P is for Party!

par-ty {pahr-tee} . 1. n. A social gathering designed for pleasure or amusement. 2. v. To celebrate or carouse at, or as if at, a party. (Did someone forget to go home after that party last night?) 3. See also: Bash, blowout, bacchanal, fete, gala, and scene.

Ello :)  I thought to start out, I'd post a little about proper etiquette when it comes to hosting and attending a party, as the holiday season approaches!  Obviously, you are one of two people when it comes to parties; You're either hosting or attending. I don't think either title is less important than the other. Some people simply don't know how to be a proper guest in someone else's home and others have not one clue about being a proper host. Being the host is not an easy task, but it is supposed to be fun!

HOSTING
So while at work, tucked away in your little cubicle, staring off into space(while being extremely productive at the same time!) you decide throwing a party would be absolutely fab. You're fabulous, so why wouldn't one of you're parties be? Now, we're not talking about a party where all you do is say you're having a party, provide enough beer for you..for an hour...and ask everyone else to BYOB(bring your own beer ). We're talking about a real grown-up party. Where your guests might actually bring you flowers or a bottle of wine(we'll discuss this later). Here's a couple tips to keep in mind when hosting a party:

1. Decide what kind of party you want. Cocktail party? Dinner Party? Wine tasting? BBQ? Backyard picnic?
2. Once that's decided, figure out how many people you would like to attend, the time frame of the party, and what type of budget you're working with.
Tip:when figuring out a budget, factor in the number of people that will be attending. Set you're budget higher rather than right on point. Make sure there will be enough food and drinks for people to last for the time frame of the party.
3. Blast out those invites. Text messages, emails, facebook/twitter invites, and good old fashion telephone calls. There are no excuses anymore that you couldn't get a hold of someone. Ask people to RSVP. Don't just say you're having a party. Let them know you'd appreciate an RSVP by a certain date.
4.Create a plan, a menu, a list of things you'll need for the party, and music that will be appropriate for the occasion. *Keep guests with allergies or food dislikes in mind. It's usually best to be on the safe side and have a few selections for your guests to choose from*.
5. If your guests offer to bring something, except. They're only trying to be helpful. However, it is generally not acceptable to ask people, other than close friends or relatives, to bring something.
6. If you're serving alcohol, let guests know what type of alcohol will be available. That way, if they would prefer something different, they can bring something they would like. Make sure to offer alternatives to alcohol as well. If a guests drinks to much, take their keys and offer to put them up for the night.
7. There's no need to over decorate. White fragrance free candles and fresh flowers are elegant and classic.
8. If you want the party to be formal, let your guests know. It's your party.
9. Call people a week in advance to formally invite them again and let them know you're looking forward to having them attend.
10. After everything is said and done, return dishes to guests who might have brought something. Include a note thanking them for attending and how much you enjoyed seeing them.

And remember, it's your party so enjoy yourself!! Nothing will make your guests feel more uncomfortable than a nervous and stressed out host or hostess.

Being the perfect party guest
Follow these 10 simple rules, and you be the guest that everyone wants at their parties!

1. As soon as you arrive to the party, seek out the host and say hello. When you leave, make sure you say goodbye to the host or hostess and thank them for having you.
2. Be respectful of other peoples homes. This means removing your shoes if you notice others have. Using a coaster if they're available. If you spill something, don't turn over the couch cushion or move the planter over to cover your spill, alert the host and offer to help clean it up. If the spill is bad, offer to pay for it to be professionally cleaned.
3. If you break something, don't be scared to tell the host. They'll be way more upset to find it broken the day after...or even a few days later...so tell them right away.
4.Place garbage where it belongs...in the garbage can or bag.
5. Please, use your inside voice.
6. If it's a sit down dinner, wait to take your first bite until everyone else is seated, especially the host. ( Keep this in mind when you're out to eat with a group of people. It's polite to wait to take your first bite until everyone at the table has received their meal.)
7. Before taking a sip of your drink, propose a toast if no one else has made one. It doesn't have to fancy, just thank your hosts for having you and for all their hard work.
8. PDA? Keep it to a bare(no pun intended) minimum.
9. Offer to help clean up.
10. Don't overstay your welcome.

It's always a nice gesture to offer to bring something. Or bring a bottle of wine or fresh flowers as a gift for your hosts.

It's a party, so have fun, relax, enjoy each other's company and LAUGH....A LOT!!!!!

Hope this is helpful!

Au Revoir!xo