3 Party Favor Wrapping Ideas for Your Next Halloween Party

April 2, 2017 by Angie Leave a Comment

I know that Halloween is a long way away still… But you know me, always counting down to the next one… Halloween all day every day… Anyway, serving as the prominent “hostess with the mostest” Halloween after Halloween, your witch’s hat is starting to feel a little tired and you’re thinking about hanging up the broom for good. Maybe it’s time to pass the mantle, give someone else a shot. Who are you kidding? People rant and rave over your puking pumpkin guacamole dip, the dead man’s sausage fingers and the corpse meat and cheese plate.

Every party you’ve thrown has been dedicated to Halloween frights, but now you’re ready for something a little more kitsch, a little more playful. Friends and family are bringing their young tots to the spooky soirée, and the last thing you want is to hear your wailing two-year-old niece exclaim that she doesn’t want to eat zombie brains. This year’s Halloween party is going to be different: ding dong the witch is dead—long live Princess Buttercup!

This is Halloween

After deciding on your theme for the party, it’s time to get the refreshment table together! There will be no zombie meat or brains this year, it’s going to be all about spiders, pumpkins witches and ghosts—this year’s Halloween crafts are going to be so much fun!

When children ring the doorbell, they don’t know if they’re going to get a trick or a treat—that’s the fun of Halloween—how far is the veil going to be lifted? Give your little ghouls and goblins the thrill of a surprise with themed party favors!

Stuffed Jack-O-Lanterns

Materials Needed:

Orange tissue paper
Green pipe cleaners
Pencil
Scissors
1lb. Bag of candy

Directions:

Step 1: Lay out the tissue on a flat work surface. Trace a 9-inch wide circle on the paper with your pencil.

Step 2: Cut out the circle. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have your desired amount of circles.

Step 3: Place 3-4 pieces of candy in the center of the circle.

Step 4: Take the circle into the palm of your hand and close the circle, twisting together the circles edges.

Step 5: Twist the green pipe cleaner around the twisted top of the tissue paper. Coil the extending pipe cleaner ends to look like vines.

The Witch’s Cauldron

Materials Needed:

Small paper cups
Black construction paper
Lime green tissue paper
Glue
Scissors
Pencil
1lb. Bag of candy

Directions:

Step 1: Fold a piece of black construction paper around the paper cup and mark where you need to cut. Using your scissors, cut out the marked shape.

Step 2: Use the cut-out to trace the remaining pieces and cut out.

Step 3: Glue the tracings around the paper cups.

Step 4: Draw out the shape of a cauldron handle on the black construction paper, cut it out.

Step 5: Use the handle cut-out to trace the remaining pieces, cut out, and set aside.

Step 6: Fill the cups with 3-4 pieces of candy, cover the candy with the lime green tissue paper.

Step 7: Glue the ends of the handle to either side of the cup; the handle should be inverse to the cup. Set aside and let dry.

A “Handful” of Candy

Materials Needed:

Transparent plastic gloves
Candy corn
Long tootsie rolls
Gold peanut butter cups
Orange, purple and green ribbon
Plastic spider rings, optional

Directions:

Step 1: Insert a piece of candy corn (white point first) into each finger tip of the glove.

Step 2: Insert a long tootsie roll into each finger of the glove.

Step 3: Fill the glove cavity with peanut butter cups.

Step 4: Tie the end of the glove in a bow with your choice of orange, purple or green ribbon.

Step 5: As an added treat, theKitchn blogger Ariel Knutson places a spider ring on the ring finger of each hand for the kiddies to wear. You can use spider, bat or skull rings.

Give your party guests a fun goodie bag and you’ll all be in for a good night!

Are you counting down the days to Halloween too?

Angie

Angie is a coffee-fueled writer, artist-wanna-be, and over-worker who currently resides in a tiny fixer-upper near Salt Lake City with her boyfriend and 70lb rescue pittie. She works full time in Customer Service/Computers, part-time in retail and fashion, goes to school part-time on and off, maintains this and another couple of blogs, as well as volunteers with rescue dogs. In her free time, what little of it there is, she likes to read, play nerd games, craft and create art, and spend time with all of the awesome people in her life.

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Tips for Hosting a Baby Shower That Rocks

December 27, 2016 by Angie Leave a Comment

Throwing a baby shower is supposed to be a celebration of friendship, parenting advice and the precious incoming new baby. Etiquette dictates that you don’t throw your own baby shower and, as a friend or family of the Mom-to-Be, the last thing you’ll want to do is throw an embarrassing party. It’s a special event that will not only help introduce friends and family to one another but also provide the new mom with some starter items that they will need once the baby arrives.

