Daily Party Dish

The Do’s and Don’ts of Super Bowl Sunday

2012-01-18T11:56:59-08:00

Let’s admit it. Super Bowl Sunday is a national holiday for Americans. The world stops for a day and everybody focuses on getting together with friends, eating too much, placing a friendly wager or two, watching the ads and maybe paying attention to the game. This is Super Bowl XLVI and while I can’t read Latin I think that means the Super Bowl has been around long enough to learn some dos and don’ts that will help you have a great Super Bowl party.

Are you celebrating Leap Day?

2012-01-13T08:34:18-08:00

I always have a fun and slightly silly party for Leap Day.

The NFL Playoffs in Cleveland - How to party when your team is never in them

2012-01-12T07:44:55-08:00

I’ve had season tickets to Browns games since 1974. Some may think of that as masochism but until 1995 it was great. Some good teams and memorable playoff battles. Unfortunately, no Super Bowl appearances, but still it was fun to tailgate, cheer and hope for the best. Since 1999 it has been different. The new stadium lacks the character of Municipal Stadium (think troughs in the men’s room, mud in front of the baseball dugouts, no advertisements every five feet and very knowledgeable and passionate fans). The team has been awful (and that might be kind) and 5-11 is a decent season. This makes the season less fun and the playoffs painful. It turns out your main entertainment is to root for your arch-rivals to lose. And then hope for an entertaining Super Bowl as a back drop for an afternoon of fun, frivolity and overindulgence. That means this year is off to a great start with Denver’s victory over Pittsburgh. Denver is associated with some painful memories from the Elway years but nothing like the misery the Steelers have delivered over the years. So when the Browns aren’t in the playoffs (which apparently is always) you have to root against the Terrible Towels. So far, so good. Next up is the Ravens. I don’t have quite the venom as others in town do but it does hurt that our team goes to Baltimore and then wins a Super Bowl. So let’s see Houston win next week and then I can just sit back and watch the games with a certain emotional detachment. That means the last two weeks of football this year can be enjoyed with friends and without tears. In fact it will make for a perfect Super Bowl party (or at least as perfect as it can be without the Browns). By the way, if you want to know how bad it’s gotten on the Cleveland sports scene the highlights of the Browns season is watching Pittsburgh lose in the playoffs and the highlight of last year’s Cavs season was watching the Heat lose in the NBA Finals. Yikes! Thank goodness my friends are great, the food is excellent and the beer is cold at our football parties. And wait until next year. Super Bowl Party and Betting Games Super Bowl Party Menu Super Bowl Trivia Unique Party Ideas from Party411.com By Flickr user Zoonabar [CC-BY-2.0], via...

Cupcake Family Tree

2012-01-04T10:25:32-08:00

How to make a Family Tree Cupcake Tree! Great for a family reunion, milestone birthday or even a kid’s birthday party.

New York City Theme Bat Mitzvah Party

2011-12-15T06:41:41-08:00

Pictures of a New York City Theme Bat Mitzvah Party

10 Tips for an Easy New Year's Eve Party

2011-12-13T14:06:05-08:00

Here are a few quick tips to make your New Year's Eve party planning easier this year. 1. Set your budget. This will help you when determining how many people to invite and what your party options are. Figure about 60 percent for drinks, 30 percent for food and 10 percent for decor. 2. Save money on your invites. Email or phone invites are your cheapest options, but can be lackluster. Save a stamp by including your New Year's Party invite in with your holiday cards. 3. Keep everything cohesive by choosing a theme. We have 15 different New Year's Party themes, from Western to Aliens! You can also go with a more subtle theme such as a color. Metallic colors are always fun, but we also love a white New Year's Eve theme party. 4. Make special plans for the kids. If your party will include children, make sure you have food appropriate for them as well as activities planned to keep them entertained. A quiet area where they can go to rest is always a smart idea for those who cannot make it until midnight. You can even arrange to let them have their own separate sleepover party and hire a babysitter to mind them for the night. 5. Save money by not serving dinner. Since a New Year's party will start later, guests will not expect a full meal. A variety of hors d'oeuvres is the best way to go. A dessert buffet and drinks is another great option. 6. Don't forget to have extra .... ice and food. Be prepared for the unexpected guests or extra-hungry, super-thirsty crowd. Add a couple of bags of quality chips, extra crackers and cheese, and even an extra roll of cookie dough. Make sure these items are something you will eat if you don't break them out for the party. Ice you may have to take a loss on, but it is better than having to little. 7. ... but don't overspend on the booze. Do the math and save on your drink budget. Guests will usually have 2 drinks in the first hour, and one drink each hour after that. Many places will allow you to return unopened alcohol, so you can overbuy and return the excess if you worry about running out. 8. Rent. Local rental companies are a great source for glassware, linens, flatware and more. I...

8 Days of Economical Hanukkah Presents

2011-12-12T08:53:07-08:00

A fun way to approach the 8 days of Hanukkah is to have the cost of the gift correspond to the day of the holiday. On the first day you spend $1, the second $2, etc., etc. This sounds a little challenging but it’s really not and your kids will appreciate your creativity.

How to Choose Linens for Your Party

2011-12-06T09:59:04-08:00

I think the right linens make a table pop and even allow you to have less décor in the room. Here are a few helpful hints when choosing linens!

18 Songs for Your New Year's Eve Party Playlist

2011-12-05T11:54:48-08:00

Here is my playlist of songs about time, change and lookign forward... all themes that work perfectly with celebrating the New Year!

Winter Wonderland Votive Table Decorations

2011-11-30T07:01:49-08:00

Check out these easy and fun snow covered votive candle holders. These are perfect for a Winter Wonderland theme party, or as a holiday decoration. They’re pretty, festive and could actually be used all winter. Easy and fun to make – what could be better? Snow Covered Votive Candle Holders Supplies - these can all be purchased at a craft store Plain glass votive candle holders Decoupage medium, such as Mod Podge Paintbrush Imitation flaky snow Paper plate Votive candles Shake out the imitation snow onto a paper plate Coat the candle holders with a thick layer of decoupage medium and then roll them in the snow Allow candle holders to dry. When dry, repeat the above steps. Allow to dry. After a day or 2, the decoupage medium will turn clear instead of white giving a beautiful frosty look to the candle holders. Place candles inside holders, light and enjoy. Christmas Party Ideas from Party411.com Winter Wonderland Theme Party White New Year's Eve Theme Winter Wonderland Sweet 16 Theme Winter Wonderland Invitations Custom Caricature Holiday Cards Christmas Party Favors