source: mukumbura
If you’ve been around here long you know I love me a good party. In fact, Lydia’s birthday party is less than a month away and I’ve got it all figured out. In fact, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it and had to get it up to write all my ideas down before I could fall asleep!
I get lots of comments and questions about how to plan parties and what’s the best stuff to do. So, I thought I’d give some of my best tips about party-planning. Then as I started to write them down, they didn’t seem that interesting. So instead, I’m going to make up 2 parties for you. And if you’ve got a Christmas party coming up, you can steal all these ideas and pretend they are yours!
Ready?
The Silver & Gold Peace on Earth Party
I got this idea from Plum Party. It is the cutest website full of printable tablescapes. I adore tablescapes and printable ones? SO COOL. This tablescape includes a billion cute things like place cards, drink markers and menus. Plus some really cool extras like an advent calendar and a wreath. Yeah, like a PRINTABLE wreath. Look how awesome this is:
If that doesn’t inspire you to throw a party, I don’t know what will! I’d decorate with all the printable stuff, find some gold and silver candles and candlesticks (or make some myself) and make sure I had lots of twinkly lights stuck everywhere!
Then I’d probably do white food like my Snowflake Party…Cheeseball from Heaven, white chocolate fondue, wraps or sandwiches and maybe even some kind of cheesy dip (like an artichoke dip, maybe?). YUM. I’d definitely make my favorite stand-by punch: 1 thing (yes, that is a precise measurement) of apple juice, 1 Sprite or Ginger Ale and 1 frozen lemonade. It’s nice and gold and delicious.
Now, for a few activities. Hmmm…I don’t always like games for adults. (Can anyone say baby shower games?!) But I do think it’s fun to have some great ice-breaker stuff around. Once we did a go-at-your-own-pace scavenger hunt to locate all my mom’s collectible nativity scenes. You could do the same thing with different ornaments or decor in your house—just hand out a piece of paper with clues when people walk in. Then award a prize for everyone who finishes!
Then I’d send everyone home with a sparkly gold candle with a tag that says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2”. Or maybe “Thanks for making our Christmas sparkly and bright!”
Oooh, I’m so excited I want to do that now!
Kids’ Toy Party
The second party I’d love to do is some kind of kids’ party. Last year I did a Gingerbread Party with Lydia’s friends. I wanted to do an Operation Christmas Child party this year but couldn’t get it together in time for the packing week. Anyway, I love the idea of a Kids’ Toy Party.
Let’s see…first I’d decorate with white butcher paper (or brown paper, my fave) as table cloths. Then I’d spread out crayons (red and green, of course) so everyone could write Christmas greetings or draw their favorite Christmas pictures (I can draw some mean holly!) I’d put some old toys around–maybe some slinkies, vintage toys or some of my kids’ favorites.
Now the food has me stumped. You could do some typical kids’ food—pb&j cut into Christmas shapes, fruit and Christmas cookies. Or you could just do a red/green theme—red and green veggie kabobs, pizza fondue and lettuce wraps. Regardless, there would lots of fun desserts like those sleigh cookies I linked to the other day or those yummy pretzel-rolo-pecan turtles (& some other versions) or Christmas cupcakes!
And activities? Well, you could make these fun , play guess-that-toy-get-to-know-you game (write popular toys on nametags and when your guests arrive, put one on their back. They can ask yes and no questions to find out what their name tag says.) And as a thank-you-gift, I’d give everyone a peppermint-lollipop with a tag that says, “We’re MINT to be friends.” OK, maybe not, but aren’t those lollipops cute?!
So, whad’ya think? Do either of those sound fun? I think they do! I’m kinda bummed I’m not having a Christmas party now! What kind of party would you host? Or have you hosted in the past? Got a good idea to share? DO TELL! Leave me a comment about a fun Christmas party (or some other kinda party)–or even a link to a great party you’ve done and you’ll be entered to win a FABU Holiday Brunch package from Nestle–including a brunch menu, corresponding NESTLÉ products, and a $50 VISA gift card. Merry Christmas to you, huh?!
See you tomorrow for more fun Christmas fun, giveaways and Top Ten {Tuesday}!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Nestle. They sponsored. I wrote. That’s all.
