children usually have short attention spans, so keep the games short, fun, lively and switch it up often.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #5: Encourage parent participation. Enlisting the help of other parents will prove beneficial once the excitement of the little ones takes over.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #6: Play fun Christmas music. Find Christmas CDs released by young pop stars and mix these with the traditional songs on the playlist. You can also throw in some seasonal favorites from older pop stars for the parents’ ears. Another alternative is to hire musical entertainment for the night and provide them with a list of classic songs you’d like to hear.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #7: Sleepovers make the best Christmas parties. If you’re brave enough to host this kind of children’s Christmas party, your kids will be forever grateful. Get ready for a late night. Don't forget to invite a couple of parents to help, even if they don't spend the night.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #8: Keep gifts and door prizes simple. A $1-5 budget per gift is perfect for a varied group. Children of all ages and family incomes will feel welcome and comfortable.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #9: Have a plan for skittish animals. If you have a pet that is not keen on large groups, have a place for  he/she/they to go during the party. Trust me, this is a rarely-mentioned but gem of a tip.

Kids' Christmas Party Idea #10: Keep it moving. Switch often between playing a game, grabbing a snack or other activities. This will keep the children's attention and prevent parents from hearing the “I’m bored” whine.

Whether your audience falls into the “adults only” or the “you must be this tall to ride” category, hosting a Christmas party for them will be the most delightful (and busiest) part of your holiday season. There’s nothing like watching your friends, family or coworkers line up to play a holiday game and seeing their faces light up like Christmas tree lights. With these simple Christmas party ideas, your holiday hosting will be a night or day full of cheer.

For more party planning tips, visit www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

You may also be interested in these Christmas Party Ideas:

Throwing A Fun Gingerbread House Decorating Party
Holiday Office Party Etiquette: Celebrations For All To Enjoy
Traditional Christmas Meets Contemporary Atmosphere

Re-Connecting With Neighbors

As the end of summer quickly approaches and kids get ready to start back to school, this is a great time to re-connect with your neighbors by throwing a fall block party or back-to-school block party.

Vacations, family reunions, sports camps, games and all the other activities of summer keep many people on the go with not a lot of time for interaction with neighbors. But once school starts, families seem to slow down a bit and stay home a little more. Families play together in their yards and take evening walks to catch up on the day’s events.

Fall is a great time to chat with neighbors, and even if you’re new to the neighborhood and don’t know many people, a block party is a great way to introduce yourself to your neighbors. So, why not get together with a few willing neighbors and plan a block party to bring everyone back together?

Block Party How To:

Survey The Neighbors

Approach a few neighbors to see if they would be willing to help you organize the block party. Print a simple flyer inviting all your neighbors to help plan the party and distributor around the neighborhood. This way no one can say, they “didn’t know” or were “left out.” You can deliver one to each home with the date, time and location of the planning meeting.

Encourage Help – Lure Them With Food

Host a planning meeting at your home with light refreshments. Make sure introductions are made so that those planning the party know each other.

Set a date and time for the block party according to school schedules and holidays.

Assign people various responsibilities related to the party such as advertisement, food, recreation, set-up and clean-up.

Determine how much money you are willing to invest and if the group will divide costs evenly or if certain people will pay for certain expenses. It is important to be very clear about the financial part of the party so that there is no opportunity for misunderstanding and awkward situations that can affect people for years to come.

Pick Your Location

Decide where in the neighborhood the block party will be. Are there certain homes children gravitate to? Is there a house with a large yard and a pool? Is there a clubhouse available? Would a cul-de-sac be the best for safety reasons?

Pick A Party Theme

Determine what kind of block party you’ll have – essentially a theme. Are all your neighbors elderly people? Singles? Families with small children? Consider the tone you want to set—family friendly? An adult only cocktail party? A get-to-know-you relaxing atmosphere? The answer to these question will determine your party's theme.

Plan The Menu – A Party Must Have Food

Cocktails and appetizers? Potluck? Burgers and hot dogs? Grilled steaks and chicken?

Will everyone be asked to bring a dish to share or will food be purchased in bulk and provided so that no one has to bring anything? Do you need a caterer to take care of the food?

Remember, the purpose of the party is to bring neighbors together and bringing something to share gives people a sense of belonging. Don’t assume it will be a burden to have a potluck meal—many conversations get started over a great dish.

