Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt
The Guest List
Mix this up, singles and marrieds, age mix. We learn more from those beyond our generation. I typically have both clients now friends, vendors now friends, and friends.
Involve your guests. Give them a chance to bring something, be specific it makes it easier. For example, you can ask everyone to bring a favorite wine, or bubbly, or perhaps at the holidays they can bring an ornament, you can always do potluck and bring a dish. (Keep up with this or you'll wind up with too many chip and dip and no dessert or salad!)
You can do a game party and have everyone bring a favorite game, or a charitable donation and have everyone bring something for Goodwill. Everyone is more comfortable bringing something.
Be clear in expectations. Make the invitation clear with date, day, time, dress (give examples, this seems the biggest issue), occasion, what to bring, what to expect (a good time by all certainly), directions, parking and such. Don't leave room for questions it will streamline the RSVP process and reason to attend.
The Menu and Presentation
Bite-size makes a difference. This is important, all of us have been stuck at a buffet with a plate in hand and food requiring a knife and fork, and no tables to set the plate down and carve. There is nothing more uncomfortable than popping an oversize bite in your mouth and being immobilized while attempting to reduce its size before swallowing.
Finger food makes it easier. Pasta with sauce is clearly not finger food. Make it easy on guests and have mini-kebobs, skewered or tooth picked items, stuffed mushroom caps (button mushrooms, not jumbo!) salmon on toast points and such. Food that doesn't require utensils is fun and simple.
Color is delicious. Make the food colorful, if not inherently so then with garnish. Presentation matters and people eat color. All brown, even if a toasty color is boring, add green, red, and yellow with peppers, parsley (tried but true), herbs and spices, sliced veggies and fruits. If it looks appealing it will get eaten.
Tell them what it is. Rarely do I attend a party where anyone has taken the time to put signage on the food. This counts, not only does it remove the mystery but potential allergic reactions by unsuspecting party goers that don't know what is inside. This can be done tastefully with place cards or even small ceramic markers.
The Decorations and Mood
Start at the front door. I make sure that you know I am having a party from my front door to the back door. Whether it is signage, balloons, props, a special entry, my guests feel the mood at the beginning. It adds excitement and anticipation and gives them something to talk about.
Leave room for guests. It is easy to overdo and forget that you do need room for guests, not just party props and decorations. You also need to make room for glasses to be set down, plates to be parked and such. Put out coasters as a hint, and be sure that you have places they can leave empty plates. Be creative but consistent. Sometimes it is tempting to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, don't. Consider using no more than three colors in any scheme and select one or two shapes to focus on. I do a lot with gold, silver and a third color each time, and use stars and diamonds as my preferred shapes. Repetition gives continuity and reinforces my theme. This works for holidays, Oscar night, a gambling affair, and more.
Give something away. I always like to leave a basket by the front door with a take away gift for my guests. This is my thank you for them being there. It can be as decadent as a mini-box of Godiva truffles or as silly as a bag of sand for a summer gathering with beach toys. It needs to relate to the event and be personal.
Real vs. Plastic. Well I have to say that for ease of party without full staff I go plastic on plates, but never on glasses. I don't mind a load or two of glassware at the end of the night, and plates and cutlery can be tossed. Others will disagree and insist on those glass plates so popular, too often they look scratched up, overused and dull. Go with real china and make if fun with a party set, if you don't want plastic.
Size counts. Please don't be stingy and use those silly 6” plates for food, give your guests a real 10” plate and avoid the need for standing around the buffet table grazing because they can't get enough on a plate to enjoy it. Use a separate plate for dessert items with fresh flatware.
The Art of Hosting
Get involved. If you don't have a good time, then neither will your guests. You will need to ensure that all of your preparations are complete and you have time to mix and mingle. They are coming to see you, not watch you work.
Get outside help for food. You can hire a caterer, go pot luck if on a tight budget, or split the difference and do it with help from Whole Foods and Eatzi's or any other gourmet prepared food source. Doing it all yourself is admirable, but not often feasible in time and effort.
Get outside help on service. Hire a bartender even if just to pour wine for the night. You can go pro or ask a neighborhood college student (of age of course). You may want to consider serving help too, or ask a couple of good friends to help you keep up with the food and empty plates.
Tampilkan postingan dengan label party. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label party. Tampilkan semua postingan
Selasa, 08 Mei 2012
Minggu, 11 Desember 2011
Party Jokes: Startling But Unnecessary
Here, I focus on a range of items and features that we use in life without giving them a second thought such as Coca Cola, body muscles and holding ones own breath. Though, most of these notes are not fundamentally necessary, they are such that you can use them for a good laugh, at a drinks party or for picking up women or men.
