Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Here They Come - Those Notorious Office Parties!

Office and company parties seem to start with Halloween and roll all the way through the New Year. Some of us have to assist with planning early when it is a gala or complex event.

Here are a few often-missed planning questions for those organizing office parties to ensure a smooth, enjoyable event.

Is a daytime or evening party more convenient for attendees?

Are you trying to schedule the party to make sure everyone can attend?

Are you providing lots of non-alcoholic alternatives that are attractive and inticing?

Are you suggesting a level of dress or dress code to assist people in making tasteful choices?

Are you including ways for people to mingle with people from other departments and meet the president, CEO or VPs?

Are you trying to include spouses and significant others and children?

Are you trying to make it comfortable for those who arrive a bit early or on-the-dot?

Do you have an organized time in the schedule to thank those hosting the party?

Are you envisioning an event that reflects well on the company? Included here are issues of appropriate location, alcohol flow and taking your employees' interests seriously.  

Can you provide a babysitting service or kid's activities for the event?

Is there a need to give guidence related to gifts? What's been done in previous years? What kinds of gifts were given, and to whom? How about suggesting a shift in the corporate culture toward making charitable donations?

Here's to the office party season!

SIMPLE HINTS ABOUT FLOWERS FROM THE FLOWER DISTRICT

Pictured: "prairie gentian"

Flower districts or flower marts in large cities are the premier resource for growers, shippers, suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, floral designers, and retail florists. Though primarily a wholesale operation, they are open to the public during certain hours for retail purchases.

This is not your normal shopping experience. Do not expect salesclerks and glamour or overstuffed chairs. It is cold (for the flowers) industrial, busy and intense! But, you can get some spectacular flowers for you party or event for amazing prices.

Bring cash. You'll get better prices. Say "Paying cash, how much?" Don't haggle with people like a shark. Flower people are some of the nicest folks you'll meet.

Be nice. The nicer you are (asking people's names, etc.), the more "flexible" they will be with you.

Go early. There will be no selection left if you are showing up at 9 am. They have likely been going since an ungodly hour like 4 am! The start of your day is the end of their day.

Only touch / pick up flowers that you are strongly considering - excessive and needless handling of flowers can damage their stock. They will observe this and not appreciate you.

Use care. If you pick up a flower and there is water dripping from the stem onto their container of flowers will damage their stock. They will observe this and not appreciate you. Amateur alert!

Gentle examination. If the blossom is closed on a loose petal variety of flower, you can blow one blossom open gently with your breath to see the inside.

To get organized when decorating for an event, make a dress rehearsal run down to the mart to determine parking, growers that you like and seasonal selection the week before your event.

Fortune Cookie Favors

I recently heard about the idea to use personalized fortune cookies as party favors and I thought it was a really fun way to add a personal touch to any kind of party or celebration.  After some investigation, I found there were many companies out there which will make these cookies for you and insert a personalized message.  I looked at Fancy Fortune Cookies and the prices seemed reasonable and the pictures made my sweet tooth ache!  If you were to throw a large party or use these cookies as wedding favors, I think buying bulk cookies and having them made and shipped to you would be the least time consuming choice.  I also thought it would be fun for a dinner party or smaller gathering to make my own cookies and insert original quotes or personalized predictions for each guest.  There are many recipies on-line and in chinese cookbooks you could use, but kitchen novices beware - this could be time consuming and frustrating without the proper tools and loads of patience!

The following recipie is courtesy of Rhonda Parkinson and includes many useful tips on how to make tasty, personalized fortune cookies.

Search the web for jokes, riddles or Cool Quotes that will suit your guests' personalities or sense of humor, then just make sure you give each person the fortune that was created for them!

Good Luck!

Fortune cookies can be tricky to make - it's important to make sure that the cookie batter is spread out evenly on the baking sheet. Instead of using the back of a wooden spoon to spread the batter, it's better to gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth as needed. Wearing cotton gloves makes it easier to handle and shape the hot cookies. This fortune cookie recipe makes about 10 cookies.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons water

PREPARATION:

1. Write fortunes on pieces of paper that are 3 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 2 9-X-13 inch baking sheets.

2. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg white, vanilla extract, almond extract and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff.

3. Sift the flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar into a separate bowl. Stir the water into the flour mixture.

4. Add the flour into the egg white mixture and stir until you have a smooth batter. The batter should not be runny, but should drop easily off a wooden spoon.

5. Place level tablespoons of batter onto the cookie sheet, spacing them at least 3 inches apart. Gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth and from side to side so that each tablespoon of batter forms into a circle 4 inches in diameter.

