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If you love party planning like me, you’ve got plenty of ideas you’re itching to try. I noticed I’ve been pinning ideas for the same themes, so I wanted to share five party themes I’m obsessing over. Most of these can be used for any occasion – from casual baby showers to elegant weddings. I’ve gathered some of my favorite inspiration photos for you. Enjoy!

Tropical Vibes

Palm leaves and tropical foliage (paper or real) would be gorgeous for decoration, and any party that evokes the atmosphere of a relaxing beach day is on my list. Mix up cool drinks like raspberry lemonade or mojitos, cut up some fresh pineapple and mango and grill coconut shrimp. Fresh coconuts would be a big bonus! Of course, doing this shindig poolside will really bring the tropical vibes.

Out in a Field

I can’t get enough of seated dinner parties out in a field or even a lovely backyard. The secluded, intimate, and whimsical atmosphere makes the party unique. It would be a big plus if that field happens to be a vineyard or orchard. It works for me as long as there are open space, twinkle lights, and an inviting table. I like the idea of place settings and centerpieces with flowers or candles. For a dinner party, I imagine there would be bottles of wine, cider, or beer and a three- or four-course meal. Ultimately, it will be a night of stories and laughter under the stars.

Bohemian

I love the fresh and wild look of the bohemian theme. This theme can be dressed up with lots of greenery, dream catchers, patterned blankets, and a mix of colors. Sitting on the floor with colorful blankets and pillows optional. Flower crowns suggested. Finger foods such as loaded bruschetta or Triscuits, sweet potato crostinis, or zucchini pizza bites would be enjoyable.

Cookbook Potluck

You may have noticed from my Facebook posts that I’m a little cookbook crazy right now. I would say great cookbooks are the best kinds of books. They’re filled with stories, culture, personality, food photos, and recipes to try! Pick a cookbook and everyone makes a dish from the cookbook to bring to the party. (Some friends and I did this with our Cookbook Book Club a few years ago.) Though the great thing about potlucks is that the food is the main focus, if you’d like to dress up the space, let your cookbook’s cuisine, culture, and photos inspire you. If I were to do this party, I’ve got my eye on Momofuku Milk Bar. From my experience, the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook would be great for a Cookbook Potluck!

Geometric Shapes

This theme has been done over and over again but I can’t quit it! I did this theme with a DIY party and a geometric wall. I’ve seen many creative ideas with this theme, like gorgeous backdrops, hanging décor, and centerpieces. This theme is made unique by the colors and can include a mix of shapes or a specific one, like my favorite – the hexagon.

You never know. Maybe one of these themes will be my next party and featured here! (Fingers crossed, I hope so!) Check out what I’ve done this year with #Celebrations2016 and all of my #Celebrations.

Geek out with me: what party themes do you love?

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Need holiday party ideas? The holiday season is a fun time to throw a party because of the holiday cheer in the air and all the cute décor and themes you can incorporate. Hosting a gathering is also helpful for guests to slow down and step away from the hectic schedule this season.

Here are some of my favorite holiday party ideas that can be combined into one party or be the sole focus of your party.

Cookie Exchange/Contest

Ask guests to bring a dozen or two of their favorite homemade recipes and swap away! Have festive bags, tins, or Tupperware ready to fill. Feeling competitive? Make it a cookie contest with a secret vote. See our cookie party here.

Cookie Decorating

Bake sugar cookies (gingerbread people, Christmas trees, and stockings would be fun shapes) and prepare (or ask guests to bring) colorful toppings and frosting to decorate the cookies.

Movie Night + Themed Foods

There are plenty of great Christmas movies to choose from and My personal favorite would be Elf. You could pair the movie with the themed food of spaghetti for dinner (maple syrup optional) and plenty of candy canes. Or how about watching Die Hard and making some yippee-ki-yay burgers?

Gift Exchange

Whether it includes gifts people would find useful or crazy and funny White Elephant gifts, a gift exchange is an entertaining element to add to a party. Be sure to set a dollar amount. For example, ask guests to spend up to $20. You could even ask for themed gifts and each person could bring an ornament, book, piece of jewelry, or pair of socks.

