Don't Forget To Tip Those Who Help You

Wages don’t always reflect the service given, so many service providers count on tips in order to make a decent wage. Tipping is not just an option anymore, but a given, but who do you tip, and how much? 
The holidays always offer opportunities to show your appreciation to those who make your life a little easier by giving them a gratuity. The rule is that anyone who provides a service should be tipped. That includes your mailman; newspaper boy; hairdresser; dog walker; your day care provider; doorman; manicurist; snow plow service; and child’s teacher. In general, anyone who you come in contact with on a regular basis and provides a service should be tipped. (Note:You do not need to tip your accountant, attorney, vet, doctor, or dentist – but a fruit basket or cookies would be nice.)
How much should you tip, and how should you present it?  Never stick a wad of cash into their hands.  Take the time to give a card and insert your monetary gift. The amount is dependent on the type of service they provide. For instance, for your cleaning service a week’s pay would be in order. Waitresses or bar tenders usually receive 15-20% of the total bill. Taxi or limo services receive 15% tips. At airports, tip the skycap $1 per heavy bag, and shuttle drivers $2 per person.

According to Lifescript.com, here are some more examples of proper tipping:

• Barista - $1
• Car detailer - 15 percent
• Car washer - $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or truck
• Coat check attendant- $1
• Emergency locksmith - $5
• Furniture or appliance delivery person - $5-10
• Hair Stylist or Color Specialist - 10-20 percent
• Manicurist, Facialist or Aesthetician - 15 percent
• Massage therapist- 20 percent
• Pet groomer - 15 percent
• Pet sitter - 15 percent
• Restroom attendant- $1
• Shampoo or other styling assistant - $2-5
• Shoe shiner- $2 .
• Tattoo or piercing artist - 10-20 percent
• Tire changer - $4 - $5
• Tow truck driver - $5

If you receive excellent service, feel free to tip more than the usual. Those you tip will remember you and continue to provide excellent service and go above and beyond to please you. It's worth the extra money it will cost you to have this type of service.

Top 10 Gift Ideas

Still wondering what to get for your holiday or event gifts? Here are some suggestions put together to make your shopping easier.
1.  2-Section Wine Bag – For those wine aficionados on your list, this 2-section wine bag come in faux leather and can hold two bottles of wine. For extra oomph, include two bottles of their favorite wine.
2.  Brooches – One of the biggest sellers this year are brooches. Once thought of as “old-lady” jewelry, brooches are coming back into fashion in a big way! The styles vary greatly, and the more bling the better. 
3.  Gift Baskets – Always in vogue, especially for a group of people, family or office – a gift basket is a considerate way to say “Thank You,” and is always full of so many different items it’s fun to see all the goodies. 
4.  Religious Gifts – December is the holiday month, and these holidays usually center on a religious theme or tradition. A Christian cross, Jewish menorah, or Kwanzaa decoration would make an appropriate gift. 
5. Personalized Baby Blankets – A newborn or young child loves to attach themselves to a special toy or blanket. Giving a blanket personalized with their first name, along with a stuffed animal, could create a lifelong memory and friend. 
6. Personalized Pub Signs or Team Plaques – No matter what sport the man (or woman) on your list is interested in, there are plaque and signs that will probably fit into their favorite theme. Create a lasting conversation piece by having their name and favorite team inscribed in a frame or plaque. 
7. Picture Frames – Personalized or not, a photo frame encases a flash image of a special moment frozen in time. There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t feel touched when presented with a special picture frame, especially if you include a special picture. 
8. Personalized Gifts – A gift inscribed with initials or names makes the receiver feel special – that you cared enough to take the time to give them something personal – and not just picked up something at the last minute. There is such an assortment to choose from that can be personalized – dresser boxes, business card cases, jewelry, etc. 
9.  Home Décor Items – Fireplace screens, fountains, Tiffany-style lamps, Stained Glass Panels, and artwork make wonderful and useful gifts that will appeal to all sorts of tastes. This could include kitchen or host/hostess items for new tenants, young people in college, or newlyweds. 
10.  Jewelry – All women love jewelry! Many men do too. Although brooches are a specific type of jewelry, jewelry as a category is always a coveted gift idea. Depending on their lifestyle, there are cuff links, necklaces, dog tags, watches, bracelets, earrings, etc. as well as boxes to put store them in. Many items can be personalized. 

Surviving Toddler Meltdowns at Parties

Those who have toddlers can relate with the meltdowns they experience when too over-stimulated or tired. These tantrums, which can occur in even the mellowest of youths, upset and embarrass the parents, and cause stress to even the most carefully planned event. One thing for sure about children, they are unpredictable.
There are a few precautions you can take to ensure a quiet meal with family and friends, and avoid a meltdown. 

1. Feed the children first. Once they are full they won’t be as cranky and will allow everyone else to eat their meal in peace.

2. Have a playpen or area sectioned off for them to play. Make sure there is nothing that could be harmful, and put in plenty of age-appropriate toys to keep them occupied.

3. Allow a time to relax and wind down about 30 minutes before their regular nap. With all the excitement around it may be difficult for them to get their nap on time, and a tired toddler is a cranky toddler.  Have someone sit down with the little ones and read a story or do an activity that is not too active. With a full stomach, and a quiet atmosphere, a nap is only a few winks away.

4. After nap time, either take turns with other adults in giving the younger children attention. Sometimes you can rely on a teenager (and maybe even pay them) to have them spend time with the younger ones. Children want attention, and when in a crowd of people they often will feel they are not getting enough and start acting up.
People who have lived through the “terrible twos” can attest to the fact that when a toddler is in the room, there is no guarantees of angelic behavior – no matter what you do, but you can do what you can to de-stress the situation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baby's First Christmas Memorable Gifts

Baby's first Christmas is so exciting - for the parents and grandparents. They want to see what the baby will like, and many go all out to find toys and layettes  that will be "picture perfect." Truth is, if the baby is an infant the only thing what will excite them are the lights, animations and sounds. If they are crawling or close to walking, the wrapping paper and boxes are the most fun! 

There's nothing wrong with family members going all out and getting things the baby can grow into, or enjoy later. After all, they grow up so fast that few things in the first couple years will be of interest for very long. One thing most want their child to have is a rocking horse . It's a toy that can be enjoyed for a couple years, and children never seem to loose their fascination for them. Many even put them away to share with the grandchildren - a gift that keeps on giving for generations!

Personalized ornaments , with the baby's name and year also make a memorable gift for Baby's first Christmas. Or, a personalized photo frame with the new baby's first portrait, or a family picture engraved with the family name and date.

Your baby only has one First Christmas, and in a year of firsts this will stand out and you'll want to record every minute.

