Long Weekend Rest and Relaxation

Long weekend's are a perfect time to get away and relax for the weekend. With so much going on in our everyday lives with work, school, family, etc., sometimes we just need a weekend to get away or relax. Long weekend's, like Labor Day, can be a good time to rest and relax whether it's at home, at a park, at the beach, at a lake, or out of town on vacation.

If you are having a gathering in your backyard, at a park, lake, or at the beach, it's usually a good idea to rent some games and activities to keep you busy and entertained. Renting inflatables and interactive games like water slides or water games can be a lot of fun. Adding some fun concessions like an Ice Shaver machine can cool you down during the hot weather. If there are some sporting games on that you want to watch with the family then a Popcorn Machine rental would definitely be a good option. Margarita Machine rentals are also a great option for parties with adults. Food Catering for long weekends is usually not needed since most gatherings are small scale and less than 20 people.

One of the things you want to remember for Long Weekend events is that renting your supplies and necessities, or ordering the food, is usually better if it falls within your budget because the main thing is to rest and relax. The more preparations you have to do means the more you will be working, and that's the last thing anyone wants during their Long Weekend. So go ahead, look for your local party rental company and see what games and activities they have to offer to make your long weekend fun and exciting, while getting some R&R in the process.

Summertime Parties

As usual, you can always count on July to introduce the heat into summer. Now that we've had a proper welcome to the most lively season of all, let's start planning a party to thoroughly enjoy the time we have in the sun.

Summertime parties are some of the best parties you can have. The weather is almost always perfect if not just right, people feel alive and a special sense of fun fills the atmosphere. Maybe it's the clear skies, maybe it's the warmth on your skin or maybe it's the bright sunny days that puts everyone in a cheerful mood. Whatever it is, we're happy to finally have summer back!

Now is the time to gather your favorite friends and family for a backyard barbecue, a pool party, or a midsummer night's cocktail party. Plan your party like you're dressing for summer: lightly. This will ensure an easy-going atmosphere and chill time, which is what summer is all about.

For food options, consider having a snack table with an assortment of chilled fruits and veggies with some light ranch dip. Maybe some salad would work as well. Avoid the greesy chip snacks, these can get heavy and messy which is not a good combination with the heat. 

Burgers and hot dogs are a staple at any summertime cookout, but you can also choose to have chicken or vegetable skewers instead. Desserts MUST be cold: ice cream, ice cream cake, sherbets or popsicles are great choices.

For drinks, keep a selection of beers, sodas, water and juices on ice. You can even have a concession machine rentals like margarita machine or a slushie/snow cone machine on deck to add a little flare. Nighttime cocktail parties may call for a full bar and bartender to attend to a variety of drink preferences. 

Cold drinks are a great way to keep your guests cool in the sun, but don't forget about tent rentals to put up for shade. You certainly don't want any dizzy spells on your hands at your party. 

In any case, make sure to have plenty of tables and chairs for all your guests to comfortably eat at or take a break from standing around in the heat. Have appropriate music playing to make sure guests don't remain seated for too long, though. 

Pop music is great for a lively party atmosphere, but if your party is more laidback, then island music will be perfect. For nighttime cocktail parties, consider jazz music for entertainment; and if your daytime party is going to include kids, consider water slides and games.

For decor and lighting, keep things bright. Bright and neon colored streamers, accessories, tablecloths, utensils and even food and drinks will add to the mood. As an outdoor party, bug repellent candles are essential. They can even double as lighting once the sun sets. If you have the space and money for it, a fire pit would be an awesome addition to really top off that summer atmosphere.

Summertime is fun time. Get your friends and family together, fire up the grill, pour the drinks and turn up the music for a memorable party

Plan a Summer Time Party

Have a birthday or block party during the Summer that you are trying to plan for? There are a couple of things to keep in mind and take into consideration to have a cool and refreshing Summer time party. Summer is a fun and active time for a lot of people because of the great weather and ability to cool off with in the water or have a fun day out at the park. Here are a couple of things to take into consideration when you plan a Summer time party:

Shade From Sizzling Heat

We have experienced a lot of dramatic changes in weather due to climate change with hotter Summers and colder Winters. So as you plan a Summer time party, pool party, or Summer picnic at the park, plan on having some shade with tents or canopies. Tent Rentals are a great way to provide shade and cool from the heat.

Water, Water, Water

Whether you have a party at your house, on your block, at the park, or at the beach, you have to make sure to provide a lot of H2O for everyone to keep hydrated. The heat tends to get to people during the course of the day and being overheated can bring down our mood, so make sure to provide plenty of water for you and your guests to keep hydrated and cool.

