It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and you know what that means? It's December and it's time to celebrate all your favorite December babies! If there's a month made for fun festivities, it's this month. So what are some of the best ways to celebrate December birthdays? Well, we put together a short list of some of our faves: Continue reading "December Birthdays" »
In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the Soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March." Unfortunately for Caesar, he fails to listen to the warning. March 15 marks the date when Julius Caesar was betrayed by Brutus, one of his closest friends. A betrayal that ultimately leads to his death.
Instead of letting this day be all doom and gloom, why not celebrate? Here are three ways to do so that won't have you saying, "Et Tu, Brute?" Continue reading "3 Ways to Enjoy the Ides of March" »
The Super Bowl is the time of year to celebrate and enjoy an entire Sunday with friends and family, so for this year's game, put together the perfect party for your guests! Continue reading "3 Tips for Tackling Your Super Bowl Party" »
Tired of the same old holiday routine and the over-commercialization of all things winter wonderful? Then this party idea is for you! Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us, takes the approach of celebrating the simple things in life. Here's what you need to know to throw the perfect Festivus party. Continue reading "Celebrate the Ordinary with a Festivus Party!" »
Halloween is such a fun time of the year. You can dress up as something spooky or sparkly, and no one will think much of it. Halloween parties are a way to break out of the traditional party mold and do something a little more daring. To add an extra touch of extraordinary to your Halloween, serve up some scary delicious adult drinks! Continue reading "5 Fun Cocktails for You to Try This Halloween" »
Sweetest Day takes place on the third Saturday in October. It was started by a candy maker in the 1920's as a day to remember the forgotten. Traditionally, people would deliver candy and small gifts to the underprivileged, sick, old, and orphaned. Today, it is celebrated in a similar manner as Valentine's Day, only in the fall. Here are some fun ways you and your sweetie can celebrate Sweetest Day (October 15). Continue reading "Spoil Your Sweetie on Sweetest Day" »
There's no doubt that Halloween is many people's favorite time of year. There are also numerous ways to celebrate this fun day. Kids will want to go Trick or Treating. Teens tend to do more tricking than treating, and adults usually want a fun party to attend. Continue reading "A Horrifyingly Fun Halloween Adventure" »
Being outdoors during the summer is a given. With the heat, a cold drink is one of the best things to relax and cool down. Here are four ways to keep your drinks cold without the usual cooler.
1. Keep bottled and canned drinks cold by freezing some water balloons and placing them in a bucket or container. This is a fun way to keep a summer vibe alive at the party. Plus, you can have a water balloon fight with the left over balloons!
Continue reading "No Cooler? 4 Unique Ways to Keep Your Drinks Cold" »
The big two-one is a celebration that marks the true beginning of adulthood. Naturally, the party has to be huge. Wedding and Party Network has your top tips on throwing a fun, yet safe 21st birthday bash.
Hangover Kit
Whether you are going to a party or hosting your own, a hangover kit is great to give as a gift or to have on hand. Fill a basket or bag with water bottles, ibuprofen, crackers and mints.
Designated Driver
If you are going out or your guests don't plan to stay the night at your party, make sure to decide on a designated driver who will abstain from drinking and will take everyone home safely.
Games
It's common for the party to take some time to amp up, so have some board games or drinking games planned out throughout the night. Twister is a good ice-breaker and card games can easily turn into drinking games.
Food
Always plan to have food available for you and your guests. Either plan to eat before you start your night or order a pizza when your party begins. Cookies, chips and, crackers are great to nibble on, especially if someone gets a bit peckish later in the night.
The goal of this party is to celebrate a new stage in life–the beginning of adulthood. Follow these simple tips, have fun, and be safe.
Sorry summer and spring. Move it, winter. My favorite season, by far, is autumn. Turning leaves, snuggle-inducing sweaters, warm drinks and Halloween are just a few of my favorite things to do and celebrate. There is no doubt that being outside, wrapped in a scarf and watching the leaves blow in the wind makes for a perfect day in my mind.
The first official day of Fall (also called the Autumn Equinox if you want to get technical) is coming up on September 22nd. Share all the warmth and happiness of this lovely season with your friends by hosting an Autumn Party this month!
Gather around the fire pit with good music and stories to share. Enjoy the crisp night air and the smell of burning wood as you take in the stars with your guests.
