In my post Reeling in a Great Bachelor Party, I suggest a fun-filled bachelor party can revolve around a fishing theme. A few suggestions may have been cast here and there, but a real "how to" was not offered.  Here are implementable tips for decorating, food and entertainment to create a fishing theme party.

Decorations Are Like Bait

Just like a fisherman knows which lure will attract which fish, you need to know what will put your guests in a fishing mood.  A tackle box is a good place to get ideas.  Lures, bobbers, nets, and hooks are all things that dangle and so must your decorations.

So this party must incorporate streamers into the decor.  Here is how to make fantastic party streamers using fishing line and bobbers:

Items you will need:

• 50-100 plastic fishing bobbers. These bobbers come in various colors — red and white are the most common.  Should you need a variety of colors, you can always spray paint them a different color to match your theme.
• 1 spool of fishing line (you can buy this at the same place as the bobbers)

To make the streamers, begin by determining how much line is needed to space the bobbers apart so they dangle but with enough extra line to attach to the walls or tables. To create a table streamer for a 6 foot table, you will need 7 feet of fishing line. If you want a swag effect with this streamer add another foot or two. Same principal applies if you are hanging these streamers from wall to wall or around a pole.

After you decide line length, take the bobbers and hook them to the line spacing them every 6-8” apart. When finished attach the streamer to the table using heavy duty tape or clear packing tape. Hint: Fishing lures come in many shapes, styles and colors making them a great items to decorate with. So you can do the same thing with fishing lures as the bobbers. However, you need to remove the hooks and barbs from the lures before using them in this fashion.

Party lights are another way to decorate. You can buy fishing theme lights at party supply stores. Attach these lights to some fishing nets and hang them on the walls. Use your imagination, don't be afraid to jump right in and tackle the decorating with any and all fishing related items.

If your having the party outside or if room allows, you can always use a small boat as a table. Place a sheet of painted or decorated (use stencil to decorate) ply board over the boat.

Rig Up Some Great Food And Beverages

Use a “live well” to hold your beverages.  A live well is a tank they hold the bait or the fish after you catch them.

Make a "live well" by painting fish stencils on new Styrofoam “minnow” buckets. Then place ice and beverages in these cleverly decorate buckets. Shazam! You now have a beverage "live well" for you fishermen. Don't forget to purchase fish themed drink koozies. You know the ones that look like bass, trout or catfish. These koozies are great as decorations, as well as drink holders and party favors.

I suggest a menu of catfish, smoked salmon or trout which can be catered by a local company. For "fingerling" food serve shrimp dip and use oyster or goldfish crackers for the dippers. Shrimp cocktail or peel and eat shrimp are great appetizers for a fishing theme.  Your caterer may have some party platters in fish shapes. A party store is another fantastic place to find themed serving platters.

Don't forget the sweets. Have a local bakery create a theme cake in the shape of a fish. This will give them a tasty treat and add to your decor at the same time.

Entertainment – GO Fish

Rent a Playstation or a Wii game console with the fishing game. This game is great for kids and adults. In fact, adults love this game – all the fun and no mess.

Don’t want to rent a console. Create your own fishing game. Grab some fishing rods and hook the bait (candy bars tied on with fishing line.) Now have players stand on the opposite side facing the people who are holding the rods. Cast out your bait – just far enough for your teammate to be able to eat the candy bar (no hands can be used). Whoever eats their candy bar first wins. Or can always play a rousing  game of go fish!

Using a bit of creativity along with some real fishing tackle will ensure you and your party will defiantly not be up a creek with out a paddle.

***A little side note for those in the Port Coquitlam, BC – Luscious Creations created the awesome fish face theme cake in the picture above. ***

Though it's more than a month away, now is the perfect time to plan your Halloween party. This is one time when it's ok to have cobwebs on the brain because you're going to throw a spooky, delightfully fun Halloween party. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Plan Your Halloween Party Invitations And Music With Theme In Mind

You'll want to find Halloween party invitations with a unique design on them. Depending on the expectations of your Fright Night, your party may want a more subtle, fall oriented invitation or may require something more thematic and spooky. Choose the one that's right for you and being filling out the information necessary to send them to each guest.

