Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Shower Power

Shower games only make a long event even longer and allow for less good gossip among the girls, usually. However, this simple shower game actually encourages chats and laughter and hardly adds a minute to the whole she-bang.  So, in case you are ever in need of a “Shower Game”…

1.    Every guest receives a mini clothespin and attaches it to their shirt collar or dress sleeve.  The pins are available at craft stores or online at Crafta.com  and Wilton.com.
2.    The host explains the rules. The goal is to avoid saying “baby” and collect as many pins as possible.  Every time someone hears you say baby, they have the right to take away a pin.  (Of course you can change the word to suit your needs, e.g., for a wedding shower you might use the word “wedding”.)
3.    Throughout the shower guests collect and lose pins.
4.    At the end of the shower, the guest with the most pins wins a prize.

And that's it!

Entertaining Allergies

More and more people are suffering from food allergies these days.  Peanut butter is no longer allowed in some schools due to the fact that so many kids are allergic to nuts.  (What would mom have done?) When it comes to entertaining, allergies can make life challenging.  If you are having a large party, make sure there is plenty of variety available, and consider nut, fish, corn, chocolate, dairy soy and wheat/gluten allergies as these seem to be the most common.  If you are having a small dinner party, usually the afflicted guest(s) will inform you of their allergy when responding to your invitation and then you can attempt to plan a menu around their needs or provide the guest(s) with an alternative. 
One very helpful spot is Sure Foods Market.  This "online source for gluten-free, allergen-free food and information" is so easy to shop. Each product is color-coded making it easy for you to determine which foods are right for your given situation.  And, most of all, with their endless assortment of products, Sure Foods makes it possible to serve birthday cake, cookies, and pizza again, even when the guest of honor is allergic to wheat. (We especially LOVE the Namaste Spice Cake.) Let the festivities begin!

Sis! Boom! Bah!

Try these neat Origami Fire Crackers for the 4th of July Holiday! Kids and adults will have a blast decorating them and even more fun popping them! The bigger the paper, the louder the pop.

A standard piece of laser paper works great. Or, for an even bigger "boom" try an 11x17" sheet of paper. A sturdy wrapping paper works great. Or, my favorite, newspaper! Thin papers, like newspaper tend to tear after just a few pops, so keep a few extra sheets on stand by. [click image below to enlarge]

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Post and images provided by the folks at Anna Bella Stationery

Patriot Games

Throwing a 4th of July bash this year?  Depending the size and age of your guest list, you may want to throw in a couple rounds of competition to keep the party going and the “kids” out of trouble. A few to consider:

Horseshoes:  Easy to play, set up and fun for all ages.  A nice set is available at Restoration Hardware.

Croquet:  Really, not as stuffy as you might think.  Croquet can be played in teams, great for mixing up different generations. 

Bocce:  Easier set up than croquet, but again great for both individuals and teams; can be slightly addicting. Bocce sets can be found all over, including Target.

Volleyball:  Need a crowd for this one, and not the best option for younger kids… however, great for the beach or next to the pool and guaranteed to make ’em sweat.

Ping Pong:  More of an investment as you do need a table… and then a place to store the table in the winter.  But then think of the beer pong late night. Too fun.

Tug-o-war:  So simple and so competitive. All that’s needed are a long rope and teams with somewhat even amounts of strength.

And if organized games aren’t your thing, water balloons, slip and slides, and butterfly nets are always great to have on hand for the wee ones….and so much safer than fire crackers.

Super-Size my 4th of July!

Independence Day is one of those grand holidays where it's simply accepted by friends, neighbors and fellow man to go completely over the top, bonkers, extreme with love for country, patriotic buntings and flags, painted stars on faces and blue hair. It's the one time of year when no one, and I mean no one,  can pass judgment on your red, white and blue Jello mold.  And you, being the hostess with the mostest, wouldn't dream of having it any other way.

An inspiration piece is all you need to get the party started. Independence Day seems like an easy enough theme. But, wait. It's completely overwhelming; there's just too many 4th of July related themes from which to choose...flags, fireworks, Uncle Sam!

Since we've got the green light from society to cross that fine line of going too far with one theme,  don't settle. Make patriotism your theme! Wave those flags, sing those patriotic songs at the top of your lungs. Put the 20' blow up Uncle Sam on your front lawn. Mix novelties - flags with pinwheels with kazoos and anything else red, white and blue.  And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, put your feet up and enjoy that Jello!

Below are some fabulous online places to Super-Size your 4th of July festivities:

Lillian Vernon:

[photo Lillian Vernon: Historic Flag Streamers]
Lillian Vernon has an extensive collection of fun 4th of July goodies - from disposable items to wooden keepsakes you'll put on display year after year. Prices are very reasonable, with most items $24 or under.
**They're currently having a sale on 4th of July items!

Oriental Trading Company:

[photo Oriental Trading Co.: Foam Finger]
This is THE place for Super-Sizing any party. They offer dozens of patriotic themed products, all very affordable and all very fun! I couldn't resist these foam fingers for the parade - just $5.95 each.

Happy Birthday, U.S.A.! And many more!

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Post and images provided by the folks at Anna Bella Stationery

The Details

They say it’s all in the details, and I have to agree, at least somewhat. Over the past few weeks, I have attended a couple beautiful weddings, which included incredible, thoughtful, details that made a world of difference to the overall event. Take note.

•    Napkin rings tied made out of Puka shell necklaces.  Shells are so seasonally appropriate right now, not to mention very trendy…. These napkin rings enhanced the festive mood by providing all with instant party jewels and were especially appropriate for a beach wedding.

•    Place cards hung from an old tree.  Simple tags with pretty ribbon dangling from the low branches of a great tree—a beautiful picture and a fun activity for guests.