1) Coca-Cola: Did you know that its original colour was green?
2) Mohammed: Did you know that this is the most used name in the entire world?
3) Geographical Letters: Did you know that the name of each of the continents begins and concludes with the exact same alphabet? Do not believe that? Look up Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Antarctica and the rest.
4) Muscle Strength: Did you know that the strongest muscle in the entire body is that one which we use to lick a popsicle? Your tongue.
5) Credit Cards: In the United States, were you aware that each and every person has at least two credit cards?
6) An Antique Machine: The word for an old machine that was once used for writing letters and other documents is the largest word that one can make if they click only on a single row of their computer's keyboard: typewriter!
7) Blink: Men wink at women, but research has found out that the average woman blinks nearly two times more than the average man.
8) Suicide: Even though you might have wondered if it was possible, studies have discovered that it is impossible to kill oneself by simply holding in your breath.
9) Licking: However much you may try, you will never be able to lick your elbows.
10) Sneeze: Try sneezing. People will automatically answer you with a bless you greeting. Have you ever imagined why? Some say that this happens because a sneeze stops the functioning of the heart for a very tiny second.
11) The Blue Sky: Did you know that a pig, no matter how much they try, cannot look up into the sky?
12) Twisting Your Tongue: We have all dabbled with different tongue-twisters in our day. But do you know which is the toughest? Sixth sick sheiks sixth sheeps sick.
13) Ribs: Did you know that you should try not to sneeze too strongly. Why? A very powerful sneeze has the ability to cause a fracture in your ribcage. But, then again, if you try and withhold one, you stand the chance of breaking one of the many blood vessels in your neck or head. This could cause death.
14) Cards: Did you think that the Kings are all just random cards referring to random figures? No. Each one signifies a different king: Diamonds for Julius Caesar, Clubs for Alexander the Great, Spades for David and Hearts for Charlemagne.
15) And finally: Most everyone reading this (Caught You!) are trying to lick their elbows at this exact moment!
Conclusion: Most of these are not scientific facts, but they are hilarious, funny and can be used to lighten up the ambience when a conversation has gone dull. Use any and see your popularity rise up to great heights. Visit http://www.gambling-portal.com for more jokes.
1) Coca-Cola: Did you know that its original colour was green?
2) Mohammed: Did you know that this is the most used name in the entire world?
3) Geographical Letters: Did you know that the name of each of the continents begins and concludes with the exact same alphabet? Do not believe that? Look up Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Antarctica and the rest.
4) Muscle Strength: Did you know that the strongest muscle in the entire body is that one which we use to lick a popsicle? Your tongue.
5) Credit Cards: In the United States, were you aware that each and every person has at least two credit cards?
6) An Antique Machine: The word for an old machine that was once used for writing letters and other documents is the largest word that one can make if they click only on a single row of their computer's keyboard: typewriter!
7) Blink: Men wink at women, but research has found out that the average woman blinks nearly two times more than the average man.
8) Suicide: Even though you might have wondered if it was possible, studies have discovered that it is impossible to kill oneself by simply holding in your breath.
9) Licking: However much you may try, you will never be able to lick your elbows.
10) Sneeze: Try sneezing. People will automatically answer you with a bless you greeting. Have you ever imagined why? Some say that this happens because a sneeze stops the functioning of the heart for a very tiny second.
11) The Blue Sky: Did you know that a pig, no matter how much they try, cannot look up into the sky?
12) Twisting Your Tongue: We have all dabbled with different tongue-twisters in our day. But do you know which is the toughest? Sixth sick sheiks sixth sheeps sick.
13) Ribs: Did you know that you should try not to sneeze too strongly. Why? A very powerful sneeze has the ability to cause a fracture in your ribcage. But, then again, if you try and withhold one, you stand the chance of breaking one of the many blood vessels in your neck or head. This could cause death.
14) Cards: Did you think that the Kings are all just random cards referring to random figures? No. Each one signifies a different king: Diamonds for Julius Caesar, Clubs for Alexander the Great, Spades for David and Hearts for Charlemagne.
15) And finally: Most everyone reading this (Caught You!) are trying to lick their elbows at this exact moment!
Conclusion: Most of these are not scientific facts, but they are hilarious, funny and can be used to lighten up the ambience when a conversation has gone dull. Use any and see your popularity rise up to great heights. Visit http://www.gambling-portal.com for more jokes.
