Are back-to-school parties more for the parents or the kids? After all, I don’t know many children who joyfully celebrate the end of summer and their subsequent freedom to stay up late, sleep in, and hang out at the pool, park or beach all day. Still, the long Labor Day weekend begets partying whether your child is in the mood or not. Whether you choose to host a back-to-school theme or a more subdued late-summer event, consider taking advantage of the ability to celebrate outdoors as Old Man Winter will be here before you know it. Back-to-school shindigs don’t have … Continue reading →

If you can’t make it to beach for a summer bash, then bring the sun, sand and surf to your backyard. If you are working on a budget, don’t fret. I am not suggesting that you build a wave pool and truck in a few tons of sand to recreate Waikiki Beach off your patio. Rather, consider the following simple ways to transform your backyard into a summer oasis that your friends and family will flock to in order to ride a wave of fun: Decor: Bright summer flowers are a great way to add pops of color to tables. … Continue reading →

More power to you if you are willing to host an outdoor summer bash without the aid of a pool. This season’s record hot temperatures have put a damper on some summer shindigs simply because it is unsafe to be outside in certain parts of the nation during the heat of the day. If you have a swimming pool, then entertaining outside during a heat wave doesn’t seem as extreme. However, if you don’t have access to thousands of gallons of chlorinated water to cool off your party guests, then you need to get creative. Pull out the Slip-n-Slide for … Continue reading →

Just because you don’t have a summer birthday doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with a monster bash that people will be talking about well into winter. Summer parties typically involve barbeques, backyard bonfires and plenty of beverages. However, if you are looking to spice up your seasonal get-together why not think outside of the box with these fun themes: Go West: Ditch the beach theme and kick up your heels at a western-themed hoedown. Print up invitations on computerized wanted posters and request that guests attend the party in western duds. For those who forget their gear, hand out large, … Continue reading →

My birthday is at the end of August. Growing up I always considered it a curse to have a summer birthday. For many years I didn’t have a party with friends because they were either out of town on vacation or they were too busy getting ready to head back to school. Some twenty-plus years later, I’ve learned that having a summer birthday doesn’t have to be a bummer. Rather, there are plenty of ways you can infuse fun into an outdoor bash that makes the most of the season’s beautiful weather: Cupcake War: This year, my daughter is insisting … Continue reading →

Not for nothing, but these are not the kind of favors I’ll be handing out at my daughter’s high school graduation party. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose controversial or costly items to hand out to guests at a commencement party. Most of the people attending your student’s shindig are there to reminisce about the many milestones they’ve accomplished in high school and chat about what the future holds as they head off to college. The focus of the party should be on spending quality item with one another; not worrying about what types of trinkets should be dispersed at … Continue reading →

It’s one thing to have a party where loved ones gather for some food and fun, but it’s quite another for your shindig to make such a huge impact on your guests that its talked about for weeks, or even months down the road. Maybe you hire a guy to teach your guests how to weave baskets underwater at your next pool party or you rent out an entire petting zoo for your kid’s fourth birthday. Regardless, the object is to make your get-together as memorable as possible. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank in order to create … Continue reading →

My friend’s son graduates from high school next week. Two days later, her home will be filled with no less than 175 of her son’s nearest and dearest pals, thanks in large part to the fact that he created a Facebook page dedicated solely to informing his peeps about his grad party. The ingenious teen is having a blast planning his commencement shindig, including constantly updating his online party page. His mom, not so much. While she is thrilled to commemorate her son’s milestone, trying to figure out how she is going to keep 175 teens and their parents entertained—outside, … Continue reading →

It’s a milestone that screams, “PARTY!” Graduating from high school, college, or even kindergarten is a huge deal for students and their families. So how do you commemorate such an auspicious occasion? Typically, commencement celebrations take place at the graduate’s favorite restaurant or at home with an informal gathering. However, if you are looking to spice up your once-in-a-lifetime shindig, consider the following themes: Reunions: Reunited and it feels so good. This theme works especially well for a college graduation party. Reunite your grad with a bunch of his old high school friends who may have moved to various parts … Continue reading →