•    Cupcakes instead of wedding cake.  I’ll admit, cupcakes are a little LY at this point, but after a couple rounds of wedding cake that just was a little too gourmet for my taste, it was so nice to be able to pick out my own beautiful vanilla dream from a cupcake covered table straight from heaven.

•    Personalized wine labels.  So you probably have to know someone in the wine business to pull this one off, but great wine hiding behind personalized labels featuring the bride and groom were so fun to see at the bar—and provided instant conversation for all those gathered round.

•    Quiet dinner music.  All too often I’ve ended up at the table next to the band during dinner… resulting in little conversation and much too much wine.  So, what a relief to have a string quartet playing quietly in the background… just faint enough to omit any awkward silences, but not noticeable when in the midst of catching up with friends.

•    The sight of all of the small wrapped packages neatly placed and labeled as place cards before each seat aroused all of our curiosities. Beneath the brown paper we discovered little paperback books by the famous author that formerly owned the home where the wedding took place.  So much better than candy covered almonds.

Easy Father's Day BBQ

Father’s Day is just two days away and you haven’t figured out what you’re having for dinner?  Well since we know dear old dad likes to BBQ with a beer in hand, the following menu, centered around Barefoot Contessa's devine Tequila Lime Chicken, will be sure to please and will leave you all time to actually enjoy dad this weekend.

Menu:
Margaritas
Chips, salsa and guacamole (Try making your own salsa and guacamole, so much better!)
Tequila Lime Chicken  (Recipe below.)
Corn Bread (Recipe below. Good corn tortillas are another option)
Simple Salad (See previous post.)
Berries and ice cream

Barefoot Contessa’s Tequila Lime Chicken

This recipe is from a must-have cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten.  Ina claims this chicken is a favorite of the customers she serves at her specialty food store in the Hamptons. I have made this numerous times and have to agree with her customers—this chicken is delicious!

½ cup gold tequila
1 cup FRESHLY squeezed limejuice (5-6 limes)
½ cup FRESHLY squeeze orange juice (2 oranges)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeno pepper (1 pepper seeded)
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (3 cloves)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 whole (split) boneless chicken breasts (Ina recommends skin on, personally I prefer skin off)

Combine tequila, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, jalapeno pepper, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken breasts.  Refrigerate overnight.

Heat a grill with coals and brush the rack with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.  Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, sprinkle well with salt and pepper and grill them skin-side down for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned.  Turn the chicken and cook for another 10 minutes, until just cooked through. Remove from the grill to a plate. Cover tightly and allow to rest for 5 minutes.  Serve hot or at room temperature.

Northern Corn Bread

This recipe is taken from another all-time favorite, The All New All Purpose Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker.

A mixture of cornmeal and flour, an additional egg, and a combination of milk and buttermilk yields a lighter bread with a more cakey texture than Southern Corn Bread.

Position a rack in the center of the oven.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 9x9-inch pan or a standard 12-muffin pan or line the muffin pan with paper cups.
Whisk together thoroughly in a large bowl:

1 ¼ cups stone-ground cornmeal
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 to 4 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Whisk together in another bowl:
2 large eggs
2/3 cup milk
2/3 cup buttermilk

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.  Fold in:
2 to 3 tablespoons warm melted unsalted butter or vegetable oil

Scrape the batter into the pan and tilt (if using a square pan) to spread evenly. Bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes in a muffin pan, 20 to 25 minutes in a square pan.  Serve hot.

Simple Salad

I have to share my favorite "new" salad as it is so super simple and so mouth-watering good.  I have served it to both guests and family and, each time, we have been left licking the bowl. (Serves 4 as an appetizer)

1. Take one head of fresh butter lettuce.  Wash and tear leaves into pieces.  Dry on paper towels or dryer.

2. Combine the following ingredients to make dressing:

• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons good olive oil (the quality makes a difference here)
• 1 teaspoon good Dijon mustard
• dash of sea salt

3. Put lettuce in bowl, dress and toss.

No worries - You're E-Invited!

No doubt, you’ll be invited to many a summer bash this season. And being the savvy party person you are, you’ll be throwing one or two memorable get-togethers as well. But, ugh. The task of summer party planning seems daunting with kids and camp and work and vacation and, oh, isn’t your anniversary coming up soon?

Sendomatic.com to the rescue!
Sendomatic.com is the only advertisement-free place on the Net to plan, send e-invites, and manage your guest list online in one convenient place. You can even purchase traditional paper versions of the “virtual thing” for those who haven’t quite gotten the hang of email [no offense, Aunt Peggy].

They offer a neato holiday reminder list on the home page so you can be the first to plan this year’s 4th of July bash before the Smiths down the street. Sendomatic.com also allows you to completely customize your online invitations with your own graphics, maps and even weather reports. Yeah, I’m totally serious. Weather reports!

Speaking of graphics, you’ve got some of the most original invitations from which to choose, in lots of categories: Birthday, Graduation, Wedding, Business, Holidays, Sports, and many more!

Check them out. Give them a try - you can try it for free!

For those who prefer sending traditional invites, below are some of my favorite places for unique summer party invitations:
Chelsea Paper
Kate’s Paperie


Cheers!

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Post and images provided by the folks at Anna Bella Stationery

Smith & Hawken Summer Sale

In case you haven't heard, Smith & Hawken's Outdoor Dining Sale is on now through June 29th, with savings of up to 30%. This is a chance to save on some wonderfully timeless, high quality pieces that will last for years to come.
Additional news from Smith & Hawken... they have launched a small line of lower priced products with Target. The line includes everything from small tables to outdoor decor.  I have not checked out the quality of these products myself but the prices sure are nice. Products are available at Target.com.