Halloween Family Dinner

Costumes are a big part of Halloween, and it's so much fun to dress your kids (or yourself) up and have a good time. Since Halloween is only a couple weeks away you will want to get those adorable infant/toddler costumes - or adult costumes and accessories - before the selection is slim pickings.
It’s the food, however, that really sets the mood. It's a time to create a tradition with your kids, and have fun with some spooky dinners, desserts and treats that are a change of pace from the normal. If you are having a neighborhood party you can also pass them along. 
Here are a couple suggestions for something different to add to your Halloween table. These great recipes can be found at Family Fun Magazine .

Halloween Bug Juice

• 2 10-oz. packages frozen strawberries, defrosted
• 1 6-oz. can lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 1 qt. ginger ale
• 2 cups raisins
• 6 gummy worms

1.      Mix the strawberries and lemonade concentrate in a blender until smooth and thick.
2.      Gradually add ginger ale.
3.      Transfer the beverage to a punch bowl. Stir in any remaining ginger ale and the raisins. Place the gummy worms on the rim of the bowl for a swampy effect. Makes 10 servings.

Swamp Creatures

• Macaroni and cheese
• Sautéed spinach
• Olive slices

1.      Mix up a batch of macaroni and cheese, then spoon it into greased muffin cups and bake until firm, about 25 minutes.
2.      Let the creatures rest for about 10 minutes, then gently remove them from the tins. Place them upside down on a swamp of sautéed spinach and add olive slice eyes.



Mummy Fingers
• Snack Size Sausages or Hot Dogs cut in ½
• Crescent Rolls
• CatsupCut crescent rolls into strips and wrap them around the sausages (or hot dogs). Bake them in the oven as per the instructions on the crescent roll package. Take out of oven to cool and add catsup as fingernails.


Monster Tongues
• 1 pea pod
• 1 red bell pepper
• Few slivered almonds (for those allergic to peanuts you can substitute string cheese)

1.      For each one, use the tip of a paring knife to cut a slit centered in one side of an edible pea pod (a parent's job).
2.      Cut out a tongue shape from red bell pepper and insert the top of it through the opening in the pea pod (it looks best if the inside of the pepper faces up).
3.      For the finishing touch, insert a few slivered almonds for teeth, or pull some string from the cheese to make the teeth.


For other great Halloween ideas, including the Melon Brain, check out the Family Fun website and click here to watch the video on how to cut the melon to look like an exposed brain).

Have a great Halloween!

Halloween Re-Vamped

Bring your social life back from the dead with a Halloween Re-Vamped Party!

Vampires are the rage this year for the paranormal aficionados.  Deckyour self up as your favorite Twilight star, or a sexy vampire orvampiress . Put some white make up on to show you aredrained of blood, and add vampire teeth and accessories to complete theoutfit.

Hold it in a pumpkin patch, or your basement, but make it dark and scary. Hang black curtains (sheets) on the windows, place black roses or dead flowers all around the room.

Fog machines are not too expensive anymore, so fog up the area for a more dramatic aura. Set ghouls and ghosts all around, along with fake tombstones - and voila! you have your own haunted yard. A few skulls, skeletons and ghosts flying in the wind will make this the greatest haunted yard in the neighborhood.

Video tape your friends and their “vampire” antics

A Gothic Halloween

Many people think those who dress Gothic are in costume all year long. Halloween allos those who wonder what it’s like to get their “Goth” on, and let their freak fly! Dig into your dark side and explore your imagination with abandon.

 
Send out dark colored invitations, add a splash of red with a few drops of red ink that looks like blood drops. Purchase some cobwebs at your local store and wrap the invitation with a thin layer before inserting in an envelope.

Gothic costumes – Vampires, Vamps, Countess of Darkness, Adams Family, Munsters, etc. are usually easy to find, and if not you can find something at your local Goodwill or Salvation Army store that can be converted for a low price and some imagination. The Gothic touch is all about sex appeal – and don’t be afraid to add a boots, wig, makeup and accessories to complete the look.
Decoration would include candelabras , skulls , cobwebs, dried roses and lots of black, white and red votive candles. Goblets as place card holders make a nice touch for seating arrangements.

Serve red wine, or witch’s brew, out of pewter goblets . Take a plastic glove and fill it with water, tie it closed and freeze it to float in the punch (color it for a special effect). Red gelatin, with floating spiders or skeletons, also produce a special effect, and black pasta with red sauce could be the entrée.

For entertainment – the Monster Mash, or music from Gothic entertainers should fill the air with eerie sounds, and the rest is up to your imagination.

Baby's First Halloween

  Halloween at our house takes more preparation than Christmas. There is months of planning for costumes, and how to decorate the yard to stand out. Of course you have to choose treats the kids will like, and you can afford. Everyone has their own idea of what to do, so we make this a family time of compromise and fun.

Most of us realize that your baby is not going to remember his/her first Halloween. They don’t even care what costume you put on them. This day is really for YOU, and your family to take pictures and show off your adorable bundle of joy! There are a number of adorable infant/toddler costumes that are sure to make great pictures.

For baby’s first Halloween, and especially if it’s your first Halloween as a parent, the showing off is the best part (although now you get to have treats all to yourself, while in the next few years you will have to share). A fun way to show off is to dress up in a family theme – like Popeye, Olive Oyle and Sweet Pea celebrate-milestones.com/inposwpeaco.html. You can choose a theme and let your whole family dress to match. So many costumes have adult and child versions, and the selection is amazing.

No matter whether you are going to a party, or simply trick-or-treating door-to-door, Halloween isn’t the same without dressing up and eating goodies. Enjoy your day!

A Fall Festival Showcases Your Community

The greatest thing about Fall is the changing of the colors – bright oranges, gold, red, burgundy and brown, that mark the end of summer and the beginning of the entrance to winter. It is without a doubt the most magnificent display of nature’s attraction and beauty.

Fall opens up the door, for only a few weeks, to weather that is cool enough without being freezing. It invites the search for hay rides, fall festivals, walking trails, apple pies and pumpkins. What’s more, you generally don’t have to be uncomfortable about the heat of summer.

Many communities have a Fall Festival with crazy contests like the best beard, best apple pie, longest apple peel or biggest pumpkin. There are pumpkin carvings, lots of food with fall fruit, and the opportunity for charitable organizations to raise some money and put out information about their organization. It also is a great opportunity for local vendors to market their products in time for the upcoming holidays.
Fall Festivals are a coming together of communities to showcase their community, hold charitable fundraisers in a fun way, and including the entire family in activities.

Search for a local festival in your area – it could become an annual family event.

