Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2015
How to Word Italian Dinner Party Invitations
Decide on whether you want to purchase store-bought invitations, make your own or simply send an email invitation to your guests. Email is acceptable if the evening will be casual, but paper invitations are preferred for fancy affairs.
Pick an invitation design that reflects Italian culture. Images that show bottles of wine, garlic, olives or bowls of pasta let your guests know the kind of food you will serve.
Write a headline on your invitation. Use Italian words or phrases so that your guests immediately know the dinner party will focus on Italian food. Some examples are: “Join Us In Our Cucina,” “Buon Appetito,“ 'Mangia! Mangia!' and “A Taste of Italy.”
Write a brief introduction. Something as simple as 'We invite you to share an authentic Italian dinner with us' will make the theme clear to your guests. You may want to choose more casual wording for a relaxing evening. An example is, 'Mamma mia! We're cooking up some fun.' Be creative and make sure your words match the tone of your party.
Include the party details. Give out your name (or the host's name if it is someone else), the address where you’ll host the party, your telephone number and your email address. Remember to include an RSVP date if you need a head count before the day of the party. The RSVP date should be three to four days before the date of the dinner party.
Ask each guest to bring something different. Dinner guests inevitably want to bring something, so feel free to specify what you need. For example, ask different guests to bring bread, wine, an appetizer or a dessert. Encourage them to be inspired by Italian cuisine.
Include directions or a map if your guests are not familiar with the dinner party location.
Stuff the invitations into envelopes, address them and add a stamp.
Mail the dinner party invitations two weeks before the event.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2015
How to Throw a Last
Send out invites over email or make some phone calls to give people the details. You don't need to send formal invitations in the mail for a last-minute event. Make sure to let guests know your party will be casual and laid back so they will dress accordingly.
Plan your party for later in the afternoon or evening so you won't be obligated to serve a complete meal. Instead, invite guests to join you for some snacks and fun. Or, have a 'desserts only' event and put out platters of cookies, brownies and cupcakes for everyone.
Serve easy-to-eat food for a snack affair like pizza, small finger sandwiches, chicken wings or skewers, mini hotdogs and humus and pita bread. These things don't require seats at a table. Set out the food in a central location and let guests help themselves. You can also opt for prepared platters of appetizers like you can find at your local supermarket like Stop & Shop. Or, take advantage of specials at pizza places that deliver pizza, wings and other finger foods right to your door.
Request that guests bring their favorite appetizer or dessert. This is an easy way to make sure you will have a good mix of food. Have plenty of serving utensils on hand to make it easy for guests to take what they want.
Make a big bowl of punch (with alcohol or without) and a pitcher of lemonade for your guests and suggest people bring anything else they may want. This is an easy and inexpensive way to make sure everyone's needs are met.
Opt for paper plates and napkins and keep your good china put away. This will keep setup to a minimum and also allow you to keep cleanup quick and simple. You can buy party supplies at discount houses like Target and Walmart or online party stores like The Party Warehouse.
Put out plenty of folding chairs around your house and even some big throw cushions so there will be plenty of places where guests can relax.
Play your favorite music in the background to give a more festive atmosphere. For added effect, put out some clusters of balloons, vases of flowers or even light some candles and dim the overhead lights.
Enjoy yourself and don't fuss about details. Remember that people are there to socialize, not to look too closely at your housekeeping or critique your food spread.
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Monday, August 24, 2015
How to Organize a Craft Show for Fundraising (6 Steps)
Scout out a location and decide on a time. Research churches, community centers and schools. If you are expecting a large turnout, consider renting out a local fairground. The location should be able to hold all the vendors and buyers comfortably without overcrowding. Make sure there is also ample parking. Keep in mind that you might be more successful if you plan your show before a major gift-giving holiday.
Create a vendor application. Ask the vendors to note what items they will be selling. List the fees and how much space the vendors will be able to use. Consider allowing people to sell food to increase the amount of money you will raise. Allow community organizations to attend to let people know about other various events in your area.
Decide on a theme for your fair. If you are planning a more upscale atmosphere, allow only fine arts, such as tasteful photography and paintings. You can also choose a homemade craft fair where vendors must sell original creations such as soap, pottery or candles.
