Party Talk

Super Bowl Party Chat

Everyone loves a Super Bowl party—fans can grunt while they watch the game and non-fans can chat it up while their mates and friends are well occupied. 

What makes a great Super Bowl party?  What do you serve?  Do you go with a theme?  What type of decorations do you put out?

Leave a comment with your best Super Bowl party ideas or stories and join the ongoing discussion at Super Bowl Party Chat...

Auld Land Syne

The holidays are just around the corner. You just might be planning on having a party so I thought I’d give you some unsolicited ideas for a memorable celebration, and not just the standard Christmas Dinner, or the “pass out the hats and noisemakers” New Year's Party!

If you're looking for a unique Christmas theme, check out the Funky Party Themes section for a July at Christmas Time party.

For New Year's there are the usual themes, like luau, to which you can add a New Year’s twist: a group of hula girls singing Auld Lang Syne for unique entertainment, real pineapple centerpieces with New Year’s balloons tied off as inexpensive centerpieces, 2008 glasses in tropical colors…should I go on?

But I’d rather you think outside the box! After all, how many times have you heard your friends say, “I hate New Years!” or “New Years is just another day except that you spend a lot more money to go out!” so on and so forth?

Into football? January 1st is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl…if that doesn’t scream for a New Year’s fiesta, what does? Have a “Resolutions Reception” asking guests to bring resolutions and share--then regroup next year for the results. Yeah, right!

Feel free to celebrate something that happened on December 31 (like Donna Summer’s birthday or the 45^th anniversary of the TV premiere of “The Match Game”) or on January 1^st (like Cuba Liberation Day, J. Edgar Hoover’s birthday or the anniversary of the first Baby Boomer born on January 1, 1946) as a change of pace. Or have a New Years Tea (January 1^st is the beginning of National Hot Tea Month).

Your turn!  Inspire others with your best New Year's party ideas by posting them below.

 

In Defense of the Fruitcake

What do you do when you are bestowed with a fruitcake this holiday season?

The majority of Americans feel that fruitcake is best used as:

· a doorstop,

· as a gift for someone else

· or as land fill (the opinion of the majority)

However, we at Party411 are coming to the defense of fruitcake due to its rich history. 

We're not so keen on actually eating a fruitcake. However, a Christmas without fruitcake is like a presidential election without a president--unfulfilling.  Don’t worry The Party Girl has some ideas!

When your well-meaning friends send you a fruitcake, try these ideas to show them off (and you never have to swallow a bite).

· Centerpiece. Using a giant fruitcake that you made or bought (and no matter whether it's rectangular or round), put it center table on a bed of holly and evergreen branches with pinecones scattered as confetti. Delightful.

· Votive Candle Holder. Take the fruitcake out of its container and make holes big enough to hold votive candles. Or just shove them in-who's to know?! Isn't this a great idea?

· Guest Towel Holder. Take two fruitcakes, lay them side by side about 4" apart and insert popsicle sticks to make it a holder for your favorite guest towels. Decoupage if you feel up to it.

· Knife Rest. Cut the fruitcake into 2x1" rectangles and put one at each place as a knife rest…your guests will marvel at your creativity.

· Place Card Holder. Again, cut the fruitcake into rectangles and make a small groove in the top to hold a business card size placecard. Placecards with holly and mistletoe are easily found at your local stationery store. Coat with polyurethane so you can use year after year.

· Holiday Door Knocker. You may think this is difficult but it's not. Super glue a hinge to the bottom of the fruitcake near the top, use removable double stick tape to attach the back of the hinge to your door. Let's hope they are not from the school of hard knocks.   

· Punch Hole Ring. Take your fruitcake, freeze it in a block of ice and throw it in your punch bowl for an unusual yet attractive garnish.

· Trivet. No explanation needed.

So, don't worry if your husband's boss brings a fruitcake to your Christmas Open House this year. Just march in the kitchen and make it into something wonderful! Imagine his surprise when he sees it on display in your guest lavatory holding a Glade refill!