Let's All Go To A Renaissance Fair

Set your time machine back to the time of Henry VIII. Invite your guests to come in costumes of the 18^th Century – Vikings, pirates, maidens, belly-dancers, fantasy characters, jesters and knights.

The Renaissance was a time of inspired painters, the occult, danger on the high seas, and a hint of the erotic. They threw axes at a target for fun, had beer fests, and women were buxom and wore laces to accentuate their waistlines.

They loved comedy, puppet shows, and improvisational stage shows and concerts. Some even have realistic re-enactments.

Renaissance food consists of a pot of stew over an open campfire, some freshly baked bread, and lots of ale! Nothing fancy, but a lot of food and fun! When people stay in costume, and use language of the Renaissance times, it is a blast to participate in.

Holding a Renaissance Fair can be a lot of fun. You can have it outside, and raise a tent if the weather if too damp. Sitting around a campfire will keep everyone warm on a cold winter's night, and food cooking around the campfire

Determining Color Schemes

When trying to come up with a color scheme for your event the easiest way to do that is to use the color wheel. With this you can get a visual idea of what you can work with.

Traditionally, the color wheel consists of your primary colors: red, blue and yellow, and all other colors are a mix of these three. The wheel has the purest hues of the colors, all others are tints (lighter hues) and tones (various darker shades of the color). An example: you could go with a soft sage (hue) or a hunter green (tint) which is darker. Their value is made by adding white, black or blackish brown (umber) to make the pure color lighter or darker.
   Basically, there are three ways to use the wheel that will give you co-ordinating colors: complementary, analogous or in a triad.

Complementary colors are that are opposite on the color wheel. When you put them together it makes the other color stand out.

Analogous colors are those that lie on either side of your chosen color (if you choose purple you will see blue and pink on either side of the wheel). They go together because they share a common hue.

Warm colors are the half of the color wheel from yellow-green to red. These colors are more vibrant and stand out. The are associated with the sun (yellow) and fire (orange). In fact, if you were to put red and purple together (from both ends of the spectrum) your eyes won’t be able to focus them at the same time and puts a strain on them.  You will want to add a bit of warmth from a cool color to help you round out the color scheme.

The Cool colors generally are those that recede. An example: a small room will appear larger if you use a cool color on the walls – like blue, green or purple. A cool theme will need at least dabs of warmth to pick up the beat.

Triads are a combination of three colors equally spaced on the wheel – like yellow, orange, purple and blue/green.

Since green and purple can be considered warm or cool, in some context, they often are considered neutrals that can go with any color.

Don’t forget to balance your colors. While light and medium values work well together they can get a bit boring, so add a darker value. Example: light blue and light yellow are great, but add a bit of navy blue or cobalt blue to give it depth.

Wedding Gifts That Will Be Remembered

Searching for the p erfect wedding gift is not as difficult as it may seem. If you are not sure of the couple’s taste, a simple gift of something they could use, like a keepsake box to store memories in, would be most appropriate.
Photo Frames always are welcome. Surrounding yourself with memories of events, family, friends or your wedding makes a new couple’s home feel warm and inviting. You can get frames with personalization or character.
If they enjoy wine, and taking wine to friends, a wine carrier or storage would be an excellent choice. For those who enjoy sporting events stadium seats or coolers would come in handy.
If you want an elegant gift that is unique a pewter wedding certificate holder , engraved with their names would make a wonderful display. Another gift that can be enjoyed year after year is a Love Letter Ceremony Box , where the couple can write a letter with their thoughts on their wedding day, and open it up on an anniversary to reminisce – like a time capsule of love.

Happy Labor Day!

No Labor Day party is complete without games and fun things to keep the kids busy while the adults sit around and talk. Party food is important, but so is fun.  Take the time to enjoy the last holiday of the summer with friends and family, and put your outside worries aside for a few hours with these last minute party games.

As a kid we always enjoyed "Simon Says." Both adults and children really can have fun with this. You can have the kids play with the adults, or have their own version, but creativity is the most fun part of this game.

Another game both adults and kids will have fun with - pass the water balloon. It's similar to musical chair, but instead of sitting down you are passing a balloon filled with water. The person holding the balloon at the end of the music has to get wet. A great way to cool off on a hot day!

Giant Marbles is played with as many round sports balls as you can round up (basket ball, soccer ball or kids plastic round ball). Mark a perimeter with either a rope or chalk and with each person taking one turn at a time, kick one ball to hit as many balls out of the perimeter as possible. It's similar to playing marbles, where the shooter kicks out the rest of the marbles from the circle. 

Have fun with the kids, they will appreciate it and you will remember how much fun it is to play games too.

Test Your Palate At A Wine Tasting Party

  Few of us understand how to choose the perfect wine for our dinners or events. Most of us know that red wine goes with red meat and white wine goes with chicken or fish, but there is a lot of in between that is a little blurry. That is why a wine tasting party is such a fun way to educate yourself on wine, perhaps choose the proper wine for your event, or just have fun with friends in a relaxing atmosphere. You also will learn the different types of wine glasses and flutes to bring out the bouquet in your choice of wine.
There is a place online – PRP Wine International, that can help you plan your party, steer you to the nearest wine tasting event, and give you tips on purchasing wine.You can also check your local listings for wineries in your area.
Wine is almost always an appropriate gift to bring as a Thank You to a dinner party. There are a number of other items you can bring that are wine-related – such as a wine carrier for picnics or those who want to carry their wine to events, personalized wine gift box , wine chillers , etc that will also make wonderful gifts in this category .
Make a list of your friends, visit a local winery or wine-tasting, and enjoy each other’s company while you experience an education in wines.

Labor Day Picnic

Labor Day symbolically marks the end of summer, and that means the last real party of the summer vacation season. You want to make it a real blast, and there’s nothing like a picnic to celebrate with family and friends. 
You can reuse the plates and cups you had for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Red, White and Blue is still a good color scheme. Decorating with flags and stars and stripes.
You meal doesn’t have to be expensive. You can utilize fresh vegetables from the garden for salads and munchies while the good is grilling. Roll your silverware up in a napkin for each place setting. If you don’t want to do all the cooking yourself, have each guest bring a pass around dish. Make sure you specify dessert or salads so you don’t have too many of one and not enough of the other (balance).  Prepare as much as you can ahead of time so you can enjoy the meal and your guests.
Make sure to have plenty of watermelon on hand, and to make it special cut the fruit out of the rind and decorate the rind before putting cubed fruit back inside. Also, have pitchers of lemonade and tea in addition to any other type of beverages.
Here are a couple great recipe ideas for your party:
Broccoli and Chicken Casserole
4 oz. dried medium noodles
2-1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
1  10-ounce pkg.frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 10-3/4 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2cup skim milk

1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese (2 ounces)
1 teaspoondried basil, crushed

1/8 teaspoon pepper
Paprika
1.Cook noodles according to pkg. directions. Drain well.2. In a2-quart casserole stir together noodles, chicken or turkey, broccoli andgreen onions.
3. In a medium mixing bowl stir together soup,milk, cheese, basil and pepper. Stir into noodles.
4. Bake coveredin a 250 degree oven for 40-45 minutes, or until heated through.Sprinkle with paprika. Makes 6 servings.
Note: This casserole canbe made 24 hours ahead and refrigerated until ready to serve, thenreheat.
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Grandma’s Best Potato Salad Ever!

