Social media fueled magazine for Washington D.C. Suburbs

How well do you know your numbers? If you’re hosting a holiday cocktail party, then you need to know your Holiday Cocktail Party numbers! Knowing your numbers ensures that you will have sufficient food and drinks, which is a frequent fear for many hostesses, and that, subsequently, guests will have an enjoyable experience at your party.  This month, I’m sharing my cheat sheet that I’ve developed over the years from the wisdom shared by preferred caterers and rental companies.
 

This year, host a kid’s Boo Bash that’s spook-tacular! Add New Orleans jazz music, plus colorful beads and feathered masks, and ‘let the ghoul times roll!’

Invite little ghouls, I mean guests, about two to three weeks before the party. Is costume optional? Will the party be outdoors? Include these details on the invitation so guests are prepared for maximum fun!

Kids’ birthday parties have a bad rap. Many parents say birthday parties are too stressful to plan and too expensive to host. But if you ask any child how they want to celebrate their special day, most will opt for playing (or spending time) with their friends. What matters most to them is that they get to celebrate their birthday with their friends. If that’s the case, parents can focus on the guest list, activities and the cake, and forget about balloons, pizza-in-a-box and plastic trinkets.

When most people decide to host an event, they initially think of all the fun elements … delicious food, refreshing drinks, festive décor and fabulous entertainment.  Why not?  They’re planning a fun event!  Then, they start assessing where and when to host the event, who will be invited and how much is this going to cost.  Tough decisions; each one spurs more questions.  For example, you decide to host your event outdoors the week of Fourth of July but then reconsider – will guests attend or will they have holiday plans; will it rain; will it be too hot; when is the parade; will road closures interrupt travel plans?

Modern women love shortcuts; shortcuts to beat traffic, clean the house, prepare dinner and more.   We need these shortcuts to accomplish the many things we NEED to do so that we have more time to enjoy the things we WANT to do … like play with our kids, ride our bikes and catch up on our DVR shows.  Entertaining doesn’t exactly fall under the NEEDS category but research suggests that people do need to celebrate – our accomplishments, as well as the successes of our family and friends, not to mention birthdays, holidays and more; the positive results are exceptionally healthy.

In Margery Williams’ book, The Velveteen Rabbit, the stuffed Rabbit asks “What is Real?” The Skin Horse replies, “It's a thing that happens to you. When [someone] loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real.” He continues, “Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand …”

Brides like bling. From the sparkling solitaire on their left ring finger to the heirloom gems found on their bridal bouquets and hair pieces, brides want to shine on their wedding day. But there are more gems found in weddings–the cadre of people who assist the bride, her groom and often their parents to ensure a successful special day. Northern Virginia is blessed with many of these gems–stationers, caterers, florists and musicians, as well as weddingBriar Patch’s Fox Den planners and more. I asked a few of my favorite gems to suggest their favorite wedding gems, specifically venues for your consideration:

Happy New Year!  I hope your winter holidays were fabulous and your new year is off to a great start.

One thing that I enjoy most at the start of a new year is reading trend reports to learn what’s hip in food, entertainment, fashion, technology and more because, ultimately, these trends will impact our parties.  For instance, last year’s #1 restaurant trend, as predicted by Andrew Freeman & Co, was pies … as in the next “in” item to replace cupcakes.  Sure enough, pies, including fruit pies, mini pies, pies-on-a-stick and, even whoopie pies, were served in abundance at birthday parties, wedding receptions and fundraising galas!

This holiday season, make wrapping gifts twice as much fun as giving them, by hosting a party! Invite your girlfriends over, sip your beverage of choice and wrap presents together while catching up and sharing a few laughs. Yes, you’ll still have a sore back from bending, sizing, cutting and taping but you’ll be in the company of good friends!

Ready to party? In collaboration with a few local party professionals, I designed this no-fuss party plan for you.

When you’re setting the table next week, consider easy and affordable decorations like pumpkins and squash and incorporate brilliant hues of orange, red and yellow to create a stunning presentation.

As you create your own Thanksgiving tablescape, consider these design ideas: