How to Host a Reception for a Large Crowd of People

Hold a large wedding reception outdoors if the weather cooperates.

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Whether you throw a reception for a wedding, graduation or other special occasion, your guest list is one of the most important factors. In some cases, your guest list may include a large crowd of people. When you invite a greater number of people to a reception, it is important to ensure you can accommodate everyone properly so everyone enjoys the reception.

Related Searches: Location

Location is an important consideration for a large crowd. You must pay attention to the capacities for any indoor venue you consider so your guests will fit into the hall you choose. If your event takes place during a time of the year where the weather is favorable, you may also want to consider holding your reception outdoors. An outdoor reception allows for more space. If you worry about the weather, you can rent tents for shelter if necessary.

Amount of Food

Making sure you have enough food is essential when you serve a larger party of people. It is important to make sure you have enough food per person. In general, each person requires 1/4 to 1/3 pound of meat per person. You can also count on a person eating about 1/2 cup of side dishes. For dessert, if you order a cake, check with the baker to learn how many people the cake serves. For pie, one pie can serve about eight people.

Food Service

At a large reception, you can choose from a few options for serving food. While you can still offer a nice sit-down dinner with a larger group, it may take a while for everyone to receive their food. A buffet line can also work, but your guests may need to wait for their food in this way as well. One of the quickest ways to serve food to a large group of people is to offer family-style dining, where the waitstaff brings dishes of food to each table and your guests pass them around and serve themselves.

Make Yourself Available

When you are the host of a party, your guests expect to interact with you. With a large group, you have more people who want to talk with you and interact. However, no matter how many people you invite, you must make an effort to speak with each one, even if you speak to groups rather than individuals. Making sure your guests are happy is one of the most important jobs you have as a host.

ReferencesReal Simple: Party Planning ChecklistEllen's Kitchen: Planning Big BBQ's and PicnicsFood Network: How to Host a Large PartyPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Throwing an Apartment Party

Apartments already have a lot of people stacked on top of each other.

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When , you’ll have to worry about offending your neighbors, leading to complaints that can get you evicted. Space also can be a major problem, given that you need a certain number of guests to have a party atmosphere. The apartment can easily get overcrowded, making guests feel uncomfortable. Planning the party out in advance ensures that you can anticipate problems and solve (or prevent) them.

Related Searches: Attendance

Some guests might bring friends, causing the party to go over your apartment's capacity and spill into the hallway. Other guests might end up RSVPing but not actually attend, making your party smaller than expected. If you’re afraid that few people will come, advertise the apartment party as much as you can using word of mouth and the Internet. Even though there’s limited space, too few people will make your event feel like a get-together instead of an actual party.
When a party gets so crowded that people do not know where to stand or sit, people do not enjoy themselves. So only invite as many people as you can fit while maintaining a comfortable distance between everyone. As a rule of thumb, invite one person per 10 square feet, only counting the areas where you will allow your guests to go.

Neighbors

Parties can get loud and fellow tenants might complain. To avoid that, try to keep the music down -- or better yet, consider inviting your neighbors, who might give you a pass on the loud music if they're enjoying it themselves. If you don’t want to invite them, at least let them know that you’re having a party soon and give them your number so they can call if things sound like they are getting out of hand. When your neighbors expect the party, they might be more accepting of it or plan to be out of the house during the party.

Food and Drinks

Consider offering light fare that doesn’t take a lot of work. Some apartments can get crowded and see guests spill over into the kitchen, making it harder to cook for a lot of people. But people often expect party snacks, so stick with low-maintenance munchies like vegetable dip, chips and salsa. Have a lot of refreshments and place a drink cooler in the kitchen, closest to where people will be congregating, so people can easily access it. Also, make sure a garbage receptacle is easily accessed so fewer people leave their drinks strewn about and cause a cluttered scene.

Location

If you’ve recently moved into a new apartment, make sure to provide guests with all the information they need to find your party. Get to know the area well enough that you can make after-party suggestions for nightclubs, bars or late-night activities -- think cosmic bowling -- if the festivities stretch too far into the night. This not only can spice up the night as a whole, but it's also a great back-up excuse to get everyone out of the house in case the party gets out of control early.

ReferencesThe Cornell Daily Sun: Throwing Parties that Don’t SuckApartment Home Living: 5 Ways to Throw an Apartment Party Without Getting Thrown OutApartment Search: Throwing an Apartment Warming PartyRenter's Insurance: Tips For Urban Edge: Apartment Party Hosting: Do's and Don'tsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Ask a Bride if Kids Are Invited

Choosing whether children will be invited to a wedding can be a challenging decision.

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Preparing for a wedding is a complicated process, and the decision of whether or not to invite children can be challenging for brides-to-be. If you have been invited to a wedding, but you’re not sure whether your children are invited, you can respectfully reach out to the bride to clarify the invitation.

Related Searches: Before Receiving the Invitation

Maybe the save the date card arrived months ago, but the bride and groom are still choosing the stationery for the formal invitations, leaving you wondering whether your children will be invited to the wedding. In this case, you may reach out to the bride to ask whether they have decided whether children will be invited. If the couple hasn’t yet decided, politely say that you will respect their decision either way, but let them know how much advance notice you will need to make child-care arrangements in the case of an adults-only wedding, especially if it is a destination wedding.

When the Invitation is Unclear

Traditionally, wedding invitations indicate whether children are invited by including their names on the invitation, according to the Emily Post website. Some hosts, however, may use the phrase “and Family” instead of listing the names of invited children. If both of these cues are absent, your children are probably not invited to the wedding, and Emily Post advises that you should respect your hosts’ decision to hold an adults-only event. If the invitation is unclear, however, you should phone or email to ask the bride whether your children are invited.

Ask Before Sending the RSVP

According to wedding website The Knot, one of the biggest mistakes wedding guests make is sending RSVPs with uninvited guests penciled in. Whether the uninvited guest is a surprise date or your child, adding guests who weren’t invited puts the bride in the awkward position of having to contact you and disinvite the extra guest. Avoid this complication by asking any questions — for example, clarifying who exactly is included in “and Family” — before you put the RSVP in the mail.

When Only Some Children Are Invited

For weddings that take place later in the evening or are very formal, it is common to not invite children, according to Martha Stewart Weddings. Even when the bride and groom choose to have a child-free wedding, they may still make a few exceptions. Children who are in the wedding party, for example, or children in the couple’s immediate family will sometimes be invited to an otherwise adults-only wedding. Ultimately, the decision of who to invite is up to the bride and the groom, and the best etiquette is to respect their choices.