5 lbs. red potatoes – cooked, cooled, peeled and chopped into cubes
2 cups sweet onions – dices
1 large green pepper – diced
8 hard boiled eggs – dice 6 and slice the other two for the top
1 cup real mayonnaise (Hellmans or Kraft is best – not salad dressing)
1/2 cup yellow mustard
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt
Paprika

Combine all ingredients (except the two sliced eggs and paprika) in a large bowl, adding more mayonnaise and mustard if it appears to be too dry. Season to taste.  Put into serving bowl and place egg slices on top. Sprinkle with paprika for color.

Back to School Children’s Safety Party

Some children have already returned to school, while others don’t return until after Labor Day. No matter when they go back though, a lesson in safety is not a bad idea. Why not do it as part of a celebration, as opposed to a school setting where kids will get bored and not pay attention.  
Children love to learn through interaction. Young children love to listen to a fireman or policeman talk about their job (especially if they bring a K-9) and how they can keep themselves and their families safe. Contact your local fire or police station to see if they are available to do a community talk or presentation.

You can rent a movie from the library that shows how children should react to certain situations (i.e. stranger looking for a puppy; when a friend falls down and is bleeding; stop drop and roll for fires; bike safety; crossing streets; etc.). During the movie provide simple snacks for the kids (they don’t need to be in a theater – set up small rugs in the basement) and after the movie hold a discussion – you ask them what they would do in that situation and how would they react.

Children are sponges, they soak up this information and store it for future use. It never hurts for them to be aware of potential dangers they may encounter, and they should be prepared in case of an emergency, at home or on the playground, in order to know how to handle themselves and whom to contact. Make the lesson fun and they will remember it better!

Las Vegas Casino Night

A Las Vegas Casino Night can be a winning fundraiser, and anniversary party, wedding or prom theme, or just a night of fun with your intimate friends. You can make it a big event, or just a small one, but no matter how large it is guaranteed to make you a big winner!
You can start out with round invitations where an image of a roulette wheel is the cover. Use a grommet to attach the wheel to the back part of the invitation so the wheel (face of the card) will slide to reveal the invitation itself.
For larger events or fundraisers, you can charge admissions. This will offset the cost of prizes.  Offer drink tickets at the door for favors, and guests can turn in chips they have won in exchange for money when purchasing drinks.
Decorations can be elaborate – from a playing card arch to poles painted to look large cardboard poker chips or dice. Tables can be covered with green cloth and a combination of red, black, white, yellow and blue plates to represent poker chips.  Place card holders with Las Vegas signs (right) will seat the guests. Poker chip candle holders can be placed at each table for additional fun lighting, and personalized poker chips or card decks with the name of the event can be placed at each setting. 
Entertainment, of course, will be cards, dice tables, black jack and roulette wheels. You could check around to see where you can rent tables and roulette wheels for these events in your area. Winners will receive poker chips (personalized for the event) that they can cash in for prizes (a nice gift idea is a poker set ).
It’s hard to walk away without a smile, even if you’re losing at the tables, with one of these parties.

The Road to Morocco

Hosting a dinner party with a Moroccan Theme doesn’t have to be expensive, but it definitely will bring your guests a night to remember.
   Decorating for a Moroccan Theme party requires more imagination than money. Lots of vibrant and colors – purples, burgundy, sapphire blues and greens; silk and organza fabrics, fringe and beads, mosaics, and pillows everywhere for seating. Small palm trees or fig trees would make great additions.
You can take some of your old costume jewelry (or go to a local dollar store and purchase some colorful beads) to drape around vases and on the table. Place Moroccan lanterns and tealights around for ambiance. Have some incense burning around the room (check to make sue some of your guests are not allergic).  Place gold charger plates under the dishes, or at least the centerpiece. The center vase can be filled with large leaves and fronds, and draped with beads and jewelry.
Your menu could contain: mint tea; avocado salad, couscous, lamb shish-kabobs and watermelon. It has a variety of colors and fits right into the Moroccan theme.
Wrap yourself in netted scarves with fringe, and ask your friends to dress in Moroccan themed attire. You can even have guest try to do Moroccan dances (belly dancing) as entertainment. 

There is no doubt this dinner party is one that will be talked about for months!

Cocktails Anyone?

A cocktail party, once thought of as a way for snooty people to rub noses with other snooty people, has started to come into vogue again. They are simple to plan, and can be done with a minimum amount of expense.
  Cocktail parties are great for entertaining friends and/or business associates. They're also perfect for receptions or open houses for both business and personal reasons.  It can be as simple or extravagant as you want it to be.
The great thing about cocktail parties is that no one expects a full sit-down menu. Simple food will suffice.
Planning a cocktail party requires just a few basics:

• A theme – which will make it easier to plan your drinks and food (i.e. Hawaiian theme serve tropical drinks and food; or a Las Vegas theme where you would serve martinis and hors d'oeuvres.)
• Will it be held inside our out?
• What is your budget?
• Full bar or limited drink choices? To save money, put together a drink menu so you don’t have to buy so many different bottles. You can also have several different punches or an open bar where you give your guests drink tickets, good for one free drink per ticket and they buy any more themselves.
• Plan on parking, and have a valet service or someone to park the cars
• Food can range anywhere from caviar for the crème-de-la-crème, to those who like to sample different homemade creations. If you don't want to deal with food at all, call a caterer.
• Knowledge of how to much to buy for – which means you will need to know how many people are planning on attending (A good buying guide reference is HERE) 
• Set a time limit – 2-3 hours is typical
• Should your guests bring anything?
• Is this invitation only? Send them out 2-3 weeks in advance
• Socialize with your guests, which means you should let someone else do the serving and bartending – ask friends or family, hire servers (teens who could use a little extra money). Make sure if you hire a bartender that you provide a tip jar for guests to contribute to.
• Make sure to have adequate amounts of napkins, glasses and plates.

