Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

SPLASH BASH!

Everyone can enjoy getting cool in the heat of summer, so think about hosting a Splash Bash! Your hospitality is what counts! If you have a patch of grass and a hose- you are in business. Sometimes people think that they need to impress- when most guest are truly appreciative of a homespun hospitality that is simple and fun-loving. You don't need a pool this summer to have great fun! Invite some kids over, and moms and dads too. Frankly, at our place, the dads need more chaperoning than the kids!!!

For a Splash Bash guests need swim suits, towels, sunscreen, sneakers or secure sandals that can get wet. Have them bring a change of clothes too. If you have a pool, ask about each child's swimming ability and encourage weaker swimmers to bring water wings or life jackets – or provide for your guests.

INVITES
Try sendomatic's Fish or Pink Duck Or Blue Duck.

FOOD
Snacks or a full meal – depending on the time of day. What about watermelon?! Juice boxes are great for outdoor events. Goldfish crackers fits the theme too. Fruit kabobs are a fun idea. Simple sandwiches are always a good option. You can always BBQ. One year, we did a “Smoke on the Water” themed Splash Bash that featured the BBQ, lots of purple food (in honor of Deep Purple), pool games and – of course, the theme song playing every ½ hour.

GAMES
Though water balloons fights might seem like a natural, I shy away from them. The clean up of broken balloons is too troublesome and a risk to the environment.

Sponge Tag
Like classic tag, except the player who is "It" carries a soaked sponge on the lawn and instead of "tagging" another player with his hand, he tosses the sponge at them. If he hits them with the sponge, they become "It."

Soaker Hose Tug-o-War
Just like it sounds! Using a soaker hose, divide kids into two teams, and they play tug-o-war on the lawn. They are continually getting soaked as they play tug-o-war.

Water Limbo
Use a garden hose - turn it on full. Put your thumb over the opening to create one jet of water, or use a sprayer. Kids limbo to music under the water stream. Lower the water after each sequence. Of course, kids get soaked.

Ice Chin Relay Race
Make two lines. The first kid in each line places an ice cube under their chin. Players pass the ice cube down the line using only their chins. This is nearly impossible for the kids- but very fun and giggly. If you have a pool- have kids try to pick up the cubes with their toes.

THINKING AHEAD
Think about:
Bathroom use- your bathroom will get wet, so plan for this, keep the floor dry to avoid injury.
Reapplying sunscreen. Often. On adults too.
Water is precious. Avoid running water when it is not in active use. Plan your watering schedule around the party to use the water wisely in your yard.

BBQ with a Conscience

Barbecuing is my favorite way to entertain. I started to research the environmental effects of barbecuing. With an entire country throwing delicious items on the grill in summer, it all adds up. A great, unexpected resource: sierraclub.org:

“Three out of four U.S. households own at least one barbecue grill. Among grill owners, 48 percent fire up with charcoal, 61 percent with propane, and 7 percent with electricity.

“Nationwide, the estimated 60 million barbecues held on the Fourth of July alone consume enough energy — in the form of charcoal, lighter fluid, gas, and electricity — to power 20,000 households for a year. That one day of fun, food, and celebration, says Tristram West, a research scientist with the U.S. Department of Energy, burns the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest and releases 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.”

Charcoal briquettes are a true environmental loser – they emit carbon monoxide, particulate matter and soot and lighter fluid gives off more to ground-level ozone.

Are there environmentally sensitive options?

use lump coal instead of briquettes
consider burning propane or using an electric grill
switch to using a chimney starter instead of lighter fluid
use lean meat - you'll reduce the carcinogens that drip onto coals and deposit in meat from smoke and flame ups

Happy Grillin'!

Father's Day Builder's Party

Keeping kids engaged in Father's Day activities that suit Dad is a tough one sometimes. Teaching kids to be generous and patient about what is fun for someone else is a good thing, but sometimes you can hit everyone's interest equally - and that makes for a great experience.

Enter the Father's Day Builder's Party.

