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Five Tips to Help You Throw a Fabulous Birthday Party on a Budget

January 28, 2018 by Mandy

Senior living is all about having fun, doing those things you never had time to do while you were working, and just living life to its fullest. While it would be great to think you could do all of this without a care in the world when it comes to money, the reality is that most seniors live on a fixed budget and a pretty tight one at that.

What this means is that those added expenses really need to be kept on a tight leash, allowing your dollar to stretch as far as possible. A birthday party is an excellent example of these “added expenses” that can pop up during the year that you need to find the money to fund. Of course, you want the party to be a big success, so budget party planning tips are usually welcomed. Here are five tips you can use for the next birthday party you host.

Save Money on the Cake

One of the most important items to have for any birthday party is a birthday cake. Is it really even a birthday party without a cake? Now, unless you are willing to bake and decorate the cake yourself, which is rather time-consuming and can still be quite costly, then you’re going to need to shop around to find a baker.

While there is nothing wrong with using a baker who offers customized cakes, you’re going to find that it’s far from budget-friendly. Instead, you can check out such options as the Costco bakery sheet cakes. You can still have them decorated and add a birthday greeting to it, and it’s a sheet cake so you know it’s going to feed a lot of people. At the same time, you will be getting those affordable prices that Costco is known for.

Make Your Own Evites

Another tip is to scrap the traditional invitations you send in the mail and opt for evites instead. With traditional invitations, you will need to buy the cards and then stamps. With electronic invitations, you can design something really fun and unique and send it for free.

As well, there are a number of websites and apps that will let you design these invitations for free and then manage the responses.

Keep the Guest List Under Control

It would be great to invite everyone the birthday person knows and loves, but unfortunately, the more people you invite, the more expensive the party will be. Instead, keep the list small and under control.

Hold the Party at Your Home

Renting out party space and venues is another added expense that you may be able to get rid of. If you can host it at your home or someone else’s, then you will find you are able to save a ton of money.

Don’t Make it a Meal

The final tip is to hold the birthday party during set hours that fall between a mealtime or after dinner. You can then serve snacks and beverages instead of a full meal, which is rather expensive.

A Successful Party without Sacrifices

These tips will help to ensure the party is a big success without having to make any sacrifices, all while remaining on budget.

5 tips for planning a girl’s night out

November 23, 2017 by Mandy

Source

If you spend your days taking care of your young family, from time to time, you will need a break. Don’t run yourself into the ground. Instead, arrange something fun for you to look forward to. This will allow you to stay motivated, and will give you a chance to put yourself first for once. Why not turn to your fellow moms? You could work together to organize a big night out. If it is a success, it could become your favorite tradition. Your long list of responsibilities may not allow you to have a night out every week. However, surely you can find some free time at the end of each month? It is important to reward yourself for the amazing job that you are doing. It is also beneficial for your children to understand that you can go out, but will always return to them. Below are five tips for planning a girl’s night out.

Choose the perfect outfit

If you spend most of your time in jeans, or sweatpants, make the most of the opportunity to get dressed up. Treat yourself to a glamorous outfit that you are excited to wear. Encourage all of your girlfriends to do the same, as this way you won’t feel overdressed. Try not to be too sensible. Instead choose a color, cut, or style, that really pushes you out of your comfort zone. You might be surprised by the range of looks that you can pull off. It will also be nice to feel like an independent woman, instead of someone’s mom, for a night. You could also treat yourself to a new haircut, plan a visit to the spa, or splash out on a mani-pedi. Whatever you do, just make sure that you are enjoying the process of getting ready.

Select the right music

Putting on the right music can also help you to enjoy the process of getting ready. Work together with your girlfriends to create a playlist for every occasion. It should be filled with tunes that put you in the mood to go out. Perhaps you could include some of the songs that you used to listen to when you were younger. This will bring back good memories, and will help to recapture the excitement that you felt when you went out in your youth. Why not treat yourself to an impressive speaker system so that you can hear your favorite songs in all their glory? Remember to organize tunes to listen to on the road. This way you will be totally excited when you arrive at your destination.

Treat yourself to transport

In order to successfully have a girl’s night out, you will need to go a little wild. Why not hire a limousine service? This is a fantastic way to ensure that you create a night to remember. It is also a surprisingly practical idea. Hiring a limousine will allow you all to travel together, which is much better for your safety. Not only this, but if you choose to drink alcohol, on your night out, it will be hugely beneficial to have someone else to drive you around. You could all group together to hire this luxurious transport option. However, you could always arrange it as a surprise. Just imagine how excited all of your girlfriends would be if a limousine turned up to your girl’s night. This really is the best way to treat yourself, and to do something a little indulgent!

