It's that time! It's time to start planning your summer parties. What will you do this year? What themes will you choose for your summer parties? There are many trends to choose from this season. So, Wedding and Party Network has brought to you our favorite summer party trends for 2013.

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Here at Wedding and Party Network we want to give you inspiration for your wedding and party details. The details are what sets your wedding and party apart from anyone else. The colors, theme, detailing and style all creates your wedding day style and conveys your party theme. So, today's Inspirational Friday will focus on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is right around the corner, so what do you have planned? Are you going out-of-town or do you plan on hosting a party at your house? If you plan on celebrating at your house with some friends, there are lots of fun ideas to create a memorable Memorial Day get together. Incorporate red, white & blue into the party through fresh flowers and party decorations. Also, include fresh fruit, tasty appetizers and delicious drinks to finish your party off. Your little get together for Memorial Day will be full of laughs and memories.

Before WWII, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day. As such, it was a tradition to decorate the graves of soldiers who had lost their lives in war. As illustrated by this photo taken in the 1930’s, Decoration Day was taken quite seriously by its celebrants.

Today, what we know as Memorial Day, is celebrated on the last Monday of the month of May. Although the official government holiday was established to honor our dead veterans, many now use the day for mini holidays like going on picnics, spending time at the lake or traveling. Of course, there are still those that take flowers to the cemetery to decorate their loved ones tombstones.

The Ins and Outs of My Memorial Day Celebration

As the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season, many people spend the day involved in numerous outdoor activities. Since it can be very hot already by the end of May, I like to entertain people who are not involved in those type of activities. Instead I prefer to host an indoor/outdoor party.

With the trees bloomed out, gardens planted and my porches spruced up, I am ready for the excitement of a memorial party. Because this is a casual party, I email or text invitations. I have a drop in, so those who might be returning from the lake or a trip can feel free to drop in. As there are always plenty of food and beverages, we often invite people we run into in the days leading up to the holiday.

My Decorations For The Day

Every serving area (and I have many) has a patriotic theme. I love the simplicity of this arrangement in a basket. With a few potted geraniums from your local nursery and some dollar store flags and you have a very appropriate patriotic centerpiece.

Fresh plants from the local nursery decorate the screened porch and are readily available at your local nursery. As it is early in the growing season, all plants are young and small but will provide big design if you take proper care.

In the above photos, you'll see that the patio is party ready having been cleaned and decorated with plants that have been newly planted. Now, my guests will have several areas to gather depending on the weather.

Memorial Day Menu

I keep my menu simple:

• Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Sassy's Wieners
• Shrimp Dip
• Fruit and Cheese Plate
• Bourbon Punch, Lemonade and Iced Tea

Just for fun, I will share my mother's recipe for Chicken Salad:

Boil some chicken.

Peel some celery

Boil some eggs

Put this into food processor until chopped; do not puree'. Add a dollop of mayonnaise (not salad dressing) and a dollop of Durkees'. You must have Durkees dressing. I keep four or five containers on hand in my pantry. Do not expect me to share if you do not return the glass quart jar I used for you before. Enjoy.

The recipe for the Shrimp Dip is as follows:

8 oz. Cream Cheese (room temp)

4 tbl. Chilie Sauce

1 tsp. onion juice

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 lb. shrimp

Peel and devein shrimp. Cook shrimp in shrimp boil mix. (I use medium shrimp). Cut into bite size pieces. Mix all other ingredients in food processor until smooth. Use milk if necessary to thin. Keep refrigerated but remove early enough to knock the chill off. I use Fritos with this dip. I will double or triple for this party. It will keep several days.

Memorial Day can be celebrated in many ways. If you don't have a lake or stream to go to, or you want to stay out of the traffic, you might want to try this type of party to entertain yourself and your friends. With most going back to work the next day, it may turn into the party to remember.

Mother's Day is fast approaching. Why not show your mother how much her love and support means to you? Host a sweet relaxed bunch on Sunday morning that she will be smiling about for years.

Invitations

Would your mother enjoy a family meal or a bigger celebration with friends? Want it to be a ladies only affair or husbands and children too?  No matter who is on your list, inviting your guests a week or two in advance will help everyone make their holiday plans. By mailing individual paper invitations, you are sure to get your guests attention and create a special timeless atmosphere before the party even begins. If you decide to go for convenient emails instead, make sure the word gets to everyone on your list and no one misses a message.

Pick A Theme

For brunch, the dining table is your party's focal point and the fun details are where you can be creative. Make an inviting tablescape by selecting a fitting theme.

• Casual County – A classic gingham tablecloth brings some down home harmony. Blue and white speckled camp tableware is a nice touch. Create a rustic table runner from craft store burlap and use clean metal coffee cans to display cutlery. Contact a florist for a lovely centerpiece with prairie favorites like white daisies.
• Tea Party – There is something about tiny cups and saucers that are so prim and proper! Dust off your grandmother's tea service, bring out the good dishes and the rarely used lace tablecloths to create a dainty formal look. Check for pearl-like beads at your local party supplier to drape across vases and candlesticks.
• Shabby Chic – Get the feel of French countryside at home with vintage tableware paired with white lace doilies. Plain white material torn into strips can be tied in bows around vases, chair backs, or displays. The frayed edges say "worn" but white bow says "pretty." Use mason jars to present essentials and tie cloth napkins with jute twine.
• In The Garden – Bright colored plates and cups compliment the blooming springtime. Use terracotta pots to hold utensils, wooden plant markers to label place settings and food, and inexpensive seed packets with beautiful illustrations for table accents. A basket with vegetables from the garden makes a perfect centerpiece.