ReferencesEmily Post: GuestsThe Knot: Wedding Guests: Biggest Mistakes Wedding Guests MakeMartha Stewart Weddings: Children at Your Wedding: Is It Appropriate to Not Invite Children?Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Ninja Turtles Coloring Party Ideas

Coloring parties can keep kids entertained for hours.

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are characters from a popular cartoon television series aimed at children. While the Ninja Turtles live underground and fight bad guys, their worshipers are typically young boys, who, like the character Michelangelo, like to eat pizza and party. Fortunately, the Ninja Turtles make great material for a coloring party, because each has its own color theme: purple, blue, orange or red. Make your Ninja Turtles coloring party one to remember with ideas and activities that will make your invitees feeling like the artists for which the Turtles are named.

Related Searches: Invitations

If you want a good turnout to your Ninja Turtles coloring party, it helps to attract kids with exciting invitations. Make invitations in the shape of a Ninja Turtle's face. Either make them on green paper, or use white paper and have invitees color them in themselves. Ask guests to come dressed as their favorite Ninja Turtle or wearing clothes bearing their favorite color.

Decorations

The decorations at a coloring party can get kids in the mood to color. Green is the main color of the Ninja turtles, so hang green streamers around the room. You can also hang the secondary Ninja turtles colors as well. Make large cut-outs of the Ninja Turtles and tape them onto the walls. Use mural paper so guests can color them in themselves.

Food

Cake is always a welcome addition at a party, especially if your coloring party happens to be a birthday party. Make a cake using green food coloring to simulate a Ninja Turtle. Use purple, blue, orange or red to make a bandana across the front of the cake. Make cookies in the shape of a Ninja Turtle's head. Give out icing of different colors to guests and have them "color" the cookies themselves.

Activities

Activities should be the central concern of a coloring party. Buy Ninja Turtles coloring books or print out Ninja Turtles coloring pages from the Internet. Lay out mural paper on the ground and let kids trace each other's shapes and turn them into Ninja Turtles. Have kids color in their body tracings with crayons and hang them on the wall. Organize a coloring contest in which you distribute the same coloring sheet to all guests, giving a prize to the best one.

ReferencesNinja Turtles: HomepageResourcesKids n Fun: Coloring Pages: Ninja TurtlesPhoto Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Good Drawing Ideas for Wolves

When drawing wolves there are always going to be a few things you should keep in mind. Learn about with help from an artist in this free video clip.

Part of the Video Series: How to Draw Dogs

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How to Entertain at a Potluck

Group similar foods together on your potluck buffet.

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When guests help with cooking, entertaining is much more relaxing. After all, a less-frazzled host is more able to enjoy the party. In addition, the informal atmosphere and variety of dishes help make any shortcomings less noticeable. One meaning of "potluck" is taking your chance with the food. However, you and your guests get maximum enjoyment when you plan and prepare for your potluck.

Related Searches: Theme

The most successful potluck dinners have an organizational theme. Picking a theme helps the various dishes complement each other and creates synergy. Some party-givers pick a simple national theme, such as Mexican food. However, a more specific theme helps create a more interesting menu. For example, choose a type of food, such as pizza, or a vegetable in season.

Menu Planning

Plan a general menu to follow your theme. Include the main elements of the meal, such as starters, salad or soup, main dishes and dessert. Depending on the size of the potluck, plan to ask two guests to bring each menu item to avoid shortfalls. Decide what food you will provide as hostess and what guests should bring. For example, supply all beverages and an extra main dish. Alternately, plan to supply all of the main dish -- a roast turkey or barbecued chicken, for example. In this case, plan to ask the guests to bring side dishes, drinks, appetizers and dessert.

Inviting Guests

Invite your guests to the potluck, and ask them to contribute to the meal. However, avoid asking them to make a specific recipe that may be beyond their skills or budget. Instead, describe your needs, for example for a vegetable, appetizer or dessert in line with your theme. Ask them which item they would like to contribute. Let them know how many people their green salad or brownies should serve. Also ask them to complete most of the preparation at home to prevent overcrowding your kitchen. For example, ask them to bring salads fully assembled and casseroles already cooked and hot. Make notes of what each guest has agreed to bring.

Setting Up

As hostess, prepare the serving and eating areas, starting the day before. Prepare tables, chairs, tablecloths or place mats, plates, silverware, glassware and napkins. Take the time to choose tablecloths and centerpieces in line with your theme. Borrow extra plates or serving dishes as necessary. If you don't mind washing dishes, real pottery and silverware are much easier to use. The day of the potluck, arrange the buffet attractively, with extra bowls for chips or snacks. Stack the plates at the beginning of the line and the flatware at the end. Don't forget serving spoons and forks, ice, salt, pepper and other condiments.

Arranging Food

When guests arrive, arrange the food attractively and logically, grouping items by type, such as salad, main dish or dessert. If guests bring salads in plastic containers, transfer them to serving bowls. Position serving spoons and forks. Add parsley or other garnishes to make dishes more eye-catching.

Cleaning Up

Provide bins or tubs to make cleaning up easier. Mark separate tubs for disposable items, washable items and food scraps. Alternately, ask guests to put everything in one big bin for you to separate out later.

Leftovers

Provide disposable containers, plastic wrap, foil and zipper plastic bags for guests to take their own leftovers home. They may also want to share, swapping samples of the special dishes they have enjoyed. In any case, remind guests to take home their serving dishes and utensils.

ReferencesFood & Wine: How to Host a Potluck Dinner PartyHobbyFarms.com: Plan a PotluckPost-Gazette.com: Invite Your Pals to Pitch in for a PotluckFood Timeline: Meals & Holiday EntertainingResourcesFood & Wine: Potluck PartiesFood & Wine: Perfect Potluck RecipesSunset: Crowd-Pleasing Potluck DessertsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Install a Swanstone Free-Standing Shower Cabinet

Print this articleThe Swan Corporation, based in St. Louis, Missouri, manufactures its Swanstone product line of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, ranging from cabinets to shower systems. The Swanstone free-standing shower cabinet can be assembled and used in basements, garages or the outdoors. Since the Swanstone shower cabinet is free-standing -- that is, not attached to any structure -- it can be easily relocated if desired.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedPhillips head screwdriverMeasuring tapePower drill1/8-inch drill bit1 1/8-inch hole sawPipe wrenchSilicone caulkAdjustable wrenchSuggest Edits1

Place the shower floor pan on the ground with the glossy side face-up.

2

Lay the back panel of the shower cabinet on the ground with the glossy side face-up. Slide the right and left corner moldings into their respective slots on each side of the back panel.

3

Lift the back panel and hold the corner moldings tight to the edge of the panel then slide the bottom of the panel into the groove in the backside of the floor pan. Secure the panel with the provided screws and tighten them with a Phillips head screwdriver. Have a helper hold the back panel steady until the side panels are installed.

