Party Talk

Ringing in the 10’s

 

Are we seriously beginning the second decade of this century?  Wasn’t it just yesteryear when everyone was celebrating the Millennium expecting the world to end at midnight on December 31, 1999?  I remember it well.

No matter what year it is, those last two digits relate to something that makes your New Year’s Eve (or graduation) that much more fun.  Lucky Sevens. Crazy Eights.  To the Nines.  Shall I continue? 

With New Years just around the corner, it’s up to me to come up with themes that scream 2010.  Yet, unlike last year when all I could think of was a Broadway play and that measly phrase above, this year my mind abounds starting with the TOP TEN.  Choose from the Top 10 Movies to the Top 10 Hits on the Billboard® charts to David Letterman’s Top 10 to theme your party.  Or pick a BIG TEN theme if you’re into sports. However, the only choice for those of you having a communion, bar or bat mitzvah is the Ten Commandments.  Remember me when and if you don’t take me at my word.

None of the above creative enough for your event?  Try these.  Celebrate the movie 10 with Bo Derek (great for a bachelor party); the phrase Hang 10 (if you’re into surfing or Baywatch); and, of course, 10-pin bowling … which always makes for a great party. 

For those of you with a dark side, a Ten-Four, Over and Out party allows you to celebrate the CB code or play cops and robbers.  While a 10 MOST WANTED party allows you to dress as a felon (and with a good photographer and a mediocre graphics program, you too can have a wanted poster).

Having said all of this, I’m inviting everyone over New Year’s Eve to play “I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole.”  I’m not sure what this is yet, but stay tuned.

Happy New Year
The Party Girl

High Times on the Holidays

Is it me or were holiday decorations out in August?  Everywhere I went—from my favorite Target to Nordstrom at the mall, there was a mix of pumpkins wearing Santa hats.  Ok, so I’m exaggerating, but almost not.  The leaves hadn’t even turned yet, and I’m studying which cornucopia to use on my table at Thanksgiving. 

   
That said, I couldn’t help but feel the party urge.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa…those four holidays spell “it’s time to get out the coasters and the chafing dishes!” After all, when better to see friends and exclude foes than the holiday season.  Party411 has a lot of themes to choose from, of course—you wouldn’t expect any less from the Party Girl, would you?--but my personal favorite, of course, is the Thanksgiving leftovers party because, well, I like the food and the quantity thereof.  Don’t tell Dr. Oz.

But don’t let me influence you…choose a party and do it with gusto.  Make your list and check it twice.  Party list that is.  It’s time to reciprocate for all those dinners and parties throughout the year.  But stand warned--forget the co-workers you just tolerate.  Leave off the fair-weather friends who might only acknowledge you if you win the lottery.  Delete those family members that are irritating or who aren’t blood relatives.  And it will be a happy holiday for all!

• Day After Thanksgiving Potluck
• Progressive Caroling Party
• Have a Gift Exchange
• Host a Cookie Exchange

Candy is dandy but…

Halloween is almost here!  And once again I am faced with the dilemma of choosing which candy to give out to my ever-present, ever-cute trick-or-treaters.

I’m sure I’m not alone when I share with you the stories of Halloweens past and the indignities I suffered at the hands of neighbors.  The audacity, the nerve, the outright disrespect of the tradition of All Hallows Eve have always left me as cold as a corpse (speaking of the holiday also known as the Day of the Dead).
   
I’ve yet to get past it, and that is why I stand before the candy counter, trembling and aflutter trying to make the right choice.

Let’s be honest.  Weren’t you crestfallen when you dumped your trick-or-treat bag on the dining room table or the available floor and found treats that weren’t treats or, worse yet, treats that deserved tricks that were less than forgivable?  Weren’t you dismayed when the door opened and the person dropped a pineapple-orange Dum Dum in your bag and didn’t let you choose from a big basket of whatever?  Weren’t you depressed and despondent that people actually gave you good stuff but since it wasn’t individually wrapped, you’d have to give it up to Mom and Dad?  Me, too.

I wanted candy.  Candy.  And more candy.  The kind with chocolate and gooey stuff inside.  And not the fun size--the BIG size.  I didn’t want hard candy, sugar free candy or stuff that old people eat (the ranks I have now joined), nor did I want a Halloween eraser, a mushy apple, a sheet of stickers, a toothbrush or a penny. 

And so.  I am buying quite the assortment.  And I’m going to fill a big bowl to the top (complete with Freddy Kruger’s hand extending upward) and let my trick-or-treaters take one treat or a dozen.   Not even the headless horseman can stop me!

Happy Halloween and good treats for you all…

The Party Girl

It’s Getting to be THAT Time…

Can you believe August is over?  That means once again I must decide whether or not to celebrate Halloween with my very own party, event, ball or soireé.

