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Throw the Last Beach Party of the Year

Throw the Last Beach Party of the YearThe end of August means that temperatures will soon plummet and carefree days spent lounging on the beach in the sun will be over. If you want to throw one final beach party to honor the passing of summer, NSNews.com recommends taking a few extra steps to make it a memorable and festive occasion.

First, commit to going all out with the beach-theme. Fill glass jars with sand and set up a miniature volleyball set in them, using string and small rubber balls. Seashells can also make for beautifulsalt and pepper shakers.

Water-themed snacks can also be a fun way to celebrate the occasion. Try cutting cookies into the shapes of fish, palm trees and the sun. Then decorate them with bright yellow and blue frosting.

If young children are attending the party, having them frost their own cookies can be a good way to keep everyone entertained.

Don’t forget to include sandcastles, which can be another staple of a beach party. Providing families with buckets and shovels can guarantee that guests are never wanting for entertainment.

When setting a table for a beach party, disposables and plastic dishes can be useful and festive, especially because you won’t have to worry about cleaning the sand from actual plates and utensils.
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Make a Labor Day Party Less Laborious

Make a Labor Day Party Less LaboriousNext Monday marks Labor Day, the last, official long weekend before Thanksgiving. If you’re planning to host a Labor Day party, make sure that you aren’t turning the celebration into a burden by stressing about cleaning and decorating.

Freep.com suggests a few different ways that Labor Day celebrations can be managed efficiently. While some like to clean their homes from top to bottom before guests arrive, a thorough scrub-down takes a lot of time. Instead, focus on just the areas that party-goers will be able to see.

When decorating, use fun, quirky decorations that you already own. Check your attic or basement for lights or statues that could contribute a unique touch to a room.

Creativity can also be key, because this can make decorating an enjoyable process. Try going to an arts store and purchasing banners or posterboard that can be used to make visitors feel welcome.

Another way to reduce stress on Labor Day is to purchase disposables for the party. This way, you don’t have to worry about tending to a mountain of dirty plates after the festivities end and you can spend more time enjoying the occasion itself. ADNFCR-3720-ID-19933166-ADNFCR

Old School Prom Party


We are going to bring back some ‘old school’ high school sweetheart LOVIN’! Its time to take your partner back in time to your high school prom by throwing an old school prom themed party! Invite all your friends and have them bring their dates or spouses!
Everyone should come dressed in an old 80’s (or any previous decade) tux and dress with outdated hairdos and accessories! Set up a DJ station with some ancient tunes. Have each couple get their picture taken with a Polaroid camera as they enter “the prom”. When this magical night is over, they will now have a picture to take home with them to remember it all!
Entice your guests to get competitive with their costumes by throwing a contest to win prom Queen/King. Whoever arrives best dressed (a costume that is the epitome of old school prom) WINS!!! Award them with their crowns in front of everyone! You can also incorporate a time machine theme in addition to all of the prom decorations.
Now jump into that time machine and be young again! Lets get this old school party started!
~ Shira

Planning a Birthday Dinner for a Close Friend

Planning a Birthday Dinner for a Close FriendIf you have taken it upon yourself to plan and host a fantastic birthday banquet for a friend, try not to panic. There are some steps that anyone can take that will help ensure a successful event, according to The Village Voice.

First of all, if the group is ordering food from a restaurant, try to obtain a copy of the menu in advance. This can give people time to decide what they want to eat in advance and cut down on the time that everyone will spend evaluating the menu and weighing different options.

The news source also recommends family-style dinners, as opposed to individual courses. This can build a sense of community and also make the bill less complicated to divide fairly. Asian restaurants are particularly well-suited for this kind of meal.

Birthday banquets at home can also include alcoholic beverages, but when dining out, it may be easiest for everyone to open their own tab with the server.

