Posts Tagged: planning

Parties — Comments Off
20
Jun 11

Your Birthday Party – Why Wait For Someone to Throw You a Great Party When You Can Do it Yourself?

So no one is throwing you a big spectacular party this year to commemorate your birthday? Then this is the perfect opportunity to finally get the birthday party of your dreams by planning it yourself!?No, you’re not going to raise any eyebrows or get any strange looks.?Just follow these simple tips.

Birthday Party Invitations

It doesn’t matter whether you go for the beautiful 5 x 7 photo birthday invitations with multiple photos of yourself or just invite people over the phone.?What does matter is how the invitation is worded.?Instead of projecting that the party is all about honoring you, let your guests know that, In fact, it’s about honoring them.?They are the blessings in your life.?And as you come to the close of another year, there’s nothing that would make you happier than to share this special day with them.

What About Gifts?

Their presence is your present.?So, of course, you don’t ask for gifts.?Actually, you might?want to discourage them.?You could even include that point in the invitations.?You may still get a few gifts, but the objective of this birthday party is to have a great time celebrating with people you care about, and not accumulating more stuff.?/p>

Another option would be to say something like, “I don’t need anything, except your company. But if you still feel like you should give me something, a donation to the animal shelter would be cool.”?Let you guests know that you’re not having this party to get a pile of presents, but to spend meaningful time with them.

Yes, to Party Favors!

With most parties, favors are a nice gesture, but optional.?However, if you decide to throw yourself a birthday party, it’s a good idea to invest in these little thank you gifts.?Your birthday favors can range from inexpensive tokens to homemade creations to full-blown goodie bags.?But it’s not how much you spend, but the sentiment you convey.?/p>

Make your famous chocolate chip cookies and pack them in a decorative container with the recipe.牋 You can select favors that tie into your party’s theme or reflect your unique personality.?If you’re inviting only a select few to your party, you might want to purchase individual inexpensive gifts for each person.?Another idea is to choose personalized photo favors that include a message that spells out how much you appreciate your guests.

Let’s Get The Party Rolling

Now, comes the fun part.?You and you alone get to decide how you want to celebrate your birthday.?Do you want a big bash with a DJ??How about an intimate gathering of your closest friends??Should it be at home or at a restaurant??You can choose exactly who you want to invite, what food you want to include, where you want to have the party and every other detail.?/p>

You don’t even have to have a traditional party.?What do you imagine as your perfect birthday party??Here are some ideas to consider:

Theme Party – These can be a lot of fun! You could go with a luau or fiesta.?Other possibilities are Hollywood glamour, casino night, winter wonderland or jungle safari. You might want to throw a retro party, either 50’s do-wop, 60’s rock or 70’s disco.

Destination Party – Is there some place you’re dying to go??Plan a trip to coincide with your birthday.?Send out save the date cards with a website address that includes all the trip particulars, like air fare, hotel rooms, itineraries, etc.?It takes a lot of planning to get a whole group of people organized for a trip, but it could make this the birthday to remember.

But destination parties don’t have to be just to some exotic locale far away. You can invite your friends to your party at your local zoo, the beach or a night out on the town in the city.?Take a dinner cruise. Organize a picnic in the park.?Choose an interesting nearby location for something different.

Activity Party – Is there something you would like to do or even learn how to do on your birthday??You could get a group of friends together to go horseback riding, take a hot air balloon ride, take dance lessons or learn to surf, just to name a few possibilities.?/p>

Whatever you do to turn your birthday into a party, don’t just let it pass you by.?Seize the day! You have a right to celebrate your birthday with the people you love. You don’t have to wait for someone to plan a great birthday party for you.?So, go for it – and have a really happy birthday!

Gardening — Comments Off
23
May 11

Planning the Perfect Garden

If you are growing and planting an organic garden, starting a chart for crop rotation is a very important aspect of it. Crop rotation ensures that the fertility of the soil does not diminish. When a certain crop is planted, it uses some of the nutrients present in the soil. On the other hand, every crop also adds certain nutrients to the soil. If you plant the same crop again, it will continue to deplete and add the same nutrients in the soil, making it unfit for the crop in later stages.