Victorian is the 2012 Wedding Theme

There is nothing more romantic and classic than a Victorian wedding. Most weddings have a certain degree of Victorian in them - after all Queen Victoria was the one who initiated the white wedding dress with her marriage to Prince Albert. A truly Victorian wedding is full of lace, elegance and grace.

Back-dropped in a botanical garden,or garden setting, the traditional Victorian wedding is full of flowers. Any type of flower is appropriate, but the Victorian gardens are mostly roses. The traditional orange blossom is usually incorporated somewhere in the mix for good luck. Victorians brought the orange blossoms from China to symbolize purity, chastity and fertility.

Brides wear pure white while her bridesmaids wear the traditional Victorian-style long dress with plenty of petticoats. The fabric can be organdy, tulle, lace, silk, linen, or even cashmere. All members of the wedding party wear gloves, the bride's being white with lace while the bridesmaids wear gloves that coordinate with their gowns.

The groom and groomsmen wear elegant cut-away tuxedos (like Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral) complete with ascot and top hat.

Candles and lanterns are traditional for lighting. Victorians were all about romance, so the more lace and romantic ambiance the better. A treasure box or chest to hold gifts and cards placed on the gift table, along with a unique memory box for guests to sign their wishes instead of the traditional guestbook would be a special added touch. Add a multi-layer cake, favors like a birdcage or can openers as a Thank You to your guests and you have an affair to remember!

Put Together An Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social

As a child I remember attending old-fashioned Ice Cream Socials. They were a fun time to break up the summer, get back together with friends I hadn't seen since school let out for summer vacation, and it was a great family time as well. You don't see very many of these anymore, but that doesn't mean they can still be fun and not to hard to put together.

Usually ice cream socials were put together by a community or church in order to raise money. They do make great charity events. Today people are more inclined to put together a walk or run. There is nothing wrong with incorporating these into your social, but you can turn it up a notch.

If you ever saw the old Disney movie "Pollyanna" you would see where I am going with this. An ice cream social had carnival games, kissing booths, barbershop quartets and of course - ice cream. Nowadays there could be the old-fashioned carnival-type games like putting a ring on a bottle, balloon darts, fishing in a kiddie pool for kids, and the adults can sit around the bandstand to listen to local musical and singing groups, or even karaoke.

Purchase disposable dishes and plastic spoons, have several topping available (chocolate and caramel syrup, sprinkles, nuts, cookie crumbs, chocolate chips, etc.), and put an ice cream scoop in a pail of water for easier scooping. The old-fashioned socials had homemade ice cream in different flavors, but if you don't want to take the time or expense to make your own buckets of ice cream are easy to purchase. Make sure you have a good freezer to keep the ice cream from melting and only take one bucket out at a time (or use an old-fashioned ice cream metal ice cream bucket (shown) to keep the ice cream cold. You can also sell cupcakes in addition (Display them on a nice cupcake stand so they will be visually appealing as well - and hard to resist!)

Allow area charities to set up booths for fundraising, and request their booths be entertaining as well. People tend to spend more money on games than just tokens or donations. One item I highly recommend that would be useful and bring in money is to sell personalized metal water bottles (put the event name and date, the charity, or whatever you like).

Overall, an ice cream social is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the summer for the entire family!
     

Surviving Summer Parties In The Heat

It's the middle of July and that means half the summer is over, but it's not too late to plan a summer party - or even one for Memorial Day as you say goodbye to summer and the kids get ready to go back to school. 

This summer has been a scorcher for most of the United States, and it doesn't look like there will be much of a reprieve for the next couple of weeks at least. Pool or beach parties are always welcome during this type of weather for your guests to cool off. If you don't have a beach or pool nearby, you could consider renting a motel pool. If that is not an option, create the atmosphere with a white tent, large umbrella anchored into the ground (so as not to blow away) or tables with umbrellas and plenty of lounge chairs. You can have the party on the grass, or bring it to a deck and scatter sand around for the authentic beach feel. A separate sandbox area for kids would be a nice touch, and don't forget the adults who want to build sandcastles and sand art as well.

For ceremonies, you may want to hold the event later in the afternoon, when the heat has subsided some. Provide parasols or fans for your guests to cool down, and bottled water in coolers to prevent heat stroke. A fun idea would be to have personalized water bottles as favors for your guests to keep and remember your event.

Keep your refreshments light - iced drinks and chilled salads and fruits. Informal affairs can also include hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, ribs or chicken from the grill, and a condiment table with all sorts of additives.

In addition to the sand area, have music and an area to dance. Provide towels and sunscreen for your guests (small sample sizes are available), and of course have a first aid kit handy.

Putting together a party in extreme heat can be challenging, but as long as you take extra precautions to make sure there are shady areas, plenty of fluids, and places to sit to keep out of the sun, any event can survive the heat waves of 2011.

Many people believe that “jumping the broom” is an African custom, but documentation shows it to have started in Europe – England, Wales, Scotland and Hungry, and was a custom of the Romani gypsies, who originated from Egypt and parts of Africa.

In Wales, Romani couples would jump or over a bunch of flowing shrubs or a bundle of twigs that were made into a broom called a besom. The Welsh practiced a centuries-old custom, priodas coes ysgub ("broom-stick wedding"). There are different variations to the tradition – one had the couple jumping over the broom together, another had the groom jump first, and still another placed the broom in a doorway at an angle and they would jump over it as they entered the house. 

Romani gypsies were not welcome in England, and many were sold into slavery and shipped off to Australia and America, where it is believe the practice was passed along. In America both blacks and whites in the south jumped the broom as a part of the marriage ceremony (and for those who were not allowed to marry it served as an unofficial marriage ceremony). 

The custom has several meaning. In the American south, whoever jumped the highest was the decision-maker of the household. Jumping over the broom symbolized various things depending on the culture. In the American south, the custom determined who ran the household. Whoever jumped highest over the broom was the decision maker of the household. Among southern Africans, who were largely not a part of the slave trade, it represented the wife's duty to clean the courtyard of the new home she had joined. In Western Africa brooms were held over the bride and groom’s heads as a sign of the blessing of the ceremony.

In modern America the tradition of jumping the broom has become more popular, and many believe it to symbolize “taking a leap of faith,” although that was a phrase coined by author Harriette Cole in her book, "Jumping the Broom." Today, the jumping of the broom has come to symbolize many different things depending on their culture. 
 

Broom jumping is a brief ceremony often toward the end of the wedding ceremony to symbolize the binding of a couple in marriage, and as a symbol of fertility and prosperity for the couple. It also may signify the “sweeping away” of their former lives and entering into a new adventure. The straws of the broom represent family; the handle represents the Almighty; the ribbon represents the tie that binds the couple together.

