How To Have A Picture Party At Your Apartment

By Jeff Swett

Want to have some cheap fun in your apartment without causing too much destruction and havoc? Have a picture party!

And by party, I don't mean inviting tons and tons of people. I'd advise, for your sake and for your neighbors' sake, limit your guest list to 5-8 people. Also, be sure that the ones whom you invite are creative and good with cameras. At the end of this event, you want to come away with hundreds of really great photos from a variety of different eyes that will immortalize your apartment and help you retain those often awesome, yet fleeting memories.

And if you take some really awesome pictures that feature your sweet looking apartment...be sure to share them with your apartment manager! Maybe they could use them to show how great and fun their apartments can be...Just a thought.

There are two ways of having this event.

Got Digital? - Have each of your guests bring their own digital camera and the cables or card readers they'll need to transfer any pics to your computer. Schedule some board games or other fun activities as well as place a number of fun, cool looking objects around the apartment. Of course, you will want to have a few snacks and refreshments available. (Remember adult beverages should be for adults only and handled responsibly)

You'll want to have a timer that goes off at a set time every couple of minutes or so, which will be time for every guest to take a picture. Doesn't really matter of what as long as it's a cool pic!
Then after a couple of hours, transfer all of the pictures over to your computer, have a slide show, and a ton of great laughs!

Disposable Disco- This one is more for those who are less concerned with perfect pictures and more concerned with the element of surprise. Supply each of your guests with a disposable camera as soon as they walk through your door. Follow the same activity and time guidelines as above, but every 10 minutes have everyone put all the cameras into a bag, shake them up, and then pull out another camera. This really mixes it up!

You could then take a group trip to your nearest one hour photo lab and see if they'd be able to actually print all the pics within an hour. If so, kill some time shopping or grabbing a drink while the pictures are being developed. After you pick them up, take them all back to the apartment and spread them out all over the floor.

You'll come away with a bunch of great pics and possibly some great new decorating ideas with all the excellent photos.

Quick tip: If you keep your apartment well lit, make sure that you don't use the flash. Flashes have a tendency of really white washing out pictures and if you can get around using one because your room is really bright...do it!

Either way you decide to do it, if you end up hosting one of these picture taking events, post your pictures on an account at Flickr and post a link to your pics in a comment on this blog. I'd love to share them in our blogs!

Check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com for more info on apartment living and the apartment lifestyle.

Jeff's just a regular guy with a funny goatee that really enjoys people and life. On top of that he is a bit of an expert on apartments, living in them, and getting the most out of the apartment living lifestyle.

As a Managing Partner of Apartment Home Living, Jeff wants to help you find the right apartment by getting to know you. Not only where you want to live & what you want to pay, but what you like. This way, we can help you find an apartment that fits your personality, not just your budget.

At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff's entertaining blogs/stories, find Answers to a wide array of apartment related questions, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Swett

Sweet Sixteen Party Ideas

By Janice Wee

Problem is, not everyone can afford to spend so much on a 16 year old birthday.

So what can you do?

For starters, make it a more personal party. Get her to invite her closest friends and rent a place that can house everyone for that sweet sixteen bash. Arrange for transport if necessary. It could be a chalet, a villa or someone's home. Pick a place that she would like, which will not bankrupt you.

The company matters. A huge pile of DVDs of her favourite movies and tv series would keep everyone entertained if you get snowed in. Board games with loved ones are a cheaper way to spend time than shopping at expensive boutiques.

Some of the best things in life are free, while others cost money. Then again, you can buy things with your time and opinions. There are some pretty cool freebies for people living in U.S. up for grabs, so if you live there, take advantage of these offers and pick up whatever vouchers and gadgets that she might like, and put them in a treasure chest for her. Or as prizes for the party games.

Or you could just hide the treasure chest full of goodies you got for free and leave a trail of clues for a treasure hunt that stretches throughout the party. Hey, if she likes spooky stuff, you could rent a broken down, spooky looking home and hide the treasure there, with some special effects for scares. Then they can play treasure hunt in the haunted house.

Or gather as many vouchers as you can and go on a shopping spree with her. A fancy dinner could be held in a grand restaurant, a hotel ballroom or in someone's home that is decorated with light sculpures and candles for ambience.