4

Lay the two side panels on the ground with the glossy sides face-up. Slide the front door jambs onto the front edges of each of the panels. Lift one of the side panels up while holding the jamb in place then slide the opposite edge of the panel into the corner molding on the rear panel and the bottom of the panel into the groove on the floor pan. Secure the panel with the screws provided. Install the remaining side panel in the same fashion.

5

Measure the width of the side panel where you want to install the shower head. Divide this measurement by two and make a mark on the side panel 2 1/2 inches from the top. Drill through the mark with a 1/8-inch drill bit to make a pilot hole. Remove the bit and install a 1 1/8-inch hole saw into the drill. Drill though the panel and use the pilot hole as a guide.

6

Measure down 30 inches from the shower head hole and make a mark. Make additional marks 1-11/16 inches on either side of the original mark to note the locations for the shower valves. Drill through the marks with the 1/8-inch drill bit and 1 1/8-inch hole saw the same way as you made the shower head hole.

7

Insert the hot and cold valves and the shower head into their respective holes. Tighten the large nuts on the backside of each to secure them to the shower cabinet with an adjustable wrench.

8

Tilt the shower cabinet to one side. Have your helper hold the cabinet in this position. Apply a bead of silicone caulk to the underside of the drain flange. Insert the drain flange into the hole in the bottom of the shower pan. Secure the drain by tightening the large nut on the underside of the pan with the wrench. Lift the shower cabinet straight up and lower it over the drainpipe in the floor if applicable.

9

Thread the hot and cold water supply lines to the backsides of the valves and tighten them with the adjustable wrench.

ReferencesSwanstone: Free Standing Shower Cabinet AssemblyRead Next:

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How to Host a Reception for a Large Crowd of People

Hold a large wedding reception outdoors if the weather cooperates.

Flag this photo

Whether you throw a reception for a wedding, graduation or other special occasion, your guest list is one of the most important factors. In some cases, your guest list may include a large crowd of people. When you invite a greater number of people to a reception, it is important to ensure you can accommodate everyone properly so everyone enjoys the reception.

Related Searches: Location

Location is an important consideration for a large crowd. You must pay attention to the capacities for any indoor venue you consider so your guests will fit into the hall you choose. If your event takes place during a time of the year where the weather is favorable, you may also want to consider holding your reception outdoors. An outdoor reception allows for more space. If you worry about the weather, you can rent tents for shelter if necessary.

Amount of Food

Making sure you have enough food is essential when you serve a larger party of people. It is important to make sure you have enough food per person. In general, each person requires 1/4 to 1/3 pound of meat per person. You can also count on a person eating about 1/2 cup of side dishes. For dessert, if you order a cake, check with the baker to learn how many people the cake serves. For pie, one pie can serve about eight people.

Food Service

At a large reception, you can choose from a few options for serving food. While you can still offer a nice sit-down dinner with a larger group, it may take a while for everyone to receive their food. A buffet line can also work, but your guests may need to wait for their food in this way as well. One of the quickest ways to serve food to a large group of people is to offer family-style dining, where the waitstaff brings dishes of food to each table and your guests pass them around and serve themselves.

Make Yourself Available

When you are the host of a party, your guests expect to interact with you. With a large group, you have more people who want to talk with you and interact. However, no matter how many people you invite, you must make an effort to speak with each one, even if you speak to groups rather than individuals. Making sure your guests are happy is one of the most important jobs you have as a host.

ReferencesReal Simple: Party Planning ChecklistEllen's Kitchen: Planning Big BBQ's and PicnicsFood Network: How to Host a Large PartyPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Throwing an Apartment Party

Apartments already have a lot of people stacked on top of each other.

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When , you’ll have to worry about offending your neighbors, leading to complaints that can get you evicted. Space also can be a major problem, given that you need a certain number of guests to have a party atmosphere. The apartment can easily get overcrowded, making guests feel uncomfortable. Planning the party out in advance ensures that you can anticipate problems and solve (or prevent) them.

Related Searches: Attendance

Some guests might bring friends, causing the party to go over your apartment's capacity and spill into the hallway. Other guests might end up RSVPing but not actually attend, making your party smaller than expected. If you’re afraid that few people will come, advertise the apartment party as much as you can using word of mouth and the Internet. Even though there’s limited space, too few people will make your event feel like a get-together instead of an actual party.
When a party gets so crowded that people do not know where to stand or sit, people do not enjoy themselves. So only invite as many people as you can fit while maintaining a comfortable distance between everyone. As a rule of thumb, invite one person per 10 square feet, only counting the areas where you will allow your guests to go.

Neighbors

Parties can get loud and fellow tenants might complain. To avoid that, try to keep the music down -- or better yet, consider inviting your neighbors, who might give you a pass on the loud music if they're enjoying it themselves. If you don’t want to invite them, at least let them know that you’re having a party soon and give them your number so they can call if things sound like they are getting out of hand. When your neighbors expect the party, they might be more accepting of it or plan to be out of the house during the party.

Food and Drinks

Consider offering light fare that doesn’t take a lot of work. Some apartments can get crowded and see guests spill over into the kitchen, making it harder to cook for a lot of people. But people often expect party snacks, so stick with low-maintenance munchies like vegetable dip, chips and salsa. Have a lot of refreshments and place a drink cooler in the kitchen, closest to where people will be congregating, so people can easily access it. Also, make sure a garbage receptacle is easily accessed so fewer people leave their drinks strewn about and cause a cluttered scene.

Location

If you’ve recently moved into a new apartment, make sure to provide guests with all the information they need to find your party. Get to know the area well enough that you can make after-party suggestions for nightclubs, bars or late-night activities -- think cosmic bowling -- if the festivities stretch too far into the night. This not only can spice up the night as a whole, but it's also a great back-up excuse to get everyone out of the house in case the party gets out of control early.

ReferencesThe Cornell Daily Sun: Throwing Parties that Don’t SuckApartment Home Living: 5 Ways to Throw an Apartment Party Without Getting Thrown OutApartment Search: Throwing an Apartment Warming PartyRenter's Insurance: Tips For Urban Edge: Apartment Party Hosting: Do's and Don'tsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Mount Rushmore Halloween Costume Ideas

Mount Rushmore costumes are a clever Halloween alternative.

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Halloween is an exciting time for many youngsters as they walk around their neighborhoods, going from house to house to collect candy. As youngsters get older, the emphasis shifts from candy and treats to elaborate costumes. Funny, sexy, original and clever costumes often get the biggest reactions. Creating a Mount Rushmore costume will be sure to get you noticed.