A spin on this is the Favorite Things tradition. Set a budget for each gift, $5-20. Every person brings three of their gift. There are two ways to pick the gifts:

• Guests wrap their gifts before arriving. Everyone puts their name in a hat three times. The names you draw are the gifts you’re taking home.
• Don’t wrap the gifts. Set all the gifts out and have guests choose their favorite three.

Gingerbread House Decorating

Similar to a cookie decorating party, this edible DIY will possibly result in the cutest gingerbread village ever. Have everyone bring a kit from the store (for the ease of building) or go old school and buy a bunch of graham crackers, frosting, and colorful candy.

Give Back

Get your friends together and give back this season. Try volunteering at your local food pantry, buying gifts for a child at the Angel Tree at the mall, caroling at your local nursing home, or writing cards for people in the hospital. See more ways to give back here.

Craft Party

Pinterest is your best friend when it comes to holiday and Christmas craft ideas. Plus, crafting can double as gift-making! Try making ornaments or snow globes. See my holiday craft party here where we made cookie mixes to gift.

Potluck

Get into the holiday spirit with festive food. Ask guests to make and bring their favorite appetizer. Don’t forget a bottle of wine or other favorite beverage.

Fondue Party

Warm up this season with a traditional Asian hot pot dinner with a savory broth or try a cheese or chocolate fondue.

Hot Chocolate Bar

Baby, it’s cold outside! Treat your guests with a hot chocolate bar complete with toppings like marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, peppermint sticks, Irish cream, and several kinds of chocolate.

Holiday Sweater Party

Another fun party element is the infamous holiday sweater. Head to your local thrift store early for the best selection! Want to make the party extra easy? Have everyone meet up at your favorite restaurant for brunch or go ice skating.

Have a happy holiday season!

What’s your favorite holiday party idea I haven’t mentioned here OR which one of these ideas will you do?

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Color Palette
I’m loving the look of rich, royal colors such as navy, plum, and burgundy mixed with copper or gold. I’ve also like an orange, white, and brown palette if you want to use pumpkins in your decor. You can incorporate colors through a table runner, tablecloth, cloth napkins, and centerpieces.Table Décor and Centerpiece Ideas
Tablecloths, dishware, flowers, and atmosphere decor help set the tone of the event. The easiest way to dress up a table is to throw a runner on it. It can give a splash of color and is great for table symmetry. Easy ways to decorate your table for a centerpiece are with a variety of gourds, flowers in a vase, and candles of varying heights. For the gourds, leave them as is or give them some glimmer with some gold spray paint. Don’t forget cute place cards and be sure to leave room on the table for your plates and silverware!

Room Décor
A cute, simple banner, like the one from my last Friendsgiving and featured in my recent DIY party, is a fun way to tie in the theme of the event.

Food and Drinks
Coordinate with guests on what everyone is bringing so you don’t have duplicates. Facebook invites make this easy. Don’t forget the drinks! Make pitchers of cider ahead of time or have friends bring bottles of wine or six-packs.

Need more inspiration? Check out the Friendsgiving Ideas Pinterest Board I’ve been pinning to.

Tell me about the Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving party you’re throwing!

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I’ll admit: one of the best things about football season is the food you eat while you watch the games. (Did anybody say potluck?!) All the “taste so good but are so bad for you” foods. It’s basically a weekly snack-a-thon habit and I will whole-heartedly indulge, especially if there is seven-layer dip. So, for this party idea round-up, I’m focusing on the food because that’s what’s most important at a football party. You’ll probably agree that football décor can get very cheesy very quickly and half the party (the guys) won’t care about the way things look anyways!

I’ve gathered the best football party food ideas I could find, and while I tried to find the healthiest recipes, I did include a few of my not-so-healthy favorites too. Get in the kitchen because you are going to rock this football season!

I found this “healthy pizza” recipe and I am a fan! I tested it out at my DIY marbling party and made it for dinner one night. It’s very simple to make and an easy way to disguise the vegetables. All it takes is zucchini, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, mini pepperonis and Italian seasoning. Fifteen to twenty minutes in the oven later, you’re ready for the game!