However, you might not have any clue how to throw a party – especially if this is the first child of the Mom-to-Be. The following should help you structure a baby shower that not only isn’t boring, but will be worth remembering forever!

Set the Date

Typically, the baby shower is held during the last two months of pregnancy, but some couples will wait until the Guest of Honor is born and can be present. When planning a party, ask the special couple what time frame works best for them.

Make It Coed and Family Friendly

This doesn’t mean the ladies you invite will have to bring their boyfriend/husband/partner/kids but parties tend to be a lot more fun for individuals if they have co-pilot so they aren’t stuck potentially making small talk the whole time. This also helps parents come celebrate without needing to find a babysitter for the afternoon.

Supply Food, Drink & Booze

It’s not a good idea to serve your guests only cheese and some stale crackers. It’s a party, so treat your guests and yourself to a great time – nobody wants to be hungry at a party! While there are plenty of cute and themed ideas for the baby shower food spread, you can always just supply finger sandwiches, bowls of pasta salad, fruits and veggies, if you aren’t feeling creative.

Just because the Mom-to-Be can’t drink doesn’t mean you should shy away from supplying booze at the party. Most Moms won’t be offended if the guests of her shower can share a few laughs over mimosas or a glass of wine. Many moms even encourage people to drink during the shower to make sure everyone is loosened up and feeling fun!

Don’t Play Boring Games!

If you’ve ever been to a baby shower before, you have likely had to partake in or, at the very least, bear witness to a really lame game being forced on guests. Nobody wants to watch a grown man or woman in a diaper or baby bonnet trying to guess how big the Mom-to-Be has gotten. This has been done a million times and was never actually fun or funny.

Don’t make your party guests cringe, there are plenty of great shower games to play that won’t take cheap pot shots at the Mom-to-Be.

Don’t Wrap the Gifts

Unless it is a small shower with only a few people attending, don’t wrap the gifts. The process of opening all the gifts, pretending to be wowed by every single one so that your friends and family don’t feel bad that you now have three of the same baby blanket can take forever. Instead of having the gift opening be the “main event” of the shower, have the unwrapped presents set down on a table where everyone can admire them. That way everyone can see the beautiful diaper cake you bought for the Mom-to-Be without feeling like they are a hostage until the gift giving ceremony is complete.

You can throw a baby shower however you want, but following the above tips is going to make sure that you have the best time possible that the new parents will remember and cherish forever.

Do you have any experience throwing a baby shower?

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Rock Your Housewarming Party In Sacramento

December 13, 2016 by Angie Leave a Comment

Sacramento, the capital of the state of California, offers a variety of quirky and trendy houses that could tempt you to move in and enjoy the Californian sunny weather. So as you are looking for your dream house under the sun, here are our indispensable tips to prepare a fabulous housewarming party in Sacramento.

#1 There Are Advocados Everywhere: Use Them

California is full of farmers who produces plenty of fresh and delicious products. The farmers markets are amazing there so prepared to be spoiled rotten! There is one specific thing that seems to come in abundance, and this is advocados. You will find them on every restaurant menu and in every recipe, whether it’s a salad, barbecue, sushi, or Mexican delicacy. So to get you to the idea, here’s the home-made guacamole recipe: A fresh, healthy and completely vegan alternative for your housewarming party.

#2 Sacramento Is A Friendly Place

It sounds like its generous climate and agriculture have made the town a place of genuine friendliness. But you will soon find out that you meet in Sacramento people who are genuinely a little kinder and friendlier than anywhere else: This is because Sacramento has succeeding in keeping its small town heart under the big city vibe. It’s hard not to feel welcome in this lovely place. So, take good note of it, and make sure to invite your new neighbors to your housewarming party.

#3 The Emergency Lot For When Things Go Wrong

You never know what could happen: Someone could get drunk and accidentally fall down the stairs, you could lock yourself outside at the end of the day as you wave goodbye to your friends, etc. Don’t worry, it’s part of the little incidents that make your housewarming party memorable! To be on the safe side, make sure to keep the address of the UC Davis Medical Centre which is one of the best hospitals in the country and your local police station – although you don’t need to worry too much about it: Sacramento has among the lowest crime rate in the entire country. Also make sure to have saved the number of a local locksmith, such as locksmith Sacramento for example, to cover all eventualities.