Related Searches: Make An Impression

The four-in-one Mount Rushmore costume will be sure to make an impression as you walk around on Halloween. It would be unusual to see a two-in-one costume or a three-in-one costume, but to see four people joined together may be shocking to anyone who opens the door after you ring the bell.

Easy Mount Rushmore Set -Up

Take a king-sized sheet and cut four holes in it, big enough for you and three of your friends to put your heads through. You can set up a the effect by each of you dressing up as the four presidents on Mount Rushmore. As George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, you will need wigs, white powder and makeup.

One-Person Setup

The one-person setup involves constructing your own costume with paper mache. The point of this costume is that you will make your own mold of Mount Rushmore and form the heads of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. You will leave a blank spot for Roosevelt and stick your own head through that spot. Use powder, makeup and glasses to match Roosevelt's look on Mount Rushmore.

Alternative Mount Rushmore

A more unique take on a Mount Rushmore Halloween costume involves substituting Hall-of-Fame football coach Mike Ditka for Thomas Jefferson. This means you have Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt along with Ditka on your Mount Rushmore. This is just one alternative. You can use your favorite movie star, athlete, late-night talk-show host or politician as the fourth face of Mount Rushmore.

ReferencesDisneyFamily.com: Halloween Costume ContestDisneyitis.com: Last Minute Halloween Costume IdeasCostumePop.com: Unpopular Halloween CostumesPhoto Credit Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Hang Hardibacker

Print this articleHardibacker is a proprietary brand of cement board manufactured and sold by James Hardie Building Products, Inc. It is similar in appearance to drywall, but contains a water-resistant center core, making it ideal for use in bathrooms and other high-moisture locations. It also provides a sturdy base for tile installations, and is applied on walls, counters and floors before tiling the areas. Even novices can install Hardibacker, since the process requires no special tools.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedTape measureStraight edgeCarbide-tipped scoring knifeStud finderPencil1 5/8-inch corrosion-resistant roofing nailsHammerThinset mortarTrowel2-inch mesh tapeUtility knifeSuggest Edits1

Measure the height of the wall on which you are hanging the Hardibacker board using a tape measure. Lay a sheet of the board on a table and measure the height to determine if it requires cutting.

2

Place a straightedge perpendicular to the board across the location where you need to cut it. Hold the straightedge down firmly and draw the blade of a carbide-tipped scoring knife along the straightedge. Set the straightedge aside and grasp the side of the board, pulling it up sharply to snap off the unneeded portion.

3

Locate all of the studs in the wall using a stud finder tool. Mark the location of each stud on the ceiling or the floor with a pencil.

4

Place the Hardibacker board up to the left edge of the wall and insert 1 5/8 corrosion-resistant roofing nails every 8 inches into the studs with a hammer.

5

Continue cutting and hanging additional boards in the same manner, pushing the edges as close as possible.

6

Spread a layer of thinset mortar into all the steams between the boards using a trowel.

7

Press 2-inch mesh tape over all seams so it sits firmly in the thinset. Cut the mesh tape off flush with the ceiling and floor using a utility knife. Apply more thinset on top of the mesh tape until you can no longer see it.

8

Wait 24 hours to allow the thinset to dry completely and then proceed with installing the tile on the wall.

Tips & Warnings

Wear a dusk mask or respirator when working with cement board, and use a wet vacuum or HEPA vacuum for cleanup to avoid breathing in silica dust.

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ReferencesJamesHardie: HardieBacker 1/4" BoardJamesHardie: Installation GuideJamesHardie: Installation VideoRead Next:

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Building a Cabinet to Replace a Breakfast Bar

A kitchen island with a breakfast bar can only accommodate cabinets on one side.

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Breakfast bars provide space for eating in a kitchen, but for homeowners who prefer to eat in a formal dining room, the breakfast bar can represent wasted space. One option is building cabinets to replace the space once occupied by a breakfast bar. Turning a breakfast bar into additional kitchen cabinets is a relatively simple process that only requires basic carpentry skills.

Related Searches: Cabinet Location

Planning to build a cabinet to replace a breakfast bar requires some key decisions at the outset, including the location of the new cabinets. For a breakfast bat that is part of a kitchen island, you may only want cabinets below the counter's overhand. A wall-mounted breakfast bar, however, offers the option of installing cabinets above or below the existing countertop, or in both locations. If you have a mobile breakfast bar that typically stays in one part of the kitchen, you may choose to expand existing cabinets in that area.

Breakfast Bar Removal

In some cases you may want to remove a wall-mounted breakfast bar to install a cabinet that makes use of the maximum amount of space. Wall-mounted breakfast bars typically rest on braces and brackets that are attached to studs in the wall below the bar's surface. You can use the same studs for mounting your cabinet, which will need to be affixed to the wall whether it hangs from above or rests on the floor.

Constructing Cabinets

Building your own cabinets consists of building a basic wooden box, then attaching a door or drawer. Since the cabinet facing will conceal the material used to build the box, you can use any type of low-cost material, including plywood. Prefabricated cabinet doors, which sometimes come with all of the hinges you need for installation, are a time-saving option that will give your homemade cabinet a professional look.

Pros and Cons

The primary benefit of is the addition of storage space to your kitchen. However, it also makes enjoying a quick meal or snack in the kitchen more difficult. If you eat in a formal dining room, be aware that eliminating a breakfast bar in the kitchen will give new owners no choice but to do the same; that could be an unattractive feature for the sale. Cabinets above the location of an old breakfast bar also reduce countertop space available for meal prep.

ReferencesRockler Woodworking and Hardware: Making Your Own Kitchen CabinetsKitchen Cabinet Depot: Kitchen Cabinets DesigningResourcesThis Old House: Smart Kitchen Storage SolutionsPhoto Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Dress for a Company Dinner

Wearing a ties wil make a good impression for a formal dinner.

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Going to a company dinner means you want to impress, or at the very least not stick out for wearing the wrong thing. The correct way to dress for a work function will depend, in part, on the kind of clothes you wear in the workplace. It's important to look your best, so make time not only to pick out the right outfit, but to ensure you're generally well-groomed, as well.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedPants, skirt or dressShirt or blouseTie (optional)Suit jacket or blazerDress shoesAccessoriesSuggest Edits1

Dress professionally. This means wear clothes that would be appropriate for the office, not for french fries and a movie with friends.

2

Take note of what you normally wear to work and take cues from this. If your work is very formal, men should wear a suit with dress shoes, a shirt and a tie and women should wear a pant or skirt suit or a simple tailored dress with a fitted blazer.

3

Dress smart casual, if this is more appropriate to your workplace. To get this look, men should wear dress pants and shoes with a colored shirt and a blazer, but no tie and women should wear a smart skirt or pants with a blouse or simple dress.

