137 My Space

Nothing livens up a party like party decorations.  The colors, the patterns, the details and all the gimmicks are what make parties fun in the first place.  Nobody really wants to listen to a person talk about his or her feelings and how much he loves everybody, right?  They’re just looking for the beer and cake line (or maybe for beer and cake in one)?  Seriously, if you want to throw a good party, try and make fun your ultimate goal.
Don’t get too bogged down in over-organizing an event that’s supposed to be laid back and enjoyable.  Focus on creating positive energy and enhancing everyone’s experience rather than creating it.

What kind of party decorations should you do?  It really depends on the type of party.  Baby showers, wedding showers and girl sleepovers tend to have richer colors and more lace in the surroundings.  Men aren’t necessarily opposed to lots of color, but they do get a wee bit suspicious if a fellow stag puts in six hours of home decorating just for a soccer game.

The truth of the matter is that if you want to put up exciting party decorations make sure they complement the overall theme of the night.  If there isn’t a theme, then choose colors you know the guest of honor or at least most people in general would appreciate.
There are a variety of party decorations to choose from, including confetti, door curtains, flag banners, hanging decorations, party poppers, scene setters, streamers and table centerpieces.

True, it does help a fellow to know a little bit about home decorating, or at least the basic laws of creating some positive feng shui in the room.  Without getting into anything heavy, just try and remember not to crowd any small areas with too much information.  Let your guests take in the room and enjoy the “exhibits” one at a time.  You don’t want the room empty and should do your best to create a rich color scheme.  However, you want to avoid cluttering up the place as well.  People do come for a party, so don’t skimp on the details.  Just plan the event well by decorating according to “sections” of the room so you can get a good sense of time and space.

If you are trying to stick to a budget, then try looking for deals on party decorations online.  Decorations run cheaper when you buy in bulk.

Copyright (c) 2007 Pat Brill

Do you think you have to spend a lot of money in order for your party to be successful? You can stay within a budget and still create a wonderful time for yourself and everyone at your party. Here are some helpful ideas for a successful and budget oriented party.

I found that my most successful parties were planned and not necessarily expensive. Most parties need thought and attention to the details to create a fun experience for everyone that is coming. What do you need to plan?

What’s the Occasion?

If there is a special occasion that you are celebrating, then you already have the theme of your party. If you just want to bring friends and family together, then create a theme for your party. Be creative or loving…a “just because I think you are all so special” theme. Whatever your theme, include it throughout all of your planning.

What’s the Budget?

Create a budget and stick to it. Be specific about the amount you can spend on food, decoration and drinks.

-If you want to minimize the food costs, have a gathering at a time of the day when people have already eaten, such as mid afternoon and you will only need to provide snacks. How about an appetizer or dessert party? These ideas keep your food requirements to a minimum.

-Plan on making most of the food yourself to keep the costs down. You can also elicit the help of people coming to the party by asking each person to contribute a dish. Potluck gatherings are festive and fun.

-Send your invitations via email. There is a great website, http://www.evite.com, where you can create an online invite and email everyone on your list. This service is “free”…a great word.

-Include the costs of the paper products, decorations, and drinks. Don’t spend lots of money on decorating…candles, music and balloons add a festive flavor to your home without breaking the bank.

What Has to Be Done?

Create Your “To Do” List

What does your “to do” list look like? Include everything you have to do as soon as you decide to have a party. The list includes sending out the invitations, menu planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning, setting up and cleaning up, and possibly planning fun activities.

Create Your Party Day TimeLine

Create a timeline of what needs to be done on the day of your party…from setup to clean up after the party, and everything in the middle. Did you ever forget to do something you planned or leave a favorite dish in the refrigerator? I know that I have!

The timeline of your party day includes everything you have to do: decorate, candles, pick up balloons, set table, and every item that has to be cooked and when. Be specific with your time…when are you going to do it and how long will it take. I know this sounds like a lot of effort, but the effort you put in planning will make sure you don’t forget something, know when you need helping hands, and decrease the stress around organizing the success of your party.

Helpful Hands

Ask your family or friends to help. Is someone great at cooking desserts or maybe a friend has a wonderful music collection that would be perfect for your party? Think in terms of your resources. Most people are happy to participate in the celebration if asked. What do you need extra hands for? Go through your “To Do” party list and add your resources against some of the activities on that list.

