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Costumes and ideas for Halloween.
Halloween is just around the corner and preparations are in full swing all over the country. Yards are being decorated with all the colors of fall, the scarecrows are coming out of the sheds and here and there we might already see huge spiders hanging. ...
Fun & Healthy Halloween Treats
It's almost time for Halloween. Little ghosts and goblins will be running through neighborhoods across the country, going door-to-door, calling out the same three words, "trick or treat!" Of course, they'll be hoping for and expecting treats. This year, ...
Make your own Halloween decorations.
Fall, with all its spectacular colors, is finally here. Halloween is just around the corner, followed by Thanksgiving and before we know it; Christmas. Don't you just love decorating your house and yard for all these seasons? I do to. Let's face the ...
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Fall - a fantastic season with the Holiday Party Season just nipping at its heels!
What makes a good party and how do hosts/hostesses get through the anxiety, worry, and how do they take care of all those details and bring it all to a successful conclusion?
A few tips for some really great parties. As a caterer, there are many tips, tricks, and so-called survival techniques.
Here are a few:
The first thing you do when you would like to have a party is decide on the occasion or theme-is it an anniversary, a birthday, a Halloween costume party, or an After Raking the Leaves get-together for family and neighbors? Then decide on how many guests to invite. This will greatly affect your table arrangements, menu, etc. More importantly, you must take into account the space you have available to comfortably entertain (even small spaces can be used effectively,), and your budget.
With regard to theme, once that is chosen your menu becomes easier. The food should directly relate to the event. A Trimming the Tree party could have fantastic cocoa beverages, while your Hawaiian Luau would make this very inappropriate. A buffet is easier than a sit-down dinner, but space becomes critical. If guests are asked to serve themselves, then they must have somewhere to place their plates, sit, converse, and enjoy themselves.
Invitations follow your initial planning. A printed invitation is a more thoughtful way, then a mere telephone call. The written version contains all the essential inforamtion, so there are no mis-dates, time, or destination, especially if the party will not be at your home.
A simple schedule for you is next. Write down all the details - the decorations, menu, and amenities. This insures that the "non" immediates are handled in advance and the "immediates" such as fresh flowers, fresh produce, etc. are all last-minute items. Do as much as you comfortably can ahead of time. Make-ahead foods are great and give you a lot more time on the last minute food items. Use foods
you are comfortable with, but with a twist. In other words, an event is not a good time to try a new, never-used recipe. It will only add to the anxiety and stress. Also consider food garnishments and touches. Use food to decorate food! If artificial items are used, they will need to be removed by your guests.
Also, have and utilize a party log. In other words, write down your exact party plans, the guest list, menu, etc. in a notebook. Write down what went very well and what didn't. Which guest did not interact very well with others, etc. This will give you valuable insight into future parties. Also this allows you to invite guests that are compatible so that no one is uncomfortable. Also you avoid duplicating menu plans, decorations, etc. When the day of the party arrives, stay calm. Use your schedule and cross out all items as they get done. Have everything ready (except for hot-from-the-oven items) in place and do a once-over about an hour before the guests begin to arrive. Then dress-up, relax and make sure you enjoy the party as much as you would like your guests to. Nothing is more tense at an event, then a host/hostess that is jittery, upset, and obviously stressed out. Visit and personally greet each and every arrival and look after the extra details that mean so much to your guests. Extra towels, napkins, temperature adjustments for too warm or too cold, name cards on the table (double-faced for comfortable conversations), and easily handled food. If accidents occur, such as spilled beverages or dropped food, discreetly do immediate clean-up, but save the real clean-up for after the guests leave. This will save embarrassment and frustration on the perpetrator.
Your reputation will soar as a successful host/hostess with just a few of these tips.
ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 August
About the Author
Articles, books, gift ideas, e-zines:
http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com
http://www.arleenssite.com
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rusticliving
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STRANGE EVENTS: Seriously weird SoCal happeningsNorth County TimesEach year, hundreds of costumed dogs and their proud owners show up to compete in the daylong event, which benefits charity. The hairless, dentally challenged and cataract-troubled canines often take the top prizes, but there's a people's choice award ... |
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Rehab Guavaween to bring back charm of YborTampabay.comHalloween was a time for music and parties, which led to a parade — here called a "stumble" — where artsy types donned costumes that made fun of Tampa's people and traditions. Over time, Ybor gentrified and so did Guavaween.and more » |
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News in your communityDolphinCostumes are encouraged, but not mandatory. Each party will receive two (2) free Kids Meal per adult entrée purchase. The Kids Eat Free on Halloween special offer is valid at the Groton Applebee's restaurant. Applebee's will thank our nation's veterans ... |
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