At the end of the day, it is the company that counts. If she is with the people whose company she enjoys the most, she would have a happy sweet sixteen birthday.

Here's where she can get sweet sixteen dresses for her big day. Let her have more than one so she can make more than one grand entrance to show off her gorgeous outfit.

You can find these at http://www.birthdayjoy.com/sweet-sixteen-dresses.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janice_Wee

Girl Birthday Party Theme - The Things You Need

By Tim Lee

The first step in hosting a wonderful girl birthday party is deciding what theme to use. This should not be a problem since Princess party theme is very popular among little girls. But if you have already had it last year and don't want to use the same theme again, there are other equally popular themes you can use. Such themes are based on the popular children television series, cartoon characters, children's books, and toys for girls.

Ask your daughter what theme she wants for her birthday. It makes your task easier if your girl is involved in the planning. Not only will she experience a birthday she really wants, it also makes her motivated and passionate about her up coming birthday party.

Once you have decided on a theme, it is now time to prepare the details.

Start with the invitation. You have two choices: buy commercially-made birthday party invitations or make your own invitations. Commercially available invitation makes your task less stressful but home-made or customized invitation is great if you really want to make it unique. If you choose to make your own invitation, use pink or pastel color cardstock.

Then, decide on the decorations to use. Popular colors for a girl birthday party include pink, lavender, white, gold, light green yellow, sky blue, and other pastel colors. Choose a primary color or two primary colors. Pink and lavender go well together while light green and sky blue can compliment one another. Try out other color combinations that can be used for your decorations.

What about the party cake? It is the centerpiece of any kid's birthday party. Make or order a sheet cake using colors that will compliment the overall theme of the party. Figurines of princesses or cartoon characters on top the cake complete the theme you want to achieve.

Deciding how long the party will last should be your next concern. For little girls an hour of activities should be enough. For older girls, 2 to 3 hours is ideal. Now, think of activities that can fill the party hours. Individual and team games that are in line with the theme of the party are recommended but the good old party games still work. Simon Sez, limbo, dancing, Trip to Jerusalem, spud and hot potato are some of the games you can use for the party.

Using a theme for your girl's birthday party is a great way to tie together all the elements of the celebration. In most cases, local and online party store will have a complete set of party needs that match your chosen theme.

To learn more birthday party themes, visit http://www.birthdaypartythemes101.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Lee

Arabian Nights - A Dinner Party Idea

By Randa Magdi

One of the most fun dinner parties I have ever been invited to had a Middle Eastern theme and it was sensational. The reason it was so fabulous is that the hostess went to a lot of trouble to make the experience authentic.

The reason it was so fabulous is that the hostess went to a lot of trouble to make the experience authentic.

When my partner and I arrived, the living room had been transformed - the room was lit only with candle light and a variety of cushions had been spread around the room. There was a lovely scent in the air - not too powerful. It must have been some sort of incense. The room looked totally different to the way it normally looked. I almost forgot I was actually at my friend's house.

The background music was gentle but had that Middle Eastern beat to it - it was like Arabic chill-out music - very smooth indeed.

She'd also hung some rugs or material over the walls. It almost felt like being inside an Arabian tent - I have a warm feeling just reminiscing about it... because it had this really mystical feel to it.

I can barely remember what we ate because the atmosphere and what we had in store way over took and made the lasting impression

I do recall that on arrival we were given a glass of bubbly and could select appetizers from trays laid out with tempting dips like baba ghanoush (eggplant dip) and hummos (chick pea dip) and pitta and Lebanese breads that had been cut into smaller pieces, sprayed with olive oil and then lightly baked until crisp. There were also stuffed vine leaves along with a selection of pickled vegetables. I know my friend bought these rather than made them herself - recipes are available on the Internet for free if you want to do something similar and cook the food yourself.

We of course were all given small plates and serviettes and sat comfortably on the cushions mingling, eating and chatting. The experience had an incredibly soft and laid back feel. We'd all brought a bottle of wine so enjoyed a glass with the food.

Once we'd got through the starters my friend brought out some more dishes - felafels, lentils with spinach and some stuffed eggplant and tomatoes. Again, these were bought from a Lebanese take away restaurant and heated just prior to being served.

By this stage we were all feeling very full and content.