So far, the solution people have for situations like this is to add more fertilizer to the soil with every crop. However, this practice is extremely harmful. Apart from the soil getting completely depleted of its natural nutrients, the crop contains residue of chemical fertilizers, affecting our health in the long run.

This is why keeping a chart for crop rotation is a must. In crop rotation, a single crop is never planted successively. Instead, a crop is alternated with another crop that reverses the soil condition. For instance, if one crop uses nutrient A from the soil and deposits nutrients B into the soil, you next crop should be the one that uses nutrient B and deposits nutrient B. It is important to remember that you may not get the exact combination of nutrient exchange and may have to plant 2-3 different crops before going back to the first one.

Start a chart to keep track of which plant is sown in which part of the diagram. Consult crop charts to identify the different families that crops belong to. This will help you ensure that the crops are planted in perfect rotation.

Holidays — Comments Off
24
Feb 11

A Safe Halloween

Here’s something that should make all your little ghosts, goblins and witches cackle with glee: this year’s Halloween will last longer. Daylight savings time isn’t officially over until after Halloween, on November 4th. That means more daylight and more time to collect that candy! Sadly for moms and dads, that doesn’t mean Halloween festivities will start later. Most school parades and town festivities start early and wreak havoc with working parents’ schedules. It’s also no guarantee your little monster won’t change his or her mind at the last minute about a costume. Like any holiday, Halloween comes with its share of stress. But a little thought and preparation will go a long way to keeping the chaos to a minimum.

Alicia on ‘Talk Now About Safety’
‘Have a conversation with your children before the big day to talk about rules and expectations for the night. If your kids are older and trick or treat alone, make sure you set a time they must be home (give them a watch), and agree on a route in the neighborhood before they set out. Give your older trick-or-treaters a cell phone in case of any emergencies, or just to check in throughout the night. On Halloween, over 20,000 kids are hit by cars, so remind your trick-or-treater to always look both ways! Provide your children with a flashlight or glow sticks and consider putting reflective tape on their costumes to make sure they stand out. Safety is also very important when creating a costume. Choose face paint over bulky masks that obstruct your children’s vision and costumes and accessories that are fire resistant.’

Sarah on ‘Scheduling Enough Time’
‘Avoid the last-minute chaos and possible heartbreak of missing your child’s costume parade at school by booking the important times on your schedule now. If you haven’t already done so, sit down with your children this week to pick out a costume. That way, on October 30th you won’t be scrambling through the remnant costume bins hoping to find a cape for Superman or the perfect tiara for Cinderella. Scheduling applies to the big night as well. You’ll want to make sure you have ample time beforehand to eat dinner together as a family (you don’t want your children to fill up on candy) and of course, you’ll want to make sure you have enough time to take pictures of your adorable little monster.’

Get organized for Halloween with the tips below.
1: Better in Bulk!
To save money, buy your candy in bulk packs, but make sure your family likes the candy in case there are leftovers! Look for variety packs so there is something for everyone. If you have a costume closet at home, or recital outfits, encourage your children to make costumes out of pieces you already own. Think of costumes that your children can use accessories from home, such as pirates, sports players or fairies.

2: Health on Halloween?
People may think you are a dentist, but offer toothbrushes and floss if you pass out candy as well. Even better, pass out prepackaged crackers, wrapped granola bars or 100 calorie cookie snack packs. It gives kids a healthy snack during the night as a respite to all that sugar. Make sure you offer only wrapped treats that are peanut free, to avoid any problems with children who have nut allergies.

3: Try a Pillowcase
Use pillowcases for your children’s candy bags. They are great because they don’t break, can be washed and you can tell your children, they hold the most candy! If you want to make it into a fun activity before Halloween, take old pillowcases and have your children decorate their own with markers, paint pens, glitter and ribbon.

Babies-Toddler — Comments Off
7
Jan 11

Baby Shower Theme Ideas

Having a theme for a baby shower isn抰 absolutely necessary, but it抯 a creative and fun way to host a unique shower. Here are some ideas for gender-specific and gender-neutral showers:

GIRLS

Think Pink

Decorate everything with various shades of pink, from streamers and banners, to plates and utensils. On invitations, ask everyone to wear pink. Make sure the cake has pink frosting, serve a pink punch or pink lemonade. Party favors can include pink mints, and pink confetti makes a great table decoration.