Start talking about your craft fair. Word of mouth spreads, so place an ad in your local newspaper. Provide contact information where vendors can get in touch with you. Approach local craft stores and invite them to participate. Make sure you mention the date and time of the fair, as well as the application and fees.
Advertise. Print and distribute fliers to post in libraries, coffee shops or other stores. If you are educated about website design, create a site with information and directions. Your local television station may also list activities on its site.
Send a letter to the vendors. Confirm the date and time. Instruct vendors where to go when they arrive and remind them of the size of their stand. On the day of the fair, enlist the help of a friend or family member to help direct the vendors and assist them in setting up.
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Saturday, August 22, 2015
How to Host a Little Girl's Sleepover (9 Steps)
Decide how many kids you can handle. The general rule for kids' birthday parties is one child for every year of the child's life; so six kids for a 6-year-old's birthday, for example -- but this may be too many to handle all night long. If there's another adult in the house, a three to one kid-to-adult ratio might work; but if you're by yourself, handling six little ones might be overwhelming. Ask your daughter to make a list of possible candidates to start, so you know how many she expects to have.
Send invitations to the kids you think can handle the sleepover -- and the kids you think you can handle. Ideally, you'll know the invitees already, since you'll have had them over for shorter play dates. That way, you'll know who might be too hyperactive, frightened or shy to handle an all-nighter. In the invitation, provide the date, the time the party will begin and end, your phone number and address, and any items the girls will need to bring, such as sleeping bags or swimsuits, for example. Ask each family to RSVP at least a week before the big night, so you'll have a head count for preparing food and sleeping arrangements.
Plan an activity that involves movement early in the evening, to help the girls to get their sillies out. If you have a park nearby, this might involve a soccer game or a game of Frisbee; if you have a car large enough, it could also include a trip to an amusement park or a skate party. Whatever you plan to do, be sure to inform the girls' parents, just in case there are any issues you need to be prepared for. For example, one child may need an inhaler when she runs a lot; another might not be able to swim, which could nix the idea of a swimming adventure. When it gets late, have a quieter activity planned, such as a movie night or a relatively mellow series of games.
Stock up on easy-to-prepare foods. You may be tempted to treat everyone to home-cooked lasagna or other special treats -- but as soon as the fun starts, you're likely going to find very little time for such gourmet options. Think simple: pizza or nachos for dinner, popcorn or cheese and crackers for snacks, and toaster waffles for breakfast.
Prepare a place for sleeping that will allow you some peace and quiet -- while still being able to keep a close eye on the action. If you have a den in the basement or an attic playroom, that might be a preferable place for sleeping versus your daughter's bedroom just next to yours. You might inform the girls that they're to go to bed at a certain hour -- but in the excitement, don't expect them to comply.
Get a good night's sleep the night before the sleepover. That goes for both you and your daughter -- who is likely to spend most of the sleepover night giggling with her buddies.
Talk to each parent as they drop off their daughter, to get emergency phone numbers and find out about any dietary needs or special circumstances you might need to know about. Hopefully the parents will have let you know about those diet issues when they RSVP'd, but better late than never.
Get as much help as you can from other family members in the house. You might get your daughter's older sister to help with making popcorn, or your neighbor to help keep an eye out for your brood when you're running around the local park.
Check on the group often -- especially around bedtime. When it gets close to sleep time, you may find some girls need a little extra attention, a night light or help getting into their pajamas. Nip any bullying or making-fun in the bud to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and happy as they drift off to sleep.
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How to Write a Party Host a Thank You Letter
Send a handwritten thank you letter instead of calling on the phone or sending an email. Not only does a formal letter help you follow proper etiquette and express everything you want to say, but it can also become a keepsake for the person who threw you the party.
Thank the person for all of her hard work and for opening her home to guests if she hosted the party in her home. Acknowledge how much time it must have taken to prepare the elements for the party, such as the invitations, food, games and entertainment.
Discuss the most memorable moment from the party. It can be a conversation that touched you, a mishap that made you laugh or a discussion or tip that taught you something new. If you're having trouble coming up with something, stop and think about the party, then write about the first thing that came to mind.
Suggest getting together so you can take her to lunch as another way of saying, 'thank you' and so you can reminisce about the party in even greater detail. Also mention that you can't wait to throw a party in her honor if you intend to reciprocate the gesture in the future.
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