Today, many people will incorporate brooms in different aspects of their wedding. Some will have brooms decorated to match their décor – with flowers, ribbons and other accessories and display them in different areas of their reception hall, including the wall.  Others place miniature brooms on the tables to serve as place card holders and decorate them in colors to coordinate with the wedding decor.

One idea would be allow your guests to participate in the ceremony by placing a straw basket full of colorful ribbon pieces at the wedding or reception and allow your guests to write their name or initial on a ribbon and tie ribbons around the broom before the ceremony begins. It begins your life with good wishes from your family and friends, and makes a valuable keepsake for afterward.
 
This ceremony can also be performed at an anniversary or a renewing of vows ceremony.

It’s Not Just The Dress That People Want To See – It’s The Accessories!

A lot of time is spent choosing just the right wedding dress, but it’s not only the gorgeous dress that people are dying to see, it’s what you accessorize with as well. The whole thing about fashion is the overall picture – the dress, the shoes, the purse and the jewelry. 
Start with the basics. Any fashion designer will tell you that without the proper foundation (bra, garter and tummy trimmer, if needed) a gorgeous dress just doesn’t make it. Make sure you are fitted for the proper size bra (consult an expert). Why spend hundreds, or even thousands, for a dress when you wear a bargain bra? Don’t forget a tummy trimmer if you need to hold in any protruding bellies, and give your dress a sleek look. Of course, brides love to wear long garters (they are really sexy), but make sure the lines are not showing beneath the dress.
Next, find the perfect shoes to go with the perfect dress. You see pictures of brides with tennis shoes – but it certainly takes away from the stunning look you are trying to achieve. If you can’t wear heels, find a comfortable pair of sleek flats that coordinate with your gown. Make sure you wear them first to break them in. Sore feet as you walk down the aisle certainly take away from your overall happiness, and you will be wearing these shoes for several hours. Make sure you think about the season. Barefoot crystal sandals are great for sand and grass – heels sink in and will make you feel lopsided while walking down the aisle. Open toed shoes may not be a good idea for winter. Purchase your shoes after your dress to get the best coordination.
Brides do not want to carry purses during the ceremony, and they often get left on tables at the reception as the bride mingles and dances with her new husband and guests. The options are to have your bridesmaids hang on to your purse, have a cloth bag for your bare essentials and touch ups pinned into the inseam of your dress, or don’t carry one at all.
Bridal jewelry and hair accessories set off the ensemble. Too much sparkle could turn out to be gaudy, but there are so many beautiful bridal jewelry sets – some with tiaras, that will compliment most any dress. Just remember, if you have a high neckline, a simple brooch or single strand necklace would look best – along with simple earrings. For a strapless dress you can wear more dramatic jewelry and chandelier earrings. Hair worn up could be accented with a comb that coordinates with your necklace and earrings.
If you are unsure as to what would look best, take someone whose taste you admire with you when shopping for accessories. After all, this is the most important day of your life, and you’ll have pictures to show off for generations.

Create An Evening In Paris

You may not have money to afford a trip to France, but the next best thing is to bring the ambiance here! Create an Evening in Paris as the theme for your wedding or special event.

Decorate the room and tables with Eiffel Towers and Fleur de Lis – on the walls, as centerpieces and party favors. Tables can be decorated with damask design table covers, or use plain black and white table covers with a damask table runners. 

Instead of a large cake you can create a cupcake tower with a damask design and add damask designed cupcake wrappers to set them off.

The bar could serve Cosmos and French martinis in miniature martini glasses, and the food or appetizers could be along the French food theme (no French Fries, please). Here is a link for some French recipes. 

OOOH LaLa!

Croon With The Rat Pack

The Rat Pack ruled the Vegas strip in the 1950s and 1960s. They had so much fun with each other that it was contagious around the world!  And...Don’t believe the Rat Pack was strictly men – no way! Women like Angie Dickinson, Shirley MacLaine, Marilyn Monroe and Eva Gardner also were included in this exclusive club! 
    Don you sharkskin shoes, skinny ties and fedora hats and croon along with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. to the songs of the 50’s and 60’s with a Rat Pack Party.   Cocktail dresses, optional!   
  You can add glamor by setting up small little tables, like a nightclub. Reminisce with music from the amazing repertoire of songs these great crooners made famous, and serve martinis and other cocktails in old-fashioned mini-martini glasses .  Hors d'oeuvres (Some great recipes can be found here.) instead a large meal can be served, and pass out drink tickets so you offer your guests a drink or two on you.
  Since most of the entertaining the members of the Rat Pack did together was unscripted, the perfect party game for a Rat Pack party would be karaoke or improv. Most of the guests will probably know each other, so shyness shouldn't be an issue, and all is done in the name of fun!

   Set up a standee of Sinatra or Monroe for a photo op that will delight your guests and be something to talk about for years! It may be old fashioned - but these people really knew how to party!

Destination Weddings - Exotic and Romantic

No matter whether you are looking at a cruise ship or an exotic island to hold your fantasy wedding, a destination wedding requires a lot of planning, a great deal of money, and guests who are willing to travel to participate.

The one main reason to hold a wedding is to include the people you care about in sharing your big day with them. Exotic getaways are romantic, and can be an experience of a lifetime - combining a wedding and honeymoon all in one.

Destination weddings are not usually large affairs. They are small and intimate - unless you choose a destination that is within a short drive from your home and is not an inconvenience to your guests.

The main thing a destination wedding requires is ambiance. That could be seashore or lake setting, with a decorated arch or trellis set in the sand and chairs for the guests. Or an outdoor mountain cabin with a background of mountains. It could also be a tropical cruise, with all sorts of entertainment, food and lodging provided by the shipping line. It's best to consult a trusted travel agent (make sure to get references) to help you put something together that will fit into your budget, and consult your main guests as to what arrangements they can make, or share expenses with you on.

A nice idea to present your guests with are luggage tags as special favors, they are practical and considerate. If you are planning an evening wedding, flower lanterns offer a romantic setting that is amazing!  There are so many beach themed favors and decorations to choose from to make a destination wedding absolutely perfect.

Summer Activity - Progressive Family Game Night

Summer's here and already kids are saying they are bored! Looks like a long three months! How about getting together with other parents in the neighborhood and hold a progressive game night? Including the adults is part of the fun. It could even turn into a weekly or monthly event that keeps the entire family entertained, and there's nothing kids look forward to more than watching their parents make fools of themselves. You could plan one house to have a twister game while another could have musical chairs (but instead of hunting up enough chairs put towels on the floor and have them move from one towel to the other).

