Picnic for Two, Please

To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of our first meeting on October 23, 2004, I planned a surprise picnic for now-husband.  I knew I wanted do plan something special and unexpected so I asked him to meet me at a neighborhood park.  It's a beautiful park, only a small square block, but it has a little bridge and lots of big beautiful trees which provide an abundance of cool shade.  To prepare for the picnic, I packed a blanket, a battery-operated CD player & CDs (this was before smart phones!), cooler, plastic wine glasses (it was outside after all!) in my car and stopped by the store to pick up snacks, sparkling grape juice and some "Happy Anniversary" balloons.  I even bought him a particular DVD he had mentioned which I gladly drove across town to purchase.  I set everything up at the park and awaited his arrival.  He drove up right on time and was totally surprised and pleased as you can tell from the look on his face.  

You, too, can plan something special for your partner/spouse! It just takes a little thought and planning.  Listen to the other person.  When the person mentions something he/she would like, write it down.  I collect a list during the year so I have it come holiday time and don't have to wrack my brain thinking of what to get him.  You can also peruse Pinterest for ideas about practically anything. If you want to plan something special for your partner/spouse but don't know how to start, contact me.  I'd be glad to help!

Picking the Right Flowers

One of the most important elements of party planning is picking the right flowers. Start with the guest of honor's preferences. Does he/she have a favorite flower or favorite color? Another thing to consider is the odor. You don't the odor so strong that it blows everyone away. Also, some people may have an allergy to certain odors. I remember when I was working in an office and one of the staff loved to spray cologne on herself. I could instantly smell it down the hall and it lead to my developing instant headaches. You don't want that! The party would be over before it even began. You want people to at least stay long enough to eat (just kidding!). But seriously, guests should be comfortable and want to enjoy the party. Flowers really contribute to the ambience and the total experience. Don't forget flowers and remember....fresh is best!

Celebrate Spring!

Spring is such a gorgeous time of year. In Southeast Texas, where I live, the temperature at this time of year is in the mid-70s to low 80s.  The azaleas are in bloom, trees are budding; it's a time of rebirth. If the weather in your area is nice, this is the time to get outside and celebrate nature and this amazing planet of ours!  What a time to plan an outdoors party! I have visions of guests on a beautiful green rolling lawn with open-air tents set up.  Of course there would be live music--jazz for me, thank you. The decor would include serene colors like light blue and green.  Hors d'oeuvres would be on the menu; food that guests could easily carry on a small plate as they mingle with each other. Along with the music, you could hear the sounds of talking and laughing.  People just having a good time hanging out together.

   

What's Most Important?

So you're planning a party. What is most important to you: the venue, food, beverages, cake or other dessert, entertainment, decorations or something else? If you have an ample budget, you may not have to make that decision but for the majority of people, you need to decide on which aspect to spend the most money. Is it your vision to have your event at a really cool venue?  Do you want to pick a top caterer to furnish food and beverages?  Would you like a fantastic cake artist to create a masterpiece for your celebration?  How about hiring a band or other performer?  A party decorator to transform the venue into your dream setting? It's important to start with a ballpark budget with a cushion added in as chances are you will probably go over your initial estimated amount.  

Most important to me, personally, would be to make sure my guests had enough to eat and drink.  I definitely would NOT want to run out of food!! I would also want to guarantee that they had a fun experience which means planning some sort of musical entertainment, either live or recorded, and perhaps an activity.  Accordingly, I would spend less on the venue, cake and decorations but that doesn't mean those items have to take a backseat, so to speak.  Pinterest is a wonderful resource for DIY ideas.  Search for your party theme and tons of ideas could come up.  You can check out my boards for inspiration: www.pinterest.com/meetsmilestones  Many decorations are simple to create or perhaps you have a friend/family member who's crafty.  As far as the cake is concerned, I highly recommend the Costco half sheet cake.  This cake is delicious! You can order a white or chocolate cake with buttercream frosting and yummy filling between the layers.  It's less than $20!! (There might be a small charge for decorating it.) Yes, that's right! Less than $20! And no, I'm not being paid by Costco. LOL I've attached a picture of the Costco cake my husband got me for my birthday last month. 

To summarize, pick out the aspects of your party/event which are most important and plan accordingly.  It's best if you can pay as you go so you won't have be stuck with party bills for months to come.  Happy Planning!