Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Money Matters

Sometimes money seems the most appropriate gift. Not only is it really easy to give, but who says "oh, darn, money for my gift?"

I find money, Savings Bonds to be specific, a great gift for young gift recipients. Baby's and toddlers really don't know the difference between opening 2 gifts or 10 gifts. Savings bonds are a great way to give now and give later. Parents are always happy to receive Savings Bonds for their children. Anything will help when the child gets older and needs some cash for that first car or expenses related to a higher education.
When giving a Savings Bond as a gift, here are a few things you should know:

1. Savings Bonds can be obtained at any banking institution. They are also available online.
2. You will need to know the full name of the gift recipient.
3. You will need the social security number of the gift recipient
4. The minimum purchase is $50 for a bond issued on paper, or $25 for a bond purchased electronically via Treasury Direct.
5. Savings Bonds earn money monthly in the form of interest. The interest is paid when the Bond is cashed.
6. At the time of purchase, a bond can be registered to a single person ("single ownership"), registered to two people ("co-ownership"), or can be registered to a primary owner and a beneficiary ("beneficiary").
7. Interest paid on these bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes.
8. A good site for lots of information on savings bonds is www.savingsbonds.gov

Strawberry Margaritaville

If you’re going to be celebrating Cinco De Mayo (May 5^th) this year, I have two suggestions for you: let everyone know about your fiesta with a Sendomatic invitation, and serve strawberry margaritas!

I personally hate the taste of alcohol.  When I turned 21, I had Diet Coke and iced tea, and at my Aunt's wedding I could only drink the champagne after I had put sugar cubes in it. But I’ve since discovered one alcoholic drink that I love, and that is the strawberry margarita. The sweet strawberry flavor takes the bite out of the tequila, and is just downright yummy.

Here is a great recipe for strawberry margaritas this May 5^th, or at any time!

INGREDIENTS:
6 fluid ounces tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec
8 ounces frozen strawberries
4 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate
6 cups ice

DIRECTIONS:
Place ice in a blender and crush for 15 to 20 seconds. Add frozen strawberries, tequila, triple sec, and limeade. Blend until smooth.

That’s all there is to it! It takes approximately 10 minutes, and makes 4 servings. The strawberries are optional, of course, but I highly recommend them. Even if you don’t have margaritas, please be safe and have an excellent Cinco De Mayo!

Creative Guest Book

A guest book is a great way to remember a fantastic party.  Here is a twist on the standard guest book idea that will be cherished by your guest of honor and fun for your guests to make.  Set a blank guest book or just a blank paged book on a table at the party.  Place some scissors, a selection of colored paper, a glue stick, and pens on the table.  As soon as the guests arrive, start taking Polaroids or digital pictures that you can instantly print out. Continuously place the photos on the table as they are available.  Tell your guests to write a little something in the guest book and to be creative!  You will be amazed at how interesting the book will turn out (and you barely had to lift a finger!)

Birthday Starts With B

I was recently invited to a kids birthday party for a 1 year old. Not being a mom yet myself, I marvel at the effort that goes into baby's first birthday. Let's face it, most 1-year olds that I know will not recognize the blood sweat and tears of dear mum and dad. The money and energy spent can be saved on birthdays later in life. Give yourself a break and go really simple for your baby's first birthday.
The mom for this particular party had a cute idea. Baby's name is Remy so everything at the party was themed the letter "R" and color Red. The invitations were Red with little Raspberries. Ok, granted they were home made so a bit of effort inserted here... She decorated the house with Rainbows and big fake Ruby's. It was fun to eat the Red Rose birthday cake and sip Red drinks in the Spring sunshine.

Not only is this an easy theme to cover, but it gives your baby a color theme for the day which is much more easily absorbed by her little mind than Princess this or Sponge Bob that. Color recognition begins very early, I do know this...color theory classes were for more than just mixing paints to see what you come up with...
If you plan to invite other young toddlers, a great activity for them is to supply them with paper and red crayons. They will be happy to doodle in only red. Don't forget to dress baby in the appropriate color theme for their first party.
Have fun. I did, and it wasn't even my party.

Ahoy! A Treasure Hunt!

My son had a blast looking for hidden easter eggs this Easter...which gave me the idea of another hiding game we will have to play at our next party - a Treasure Hunt!    Whether it be in our backyard sandbox or on a nearby beach, I'll hide treats in the sand, rake it smooth, then let the kids at it.    I could bury small toys, candies (wrapped in plastic bags), or other items depending on the theme of the party.   I can envision adults enjoying this game when they find $5 Starbucks, Target, or Barnes & Noble gift cards.  For a girlie party, lip glosses and hair accessories would be great treasures to find.  Just make sure the treasures are not going to break when trampled on and aren't going to cut the "hunter's" hands.  For children, you may need to set a treasure limit so there are enough treasures for everyone.  This game can also be used as the delivery system for party favors too.  So, enjoy the spring weather and start hunting!