The games don't have to be long and drawn out ones - like monopoly, but simple things like blindfolding one person and have them use wooden spoons to guess who one person they are touching with the spoon is (no hands). If the weather is nice, go outside and do water balloon fights or toss the water balloons (like egg toss). Three-legged races would also be a lot of fun!

Each home could come up with some simple treat like: tacos, chips, popcorn or cupcakes and appetizers. There doesn't have to be a great deal of expense involved, or time to plan and prepare. Kids always love hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, or something simple. Just keep plenty of drinks on hand because you want them to get tired out.

Big Sister/Brother Baby Shower

When new babies are brought into the home often the older siblings feel a bit pushed aside or left out. If you included them in the planning it will help the older child to feel as if their place in the family is to be the protector of the newborn. Make sure to include them in the festivities when people come to gloat over the new arrival. One way to do that is to hold a baby shower for the big brother or big sister.
A child who has been the baby of the family, or an only child especially, will need this bit of support, since they have always been the center of attention and now they will not be.
The party doesn’t have to be elaborate. A few balloons, some cupcakes (let the kids decorate their own), coloring books and crayons, perhaps some baby shower favors, and a couple fun age-appropriate party games – pin the diaper on the baby, musical chairs, pass the diaper (like hot potato), etc. The idea is to make a fuss and show the older sibling it’s going to be fun to be a big brother or big sister, and even though things are going to change in the house they are still important.
You can purchase two similar stuffed animals – one larger than the other to represent the older and younger child. You can even dress the animals in identical clothing, but just different sizes and add matching blankets.
You will also want to get at least one “big sister” or “big brother” T-shirt  (a great find for big brother/big sister items is Wear Me Out Kids) . Give them a baby photo album that they can have for their very own – to be filled with pictures of them when the baby first comes home, and  holding the younger one, or playing with him or her. This is something they will cherish for a lifetime, and help them bond with the baby.
At the party you can tell a story about bringing a new baby home, or being a big brother or sister. Other parents can also join in with their stories. You can ask each child to bring a stuffed animal from home, or have a bunch of them lying around to use, along with some newborn size disposable diapers. Each child at the party can then learn how to put on a baby diaper or pretend to feed a baby (animal) or push them in a stroller.
Life is never going to be the same after the new baby arrives, but the older child will assimilate easier if he or she are included in the fun and anticipation. They’re never going to be the youngest again, but being the older sibling can have its advantages too.

Don’t Let Your Surprise Party Follow Murphy’s Law

Have you ever been to a surprise party that didn’t come off as expected? For weeks the host or hostess sneaks around trying to put their plan together without the guest of honor getting wise. And then, somewhere along the line, someone with a big mouth lets the cat out of the bag and the surprise is spoiled. The best-laid plans of man has run into Murphy’s Law – whatever can go wrong, will!    
How can you plan a surprise party that doesn’t hit any snags? Here are a few tips.

• Map out a strategy first, before you start spreading the word
• Don’t go it alone. You’ll need a trusted person who can keep a secret in on the planning.
• Set a date for the party, making sure the guest of honor is going to be available. You can find that out casually without making it look suspicious. Perhaps make plans for that day with you – If it’s a birthday you are celebrating, invite her on a birthday shopping spree or him on a birthday dinner.
• Put out the word that you are planning a surprise party, and emphasize SURPRISE, but DON’T’ LET ANYONE ELSE IN ON THE DETAILS. Just tell them to put the date (afternoon or evening) aside, and you will get back to them with the time and place. Tell them you will call them with the exact place and time just before the event, but to put that date aside.
• Don’t try to pretend you don’t remember their birthday or anniversary; it will look more suspicious if you do. Everyone should just go about their business, so if they normally call the guest of honor to wish him or her a happy birthday, they should still do it. It becomes more suspicious if others try to avoid them. Tell them to talk about their birthday and offer to call them with a plan to get together to celebrate at a later date.
• Shortly before the event, send a reminder with the date and time – by text, email or phone call. Tell the guests to park out of sight of the party place, or you can have them arrive after you got the guest inside.
• Of most importance, don’t lock the guest of honor out of your lives while planning the event. If could make him or her feel confused and they may cancel plans with you prior to the big day and make other arrangements. Correspond with them frequently and remind them about your shopping spree or dinner plans so they don’t put you off or forget and make other plans.

A surprise party is all about the planning for every contingency. If you act suspicious, or differently than normal, the guest of honor will become suspicious that something is up. If they are someone who lives with you, don’t keep any of the party items at your house, that’s where a co-conspirator comes in. Also, the least you revel to your other guests the less a chance of the surprise being spoiled.

A Really Wild Jungle Party!

What fun to pretend you are in a jungle surrounded by wild animals and heavy foliage! A jungle or safari theme party is a great idea for adults or children's parties, and with a little creativity you can be Tarzan or George of the Jungle - watch out for that tree!

For children, Diego the Adventurer is very popular now, so you can use that theme. Children can dress in tan coveralls, wear a pith helmet, and carry binoculars and canteens. You can have them track different jungle animals by hiding stuffed animals or pictures of wild animals around the house and yard. Decorate with animal print balloons and raffia skirting.

For refreshments you can serve hippo dogs (hot dogs), "jungle juice" and cupcakes with animal print sleeves. Jungle animal lollipops and animal crackers can be part of the Thank You favors in jungle print bags to take home.

Adults will also have a great time with this theme. A thatched hut can be set up as a bar with hanging lanterns and standees of different wild animals. If you are celebrating a birthday party, make the guest of honor King or Queen of the Jungle and come up with some creative party ideas that go with the theme. Adults like kid games, like "Pin the tail on the Zebra," or play an adult version of a scavenger hunt - searching for "wild" animals.

With this theme, you can believe everyone will have a ROARING good time!

Tween Slumber Parties

A slumber party is almost a rite of passage for a girl – it shows they are grown up enough to spend the night away from home, and it’s not about sleeping. Tweens love to spend the night with their friends. They play games, talk, listen to music and try to stay awake as long as possible. The party can be to celebrate a birthday, or just because…. and it doesn’t have to be complicated. 

Allow your daughter to choose whom to invite, but limit the guest list so it’s manageable for you. Plan on not getting much sleep yourself. a slumber party is usually a simple seat-of-the-pants party where no plans are made ahead of time. However, you will find it easier to keep them occupied if you have some suggestions and activities ready in case they get bored, just don’t over-plan. 