What To Do
If you or a friend has any musical ability, play a few sing-a-long songs to add a traditional camp feel to your evening. Of course, there are plenty of group songs that can be sung with no musical accompaniment but I think that depends on how brave you are in leading your guests.
Scary stories are also a staple, even if you just decide to laugh about urban legends you can recall.
If you think this sounds sorta cheesy, embrace it! You'll be surprised at how everyone will enjoy a classic campfire night. It will be a totally new experience for some and others will be transported back to camp memories of their youth.
How To Decorate
Your bonfire will be the focus of your party, that's for sure. Surround the area with lawn chairs and set up a snack and drink table nearby. Set the tone with a checkered tablecloth. Place tea lights in mason jars to provide warm points of flickering light after the sun goes down.
Use any enamelware camping gear you have to offer up your party food. If you don't have enough tin mugs to go around, use them to hold your napkins or cutlery. Pick up a camping lantern to add charm and help light the path from your house to the gathering.
What To Serve
Nothing could be better than crunching into warm freshly toasted s'more around a fire! Hand out roasting forks or wooden skewers to your guests and offer up big stacks of graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate for the best of bonfire traditions.
For an easy and memorable drink, try our delicious Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate! Just mix it up before you start decorating and by the time your guests arrive it will be creamy and perfect. Serve with marshmallows and happy sipping!
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Place all ingredients into a 5 quart slow cooker set on low. Heat for 2 hours. Whisk every half hour to blend melted chocolate. Serves 6 to 10
Optional Add-ins
Sunset Watching PartyPick a place with a good view of the horizon – your backyard, a hillside or park – and have a picnic! You and guests can toast the colorful setting sun as it brings ever shorter fall days.
What To Do
Start this gathering an hour or so before the actual time the sun is scheduled to set. Listen to music, watch colored leaves fall and take photos in the glorious afternoon light. Then to wrap it up, sit back and relax on blankets as the sky slowly starts to change from blue to purple to pink.
This is a great way to catch up with friends you haven't seen in awhile or reconnect to those you see often but only get to scratch the surface with.
How To Decorate
Part of the appeal of this party is the easy no-fuss aspect. Consider the magic hour with the setting sun your party backdrop. Bring bright blankets for relaxing on the grass. A nearby picnic table, with a tablecloth in your favorite color, will be a good place to arrange snacks and drinks.
Don't forget to bring a trash bag to keep things clean and a flashlight in case you stay a little later because you are enjoying yourself so much.
What To Serve
Picnics are typically cold cut affairs. So surprise guests with some hot appetizers! Make meatballs or dip in a travel-ready slowcooker or a covered casserole dish. Even chili is easy to serve at a picnic and compliments the cooler weather. Offer crackers, chips and fresh veggies for dipping. Serve craft beer or wine to stay warm on the inside while kicking back and taking in the brisk evening air.
Pumpkin Decorating Party
What says Fall more than pumpkins? Host a get-together for the craft-lover in all.
What To Do
Have guests bring their own pumpkins to decorate and provide brushes, tape, glue, paints and glitter to make awesome fall decor that gets noticed. Painted pumpkins, glittery pumpkins, pumpkin with designs like monograms and stripes – there are endless ways to make something unique your guests will love having on display the whole season.
How To Decorate
Great for showing off your personal style, create a few pumpkin creations ahead of time to decorate your home for the gathering. Big and bumpy, small and squat – there are so many ways to create a unique display. Pumpkins come in fantastic colors and varieties.
Paint the front of a large pumpkin with some chalkboard paint and write "Welcome" for your porch. Use this technique on several pumpkins to help designate space like "Snacks" or "Decorating Supplies." You can include "Pumpkin Party!" for a cool centerpiece. After the gathering, you can change the messages to fit your decor.
What To Serve
Everyone will have their hands full while making their pumpkin masterpiece, so serve something easy to grab. Lots of hot coffee gives some energy to the group while homemade muffins like banana nut (or pumpkin!) are sweet, savory and filling all at once.
Short on time? Or want something extra special? Buy breads and muffins at your local bakery then pop them back in the oven to give them a warm bite and send intoxicating scents through your house. Serve with real butter for a cozy treat. There won't be a crumb left!
Start planning your parties now!
2024 is here, and that means it’s time for everyone’s favorite blog: wedding trends for the year! If you’re planning a wedding for this year, or hope to plan one soon, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn what’s …