What is Most Important?

To have fun! With some new ideas and careful planning and organization, you can stay within your budget yet create a space for everyone to enjoy themselves and others. Good party memories are in the details.

Dressing up is always a lot of fun, especially when you pair the dressing up with getting together with good friends at a party. If you really want to give your friends a scare or just a good laugh at your next costume party you should consider wearing one of the very realistic special effects masks that are out there.
These masks are second to none where realism and fun are concerned and you will have everyone at the party making a double take. Whether you want to go funny, scary, or simply out of the box you will find that there is a mask that will provide you exactly what you are looking for.
Fun with Realistic Silicone Masks
The great thing about Special Effects Masks is that they look real, and not just in the dark like those old Halloween masks that we thought were so cool when we were kids. These masks are made of the finest silicone and actually move with your face when you put them on. No need to continually adjust so that you can see out of the mask, instead you simply need to pull the mask on, make sure that it fits right, and you’re ready to impress. These masks really are a lot of fun because they look so real and so un-mask like.
The most common Special Effects Masks that you’ll see on the market include the zombie, the clown, wolf man, thug, old man, and the vampire. These are timeless options that you can wear again and again, year after year, and still get a rise out of your friends at your costume parties. The nice thing about these silicone masks is that they not only look more realistic and fit better, they actually last longer. SPFX masks, the original silicone masks, are known to have a shelf life of 25 years and they will never crack, chip, or become too brittle to be worn.
While the masks will last longer and look better you have to be willing to pay a bit more for them. Because they are made of the highest grade silicone the masks do cost a bit more to make and so the cost is passed onto the consumer.
You can find the masks for varying prices depending on what company that you buy from, but if you want a mask that will hold up well year after year you will likely pay a couple hundred dollars for it. When you consider that you could buy 20 different $50 latex masks in that time, this is still a better deal even though you’ll be paying more at one time.
It does not matter how old you get, costume parties never get old. And even if you do not have an actual costume party you will find that it is fun for you to wear a costume even when no one else is! Great masks add an element of fun to a party that you simply cannot get from anything else. Whether you wear the masks on Halloween or just for fun you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of them!

12 Secrets to a Super EZ Party

Be a Party Star! …Create Super Parties that Shine!

YES, YOU CAN! Just follow the proven Party Secrets at SUPERBIRTHDAYSUPPLY.COM to achieve Party Star Success!

? 1. YOU MUST HAVE A PARTY PLAN

Are you worried that you will forget important party items? Do you feel overwhelmed with details? Do you always run around with last minute stress and anxiety? RELAX! Take a deep breath, and STOP worrying. Help is on the Way! If you want PARTY SUCCESS, you must have a plan.

? 2. SELECT A PARTY DATE AND TIME

What is the party date? Weekday? Weekend? The date will influence the availability of guests. A Birthday Party on the birth day is special but some of your favored guests might not be able to attend. Arrange an alternate date that would be more appropriate. The time of day will influence the type of party: Brunch, Lunch, afternoon, Dinner or after dinner.

3. MAKE A BUDGET

Don’t have any financial surprises! Before you begin, make a realistic budget and stick to it. The budget dictates the number of guests, venue, menu, refreshments, decorations, activities and party formality.

? 4. LOCATION

Your party budget will determine its location. It might be in a country club, catered hall, restaurant, home, back yard, or city park? Location will determine the number of guests, party style and affordability. Secure your location well in advance.

? 5. FOOD AND DRINK

The largest expense in your budget will be food and drink. Food and Drink will be greatly influenced by your party location. Do your homework and get several estimates. Carefully plan your food and beverage selections to fit within your budget plans.

? 6. NUMBER OF GUESTS

How many guests can you invite? Location, menu, and number of guests are the deciding factors that affect your entire budget. Is it more important to have more guests with a simple menu, or fewer guests with a gourmet menu? Review your budget and make your decision.

? 7. PARTY COUNTDOWN

Don’t be late for your own party. Avoid a last minute panic attack. Do everything early, so you can relax and enjoy your own party. A casual lawn party can be planned within a month, while a formal party could require a year of advance planning. A free EZ party countdown can be found on SUPERBIRTHDAYSUPPLYCOUNTDOWN.