6. Bake until the outer 1/2-inch of each cookie turns golden brown and they are easy to remove from the baking sheet with a spatula (14 - 15 minutes).

7. Working quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip it over in your hand. Place a fortune in the middle of  a cookie. To form the fortune cookie shape, fold the cookie in half, then gently pull the edges downward over the rim of a glass, wooden spoon or the edge of a muffin tin. Place the finished cookie in the cup of the muffin tin so that it keeps its shape. Continue with the rest of the cookies.

Animal Ambassadors

The next kid's birthday party you host could be an unusual, fun and educational experience for your guests! Instead of a clown or bounce house, consider inviting friends and family to party with unusual animals and have some edu-tainment!

Look to see if your area has an animal rescue program - these facilities often offer tours or visits or will send out wildlife presenters who bring mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and bugs for an up close and personal look. These rescue facilities try to rehabilitate the animals to go back to the wild, but sometimes the animal cannot be released successfully. If so, they then become an animal ambassador - if they possess the right temperament to travel, be around people and so forth. Presenters often have degrees in biology or wildlife education and have a lot of experience talking about animals in an interactive and fun way. Kids (and adults) learn about where the animals are from, what they eat, their favorite things to do, and the special ways they live their lives. Through the animals, a new appreciation for the natural world is fostered.

Planning:

-- This is a great idea for kids ages 3 and up (depending on the maturity of the kids.)

-- Ask if the organization is fully permitted, licensed and liability insured. 

-- Plan to donate to the organization- some donations are 100% tax deductible. What other birthday items are?!

-- Provide arriving presenters a close parking or unloading space and let them know about any stairs or difficult access.

-- Ask them how many kids can be present and how much total space the presenters will need.

-- People wrangling is important: withhold snacks for the kids during the presentation, and make sure that kids know to have indoor voices and to “stay on their bottoms” during the presentation unless invited up to be with the presenter.

-- Ask the presenters what their ground rules are so that you are prepared to help the kids comply.

-- Ask presenters if they can bring at least one "touch" animal. The highlight of our party was when the kids got to touch an armadillo!!!  

-- Plenty of adults should accompany children guests for the supervision and safety of the children and the animals.

-- Afterwards, all the children (and adults) should clean their hands with antibacterial hand soap or wipes.

If you want something different and special... and definately memorable - you can emphasize having fun while learning at the same time by inviting animal ambassadors to your kid's party! It is a great way to go!

The Least Glamorous Place

What is the least glamorous room at a party or event for your guests? It just may be the bathroom! But it does not have to be the case.

If you are planning a large party or event... particularly if there are libations or children - or both... you must think about the loo. Failure to plan here can reflect negatively on the event.

If it is not already included, make sure you have a restroom category in your event planning list. At the very least, plan to have extra supplies that can be easily located by your guests. You may want to increase personnel to cover maintaining your restrooms. Plan to treat men's and women's rooms with the same care and attention, even if you customize it to the sexes- men appreciate nice things in the restroom too!

Be sensitive to the fact that many guests may have fragrance sensitivities and that in a small space like a bathroom you may want to be careful with flower selection, room deodorizers and soaps that are strong.

If you have a strong theme going for your event, bring in decorative elements that are appropriate to the restroom – plan a seamless approach to decorating on into the restroom.

Predictable items for decorating restrooms are candles, flowers and guest towels. But why not try a few other ideas?

IDEAS:

Dimmer Switches: Dimmers are a permanent improvement to your bathroom and an inexpensive way to dial in a bathroom's atmosphere for your parties. They are readily available and can be done by any moderately handy person.

Audio: Plug in a small boom box and give your guests a surprise and additional privacy of theme-appropriate music or a soundscape in the restroom. A recent A Midsummer Night's Dream themed event merely had dimmed lights and played a cricket recording in the restroom, and this was something guests talked about later!

Single-Use Soaps: consider providing single-use soaps for your guests. They are more sanitary for your guests. Large event? Have a basket by the sink with packets of soap leaves imprinted for your event. These use and take packets, available from trade-show give-away vendors, will be a useful memento of the evening. Minimum orders are usually 250 packets. Smaller event? Consider single-use rose petal soaps or beautiful soap leaves from wrapables.com to go with your guest hand towels.

Kid-Friendly: For a kid's party, make sure you have a safe, sturdy step-stool for the sink for the little folks. Use window crayons to write theme-related sentiments or do drawings on the bathroom mirror and/or windows. If you are not good at drawing, use stencils.

These touches may go unnoticed, but they probably won't. Likely, they will provide a strong impression that your guests are thought of and planned for in every way- including in the least glamorous places!

