Party Proofing Your House

The concept of party proofing might seem like an odd concept, but it’s something you can reap the rewards from. No one likes to survey the damage after hosting a party and see irreparably damaged items or furniture, so taken preventative measures ensures you will remember the night fondly rather than with anger.

When people party, they’re clumsy – even if they have the very best intentions, and the utmost respect for their host. This is all the more true if alcohol is added into the equation, and is something a party host should expect. Do not be surprised if you do not party-proof and then find yourself the morning after sobbing over a smashed family heirloom.

Thankfully, party planning is not particularly difficult. The rule is simple: survey each room that will be opened up to guests, look at each item and ask yourself: “would I be upset if that got broken?”. If the answer is yes, move the item to either the attic or a locked door, out of harm’s way.

Furniture is a trickier issue, as few of us can move our sofas into the attic. If you are having a rather informal party, it may be worth considering plastic sheeting for the sofa just for the duration of the party. Other options include throws and blankets, which can most up the worst of any staining.

Finally, unless an electrical appliance will be used during the party (such as the stereo), unplug it. Guests may trip over wires and harm themselves and your home, so try and keep trailing wires to a minimum.

Are Party Favors A Must Have?

One of the more accepted traditions of a party is that guests depart with a party favor. This is usually a small gift of some kind, inexpensive but thoughtful, and leaves guests going home with a smile on their face. Yet with party favors – for adult parties, anyway – being a more modern tradition, have they now become expected – or is it possible to throw a good party without them?

Party favors are tricky beasts in several ways. To begin with, they add extra dollars on to your budget – but unlike spending cash on food or decorations, favors in no way actually benefit the party itself. After all, they are just a going home gift, meaning the party is naturally over by the time guests receive their gifts. That’s a lot of hassle to go to, and expense spent, for something which is a mere formality.

Secondly, what exactly constitutes a good party favor? How on earth can you predict and buy something that everyone attending the party will want? All in all, party favors can present the kind of worries that any stressed-out host can do without.

Yet one does not want to appear selfish or rude by not handing out party favors, so you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. The solution is unfortunately not a simple one, because no matter which way you go you risk offending people; they may not appreciate not having a favor, or they may think the favor is inappropriate. The best option is to go cheap and cheerful with your favors, and pass them off as a mere novelty rather than some kind of gift – make light of it, spend little, but nevertheless hit the favor requirement.

How To Successfully Plan A Party

When it comes to party planning, there is one particular word you need to bear in mind: planning. With parties, the planning is everything – it may even be more important than the actual execution of the party. A party that is planned well is a party that will run smoothly, and a smooth party is the kind of party everyone wants to attend.

There will inevitably be hiccups in any party you throw; unfortunately, that cannot be avoided. You can, however, eliminate how serious the hiccup can be with effective preparation. When planning a party, apply the rule of Sod’s Law: if it can go wrong, it will. Try and think through every situation that may be problematic, and come up with the solutions beforehand. It may take awhile, but it could save you hassle and stress on the evening of the party.

The essential party planning tool is the list. Writing things down helps to streamline thoughts, focus the mind and keeps you up to date with the latest happenings. Buy a notebook or pad and specifically dedicate its pages to the party. Anything to do with the party, write it down in the notebook – even (and actually, especially) things you believe you will not have a problem remembering. At the very least, you will find the presence of the notebook and its detailed notes reassuring if you’re experiencing any last minute nerves.

Finally, give yourself as much time as possible to plan your party – two or three weeks, if possible. You may also find setting aside complete blocks of one or two hours is more effective than doing a little bit here and there. Utilize this time correctly, and your party will hopefully be hiccup-free.

How Correct Lighting Can Make A Party Perfect

If you are having your party at night – as most are – then one area you should spend particular time focusing on is the lighting. In a naturally darkened room, the correct lighting is often so crucial to dictating the mood and feel of a party. You need to walk a difficult line between making sure everyone can see each other and what they’re doing but at the same time, allowing the lighting to be ambient enough to create a mood.

Options for lighting include candles, colored light bulbs and spotlights – all of which can be achieved easily on a budget.

Candles –

Space candles around a room, and test out the positioning prior to the party’s commencement. Ensure candles are placed as high up as possible, so they are less likely to be knocked over. Buy a small household fire extinguisher just in case the worst should happen, or insert a glass over each candle for an extra effect. Secure with tape if you’re particularly concerned.

