Happy Holidays - DIY Greeetings Party

Happy Holiday!  It’s been awhile, and I’ve missed you. Hello to all subscribers; welcome to the party! I know you’re looking for a good excuse to hunker down with your girlfriends, and I ’ve got one–it’s the holidays, after all. We all have too many errands to do this time of year, so why not get one done together? 

This season, throw a Holiday Greetings party for your closest pals. Invite everyone to your place and provide a comfortable space for them to address and sign their Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa cards. It’s a great way to make a tedious task more fun and catch up with your girlfriends at the same time. You can easily throw this party together and have it this week, leaving you plenty of time to mail those cards out.



Setting and Setup
This is an easy party to set up. You’ll want to make sure everyone has enough tabletop space to comfortably write their cards. Holiday decorations will help put everyone in a festive mood, so try to get that done ahead of time. Holiday music is a must–especially if you can come up with something a little different. Try the Great Women of Christmas CD for some classic holiday cheer by some powerful women. A Very Special Christmas Vol. 1 is classic pop fun, and A Charlie Brown Christmas brings a moody instrumental flair to your party. But since holiday music selections are endless, and run the gamut from celtic to swing to punk, get what you and your friends like. Don’t forget to light a fire in the fireplace, or some candles to add a holiday glow. Simmer a pot of cinnamon sticks on the stove for a decidedly welcoming atmosphere.

Invitations
You’ll want to make sure your invitation gets noticed in the flurry of holiday mail. So instead of a typical holiday invitation, do something a little different. Buy small holiday memo pads at the dollar store, and write the invitation details on the first page. Place the pad in an envelope and mail for a invitation that comes in handy too.  Or, find the girliest pink invitation you can and send that–it will really stand out among the reds, greens, silvers and blues. On the invitation, remind your girlfriends to bring their invitations, address book, stamps, address labels, and a writing instrument. (If you are really last-minute, just call or use Evite.)

Food and Drink
Whatever you serve, make sure you have some warm offerings to match the warm feelings of the season. A simple supper of soup and bread would be divine. Or, ask each girlfriend to bring a warm appetizer. Hot chocolate (spiked with peppermint schnapps, if desired) or apple cider, mulled wine, or coffee drinks are all apropros. This recipe for a warm-cider-based Indian Summer sounds intriguing and easy. You may want ask your girlfriends to keep food and drink off the table you are using to write invites (to prevent staining someone’s holiday greeting), but that’s up to you.

Making Connections
As you work on your cards, you’ll no doubt be catching up on all the latest girlfriend news. But during conversation lulls, try some of these conversation starters having to do with holiday cards and traditions–or make up some of your own. You can even write the questions on cards or slips of paper and take turns drawing them from a hat. You’ll learn some interesting tidbits about your gal pals!

• Who has been on your holiday card list the longest?
• Who lives the farthest away on your list?
• When did you first start sending your own holiday cards?
• How do you display holiday cards?
• What is your favorite holiday song?
• What is your most cherished holiday decoration?
• What is your favorite holiday tradition?
• What do you hate about the holidays?
• What is your most memorable holiday gift?
• Do you re-use gift bags? Wrapping paper?

Party Favors 
The "write" favor for this party would be a special pen. Purchase a nice selection at a party supply or card store, choosing either a holiday theme or a feminine one.  Let your guests pick out one to use at the party (if desired) and take home. 

There-wasn’t that simple? You got your cards done and had fun. What your girlfriends will remember is not how clean your house was, or how sophisticated your appetizers were, but that you gave them a warm welcome and an opportunity to enjoy each other, away from the pressures of the holiday season.

I  hope you have a December full of peace, joy and friendship.

Cheers!
Angee

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How to throw a Progressive Dinner Party!

Who doesn’t love to throw a dinner party? But…no one wants all that work! Why not organize a Progressive Dinner Party? Here’s how it works: At a progressive dinner party, guests share the duties of cooking, entertaining and cleaning up. Dinner often begins with appetizers and drinks in one location, moves on to the salads, then entrée in another, and concludes with dessert and coffee in a third. This gives the traditional dinner party a twist.