How do you use that fruitcake-gift-of-doom?

 

 

Brand new theme for Kid's New Year's Party

Want something new to do with your kids this year that doesn’t cut into your celebration? Then check out the brand new party theme at Party411.com:

New Year's Comes Early For Kids!

Kids love celebrating New Year's Eve, but bedtimes often mean they miss out on the fun!  This New Year's celebration won't be held at midnight, but in the afternoon. The kids get to celebrate and you and your adult guests will have time to get home for the babysitter, so you can go out on the town and celebrate New Year's Eve too!

This brand new theme has ideas for invitations, decorations, activities, the menu, and party favors!

And don't forget, Party411.com has 15 unique themes for your adult New Year's party too!

It’s What’s New at Party411.com!

July at Christmas Time

You've heard of Christmas in July parties, but what about a July at Christmas party?

There are lots of fun ways to invite friends and family to your July at Christmas party. If you are hand delivering your invitations, tie the party information onto a red and green shovel and bucket! Or write it on a red and green inner tube (this you can deflate and send in the mail).

Decorations should be a mix of a summer bash and a traditional Christmas! Use red and white checkered tablecloths, maybe a few citronella candles. Poinsettias and additional Christmas decorations complete the look.

And what to do at your July at Christmas party? Limbo! Play some fun music while your friends stand in line waiting to bend backwards low enough to fit under the limbo stick (broom handle, yardstick, etc.). In order to win, the limbo master must not touch the stick or fall on the floor while limbo-ing under the stick (which is usually held by 2 people). You can decorate your limbo stick with red and green ribbon available at your local craft store. There are also some great Christmas party games  you can play!

Favors of sunglasses and Santa hats will add a new meaning attached to the “warmth of the Christmas season”.

I would definitely stick to a traditional Christmas meal for this one though. It may be July at your house, but it's still a Christmas party! You can find some great suggestions in our PartyMenu411 section. 

BUT... If you wanted to carry the theme through with a mix of traditional holiday foods and summertime favorites, what combinations would you use? Pumpkin pie and barbecue?  Peppermint lemonade with a candy cane garnish?

Tell us below (and bonus points for including the recipe!)

Go Buckeyes!

We all know that Ohio State University is the best - Go Buckeyes!  So, we loved planning this Buckeye's theme Bar Mitzvah. 

 

In the entry to the party, we hung Ohio State banners, had Ohio State balloons, and had a lifesize cutout of the Bar Mitzvah boy dressed as an OSU football player.

We filled the hallway to the ballroom with Ohio State balloons and a large balloon arch with OSU spelled out in 3' mylar letter balloons.

Centerpieces for the kids were balloons and the adults had flowers in OSU buckets, with pennants coming off the top.  We put out chocolate buckeyes (yum!) and  chocolate foil wrapped footballs on all the tables.  All of the kids got personalized t-shirts to celebrate the party and their favorite school!

Party411 can plan your college theme party!  Let us know if you would like more information on any of the products seen in the photos or if you have college theme party questions!

December is…

Bingo's Birthday Month - N-1-4-A game of Bingo? Since its introduction in 1929, Bingo has become a $5 billion dollar per year charitable fund-raiser. For charity or just for the fun of it, have a Bingo Party. 

December 5^th is Walt Disney’s Birthday - Where would we be without Walt? Have a party in his honor. There’s tons of licensed stuff out there with Mickey’s face (among others)…a great excuse for a party, don’t you think?

December 12^th is Frank Sinatra’s Birthday - Born in Hoboken, NJ in 1915, "Sinatra matured from a teen idol to the premier singer of American popular music. Known as the "Chairman of the Board" to his fans, he made more than 200 albums."  Have your friends over for a "crooning" lip-sync type shindig…why not? There are lots of great music related party games, try a few of these.

December 25 – Christmas - A religious and family and friends feel-good day…don’t be a scrooge, celebrate with help from the Party411 Christmas Planning Guide.

 

See more Stuff to Celebrate for December, or take a sneak peek at January!