1. You are brilliant! Such an amazing party planner.
2. Thanks for linking up to my post. Looking at that post, I realize how much my blogging has improved. LOL!
3. My favorite Christmas party was the one that Maggie planned for us last year.
http://houseofhills.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/christmas-carnival-maggie-style/
Oh yay! Thanks for linking Kathy. I meant to put that in the post—feel free to link up a Christmas party you’ve done before!
You have a nice plan especially in terms of decoration. As we all know decorations are very important part of Christmas. Having Christmas decorations at any Christmas party will likely make the party more pleasant and enjoyable. I’m sure what you have planned will never forget by the guests.
Hmmmm, while I LOVE attending fun parties I rarely end up as the one planning them! I think one of my favorite party ideas was for a “golden birthday” party. You know, where you turn the age of the day you were born on? A friend’s 30th birthday happened to be his golden birthday so they threw him a huge party with a gold theme! They even made him a necklace out of 30 “gold” coins. It was fun and very memorable!
I think a Roaring 20s party is fun.
I love both of these party ideas. I’ve waited a little late this year to put together a really awesome party but I do have one planned. The invitations are made and ready to pass out and the menu is set. Now I just need the weather to cooperate. We’re keeping it very simply with only family this year but I’m letting Lil Man, Lil Bit, and Baby Boy be the hosts. They will be the ones to invite our family to a special birthday party for Jesus. The boys love balloons and lights so we’ll decorate with lots of red & green balloons. Among those red & green balloons will be a single gold star balloon. We’re going to have the traditional sit down dinner and for dessert we’re going to have red velvet cake complete with candles. I believe we want each guest to bring a gift (like the Wise Men did) but we haven’t decided on a gift theme yet. We’ll either ask guests to bring canned food or household supplies for the local food bank or we’ll ask for baby items that we can donate to the local Pregnancy Care Center. There won’t be an abundance of people, maybe 12 or 13 but anything we donate will definitely help someone in need. I want this party to be about the true meaning of Christmas and I want the boys to understand that when we celebrate Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
LOVE.
I love this too! What a great idea!!!
we just had Donovan’s 3rd birthday party (3!!!) and it was a Toy Story party… Not a lot of things going on b/c it was 3 yos, but I am very proud of my home-made “Pin the face on Mr. Potato Head” game that I made out of felt – HUGE hit with all of the kids (18 mths to 6 yos!). Then I made 10X10 inch felt boards for everyone as party favors – with all the felt pieces to make their own Mr. Potato Heads!!!
I mean seriously, I want to be you as a mom when I grow up! I’m so amazed by your talents girl! I wish I had kids to plan a party for…so here’s my closest idea – which I did last year for my god daughter’s family (and she was still in the womb). We did a scavenger hunt theme for their Christmas presents. I hid the stuff all over my house and then made up a riddle about each location…and that’s about as inventive as I get. At least to this point in life! I so wish I had kids..so at this point I just get to spoil others kids! Like my god daughter’s family and the kids at Turnaround Ministries.
Much love to Lydia & Asa. So amazing you are woman!
Danielle
We’re hosting our youth group students and parents for a party next Sunday and I’m baking all of their favorites–s’mores brownies, chocolate covered dipped pretzel rods, tortilla chips and velveeta salsa, peanut butter pretzel chocolate chip cookies (http://adorkablerecipes.blogspot.com/2010/10/peanut-butter-pretzel-chocolate-chip.html), and more
My parents used to host Christmas parties when I was growing up. Alas, I did not inherit the hosting gene. If I were to host a holiday party it would focus on desserts, like a potluck dessert party or a cookie exchange. I love to bake!
These are some great ideas! The only themed party I’ve done is the Princess Party we had for my oldest daughter’s 4th birthday. We’re doing Tinkerbell theme for the youngest’s 3rd. Having a party planner was a LIFESAVER! Good thing one of my friends is a party planner eh?
Call me goofy if you want, but my favorite themed Christmas party has and always will be a Happy Birthday Jesus party. Cake and all the decorations of a birthday party, except the guest of honor is who we are celebrating this time of year.