Tea Party

All little girls love a tea party! Host a party where various forms of hot and cold tea are served in delicate tea cups. Serve finger sandwiches and cookies with the tea.

BOYS

True Blue

Just like Think Pink, but with blue instead. Make sure all decorations have some form of blue hue, and encourage guests to wear blue-colored clothing. Blue-raspberry candies make great favors!

Teddy Bears

For a boy, teddy bears is a great theme for decoration. Encourage guests to bring a teddy bear with them. Miniature bears can make great favors, and don抰 forget one for the top of the cake!

NEUTRAL

Ice Cream and Pickles (strange food cravings)

Many pregnant women have strange food cravings, and 損ickles and ice cream?is one that is often referred to as the most common craving. Serve a variety of ice cream flavors and provide small cups for taste-testing. Serve a pickle tray, and/or choose pickle favors and decorations. You can even decorate a cake with icing-created pickle designs. Games can include having guests who are mothers writing down their own strange food cravings that they experienced while pregnant. Have other guests, or the mother-to-be, try to match the foods with the guests.

Library

Have guests each bring a book or series of books that they either enjoyed as a child, or books that their own children enjoyed.

Noah抯 Ark

This one works great because guests can choose any animal as a theme for their gift. Decorations, foods, and favors revolve around an animal theme. (Great theme for twins, too – two of every animal/gift!)

April Showers

String lines of clothesline around the room and hang small gifts with clothespins. Use artificial flowers for centerpieces and favors, and you can use an upside down opened umbrella to collect gifts and cards.

Rubber Ducky:

Center your decorations around the rubber ducky. For a centerpiece, float a ducky in a glass bowl filled with water colored with blue food coloring. Have guests bring bath-themed gifts. Float duckies in the punch boll, and prizes of bath lotions, oils, etc. can be given to guests. Bright yellows with blue and orange accents can be used for decorations to keep with the rubber ducky theme.

TWINS

Peas in a pod

Use green decorations. Cut out foam sheets to create the peas and pod for centerpieces. The cake can be shaped like a pea pod, or decorated with icing.

Sun & Moon

For a Yin & Yang type theme, opt for Sun and Moon. These two are often paired together, and finding decorations in this theme shouldn抰 be a problem. Use blue and yellow as decorating colors

There are many, many ideas for creating a unique baby shower. If the event is not a surprise, consulting with the mother-to-be is always a good idea. In many cases, a theme is chosen in advance for the baby抯 nursery, so choosing a coordinating theme for the shower may be appropriate. The important thing is to have fun and celebrate!

Parties — Comments Off
15
Dec 10

Planning a Bachelorette Party

Bachelorette party planning should not make you crazy. Whether you’re planning a clean bachelorette party or a wild party, it is very important to stay organized. The best way to ensure everyone has a great time is by keeping a Bachelorette Party Planning Checklist. Write down everything you need to throw an amazing party and that way nothing gets overlooked or left out and you can give that bride-to-be a fantastic send-off.

1. Location
Bachelorette party locations can make or break the event. You want to pick someplace high energy and obviously fun. A great new trend are bachelorette party getaways. New York City is a popular destination and filled with options for the perfect Ladies Night Out. Bachelorette getaways are a sure way to make the event unforgettable, and you also increase the amount of party places to choose from. Some venues even offer Bachelorette Packages where they include decorations or maybe even some special party drinks! Being creative with the location can open up a world of options that will not only make your evening successful, but will make it a night to remember!

2. Activities
Now that you have your location, it’s time to plan some activities. This can be intimidating, so here are some fun ideas to help you out. First off, souvenirs are always the way to go for a girls night out. Everyone loves bachelorette stuff! A good way to go is make up some tank tops for all the women. If you have a theme, you can coordinate your decorations and games for bachelorette party around that. Secondly, food and drinks are a must! Whether you’re pouring champagne in a limo or toasting the bride at a restaurant, plan it all in advance. No detail is too small to be left up to chance.