Rabu, 29 Juni 2011
The Passing of Liu Zhirong
Liu Zhirong was a 42-year-old schoolteacher at Tuanjie Elementary School in the Xifeng District of Qingyang City in China. He practiced meditation and aspired to embrace and manifest truthfulness, compassion and tolerance in his daily life. His life was brought to an end prematurely by those who did not have the same lofty ideals to guide them.
Zhirong enjoyed the practice of Falun Gong. For more than six years, the Chinese Communist Party has embarked on a campaign to eliminate this peaceful meditation practice and Zhirong was a victim of the CCP's goal.
It is claimed that he was tortured to death in the Tianshui City No 3 Prison on or around January 14th 2006 in Prison Ward number 1. The address of the prison is No 196 Jianshe Road, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. The phone number there is 86-938-8278849.
What was Zhirong doing in prison? In most countries around the world, elementary school teachers are not imprisoned for meditation. Things are a little different under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. Stories such as Zhirong's are not at all uncommon.
The Clearwisdom website records these abuses. They have documented over 2800 deaths like Liu Zhirong's since 1999. Other organizations have also documented this ongoing persecution. The methods of torture utilized include so many different varieties that it is difficult to remember them all.
Records indicate that the CCP also persecutes a wide range of groups and individuals. Christians and Tibetan Buddhists as well as those who support various freedoms are among the Party's victims.
One may question why the Chinese Communist Party engages in or permits torture. It is hoped that the reader recognizes that there is no rational justification for torture and even less so in the case of peaceful, non-violent meditators like Zhirong.
Why all this violence? Why all this hatred? Sadly, the Chinese Communist Party has been a brutal entity since its very beginning. History has documented the millions of Chinese people that the CCP has killed since it took power decades ago. The tally far exceeds the number of people killed by Adolf Hitler.
Why is it that much of the world, despite the excellent documentation, continually fails to recognize this as a major problem? Is it the lure of big business? Is it that China seems too far away to make a difference to us? Hasn't history adequately demonstrated that what we ignore ends up on our back porch sooner or later?
Whatever the reason, we must not turn a blind eye and sit idly while innocent men, women and children are brutalized by the Chinese Communist Party for practicing meditation or having a belief. Each of us can stand up and provide a voice for those who have been silenced by the CCP.
Shining the international spotlight on the atrocities may help to reduce them. Writing letters and raising awareness are an important beginning.
Zhirong enjoyed the practice of Falun Gong. For more than six years, the Chinese Communist Party has embarked on a campaign to eliminate this peaceful meditation practice and Zhirong was a victim of the CCP's goal.
It is claimed that he was tortured to death in the Tianshui City No 3 Prison on or around January 14th 2006 in Prison Ward number 1. The address of the prison is No 196 Jianshe Road, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. The phone number there is 86-938-8278849.
What was Zhirong doing in prison? In most countries around the world, elementary school teachers are not imprisoned for meditation. Things are a little different under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. Stories such as Zhirong's are not at all uncommon.
The Clearwisdom website records these abuses. They have documented over 2800 deaths like Liu Zhirong's since 1999. Other organizations have also documented this ongoing persecution. The methods of torture utilized include so many different varieties that it is difficult to remember them all.
Records indicate that the CCP also persecutes a wide range of groups and individuals. Christians and Tibetan Buddhists as well as those who support various freedoms are among the Party's victims.
One may question why the Chinese Communist Party engages in or permits torture. It is hoped that the reader recognizes that there is no rational justification for torture and even less so in the case of peaceful, non-violent meditators like Zhirong.
Why all this violence? Why all this hatred? Sadly, the Chinese Communist Party has been a brutal entity since its very beginning. History has documented the millions of Chinese people that the CCP has killed since it took power decades ago. The tally far exceeds the number of people killed by Adolf Hitler.
Why is it that much of the world, despite the excellent documentation, continually fails to recognize this as a major problem? Is it the lure of big business? Is it that China seems too far away to make a difference to us? Hasn't history adequately demonstrated that what we ignore ends up on our back porch sooner or later?
Whatever the reason, we must not turn a blind eye and sit idly while innocent men, women and children are brutalized by the Chinese Communist Party for practicing meditation or having a belief. Each of us can stand up and provide a voice for those who have been silenced by the CCP.
Shining the international spotlight on the atrocities may help to reduce them. Writing letters and raising awareness are an important beginning.