4

Complete your outfit with the right accessories. Men should wear a good belt and cuff links. Women should wear a simple necklace or bracelet and small ear studs, if she wear earrings.

Tips & Warnings

A woman shouldn't wear anything low cut or revealing to a company dinner, as this might stop other staff members from taking her seriously.

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References"Real Simple": How to Dress for Any Occasion - Business DinnerFashion Industry Network; What To Wear To A Business Dinner; Catherine Horgan; January 2009Wardrobe Advice; What To Wear To A Business Dinner; July 2009Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Craft Ideas for a Tea Party With Dolls

Choose crafts that guests and dolls can enjoy.

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Break out the crafts while sipping tea at your next tea party with dolls. Craft ideas celebrate the occasion while including the guests and the dolls. Some ideas include doll party hats, polymer clay treats, doll jewelry and edible crafts. These types of tea parties with dolls encourage imaginative play and friendship.

Related Searches: Party Hats

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How to Hold a Man Cave Home Party

Print this articleMan Cave is the male answer to Mary Kay products and parties. Man Cave is a company that specializes in products for the grill, such as steak knives, grill brushes, drinking accessories and other outdoor grilling items. The products are sold through Man Cave parties called MEATings. The MEATings are for men only. Hosting your own Man Cave party is as simple as picking up the phone and requesting one.

Related Searches:Difficulty:EasyInstructions 1

Call Man Cave Worldwide and request a free MEATing. The company can be reached through their website (see Resource section). Arrange the time and date of the party with a Man Cave guide. Ask the lady of the house to spend some time with her friends on that day. Man Cave parties are for men only.

2

Invite your friends to the party. Let them know they won't need to bring anything. There will be plenty to eat and drink, plus entertainment and games. Inform your friends that this is going to be a party for men and tell them to expect to have a blast.

3

Set up the grill the day of the party. You may need more than one. Your Man Cave guide will arrive with steaks, burgers, brats, Leinenkugel's beer, Pay Per View TV and a lineup of exclusive Man Cave games for your guests and you to enjoy.

4

Talk with the host, mingle with your guests and enjoy the food and activities. Your Man Cave guide will set up a selection of Man Cave grilling products for your buddies and you to browse through. No purchase is necessary.

Tips & Warnings

If you'd rather take the party to people, you can sign up to be a Man Cave guide on the Man Cave website and receive a 25-percent commission on sales you make as a Man Cave guide.

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ReferencesMan Cave WorldwideAjc: Man Cave; Party Sales for the Red Meat CrowdRead Next:

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How to Dress for Dinner at a House

Ask your host for direction when picking attire.

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When dining at someone's house – whether it's a dinner party or a casual invitation to join the family at their regular meal – you should take just as much care in your attire and appearance as you would if you were dining out at a nice restaurant. Showing up to a dinner party in clothes that are dirty, torn or too casual or provocative shows your host that you don't consider it an honor to be invited to their home. It is important to ensure that your attire is always appropriate when visiting someone else's house for dinner.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions 1

Ask the host beforehand if the occasion is casual or formal and whether it will be a small and intimate dinner or more of a party with a large guest list. For a simply prepared meal and few guests, choose a more casual outfit. If the dinner is more of a banquet involving several courses and elaborate preparation – or if the host is intending to introduce you to someone – choose attire that is more formal but also fashionable.

2

Wear an outfit that makes you feel comfortable. You don't want to wear your pajamas, but when you're at someone's house, you want to feel relaxed. Clothing that's too constricting, elaborate or formal will have you fidgeting all night and make your host and the other guests uncomfortable as well.

3

Add an accessory to your outfit. A colorful scarf, a statement necklace, a pocket swatch or a vintage wristwatch will add just enough punch to garner compliments and conversation. Keep it to one or two accessories to avoid looking overdressed.

4

Bring a pair of glamorous earrings or a dashing dinner jacket in case the occasion turns out to be more formal than you expected.

5

Look at yourself in a full-length mirror before heading out to make sure everything looks right. Your outfit should be clean, fresh-smelling and in pristine condition with no tears or stains.

Tips & Warnings

Always bring a gift for your host. A bottle of wine, a dessert or flowers are customary.

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ReferencesCater Hater: How to Dress for a Dinner PartyReal Simple: How to Dress For Any Occasion: The Dinner PartyResourcesThe Dinner Party Planning Site: Dinner Party Etiquette - What Should You Know About It?Newport Manners: Ask DidiPhoto Credit Christopher Robbins/Digital Vision/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Five Steps to Throwing a Party

Decorations help make a party feel festive.

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Throwing a party can be as simple or complicated as you would like, depending on how extravagant you want it to be. Regardless of the complexity, use the same basic framework to plan each aspect of the party and make it an event that all of the guests will enjoy.

Related Searches: Theme

Selecting a theme for the party can help you plan a cohesive event around a particular focus. The theme should be tied to the occasion, if there is one. If not, consider the season of the year or the type of people you would like to have at the party to determine a theme. For example, if the party is a child's birthday celebration, pick one of the child's interests or hobbies for the theme. If it is a summer evening party, consider a garden theme or a regional theme for the cuisine and decorations.

Date and Location

Schedule the time and arrange the venue for the party. Avoid holiday weekends, when guests might be out of town. If there are any specific people who you feel need to be there, you can also ask them if they are available on the date you are interested in. If you would like to hold the party at a venue outside your home, look into banquet halls, restaurants, community centers and hotel conference centers. Consider how many guests you need to accommodate and how much space you need for activities, such as dancing. Check the availability on your desired date and book the venue you decide on.

Invitations

Designing a creative invitation can increase potential guests' interest in the party. Send them between two months and two weeks in advance. The more formal the gathering is, earlier you should send the invitations. Choose invitations that match the feel of the party and hint at the theme. Casual handwritten invitations are fine for a summer gathering, but a more formal event deserves printed invitations with some special touches, such as raised lettering or metallic accents.

Schedule and List

A well-planned party needs a schedule so you know what will happen on the day of the party. Write the sequence of events, from your arrival at the venue to set up all the way through to the guests' departure. Next to each event, list the items you will need to purchase or rent. These include decorations, food, drinks, table settings, items for the games or activities and party favors to give the guests as they leave.

Setting Up

The day of the party can be chaotic unless you are well prepared. Friends and family members might be willing to come early and help you set up the party by hanging decorations, moving furniture, setting up a dance floor or decorating the table for a meal. Prepare the food or coordinate with the caterer to have the food delivered and set up at the correct time. Plan the party day schedule to allow yourself at least a half hour to get yourself together before guests arrive, so you can be relaxed and looking your best.