Corporate Events

In most offices, there is at least one party or event a year. Whether it's to celebrate an employee's retirement, a successful year for the business, or a holiday party, most people in the office yawn or roll their eyes when they hear a corporate event is coming up. I've even heard people say things such as "Well, at least we can get out of work for a few hours."

But corporate events do not have to be boring. Here are some great tips to make your next corporate get-together memorable:

- Hire live entertainment. Just playing music from a CD is not enough to truly entertain your employees. A live band can get them dancing and enjoying themselves. To play it safe, choose a tribute act rather than an original band, because most likely a band that plays hits from the 80s would be enjoyed more than an original band playing music no one has ever heard before.

- Set up the room appropriately. If you're going to have speakers at the front of the room or behind a podium, make sure everyone in the room can clearly see the speaker, and make sure the sound system works properly so that even those in the back can hear what is being said.

- Try not to serve food during a presentation. As a general rule, it is very hard to compete with food. Try to avoid letting your audience have food while you are speaking, or while your entertainment is performing. If at all possible, serve dinner before or after the entertainment and/or presentation you are going to make.

- Anticipate technical problems. Make sure the entertainment has all their technical bases covered, and that whatever presentation you will make goes over smoothly. Without preparation you are almost guaranteed to have the microphones not working, or the band will need half an hour to sound check that you did not anticipate, or you will notice your overhead projections being out of focus. Plan ahead for these and make sure everything is working day before the event.

Above all, relax and try not to take on everything yourself! Most likely if you are planning a party for your business, you have employees that you can delegate certain tasks to. If you prepare properly and anticipate your guests' needs, your event is sure to be a hit rather than a typical corporate yawner.

Painting Partners

Recently, I spent a whole weekend painting one room. I was miserable. I don't mind the work so much but I was truly bored. Bored because I was upstairs and there was no one to talk to, bored because it was an endless project, and bored because by the time I was done, I was already sick of my new color.
So, I got to thinking... Next time I paint a room, I am going to enlist the help of a friend.
Here are some helpful hints as you begin your search for your next "Painting Partner":

1. Choose someone who has a few painting projects of their own. This way, you can reciprocate the help and everyone is happy with no hard feelings of being taken advantage of.

2. Choose someone who has the same level of expectations as you. I am a nut about straight lines and evenly applied paint. My painting partner should have the same "mental issues" as me.

3. Choose someone who has the same taste in music. I can't bear the thought of 1 country music song to get me through the day. My painting partner must love Indie music too.

4. Choose someone who has the same "painting hours" as you... My painting partner must love to sleep in and paint late...a little red wine never hurt too, BUT... all lines must already be cut in....

5. Choose someone who has good taste in color... you know your painting partner will have an opinion about your "color du jour". Their input must have merit and they cannot be judgmental if you choose "poopy brown".

6. Choose someone who leads an exciting life. Who wants to listen to boring stories about laundry or what they ate for breakfast all day. You need enlightenment! enchantment! excitement!, to get you through the long hours.

7. Choose someone who doesn't need much direction. This is an important one. Have you ever tried to manage someone who asks so many questions that you can't manage to get your own job done? Hopeless I tell you.

You catch my drift right? Painting doesn't have to be done alone. Painting doesn't have to be boring. Painting can be filled with laughter, exhilaration, and a bit of karaoke when a good song comes on... If you can find someone with the same painting habits as you, I think you may have found a DIY buddy for life.

A Valentine's Party for Two

There's no rule on how many people constitute a "party", so have yourself a party for two on Valentine's Day.

Give your valentine something to look forward to by sending him or her a Sendomatic.com invitation to your party for two.  Although there are many to choose from, my three favorites are: True Love because of it's funky tune and graphic, Be Mine for its uniqueness, and Love for its classy, relaxing music.

Unless you love to cook and are in the mood to create your own romantic evening at home, taking your sweetie out to dinner is always a great option.  Nobody has to cook, the atmosphere is created for you, and it provides for a couple hours of good conversation time.  If your date is adventuresome, take her/him to somewhere they've never been.  MSN City Guides took a vote and posted The Best Romantic Dining for many major cities in the US.  If your date has a "distinguished" palate and you really want to impress your date, it is recommended that you stick to a tried and true favorite that you know of.   Keep in mind that you don't have to break the bank.  Some of my favorite restaurants are casual (Thai, Sushi, the local Italian joint).  The perks to casual dining is also that you don't have to know which fork to use or know how much to tip the valet....it puts you at ease to be yourself, and ENJOY your company.

Wherever you decide to eat, show up with a flower(s).  It can be hand picked from your yard, purchased at the local 7-11, or could be a whole bouquet from a fancy flower mart, but show your date that you are excited to be with them from the start.