3. Invitations
OK, so you know where you’re going, and you know what you’re going to do when you get there. Now its time to rally your troupes for the big night. Gathering ideas for bachelorette party invitations can be tricky, especially if you want unique invitations. Decide what aspects of the evening, if any, you want to leave as a surprise and know in advance how many people you want to attend so you can coordinate with whatever activities you are planning. You can makes your own invitations, which is always a nice gesture because then you can write a personal message. Another popular method are the e-invitations you can email to your friends online. There are hundreds of ways to come up with invitations for a bachelorette party, just use your imagination.

With a well thought-out Bachelorette Party Planning Checklist, you are practically guaranteed a wonderful evening, and who knows, maybe even planning the party can be fun too!

Holidays — Comments Off
16
Oct 10

Holiday Travel

The airways, the hi-ways and the bi-ways
are extra busy during the holiday season.

Travel for adults only is much easier. However,
with children and at times pets in tow, travel
at any time can be stressful.

Preparing all the things needed for the trip
takes time. If you do not believe in To Do List,
this is one time a list would be very helpful.
With all the errands and preparation for the
season, it’s so easy to forget things. This is
not the time to leave packing to the last
minute and hope to get your rest during
the travel.

Prepare a list of what is needed, things and
clothes to pack, checklist to keep your home
safe while you are away. Post this list on the
refrigerator door, or on your desk. Write things
down on the list that comes to your mind. Get
all the members of the family involved.

Things to pack:

If you have the room, set aside an area to
put stuff, or make room. Encourage the
children to help. They have a good idea
of what they will need. It’s easier to set
things aside than to go looking for these
at the last minute.

Learn to travel light, this is always helpful.
Do not carry stuff that will take room or
add weight to your luggage.

Stuff for check-in luggage:

- suitcase, yours and children’s

- clothes, underthings , socks, sweaters

- toys for the children

-prescription pills- there are compact pill

holders for convenience

-toiletries, toothbruses and shaving stuff

-gifts

-footwear-pack only the barest necessity

-camera, batteries and charger, films
if you still use the old cameras. Some prefer
to carry this item .

For carry杘n, readily available to get at:

-car first aid kit, flashlights, spare blanket

-snacks/ drinks for children and you

-disposable wipes,

-some pills for headaches, cough , car sickness

-maps, directions, telephone numbers

-reading materials, in case of slowdown or delays

-for car travel- a spare radio

-charge your cell phone, keep the charger handy

-travel documents- with tightened security, make sure

you have these documents.

Vehicle

Don’t wait till the last minute to fill up with gas.
Check the tires, get that tune up and oil change
if you are travelling any distance.

Your house:

Never leave your house unsecured at any time.
If you will be away for any length of time, have a
neighbor check in on the house, to pick up the
mail and newspaper.
Leave a number where you can be contacted

This is wintertime, make sure you will not
come back to frozen water lines or sewer
system. Do not forget to look after these.

A housecleaning before leaving would
be in order. At least de-clutter and
don’t leave a pile of dirty dishes.

Make sure there is readily available
food when you get back. You’ll probably be
too tired to worry about cooking. This is one
time that microwable food will come in handy.

Money

If you still believe in using cash when you can,
don’t wait till the last hour to get some cash, or
hope to come by an ATM on the run.

Get your traveler’s cheques ahead of time.

Be organized and save yourself the stress of
last minute planning and packing.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Parties — Comments Off
29
Jul 10

Pink Poodle Party Supplies & Party Planning Ideas

Lets take a trip to Paris, France and celebrate the Parisian style and all things French! Here are some great ideas on how to turn an ordinary Pink Poodle theme into an extraordinary Pink Poodle in Paris event!

Invitations: Using clipart of poodles, the Eiffel tower or Parisian Girls wearing berets, type out on your computer on white paper and this script: OOh-La-Laa! Tres Magnifique! Le Birthday Party pour Mademoiselle ________. Cut out the script using fancy edged scissors and paste onto a half sheet of pink card stock. Finish off with a black bow by punching 2 holes in the top middle of the cardstock, guiding the ribbon through the holes and tying a little bow. Another unique idea would be to send an invite in the shape and fashion as a plane ticket to Paris! Or why not visit you local dollar store or souvenir shop and purchase some Paris postcards and write all of the party details on the back. Whichever you choose, do not be afraid to glam them up with sparkles, glitters and bows!