Another thing to think about is the music at your party. Of course, there are bound to be classic hits like "Monster Mash" if you're throwing a jovial party, but consider going outside of the box a bit and selecting slightly more eerie music. Visit your local music store and ask for help selecting music for your Halloween party. Don't be surprised to find a range of creepy music and silly tunes to fit the theme of your party.

Planning Your Party Decorations

For a Halloween party to really go smoothly, you'll also want to make sure that you have unique decorations. Again, the level of intrigue in your party theme is very crucial to planning your party.

If you're going for a very scary evening, plan decorations that excite feelings of uneasiness, creepiness, dark and dreary evenings. If your Halloween party is just an excuse to hang out and have fun, go with more traditional Halloween party decorations.

Traditional Halloween party decorations usually include party supplies that feature pumpkins, cartoonish witches, ghosts, vampires and other creatures of the night. Think orange and brown with a spice of black when picking out your streamers, napkins, plates, cups, and even the color of your lightbulbs. Hey, ambiance is everything at a Halloween party.

Scare The Dickens Out Of Your Halloween Guests — Or Not

More scary Halloween party decorations usually include a bit more planning. These are the same party supplies but with a more adult and dark theme. More blacks, blood reds, some whites, and a mix of other dark and light colors with a theme.

Black, red, white and silver go splendidly together though black and red would be the dominant colors at a scary Halloween party.

Use creativity when picking out these decorations. A fake eyeball in the punch is funny, but you're going to have to up your game here. Try ideas like these.

• Any frightening creature that can be remote controlled to act robotic and sound scary is great. Think of fake spiders that actually move, creatures with motion sensors so that they make a scary sound when guests walk by, and other almost-alive decorations.
• Keep the colors dark if you want a scary party. Though it doesn't have to be pitch black, a little fear of what looms in the darkness sets up the night perfectly.
• Arrange a scary moment like the lights flickering or going off. Your guests will think it's normal or part of the prank if you do it once. The second time it happens–not so much. This is a wonderful time to play a game of "Mystery Killer" but make sure that guests are in on it by putting it on the invitation. If you skip this part, just let them know during the game that it's all for fun.
• Have a scary movie playing in one room or sit guests down to watch the movie. For adults, this is a fun time to play a little creative drinking game. Have guests swig a drink of a bloody mary, a blood-red punch, or the beverage of their choice every time a character casually forgets to "see it coming". I'm sure your guests can think of other fun twists on the game.
• The sound of chainsaws is instantly grating and frightening if you're in the dark. Work one in and watch a few guests shiver.

Your Halloween party is sure to be a thrilling evening. You know your guests well so tap into what drives them and what frightens them. If your aim is to thrill and chill them, tread lightly but be slightly terrifying. After all, it's expected of a Halloween party.

If your aim is to razzle and dazzle them but not to send anyone home scared to sleep, perk up your decorations and think of fall colors. Either way, your Halloween party will be a smash thanks to your clever party planning!

There are many things involved in selecting the right catering services for your event. Wedding catering services require a high level of quality because it's the biggest party of the bride's life. Party catering can range from a simple buffet meal to an elegant sit down reception. Regardless of the type of event, there are several things to keep in mind when working with a local caterer.

What's Your Vision?
Do you want your service to be big, small, elegant, simple? Know the answer to this before meeting with your caterer. Your caterer will want to discuss this with you at the first meeting because this determines the type of catering services that you will need for your event.

Stick To Your Vision
It's your wedding so do not be concerned with asking for things to be catered to your specific requests. While there is some give and take to be expected, it is ok to speak up about your preferences.

Know Your Caterer's Strengths
What are his or her most popular dishes? What type of service (wedding, party, large, small) does your caterer prefer? Knowing these things or learning these things early on will make this part of the process much simpler.