Colored Bulbs –

Available to buy online and at most hardware stores, colored bulbs instantly change the look and feel of a room. Insert colored bulbs into existing light sockets and use sparingly. Try to avoid red, due to its “ladies of the night” connotations, though!

Spotlights –

You can buy stick-and-click spotlights for a couple of dollars, and can then easily create a soft light ambiance which nevertheless provides enough light to be practical. Simply remove the sticky backing from the light, insert batteries and then press the light against the wall – it can then be clicked on and off, and you can add more lights to areas (such as the kitchen) that require extra lighting.

Home Made Paper Decorations Tips

A quick, efficient and cost-effective way of decorating a room for a party is to make paper decorations. These can take the form of lantern-esque shapes, cut out shapes placed together on a string and hung – or even perhaps a return to the simple paper chain. You’ll need to spend a little time putting the decorations together and hanging them, but you nevertheless can achieve a nice party feel without spending a fortune.

One thing to remember when it comes to making paper decorations is that the quality of the paper has a huge effect on the overall outcome. If you use cheap and flimsy paper that is poorly dyed, it is unlikely – no matter how crafty you are – that the decorations will look anything other than cheap and quickly put together. Rather than making many, many decorations with your budget, focus on making several very good decorations – the total effect is much more aesthetically pleasing.

You can buy properly colored or tinted paper at craft stores or online. For your main decoration – such as a banner – use thick cardboard, or linen paper if making paper chains. The heavier the paper, the better the decoration will look and hang once affixed to a ceiling or wall.

It is also worth investing in an invisible form of adhesive, such as a glue stick which becomes clear when dry or craft double-sided tape. This will help eliminate the visibility of the joins in a paper decoration, which in turn will make the decoration look more professional and expensive.

Combine the two – invisible adhesive and heavy, quality paper – and you could soon have a set of home made party decorations to be proud of.

How Do I Know How Much Food To Buy For A Party?

When planning and hosting a party, there is a somewhat inevitable conundrum that will pop up and temporarily flummox you: just how much food do I need to buy?

The answer to this question begins in the planning of the party; namely, the invitations. To successfully plan for the right amount of food to buy, you will need to know how many guests are coming. It is therefore imperative that you include a request for people to RSVP whether or not they are planning to attend your party or not. When you have received all the RSVPs you expect to get, add five to that number (in case of stragglers or late announcements) and use this as a base for planning the amount of food you need to purchase.

Fortunately, most part food manufacturer’s will include a guidance label as to how many people a portion or serving of food will serve. If possible, you should overestimate this so as to allow for second helpings. If for example, you have 40 people coming to your party and you have a cake that “serves 10”, buy five cakes.

Apply the overestimating wherever you can, as far as your budget will allow. If you have individual items of food, ensure there is enough for everyone and include a couple of spares. It is always better to have too much – which you can offer as doggy bags – than too little, after all.

Keeping The ‘Surprise’ In A Surprise Party

The surprise party is a classic, particularly if acted well by all involved. However, there’s no doubt that planning and orchestrating a surprise party can be – excuse the pun – surprisingly difficult, particularly if you live with the person you’re planning to spring the party on.

The vast majority of planning a surprise party can be done covertly, provided you remember to use contact details for yourself that the person in question has no access to. Make all calls off your cell phone, and use an email address for correspondence. Also, ensure that everyone involved in the party – such as guests, entertainment and cake makers – are aware the party is a surprise. If necessary, develop a code word which will alert those “in on it” as to whether it is okay to discuss the party at a given time – and only use the code word when the suprisee is not in earshot.

Yet the most difficult part of a surprise party is getting the person whose party it is to the surprise location. One easy way to navigate this issue is to hold the party at your home, and to simply ensure the surprisee is out of the house while you set up. Send them on an errand, or just surprise them when they come home from work.

If, however, the party is at a secondary venue, it’s time to wheel out the acting skills. Invent a plausible reason for the person to come out with you, and stay relaxed and chatty – as you normally would be – as you travel to your destination. If you keep your cool and are careful when making plans, it truly will be a surprise party indeed.

How To Deal With Arguments At A Party

When groups of people come together at a party, there can sometimes be friction, tension and arguments which can ruin the night for all. Anyone who has attended a party where a verbal shouting match – or even, heaven help us, a physical fight – has broken out can attest to this; it ruins the mood, sometimes irretrievably

As host, you have a vital role to play in preventing the build up of arguments. The first step is to be selective in your guest list, and not to invite people who you think may have a problem with one another. No matter how joyous the occasion, do not be fooled into thinking two arch enemies will be able to rub along together all night without a problem. This is particularly true if people are going to be drinking alcohol, which does not help keep tempers calm.