Arrange exciting activities

Make sure that you are not doing the same thing every time that you go out. Your evenings will become boring if you keep visiting the same bar, or club. Why not try to mix it up? Encourage all of your friends to write down a number of suggestions. You could do a lucky dip to find out where you will be going next. Alternatively, you could give everyone in your group the opportunity to plan a night out. Your more sensible gal pals might arrange a cookery course, or a wine tasting class. However, the wilder members of your group may take it a little further! When you spend your life taking care of your family, it is important to have a clear routine. However, when you are treating yourself, you should try to introduce an element of surprise. Make the most of the opportunity to let loose, without having to worry about anyone else.

Make sure that your little ones are taken care of

In order to fully enjoy your night out, you will need to make sure that your little ones are taken care of. Otherwise, you will spend all of your free time fretting. If you have decided to arrange a regular girl’s night, with a group of mom friends, you could put on a giant slumber party for your children. You could set up a schedule so that the children are staying at a different house each time. If you worry about leaving your kids, take the time to organize fun activities for them to enjoy. This will ensure that you still have a sense of control. It will also help to prevent you from feeling any guilt about having fun without them. When you go out, you could ask your other halves to watch the little ones. Alternatively, you could hire a babysitter that you, and all of your friends, trust. Even though the babysitting fee will reflect the number of kids that are being looked after, you will still be saving money if you group together. One of the best things about going out with a group of fellow moms is that they will understand your emotions. If you are new to leaving your children, it will be incredibly helpful to be surrounded by people who have dealt with a similar situation. Furthermore, your group of girlfriends will understand the demands of day to day life. Therefore, last minute cancellations, or emergency trips home, will be much easier to explain.

Top Healthy Finger Food Menu For The Perfect Party

October 12, 2017 by Mandy

Whether for the holidays, a special occasion, or just because you feel like it; everybody loves a party! One of the most important parts of any festivity is the food. The hors d’oeuvres we serve are always a treat, but they don’t always treat our bodies as well as our mouths. Luckily, there’s no reason your next party platter cannot be both delicious and healthy. In that spirit, here is a healthy finger foods menu which you can prepare at home, or hire a caterer like Flavours Catering to provide, which is sure to have your guests gossiping about what a smart party planner you are!

Cauliflower Crackers

Chips and dip are classic party fare, but the fat and salt add up fast. You can control both by making these savory crackers. Simply chop one head of raw cauliflower into large chunks and steam until tender. Allowing them to cool to room temperature first, you will want to transfer them into a food processor and mill until they have the consistency of dried oats.

Next, add spices like oregano and garlic powder for an Italian flair. Blend in a tablespoon of your favorite olive oil, two eggs, and enough flour to bind into a dry but malleable dough, and spread the mixture evenly onto an oiled pan. Pop them into a 400-degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown, and allow them to cool before slicing the sheet into any finger-sized shape you like! These savory crackers pair well with any dip, but tapenade is a particularly apropos choice.

Avocado Crostini

Sometimes the best foods are the ones you fuss with the least, allowing the natural flavors to be the center of attention. Crostini topped with slices of rich, healthy avocado and cherry tomato halves is the very embodiment of this culinary principal!

Simply cut a whole grain baguette into quarter-inch slices, brush them with olive oil, and dust with freshly cracked pepper before toasting them for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Once they’re golden brown to your liking, top them with spoonfuls of avocado, garnish with a cherry tomato, and finish them off with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Prosciutto Wrapped Grilled Shrimp

Bacon wrapped treats, and seafood dipped in buttery sauces are a staple of any party scene. While decadent, they are also loaded with extra calories. By substituting prosciutto for the bacon, and substituting the buttery sauce for one rich in healthy fats, your guests can enjoy all of the decadence without the regret.

You can begin by steaming shrimp or buying them pre-cooked from your seafood counter. Cut your prosciutto into thin strips which you can wrap around your shrimp and roll them up. For the sauce, drain a can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes and blend with olive oil and sweet basil. Add a few teaspoons of crushed horseradish for a healthy, spicy take on cocktail sauce.

Time for Tea: Top Tips for the Perfect Afternoon Tea Party

June 21, 2017 by Mandy

When was the last time you truly cherished an aromatic and enticing cup of afternoon tea? If it wasn’t yesterday, it’s surely been too long. Afternoon tea is one of life’s little niceties and can make any day more gracious and serene. If you’re unsure how to go about presenting the perfect tea party for your favorite friends, do read on. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about afternoon tea.

Do the Brits do it best?