Be Candid About The Budget
Do not be afraid to discuss the food services budget with your caterer. A good caterer will find ways to work within the constraints given or let you know up front of any major changes.

Speak Up About Foods You Do / Do Not Want
It is very valuable to discuss the foods that you prefer. However, it is just as important to discuss the foods that you do not want included on the menu. For example, note any food allergies that you are aware of.

Don't Micromanage Your Caterer
Most people want to see the Eiffel Tower but don't care how it's built. It is important to be available to answer any questions that your caterer may have, but allow him or her to work comfortably without unnecessary interference. Once the right caterer is chosen, you can trust their work without the need to be constantly available.

Encourage Communication Between Catering and Wait Staff
The kitchen and the front end work together so encourage fluid communication between what should seem like one group. This may be less necessary when hiring party or wedding catering services that include bar and wait staff. However, hiring a separate company for wait staff may present an issue if communication is not encouraged.

There should be little confusion or hassle when hiring a caterer. With all of the other things to do when planning a wedding or party, hiring a caterer should be a simple event performed near the start of the planning process. Taste testings are very definitely encouraged. After all, this is the only trial run that you will get before enjoying the meal at your event. To keep everything running smoothly, remember these eight simple tidbits when taste testing options from your local caterer.

Eight Simple Tips For Your Taste Testing Events

1 – Often it is a representative of the chef that presents the food. If this is the case at your taste testing event, ask if it is possible to pay your compliments to the chef. This positive feedback will be well received by the chef and likely work in your favor later.

2 – Bring others along who will be helpful in selecting the proper foods. Your wedding consultant or party planner can offer helpful tips during this process. Your mother, maid of honor, groom and others very close to you are also able to offer constructive advice during the sampling.

3 – There will be many options when sampling foods from a caterer so remember to pace yourself to enjoy each of them. A small bite or two is all that is necessary to enjoy the tastes of the dish.

4 – Discuss particular preferences with your wedding caterer or party caterer. If you have a favorite food or type of food, feel free to discuss foods with these particular ingredients that will be included in the meals. This information will be very helpful for the caterer to note later in the planning stages.

5 – Discuss alternative ingredient options with your caterer. If you like something but want it to be "vegetarian friendly," simply ask your caterer if this is possible.

6 – Look for signs of quality foods and other ingredients. Catering is not limited to the expensive or the inexpensive tastes. You want the best for your guests regardless of the budget so look for signs of freshness and quality when talking with your wedding caterer or party caterer.

7 — Ask your caterer to present the food to you the way it is to be presented at the wedding reception or party. If it is to be served buffet style over warmers, ask to try the food in this manner. If it is a passed tray reception, ask your caterer if it is possible to sample the food this way. This will help gauge how the food will taste at the reception as well.

8 – Though it does not necessarily pertain to the quality of the food, it is important to take note of the attentiveness of the wait staff. Pay attention to how the front end (servers) and kitchen (chef) communicate with one another. Do things move fluidly or in a disorganized manner? This tip is particularly important if you plan to hire the caterer's wait staff. 

You've decided to host the party at your house and bravely prepare the food yourself.  Although I prefer to use a caterer, I have occasionally prepared the food myself for one of my informal shin-digs. These are some helpful tips that will keep things running smoothly around the table while still allowing you to enjoy the party.

• Keep things simple. Purchase snacks like chips, dips, salsa, nuts, cold cuts, bread, and prepared salads. This cuts down on prep time in the kitchen. All you’ll have to do is open and serve.  Tip: serve gourmet chips or specialty nuts like wasabi nuts or pita chips to give your snacks an upscale attitude.
• Incorporate healthy dishes based on fruits, vegetables, and grains for those friends of yours that might be on a diet.  This is another easy way to make your food table look fancy.
• Serve buffet-style.  Spread selections of vegetables, dips, finger-foods and pre-sliced meats around the table on small platters.  This will help keep people moving around the food without forming a long line.
• Make it a BYOB and ask your guests to bring wine, beer or soda. This is not considered rude at all if the party is for more than 8 people and an informal drop in get-together.
• Don’t try to manage all of the trash with that tiny container under the sink. Create well placed and clearly marked areas for trash throughout the house. This way you won’t have to change trash bags every five minutes and guests won't have to hunt for a place to discard their trash.
• Be sure to have plenty of ice on hand. There is nothing worse than running out of ice at a party.
• Set and dress your table before your guests arrive.
• Wrap utensils in napkins and place them  for your guests to easily grab and hold.
• Designated an area in your kitchen for storing "refill" food until it is needed.  You will need a shelf in your refrigerator for the cold items, a warm oven for the hot items, and a place on the counter for chips and the like.  This way you can easily refill the buffet table.