Most people would relegate Legos to only a children's birthday party, but if your man likes to have time with his kids, this might work well for you as a Father's Day celebration. I observed that my man loves to do Legos with the kids but seldom has the time to really devote to building something cool with them from start to finish. This Father's Day plan gives him ample time and space to bond with the kids and it engages the kids and dad fully with a simple, at home celebration.

Decorate in Lego colors.

Get all new Legos to have around according to age levels.

Create a Lego cake. Make a simple rectangular cake and "glue" 8 small cupcakes on top with frosting- then frost the entire cake a bright color.

Centerpiece idea: have your kids build a lego creation of their choice in secret according to their skill level. Display it on the table.

Look for Lego brick candy to use for favor bags.

The Lego website has great things- tees, lots of incidental items- and these ice cube trays- how fun is this:

They offer coasters for your beverages, melamine plates, tumblers and more on the Lego website under the Household Accessories section. The Coloring Packs under the stationery section that will keep the kids busy on their own for a few minutes so mom can give dad a smooch. Look at the Outdoor Play section of the Lego website if you'd like to send them outside with some toys for a while.

If you want to do something gross for a joke (my family is BIG into gross... sometimes this is VERY unfortunate!) in secret take a can of Spam and carve it into a Lego block. Announce that you are bringing out the "Main Course" and present your Lego spam block. If your family does not like Spam (mine does not!) then be prepared to follow up with a favorite meal.

My man loves to have time with the kids, and the kids love this too. And that makes for a great and memorable Father's Day!

Bacon Wrapped Figs

I first had these at a hotel in Chamonix, France. There was a marvelous spread of all kinds of wonderful goodies, but time and again I kept heading back for the bacon wrapped figs. They are really addictive - the salty and sweet combination is perfect. When they were first put out on the table, they were fresh and hot - but actually, they got even better the longer they sat out on the buffet. I've seen numerous versions of this recipe - you can add a bit of goat cheese or blue cheese stuffed inside of the fig and you can also substitute dates or prunes instead of the fig. I prefer to make them the way I had them in France - simple and delicious.

Bacon Wrapped Figs
Ingredients:
10 fresh figs, trimmed and halved
10 slices of bacon, halved
20 small fresh sage leaves

To Make:
Simply place one sage leaf on a fig and wrap with half a piece of bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Continue until all of the figs are wrapped. Heat a frying pan over high heat. Place bacon wrapped figs in the pan and cook, turning to make sure all sides of the bacon are crisp. (About 3 - 4 minutes total)

Yields:
20 pieces

Day for Dad

In case you didn't already know, Father's Day is June 17th, which means you don't have much time left to plan for Dad's day. Most Fathers I know, including my own, will just wave their hand and say not to make a big fuss over them. But a father is an important figure in anyone's life, kid or adult, and here are some great ideas to celebrate his day.

- Decorate according to his likes or dislikes. This day is all about him, so if he loves listening to punk rock music and everyone else hates it, deal for one day. If he has a specific hobby, such as baseball or another sport, decorate the main rooms of the house with memorabilia of his favorite team.

- Make his favorite meal. I do this for both my parents on their special occasions, and sometimes I wonder if they don't enjoy this more than the gift-wrapped presents I give them. If you Dad has one particular meal that he absolutely adores, laboring in the kitchen to make it for him will really touch his heart. This is especially cute if young children help out.

- Handmade gifts are the best. This has been said so much it's almost a cliche, but it's still true. Especially with children, actually taking the time to make something for Dad is much more sentimental than just having Mom buy something in their name. When I was about 9 years old I came up with a Father's Day poem, and hand-drew a card for him with it. To this day I remember his reaction to it, because it was the best smile I've ever seen him give when receiving a present from me.

- Ask him what he wants! A lot of people want the element of surprise, but really, if you have no idea whatsoever to get your Dad (or anyone for that matter), it is perfectly acceptable to ask. I usually ask all my family members for a "wish list" for such events, because if you have a list of things to choose from there is at least a small element of surprise.

