Party Invitations, Party Planning & Event Ideas

All My Single Ladies...

For some people, there is no crueler day than Valentine's Day. All the hearts, paper cupid cutouts, and over-priced-restaurant-couple deals can be sickening to say the least. Yes, we get it, you have a sweetie, UGH! 

Being single (by choice or circumstance) on Valentine's Day shouldn't make you feel like an exhibit in a freakshow; people pointing and staring, inviting you to be their "third wheel", trying to fix you up with a loser they would never consider the other 364 days of the year, etc. etc. Take charge and throw an event every couple you know will be envious of. Get your single gals and guys together, and....

If You Think Cupid’s Stupid…

Host an Ex-orcism
Have everyone bring pictures of their most dastardly exes and let the ex-games begin! When guests arrive, give them each a heart cutout on which to write an embarrassing tidbit of ex-trivia, from "He has a few 'bedroom problems' " to “Her breath was kickin' like judo!" Have guests guess which juicy morsel goes with which ex.

Name That Song
Play down-on-love Charades with a selection of lyrics from tunes like, Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With it", "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood, or Beyonce's "Irreplacable".

Create "art" on your ex
Using their pictures, hand out some permanent markers and go crazy. Give them titles like, "My Ex Without Me" or "Without Make-up". A prize should be awarded for the best work of art. Another fun activity - Write out your ex's full name, and create an acronym. For example: Clown-like, Hairy chest, Rude, Ignorant, Slovenly.

Playlist
Take comfort in these "inspirationals"; Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone", "Cry Me a River" and "What Goes Around...Comes Back Around" by Justin Timberlake, Amy Winehouse's "Love Is A Losing Game" and of course Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name".

Food
Set up a "Cheesy Valentine’s Day" spread. Set up a fondue station of your favorite cheeses with veggies and cubes of crusty garlic bread, so there is no chance of anyone trying to hook up at your party. Serve on this party set. Line up bottles of your favorite spirits and label them Love Potions numbers 1- 8. Class up the joint with your own cool shoot glasses. Check out Fred's Cool Shooters fill and chill molds.

Favors
Plum Party has great "Forget Him" tea packs. Bitterness reigns supreme over at Despair.com with their BitterSweets, featuring three unique collections - "Dejected", "Dysfunctional", and "Dumped". Candies are printed with such lovely gems as U LEFT SEATUP, BACK 2 KENNEL, and CELIB8 THX2U.

Need more inspiration? Check out my bitter break-up post. Not Just a Mommy! 

Free Valentines Day Goodies

The Curiosity Group a design firm in Portland, OR designs party kits, cards, photo cards and invitations for many clients. I particularly like these Valentine's day projects that you can download for free from from their clients over at HP.

The Groovy Love Mail Kit comes with a really cute mailbox, cards and stickers. Not your typical valentine's box!

The Valentine's Day Flower looks like a fun project to make too and are really quite pretty.

You can download more stuff free from HP here

Princess Party

When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with princesses and everything that went along with it.  The castle, the outfits, the tiaras and yes, the handsome prince.  After a quick look around, it seems as though little girls today still have the same fascination, so I thought it appropriate to create a day of wonderful make believe: a princess party.

The party must start with an official decree to celebrate your little princess's day.  Wording on the invitation could begin something like: "Hear ye, hear ye!  By royal decree, you are invited to Princess Chloe's 5th birthday party..."  The invitation wording should end by encouraging guests to come dressed in princess attire.  This sweet photo birthday invitation by www.urbanitystudios.com could be a great way to invite guests.

 

Once the guests arrive, their first order of business in the royal court could be to make their very own tiaras.  Oriental trading sells kits that come complete with tiaras, jewels as well as wands and ribbon to complete the ensemble.  After the guests have created their accessories for the party, its time to get busy.  One game could be to "pin the jewel on the crown," as seen below.

 

This game is simple and with some poster board or butcher paper, you can easily create your crown and jewels.  Learn more at CountryLiving.com. 

Another very fun game could be magical thrones (just like musical chairs) or duck, duck, princess (variation on duck, duck goose). 