You could also do a dirty Santa party. It is a game where everyone brings a gift, wrapped. you exchange numbers and take turns getting gifts. Play this every year at my husband’s grandparents house.
BTW, love love love that wreath
I love your Kids’ Toy Party idea! Last year, I went to a party for adults that had a Kids’ Toy theme. The food was the “sophisticated” version of kids foods like mini PB&J sandwiches and sliders, along with a candy bar and gingerbread house making station. Everyone brought their favorite toy and we donated them to a local charity.
I would enjoy hosting a cookie-baking party! My kitchen’s not very big, but I think it would be great fun to have several friends/family members in there together baking a huge amount of Christmas cookies to share!
I’d love to do a “my favorite things” party. Each guest brings enough of her favorite things item to share with each of the other guests! I love that idea….
Thanks for all of the fun party ideas! I love doing SuperBowl parties. I like to do food in the colors of the teams playing! 🙂
The best party I ever attended was a birthday party that was a massive scavenger hunt. So much fun.
I like simple parties: as long as there is good food and good company, I tend to enjoy myself.
I planned a surprise camping trip/birthday party for my hubby! Just the basics! Burgers, hot dogs, smores bar, friends, crazy stories and a grateful guy!
We host a pizza party the night before Thanksgiving. Everyone has to bring a pizza to get into the party. Everyone looks forward to this party, we have enough pizza to feed a small country. Our group likes to play dominos and twister.
Fabulous ideas! This time of year I love throwing cookie exchange parties… saves me time on baking for the holidays, and also gingerbread decorating with young kids. The icing and sprinkles may fly, but no one gets bored!
We planned a Curious George birthday for my son’s second birthday. My personal favorite was the goody bags — with $1.00 Curious George toys from Target’s dollar section, candy bananas, a real banana and Curious George fruit snacks!
I love cookie exchange parties, gingerbread would be a great theme to go this year!
Seriously my friends and I have a Christmas Story Party SOOO hilarious
We had a Christmas party with a cookie decorating station – for kids and adults. It was quite popular!
I’ve hosted Christmas parties with friends and family, but never had a theme. It sounds like a lot of fun! When we have the party, kids are invited. Someone dresses up as Santa and he makes a surprise visit with small gifts for all the kids.
Thank you!
jackievillano at gmail dot com
When I was little, I tried sooo hard to have a May Day tea party I read about in American Girl mag. It sounded like so much fun, but I ended up only having one friend show up, bc it was last minute. We tried to do the May Pole even… It didnt’ work very well with only two of us 🙂
I love the ugly sweatshirt parties-it’s so much fun and makes the conversation livelier.
I enjoy planning casual, fun holiday parties! A few tips: use at least a few make-ahead recipes, write out the entire menu in detail to see the big picture, and use high quality disposable dinnerware when it’s not a formal party. 🙂
I love the Chinese Gift exchange things. You know the one where one person opens the gift, the next person will either snag that gift or a new one. Gifts can only be stolen two times after that, its not eligible any longer. If your gift gets taken, then you can go pick a new one.. These are really fun ways of gift exchanges, it takes up a little time, and can be varied in lots of ways.. Add a few gag gifts in there like burnt candles, half eaten boxes of chocolates, etc… Either the host can purchase all the gifts, or each guest can bring one. I have even done this with Christmas ornament exchanges also..
I was checking out the other contest page and
I saw the Frank Paul thing and it caught my eye because that is my Husbands name!! I had to go explore it and I had no idea there was a line of anything like that.. I love the Monkeys, my Daughters absolutely love monkeys..
So some Frank Paul themes for my Hubby, Of course if its monkeys, my girls would fight him. My one daughter has been bugging us for months to go to olive garden, and we just cant swing it right now, so a gift card exchange theme would be cool…
some of my friends and i had a christmas craft party, where we all brought supplies to work on our homemade christmas decorations together–crafty wreaths and decorating candles and making garlands. it was a LOT of fun and good motivation to get the stuff done! i thought that was one of my fave christmas parties and not typical at all!
I think a cookie decorating party would be fun. I’d have the cookies made, and let the kids go wild with icing, sprinkles and candy. Maybe next year.