Ready to give it a try? Here’s how to plan a progressive dinner party.  Choose your hosts.  Select three or four people who would be interested in participating in a progressive dinner party.  Ideally, the participants should live fairly close to one another to reduce the distance that needs to be drive between homes. Plan the menu. To plan a progressive dinner party, decide what each host will serve and the order in which the homes will be visited. The first house usually serves appetizers and cocktails, the second salads, the third the main course, and the last house dessert. Let each host know ahead of time approximately when the guests will be arriving at their location.   

Prepare the invitation list. It’s important to only invite as many people as each host can accommodate. If one host has a small home, this may limit your guest list. Send out the invitations. Include the times and the address of each participating host in the progressive dinner. Make sure to include an RSVP. Follow up by calling each guest to confirm who is coming and who isn’t so you can give the hosts an accurate count. Keep the progressive dinner moving on schedule. Try to restrict the time spent at each house to forty-five minutes or so and make sure everyone leaves on time. Spending too much time at one house will throw the entire schedule off and upset the hosts.  

Don’t forget to thank each host who participated after the progressive dinner with a special hostess gift such as a nice bottle of wine, a handmade basket of goodies, or arranged flowers. 

Enjoy and please send ideas or photos from your party! 

Cheers!
Angee

 

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Happy Birth Day - A Non Traditional Baby Shower!

 

Oh baby, you’re not hip on traditional baby showers, but still want to plan something special for your girlfriend who’s expecting? Why not plan a Birth Day Party–a shower designed around the needs of your friend and the day of delivery. This party is ideal for mothers who aren’t having their first child, or who have already had a traditional shower. It’s also perfect for those who can’t stand the thought of one more silly baby shower game. By turning the focus on the new mother, you can add comfort to her days and nurture her with loving support. Here’s how:

The setting

Showers are traditionally held in homes or in fancy halls. Either would be fine for this party too. But remember, this is an un-shower. So, think about where your girlfriend feels most comfortable. Outdoors in nature? In a coffee shop? Nightclub? Consider her personality and try to make the day about her.

The invitations

PaperHeart Company has a great custom invitation idea that lets you use an ultrasound picture of your pregnant girlfriend. If you choose to make your own invitation, we still like the idea of focusing on your girlfriend and honoring the changes she is going through.

Food and drink

Well of course, you’ll need to think about her favorite foods. Give the woman what she wants! It will be the last time for a long while that anyone will make a fuss over her, so try to get it right. Don’t forget the Birth Day cake…and it had better be chocolate if your girlfriend is anything like ours!

The gifts

Instead of bringing gifts for the baby, ask each guest to bring a gift to make the days around delivery a little easier. These might include: A comfy robe and a pair of slippers to relax in (check out this one), pretty nursing pajamas, a stash of magazines to pass the time in the hospital, snack food for her cravings, music to help her unwind, a good luck charm or a symbol of the occasion (like one of these from Zazzle).  For DIY & some ready-made gifts (or just ideas to use), see this New Mother Comfort Kit, Birth and Beyond Delivery Kit, or Essential Labor Comfort Kit. Girlfriends who would rather give of themselves can make gift certificates for hours of baby-sitting, dinners to deliver, or house cleaning.

Nurturing activities

• Give each shower guest a few diapers and some Sharpies and ask them to write a message to the new mom on the front and/or back of the diapers. These diapers are to be reserved for late night changings by mom so the point is to write something funny or encouraging to give her a little pick-me-up in the wee hours of the night!
• Ask each guest to bring a baby picture of themselves (do not show anyone) when they arrive display with numbers and ask guest to “Name that Baby”.
• For a twist, have each guest complete the following sentence, written to the unborn child: “I know your mother was excited about your birth because_____________.” The answers can be read aloud, and then put inside a penny bank to be opened by the child on his or her birthday (milestone birthday of mother’s choice). This makes a great “time capsule” and is a great way to include the child.
• Before everyone leaves, have them sign up for a date to bring your girlfriend a meal after the baby arrives.