Then something magical happened - gradually we heard the music getting louder and louder - the beat was getting faster and then out of another room a belly dancer appeared and came dancing into the room.

She looked stunning - she had the full belly dancing costume on and her make-up was amazing - and her moves made me feel very envious (in the nicest possible way). She put on quite a performance, even producing a sword and doing the "sword' dance.

Toward the end of her show, guests were invited to join her but we were not put under any pressure. A couple got up and it was fun to see people having such a good time. Can you believe we got to see this sort of entertainment at a friend's house during a dinner party?

After the show, my friend served Turkish coffee and Turkish Delights which proved a lovely light way to finish off the meal.

It was such a great night that I'd highly recommend this idea to anyone who wants to make their dinner party memorable - just as this dinner party was for me. Afterwards, my friend told me she'd been taking belly dancing lessons and had found out who could do a show - it didn't cost her much but she said it was well worth every cent to see the delight on the faces of her guests.

I love good food and good wine and I love to socialize. Dinner parties give me the opportunity to indulge both my passions. I love dinner parties so much that I host a blog which provides ideas for your next dinner party. They provide such a great way to catch up with the important people in your life.

People love to be invited to dinner parties because they can enjoy an excellent event of great food and company and all it costs usually is a bottle of wine - and maybe a taxi fare home. But it's not about the money - it's just great to be spoiled by your hosts.

If you'd like to look at a range of ideas and themes for your next dinner party feel free to visit my blog at http://dinnerpartyideas.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randa_Magdi

Be Aware of Third Party Batteries

By Victor Thomas

Have you heard about third party batteries? The mobile batteries those are manufactured by rivals with poor quality to damage your handsets intentionally are known as third party batteries. This type of third party batteries has been circulated in the markets. Nokia has recently warned its existing customers to be aware of this issue. These batteries are mostly marketed by platform vendors and through on-line with deadly cheap cost.

The mobile users should have the knowledge to extend the battery life of their handset. This article has written with the intention to offer needed information to extend the actual battery life of the mobiles. The recently manufactured handsets have been designed and marketed with huge features and functions. The battery has to be used for accomplishing those functions effectively. Therefore the life of the battery automatically will be reduced.

How will you extend the life of the battery for longer? Consider the following recommendations.

• Switch it off when you do not need it
When you do not use any feature or function in your mobile or when it is better you have to switch it off. Therefore you can save power.

• Put it in Standby Mode
Certain mobile phones have the facility to save power by putting it in standby mode. When you change quiet often modify your settings in your handset, it drains more power.

• Deactivate Bluetooth when idle
When you do not require the wireless web access, you can switch of the Bluetooth option. Do not leave it as it is by mistake. This option has the potential to transmit information with the support of radio signals. For which it has to consume power to accomplish that task. After accomplishing the task, please switch it off.

• Reduce the Brightness
Brightness is a feature which needs high power consumption. When you increase the brightness settings in your handset, the charge has to be drained a lot. Always set a medium brightness.

• Back light
Do not extent the time of back light. Set the minimum time. The light will automatically be switched off soon. You can save more power by this.

• Have it simple
Most of the youngsters are interested to have screen savers and wall papers in their handset to attract others. These are the main source of power utilization. Therefore have a simple display with medium volume ring tone. Do not prefer vibration which needs power.

Try to follow the simple suggestions to extend the life of the battery by reducing the power consumption.

Choose genuine mobile phone accessories from eDealsUK website where you can find cheap mobile phone deals and cash back mobile phones with maximum cashback discounts.

Give Color to Your Party With Blue Birthday Invitations

By Trevor Mulholland

Parties are designed to be special - and if they're not, they should be! Birthday parties should be especially memorable, and representative of the celebrant's tastes and preferences. Birthday parties that have a theme end up being more memorable than most - character birthday parties, retro birthday parties, candle parties, paintball parties, and color-themed birthday parties among them. If your celebrant's favorite color happens to be blue, having a blue theme for your party and your invitations is bound to be a hit. Blue birthday invitations should be part of the planning stage.

Blue may be a sad color, but it doesn't have to be if you're going to use it as a birthday theme. There are many shades of blue, after all - light, dark, somber and vibrant. If you're using a blue color for your decor, giveaways and even your icing, you should use a light and happy shade of it. Blue birthday invitations are no exception.