If you host a dinner at your home, be sure to stock up on plastic dinnerware. Disposables make it extremely easy to clean up after the party, so more time can be spent socializing. ADNFCR-3720-ID-19932502-ADNFCR

Dressing Up For a Red Carpet Event

Dressing Up For a Red Carpet EventIt can be entertaining to watch celebrities and actors walk down the red carpet at different celebrations and award shows, but imagine if you could take part in it. Luckily, by doing some careful party planning and budgeting, it’s easy to host a red carpet event in your own home.

The first step to a personal celebration is to design formal invitations. These can include glossy golden letters and cursive script, to convey the upscale nature of the event.

Remember to emphasize the dress code. Red carpet events at home can either be black-tie affairs or an opportunity for guests to dress up like different actors and musicians.

To offer guests delectable fare without spending a fortune, serve appetizers instead of meals. Shrimp cocktails, tea sandwiches and crackers with cheese are all tasty, affordable dishes that are perfect for a party.

For the actual red carpet, you can purchase or rent a red runner and line it up outside your front hall. If this is too costly, try lying down a series of red towels or blankets – a quirky touch that might get a few laughs.

For any red carpet party, you will want to stock up on party plates and linen-like tablecloths. By making sure that these are fancy as well, you can complement the theme of the party nicely and guarantee that every guest has a good time.
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Gymnasiums Offers Birthday Treats For Kids

Gymnasiums Offers Birthday Treats For KidsThrowing a birthday bash for younger children can be a difficult task, because many of them may have different interests or hobbies, so it can be hard to keep everybody entertained. One place that nearly all youngsters will find entertaining is the local gymnasium, according to The Star News.

The advantage to a gym is that every child can entertain themselves at their own pace, but also be part of a group. There is a whole range of activities that can be suited for 5-year olds or 10-year-olds.

"It’s the preferred choice for burning energy, especially for the little ones," Teresa Wile told the news source. "They love it. Even my oldest one still loves it."

A number of gymnasiums offer 90-minute birthday specials that are hosted by instructors. This can ease the burden of watching the children yourself and also guarantee that the entertainment has structure, which keeps things moving quickly.

Look for gyms that offer fun pieces of equipment, like the foam pit, balance board and trampoline. Whether the child is just climbing over these pieces or actually using them, they are sure to have a good time and enjoy the novelty of the experience.

To properly celebrate a birthday, you might want to consider decorating with party supplies and stocking up on disposables, which will make clean up a breeze. Be sure to have plenty of food and drinks for the little guests on hand, and come prepared with decorative party plates, cups and napkins.ADNFCR-3720-ID-19931849-ADNFCR

Gymnasiums Offers Birthday Treats For Kids

Gymnasiums Offers Birthday Treats For KidsThrowing a birthday bash for younger children can be a difficult task, because many of them may have different interests or hobbies, so it can be hard to keep everybody entertained. One place that nearly all youngsters will find entertaining is the local gymnasium, according to The Star News.

The advantage to a gym is that every child can entertain themselves at their own pace, but also be part of a group. There is a whole range of activities that can be suited for 5-year olds or 10-year-olds.

"It’s the preferred choice for burning energy, especially for the little ones," Teresa Wile told the news source. "They love it. Even my oldest one still loves it."

A number of gymnasiums offer 90-minute birthday specials that are hosted by instructors. This can ease the burden of watching the children yourself and also guarantee that the entertainment has structure, which keeps things moving quickly.

Look for gyms that offer fun pieces of equipment, like the foam pit, balance board and trampoline. Whether the child is just climbing over these pieces or actually using them, they are sure to have a good time and enjoy the novelty of the experience.

To properly celebrate a birthday, you might want to consider decorating with party supplies and stocking up on disposables, which will make clean up a breeze. Be sure to have plenty of food and drinks for the little guests on hand, and come prepared with decorative party plates, cups and napkins.ADNFCR-3720-ID-19931849-ADNFCR

Caterers see spike of alternative wedding foods

Caterers see spike of alternative wedding foodsCathryn Faulkner, the catering sales manager for the Hilton Garden Inn, recently told the Vancouver Sun that she has seen a number of weddings this season which have featured unusual foods.