Decorations: Pink, Black and White everything and don’t forget the Pink Poodle tableware and supplies to really set the theme! Use helium balloons on the mailbox, in doorways, on chairs, as centerpieces, on vases, floating freely and pretty much anywhere you can tie a balloon onto. Decorate your ceiling by finding the center point or a light fixture and attaching 12-14 twisted black and pink streamer lengths to it. Floating them out a good 2 feet apart and attach them to the corner edges of the ceiling. Decorate your walls with enlarged images of the Eiffel Tower, Pink Poodles, Berets, Eiffel Tower, Mimes or any symbols of France you can think of. Hang France Travel Posters, postcards and cutouts from high fashion magazines. The table setting must be Sparkly, Fabulous and Tres Chic! Start with a black tablecover to make the pink poodle tableware pop and spread white or opalescent sparkles or gems on the table to look like diamonds. Have 2 or 3 vases filled with white roses and adorned with a black bow to use as your centerpieces. Finish off by tying a pink tulle fabric bow onto each chair. This will surely set a very elegant mood.

Activities: As the party guests arrive, invite each on of them to be a French artist. Provide a table or area with colouring tools, different papers, template pages of poodles, cotton balls ribbons, sequins, felt and glue.

Ask them to create a picture of a Pink Poodle by colouring the page in or decorating the outline with the craft supplies provided. Another craft idea is to make a very fashionable fancy choker collar that the guests can take home and wear. Use a heavy stock ribbon or craft foam in black or pink and cut to size to fit each child’s neck about 1.5 inches wide. You want it snug – but not tight! Attach a piece of self stick velcro to each end of the strip and let the girls decorate with gems, jewels, sequins, beads and glitter. When completed the party guests will look Tres Magnifigue! Give a short French lesson for the guests to learn a few basic words and phrases so that they may use them throughout the party. For example: Bonjour (Hello), Merci (Thank you), Au Revoir (Good Bye), Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday), Tres Chic (Very Stylish) and Sil Vous Plait (Please) and many more! Another idea along this line is to place conversation cards around the party room and table. Have the phrases and questions written in French and translated into English underneath. The guests will have a good laugh trying to pronounce the French version aloud! Have them answer or comment in English but ask them to use at least one French word they learned.

And Finally, hold a French couture fashion show. Visit your local Good Will store, your closet, your mom’s, grandmom’s and friends closet’s too and collect hats, scarves, boas, gloves, purses, shoes and costume jewelry. Have a large selection so each girl can choose 3 or 4 items each. Divide the guests into 2 groups with one group displaying their creations on the runway and the other kids in the audience enjoying the show. Be sure to have one adult in the dressing area helping and plenty of music playing so the girls can model and strut along to.

Menu: A Bistro Menu should consist of the following: Miniature croissants filled with turkey/lettuce/cream cheese, Finger Sandwiches cut out with a bone shaped cookie cutter, Fromage (cheeses), Crudite (Veggies & Dip), Pastries, Melon Ball Salad, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and French Crepes filled with whip cream and sliced berries. Serve all food in your best china and on silver trays. The beverage of choice is pink lemonade or for a more fancy treat, serve French Sodas. A French Soda is simply 7up with grenadine to taste, topped with whip cream and a cherry and served in a wine glass. The French Crepes could be used as the birthday dessert or if you want something more traditional go for cupcakes or a full cake covered with white icing, pink polka dots (gumballs) and black fabric bows around the edges. Top with a few poodle candles and Voila! A perfectly decorated dessert!

Parties — Comments Off
14
Mar 10

Indoor and Outdoor Birthday Party Games

Birthdays are very important to children, and parents love to see their kids smile when they are surrounded by friends and family and are having a good time. Planning a birthday party can be a difficult process and getting the party games right can be one of the most difficult aspects of the whole party. Here are some suggestions for having great party games both indoors and out.

