Tag Archives: party

Summer Gathering Safety for Pets

A backyard barbeque or garden party can be fun for the whole family — including your pets. Here are some tips to help ensure that your four-legged friends have a good and safe time. Take your dog on a nice, long walk before guests arrive. If he’s already tired, he will be less likely to jump, bark, or be over-enthusiastic in his greetings. Set up a safe place for your pets to get away from the activity of a cookout or party. Maybe a bed or blanket in a shady spot; maybe a safe room inside where the guests won’t … Continue reading →

Salads for Your Graduation Party

Posted on by

Are you throwing a big bash for your graduate? These salads are unique and have just the right amount of sophistication for your many guests that will come through your house wishing the graduate well. One nice thing about featuring salads at a graduation party is you can quickly pair them with some finger sandwiches or order pizza, a graduation cake of course, and then you’re done with the meal! Best of all, this can all be done in advance! Cucumber and Bleu Cheese Salad This salad has a hint of Mediterranean flavor. Although it’s not your typical green salad, … Continue reading →

Graduation—Part Five—Planning the Party

Yesterday, in my series on Graduation and all of the tasks, trials, and joys that come along with it, I wrote about the decision-making process of whether to even have a party or not. You might think that a party is obligatory, but it’s not. I think it is really up to the graduating student as to what he or she wants to do. If you have decided to have that bash, however, you now have to come up with a plan—the theme, budget, menu, decorations, etc. Planning the party can be a challenge in the midst of everything else … Continue reading →

Graduation—Part Three—to Have a Party or Not

Since I am living through the intensity of high school graduation—double-time (with two daughters moving on to college)—I have been writing about some of my challenges and observations. One of the big ones for us was deciding whether to have a party or not, and then figuring out what sort of a party, how to invite people and even coordinating the “when” was a big deal… Once my daughters decided that they could and would have a party together, they were both on board. At first, they just weren’t sure. There are so many other parties going on and one … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Potpourri: Paris Takes Partying to New Heights and Cashing in on Baby

PARIS TAKES PARTYING TO NEW HEIGHTS Funny, I thought Paris Hilton’s post jail promise was to give up partying and help save the world. So much for that idea. In news that should really not surprise anyone the perpetual party princess has found a way that she can get her groove on 24/7. Word has it that the former reality TV star is building a private nightclub in the basement of her new Hollywood Hills home. How convenient. According to reports, the sexy socialite is currently renovating her sprawling five-bedroom mansion (the one she just dropped $6 million on) to … Continue reading →

Celebrations and Parties for No Good Reason!

Sure, we have holidays, and birthdays, and graduations–but do we really have enough celebrations to keep life peppy and purposeful? One of the grand things about family life is that we can come up with our own celebrations; we can have those typical holiday parties and such, but we can also have parties for no obvious reason whatsoever… My eldest daughter has appropriated one particular date of the year as “her” day. Several years ago, when she was still in middle school, she had a particularly pleasant, happy and lucky day and ever since then, she celebrates that date in … Continue reading →

Planning a Party While Trying to Lose Weight

Posted on by

Sometimes, being the host or hostess can be the best thing for your diet. It is a great excuse to spend money on all those great, healthy foods that you usually consider a splurge. It also puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to what will be served and what will not. If you are trying to lose weight, there is no better place to be when it comes to a party. With bathing suit season on the way, your guests may just thank you for using some of these tips to throwing a healthier party: Beverages A … Continue reading →

Staying with Kids at Parties

With toddlers and preschoolers, parents generally seem pretty clear on the concept that if their child is invited to a birthday party, they are supposed to stay with the child to help and supervise. But, what about elementary-aged children? How old does a child need to be before a parent stops going along? Can a parent go even if other parents don’t and how old is too old to have mom or dad tagging along? I know that some of you would like hard and fast rules, or at least a page from Emily Post offering the suggested age range … Continue reading →

Frugal SuperBowl

Want to celebrate the Superbowl but not spend a lot of money? From hosting parties to getting in on official events, here are some ideas that will help you have a great time and stay on budget. Your guests will hope that you host it every year! One idea to have a frugal Superbowl is to host a potluck party. Ask your guests to bring food or a beverage. You can provide the paper plates, cups, napkins, etc. Purchase them at the dollar store instead of the party store to save a lot of money. You can also make inexpensive … Continue reading →

Always a Hostess…

I woke up this morning deciding that I want to go on strike—not from being a mother or a single parent, but I want to go on strike from always being a hostess, the hostess, and very seldom a guest. Either I am such a bore as to be a terrible guest, or I have learned how to be a hostess too well—regardless, I’m tired of always being the one with the clean house and the matching wine goblets. After thirty years of throwing parties, usually by myself, I’m ready for an extended hiatus. The thing is, I actually like … Continue reading →