Light-colored blue party invitations may still seem happy and light-hearted. Light blue and white are easy colors to mix and they could create a comfortable, easy atmosphere. Light blue being the most dominant color in an invitation made out of pastel colors would still make for a great blue invitation.

The choice of graphics also matter. Even if you want your invitation to be made out in monochrome, the pictures and clipart that you use would help a lot in setting the mood for your invitation. If you want your invitation to look fun, make sure to include balloons, cakes, gift boxes and even confetti made out in light blue colors. Glitter or blue foil is also an option - an invitation made of shiny blue material makes for a cheery invitation.

For invitations that have a more formal approach, feel free to use darker shades of blue. Dark may be offset with lighter neutral colors like gray, white or silver. Silver is especially elegant, so if you want a blue birthday invitation for an important event, such as a debut or a 50th birthday party, silver glitter, foil or ribbons would make for excellent additions to monochrome invitations.

A photo of the celebrant would also be a great addition to any invitation of any color scheme. Tone the shade of the blue coloring down to either the shade that the celebrant would most approve of, or a shade that best represents what the celebrant wants the party to feel like. Get the "mood" of the party right. This is always a mark of a good invitation.

And of course, the lettering also matters. Even with a blue coloring, you may control the mood of your blue birthday invitations - you can make it happy, sad, formal, informal, quirky or serious. It's all up to how you make blue work for you.

Find loads of birthday invitation information and advice, articles and blue birthday invitations at your #1 Birthday invitation resource: http://www.birthday-invite.com

The Joy of Party Plans

By Helen Dowling

Let's start with the obvious question first of all. What are party plans? Like everything in marketing, they mean different things to different people, but my definition of them (which is the one I'm talking about in this article) is organising an evening get-together of several people and bringing your products and services to the party to
a) tell people about them and
b) get people to buy them.

You can organise a party plan for virtually any product or service that can be demonstrated. For instance, a health and beauty company might organise a party to give makeovers to people as a taster of what they can do; a local craft company may sell products at a party; a dog walking company could organise a party to show people how to look after their dogs and a personal trainer could organise weekly 'power fitness' sessions where anyone could come to trial out the session.

In other words, a party plan gives you the opportunity to demonstrate what you can do and encourage people to buy from you in the future.

So, should you charge for them?

Ah, the difficult question. Should you charge for them and if so, how much? This is obviously quite personal to you - if you don't feel comfortable charging for them, no amount of persuasion will convince you otherwise. But my general feeling is that you should charge for the party plan. After all, you've had to organise it, buy stock, and turn up on the night - this all costs money, with no guarantee that the people there will turn into regular customers.

Now, the question of how much should you charge. Well, the easiest way to work this out is sit down with a calculator and write down how much it's costing you to organise the parties. Think about your time from when you go out until when you get back; your travelling expenses and any stock you have to buy. So, if I wanted to get £20 an hour and planned to be at the party for 4 hours, that would be £80. Stock might costs me £15 and travelling at 40p a mile about £5. So my total costs for that night would be £100.

OK, so we know how much it costs us - let's say that on average at each party there are 10 people there. To cover all my costs, I would have to charge them £10 each. But, I wouldn't mind making a bit of profit on this too (after all, I have to live), so I might put the price to £15 each. This means that I would bring in £150 (£15 each x 10 people). My costs are £100, so I would make a profit of £50.

So, we know how we can make a profit on the party plan. But, it's easier said than done isn't it? After all, you might not feel people would pay £15 each. There are several ways to look at this.
Firstly, people usually pay over £15 for a good night out and they're getting a treat and pampering themselves at the same time. Secondly, no one would expect you not to make a profit on the party plans - after all, if you're in business, you're not a charity.

If you do decide to lower your prices though, please please make sure you don't go below your costs. I met a girl recently who was charging just £5 per person for the parties and was making a loss of over £90 per party plan. Remember if you make a loss, it's not worth your time to do the parties. How do I turn the parties into business?

If you're thinking about doing party plans, I hope that this is one of the burning questions you have in your mind. It's all very well giving them and if you make some money from them all the better. But, surely you want to turn these people into regular customers too?