Valentines gifts are too individual for a "one gift fits all" list, so here are some suggestions to get your mind working....   For women, a gift certificate at a local spa is always appreciated, a simple necklace or small pair of earrings, or a homemade gift certificate for a night away with you at a later date.  For men, a gift certificate to a local spa (yes, they really like them!), homemade heart shaped cookies, anything at Sharper Image, or a magazine subscription.

Valentine's Day is a weekday this year, so you can't spend lots of time doing anything much but a nice dinner.   If that is the case, at least try to fit one other activity in before or after dinner.   If the weather is nice, take a walk in a scenic location or drive to a scenic bluff.  If the weather isn't cooperating, grab an pre- or after- dinner drink or snack at a cozy lounge (bring a deck of cards or a travel game), ride on a carousel at the mall, or try to catch a short IMAX movie.

Whatever you decide to do on Valentine's Day, enjoy yourself and your company.  Laugh a lot and be proud of yourself for making this party happen!

Giving Hands

If you belong to any type of group or organization such as a book club, bunko group or even a corvette club, here is a great way to create even a stronger bond with in your group.

There are many organizations out there that can use some help. Sometimes, the task of "giving" is a stretch for an individual. Whether it's your hectic schedule or lack of funds, you know you want to help but you also ask "where can I fit this in..." Think of it this way, if you have already carved out time in your busy life to participate in some sort of organization, then giving your time and money as a group may be easier to absorb.
Next time your group meets, bring the idea of giving to the table and see if your fellow groupies would be willing to help.
Here are some great areas that different groups can adopt.

I love this first idea, so I will list it first. Adopt a Soldier at www.soldiersangels.org. This organization is a volunteer only group founded by the mother of a Soldier. Commitment to this organization has some requirements but as a group this should be very easy. Soldiers Angels asks that you send a minimum of one card or letter per week and at least 1 or 2 care packages a month. Care packages do not have to be fancy or expensive. I grew up in a military family and my father's last tour of duty before retirement was to Iraq 2 years ago. He still talks about the care packages that we sent. "...they were literally, gifts from Heaven...". It was so easy on our part. We sent gum, crossword puzzles, car magazines, cereal, granola bars, razors, band aids and of course pictures. The list of things to send is endless. Your commitment to this organization can range from 6-8 months and sometimes up to a year. Think about it, I think we can all spare a year of giving. Think of how these men and women are giving to you...

Another area to put your efforts is in our school system. Check out the Adopt A Student organization. Once you are registered, you are linked up with a Teacher who has pre-registered her needs as a teacher. Your funds go towards things such as supplies, mentoring programs, continuing education and field trips. I think that this is a great way to help contribute to the school system in this country. You can even take this a step further and find a school to adopt. I can imagine that there are many schools in places like New Orleans that sure could use our help...

There is also something like the Marine Mammal Center which can always use the assistance of a little cash. With this group, you can make a one time donation or send a donation each month. Your donation goes towards the food, medicine, rescue missions, and research of seals, sea lions, dolphins and other marine mammals. Minimum donation is $30. In return, you will receive photos, newsletters and updates on rescued mammals throughout the year.

Finding an organization to adopt is a great way for you or your own group to give back. Most donations to any organization are tax deductible. Tax season is right around the corner...If you don't like any of my ideas, at your next group meeting, think of any area of interest that your group may have. If you Google "Adopt a _____" I am sure your group will find a way to give to those in need.

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

In my opinion, there is no better way to count your blessings than to give back to your community during the Holiday season. Whether it's donating food to a local food drive or even volunteering your time at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving day, there are countless ways to give back to those who have less fortunate lives than you and I. Many of us will be spending time with family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend. Since this tends to be a four day weekend for most people, there is always plenty of time spent doing a whole lot of nothing. While the thought of sitting on your sofa and chillin' out sounds divine, how about gathering your loved ones and giving back to your community by volunteering some of your weekend at your local Habitat For Humanity.
By researching your local chapter of Habitat to see what sort of volunteer help is needed, just log onto www.habitat.org and search for your local affiliate by typing in your zip code.
Habitat For Humanity is an International, non profit organization whose mission is to provide housing for the less fortunate through the donation of time, and both monetary and material donations. Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity has been dedicated to addressing the issues of poverty housing for 30 years. The Habitat website is very helpful in learning more about this organization as well as finding ways to donate money or materials if your time is limited but your heart is big.
Spending time with your family during the Holidays will be some of the fondest memories that you will keep. This year, consider volunteering your time as a family at your local Habitat for Humanity project and walk away from the Season with a full heart instead of a full stomach.