This causes great angst, of course.  Who else will be having a Halloween party?  Will I have a party and no one will come?  If I ask them to wear costumes, will they put out a hit?  Will my theme be too edgy or not edgy enough?  Woe is me. 

Why do I worry so?  I doubt that Elvira worries like this.  But, yet, as a seasoned party planner, alas I must be over the top, out of the box, original and creative to a fault. 

This year, although not convinced, I was leaning toward advertising icons Halloween party theme (so many to choose from, so little time).  A room full of Mr. Cleans, Burger Kings and Pillsbury Dough Boys would be great fun, but can my friends pull it off?  And what if 20% come as the M&Ms?  Face it. Tony the Tiger and the Tidybowl™ Man haven’t been getting much press lately. 

But wait!  I was pleasantly surprised to find a site that lists the top ten creepiest icons in advertising history (emphasis on creepiest), and I was sold — maybe not on the bugs that live in our toes thanks to Lamisil™,  but sold none the less.

What Halloween party themes are you all dreaming up this year?
The Party Girl

Back In the Day...

It’s August now and I’m in the mood to party.  Not only is the weather perfect but there is a little anniversary coming up.  I’m of course referring to the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock.  Sadly, I did not actually get to attend the concert in 1969 although I had the option too.  My parents said if I went then no car for me. It was a simple choice at the time. This anniversary has made me think of the sixties and how much more there was than just Woodstock.
 
Remember the clothing trends way back then?  (If you forget just remember it is called “retro” now.)  The sixties ushered in the mini-skirt and the bikini into popular culture.  Of course these seem ordinary now but back then it was revolutionary.  I don’t think I have to remind you all of the tie dye fashion statements, and they were certainly fashion statements.  That being said, I would love to see bell-bottom jeans and psychedelic shirts come back in style.

Then there was the music of the era, Woodstock duh, which changed the world.  Remember the British invasion that the Americans embraced?  How could you forget The Beetles, The Who and The Rolling Stones among others, who radically changed rock music in America and the world.  Not to forget the Supremes or Jimi Hendrix and the countless others.  The music that was created in the decade is absolutely mind-boggling.  If you threw a party and used the “good” music from the sixties your playlist would be thirty days long (at least), which would make for a fun party.

All of this reminiscing makes me long for the sixties and the excitement of the times.  Alas we cannot go back but we can celebrate arguably the most important decade in American history.  So party on people, party on.

- The Party Girl

July is Time to “Tees” Your Friends on the Front Nine!

July and golf are synonymous, no? It’s the middle of summer, you’re looking to entertain (and if not, you should) thus a golf themed party is a phenomenal idea.  If I say so myself.  And I don’t even golf.

To host this party does not necessarily mean you have to treat everyone to an actual round of golf.  Whether you hold the event at your private club, a public club, at home or even at the miniature golf dome down the street, it’s fun AND easy with no clubs included!  And since those green fees are so expensive (it must really cost a lot to maintain those sand traps), believe me…no one is expecting you to pick up the tab. They just want a good time.

For the party girl (that’s me), the highlight of nine holes of golf would be riding in the golf cart; however, the highlight of the party would be the chocolate golf balls in the candy dish on the bar.  So, let me see.  Golf? Chocolate? Golf?  Chocolate?  I pick, duh, chocolate.  But that’s the tip of the “tee,” so to speak. 

There are golf bag Mylar balloons and 19th hole banners and golf buckets filled with cookies that look like, uh, golf balls.  There’s golf confetti, golf plates, napkins and beer cups, coasters that looks like putters and putter cups you can use as coasters.  For next to nothing, you can imprint golf tees; for a little something, you can imprint golf balls; and, for a lot of something, you can imprint golf bags or towels.

But if you really want to get crazy, go to creativecoversforgolf.com and choose a different golf club head cover as a favor for everyone—from the Cookie Monster and a can of Coors Light™ to Elvis Presley and soon, most likely, Michael Jackson.  As they say, when it comes to this party—they’ve got you covered!

If you are planning on a golf party for someone's birthday you should check out our Golfing with the Guys Birthday Party, it has everything from golf to bbq. It's the perfect guy's birthday party!

No matter what your handicap, you can pull off this party and score a hole in one—so get started, Tiger! 

 - The Party Girl

Want a Great Summer Soireé? Remember this!

Everyone wants to celebrate summer and make it a memorable event; however, outdoor parties have their drawbacks, so be prepared.

Tents are expensive so have a rain plan other than canvas.  You can rent a tent, but remember if it rains, you need sides (they are usually extra).  Also, if you don’t have a floor (being a rented one or a cement driveway perhaps), oops!   People will never forget the grass stains on their brand new shoes (or the fact that their stilettos prohibited them from moving table to table).