Rabu, 15 Juni 2011
How to Watch the SuperBowl
On February 4th hundreds of thousands of Football fans will be gathering around their televisions to view the SuperBowl, but what are the essentials to maximizing your SuperBowl watching experience
The teams may not have been decided yet, but it is not like it really matters, no matter who plays most eyes will be glued to the game. With the exception of the fans of those teams that are playing most people who watch the SuperBowl are just hoping for a good game.
One thing people like to do to make the game more interesting is an office football pool. This is when everyone throws money into a pot and you get a box latter numbers are randomly put in each box, then at the end of each quarter the score is checked and whoever is on the box that corresponds with the current score wins some money, and who ever has the score at the end of the game gets the majority of the money.
Another thing the more hardcore gamblers like to do is to place a bet at one of the many online sportsbooks. If this is hat you are into I recommend you go to several sportsbooks before placing your bets, different sites will offer different odds. Make sure to only place your bets on the SuperBowl with the bookie who offers you the best odds.
Besides betting on the game there are many things you can do to make the game more enjoyable.
The people you watch the game with effect the enjoy ability of the game. If some of the people you watch the SuperBowl with do not like football or understand the game they are not going to get into the game and they may want to talk and be a disturbance to those who want to watch the game undisturbed.
The 2 most important things you need to watch the SuperBowl are food and beverages. SuperBowl party’s can be very wild and result in many people calling out of work the next day, because of being hung over or sick from bad food.
Make sure whatever types of foods you offer the foods were not prepared in a rush. If you are planning to order food to be delivered you may want to rethink your plan. One of the busiest nights of the year for a take out restaurant is SuperBowl Sunday, and in a rush to get all the orders delivered on time sometimes food can be undercooked, so you may want to either keep it simple like pizza or make your own food.
Beverages can be a bigger problem then the food. Most men will usually drink some beer while watching the game, but unless each person brings their own beer you risk running into someone who does not like the selection you have provided, also because the game is on a Sunday people may want to stay sober, because of work the next day. So make sure to have a good selection of beer, hard liquor and non alcoholic soft drinks. You can always ask you friends when you invite them for the game what they like to drink, then assuming no one picks something so out of the ordinary you should be able to find an acceptable mix of drinks for everyone.
As for Snacks I recommend a large selection or the basics chips, pretzels and maybe popcorn or even peanuts.
Hopefully this will help you to have a better time watching the SuperBowl, and throw a great party at the same time.
The teams may not have been decided yet, but it is not like it really matters, no matter who plays most eyes will be glued to the game. With the exception of the fans of those teams that are playing most people who watch the SuperBowl are just hoping for a good game.
One thing people like to do to make the game more interesting is an office football pool. This is when everyone throws money into a pot and you get a box latter numbers are randomly put in each box, then at the end of each quarter the score is checked and whoever is on the box that corresponds with the current score wins some money, and who ever has the score at the end of the game gets the majority of the money.
Another thing the more hardcore gamblers like to do is to place a bet at one of the many online sportsbooks. If this is hat you are into I recommend you go to several sportsbooks before placing your bets, different sites will offer different odds. Make sure to only place your bets on the SuperBowl with the bookie who offers you the best odds.
Besides betting on the game there are many things you can do to make the game more enjoyable.
The people you watch the game with effect the enjoy ability of the game. If some of the people you watch the SuperBowl with do not like football or understand the game they are not going to get into the game and they may want to talk and be a disturbance to those who want to watch the game undisturbed.
The 2 most important things you need to watch the SuperBowl are food and beverages. SuperBowl party’s can be very wild and result in many people calling out of work the next day, because of being hung over or sick from bad food.
Make sure whatever types of foods you offer the foods were not prepared in a rush. If you are planning to order food to be delivered you may want to rethink your plan. One of the busiest nights of the year for a take out restaurant is SuperBowl Sunday, and in a rush to get all the orders delivered on time sometimes food can be undercooked, so you may want to either keep it simple like pizza or make your own food.
Beverages can be a bigger problem then the food. Most men will usually drink some beer while watching the game, but unless each person brings their own beer you risk running into someone who does not like the selection you have provided, also because the game is on a Sunday people may want to stay sober, because of work the next day. So make sure to have a good selection of beer, hard liquor and non alcoholic soft drinks. You can always ask you friends when you invite them for the game what they like to drink, then assuming no one picks something so out of the ordinary you should be able to find an acceptable mix of drinks for everyone.
As for Snacks I recommend a large selection or the basics chips, pretzels and maybe popcorn or even peanuts.
Hopefully this will help you to have a better time watching the SuperBowl, and throw a great party at the same time.
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