Decorating, Mingling and Entertaining

Decide how you’ll decorate. Block parties were a big part of the 50’s era, so why not decorate retro-style with galvanized tubs filled with iced-down beverages, red and white checkered tablecloths, patio furniture, and 50’s music?

Consider the ages of your neighbors and use decorations and music that would bring smiles to their faces. Choose one or two ice-breaker games to play. While sometimes a little silly, ice-breakers really do help to get to know new people or ones you haven’t interacted with much. Use stick-on name tags to help people remember names.

Provide games and activities for children (if needed). Entertaining the children gives adults more time to interact and it helps the children get to know one another, too. For small children consider a moon bounce, inflatable slide or pony rides.

If you have older children and teens, a pool is a great place for them to hang out and play. If you do choose activities such as these, adult supervision is a must so that parents feel confident their children are safe.

Create A Neighborhood Directory

Give your neighbors a Neighborhood Directory. Have someone take digital photos of each family on the block. Have the family fill out a card with address, phone numbers, email addresses, names and birth dates of each family member and compile all information in a Neighborhood Directory complete with family photos. Once compiled, hand deliver copies to each neighbor and thank them for participating in the block party.

This is a great time to get feedback from the party, as well as make another contact with your neighbors. The photo directory helps to cement who people are so that when you see them on the street you can call them by name.

In this day and time of high technology, busy lives, and people living more independently from each other, making the effort to have a block party is a great way to show your neighbors you care. You might be surprised to find that everyone appreciates knowing their neighbors, especially those who may be going through a serious illness, a family problem or are just lonely. An invitation to a block party might be just the opportunity someone needs to slow down and strike up friendships with those who live close by—our neighbors.

A special thanks goes to:

To the Montgomery, AL caterer who let us use the photo of fruit & cheese.  Thanks A Social Event Caterers!

To the Tampa, Fl caterer who let us use the photo of brightly colored chairs.  Thanks G Elliot Catering!

la fiesta Quinceanera- A Young Woman’s Fifteenth Birthday Celebration

In Spanish "quince" means fifteen and "años" means year. Originating with the Aztec culture, the la fiesta Quinceañera or Quinceaños is the custom of having a special 15th birthday celebration. Later the celebration was incorporated into the Mexican and Latin American cultures.  Through the years these cultures have added their own traditional elements to the celebration.

Historically the celebration has been referred to as Quinceaños and the celebrant as the Quinceañera.  Many today refer to both the party and the participant as Quinceañera.  Although this is a cultural celebration, the symbolic atmosphere surrounding this coming of age party offers a way for any family to recognize the importance of family and community in the transformation of a young girl in to a young lady.

A Quinceañera - Where It Begins
Traditionally, the quinceañera begins with a very important ceremony held in a church where a special mass is celebrated. During this ceremony, the priest presents the young lady as an adult member of the congregation.  This begins the formal recognition of the young girls transformation into adulthood.

After the church service (similar to a Bat Mitzvah), the young lady continues on to a reception similar to a sweet sixteen party. Since community and friendship play an intricate part in this celebration, she is accompanied by seven female attendants (damas) and seven male attendants (chambelánes) as she makes her entrance at the party. Every component of this celebration plays an special part in the symbolic nature of this young girl's emergence into adulthood.

Appropriate Attire For A Quinceañera

In keeping with the formality of the celebration the attire is also very formal. The young lady shows her respect and honored status by wearing a beautiful ball gown usually with a petticoat or hoop slip. Pure or soft colors, such as white or pastel colors like pink, blue or yellow, are often the dress colors chosen.

Customarily, the quinceañera girl chooses to wear a white dress and has her damas wear a pastel color in the same style of dress. With cumber buns that match the damas' dresses, the chambelánes wear tuxedos. Although these are the more traditional colors, this celebration is defined by the personality of the young lady.

Many young 15 year olds want their special celebration to be unique. So, you may see them wear dresses that are red, purple, or even a mixture of colors.

Invitations For A Quinceanera

Quinceañera invitations are just like any other party invitation. Styles can vary from very formal to theme invitations and sent several weeks in advance of the party.  Invitations should be sent no later than a month before the quinceañera.  This will give guests plenty of time to find a formal outfit for the party.

Formal invitations are sent inviting special friends to be the attendants for the celebration. These invitations are sent several months prior to the celebration.  This allows for coordination of all the participants as well as time for dress and tuxedo fittings.