After cake and ice cream, have the guests settle down to a classic princess movie like Cinderella.

When it is ready for everyone to head home, send them on their way with a favor.  The favor could be as simple as a crown cookie with their name on it in frosting

or an assortment of candy jewelery including a ring pop, a candy necklace and candy bracelet.

Hosting a princess party yourself?  I would love to hear your ideas.  Until next time, happy make believing.

Valentine's Day Contest - Win a pillow!

Win a pillow from 2Modern Modern Furniture - ENTER HERE >

Bakerella Wii Giveaway

The confectionery genius that is Bakerella is having a Pick Mii Out and Wii-n Giveaway for a chance to win a Nintendo Wii system! Go check it out! And hurry, contest ends Saturday, Jan. 24..

And how fab are the cupcakes she made? The boy is sweating me for a video game birthday party and I wonder if she would take orders on these, because there is NO way I would even attempt these. Not Just a Mommy!

Carved Cards for Valentines Day

I thought these Carved Cards by SuckUK were pretty cool. You probably wouldn't want to carve too many of them, but maybe one for a special person, say an invitation to a valentines date? A simple old fashioned heart pierced with Cupids arrow and decorated with the initials of yourself and the object of your affections! How sweet! Made from soft wood and easy to carve.

Chandelier Wedding Invitations

 

Love the turquoise and orange chandelier wedding invitations by Joceybella.

Pink Polka Dot Party

 

 

 

Thanks Tangarang for posting about the dot-a-licious Pink Polka Dot Party!

Treasure hunt for love

Okay, so my title is cheesy, but I think it would be such a fun idea to create a treasure hunt of clues for a Valentine's Day activity.  Now, I know Valentine's is a month away, but I want to get on it this year as I have slacked in so many previous years...um...like the day before (or even the day of) I think "Oh, yah, it's Valentine's Day.  Maybe I should do something." 

Hence the treasure hunt idea.  Here is what I am thinking, but would love input/ideas from all of you (and of course, you can use this idea as well): 

The idea is to create a series of clues for your partner to figure out.  Each clue leads your partner to the next and spells out the final destination (i.e. home, a favorite restaurant, a coffee shop, etc) where you can begin a fun date together.  If you need/want them out of the house (because you are making a fun dinner at home) create clues that will lead him/her out and about for a while.

1st clue: a text message from a friend's number (that your partner may not necessarily know) leading them to the first clue.  Maybe something like: Ready to play?  To begin, check your sock drawer...

2nd clue: A clue that would lead them to a favorite dive bar or cheap restaurant the two of you frequent (and if you don't want to have the actual clue at the actual restaurant, you could have the clue be in the phone book on the page the place is listed).

3rd clue: a clue that would lead them to a public library and could be hidden in a certain book on a certain page.

4th clue: a clue that would lead them to a grocery store and be placed by a certain item.

And so on...Here's where I need help.  I would love your thoughts on more clue ideas and possible ways to phrase each clue.  I want to make the clues challenging, but not so hard that my husband is constantly calling me, asking for help.  Or worse, is out for four hours trying to decipher the code.  Any inspiration would be greatly appreciated.  When all responses have been collected, I will rewrite this post and maybe you could play the game with your sweetie as well.  Thank you and happy Valentine's Day planning!

Meghann Kopecky

www.urbanitystudios.com

Thoughtfully Simple/Beau Coup Giveaway

One of my favorite sites, Thoughtfully Simple, has posted an article chockful of inspiration for your next sweet-tooth gathering. Plus, to make it even more interesting, to help you get your sweet party on, one reader will win a $25.00 gift certificate to Beau Coup! I've done many a post including their amazing favors, and now's your chance to share my love. Head over for full details!

Need more sugary sweetness? Check out my previous post on a Candyland/Sugar Party.

My shero, Hostess With the Mostess helped create this fabulous 1st Birthday party for Max Sutter featured on Extra TV.

Check out this amazing party created by Stem Parties' Amy Belle Isle, my other shero. Not Just a Mommy!