You stand firmly in command of the occasion. You are the host of a summer party that really rocks. Cold, icy drinks flow and people are laughing ... having a good time. You're serving up great food from the grill and your friends are lovin' it. Everyone knows your place is the place to go for the best time. This is the way I used to imagine throwing a party. Frankly though, my first few ...

We love Evite®.  Why?  Because Evite removes one of the most pressing, and crippling barriers to hosting a party: the invitations.  Almost nobody mails invitations anymore.  MAYBE, for your child's early birthday parties, or for a christening, or for a wedding. If you feel like you have to mail invitations, you might not be as likely to host the casual get-together party.  Emails and phone calls can be kind of hard to track and sporadic. ...

Good party staging can mean the difference between enjoying your own party and being stuck in the kitchen/pantry/garage all night long. Decorations are nice.  Plenty of ice is key.  Keeping the party playlist going and the drinks flowing are integral.  But good staging is what separates the men from the boys, the pros from the amateurs. Get This Party Started The last few minutes before guests arrive are always the most nerve-wracking and anticipatory.  I ...

Party props can take a halfhearted gathering from drab to fab in mere seconds.  Party props help set the scene, and carry the theme beyond traditional decorations, paper goods, and menu items.  Here are some ideas for choosing and using party props effectively to pump up the fun! Setting the Scene Decorations are an integral part of the party theme.  You can go beyond crepe paper and balloons to use props that really make the party pop.  ...

You may think that if you live in a small house or have a small space for entertaining that you can’t have a party. This is simply not true! The key in having a party in a small space is to learn to maximize the area that you do have access to. You may have to move things around a bit or you may have to rethink your approach, but you can throw an amazing party ...

Look...up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's the best party in your neighborhood! And congratulations – you're hosting it. It's worth the effort to hold this very popular party theme for your child's birthday. And you'll be a superhero in his or her book with these tips. For Boys Only? Keep in mind that a superhero birthday party isn't a boys-only proposition. Girls have heroes, too -- and hope to grow up ...

Sleepover parties are one of the great joys of childhood. Yet often, parents shy away from them because of certain worries (What if the guests break something? What if they have nothing to do and are running wild all over the house?). Good news: we have the perfect solution for you. Four of them, in fact. Here are the top concerns parents have about hosting sleepovers, and why a few simple ground rules will keep things fun ...

So your little boy or girl is turning one year old! I know it's hard to believe (wasn't she a newborn baby just moments ago?), but little ones do get big. And that means you'll want to celebrate this milestone in a way you can always look back on. Guests You'll Want to Invite Invite grandparents or close caretakers. Even if it's a “friends party,” your one-year-old won't understand the distinction and will want Grandma and Pop-Pop ...

A major part of any party theme is the color scheme of the decorations.  There are certain holidays and occasions that are almost inextricably intertwined with traditional colors.  Here's a guide to some traditional color schemes to follow, and other traditions that you can experiment and play with.  Not EVERY baby show for boys needs to have a blue theme, and not every girl's shower must be pink. Party Color Uses Usually, you'll use the party colors ...

It's easy to go green and save money when you buy your party supplies in bulk so that they can be used for a multitude of parties and gatherings throughout the year. When you buy plates, cups, serving supplies and decorations for Christmas (especially if you can get them at huge savings at after-Christmas sales), choose plain red, green, blue, white and metallic colored-items rather than Christmas-specific ...