Firstly, don't expect them to turn into customers if you do nothing other than turn up on the night. We all lead incredibly busy lives and it's highly likely that once people walk out of the party, they'll start thinking of their kids, what they're doing the next day, tomorrow's food and so on. You'll be the last thing on their minds even if they had good intentions to contact you while they were there.

So, here's some ideas of how to turn the parties into regular business.

a) Get them to buy something there and then. If they've had a great time, they'll be up for buying stuff, so get them to commit to buying something there and then i.e. if you're a health and beauty business, get them to book an appointment and pay for it then (give them discounts that expire after the night to make sure they pay for it now); if you sell jewellery, get them to make a purchase. But here's the important bit - don't give them the item there and then. Send it to them afterwards. Why? Two reasons - firstly you get their contact details so you can follow up with them and secondly, they'll be looking forward to receiving their gift so you'll be fore front in their minds.

b) Tell them you'll send them all a free gift. This is a great way to get contact details of anyone who doesn't buy from you on the night so you can follow-up with them afterwards. The free gift could be anything from a bottle of wine to a gift voucher and could also be a free tips sheet too.
Competitions work just as well, but it's vital to get everyone's contact details while you're there.

c) Follow-up with everyone afterwards. Remember that people will forget about you and even though they said they'd call, it's unlikely they will. So, take the burden out of their hands and follow-up with them instead.

The little details
Finally, I guess you also want to know about the little details - the things around organising. Let's look at organising the party first. The easiest way to do this is to team up with a friend and get them to invite all their friends to it. Have details of organising a party plan with you when you go to the party and make an announcement about looking for other people to host one while your there. Send this fact sheet out with your free gift when you contact people. A word of warning though - hosts expect to be paid for using their house and putting on a small buffet, so don't forget to add this into your costs.

What about purchases? Having a cash float with you on the night is essential for change. Make sure you have enough cash broken down into smaller amounts to give change. Think about taking cheques and also think about having a card machine with you on the night (very useful for impulse buying). If you don't have a card machine, but have methods to take payment on your website, why not have the internet on a laptop in front of you and take payments directly onto it?

For receipts, I would simply go to WH Smith and buy a receipt book (they cost about £2) and give out receipts that way.

Although party plans are hard work, they can be worth it - setting expectations before you start putting one together of what you want to get out of them can really help focus your mind on achieving that goal.

Helen Dowling from http://www.Exceptionalthinking.co.uk is a specialist in niche marketing and business plans.

For further help on marketing, check out our e-books on our site. Just go to http://www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk/Survive-Course.php to find out more.

Party Decorations and Themes

By Mike Selvon

If you're artistic, making your own party decorations can be extremely fun and cost-efficient. On the other hand, if you're pressed for time, celebration supply stores and online discount celebration supply sites can be a real blessing.

To make things even easier, some celebration rental services bring all the actors, party decorations and backdrops for you, if you're willing to pay for it. After setting your budget, we can examine the various options.

First, choose a theme for your party decorations. Some possible ideas for an adult theme celebration include: luau, western, circus, safari, Hollywood, 1950s, Roaring 20s, disco, space, pirate, sports, Las Vegas, Arabian Nights, medieval times, Mardi Gras, Spanish fiesta, rock and roll or futuristic.

Kids often enjoy character and pop culture themes, like: Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, Finding Nemo, Pokemon, Harry Potter or American Idol.

If you're interested in making your own decorations for a kids party, Coolest-kid-birthday-parties is a great resource. For example, with an undersea theme, you can follow step-by-step instructions on making a Finding Nemo pinata, a shark mouth standee to take photos next to and seashell party invitations. In addition to decoration ideas for various themes, the site also has food and activity tips.

If you'd rather purchase items, Party City is a great store where you can get accent themes like: disco, rock and roll, luau, movie night, fiesta, casino and western.

If you're throwing a fiesta, you can buy decorations like: chili pepper garland ($2.29), scene setters ($5), cut-outs ($3 - $10), chili pepper lights ($10), an inflatable cactus ($5), a maraca centerpiece ($3), an inflatable sombrero cooler ($13) and a pinata ($10 - $20).

You might also want to check online at Orientaltradingpost for similar items. They have twelve assorted inflatable items for $20 in the fiesta theme and great deals on bulk celebration favors.

