How to Plan a Family Movie Night

If a typical television evening in your home is three different televisions showing three different shows at the same time then it may be time to introduce a fun family movie night. This event is a great way of bringing your family together. Here are some ideas about how to plan a family movie night. Pick a day and time This is the first step in planning a family movie night. You can choose to make it a one-time thing or have it as a regular family event. Friday nights are usually a great time to plan a family movie … Continue reading →

Host a Summer Olympics Party at Home

There may still be time to host a gathering together of friends for the Summer Olympics opening ceremony, which takes place tonight. No friends available? You can have a private little party with just the kids. Or, choose an upcoming weekend to host a real olympic-sized blow out. Keep reading for some tips to help you host a Summer Olympics party. We have ideas for invitations, favors and decoration. Summer Olympics Invitations A fun idea for invitations for a Summer Olympics party is to make them in the form of a medal. You can cut out a single circle from … Continue reading →

Tips for Safe Outdoor Entertaining

One of the biggest considerations when hosting meals outdoors is sanitation. We know we have to wash our hands properly, handle food properly, and make sure all containers are fresh and clean. However, one of the most serious issues is food poisoning due to food not being kept at proper temperatures. It’s very easy to lose track of time and not realize how long food has been sitting out. In warm weather, food can spoil quickly. It is important to either bring food inside and place it back into the refrigerator, or keep it on ice, making sure to replace … Continue reading →

Houseguests when it’s not Holiday Time

We tend to discuss making houseguests feel welcome during the major holiday seasons. However, there are many other occasions on which you may be hosting other people or entire other families in your home. Some people will prefer to book to a hotel room, while for others, such an expense could keep them from making the trip. We often stay with family when traveling and also host family members when they visit. We’ve found that when there isn’t a holiday or celebration, people can become bored. They want to be on vacation, not just sit around. While visiting and relaxing … Continue reading →

Invitation Etiquette

The R.S.V.P. is notorious for being ignored. In some cases, it is not so much a sense of ignoring it, as it is failure to remember to reply within the given timeframe. It happens. We all get busy. However, we need to do our best to let hosts know if we will attend their functions or not. Having a good idea how many people will attend obviously makes preparations simpler. There are other issues when it comes to invitations as well. Proud parents beam as they write out addresses on invitations to their children’s graduation. Thrilled to see that their … Continue reading →

Shape up Your Guest Room in No Time

We’re running out of time before Thanksgiving. There may be no time left to paint or do other projects you had hoped to complete. That’s okay, because there are some quick, simple, affordable ways to get the guest room looking great and you can use these ideas at holidays or any time. First, check into a reversible comforter set, duvet cover, or one of those “bed in a bag” deals. By changing the bedding, thus treating what is generally the focal point in any bedroom, you’ll make an impact quickly. There are some terrific and affordable options, and if you … Continue reading →

Pretty Party Vases

Want a festive display for your next party? Why not try these easy to make pretty party vases using materials left over from summer? You’ll have some unique and attractive decorations that can be adapted and reused for almost any party. If you have been putting off discarding some of your outdoor or porch party decorations, then congratulations. That just means that they are available to repurpose into new decorations for the fall and winter holidays. One nice idea is to take apart paper lanterns from a set of summer party lights. We will turn them into pretty vases that … Continue reading →

How to Take an Outdoor Party Indoors in a Hurry

If the weather simply won’t cooperate with your outdoor party plans, there’s no reason to reschedule. You can bring the party indoors without a problem, if you’re prepared. This time of year, the weather is still quite nice in my area (85 degrees yesterday) so I usually have outdoor parties for our October birthdays. Unfortunately, you just can’t be sure of the weather as it may quickly become chilly or begin to rain or even storm. So, it pays to be prepared. I use plastic storage baskets and bins to carry everything outside. If necessary, I can throw everything back … Continue reading →

Odds and Ends: Birthdays and Tailgate Parties

Do you have any parties planned between now and the onset of the holidays? Maybe you do a Halloween or Harvest party. We’ll get into those soon, but for now, here are a couple of tips for some other types of fall parties. Birthday Party Idea Instead of a typical, disposable party tablecloth, cover a table with poster board. Have all the kids sign it, adding various notes and doodles. Your child will have a great memento of the party. Another option is to supply a smaller piece of poster board or card stock, one that will fit inside a … Continue reading →

Getting the Guest Room Ready for Guests

You’ll often hear that each room should have a separate function, and that makes sense if you have plenty of space. However, if your guest room does double duty, say as a home office, you can still make it into a comfortable space for company. By making the guest area the focus of the room, your guests won’t feel like they’re sleeping in your office. Stand in the doorway of the guest room and see what you notice first (a tried and true trick for discovering focal points). If it doesn’t look like a guest room from the entrance, a … Continue reading →