Indoor

Some birthday parties will almost always require that they be played inside. This is particularly true of winter birthdays. Just because you can’t go outside to play doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a great time and do lots of fun things inside too. Depending on the age of the child, there are many different games that can be played inside for a birthday party. For younger children, something like a bean bag toss or similar game can be a great game to play inside. It will still require some space, but most homes are able to accommodate enough space to play a game like this. For a little older crowd, you could have them all sit down and make some kind of craft or project at the table. This will probably be more popular with girls and they will want to take the extra time to make their craft perfect in every way.

For older children and even teenagers, you can have them play something like the telephone game. This is basically when the whole group of people sit in a circle to try and pass on a message without it getting all jumbled before it gets to the last person. Almost inevitably, the original message is messed up, even with only a few people in and can get very funny, especially with a large group of people. There are also many other games that can be played while sitting in a circle around a table or on the floor. Spin the bottle is one that may not be encouraged by most people, but an approved variation could still be fun for your kid and their friends.

Outdoor

Outdoor games can be very exciting and a lot of fun for everyone involved. But outdoor games really only work well if the weather is nice and isn’t going to interfere with the game itself. Tag is a classic outdoor game and there are so many variations on the theme that the possibilities are almost endless. Freeze tag for younger children is fun and toilet tag for older kids can also be fun and challenging. Tag is the type of game that will either degenerate into just running around and screaming or children will get bored because there isn’t enough happening. Be prepared for either situation and be ready to do something else and new quickly so that your party will stay on track.

Water balloon volleyball is a great game that can be played by older children and teenagers. The game will require a volleyball net or something similar to be set up in the yard. You’ll also need a large sheet for each team participating and a lot of water balloons. Depending on the group of kids and how long the party is, you may also want to have them bring swimming suits if and when the game devolves into a water fight.

Whether you are going to have a birthday party outside, inside or a combination of both, make sure that you have enough options to keep everyone entertained and that they will have a great time no matter how many games actually end up getting played. A little creativity and some careful planning will go a long way when you are planning your next birthday party.

Visit http://www.birthdaypartycentral.com for more birthday party ideas, including a large selection of birthday kids’ dinnerware.

general — Comments Off
9
Dec 08

The Year-End Wrap-Up

It’s no secret that December is the busiest month in the retail industry, as people shop for Christmas presents as well as other products and services for the festive season. If you’re in a different industry, you may find that business is slow at this time of year. In this case, you’re lucky, because this gives you an opportunity to review your activities and achievements over the past year.

If you have a formal business plan, hopefully you have been following it throughout the year, but if it’s just been sitting in a file or on a shelf somewhere, take it out and dust it off. Even if you started the year with a few resolutions or goals just scribbled on a piece of paper, try and find them, or at least try to remember what they were. Because each business and each individual is unique, there is no single standard of measurement of success, and the only way to assess your accomplishments during the year is to look at where you are now in comparison with where you had aspired to be at this time.

Even if you didn’t make any specific goals for the year, you can ask yourself the following questions.

What have I achieved this year?

Did you reach or surpass your goals? Did you accomplish something you didn’t expect?

What worked well?

Who were your most profitable customers? How did they find you – or how did you find them? This information will help you determine where to focus your marketing efforts.

What didn’t work? What can be improved?

If you fell short of your goals in certain areas, see if you can determine why. Was the goal unrealistic? Were there unforeseen circumstances? What would have had to be different for things to have gone the way you planned?

What do I want to achieve by the end of next year?

What is important to you? More clients? More income? Exploring new opportunities? More free time?

If you’re a long range thinker, this exercise may be easy, but even if you’re not, I strongly encourage you to take a pen and paper and write down your thoughts. According to the Law of Attraction, the simple act of writing down your goals actually sets things in motion. As evidence of this, while preparing to write this article, I found some notes I’d written about what I was looking forward to this year, and although I haven’t consciously been trying to make all of those things happen, I was thrilled to see that most of them have come about.

What do I need to help me reach my goals for next year?

Do you have the skills and resources you need? Should you take any courses or read particular books? Would it help you to work with a business, career, or life coach?

It’s important that you set aside time in your schedule for activities that will bring you closer to reaching your goals. Would partnering with a virtual assistant free up time for you to do so?

Although this article has mainly discussed business goals, the same principles apply to your personal life.

By taking time to do this review before the end of the year, you will arm yourself with a plan and the motivation to carry it through, and increase your potential for success in the new year.