? 8. PARTY SHOPPER

Don’t forget anything! Prepare a shopping list. You can use the FREE EZ PARTY SHOPPER at SUPERBIRTHDAYSUPPLYSHOPPER to help develop your party plan, organize your party needs, give you confidence and relieve your anxieties.

The EZ PARTY SHOPPER lists all the major Party Planning elements and product categories. Simply print it or view it on your monitor. Look for the blue product categories on the Shopper, click the category on the EZ TOP BUTTONS on the navigational bar to view, make your selections and click to your shopping cart. Proceed with all categories until your ordering is complete.

Since you have all the product categories before you, you won’t forget anything.

When you have entered all your items on the Shopper, you can relax with the assurance that your major Party Planning has been accomplished. It was Super EZ!

9. MAKE IT SUPER!

Would you like to create Party Magic? Simply use a party theme and your party will sizzle. Your party decorations, tableware and favors, will be theme and color coordinated. They will complement each other and make the party interesting, exciting and SUPER!

10. MAKE IT EZ!

Themed parties are EZ because they simplify all of your party needs with matching invitations, decorations, tableware, and centerpieces. Complete party line themes can accommodate all of your needs from accessories to supplies.

THE EZ PARTY BOX is specially designed for easy party planning for 8 guests. Everything is in the Box: Napkins, plates, cups, streamers, blowouts, hats, forks and spoons, invitations, and balloons. They are color and theme coordinated to make your party special. To view selections, click EZ PARTY BOX on the top navigational bar of SUPERBIRTHDAYSUPPLY.COM .

11. MAKE YOUR PARTY SHINE

Give your party pizzazz! Use accessories like “The Party’s Here” lawn and door signs to welcome guests. Hang a personalized banner that names and recognizes the guest of honor. Streamers, Balloons, and Decorations set a happy mood, while Candles and lighting add sparkle. Select colorful festive tableware with centerpieces to brighten your room.

12. CREATE FUN AND SMILES

Kids love Party Games and Favors! Try the new ribbon piñatas, crafts, magic tricks, or games. Remember to have favors or treat bags for all small children that attend. For adult parties add laughter with Gags¸ Fun, Novelties, Music, or Entertainment.

LET’S PARTY!

Send your invitations to kick off a Super EZ Party! The Party Countdown starts now.

© 2005 Cardens Management Co. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the author’s resource box at the bottom of this article and all click links are included. All links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Aaah, the 16th birthday is quite a milestone in a teenager’s life.  What better way to celebrate it, then with a Sweet 16 bash!  Here are some great ideas and a helpful checklist to assist with planning a party to remember.

Checklist for a SWEET 16 Party:

1. Determine number of guests to invite.
2. Choose a theme
3. Choose a party location (home, banquet hall, etc.)
4. Choose a party menu (scroll down for some examples with recipes)
5. Purchase invitations and mail out at least 2 weeks prior
6. Purchase decorations and party favors
7. Choose party attire
8. Schedule appointment for salon for morning of party for hair/makeup
9. Order birthday cake and catering if applicable.
10. Ask friends and family to help with decorating and set up
11. Create a party tunes for cd player or ipod.
12. Salon for hair and makeup
13. PARTY!

Other great tips and ideas:

• try a theme: luau, bowling, fiesta, pool party, a pyschedelic 60′s bash, or even a Mardi Gras theme!
• Serve non-alcoholic cocktails garnished with cherries, orange slices, and the like
• Hand out feather boas and tiaras to girlfriends as party favors
• Create party music for your ipod using itunes.com or hire a dj
• Set out disposable cameras for tabletops for great candid shots for your scrapbook!
• Hire a professional to teach party guests a particular dance, ie: Bollywood Indian, Salsa, Belly Dancing, Hula Dancing, etc..
• Hire a fortune teller, Caricature artist, or even a henna tattoo artist…
• Order a cake using an image from when the guest of honor was a small tot.
• Serve fingerfood, such as, chocolate covered strawberries, seven layer taco dip, potstickers, mini pizzas.
• Have a blender handy for making up non alcoholic drinks and smoothies, garnish with mini umbrellas and fruit.
• Don’t forget your camera!  What a fun scrapbook it will make!

For more great Sweet 16 party ideas, party supplies, and unique party favors, visit It’s A Party-ful Life!.