The most important tip is to be prepared.  Prepare and store everything that you can the day or at least several hours before the party.  Following these tips will help you throw a successful party that you can enjoy.

The thing that everyone remembers about a party is the party food. The comments that follow are often friends asking for the name of the party caterer. They say that the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach but the same can be said of any true food lover. It's easy to impress guests and have them returning to all of your parties when you serve the right food.

How Will I Know What Foods To Serve?

Want to know what party foods are popular in your area? Ask a local caterer for help! Having been a special part of many local parties, catering companies in your area will be very familiar with local tastes. Of course, the style of food depends on the type of party. Caterers are still a huge help because they can offer suggestions for very appetizing additions to the menu. Many of those catering a party often tailor their menus to the particulars of the occasion anyway, so why not take advantage of this expertise?

Give Yourself A Break:  Hire A Party Caterer!

Not only will party catering be able to successfully satisfy everyone's appetite, professional catering services take some of the hassle out of planning a party. You read that right! Hiring a caterer for your party means that someone else is responsible for planning, preparing and delivering the food! Some party catering companies even provide wait staff and set up the food table. When it's time to focus most of your attention on a different aspect of the party, hire a local party caterer to fill the hungry stomachs of your guests.

Planning a Bachelor or Bachelorette Party? Follow These Tips For Success.

• RSVP HEAD COUNT - as the host it is important that you have a count of those who will be attending. You may invite several and may even get several "maybe" answers. However when planning something like this, a head count is crucial and dependent on the RSVPs. Depending on the nature of the party, whether it is a local get together or a weekend getaway to a big city, numbers are necessary to make reservations for dinner, shows and hotel Read the rest of 3 Tips For Successful Bachelor or Bachelorette Parties »

On A Budget? Check Out These Cost Saving Party Tips

Not everyone has an expendable budget for elaborate party décor and fancy party favors, I included. So, the social butterfly and single college student that I am, I must make my dollar go a long way when it comes to party supplies. Through the years I have come up with some money saving tips that will surely help you stay on budget when preparing for your next event.

• If you’re able … make it yourself. Do it yourself projects may take time, but to some, Read the rest of How to throw a party without breaking the bank »

I would not consider myself a party expert, but I do love to entertain, and have hosted my fair share of holiday parties. In my rookie years of party hosting, I was a mess. I never looked up from the oven or kitchen sink to enjoy the actual party. Now that I have a few under my belt, I have made a standard list of “musts” that I abide by when hosting any kind of party. I will be glad to share these with you; so, you can Read the rest of Holiday Party Tips »

Looking for an interesting way to throw a fall party? Try a pumpkin decorating party! Gather your friends and family together for this festive event and watch their eyes (and a few jack-o-lanterns) light up! To throw the best autumn party possible, here are a few tips for your pumpkin decorating event!

1—Make it a contest! Healthy competition is fun for everyone. Make sure that everyone is a winner though. Fun festive party favors are available for all ages. A new pumpkin carving tool or a sweet treat of pumpkin rolls are great ideas. Even a "well done!" as guests make their way to the cups of hot apple cider will keep the spirits high.

2—Keep the food and drinks festive! Hot apple cider is the perfect drink for fall parties. Bobbing for apples is another fun party idea that leaves each guest with a sweet treat to enjoy later! Read the rest of Top 5 Tips For Throwing A Pumpkin Decorating Party »