Avocado Hummus Dip by Savor Home Blog

7-Layer Dip by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Buffalo Chicken Crescent Ring by Pillsbury

Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Footballs by The First Year Blog

Lots and lots of Game Day Recipes compiled by Gimme Some Oven

Touchdown Brownies by The Baker Mama

Chicken Ranch Waffle Sliders by Mom on Timeout

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders by Plain Chicken

Parmesan Garlic Zucchini Chips by Frugal Living Mom

Healthy Spinach Dip by Amuse Your Bouche

Tell me in the comments: What are your favorite football party foods? Who are you cheering for this season?

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Photo by Rasy Ran Photography

In my experience and observation of attending and hosting events, I’ve learned a few dos and don’ts for hosts and guests that I’ll share. In other words, I’m sharing all my headaches so you don’t have to experience them! Be a spectacular host or guest by practicing ideal party etiquette. These are general guidelines, so they can and must be adjusted with different celebrations – from a large, formal wedding to an small, intimate baby shower. First up, let’s talk about how to be the hostess with the mostess.

Hosts – your goal of the celebration is to make sure the party goes smoothly and guests enjoy themselves.

Before the event: This is when planning matters MOST. When you get this step right, the rest will be a breeze!

Give clear details to guests.
In your invitation or conversations, make sure your guests know essential details such as what to wear, what the event is for, what they should bring, what will happen at the event and if they have a plus one. This helps set the expectations, prevent any last-minute questions, and prevent any awkwardness when guests arrive.

Prepare the menu at least a week in advance.
This will give you time to review how much time it will take to prepare the dishes and to buy your groceries one or two days ahead of the party. Extra time for groceries will give you time to run back to the store for forgotten ingredients or re-think your menu. Dishes that can be prepared, frozen and heated up before the party are easiest. If you want less stress, limit yourself to two homemade dishes and outsource the rest. Pick recipes you are familiar with or are not that challenging. Be sure to note how much time is needed to defrost and heat up! Consider the next point in preparing your menu.

Give yourself more time than you think you need to prepare.
Check and double check the schedule and timing of cooking your dishes, defrosting, arrival of rentals, and getting yourself presentable. Believe me, you don’t want to be running around frazzled trying to finish up when your guests start to arrive. Don’t forget to factor in cleaning up your kitchen after preparing dishes. After deciding your timeline, add 30 extra minutes for safety! Have a comfortable outfit picked out in advance.

Prepare as much as possible days in advance.
Prepare and freeze dishes. Don’t leave the bulk of cleaning for the day of the event. Craft decorations during the week and start decorating the day before. Think about the timing of the meal if you’re serving multiple courses.

Ready glasses and drink pitchers.
Instead of having to make every drink, make a large batch of the drink and set them out in pitchers or a punch bowl. In addition, have bottles of wine (one bottle of wine is roughly five servings), a selection of beers and some non-alcoholic drinks (water and sparkling juice are great) available. Put out glasses on the counter so guests don’t feel awkward searching through your kitchen.

Walk through your house/venue and do a once-over.
Start at your door and walk through your place, looking for things out of place and things you forgot to do. Is everything clean and welcoming? Don’t forget to check your bathroom.

Prepare the ambiance.
Light candles to freshen up your place but be cautious of how the smells might mix with cooking food. If the food is the main attraction, consider unscented candles. Create a playlist to match the mood. How do your decorations look?

Appoint a right-hand person.
Depending on the size of the party, things could get a little hectic as the party starts. Your right-hand helper can help you prepare before the party and assist with all the little things that come up during the party, such as refilling chip bowls or drink pitchers.

During the event: Relax and go with the flow!

Help guests feel welcome
As they enter, show them where to put their jackets or purses and get them a drink. Introduce guests to each other. Encourage guests to dig into food.

Stay calm.
Don’t let little snags derail you. How you act and react will drive the mood of the party. Spills, running out of food, late comers, etc. – they may happen but there’s always a solution. There’s no need to fret and worry yourself. Your right-hand person could be helpful at keeping you calm.

After the event: Celebrate a great event and de-brief!

Clean up.
I’ve found it more relaxing to get the cleaning done right away.

Thank your guests.
Send thank you notes or emails.

What stress-free tips would you recommend for party hosts?

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