Party favors

What better way to celebrate the new life growing inside your friend than with a tiny plant or seedpacket, wrapped up with a bow in a small, pretty pot? You might try to find baby’s breath or sweet pea plants or seeds to keep the theme going.

Have a wonderful day celebrating your friend’s big event! Let me know how it turns out!

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Kitchen Shower, a Non Traditional Bridal Shower

Traditionally, bridal showers were occasions during which a bride-to-be’s female friends and relatives provided her with small gifts that she could use to set up her new household. The basic idea remains intact, but today’s bridal showers span across many different themes. If you’re in charge of planning a bridal shower, you’d probably like it to be special, practical and fun. Most bridal registries are at least half filled with all the modern gadgets and tried and true staples of a fully appointed kitchen. Since the bridal registry is already filled with kitchen items, why not host a kitchen themed bridal shower? Here are some kitchen shower ideas to get you started:

Venue: Depending on the size of your guest list, host your kitchen bridal shower at the mothers, a bridesmaids, or a relatives home, a local restaurant that is the bride's favorite, or something outside the box would be a culinary school that offers private sessions. If the shower is on the smaller side, move extra chairs into the kitchen. After all, at any party guests tend to congregate in the kitchen. Why not make them more comfortable there? If you choose to host the party at a local restaurant, try to find one with an open-themed kitchen where diners can watch chefs and sous-chefs in action.

Invitations: Once you have picked your kitchen shower invitation, (create your own, email me for a custom design invitation or check out Zazzle’s collection Kitchen Shower invites.) consider what information needs to be included with the invitation. For example, a great kitchen shower idea is to ask each guest to write out one of their favorite recipes to help the bride get started in the kitchen! If you plan to host the party at home, consider making the party a potluck. Then, ask each guest to bring the recipe for the dish they bring to the party. A fun way to jazz up your invitation is to frame it on mini cutting boards and hand deliver them.  

Source: Martha Stewart via Angee's Evention on Pinterest

 Decor: Think outside the box when it comes to centerpieces, decor and place settings. Use a collection of kitchen tools displayed in a utensil holder or other large item off the bride's registry. It also becomes a gift for the bride. If you need more than one centerpiece ask bridesmaids to each create a different one within the theme. Much of your bridal shower guest's time is spent in her seat, so don't go overboard with too much decor about the space and instead, pay more attention to each place setting's look and feel. For example, place cards; create place cards that are also a parting gift for your guests. Buy cookie cutters and use them as napkin rings around kitchen towels in the bride’s wedding colors & slip pieces of paper with your guest’s names through the cookie cutters. Use a ‘Towel Cake’ on the gift table or dessert table. 

Source: Robin's Creative Cottage via Angee's Eventions on Pinterest

Source: Between Naps on the Porch via Angee's Eventions on Pinterest

 

Guestbook: Rather than purchase a book that the bride will look at a few times, create something that the bride can use or enjoy every day! Buy a plain white chef’s apron and a box of permanent markers. Ask your guests to sign the apron so your bride will have the happy memory of her kitchen bridal shower every time she steps into the kitchen! Or have guests write on plates to be mounted on the couple's wall later. Choose white dishes for the well-wishes, and metallic paint-pen for the written inscriptions. After the event, the bride can arrange the signed plates with patterned ones in a random grouping for a sophisticated feel.

Source: C.R.A.F.T. via Angee's Eventions on Pinterest

Games: One fun kitchen shower game is “Recipe Mix-Up.” To play, take a multi-step recipe and write out each of the steps on separate slips of paper. Guests or teams compete against each other to be the quickest to put the recipe correctly back in order. Another fun game is “The Apron & Kitchen Utensil” game. Get complete rules and how to play directions here!  Another fun idea for entertainment during the bridal shower is to hand out recipe cards and have everyone jot down at least one or two special tips and tricks for a successful marriage. Or, have everyone jot down at least one or two special tips and tricks for the kitchen. Everyone has special little things that they do to keep their kitchens tidy or to produce the best results in the kitchen possible, and an event like this is the perfect opportunity to compile everyone’s best advice. The bride-to-be is sure to refer to these cards again and again as she sets up her own kitchen, and she’ll remember each person who contributed their suggestion. You could dress a manikin with an apron monogrammed with the bride’s married initials and have guest place the cards inside the pockets. The apron will also be a great gift for the bride. 