Extra Tip
Take a trip down memory lane.
With any theme, add in some family photos that feature
all the moms, grandmothers, and great grandmothers.

Continue reading "Celebrate With A Mother's Day Brunch" »

Our family traditions change as our circumstances change.

Since my spouse and I have both lost our mothers, we spend the morning at church with our daughter and then head to our club for a special meal that neither she nor I must cook. After a full morning I have given myself the gift of a party for one. I treat myself to a lazy afternoon on the porch. I read, daydream, enjoy the new spring plantings and fuel all of this with coffee or iced tea as I enjoy this rare moment of quiet. There are always magazines to catch up with. Sometimes I will have a slice of cake, if I have it or a snack of cheese and fruit. It is a party of one where I can celebrate myself, my mother and my daughter. Celebrate a life many times too busy to enjoy.

Mother’s Day Ideas

There are numerous activities that you can do to celebrate Mother’s Day. Here are a few ideas that mothers will love:

• Traditional Mother's Day celebrations include a meal with generations of mothers and children and flowers. There are brunches, lunches, and buffets at local restaurants.

This happy bunch is three generations sharing a festive mother's day brunch.

• Some mother's prepare their own meal to share with their children and grandchildren.

Here a table is set with the grandmother's vintage china and crystal to honor the mother and grandmother at an intimate brunch.

• Many times distance keeps us from our loved ones so a card or a bouquet of flowers must suffice.

This is a card sent to my husband's grandmother by her daughter at the beginning of WWII. I always put the framed card out to celebrate the season and remember our ancestors.

I love my porch this time of year. It is a gift and a celebration in itself. The air is fresh, the plants and trees are green and there is the promise of new beginnings. So promise yourself to find a special place and give yourself a party for one.

Cinco De Mayo is a spanish holiday held on the 5th of May each year, and celebrates the Mexican army’s' victory over French troops in the Battle of Puebla. However, for many it is simply a day to celebrate the mexican culture.

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo With Style

Parties are a great way to get together and celebrate, but how does one go about decorating for this holiday? Why not celebrate with a festive fiesta. Here are a few tips to help plan and decorate for this holiday:

• Be festive with some brightly colored party invitations with the word "fiesta" printed on them.
• The Spanish are all about bright colors, so choose some brightly colored tablecloths and bowls. These are good for chips, salsa, and other finger foods.
• Don't forget photo props! A fun way to keep guests entertained is with a homemade "photo booth." Just grab some small banjos, guitars, maracas and sombreros to create that Mexico feel. Provide cheap, disposable cameras for guests to take pictures on, and have them create copies of the prints for you to keep in a keepsake album.
• It wouldn’t be a fiesta without some lively music. Play tropical, Spanish style music to create a beachy, party environment.

Parties and celebrations are fun no matter what the occasion! Just remember to spice up the party with tasty foods, sweet beverages, entertaining music, games, and fun things to do. You'll be the best party host ever!

Graduation is upon us so now is the time to start planning a graduation party to commemorate this momentous occasion. It's the start of a new life for high school graduates so this occasion absolutely requires a party. Wedding and Party Network has a few party tips on creating a fabulous graduation party.

Personalized graduation party decorations - A great way to decorate for a graduation party is with personalized items. The first thing you must do is choose the colors. The easiest way to go is with their school colors.

Next, find photos that captures from the time they were born up until present day. You can turn these photos into posters, confetti, yard signs, napkins and even create a fun timeline to use as a banner over the food table. Yes, anything can be personalized.

Also, it might be fun to use items they used throughout high school. Maybe they were a cheerleader, baseball player, volleyball player or a member of various clubs. Use items like their pom poms, baseballs or uniforms for decor. The key is to make it as personal as you can and to commemorate this big occasion in their life.

What to serve - The easiest thing to serve is their favorite foods. What did they enjoy eating when they were a child, favorite snack foods or dinners? Serve what they enjoy. This party is all about them. Also, don't forget about the graduation cake. Talk with your local bakery about some ideas. You can easily have their picture featured on the cake or include their favorite activities.

The key to a graduation party is making it personal. They'll love looking back on some of their favorite moments through elementary and high school. Make this party all about them.

It's prom season! You've found the dress, now it's time to find the right corsage to match your amazingly beautiful prom dress. This is a special moment for your junior and senior year of high school, so make it special. Or, the guys may need some ideas on what's on trend for prom season this year. Well, Wedding and Party Network has our top picks for prom corsages.

Everything from corsage bracelets, bangles with flowers attached, arm cuffs, prom bouquets, prom arm cuffs to the traditional prom corsage; all make a statement. Find the one that best suits your dress. Your prom dress corsage should enhance your prom look.

Here at Wedding and Party Network we want to give you inspiration for your wedding and party details. The details are what sets your wedding and party apart from anyone else. The colors, theme, detailing and style all creates your wedding day style and conveys your party theme. So, today's Inspirational Friday will focus on baby shower cakes.

Baby showers are all about celebrations. You are celebrating a new life you are welcoming into the world. Therefore, picking a great theme for your shower is a must, and having an adorable baby shower cake to match is essential. There are so many different colors, styles and ways to present the baby shower cake. Just take inspiration from the photos above.

Here at Wedding and Party Network we want to give you inspiration for your wedding and party details. The details are what sets your wedding and party apart from anyone else. The colors, theme, detailing and style all creates your wedding day style and conveys your party theme. So, today's Inspirational Friday will focus on spring party favors.

Spring parties are absolutely wonderful. They're full of life, color, great party themes and amazing food. Another fun detail you can get really creative with is your party favors. Make sure to cater them towards spring, since there are so many options out there. Take for example the floral bulbs or even parasols. Both are unique, useful and fun!