These can include donut cakes, fake cakes, candy and homemade pastries, to name a few. There also has been an increase in midnight lunches, where people will gather to eat everything from cabbage to pizza and finger foods.

"We’ve been noticing… a pick-up in interest to alternatives to wedding cakes," catering manager Chelsea Engel, told the news source.

Cocktail receptions and mashed potato bars are also enjoying a spike in popularity, as well as sushi and candy buffets.

Caterers seem to be adapting to this new trend by offering specialized services that are different from the formal ones that generally include cake and other traditional staples of weddings.

Decorations have also changed, as more couples try to make their wedding different from contemporary designs, according to the news source. Instead of flowers, the bride and groom are opting for unique flourishes such as branches with crystals, flowers with candles or fruit centerpieces.

Catering supplies are an important feature for any business. It can be a good idea to make sure that you have enough variety to meet with the changing foods and decorations of weddings. ADNFCR-3720-ID-19930559-ADNFCR

Tequila Tasting

The latest rage in party planning is to have tequila tastings at your next cocktail reception or prior to a dinner party.  Martini parties are still popular and wine tastings will never go out of style, but if you want to be one of the first in your neighborhood to be up on the latest “in” thing, have a tequila tasting station at your next party!
To set up, use Smarty’s 5 oz. Small Wine Tasting Glass or 4 oz. Cube Glass with ice.  As an alternative, you could use Smarty’s Cool Shooters Ice Shot Glass molds to make your own shot glasses out of ice ahead of time which makes for great conversation starters as well! For a tasting party though, you’ll want to encourage your guests to sip the tequila instead of shooting it!
Tequila is usually bottled in one of five categories. You’ll want to offer at least three types for a tasting party:
Blanco (“white”) or plata (“silver”): White spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels
Joven (“young”) or oro (“gold”): Silver tequila with caramel or food coloring added. Examples are Jose Cuervo Gold or Sauza Gold
Reposado (“rested”): Aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels
Añejo (“aged” or “vintage”): Aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in oak barrels
Extra Añejo (“extra aged” or “ultra aged”): Aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. This category was established in March 2006.
You’ll need to serve appetizers too.  Finger foods go well with this type of party, and you could do so many different items with Smarty’s Bamboo Picks.  We have several styles to use with any party décor and food items.
~ Karen

Michael Jackson Hits

I am a long time fan of Michael Jackson; I admit it.  I’ve loved his songs since I was in first grade doing a patty cake song to Rockin’ Robin, then in Girl Scouts when we sang the song Ben at a home for the disabled. From my junior high school days, when the girl who did the Dancing Machine was the winner of the talent show, and everyone was trying to dance like a robot, to the disco days when I want to Rock with You and Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough played until dawn at clubs on the east side of St. Louis.
As an adult, I admired his philanthropic work and songs like Earth Song, We are the World, Man in the Mirror, his work with HIV/Aids and his Heal the World Foundation.   As a mother, I love the fun films that he has done with Disney’s Captain EO, our favorite Halloween film “Thriller”, and for his inspiring messages in songs like Black & White.
If you’re a fan of MJ as I am, why not celebrate his birthday on August 29 with some friends by showing his videos, playing his songs and sharing some food and drink with your friends?   You could invite friends to dress up as he did in one of the iconic outfits for which he is known, or come up with something creative that reflects MJ’s message. You could serve food on Smarty’s black and white square plates and platters, use our black and white satin linens and chair sashes, serve Guinness beer in honor of his many world records, insert small mirrors in our silver fleur de lis silver photo frames as place cards (for a Man in the Mirror effect), use tropical plants for table centerpieces and for  around the parameter of the room for an Earth Song look, and you could even collect money for a favorite local children’s charity or school in memory of his philanthropic work.
You’ll be one of many people around the world who’ll celebrate the birthday of the world’s most successful artist of all time!
~ Karen