Tableware and partyware add a nice touch to a theme party, often functioning as additional party decorations; however, the cost of these items can be exorbitant.

Most vendors sell plates in packages of eight, which is fine for intimate gatherings, but can be a nightmare if you're having fifty plus people attending. Partysupplydirect has similar deals for partyware but more selection.

A budget-conscious solution if you're not looking to spend $100 in partyware would be to purchase solid-color plates and cutlery but buy a couple of themed serving dishes, tablecloths and straws at half the cost. Another good way to stay on budget is to split expenses with other people and delegate partyware purchases.

While it is the most expensive option, hiring Premier Casino Events to provide the celebration decorations for you could be an elaborate and all-in-one, stress-free way to throw your celebration.

If you were throwing a Halloween one, not only would the company bring fog machines, coffins, cobwebbed park benches, trick mirrors and cemetary gates, but they would also bring casino games, ghoulish actors, music and food to entertain your guests for a full four hours as well!

Looking online for party decorations is a good way to brainstorm ideas. You may choose to make a few things yourself, like a pinata, or you may purchase decorations from a store.

Try to make your purchases thoughtful and don't waste money on things you'll never use again. Delegating responsibilities to co-planners can also help you cut costs and share the excitement with friends, especially when it comes to a surprise birthday party!

Want to throw the best celebration ever? Visit Mike Selvon portal to learn more about party decorations Your feedback is much appreciated at our party supplies blog where a free gift awaits you.

How to Spice Up Your Next Party

By Janette Vince

Sick of the same old dinner parties? Tired of playing the same music, serving the same food, and drinking the same wine? Here are seven ideas to spice up the next adult gathering at your place.
Leave the kids with the babysitter, because some of these ideas are more than a little naughty!
Drinking games. No, we’re not talking about the old university staples of flip-cup and beer-pong.
We’re adults now, and we’re a bit more sophisticated than that. Try Wine Knot—a drinking game based on nautical games played by Portuguese sailors to occupy their time at sea. Or how about the Vodka Party Game, a strategic board game with a Cold War espionage theme? There are plenty of board games based around different drinks, from tequila to beer, wine to vodka—each with a different theme. So choose your drink of choice, gather a few friends around the dining room table, and enjoy.

Saucy games. If you’re up for it, there are plenty of ways to have a little “adult” fun while the kids are away—and with this type of fun, it’s better if you invite friends. Try Tarts and Vicars, a sexy board game with a drinking theme. If you and your friends are very open-minded, there’s always Postman’s Promise—a board game based on the kissing game, Postman’s Knock. You’re sure to have an exciting evening with this one!

Costumes. Just for a little something different, host a costume party. Costumes can be incorporated creatively into themes. For instance, if you regularly gather your friends together to watch a favorite television show, throw a party and ask each of your guests to come dressed as a character. Throw a birthday party for your boyfriend—and ask each of his guy friends to come dressed as one of his exes. If you’re throwing a party with a slightly naughty theme, ask for “sexy” dress. There are plenty of ways to dress up and have fun at your next party.

Entertainment. If you’re sick of the same old list from your Ipod, hire a DJ to spice things up. If you have a space to dance, so much the better—dancing is sure to add fun and excitement to any evening. A live band can be a great way to bring new music to your evening. For the adventurous, there’s always live “adult” entertainment for men and women as well!

Card games. You’d be amazed at the fun you can have with a deck of cards. You can play traditional drinking games, place bets and let the winner buy the next round, or even play a little strip poker, if you’re up for it. Cards are a fun and inexpensive way to turn your next party into an interesting—and maybe even an unforgettable—night.

Challenges. Can your guests identify different liquors by smell alone when they’re blindfolded? Can they complete a video scavenger hunt during the evening? Fun challenges can definitely make any party more exciting—especially if there’s a prize for the person who wins.

Group storytelling. Have all your guests sit in a circle. Using a piece of lined paper, write two lines of a story on the paper, then fold the paper so that only the second line shows. The next guest will add two lines to the story, then fold the paper so that only the second line of their addition shows. When everyone’s done, read the story aloud. When passed around a large group of people, this game can be hilarious—especially if there’s alcohol involved.