ReferencesParty Spot: Party Planning -- Checklist of To-DosParty Spot: Birthday Parties -- Getting StartedPhoto Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Ideas for Fun Beach Attire for Groomsmen

Make your beach wedding memorable with groomsmen attire to suit any style preference.

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Beach weddings are romantic, formal affairs that manage to maintain a casual, relaxed atmosphere in a way that few other events can. Every member of the bridal party has important decisions to make when it comes to what can and should be worn at a beach wedding. While there aren’t any hard and fast rules for what groomsmen should wear to a beach wedding, there are a number of acceptable options that the bride and groom can tailor to their style and preferences.

Related Searches: Informal Attire

Hawaiian shirts and shorts are sporty, casual and festive outfits appropriate for an informal beach wedding. A couple with a low-key, dressed-down ceremony with only a few friends and guests may favor this type of attire for their groomsmen. It may also be a good option for groomsmen who may not be at a stage in life where they have enough disposable income to afford a tuxedo rental or to purchase a linen suit. Choose to dress the groomsmen in matching Hawaiian shirts that complement your wedding colors and theme or allow them to each select their own Hawaiian shirts. If you have a school or professional sports team that you strongly support, show your spirit by dressing your groomsmen in Hawaiian shirts that incorporate your team or university name or mascot.

Casual Attire

Beach weddings are by their very nature more casual than wedding ceremonies held in churches, houses of worship, country clubs, hotels or even in gardens. For that reason, beach weddings lend themselves well to relaxed, casual attire for groomsmen. Clothe groomsmen in white linen button down shirts and either khaki or dark-colored trousers. Ditch the tie and leave the outer linen shirt open. Wear a plain white T-shirt underneath. Your groomsmen may choose to surprise the couple with a personal message scrawled across the backs of their shirts, which they reveal at the end of the ceremony. Add a little energy and creativity to the relaxed, casual look by having groomsmen dress in bright-colored sneakers with their fresh linen outfits. This look works especially well with an all-white linen outfit.

Semi-Formal Attire

Beach weddings held in the evening or which feature a more elaborate set up including a white satin cloth aisle and chairs on the sand call for more formal attire than khakis and white linen shirts. For a more formal look, groomsmen may wear tan or khaki colored suits paired with white dress shirts and white satin ties. Colorful or tropical flowers can be worn in the lapel of the suit coats to add a tropical touch to the suits. Alternatively, navy blue, charcoal or black wool or linen suits paired with white dress shirts and dark ties also work as semi-formal attire options for a more formal beach wedding.

Unique Attire Options

Consider a sailor costume for your groomsmen if you want something unique and fun. Or, put the men in grass skirts and either leis or shark bone necklaces for a tropical look. Wet suits and snorkels complete with fins and snorkel masks are hilarious and out-of-the-ordinary wedding attire that may fit a few couples’ personality and style. Swim trunks and flip flops may suit the most casual of couples who enjoy surfing and beach culture and feel their wedding wouldn’t be right without conducting it in the casual clothes they wear everyday.

ResourcesWedding Channel: Groom’s Attire for a Beach WeddingPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Themes for Potluck Dinners

A potluck with all Asian food is an example of an ethnic-themed meal.

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Unlike traditional dinner parties, potlucks require each guest to bring at least one dish, which means that the menu is always new and unexpected. These meals can be a good way to share the work and your favorite recipes with others, however, without structure, they can become a hodgepodge of unrelated dishes. Introduce a theme to your dinner to give your potluck a common purpose. Common ideas to spark your imagination include ethnic, historical, seasonal and literary potluck dinners.

Related Searches: Ethnic

Choose a country, continent or ethnic group and ask your guests to bring a cultural dish. This kind of potluck works well if you have regularly scheduled meals with the same group, allowing you to pick a different culture each meal. Broaden your menu to include American-style ethnic cuisine, such as chop suey and frozen burritos, or narrow it to include only foods made with traditional ingredients and styles of preparation. For an added touch, modify your dining style to match that of the represented culture, including table service and manners. Another alternative is to ask each guest to bring a dish representing a cultural heritage and enjoy the mix of ethnic flavors.

Historical

Choose a time period, such as the Civil War era or the 1920s and assign each of your guests the task of researching and preparing a period dish. Try unusual foods, such as roasted hog's head and pheasant from the Medieval period, or appreciating your grandparents' sacrifices in a new way as you eat food with ingredients rationed during World War II. Host a potluck that centers around a historical event, such as the first Thanksgiving or the founding of your city.

Seasonal

Potlucks can be a good way to celebrate the change in weather with an assortment of your favorite seasonal flavors. Ask everyone to bring a pumpkin or cranberry dish to celebrate fall, their favorite soup or cold-weather comfort food to welcome winter and a flower-themed food when spring comes again. Since many potlucks take place during the summer, ask your friends to bring a non-traditional dish to pass around during summer potlucks -- no potato salad, noodle salad, fried chicken or jellos allowed. Mix up the holidays, such as celebrating with your favorite Christmas treats in July or hot dogs and hamburgers in January.

Literary

If your guests enjoy reading, ask them to prepare a dish described in a favorite book. This is a good way to combine ethnic, historical and seasonal potlucks into one. If several people are reading the same work of literature, consider adding dishes that the author was known to enjoy or that he may have eaten regularly during his time period or in his native country. Prepare foods reflecting the book's theme or genre, such as dishes with secret ingredients for a mystery novel or a kosher meal for a story that takes place in WWII Germany.

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Tips on Hosting Potluck Dinner Parties

Everyone contributes to the meal at a potluck dinner.

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Throwing a potluck dinner takes away some of the pressure you feel preparing an entire meal in the kitchen, but such parties require more effort in their coordination. Taking charge of a potluck puts on your shoulders the responsibility of ensuring that the hodgepodge of dishes brought has a cohesiveness when served. A properly pulled-off potluck should be a fulfilling feast for a fellowship of friends and family.

Related Searches: Divide and Conquer

At least two weeks in advance of the party, assign each attendee to the potluck a dish type to bring. To have enough food for a potluck party of 10 to 12 people, Francine Halvorsen in "Crowd-Pleasing Potluck: 225 Delicious Recipes Guaranteed to Win Rave Reviews," recommends serving two or three appetizers, two side dishes, bread and butter, two desserts, one salad and one main dish to serve one dozen people. Scale the amounts up or down as needed for the event.

Pick a Theme

Establish a theme to guide the guests in choosing dishes to bring for the potluck dinner. Ideas include picnic dishes, Mexican foods, Italian foods and regional favorites. With a theme, the dishes will have a connection and the meal will not seem haphazard or ill-planned. Have recipe suggestions ready for guests who cannot think of a dish to bring.