Cool off With Concessions

Another great way to cool down from the heat at your backyard Summer, pool, or picnic is to rent a Concession Machine. Some good concession machines during the summer include Snow Cone or Ice Shaver machines and Margarita Machines. Concession machines are really simple to make and usually party rental companies will provide all the supplies to go with it, so you have nothing to worry about.

So remember, Summer can be a really fun and warm time, but make sure to provide plenty of shade, water, and refreshments to cool off. Last thing any party host wants is his/her guests having their moods melt away.

Planning for A Grad Party at the Top of Its Class

It is graduation season and grads of all ages are ready to celebrate their academic successes in preparation for a fun-filled summer leading to a new chapter in their lives.

A graduation party is one of the most exciting parties students may ever attend. It takes some work tor properly plan and successfully host a grad party, so read on to find out how to celebrate at the top of your class!

Since graduation is celebrated with so many family members and friends, it is important to host your party on a date that allows graduates to be flexible with their own commitments and celebrations. Plan ahead to give guests enough time to secure the date and inform them on dress codes and whether meals will be served.

Create a guest list to help make planning easier. You can count on your closest family and friends, but if guests can’t commit to your party, invite them to drop-in whenever they can to celebrate with you. You may even invite a broader list of friends and classmates to make your party one of the stops for celebration in case there are a number of grad parties going on in town.

A menu for your party should definitely be age-appropriate. Depending on whether it is a pre-school graduation party or college graduation party, your selection of food and drinks will surely differ.

Pre-school and elementary kids may be entertained with snacks and juices, whereas middle school and high school kids might prefer pizzas and soda. Be careful with the older high school kids that may try to sneak in alcohol. Underage drinking is not a problem you want to deal with during your celebration.

A college grad party may call for a more sophisticated menu of appetizers, a variety of foods to fill a plate with and desserts. Beer, wine and cocktails might also entertain your guests better.

As you can see, even the menu will take some planning, but no matter what, do not forget a “Congratulations Graduates!” cake to share with guests.

For decorations, stay true to your school’s colors and mascot. You may also include themes of major events and accomplishments for your school in your graduating year. Since graduation is in the springtime, an outdoor or luau themed party may also be appropriate.

To entertain your guests, decide on a DJ or live band for music that caters to the older graduates. Maybe hula dancers for the luau parties or magicians and face painters for grade school grads.

There are a number of items to plan and budget for in hosting a grad party, just make sure to include your graduate in on all aspects of planning. It is their special moment to say goodbye to past memories and prepare for the future, so be sure to celebrate the memorable occasion with a special party.

Memorial Day Party Planning Ideas: Remembering our Troops

Memorial Day is one of the more exciting three-day weekend holidays that Americans truly enjoy celebrating. It is a great way to kick off the summer up ahead as the weather warms up and school winds down. However, don’t forget that this holiday is meant to celebrate the lives of those who died serving in American wars. Be sure to enjoy this holiday weekend fully and patriotically.

Since it is a summertime party, Memorial Day parties should be outdoor events. Whether you decide to host the party at your house, a park or the beach, be sure everyone knows where to go. Why not have the fun start with the invites? Send patriotic invites online at Evite.com or through the mail.

Decorations are easy and obvious: red, white and blue is the way to go with any decorative items. Flags, colorful carnations, streamers, balloons, confetti and all should be red, white and blue.

For your menu, think of foods that you can toss on the grill. Make it a summertime cookout party with lots of hot dogs, burgers, steaks, chicken, shrimps and anything else you feel like firing up. Keep it simple and fun. Guests can even bring their own meats while you provide the side dishes such as corn, beans, potatoes, salads or you can even host a potluck menu to share a variety of foods.

Plenty of drinks should be on ice for the party as well. Soft drinks and juices are great thirst quenchers for the kids while a cold beer and iced/blended cocktails will keep the party alive for the adults. For desserts you can decorate a sheet cake or cupcakes with patriotic colors.

Any Memorial Day party or weekend is going to be a day of fun in the sun so be sure to have plenty of bug spray and sunscreen on hand for everyone to enjoy the party comfortably.

Plan activities for young and old alike to enjoy throughout the day. Kids love being active, so have them moving around with games like tag and hide-and-seek or hold potato sack races. You can even rent out carnival games and inflatable games such as bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses and even water slides and games like water-balloon tag if it’s hot out.

Even the adults love inflatable games and water slides; but for the guests who would like to relax a bit more you can arrange a game of cards, charades, karaoke challenges, horseshoes and Frisbee. Everyone should know to dress lightly, but encourage them even more by holding a “best Hawaiian shirt contest”.  Remind them to bring extra clothes if you plan on having water games.