Toasting Tips

You know what spring and summer mean right? CELEBRATIONS! This seems to be the most popular time of year for people to throw big parties. Weddings, Baby showers, Graduation...
Just in case you are expected to declare your joy at the next party by giving a toast, here are some simple suggestions for meaningful and light nod's to the guest of honor.

With the advent of every techie's dream, your sure to have your toast captured by every digital means out there. Unless you want to end up on YouTube or Funniest Home Videos, keep to these simple rules:
1. Keep it Simple- Get to the toast quick. Don't linger on things that others have no prior knowledge or interest in.
2. Keep it Sweet- Remember to be gracious to your guest of honor. There's a time and place for crude humor. Grandpa's 80th is not always the best place for the bathroom jokes...
3. Keep it Sober- Need I say more?? Who hasn't witnessed the awful mess of a bridesmaid or best man as they stumble their way through their train wreck of a toast? Too much alcohol before the toast, and your sure to spill the beans on something much too juicy for this crowd.

Some quick and easy toasts to help get your creative juices flowing.

LOVE & MARRIAGE TOASTS:
"Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner."-Amy Bloom
"Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married."-Sam Levenson

IRISH WEDDING TOASTS:
"May your home always be too small to hold all your friends."
"May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies and quick to make friends. And may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

GRADUATION TOASTS:
"As you leave the world of academia and enter the world of reality, remember the best way to change the world is to set an example for others to follow."
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."-Henry David Thoreau

ANNIVERSARY TOASTS:
"Here's to you both, a beautiful pair, on the birthday of your love affair"
"Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century."~Mark Twain

Health Conscious Guests

Health Conscious Guests

A lot of people judge how good an event was based on how much food is left by the time the last guest departs. If people hardly ate anything, it is assumed that the event was a disaster and no one had a good time. I can certainly understand this mentality, since it is definitely annoying to spend hours cooking food to make your guests happy, and then have them barely touch anything.

However, we must remember, we are in a very health-conscious time. A lot of people are on diets and aren't ready to blow a year's worth of hard work at one party, so they may only touch fresh fruit and water. Others may be on a low-carb diet, and will only munch on meat/cheese products and stay completely away from sugar. Health issues such as diabetes may be a factor. Also, age is something to think about: a party full of 20-year-olds may chow down on chips and pizza with no problem, while a party with 60-year-olds will most likely gravitate more towards healthier foods that are more easily digested.

Here are some tips to appease everyone's pallete at a party, even dieters!
- Provide water, juice, or diet soda in festive jugs along with the alcoholic/sugar-filled drinks. At my grandmother's last birthday party we served wine and punch, and thought we had our bases covered by offering alcholic and non-alcoholic. Only until a guest specifically asked for water did we realize we should put out a pitcher of water as an alternative. It was empty by the end of the party.
- Place any healthy foods in the center of the table so your guests won't have any trouble finding them. Things such as fresh vegetables, fruit, or shrimp cocktail are a nice alternative to greasy or spicy foods.
- If you're going to have a main course, try to use spices and herbs for flavor rather than gravy or sauces. Chicken or beef can be very flavorful with just a few spices. You can always have sauces as an option on the side, so that those who aren't dieting can always add it if they want it.
- Salads are always acceptable! Salads are allowed on pretty much every diet, and most people like salads even if they aren't watching what they eat. You can even make a mini salad bar, allowing your guests to choose whether or not they have cheese, croutons, tomato, etc. A choice between regular and non-fat dressing would be a big plus.
- Cake is the universal dessert for parties. If you know your guests will enjoy a cake, you may want to cut it into moderate slices, or even ask your guests individually what size of a slice they would like. If you know most of your guests won't go for a frosted cake, angel food with strawberries is an excellent low-fat dessert. Another idea is to have small individual desserts, such as cookies, tarts, or candies. This way your guests can choose the amount of dessert they get, rather than feeling they have to clean their plate.

The bottom line is, prepare for people with different eating habits. Most likely you will have a party full of different people of different ages, and they will all hunger for separate things. Don't be afraid to make those amazing, fat-filled dishes that we all love at parties! Just don't forget to provide an alternative for those watching their waistline. Food is an important part of any event, so if you keep everyone's taste buds happy your event is sure to be a success!

Gracious Dinner Party Guests

To Bring or Not To Bring... that is the question a reader recently brought up in reference to Dinner Guest Etiquette.  So, here is my viewpoint...   

Upon invitation, I believe it is polite to ask the host(ess) if you can bring something.  The host can always say "No, thank you" if they have a special theme in mind and would like to present their guests with a complete dining experience. Of course, an after-the-fact Thank You note is ALWAYS appreciated, but if you still feel that showing up empty handed is rude, then bringing a gift is fine.  Choosing a something non-edible, such as a candle or flowers, is a straight-forward gift of appreciation.  If wine or food is what you'd like to bring, just let the host know that it is just a little token of appreciation for the invitation and is meant to be enjoyed by them whenever they'd like - not necessarily that evening.  This way, the host(ess) doesn't feel obligated to serve it and doesn't have to guess if your feelings would be hurt if she didn't.   These small gestures will start the dinner party off with a warm and appreciative feeling.