#4 Set The Sacramento Scene

You will discover that many celebrities have graduated from California State University in Sacramento, so why not set little reminders to your guests at the housewarming party? You’ll find Tom Hank, Ann Weldy, Carlos Alazraqui, and even Giselle Fernández, and naturally many more. So you could have Forrest Gump running in the background on the TV to set the ambiance, while you place The Beebo Brinker Chronicles by Ann Weldy on the shelf. What matters, after all, is to give a cheeky wink to the town you live in and help those of your friends who don’t know it yet to discover its cultural jewels.

All in one, have a lovely housewarming party in Sacramento, and don’t forget to prepare yummy drinks to keep your guests’ spirits up!

Have you considered moving to Sacramento?

This post contains an affiliate link. Thank you so much for supporting my blog.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Tips for Planning Your First Party Ever

November 28, 2015 by Angie 30 Comments

Everyone loves a party and no matter what, it is never hard to find an excuse to have a party. You passed your exams? Great! Let’s have a party! You have probably been to lots of parties over the years. I bet some of them were great, but others less so. However, being invited to a party and actually organizing a party are two different things. There is a lot that can go wrong, so here are a few tips to help you plan your first party – in style.

Will Anyone Come?

The hardest part about organizing a party is getting over the irrational fear that nobody will come. No matter how popular we are, it is natural to wonder if anyone is going to show up on the big day. Stories in the press of cute kids whose so-called friends and classmates were all no-shows on the day make things worse.

Put Party Feelers Out

To prevent this from happening to you, whether by accident or design, put out the feelers a couple of weeks before the planned event to gauge whether prospective guests are available and interested in attending. Call them, text them, skype them, Facebook them, or flag them down in the street. Broach the subject in a casual way and find out how much interest there is. Once you have established whether anyone is likely to come, you can set a date and send out invitations noting the time and place of your party.

Always invite twice as many people as you want to come. People always drop out at the last minute due to work or other urgent commitments, or are flaky enough to forget. By having an excess of guests, it won’t matter if a few don’t turn up on the day.

Party Location

The more people you invite, the larger the venue you will need. For a first party, it is probably sensible not to go too overboard in case things to a bit wrong, but think about whether you want to hold a party at home (and have a ton of clearing up to do after the event), or book a party venue or check out party rentals Orlando – and let someone else take care of the clearing up.

Party Entertainment

Simple parties are just as much fun as large parties and it’s perfectly possible to hold a successful party where you and a few mates order a take-out curry and play monopoly for the evening. On the other hand, if you are planning a larger party, more sophisticated entertainment will be needed in the form of music, a band, or party games.

Food and Drink

You don’t need to go too mad with the nibbles. A few buffet style snacks will go down just fine, but if you are feeding a lot of people, consider a BBQ or hog roast. In the case of drinks, suggest everyone brings a bottle or hire a pop-up bar.

Lastly, don’t issue an open invitation on social media unless you want hundreds of random people to turn up and cause a riot.

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this blog.

Check out this blog sponsor:

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

DIY Home Decorations for Thanksgiving Parties

November 6, 2015 by Angie 36 Comments

Thanksgiving is a great time to think about DIY home decorations. There’s nothing more fun or enjoyable than spreading Thanksgiving cheer in your home than homemade decorations. It’s also a great way to start the holiday season off with a statement of your family’s unique creativity, and I am sure your family and friends will appreciate the effort.

Thanksgiving decorations traditionally represent the harvest season, along with the beautiful red, gold and brown colors of autumn. It’s the perfect time to come up with decorations that are in theme with the holiday.

Thanksgiving Crafts:

The Fodder Shock

Constructing a fodder shock isn’t difficult. You gather up some dry corn stalks, usually left in corn areas after harvest or even at the grocery store from leftover corn husks, and form the center section inside beam to generate a type of grouping in a “tepee” configuration.

Home Scarecrow

Developing a bird-scarer is simple and fun to do: make a cross with 2 sticks being connected firmly. Dress the sticks with sleeve length clothing and also a pair of jeans. Start being active. To create your scarecrow’s head, use an old pillowcase or cloth handbag. Fill with paper, cloths or stuffing. Draw a whole new face around the fabric, and then bind the “head” within the vertical axis, which should have a secure bond.

Wreaths

The easiest way to add natural elements, color and texture to your decor for fall is with the use of wreaths. These Thanksgiving essentials effortlessly brighten the indoor as well as outdoor areas of your home. Many stores offer beautiful wreaths made from natural elements. You can select wreaths made from natural leaves, seedpods, pinecones, and sheaves of grain. These wreaths are ideal for the fall holiday and they can last the entire season when hung in covered areas away from the sun.