There is plenty to enjoy outdoors in the sun during a Memorial Day party, be sure to do so responsibly. Most importantly, don’t forget to remember those who have served and are currently serving in the United States military. Attend a parade, visit a grave, collect donations for a military fund or simply create your own “thank you” cards with arts and crafts to send to a soldier, sailor or marine. Make Memorial Day a truly memorable holiday celebration.

Party Planning for Cinco de Mayo: Have A Fiesta!

May is here and Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Be prepared to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage and enjoy all the festivities that come along with it. A Mexican-themed fiesta is a great way to gather friends and family for a fun time.

Whether you’re Mexican, have Mexican friends or are just looking for a reason to party, celebrating the Mexican militia’s victory over the French puebla army on May 5, 1862 is a great reason to do so.

If you’re going to host a more formal party, draft an invite list and send out Cinco de Mayo or fiesta themed invitations. You can even save time and money by sending invites through email at sites like Evite.com or by creating an event page on Facebook to invite friends and family to RSVP.

As decorations for your party be sure to stay in the Mexican mood. Think red, green and white for your colors and use Mexican culture images and symbols throughout. Chili peppers, cacti, sombreros, ponchos, serapes, maracas and plenty of bright colors and lights should do the trick in setting the scene properly. Plant a Mexican flag to mark where the fiesta is and have little flags decorated all over.

Food and refreshments at a Cinco de Mayo party are easy and stress free. Unless you are looking for authentic Mexican recipes, a fajita, taco or burrito bar with all the fixings should be plenty. You can prepare your own bar or hire a catering service to take care of this. Finger foods like nachos, corn chips with salsa and guacamole dip and quesadillas are perfect appetizers. For dessert it would be easiest to go with churros and flan.

Refreshments should be served ice cold to beat the heat and keep the party alive. Quench your guests’ thirst with plenty of Mexican beer on ice. Dos Equis (XX) and Corona are crowd favorites, but there are plenty to choose from for variety. Margaritas always add to the fiesta mood and are easy to change up with any fruit flavor you choose. Also, don’t forget the Mexican sodas or other soft drinks for the non-drinkers.

There is no shortage of entertainment at a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, but to have some activities in order first consider a giant piñata. Fill it with candies and little toys and offer a main prize for whoever manages to break it. Play the game with whatever twist you’d like to add to it – drawstrings, blindfolds, dizzying effects – just make sure no one gets hurt. You may also have inflatable games as amusements for the little kids. There are plenty of inflatable game designs that may fit a Cinco de Mayo theme.

Hiring a Mariachi band is a great way to make sure your party never dies down. Live music is always fun, but you can even simply play a CD full of Mexican music for your guests to dance to. Latin dancing always spices up the party. You may even ask your guests to come dressed in Mexican attire or as a famous Mexican.

As you can see, there is no shortage of ways to prepare for and enjoy a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Plan your celebration accordingly or add your own twist. Whatever you do, just make sure to have a fun time.

St. Patrick’s Day Party Planning

March is here and St. Patrick’s Day is the marquee holiday of the month. So take a green marker and circle the 17^th on your calendar to be sure to celebrate with a fun crowd of friends, family and even strangers; for as they say, “everyone’s at least a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”

First thing’s first: you must think green. Decorations for a St. Patrick’s Day party definitely need to be centered on green. Props and pictures of shamrocks, leprechauns, pots-o-gold, and rainbows are perfect for your party’s theme.  Blow up some green balloons and of course don’t forget to wear green yourself. Mark your house accordingly so guests know where to go.

As for what you will serve your guests, once again think green. Food coloring goes a long way in turning your food and beverages green. Save the light beers and clear sodas for the green drinks while serving some traditional Irish beer (Guinness, O’Hara’s, Murphy’s); don’t forget the green Jell-O shots! Green M&Ms or cookies and chips with guacamole make for easy themed treats.

For entertainment at your party, you can play a CD of classic Irish pub songs, a Dropkick Murphy’s greatest hits album, or sing along to popular Irish songs like “Whiskey in the Jar”, “The Wild Rover”, “Danny Boy”, or “The Unicorn Song”. What may be even more entertaining is to hold a limerick contest or just have an open floor for people to have fun with humorously witty poetry that need not make any sense. It’s always fun to drink and be silly, for:

There are plenty who party in the States,

All with their guys and their gals on this date.

          When they gulp down their beers,

          Out come all the cheers,

And laughter along with all that they ate.

With a green house (not the kind you grow plants in), lots of green food and drinks, and entertainment as suggested above, you are sure to have a cheerful and fun St. Patrick’s Day party.

So as you begin planning your party: a “top of the mornin’ to you…(and the rest to me-self)”. “May the sun shine on your windowpane” and “the hand of a friend always be near you” on the day of your party; and “may the wind at your back not be from the cabbage and corned beef that you eat on St. Patrick’s Day!” Cheers!