With that said, if you are the host and you are inviting a particularly "sensitive" guest to dinner (you know who I'm speaking of), I suggest serving whatever they have chosen bring - even if it doesn't "go" with the menu.  It really isn't worth hurt feelings or any ensuing uncomfortable atmosphere.  If you are a food and wine connoisseur and have invited several friends with the same passion for menu planning, a simple announcement will serving the dish, "Thank you, Aunt Suzie, for the wonderful homemade fruitcake" will not only make Aunt Suzie feel appreciated, but will alert all your friends to the slight flavor deviation to your menu.

Enjoying a good meal with great friends is always a treat, don't let the good intentions of your host or guests to spoil an otherwise wonderful evening! 

Garden Party

Easter is over, and Spring has begun. Flowers are in bloom, and if you’re a sucker for gorgeous buds like I am, a garden party is the perfect event for you. Throughout the country, April and May are ideal times for outdoor events, whether it be on your private patio or at the park across the street. Sendomatic.com has some great outdoors/nature related invitations to choose for your event and let everyone know about your party.

Since this is a nature-themed event, try to incorporate Mother Earth as much as possible! No, that doesn’t mean scatter dirt everywhere – but large flowers in colorful vases, nature-themed party favors, and outdoor games are just some of the great ways to really carry through this theme.

If children are going to be attending this party, remember: kids love bugs! Organize a pseudo Easter Egg hunt, but use giant plastic insects instead. Play pin the wings on the ladybug. Give children “bug antlers” headbands as party favors. You could even make the grab bags out of butterfly nets.

This type of party can also be educational while fun! Put together a scavenger hunt where the kids figure out poems to lead them to specific plants. Or, another good idea is to give each child their own flower pot, and supply them with paints to decorate their pot. Then they could even plant their own seeds and take this great party favor home with them to watch their plant grow. It’s sure to be a hit!

Serve your party dishes in clean flower pots rather than bowls/plates, or arrange finger foods to resemble a favorite plant or animal. If you want your party to be health-conscious as well as eco friendly, fresh produce and sandwiches can replace the typical burgers and chips. For a cake, you can make it in the shape of a plant or animal, or just a rectangular cake with nature-themed decorative frosting on top. Remember, it’s not necessarily the food that makes this theme, but rather how you present it.

Have an excellent time in the beautiful outdoors, and be sure to wear sunscreen!

Celebrate Mother Earth

April is the Month to Celebrate our planet Earth. Hello, Earth to readers did you hear that? April is Earth month and Sunday April 22nd is Earth Day. There is so much talk lately about global warming, reuse, and recycling...that sometimes I worry that all the coverage is so intense that people just glaze over it now.
Without getting political on you, I just think this is a good time to remind everyone that yes, indeed our home here on earth is in trouble. With it's amazing collection of people, places, plants and animals, we have not done our due diligence to make sure that we preserve what we have.
So here are a few tips on how you can celebrate April, in honor of our precious Mother Earth:
1. Take the family or friends on a good ol' fashioned hike and picnic. Seriously, when was the last time you packed a lunch, took a hike and found a place to sit and enjoy the scenery while you ate your food? If you plan this activity with children, have them all collect a few different types of grass or plant leaves. When you get home, you can research their finds and learn more about the plant life which is local to their area.

2. Grab a friend, grab a bag and hit the local park or beach to clean up some of the mess. Too bad we have people in this world who don't know that a trash receptacle is for trash. Too bad when you drive down the highway you see loads of junk littering our pretty streets... Maybe this month you can spend some time picking up trash and recycling the things that you find. It's actually another nice way to get outdoors.

3. Plant a tree. Visit your area's local website to find out which trees are indigenous to your climate and see if you can't plant a new one.

4. Check out Project Switch. Join thousands of others in switching out millions of inefficient incandescent light bulbs so we can save money, energy and the environment.

5. Check out the official Earth Share website for tips on how to be green. Spring is always a time for cleaning. Here are a few home made cleaning solutions I took directly from the Earth Share website.
Some of the greenest cleaners are the ones you make yourself. Here are some sample recipes for simple, effective cleaners:
Drain Cleaner: Pour a half-cup of baking soda down the sink and add at least a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes, then rinse with a mixture of boiling water and salt.
Window Cleaner: Mix two ounces of vinegar with a quart of water in a spray bottle.
Silver Polish: Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a plastic or glass bowl. Sprinkle the foil with salt and baking soda and fill the bowl with warm water. Soak your silver in the bowl and tarnish migrates to the foil. Dry and buff.
Brass Cleaner: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt and rub the lemon on the metal. Buff with a cloth.
Rust Remover: Use vinegar to remove rust on nuts and bolts and other mineral deposits such as calcium deposits.

Enjoy the outdoors on Earth Day. Use mass transit or better yet, your bikes and legs. Try to give back every month not just April! It's time for everyone to share the work if we are going to share the Earth!