- Indulge him in his favorite activity. Does your Dad love doing something that no one else likes to do? Such as wandering through a stuffy museum, or hiking up that ridiculously steep trail through the hills? Well, this IS Father's Day. Let you Dad do the things he normally wouldn't be able to do - and joining him even though he knows you don't necessarily enjoy it will be very touching.

Most importantly, this is Dad's Day. I wouldn't go so far as to say "let him do whatever he wants," but it should be a day focused primarily on him. Let him sleep in, let him eat his favorite meal without worry of calories, but most importantly, let him know he is loved!

Graduation Toasts

It's that time of year again where we wish all of our graduates good luck and much success.
While you may be attending some Graduation dinners, here are a few suggestions on a simple and encouraging toast to your Grad.

*“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”-Emerson

*“I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.”-unknown

*“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”-Eleanor Roosevelt

*“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”-Henry David Thoreau

*“All our dreams can come true...if we have the courage to pursue them.”-Walt Disney

*“School's out, Memories past, Don't ever doubt, Our friendship will last.”-unknown

*“The human spirit needs to accomplish, to achieve, to triumph to be happy.”-Ben Stein

Prosciutto and Mozzerella Bites

Bring a little Italy into your home at your next event with these prosciutto and mozzerella bites. The saltiness of the prosciutto is tempered by the sweet tomato and basil and it's all held together with slightly melted mozzerella. Very simple to make and your guests are sure to love 'em!

Prosciutto and Mozzerella Bites
Ingredients:
20 thin slices of prosciutto
8 oz block of mozzerella
2 plum tomatoes
20 fresh basil leaves
freshly ground pepper

To Make:
Cut tomatoes into 5 thin slices each (lengthwise) and then cut in half again. Slice mozzerella into 20 thin slices. On a work surface, lay out one slice of prosciutto and place one slice of tomato at end closest to you. top with mozzerella, basil leaf and another slice of tomato. Season with freshly ground pepper then roll into a small package. Do the same with the other slices of prosciutto. Place packets into a lightly oiled and pre-heated pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes each side. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Yield:
20 bites

The Host and the RSVP

A failure to RSVP is usually a problem for event and party hosts.

R.S.V.P.- the French phrase "répondez s'il vous plait," means "please reply". An incomplete list of respondents can cause numerous problems for a host, including difficulty in contracts with venues, planning schedules, food, parking, security, people-moving, seating, party favors and more. Sometimes the biggest issue is embarrassment for the host or the guest of honor.

Include the question the extent of your need for RSVPs in early planning phases of your event. If your event is formal or complex or expensive- you must be willing to suffer over your numbers. If you can afford to be hospitable by being more flexible or casual or simple or spending more money (!) - you will have less to worry over with your response rate.

However, we all have times when we want to provide a finely-tuned, high quality experience for guests, and the RSVP is the way to accomplish this. If you have an event that needs all the fine-tuning that a solid RSVP system provides, here are some ideas:

Take ample time on the invitations . Consider it an investment that can really pay off in favorable response for your event. Make the invitations memorable. Color, style, design, scale, a gimmick – consider these as techniques to trigger people's memory. Tune your invitation to the event so that it sets an accurate set of expectations in your guest's mind – for instance, if it is highly formal, you need to stay within formal perimeters.

Time invitations to arrive on a Saturday when people are less pre-occupied.

Hand-deliver invitations if you can.

Give multiple options for RSVPing, like self-addressed/stamped reply cards, a phone number, e-mail address or web portal to reply.

If you need to, set a clear, firm RSVP date. Include a phrase like: "This date cannot extend, promptness is a must. If we do not hear in time we must sadly take you from our list..."

For more formal events, use wording: “We will reserve 4 seat(s) in your honor until April 25, 2007” on the RSVP card. This firmly indicates the maximum number of guests you are inviting and the need for a response.

Cover issues of people bringing children, dates or guests. Never print "no children" or "adults only" on an invitation. The way an invitation is addressed should indicate the names of exactly who - and by omission, who is not invited. Or, one can print: “Adult Reception.” Consider providing a babysitting service for your event if the participation of children presents a problem.

If you are still having difficulty getting RSVPs:

Send out an email or call those you have not heard from by a certain date - it's perfectly acceptable in all guides on good manners.