Accessorizing The Quinceañera

You will find accessories hold great importance in this celebration. Some important accessories are gloves, scepter, tiara, a quinceañera doll, as well as ring or bracelet. A tiara and scepter signify not only that she is a princess, but that she reigns over her past childhood and looks forward to being a responsible young lady.

The quinceañera doll is usually given to her by her grandparents and will often be made of porcelain and have the same style and color dress as hers. The doll symbolizes the last doll she will ever get as she has now stepped into womanhood.  This is only one of many symbolic gifts given to the quinceañera.

Her "padrinos" (godparents) present her with a very special gift of honor; usually a bracelet, necklace or earrings.

Celebrating the Quinceañera – Decoration, Music and Photo Ops

The party can be a very lavish affair or a simple get together. Decorations can be anything from balloons to streamers as well as candles and flowers. Yes, even themed quinceañera parties, such as a 50’s theme, can be found at these celebrations. Basic traditions still apply. However as with any party, each girl has her own unique way of celebrating her fifteenth birthday. Some young ladies choose a horse drawn carriage to take them from the church to the reception area. Others may choose a limousine which can transport all her attendants.

The celebrated young lady often takes her first waltz or dance with her father. After she has danced with her father, the quinceañera is free to dance with her chambelánes or even her damas. You may even find a bit of a new twist on the dance floor with a choreographed dance done by the quinceañera girl and her damas and chamblanes. This is often done to more contemporary music played by a live band or by a Disc Jockey. Video is recommended for this part as photographs don’t capture the fun movements of the dance. You will also want to make sure that you have hired a photographer for formal pictures of the young lady with her damas and chambelánes as well her family.

Treats For Quinceañera Guests – Party Favors, Food and Drink

Most quinceañera celebrations are catered. While any food can be served for the party, Latin food is often served. Items such as enchiladas, peccadillo, and tamales make great choices. The main attraction at the food table is the cake which is ornate and similar to a wedding cake. Some cakes have cute cake toppers, while others are elaborate multi-tiered cakes with artistic ornamentation. Beverages run the gamut from  punches to soda and from wine to champagne.  You will often find punch fountains, champagne fountains and even chocolate fountains at these celebrations.

Just like any birthday party you will find party favors. Decorate the tables with party favors such as little mint tins with the name of the young lady and the date, chocolates that go with the theme, or even place cards held up with commemorative take home candles. All make sweet gifts to say thank you for celebrating this special day with me.

A quinceañera is a very special tradition that many Latin cultures hold dear. It is a time to say goodbye to their young daughter, cousin, sister, or friend and say welcome to the beginning of adulthood and responsibility. It holds religious significance as well and often the priest will ask the young lady’s friends to commit to her, to help her in making good decision as she grows older. It is a time to say goodbye to her childhood and embrace her newly found womanhood.

While rooted in Latin American tradition, you can have a quinceañera party for any one who's turning fifteen. Taking the basic idea of this tradition and making one of your own for your teen, will make an outstanding party any teen will proud to have. Since "quinceanera" is merely Spanish for fifteenth year, all you need is a beautiful party dress, some attendants and of course a soon to be fifteen year old and viola! A quinceañera party is well on its way.

A special thanks goes to:

Get The Picture Inc , an Austin Texas Photographer, who shared their beautiful photo of a Quinceanera with tiara.

Ella Park Bridal, a Wedding and Quinceanera dress company in Newburgh Indiana, who gave a gorgeous example of a Quinceanera gown.

Festive Ice Sculptures and The Chocolate Fountain Co., a provider of awesome chocolate fountains in the Watford Ontario area, for the fantastic photo of the chocolate and fruit table.

Why do brides get to have all the parties? They don’t…Grooms are foregoing the standard bachelor parties in favor of groom shower parties. Theses groom parties are given in similar fashion as bridal showers. You can throw a groom’s shower in many different themes and styles. Although the bride and the groom can participate in this type of shower, the focus should be on the groom. The shower theme should revolve around the groom’s hobbies or lifestyle making his personality the most important factor for the party.

Bridal showers are usually reserved for the ladies of each side to get to know one another. Family and friends come together to get to know one another over punch and cake. This same idea should be extended to the groom. The groom’s shower should be a bonding experience between Read the rest of SHOWERING THE GROOM: A PARTY HE'LL REMEMBER »