Last-Minute Preparation

When each guest responds to the party invitation, find out the dish he is bringing and any preparation needed just before the party. Set up the table for putting potluck dishes near an electric outlet if the guest's dish must be kept warm in a slow cooker. Have plenty of ice for keeping cold dishes cold. Clean out your refrigerator to store cold dishes until serving. Have at least one serving utensil per dish for the table and plates, eating utensils and napkins for everyone coming to the party. Set aside resealable food containers for guests to take home leftovers.

Labels and Recipes

Ask each of the guests bringing a potluck dish to provide a recipe for it in case other attendees want a copy. Set stacks of the recipes on a separate table from the dishes. Label each of the potluck dishes brought to accommodate those with dietary restrictions and allergies.

References"Crowd-Pleasing Potluck: 225 Delicious Recipes Guaranteed to Win Rave Reviews"; Francine Halvorsen; 2007"How to Organize Just About Everything: More Than 500 Step-by-step Instructions for Everything from Organizing Your Closets to Planning a Wedding to Creating a Flawless Filing System"; Peter Walsh; 2004"Vegetarian Times"; A Moveable Feast; Patsy Jamieson; December 1999Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Things That Entertain Dogs When Not at Home

A well-entertained dog is less destructive.

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Sometimes you must leave your dog at home alone for a few hours so that you can work or run errands. Setting up a system so that your dog stays entertained and responds well to being left alone is the key to ensuring that you don't come home to ripped or ruined furniture or a destroyed house.

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Dogs have an excellent sense of smell, and they are motivated by the scent of treats to entertain themselves. Make a puzzle box to keep your dog occupied when you have to leave it home alone. Fill a box with crumpled newspaper, then insert tasty treats amongst the pieces of paper. Tape up the box securely with duct tape, and cut a few small holes in the sides. The holes will let the scent of the treats escape to tantalize your dog, and it will have a great time tearing up the box to get to them.

Old Toys New

Just like a child, your dog becomes bored of playing with the same toys day after day. If you put some of its toys away and bring them back out after a few months, or even weeks, your dog will feel like it has new toys and become engaged and entertained by them all over again. Buy a plastic storage bin to house your dog's toys, and rotate them in and out of his play area.

Doggie Door

If you have a dog-friendly backyard, install a doggie door so that your pet can go in and out while you're gone for the day. The freedom to go outside will not only entertain your dog, it will save you from having to clean up accidents later in the day. Purchase a pet door that comes with a locking panel you can slide down at night to keep raccoons and other unwanted guests from entering your house in search of food.

Before and After

Make a habit of creating "before-you-leave" and "after-you-return" routines with your dog. Developing routines helps your dog get prepared for being left alone, so it is less likely to respond badly. Take your dog for a walk before you leave; give it a treat; ensure it has plenty of water and feed it. When you get home, set aside time to give attention to your pet. Walking your dog again, playing with it or just providing petting and pampering time are ways to reward your dog for good behavior while you were gone.

ReferencesAmerican Kennal Club: Be a Responsible Dog OwnerSuper Happy Pets: Keeping Your Dog Active While You're AwayTeaching Puppies; Ways to Entertain a Bored Puppy; July 14, 2009Photo Credit Photos.com/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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What to Serve With a Quiche at a Tea Party

A variety of sweets complement a quiche at a tea party.

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Quiche is the perfect entree to serve at a tea party. You can complete your menu with foods that complement your main course. Tea party fare is usually light. Presentation is key to a successful gathering, so your menu should include different colors and textures and accommodate different tastes. Before you select your menu, select the teas; you can serve two or three. Create an affair to remember with good food, satisfying tea and warm friends.

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Soup is an appropriate first course for your tea party -- hot soup in autumn and winter, cold soup in spring and summer. Variations of consomme and bisque are good options. The soup should complement the entree. For example, if you serve seafood quiche, consider lobster bisque. However, you want to have a variety of foods on hand to accommodate different tastes. Garnish soup with sprigs of parsley, decorative crackers and scallions. Gourmet grocers, party planners and specialty stores can help you make appropriate choices.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables complement quiche. Salad greens add color and texture to the table. Try lettuce, cabbage and spinach. Fruit salads are another option. Edible fruit sculptures double as table centerpieces. Arrange melon chunks on a serving dish for a colorful display. A mixed vegetable platter is a healthy and colorful choice. Include dressings for green salads and dips for fruits and vegetables.

Sandwiches

Open-faced cucumber sandwiches are a traditional tea party staple; however, you may select deli meats and cheeses if you prefer. Finger sandwiches are mini-sandwiches made with crustless bread in cookie-cutter shapes. If your tea party is for a holiday or special occasion, choose shapes that reflect the theme. Pumpernickel, rye bread or mini croissants are a change from traditional white sandwich bread.

Sweets

Sweets complement quiche. Scones -- traditional English fare -- are little sweet breads that work well. You may choose to serve one sweet or a combination. Wafers, decorative crackers, mini muffins, danish and cookies are good options. Bite-size cakes and pies give your guests several choices. Mints work for any occasion. Check with your local bakery or confectionery for inspiration.

Nuts

Nuts complement your quiche entree and are a welcome addition to your tea party. Whole cashews, roasted peanuts and pistachios are good choices. Mixed nuts are less expensive than single nut choices. Serve salted and unsalted nuts to accommodate dietary needs.

ReferencesTeaPartyGirl.com: Steps to Creating a Memorable Tea Party MenuVictorian Bazaar; Victorian Tea Parties-The History of the Tea TraditionPhoto Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Repurposing Ideas for Entertainment Cabinets

Use the existing construction of an entertainment cabinet to your advantage.

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Many large, sturdy entertainment cabinets were made for older TVs and do not work with sleeker, newer models. Instead of throwing out the cabinet or going through the trouble of hauling it to a thrift store, repurpose it into a new piece of furniture for your home.

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Convert an entertainment center into a set of shelves. Dismantle the entertainment cabinet so you end up with a set of planks. With simple wall-mounted brackets from a hardware store, create shelving attachments; rest the planks on top of the brackets. Take care of the unfinished edges by painting the entire board or touching up the raw sides with the same stain color. If you have a larger entertainment center, turn the larger side panels into a desk top or a countertop.

Armoire

If you have a tall entertainment cabinet, turn it into an armoire for storage or as a wardrobe in a room that doesn't have much closet space. Depending on the size of the cabinet, you can remove shelves and add a hanging bar to make space for clothing. Use smaller bottom cabinets or shelves to hold shoes or accessories; an entertainment center can also store out-of-season clothing. Customize the cabinet by adding a shoe rack to the inside back or side, jewelry grids to the inside of the doors and mirrors on the inside doors.

