xmas is on the way

Ok i haven't done any holiday shopping yet, but i'm sure when i do there will be something I forgot to get. So let's come up with a list of things we need to remember.
Your holiday dinner, make a list of everything you plan on making and all the ingredients.
Be sure to go over your guest list and make sure you're not serving anything that someone you know is allergic to.
Don't forget that kid friendly food too.

When you are out buying presents it's always a good idea to get something for that "oops i forgot to get this person a gift"

Stamps for those xmas cards

Lots of tape, ribbon, wrapping paper, and of course the tags.

Batteries for the camera and the video camera charged.

Especially batteries for the toys and gadgets that will be opened on the big day.

If i have forgotten to add something to this list, let me know and i'll post it here.

Paint can have other uses

Well new empty paint cans that is. They can really be an inexpensive way to add to your tables, or use as gift containers, ice buckets etc. Use the Gallon sizes as a chip holder, you could stencil on any saying or design you like to the can, even add a piece of fabric, like a bandana, inside the can as a liner . Do the same thing for smaller snacks using pint or quart sizes. I love the paint cans because you can really dress them up. Try getting some beads large enough to thread on the handle and make it sparkle.

Place cards

With the holidays alot of people like to plan fancy dinners which include placecards for the tables. Why not try and do something a little different this year. I recently made some for my sons football team's party, I wrapped the hershey bars in a football theme and added their number and name to the front. Not only is it a neat little place card but it's also usefull. You can do mini potted plants just add a label with their name, or even make napkin rings with their names on them as well. Be creative and share your ideas with us.

Pumpkin Patch

If you have never gone to a pumpkin patch, you should . My family and I went last weekend and I'm glad we did. Most pumpkin patche's aren't just for picking pumpkins anymore. We went to one called Fir Point Farmshttp://www.firpointfarms.com/, which is an actual working farm, but they have animals for the kids to see, Giants pumpkins, you can even take a horse drawn carriage ride around the farm. The kids had fun running around all the pumpkins trying to find their perfect ones, and for .25 per pound I think they are all perfect.

PARTY FOOD

Of course one of the most important things for any event is the food. Yet we always find ourselves at the last minute trying to come up some new recipe with usually no success. Try planning out your menu a few weeks in advanced and start browsing recipe websites for some new ideas that are easy enough to make. I came across http://www.myrecipes.com/, it's a great little site that even offers how to videos for those of us that are not as talented in the kitchen.

Party tip of the Week

Always remember when having any event to make note of kids that may be attending. Obviously if it is a chidren's party make sure it doesn't last too long, the younger the kids the shorter their ability to stay entertained and happy. If you are having a mix of adults and kids take into consideration the kids need something to do as well. You may even want to designate someone to run some kid activities for you.

Halloween

Halloween is on it's way, and it's always fun to make the house or ourselves look spooky. One tool that might help is cheesecloth.
A great little material that would work for making spider webs, ghosts, even a mummy.
How about making some creepy looking creatures for your windows or walls by cutting out some rats, black cats, or witches out of black card stock and arranging them around the house. Take a couple and put them up just above some candles(not too close dont want to start a fire) and watch the shadows go on the walls.

Party Idea

Always find you or your kids struggle to figure out what kind of party to have, check out Birthday Party Ideas, it has over 150 ideas to choose from submitted by people that have actually had that type of party, with their ideas for what they did, what worked and what didn't.
http://http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html

September's Holidays to Celebrate

Ok here is the list of some September holidays that I think are great reasons to party;

11th: National Neighborhood Day- go ahead and have a neighborhood bar-b-que

13th:International Chocolate Day-No better reason to have a chocolate dessert party

19th:Talk like a pirate day-

22nd:Oktoberfest, Germany-I think the men would like to celebrate this one

Catalogs

A great way to get party ideas and see whats avialable is to order catalogs. I go to many of the top party supply sites and request catalogs, that way i can always have them as a reference for ideas, pricing etc. It's also great for your kids to look at if they aren't sure what kind of party they want. Even though they will mostly carry the same stuff, one of them will have a little more, plus you can compare prices as well. I would suggest getting them from Shidigz.com, M and N International,and Oriental Trading company.