Use face-saving phrases like:
"It has come to our attention that some people have not received their invitations to our event on May 3, 2007. If you did not receive your invitation, please let me know immediately so we can send another one. Hope to hear that you can attend the event!!"

General ideas for more casual events:

Repetition really helps and is acceptable. Plan to start with a “save the date” notice, followed with an invitation, send a “party details” notice about a week before your event.

Try withholding specific tantalizing information until they RSVP. This withheld information could be the theme, dress code, directions or an address for the party. One party with a Secret Agent theme incorporated this seamlessly and got a great RSVP response.

What hosts should know about R.S.V.P. manners:

Be clear and give good direction. Do not be upset at people if you have not communicated well.

People are obligated to R.S.V.P. any time that they are invited to an event. That does not mean that they know this fact or will comply.

People should respond by the date on the invitation. If there is no date, they should reply within 48 hours.

For formal events, like weddings, provide a self-addressed, stamped response card. For a more casual event, invite a phone call or an e-mail RSVP.

If a guest responds “no” and then finds they can attend, it is appropriate to call the host and explain that they are honored to be invited, that schedules have changed and, if it's convenient, they'd like to attend. Hosts can accept or say no.

If it is an out-of-town event or a financially complicated event, potential guests can call and explain and ask what the absolute latest date to R.S.V.P. is. This is an acceptable inquiry on the part of your potential guest.

For the most part, seeing the RSVPs roll in can be a fun part of planning your event!

Grad Gifts

This time of year, there are a lot of graduations, both High School and College. Gifts for grads are often times on the boring side, usually gift certificates or cash. While these are safe gifts, here are some ideas to give your graduate what they really want on this life-changing day.

- Personalized Gifts: These can really only be successfully done if you've known the graduate for at least a few years, but most likely if you are going to their graduation, you've known them for a while. Personalized gifts would include anything with personal photos, engraved names/messages (like in jewelry), or even video montages.

- Vacations: This is more for the parents, who generally spend a LOT more money on graduation gifts. Vacations to your grad's favorite city is an excellent gift, especially after the stress of completing school. There can't really be an element of surprise for this one; be sure to ask your grad where they'd like to go!

- Tech Gifts: I don't know a single grad that wouldn't love to get a laptop, a new iPod, or that hot new cellular phone. The great thing about these gifts is that they are useful for both work and play, so aside from being cool gadgets, they can help your young adult excel in the real world.

- The Essentials: As boring as it sounds, if your grad is moving into a dorm or their first apartment, there are several essential things that graduates might not have the dough for right away. While they may not be extravagant, buying things like microwaves, bedsheet sets, bookshelves, and small TVs can be very useful to a new grad.

- Sentimental Letter: This costs no money at all (well, except for maybe the paper), and can make the biggest impact of all. Writing a sentimental letter to the grad about your years spent together, how proud you are of them, and how well you wish them in the future can be the most treasured gift out of the whole pile.

End of School Year Thank You Gifts

The school year is rapidly approaching the end. For some lucky kids, summer is in full swing already.
Many teachers still have a few days of clean up and winding down before their school year is officially over. Don't let the year slip away without thanking those who make an impact on your child's life everyday during the school year.

Here is an easy and inexpensive way to thank the special people in your kids life:

Take a digital photo of your child. Print multiple copies and then paste them to a sheet of construction paper. Depending on the age of your child, have your son or daughter help with the gluing.
Next instruct your child to write something nice to each person or draw a picture that represents what this person means to them. For example your child can write 'my bus driver, Mr Hansen gets me to school safely everyday, thank you Mr Hansen!'
They can draw a nice picture next to their picture.
This little project should not take too long and it will teach your children to appreciate what people do for a living and how many people care about them on a daily basis!

Here are some people to consider thanking:
The Teacher
The Bus-driver
The School Nurse
The Principle
The Teacher's Aide
The Janitor

You don't need to spend a lot of money on an 'end of school year gift'. Thanking these people with something from the heart will surely put a smile on their face.

Happy Summer everyone!