Tag Archives: party

Family Reunion Planning: Budgets, Venues, and Food

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In my last post, I talked about why someone might want to plan a family reunion. This post will discuss planning for the reunion budget, venue (location), and food. Budget Unless you have recently won the lottery, you are probably planning your family reunion on a limited budget. There are a number of websites that offer free budgeting worksheets for party (and reunion) planning. The first thing you need to do when planning a family reunion budget is to make a list of everything you will need to purchase or rent. Some items that may be included on your list … Continue reading →

Family Reunion Planning: Why Have a Family Reunion

According to Genealogy.com, approximately 200,000 families hold family reunions each year. More than half of family reunion coordinators say their primary reason for holding a reunion is to keep in touch with other family members. Another quarter of coordinators hold reunions in an attempt to introduce their children to their family heritage. There are many other reasons why people hold reunions: to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, to get together one last time before someone dies, to carry on a regular tradition of getting together, and more. It is a common occurrence at my family’s funerals to hear someone say … Continue reading →

Kids’ Birthday Parties—How Much Is Too Much?

Recession? What recession? The economic crisis, which has battered and bruised many Americans, is apparently a non-issue if your name is Diddy. The rapper with 1,000 names–he was born Sean Combs, but later morphed into “Puff Daddy,” then “P. Diddy,” then the artist known as “Diddy,” then “Straight up P,” and now just “Diddy”—-is showing the world that money really can buy love. And that goes double if you are a parent. Daddy Diddy recently made headlines when he threw his son an insanely expensive Sweet 16 party. The ultimate birthday bash took place at one of New York City’s … Continue reading →

Make Your Frugal Party Look Expensive

Did you know that you can spend just a few dollars and make it look as though you spent hundreds on your party? Home made and arranged can look just as good or better than catered. And you don’t have to lose the sophistication just because you are saving money and being frugal. Use these tips to make your party look like a million dollars. Focus on the Presentation The presentation of food goes a long way to making your party look expensive. Do you ever notice that people are willing to spend more money on tiny platters of food … Continue reading →

Hosting a Valentine’s Day Fondue Party

Despite them being up since the week after Christmas, I have purposely avoided the Valentine’s Day displays at Wal-Mart and Target. Now that we are only a couple weeks away from Love Day, I figure I’d better get motivated to spread some Valentine’s Day cheer. (Ho, ho, no!) While I am still in the planning stages for this year’s festivities, I did find recipes from a Valentine’s Day fondue party I helped host a few years ago. A fondue maker I won at an office Christmas party inspired the party. It broke shortly after the party, but not before we … Continue reading →

Hosting a Girls-Only Super Bowl Party

If you don’t want to be ignored by your hubby for five hours tomorrow evening you might consider sending him to a friend’s house to watch the Super Bowl. While he’s gone invite your gal pals over for a football fiesta of your very own. Otherwise, if your better half has commandeered the TV remote, then meet up with your girlfriends at a local bowling alley or favorite restaurant. While there order some of your favorite drinks and toast the end of the football season. If your guest list is stunted because your BFFs can’t find a sitter to watch … Continue reading →

Hosting an Inauguration Day Party

More than three million people have descended on Washington, D.C. to witness Barack Obama make history as he becomes the nation’s first African-American president. If you are not able to travel to our nation’s capital in time for tomorrow’s inauguration festivities, don’t fret. You can celebrate the momentous occasion in the comfort of your own home. Make the historic event a family affair by hosting an inauguration party. Here are some tips to get you started: Fire Up the DVR. Many schools are allowing students to watch the parade and swearing-in ceremony during class time. However, you can record the … Continue reading →

Food, Favors and Decorations to Complete Your Family Election Party

My last blog outlined invitations and possible activities for an Election Day (or Night) Party. This blog will help you prepare for the party. Favors/Name Tags Make name tags/favors in which the name is on a white circle of cardstock. Folded loops of ribbon be glued to the back of the cardstock around the edges of the circle. Leave two ribbons (hanging down. This resembles the rosette ribbons worn by members of political parties in England (hence the term, “showing your colors”). If it’s just a family party, rather than names you could make ribbons of different countries and write … Continue reading →

Election Night Party

Why not throw together an election-day party for your family? If you have extended family or friends who can join you, so much the better. (Use judgment in selecting guests who can watch and discuss election results with each other in a civil manner.) Invitations: Have these ready when your crew comes home from work or school: Folded cardstock: on front, paste a clip art image of Uncle Sam and write“I WANT YOU…” On the inside write “… to join me for an election party.” Then lower on the page put the headline: “Proposition One” and following that this text: … Continue reading →

Halloween Party Themes

It’s not too late to put on a spectacular Halloween party at home. Invite your neighbors to come over after trick or treating, or plan the party for the day after Halloween and get a little more use out of those costumes. Having a Halloween party theme can go a long way in making preparations easier. You can have a set of parameters to work in, so making decisions about decorations and food will be easy. Just remember that there are different approaches to having a party for kids and a party for adults. Adults might not appreciate the cutesy … Continue reading →