The main reason to have a bridal shower is to get together and share advice about married life. The kitchen is the beating heart of any home, and this type of bridal shower will set the stage for a very happy household. This shower idea would as make a great housewarming party!

Cheers!

Angee

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Birthday Party Celebrating the Decades

Photo via 123Greetings.com

What better cause for celebration than a girlfriend’s birthday? Many of you have written that you are hosting a birthday party for a special friend, and you’re seeking ideas that help you honor the unique and cherished person that she is. Well, go ahead and plan that party, because I am here to help you commemorate the occasion–whether she’s turning 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 and beyond. If you need ideas and inspiration, this girlfriend decade party will help you create a “friendulous” birthday filled with fabulous memories.

Setting and setup:

Sometimes the simplest location can create an atmosphere for the best party. If you live in a warm area, plan to have the party outdoors on a deck or patio. Decorate with tabletop candles, strings of mini lanterns or lights, and pretty tablecloths. Tie a few balloons around the area for a little festivity. Do make sure lighting is adequate: if not, you may want to move the party indoors. It is always more charming to actually see the person you are talking to (and the food you are eating). Stick to the basics–a clean area and great lighting–and a wonderful party will follow. Your friends won’t remember if your tablecloth was from Bloomingdales or T.J Maxx, but the memory of having a good time is what will stay in their hearts and minds.

Cute decorating ideas: 

Here are a few ideas for unique tabletop decorations.

• Try a photo sculpture of your girlfriend (from zazzle.com). You can easily try this knock-off version from home if you are pinching pennies. Take a favorite photo to the photo copier/printer store, one such as OfficeMax or FedEx Office. A photo that shows the entire length of the person from head to feet works best. Ask them to enlarge the photo on a color copier to the size you are looking for. Cut out the photo so that just the person is showing, no background images. Glue person to cardboard and trim. Add a small triangular piece of cardboard to the back with glue to create a stand. Voila! You have the perfect decoration, the guest of honor.
• For a really big statement, you can purchase life size cut-outs. These are a little expensive, but make for great photo ops. Snap a polaroid picture of each guest with the real birthday girl and the fake birthday girl at the same time. Leave the polaroids on a small decorative tray as a conversation starter. You may also want to snap the same pose with your digital camera, and give the pictures to the guest of honor after the party. She can use them to enclose in thank-you cards, or as remembrances of her birthday bash.
• If you are looking for a more nostalgic touch, try having some decade-relevant toys on hand to spark memories and lots of conversation. Some relatively inexpensive, popular toys by decade are: 1930s-comic books and jacks, 1940s-dominos and marbles, 1950s-silly putty and hula hoops, 1960s-slinkys and yoyos, and 1970s-Uno and Rubiks cube. You get the idea! Your guests will undeniably want to play with these treasures, leading to lots of laughs.

Invitations:

Nowadays it’s pretty simple to find a cute, girly birthday invitation at your local party store. Evite is a great backup source if life gets in the way of your good intentions. If you are looking to be a little more creative, try helium balloons as invitations. Use your friend’s favorite color for the balloons, or, if she’s having a 50th birthday try gold to signify her golden years. Silver for a 60th birthday to signify the silver years.Balloons are a great way to set the tone for such a festive occasion. You can do this one of two ways: Using a permanent marker, write on one side, “Let’s celebrate Julia’s 40th!” On the other side, write details like, “Join us Sat., Aug. 4th, 7p.m., 229 Plum St., r.s.v.p. 615-123-4567.”  If you are having a surprise party, don’t forget to include that in the invitation. Or, instead of writing on the balloon itself, simply attach an invitation to the string of the balloon.Tie each balloon with a long string or ribbon and deliver in person to the invitees. Or, deliver in large, girly hatboxes from the local craft store and let them float up when the box is opened. If the invitee is not home, don’t forget to secure the balloon well by tying it around a door handle or chair. Just make sure there are no sharp objects around it!