Instead, try to only invite people who you know will get along or do not already know each other. Quietly explain to those not invited why they have been excluded, and do this as soon as invitations go out – to avoid awkward “why haven’t I been invited?” confrontations.

However, even with this precaution, arguments can still break out. In this instance, all you have is the speed of your reaction. As soon as you sense a problem brewing, go and separate the individuals involved. Be forceful with your voice, but do not use physical force unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Keeping an eye out during the night and reacting quickly, you should be able to prevent a disagreement from becoming a full blown fight.

The Essential Medical Supplies You Need When Party Hosting

You’ve got the food, you’ve got the decorations and you’ve bought the cake – but have you remembered one of the most important supplies needed for a party? In an environment which will involve rich food and, most likely, alcohol, there’s one thing you cannot forget to include when hosting a party – medical supplies. Here’s a quick rundown of everything you should have to hand, just in case it’s needed:

- Nausea relief (Pepto Bismol etc)

There are two reasons people can start to feel sick; overeating of rich food, or drinking too much alcohol. Both are likely at a party. Stock up on your preferred form of nausea relief to prevent any unfortunate incidents.

- Painkillers.

If one of your guests develops a headache, meet your host requirements by being able to quickly supply a packet of painkillers and a glass of water.

- Bandages and Band-Aids

When glasses and alcohol combine, there’s always a risk of cuts and scrapes – not to mention people falling over or other similar maladies! Buy a set of wound dressings (ensure you have eye dressings) and a supply of Band-Aids in a variety of different sizes. Store these together in a box within easy reach of the main party area, and include a pair of scissors also, in case you need to cut things to size.

- Ice

Keep one tray of ice in the freezer all night, ready to use should someone bang a limb or tumble over. Store this alongside a plastic shower cap, which works well as a temporary container for the ice. If needed, place three or four ice cubes into the cap and secure it with an elastic band, then apply to the affected area.

Three Quick Tips To Prevent The Post-Party Clean Up

It’s a situation that’s all too familiar to someone hosting a party at their home; the night is over, you’re tired and dead on your feet, and then you suddenly notice the huge mess you now have to deal with. You probably slink off to bed – hoping beyond hope that things will look better in the morning, which they inevitably do not. Here’s three quick ways to prevent the post-party clean up blues:

1. Clean as you go.

While no one is suggesting you should spend the night of the party with a dishcloth in hand, wherever possible take a moment to clear any mess. If, for example, someone knocks a potted plant over and spills soil on the carpet, attend to it instantly rather than leaving it for the next morning.

2. Encourage everyone to use coasters.

The longer a water ring is left to sit on a surface, the more stubborn that ring becomes – and removal can be a nightmare. To prevent this, throughout the party encourage people to use coasters. Place coaster holders around the room, preferably on every surface that someone may conceivably set a glass down upon. If you really want to make your point, a Post-It on the posters saying: “use me!” should do the trick.

3. Use disposable plates and plastic glasses.

No, disposable plates and throwaway glasses are not the most aesthetically pleasing crockery one can own – but they really do make the post-party clean up easier. Not having to do the dishes in the morning will drastically reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning up after a party.

How To Introduce Party Guests That Have Not Met Before

When throwing a party, your role as host can be a stressful and demanding one. One of the trickiest situations – and a large cause for pre-party nerves – is introducing people to one another who have not met before. No one wants their party to be awkward, and particularly if throwing a large party, you will probably be inviting groups of friends you know from different walks of life – who have had no contact before.

While one can usually rely on the more confident guests to make chit chat and bridge the gap between friendship groups, this is not necessarily a given. Therefore, unless you want your party to be full of pockets of people who are not interacting with one another, you’ll need to step up to the plate in your role of host.

Every time someone new arrives, make the point of introducing them to the people already in the room. Approach each existing guest in turn and introduce them to one another; it is then their prerogative if they wish to continue the conversation or not, and your role is complete. At the very least, you will have reduced the likelihood of those pockets of groups.

To really create a seamless transition between friends, add in a sentence or two about each person. For example: “this is John, he’s a colleague of mine and loves fishing. And John, this is Stuart, we know each other from college and he’s a huge movie fan.” You have now provided a jumping off point for conversation, and won yourself a couple of host points, too!

Next Page »