Allow the girls to make their own plans. Limit activities to your own yard for safety reasons, or one room in the house if possible. Don’t allow them to go off on their own without supervision.
Some ideas to have on hand: music, dress up clothing box, craft box, board games for more than two (twister, pictionary, etc.), Treasure or scavenger hunt, Let’s Make a Deal, (Avoid truth or dare games). You can even supply basic colored t-shirts and have them make their own designs with clothing paint, sparkles, buttons and glue. You can also have a lot of buttons and safety pins on hand for them to make their own bracelets. Kids are creative, so get suggestions from them.

If you have planned this far enough ahead of time you may want some favors for the guests, such as lip gloss in cupcake containers, or nail kits and compacts (tweens love to put on makeup and primp) that they can use that night. Perhaps even get some small nail polish samplers (can be found at dollar stores) so they can experiment with different colors.
Food is always important for a slumber party. Mostly snack food, but you may want to limit the sugar for your own sanity.  Kids love to make their own food, so here are a few suggestions:

• Pizza they make themselves using their own selection of ingredients. Have available ingredients such as: English muffins for crust, sausage, mushrooms, pepperoni, cheese, tomato sauce, green peppers, onions
• Sloppy Joes & Cheese Fries
• Root Beer Floats
• Seasoned popcorn, pop come popcorn and let them add their own flavorings (cheese, cayenne pepper, chocolate, caramel).
• Cupcake decorating – make plain cupcakes ahead of time and let them decorate their own
• Smores
• Breakfast – waffles with whipped cream an orange juice; bagles and cream cheese; fruit with cream dip.
• Snack foods – chips, dip, pretzels

If there are other siblings in the home, either make arrangements for them to sleep over somewhere else, or invite one friend for them to keep them busy – and not bugging the girls.

Tip: Although you want to let the girls come up with ideas on their own, you are still in control. Don't allow them to do things their own parents won't let them do. Pre-teens are always trying to push the envelope, so in choosing movies take into consideration parental limits to avoid conflicts with parents.

 

Traditional Summer Holiday Picnics

The weather is finally getting warmer and it's almost time for summer holidays and picnics. Here in America the beginning of the season is Memorial Day on May 30th, and extends through the summer - all the way to our final summer holiday fling on Labor Day,  this year on September 5th.

The holiday picnics usually  include the red, white and blue color theme - with fresh strawberries, cherries and blueberries used as toppings for cakes (with a flag theme) and colorful tablecloths and napkins. Small flags are used to decorate for the affair, and traditionally the 4th of July has the sparklers and fireworks, but it's not limited to just that one day.

The picnics (whether for holidays, family reunions, or simply a small romantic get-away) include baskets laden with a red/white checkered tablecloth, silverware and dishes (plastic dishes for larger parties and real china for the smaller intimate ones) and condiments. For the adult parties a bottle of wine is included in the package. For everyone a cooler filled with all sorts of drinks is necessary.

Most American picnic food includes baked beans as well as potato and a variety of other salads, hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, and potato chips and other munchables for the kids. For some, ribs and chicken are served instead of (or in addition to) the hot dogs and hamburgers. There are always lots of desserts, and plenty to eat for everyone.

For the more adventurous, a game of touch football, croquet and sack races keep the entertainment going. Use your imagination to keep the kids occupied, but include the adults (who are still kids at heart) to participate in the activities as well. The kids will love it, and it gives everyone a good afternoon laugh. Here is one game everyone can play:

Find the Bacon

• Divide everyone into teams (depending on how many participate, and the size of the yard you are using you can have more than two teams)
• Each team gets a strip of fabric (the bacon). 
• Teams get five minutes to hide the bacon in their section of the yard.

Spies and lookouts, to spot and capture the spies, are established for each team. The object of the game is to get the other team’s bacon (flag) without being captured by the other team. If tagged, the person caught is imprisoned but can be freed by a teammate.

Playing this game at night adds a whole new dimension! You can also vary the game by having Team 1 use the front yard and Team 2 uses the back yard.

“This Is Your Life” Party

Years ago there was a weekly show titled “This Is Your Life.” A celebrity was surprised with an hour of testimonials and revisited highlights, and sometimes lowlights, of their entire life – from birth to date. It was done in good taste, and was a lovely way to honor a person and their accomplishments.

A “This Is Your Life” party would be especially fun as a birthday celebration for older adults who don’t really want gifts, but like to see and hear from people in their past. Younger people, although not having as long a history to revisit, could enjoy this type of event in the form of a roast (as long as done in good natured taste and not to reveal scandalous secrets that could do some damage).

Decorate with large photos of this person through different times in their life (check with Kinkos or a local printer as to prices and ideas). Have friends who can not attend send audio or video recordings of memories they have of the guest of honor, and play music from the different types of music they grew up with.  Put together a scrapbook with written testimonials and present it to the guest of honor.

Select a personable character to serve as the guest of honor, and ask any guest present to stand up and recall memories they have of their experience with the guest of honor.

can hold this event as a simple cake and ice cream event – or part of a sit-down supper with champagne toasts. It is a lovely or afternoon of fun that can be added to the guestbook or scrapbook later as well. Best of all - keep it a secret from the guest of honor!

Let Them Eat Cake or Cupcakes?

Have you decided whether to use a traditional cake, or cupcakes for your next event or party?

Cupcakes used to be reserved for class parties or children's birthday parties - No More!  Big parties and small are using cupcakes.Now brides are opting to serve a variety of cupcake flavors and display them on a multi-tiered stand, and decorate with flowers and ribbons.

There are hundreds of different cupcake stands - from the unusual and decorative to the standard platforms. In addition, small individual pedestals are also a fun idea.  The cupcakes can be decorated in so many different colors and accessories, and the stands can also be adorned with jewels and crystals, ribbons and flowers.

For those who prefer the traditional cake, they are still popular,  and getting more unusual all the time!  There are some beautiful crystal and crazy novelty cake tops and cake jewelry to appeal to almost anyone. If you catch an episode of "The Cake Boss" you will see some fabulous cakes that depart from the traditional cakes.

Designer cupcake wrappers, also known as cupcake sleeves or wraps, are also becoming very popular. They come a large selection of colors and designs, such as classic damask, graduation, sports themes, polka dots and more - and are best-sellers worldwide! They provide a finished, refined look to your cupcakes by hiding wrinkly cupcake liners, and can be found at all types of special events, including wedding, bridal showers, baby showers, bar mitzvahs, Hollywood galas and more! These fashionable cupcake wrappers are the perfect final touch for your cupcakes, birthday cupcake cake or even your wedding cupcake cake! 

For those who are on a budget, or want to decorate their own cake, special cake pans are available to go with your theme. Novelty cake pans are coming in a variety of shapes and sizes.

No matter which way you decide to go, have fun with it and...let them eat cake!