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!