Tag Archives: entertaining

It’s really easy to throw a Mardi Gras party for kids, but it may be better to shift the party back to the weekend, since most kids will be in school the Wednesday after Fat Tuesday.

If you’re from an area where Mardi Gras is a big time of celebration, you will likely have your traditions. Kids love looking forward to and doing family things year after year.  It’s really nice to look back and remember all the fun and silly things everyone did in the name of fun.

For families outside the big key cities like New Orleans where Mardi Gras is a huge celebration, celebrating Fat Tuesday can be a good holiday to add to the yearly list. It falls during the end of winter slump when it’s still cold and there are still a lot of days of school to knock out, so it is a welcome break from the grind for many families.

You don’t have to spend loads of time or money to have a good Mardi Gras party for or with your kids. In fact, you really just need to provide some basic supplies, and the kids are creative enough to make it a great afternoon or evening on their own.

Some say that going out on the town for New Years Eve is more trouble than it’s worth.  You get together with a group of friends for an overpriced set menu meal and then battle a sea of people just to get a drink at your neighborhood bar.  If you aren’t up for going out this year, why not gather a group of friends at your home for some New Year’s cheer?  Here’s how you can make it fun, easy and stress free.

Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday.  Unlike Christmas, it’s just one day of cooking and entertaining.  I love the big meal and the chaos in my home.  I also appreciate that Thanksgiving doesn’t entail all of the stress associated with gift giving.  It’s cold out, you can build a fire and you can cook up a feast of delicious food.

The only downside to Thanksgiving is the kitchen cleanup.  After a busy day of cooking and eating a filling meal, no one likes to be faced with the overwhelming task of kitchen cleanup. 

Kitchen cleanup doesn’t have to be such a drag.  Here are a few tips for minimizing the mess on Thanksgiving Day.

You might think that coming together as a family and socializing would be enough to keep your Thanksgiving guest entertained, but alas, that isn’t always the case.  Families are funny.  You don’t choose them – you are born into them and for better or worse, are usually stuck with them.  If you are fortunate enough to have a family where everybody truly gets along and can enjoy the holidays together without any drama then count yourself truly lucky!  If not, here are some ways to keep the drama at bay and the troops entertained while you slave away in the kitchen.

How often do you have overnight guests?  Is it just once a year or do you put up guests on a more regular basis?  No matter how frequently company comes and stays over, you want their stay to be as comfortable and welcoming as possible.  That’s why we’ve put together a list of essentials for the perfect guest room.

Book clubs gained in popularity several years ago when Oprah started promoting some of her favorite books on national television.  All of a sudden women and men everywhere were reading Oprah’s selections and talking about them with their friends in living rooms across America.

‘Tis the season for outdoor entertaining.  You have great food, great music and great company, but what about lighting?  Your perfect outdoor evening can be a boom or a bust based on the lighting. 

Like music, it sets the mood.  Too dark and people can’t see each other.  Too bright and it no longer feels cozy and intimate.  So what are your options? 

One of American’s favorite summer holidays has sprung up again and it looks you’re the host for this year’s shindig. Whether you’re hosting a parade party or a backyard get-together, bringing the bang to your Fourth of July party doesn’t just involve a fancy firework display.

Be sure not to let your festivities fizzle out with some of our sparkling party suggestions that guests will be red, white, and blown away by.

Bring back cocktail hour at home in style. While happy hour at the local bar may seem a bit more fun, think of the money you’d save on tips mixing delicious alcoholic concoctions for friends at your own counter top. But as any professional cocktail drinking know, the right accessories make the drink. We’ve gathered some of the ideal accessories to make you a master mixologist.

It’s happened to us all.  You’re sitting there at home with your family watching TV or just relaxing when unexpected guests show up.  If you’re really lucky they’ve called ahead to make sure you’re home and you have 10 minutes to run around and whip things into shape.  Read on for some tips on how to deal with the situation and stuff you can keep on hand.