October 26, 2007
A Spook-tacular Halloween Party
Happy Halloween!!
One of the reasons why I love fall so much is because it's the season of Halloween! Some of my favorite childhood memories include trick-or-treating, first with my Dad who carried my bag for me, then with my older sister, and finally just with my friends. Unfortunately, most houses frown upon college kids going trick-or-treating, but just because we're too old for that tradition doesn't mean that we can't have our own fun!
Throwing a costume party for your friends is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit! It makes a lot of sense to have the party on the night of Halloween, but if Halloween is in the middle of the week or if the night just isn't convenient, try having it on Devil's Night (the famously spooky and wild night before) or even the weekend before or after.
When it comes to setting the mood, there are plenty of options that range from cheap and creative to more expensive and faster. If you don't want to break your budget on mood lighting, you can get creative with white christmas lights (what dorm room doesn't already have a string or two of those?). If you buy some orange and black crepe paper streamers and loosely wrap them around the lights, it will give the room both color and light. Another option is investing in a things like a black light or a fog machine, which can be used again but will still cost a little more.
Since candy is such an integral part of Halloween, you can probably focus your food on candy with a creative twist. A classic candy would be candy corn, which I've found for $.99 a bag at drug stores and can be easily emptied into small bowls around the room. Also, you could buy peanut butter cups and get some orange and black frosting to make the tops more exciting. If you have access to a kitchen and baking supplies, you can also get creative with making a cupcake for each guest. When buying drinks, buy some orange soda and apple cider. These will really hit the spot for fall beverages! And for the 21 and older crowd, try adding some Captain Morgan's rum to the apple cider for a nice, spiced flavor.
When you're making your iPod playlist, mix it up a little bit by adding some spookier songs, such as "Monster Mash" and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. If anyone wants a break from dancing, you can have some small pumpkins and paint on hand for people to make their own party favors by which they can remember your amazing party!
If you want some more ideas for a party with a little more pizzaz, watch this video featuring Michele Adams and Gia Russo. They have their own great ideas for throwing a memorable Halloween Party, and some are definitely possible for the average college student.
Posted by jenmmart at 05:54 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2007
Party Basics
I'm sure many of you have heard the phrase "party foul" before. Regardless of the context in which it was said, it was probably heard at some party, following something that shouldn't have happened. I've decided to make my first real entry about things that shouldn't (or should) happen at your future parties.
Party Dos and Don'ts
- DO decide on the ideal size of your party before you start inviting people. Do you want a smaller party where everyone can talk? Aim for 15-20 people. Less talking, more dancing, but still fairly intimate? You might want 40-50 people.
- DON'T invite everyone you know, everyone they know, all the "friends" you have on facebook, and the last 15 people you met on your way home. You'll end up knowing one out of five faces you see at your own party and you'll feel totally out of control of the situation.
- DO make your setting (be it dorm room, apartment, or house) look appropriate for your party. Clean up a little so people don't have to see your dirty laundry (literally) and put at least a little effort into decorating.
- DON'T freak out if some of your cleaning gets undone by your guests. Have paper towels on hand for any drops or spills, put away anything you don't want broken or messed with, and don't worry if a cheap decoration or two falls down and/or disappears.
- DO have a good playlist or two that will last through your entire party. Add some personal touches or songs that are particularly applicable to your theme.
- DON'T make a playlist that nobody wants to listen to except for you. You might like a lot of 80s rock, 90s pop, or country, but mix it up a little so that people don't get so annoyed that they just turn your music off.
And for those who are 21...
- DO have a variety of drinks available for your guests
- DO make sure everyone WHO IS TWENTY-ONE drinks in moderation and nothing goes wrong
- DON'T drink that much if you're the host of the party. Nobody want to come to a party just to take care of the host, and you don't want to wake up the next morning wondering why your place is a mess, where your stuff is, or what happened during the majority of your party.
Disclaimer: Drink Legally and Responsibly!
These are easy, general rules to follow for all of your amazing future parties! :)
Posted by jenmmart at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2007
Welcome to Party Planning for the College Student
When I was in second grade, I planned a Valentine's Day party for all of my friends, and as my mom was sick, I did a lot of the planning and execution on my own. I guess I've always liked to entertain my friends.
Now that I'm in college, my mom isn't going to buy my party decorations for me. She isn't going to tell me how many people I'm allowed to invite to our house, or what I should do with them once they get there. I have to figure all of these things out on my own, but I love the idea of doing that.
My blogging topic is going to be about different party ideas for college students. Each entry will feature a different type of party, such as holiday or theme parties. They will also include ideas for how to decorate (on a budget), what to have at your party, times, dates, and anything else I think applies. I'll throw in some links that have inspired me and others that might include recipes or good stores to visit.
One of my inspirations for this idea in general was the show "Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade" from the Food Network. She always has great ideas, some of which are feasible and some are just nice to think about. Check out her website.
Maybe I'll end up seeing a Facebook event for a party inspired by my blog hehe :)
Posted by jenmmart at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2007
Test
Hello, World! http://www.umich.edu
Posted by jenmmart at 01:44 PM