Truth or dare. The original party game—and it’s still going strong. People love truth or dare because it’s unpredictable. You could wind up getting off by telling an obvious truth, or you might have to run down the street naked! This game is particularly fun when the truth or dare options are written out on cards, and guests draw options.

Next time you throw a party, you won’t need to have a boring, predictable night. Bring in one of these ideas, and let the fun begin. Use your imagination and don’t be afraid to get a bit naughty, and your guests are sure to talk about the evening for years to come!

Janette Vince is director of the ECommerce business http://www.thanksdarling.com/ for more articles and creative gift ideas for individuals, couples and groups including Stag and Hen events visit http://www.thanksdarling.com/45-5.htm

Where to Grab a Bargain When Shopping for Your Party Needs

By Joseph Then

When shopping for birthday party supplies you will find the best deals by shopping with the large wholesalers and warehouses' that will stretch your dollar. I have listed some stores address in this article and they are all USA base. If you are from another country, please try out Yellow Pages and look for "party warehouse", or "party suppliers".

However, if you want, you can try online stores. Online party supplies stores have been around for the past few years and many Internet-savvy parents have also tried purchasing party stuff online. This is specially true for busy parents. The most popular and reliable website so far is Oriental Trading. They have been around for many years and they can supply party stuff worldwide and they have a huge reputation with great customer services. Check them out.

Number One Party Supplies in Sun City California stores all the required birthday party supplies and birthday party favors, including decorations snacks and candy, or centerpieces for the birthday party table. You must visit through the week although; they are only open to the public Monday to Friday until 5 pm.

You might also try Crystals Craft in Bellflower, or Glow Magic in San Mateo also in California. A Star Jumps is also located in San Fernando California.

Californians may also save the lawn by renting a dance floor from California Portable Dance Floor Co. Inc in Camarillo.

If you are in Pennsylvania Bev's Party Fun is on Grafton rd, Blairsville.

New York has some amazing party supplies out to grab your party favors from. You could try Party Points on Staten Island. Or perhaps Party Fair for favors and supplies in Brooklyn. Party Fair is ideal offering personalized ribbon and invitations or chair and table hire.

Utah is not forgotten for great party supply bargains with Piece Of Cake Party in Layton Hills Mall, Layton.

Florida has a wealth of choices with T -n -T's Party creations on Metro Drive, Boynton Beach, and 4 Ever Party in Clearwater. Celebrations Nationwide is located in Winter Garden also in Florida.

Texans may get their party favors and birthday supplies from Party Biz in Converse. Perhaps you are looking for some way to entertain the kids with something from Scotts and Biggens Bounce About. For the balloon lovers in Texas Instant Balloon Stands is full of great party ideas, try a balloon sculpture for something really different and fun.

The Party manager 1793 is with 1800 Party Shop in 8980 east E F Avenue, Richland Miami.
If you in Vancouver and looking for a party with a theme, you could try Theme -Parties -In -A -Box in Powhatan.

Get more tips about how you can organize a birthday party today! Check out Joseph's blog for more Birthday Party Tips or check out his main website information on Birthday Party For Kids

Flag Day Party Menu Ideas for a Patriotic Party

By Gail Leino

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the United States flag in 1777. While this is a holiday most of the United States doesn’t celebrate with any real traditions, it is an important holiday nonetheless. If you’re celebrating Flag Day, why not try some of the following food ideas:

Being held on June 14th you will find many people tend to barbeque for the occasion. They will have an outdoor picnic filled with the traditional picnic foods. Barbeque chicken, hamburgers, ribs, hot dogs, potato salad, pudding, jell-o, and even cakes.

Pudding: Tapioca pudding is just one of the desserts you may find at a barbeque. Tapioca pudding is made with milk, tapioca, egg, and vanilla. You heat the milk and egg in the pan adding in the tapioca until it boils. Once it has boiled you add the vanilla and let it cool in dessert dishes. You may wish to top it with a little whipped cream and a cherry.

Fruit Salad: This is another great addition to your Flay Day menu. All you need is eight different fruits from bananas, apples, grapes, cherries, peaches, pineapple, strawberries, and oranges. You combine these chopped fruits together in a bowl, add a little sugar if desired and let it sit in the fridge for an hour to cool. For a bit of zing, squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice over the top. The combination of sweet and sour is delicious.