When you hear the phrase ‘afternoon tea’ what image comes to mind? If you’re like many people, you envision well-mannered English ladies lingering over a ‘cuppa’ rich, flavorful tea. With cream or without, sweetened or sans sugar, afternoon tea offers a wonderful peek back to a more gracious and relaxed way of living.

A typical tea party in the British Isles presents aromatic tea brewed just so, along with an assortment of light snacks, ladylike sandwiches, and sweet baked goods. There isn’t a set rulebook to guide your baked selections, but you can do quite well by serving scones with jam, prettily iced petit fours, lemon pastries, thin sweet cookies, and flaky tea biscuits, notes British Broadcasting Corporation TV show, Good Food.

Avoid serving soggy sandwiches when you prepare your fillings in advance and stow them in covered containers in your refrigerator. Assemble sandwiches just prior to guest arrival, and you’ll never worry about wet bread again. Perfect fillings for afternoon tea sandwiches include shredded carrot and raisin with hummus and mint on deeply brown bread and open-face sandwiches piled high with smoked salmon and sliced avocado on rye. Both are a nice twist on traditional English tea sandwiches.

To caffeine or not to caffeine

If you desire an afternoon pick-me-up, go for a typically caffeinated tea. Selections include Ceylon silver tips tea, golden monkey black tea, and bergamot-infused Earl Grey. White teas are a lovely option for guests who prefer something with little caffeine. Specialty tea shops such as Teavana offer a splendid assortment of white teas blended with fruits and flowers for an extra boost of healthful antioxidants.

Cups, saucers, tea sets, and table linens

Martha Stewart recommends tea service to turn practically any gathering into a grown-up party. In summertime, lighten things up when you offer tall tumblers, a bucket of ice with tongs, and a selection of garnishes such as lemon wedges, ribbons of lemon peel, fresh spearmint or peppermint leaves, and single-serving sugar cubes.

As far as your tea set is concerned, haul out your grandma’s antique silver service, or shop thrift stores to find an eclectic assortment of mismatched cups and saucers that work together wonderfully. Remember, the most imperative factors of afternoon tea are relaxation, grace, and camaraderie.

Don’t overtax yourself or wear yourself out. Delegate cake and sandwich duties to other guests, if pulling it all together starts to feel like stress to you. Invite an amusing array of guests with varied interests to keep the conversation lively and engaged.

4 Tips for Backyard Party Decor

December 5, 2016 by Mandy

The arrival of Fall means that you’ll throw lots of outdoor parties in the coming months. If you want to impress your friends and loved ones, you’ll need to start decorating your place. Here are four tips for backyard party decor that will cause your guests to marvel at your taste and style.

Event Signs

There’s no better way to personalize a party than to make signs especially for it. These are shockingly easy to create, too. All you need are a few pieces of wood and a can of paint that stands out against the color of the wood. Then write the event’s name on the sign. In fact, you can expand on this idea by building enough signs to operate as directions to your home visible from the road.

If you don’t have access to wood, you can use chalkboard as an alternative. Simply find a frame to wrap around it, then grab your chalk and write a special message for your event. If it’s an intimate affair, you can also add the names of all the invited guests to make everyone feel special.

DIY Arrangement

One of the best ways to impress your guests is through your own handiwork. Flower arrangements are perfect for any time of year. You can select flowers that are in bloom to highlight their beauty and color. Simply head to your favorite flower shop and buy the ones that catch your eye. Then choose one of many five-minute arrangement options to craft the one that’s perfect for your event.

Decorative Lights

Everything’s better when you illuminate it with the correct type of lighting. Stringing lights in the backyard will create the perfect mood for your party. It’ll also cause the entire affair to feel a bit more magical. A nice trick is to string holiday lights from a trusted vendor such as Christmas Lights Etc on the walls. Your guests will naturally associate the lights with cheer due to their common use during the holiday season. The background lights will also quietly set a celebratory tone, proving that holiday lights have year-round value.

Go All Out

Nothing says “party” like full on, themed decor. Take your party to the next level with themed centerpieces, plates, cups, and even an outdoor dj setup with turntables You can even encourage guests to partake in the festivities by dressing up to match the mood. There are endless fun ideas to play on such as classic ideas like a luau or 80’s vibe.

You can also try out something unexpected like a carnival theme involving hot dogs, cotton candy, and red and white striped decor. Or a murder mystery party that would allow all of your guest to join in on the fun.

Your outdoor party’s decor should feature all the right touches, from the mood, to the food. Simply follow the suggestions above, or modify them to fit your personal style. With these tips, you’ll be able to throw unforgettable parties all year long.