Photo via Mollie Cochrane (Family member)

Food & Drink:

Since your party is all about your girlfriend, serve only her favorite appetizers, desserts and drinks. Consider adding popular foods from the specific decade in which she was born. Here is a food timeline that has popular menus and food ideas from the 1910s to the 1980s. A fun, reminiscent touch would be to have a candy buffet full of candy from the decade of her birth or childhood–this is sure to spark some memories. Here is a list of popular candies from the 1950s to 1980s.

Don't forget the cake! Make sure it represents the guest of honor. Weather by the decade or something special to her! (i.e. if born in the 80's try a Rubik's Cube Cake.)  Candles can create a waxy mess on the beautiful cake and a lot of smoke after they’ve been blown out. Try one of these fun singing birthday candles! If you’re in a pinch for time or don't have a budget for a custom cake, ask a guest to bake a favorite cake or brownie to bring to the party.

A non-fat alternative to the birthday cake is a beautifully arranged flower cake. For a whimsical touch, try the birthday hat bouquet. This is a great idea if the birthday girl wants to blow out the candles without the extra calories. Not only will it make a gorgeous centerpiece but it will be a nice gift for the birthday girl to take home.

A short toast to the guest of honor is definitely a must. Make your toast simple and from the heart. If you’re at a loss for words, you might try something like this:

“Let’s raise our glasses today

to celebrate

in a very special way

one of the very best things

that happened in 19__,

[your friends name].”

Connecting Activities:

Decade Trivia – You can easily make up trivia questions or a list of decade -relevant fun facts. Use thepeoplehistory.com or wikipedia to gather your facts. It’s fun to see which guest can get the most trivia questions correct. Just talking about the trivia and fun facts can lead your guests into sentimental discussions of the way things used to be.

About Her Trivia -  Give the guest of honor a list of personal interview questions to complete, and hide the answers from the other guests. Ask the party guests to answer the questions on their own sheets of paper. Then, have the birthday girl read her answers. The person with the most correct answers wins the game. It’s fun for your guests to learn things about their girlfriend that they never knew. Interview questions might include: What color are her eyes?, What was her first job?, What is the most unlikely job she’s held?, Where is the favorite place she’s lived or traveled?, What was the first car she drove?, What was the first job she held?, When did she first kiss a boy? What color was her prom dress?, What is her favorite snack food?, What is her favorite color?, She was voted “most” what in high school?, What is one thing she hopes to accomplish in the future?, What famous person would she most like to meet?, or What did she want to be when she grew up?

She Takes the Cake Stand – Ask your guests to write some words of wisdom on a glass cake stand. Make it interesting by asking for words of advice that the birthday girl has given to them, or by asking them to share their wishes for the future for her. Using different-colored, permanent, non-toxic glass markers from the local craft store (here is an example), you can give your girlfriend a unique serving piece by which to remember her special day from years to come.

Rockin' Guest Book- Find an album from the decade and have guest sign the cover with birthday wishes for the guest of honor. 

Gifts and Favors:

Want a meaningful birthday gift that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Prior to the party, ask each guest to choose a song that reminds them about the birthday girl, or a song that they’d like to dedicate to her, or just a fun song they can share together. Burn a CD containing the selected songs. If the guest list is small, add a song for every decade of her life on the disc. You can play this at the party, give to each of your guests as a party favor, and give this to your girlfriend as a way to invoke memories of a fun-filled day with those who mean the most to her. Another gift idea is this wooden keepsake box from VoiceQuilt.com filled with sound of special friends to touch the heart. If you are in search of a group gift idea, look no further. This beautiful box can be filled with the voices of everyone’s heartfelt greetings, memories and tributes. She will savor the memories each time she listens to this one-of-a-kind gift.

Gathering with your friends to celebrate an important birthday is a great way to make a special girlfriend feel supported and cared for. Even if it’s last-minute, with no elaborate planning involved, it will help her feel appreciated. 

This party idea will work for both your male friends and girlfriends alike! So “cheers” to your very special birthday party! 

Angee

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