While Flag Day may not be celebrated in every home you can add to your family traditions by celebrating a day that means a lot to the beginning of our country. Flag Day may seem like just another day to have a little fun with friends and family, but don’t forget the importance.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Flag Day party supplies and fun party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Do You Make These Five Mistakes Hosting Your Afternoon Tea Party?

By Sharon Mahoney

An afternoon tea party owes its roots to Anna Russell, the Seventh Duchess of Bedford, who began a simple event with friends in the 1840's. The idea caught on with more royalty and soon even the working class held tea parties across London. These tea parties are still very popular today across the world and carry proper, formal traditions.

Having your own tea party is a great way to connect with friends, family and neighbors.
However, you can be easily embarrassed if you don't watch out for five common mistakes. When you hold your tea party, do you make these five mistakes?

Invitations: What Not to SayIf you want your guests to arrive prepared, make sure their invitation states that they are invited for an afternoon tea party. Don't put down the wrong date or the wrong time. Don't invite your guests for a cup of coffee. A tea party serves tea. It may seem silly to point this out, but you would be amazed how easy people get off track.

Timing: When Not to Schedule the Tea PartyDon't schedule the tea party in the morning or evening, or even the early afternoon. Depending on the region, afternoon tea is served from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Henry James wrote, "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as an afternoon tea." Make sure to schedule the party at an afternoon time that will give your guests a chance to take a break during a busy day and socialize with each other.

What Not to DrinkDon't serve coffee, lemonade, wine, beer or other drinks at your tea party. You would be surprised how often an afternoon tea party is planned without thought to the beverage that will be served, the tea. Since there are different tastes, offer your guests a wide range of black teas from around the world. Make sure that you have enough tea to go around;
don't be embarrassed by not having enough to drink. Keep your guests' tea cups full of tea, your trays filled with delectable treats, and be a gracious hostess.

What Not to EatDon't serve pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, spaghetti or other entrees at your tea party. Traditionally, a full Afternoon Tea serves very light, delicious and small treats, like tea sandwiches, cookies, scones, cucumber slices, and even sardines. An afternoon tea party should include a variety of bite-size, dainty sandwiches with the crusts removed, a variety of home made cakes and pastries, freshly baked scones with whipped cream and jam.

What Not to UseDon't set out styrofoam or paper cups and expect to please your guests. And if you have a motley collection of tea cups, keep them in the cupboard. An afternoon tea is a formal affair, so it's time to put out your finest china, shined silverware and best linens. If you would like a memorable tea party, when you invite your girlfriends, ask them to bring their favorite tea cup and saucer.

Steer clear of these five mistakes and your guests will have a pleasant time at your party.
Lastly, don't get caught up so much in the details that you forget to have fun. An afternoon tea party is a social event for you to bond with your friends. Make sure to drink deeply of the gift of your relationships.

Sharon Mahoney is a lover of teas and sharing a relaxing cup of tea with others. Learn more about afternoon tea gift baskets at Sharon's website, www.tea-gift-basket.info.

Survivor Theme Party - Don't Get Voted Off!

By Gail Leino

The first major American reality TV show and one of the most profitable at the time, the Survivor series has always been popular. If you love reality TV shows and are a Survivor fan, this is the ultimate TV party to have. The contestants on the show are left on a remote island and have to do some nasty stuff as they compete for survival in the game. Why don’t you give your guests a little taste of this at your Survivor party?

Make sure that you incorporate lots of party games that have a strong competitive streak and invite people who enjoy a little healthy competition. Individual challenges that involve slime, dirt and other delights are also fun. You can dress in the basic khaki and tees survival gear type clothing and ask your guests to come ready for adventure too. Serve only the very basic snacks and make sure people have to fight to get some. Do the party outdoors and have a barbeque – and you could even let your guests “catch” and cook their own food (such as a bucket of fish or shrimp), on a first in, first served basis.

You can add on touches like a rough rope and wood swing from a tree or a tire so people can relax after a good game. Put in an over-sized inflatable pool to give a real outdoorsy, wet and wild feel to your party. And most important – be competitive! A well-planned Survivor Party can be great fun, and a wonderful way for friends and family members alike to bond.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Survivor party supplies and fun party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Survivor Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties.

Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.