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!