Garlands

Thanksgiving-inspired garlands that spell out holiday sentiments like “Give Thanks” and “Happy Thanksgiving” are great decorations. These Thanksgiving essentials can be easily made at home with craft supplies like cardstock and glitter. a country touch to your decor for fall with baskets made from natural materials like rattan. These baskets are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors. They are ideal for making rustic basket-of-plenty centerpieces for the Thanksgiving table and other harvest holiday decorations. Nestle candles, pinecones or fall leaves inside them to make quick and easy centerpieces. The baskets are also helpful as storage accessories through the rest of the year.

The Table

You will also want to celebrate Thanksgiving with a nicely set table. Dress the table with themed Thanksgiving table linens and centerpieces made from natural elements of autumn.
Create a backdrop with a simple tablecloth and then add colorful Thanksgiving table linens. Try out different table settings to add flair to the fall decorations.

Centerpiece

The centerpiece is an essential part of fall decorations and the Thanksgiving feast. All that’s needed to make a festive centerpiece is a wicker cornucopia. Fill this basket with fresh harvest produce.

Thanksgiving is an important family holiday, so make sure you are prepared with the basics. Do you have enough serving dishes for hot food, dinner plates, folding chairs and bar stools? In fact, these can actually be rented so that you don’t have to buy furniture or supplies that are only needed one or twice a year.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year when families gather. It’s an ideal time to decorate your home with the beautiful colors of fall. The right colors can set the entire Thanksgiving mood.

This post brought to you by Family Rentals. I received compensation for this post.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

How to Save Money on Your Next Summer Party

May 14, 2013 by Angie 5 Comments

Summer is the perfect time to have backyard parties and family get-togethers. Between the warm weather, and holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and 4th of July summer breeds celebrations and fun gatherings.

However, trying to have all the parties you want and still have enough money in the bank for day-to-day can be challenging. But with online deals, coupons, and expert tips you can throw parties all summer long for less cost than you might ever think possible.

The Experts Speak!

Check out these 6 “Money-Saving Tips for Summer Parties.” Author Dana Dratch writes:

Keep it simple! It’s all about family, friends, fun, and the sun!
Think kabobs, mmmm. You can save half to 1/3rd by adding chunks of seasonal vegetables in between a few pieces of meat.
“Slice the price”. Choose “lesser” cuts of meat like London Broil or flatiron that taste great but cost less.
Go local and seasonal when you pick your menu items.
Drinks can quickly add cost, so keep the selections simple with water, and one or two flavored punches.
When the sun starts to fade, don’t turn on the lights but light up candles! Small inexpensive tea lights in mason jars look good and give great light.

Keeping things simple not only keeps the cost low, but it keeps the stress low and reminds everyone the focus is just spending time together outside.

Crazy-Fun Coupons

Coupons can be your best friend for sure! Not only can you go online and get coupons for your food, plates, and other dinner trimmings, but you can find coupons for things that will add fun and memories into your summer parties. Coupon codes for Oriental Trading are one of your best assets available. Oriental Trading is a company that offers larger quantities, and lower prices on all kinds of party items. You can get large inflatable fun objects, ‘carnival games’ that can be reusable all summer long, or packages of toys like kites, airplanes, squirt guns, and so many more items that your kids AND you can have fun with!

Unique Styles for Less

Angela Colley gave a glowing review of Etsy on moneycrashers.com, and she pointed out “you can find cheap deals on one-of-a-kind items”. Etsy is an online marketplace where artisans and artists can create their unique products and you can purchase them for low costs. To make it even better, you can get a NerdWallet coupon code for Etsy and save even more! Some of the things you could save on for your summer bash:

Summer party lights.
Mason jar mugs with lids.
Pool party decorations.
Summer picnic table décor.
4th of July burlap banner.
Hand painted glasses.

Etsy is a great way to add a few special, but affordable touches to your party environment. You can find practical, reusable items like flatware and glasses, or just one-time fun items like fondant cupcake toppers or special holiday decor.

Bring It Together

Once you have your affordable food plan, fun ideas, and one-of-a-kind tableware and party items, you can add a few easy touches that won’t tack on a huge price tag, but will infuse a little pizazz into your backyard festivities! Party enthusiast Jenny Lee gives some extra tips on redbookmag.com:

String up Christmas lights for a little mood lighting.
Fill a punch bowl with a jug of inexpensive wine and add:
- Maraschino cherries.
- 1/2 dozen wedges of each:
  - Lime
  - Lemmon
  - Oranges
Make a mixed cd or iTunes list.
Rent a small karaoke machine!
Set out a bowl of temporary tattoos.

Summer time is nature’s gift for any family who loves to party. Take some of these suggestions, and as long as the summer nights last your family can party on!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com