Mosquitoes abound and proliferate after dark. Flies love food, you’re serving food, thus you’ll have flies.  So you have several choices:  buy everyone a bug-off bracelet (there are four colors available so hopefully you can match their party dress), give everyone an Off® Clip•On™ and add a nametag (cute, no?) or have your local pest control company spray the party area (my choice).  Ignore this warning, and you’ll find everyone in your kitchen.

They call the wind Mariah.  This song (from the 1969 film Paint Your Wagon) says it all:  “Mariah blows the stars around and sets the clouds a-flyin'.”  So when decorating your tent, pavilion or tables, remember tablecloths will blow (you need clips), balloons will wave back and forth in the faces of your guests (thus, no balloons) and paper napkins, plates and cups will fly to the hither lands if you’re not prepared.

Ok. That’s it.  You’ve probably figured out I like air conditioning, china and flowers on the table.  I’m no fun.

The Party Girl

MAY you have a great month!

I love May.  Mostly because it starts out with a fiesta.  As I write, I’m gearing up for Cinco de Mayo.  Gearing up means I’m not eating for 48 hours, and I’m playing my salsa CD.  Cha cha cha.

The party that has a little bit of everything, fiesta is the greatest theme ever invented, and I thank the saint it was celebrated for dating back to the 17th century. 

An actual fiesta is celebrated for ten days, however I’m not sure if I would live through ten days of the following.  Do it right, and you start with a fabulous menu (I’ll take a gallon of guac, a large nacho platter all washed down with a Corona), add fashion forward chic (who doesn’t look great in a sombrero), some easy décor (who doesn’t love those paper flowers), dance steps you can have fun faking (Merengue, Mambo, Samba, Tango, Rumba, Conga or Cha Cha) and ridiculous games that are worth at least one try (limbo anyone or how about a Mexican hat dance).  I’m tired thinking about it.

But since May is also graduation month for many a student, I’m having an epiphany—why not urge everyone one I know to have a graduation party with a fiesta theme?  In fact, I’m going to call all my friends with kids that are graduating 8th grade, high school, college, graduate school (even graduating from Berlitz or The Barbie School of Hairstyling) and offer free decorations if they have a fiesta.  If you want to have a graduation fiesta check out our Fiesta Planning Guide and our Graduation Planning Guide for ideas.

That way, I can have my taco and eat it too.  Maybe 10 fiestas but not all in a row!  Am I a cool señorita or what?!

The Party Girl

April—A Fool’s Paradise

Ahhh, April.  Not only has spring sprung and the grass ris, but there’s something in the air.  Laughter. 

That’s right.  Whether you’re feeling it or not, April is National Humor Month, and I have often wondered why.  Who would think to choose April when it’s the month when the tax man cometh? the month when one of the three pillars of life itself becomes self-evident:  live, die and, yes, pay taxes?  Who?  Larry Wilde.  My hero.

According to about.com, Mr. Wilde, a humorist who has penned over 53 books on humor, founded National Humor Month in 1976 for this exact reason:  "Since April is often bleak and grim and taxes are due on the 15th, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year," says Wilde. "Besides," he adds "it's the only month that begins with All Fool's Day--a day which has sanctioned frivolity and pranks ever since the 1500's."

And so, we start off the month with a laugh.  Pull a prank.  Put someone on.  Rollick in tomfoolery. And hopefully the tricks we play on April Fool’s Day will last us through April 15th and beyond. 

In fact, I’m counting on it!

- The Party Girl

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Have you heard that line before?  It’s soooo appropriate for graduation—on a few levels. 

First off, I hope you’re getting your resumes out and/or you’re looking for a summer job.  The early bird will definitely get the worm in this case since so many people, graduates and non-, are looking for summer jobs either to get them by until something better comes along or to make money for school next year.  And my hope is that any “early bird” reading this will certainly try to be creative in this endeavor since the creative “early bird” gets a bigger worm…or at least I think so.

Secondly, early is definitely the time to plan your graduation party, soireé, fete, ball or little get-together to celebrate.  The earlier you plan, the better off you’ll be.  You’ll be organized and organized means you can be more creative, more original (and dare I say it?) more budget-conscious. 

One more thing.  This year you may want to include several other “graduates” in your celebration and split the bill.  If you get started now (there’s that early bird thing again), it will get you a lot of takers, trust me. 

More hosts, more money, more creativity equals one incredibly awesome graduation party with memories for all (that’s the “get the worm” part!).

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Graduation Party Ideas
• Graduation Planning Checklist
• Graduation Party Supplies
• Personalized Graduation Products
• Gift Ideas
• Graduation Etiquette

Have a great time planning!

 - The Party Girl