Multi-Purpose Storage

Most entertainment centers have both open and closed storage areas that are ideal for storing a variety of items. Remove any television mounting hardware or doors from the larger upper area, and install simple shelves for books, photos or decor. Use the bottom area to store extra pillows and blankets. If you have children, store toys and books in the entertainment center.

Office Nook

Give an old entertainment center new life by turning it into a space-saving office nook. Remove all of the doors and shelves to leave an open frame. If the entertainment center has a bottom base, cut away a section to allow for your legs and a chair; install a shelf across at waist height to act as a desktop that will hold a computer and printer. On the interior back of the entertainment cabinet, put up a bulletin board or smaller shelves to hold office supplies.

ReferencesRe-Nest: Entertainment Center Recycled Into Shelves!Home Made Simple: Repurpose and restore TipsPhoto Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Things to Bring to a Potluck Dinner

Keep in mind the potluck's location when choosing your dish-to-pass.

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When deciding what dish to bring to a potluck, keep in mind the location of the gathering and the tastes of the people who are attending. It wouldn't do to make a pot of hot soup in the middle of summer or bring turkey meatloaf to a potluck for vegetarians. Once you have the event's details, start thinking about which one of your recipes you feel comfortable making for a large group of people.

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Dishes like lasagna, sloppy joes, chili, pulled pork sandwiches and casseroles are perfect for feeding a crowd. However, hot food can become unappetizing as it cools. Check with the potluck coordinator to find out if there are outlets available for slow cookers and electric roasters to keep your food hot. Consider using chafing dishes to keep the food warm if you are outside or in a building without outlets.

Cold Food

Salads, cold pasta dishes, fresh fruit and vegetables, dips and salsas are just a few of the many dishes you can take to a potluck. Because these dishes don't require a heat source and can be easy to make, cold food is a popular potluck option. Ask the party coordinator or other people attending what they are planning to bring to avoid making the same food. Fill large pans or bowls with ice to keep cold food from spoiling during summer parties or locations without refrigeration.

Desserts

Individually sized desserts, like cookies or cupcakes, are easy for people to grab, since they don't have to pry a piece out of the pan. Frosted sheet cakes and brownies are easy to make and can feed a lot of people. Precutting cakes and pies before the party will save time, especially if the event is outside and there isn't a knife available. Remember to bring serving utensils for pies, cakes and other desserts that need to be served from the pan.

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What Is an Inexpensive Way to Throw a Children's Party in NYC?

eHow Food, Rachael Ray and her Buddies want to show you how to get more out of every day, every meal and every moment.

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Damages to Copper Piping Caused by Salt Systems for Swimming Pools

Salt water pool systems offer conveniences for homeowners. They eliminate the discomfort associated with normal chlorination systems and they are easy to maintain. But one of the biggest grievances of salt water systems, as expressed by homeowners, i...

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Ideas for Dinner Party Table Favors

Match your guest favors to your party theme.

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If you're hosting an upcoming dinner party, it's always a good idea to purchase party favors for your guests. Although they are certainly not necessary, they are a thoughtful way of thanking your guests for their presence. When choosing favors, consider your guests' interests and the theme of your dinner party.

Related Searches: Themed Favor

If your dinner party has a theme, choose guest favors that match your theme. Examples include seeds or miniature birdhouses for a garden-themed party, flip-flops or beach bags for a beach-themed party, silk fans or fortune cookies for an Asian-themed party, or mittens or scarves for a winter-themed party. Other favor ideas include cookie cutters, bookmarks or books that match your theme.

Personalized Favor

Many items can be custom ordered with your guests' names or initials, including coasters, tea light holders, note pads, decks of cards, ornaments and cosmetic bags. Alternatively, you could purchase metal favors and have them engraved with your guests' names. Ideas include jewelry, cuff links, money clips, pens, mini keepsake boxes and serving pieces.

Edible Favor

Edible favors are popular choices for most events. They don't have to match your party's theme or color scheme, but they certainly can. Examples include homemade cookies with the recipe attached, gourmet popcorn, jumbo lollipops, jam jars, pouches of hot chocolate with chocolate-dipped spoons, gourmet candy apples, mini boxes of truffles and mint tins.

Alcohol-Related Favor

If the guests attending your dinner party enjoy alcohol, then an alcohol-related favor may be the way to go. Examples include shot glasses, wine stoppers, bottle openers, miniature bottles of premium alcohol, cocktail kits, cocktail recipe refrigerator magnets, cocktail shakers, flasks, beer koozies and alcohol-flavored chocolates.

ReferencesBirthday Party Ideas 101: Unique Party Favors for AdultsGreat Birthday Party Ideas: Birthday Party FavorsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Operate a Sunflower Field Cultivator

Sunflower Corporation has been in business since 1941 when it only sold one line of products. Today, Sunflower manufactures farming implements that are sold by approximately 750 dealers in the United States, as well as other countries . Sunflower se...

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How to Hide Home Entertainment Cabling

Don't let your television cabling dangle.

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Incorrectly hiding your home entertainment cabling can result in several bad outcomes. For example, if you choose to hide the cables under the rug, you could end up with a lumpy carpet that might become a safety hazard over which you, your family or guests continually trip. Trying to hide them in the wall could result in your having to punch several holes in the walls and then repair them afterward. Correctly hiding your home entertainment cables will leave you with a professional “wireless” look without compromising safety and without damaging your home.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedWire tiesMiniature prybarCable baseboardHammerFinishing nailsRulerHalf-moon cable guardU-tacksPaint (that matches your wall)PaintbrushSuggest Edits1

Bind the wires together using the wire ties at an interval of every six to eight inches. This will create one composite cable instead of multiple wires that trail in all sorts of directions.

2

Remove your baseboard using the miniature prybar.

3

Run the composite wire along the base of your carpet.

4

Cover the composite wire with the cable baseboard. Cable baseboard has a hollow backing that will house the wires. It also has nail holes that will keep the nail from hitting the underlying cables and vertical cable slots that allow you to insert cables or allow them to exit to a speaker or electric socket.

5

Thread the electric cables to the electric sockets and the speaker wires to your speakers.

6

Nail the cable baseboard into place using the hammer and finishing nails.

7

Measure the wall distance from the baseboard to the electric socket using the ruler.

8

Cut the half-moon cable guard to a length equal to the wall distance with a hand saw.

9

Thread the cable into the half-moon cable guard. Half-moon cable guard consists of a convex, half-column of tubing that fits flat against the wall and hides the wires in the rounded, hollow portion.

10

Nail the half-moon cable guard into place using the hammer and U-tacks, spacing the U-tacks at two-inch intervals. U-tacks consist of horseshoe-shaped nails that straddle the cable guard, holding it into place.

11

Paint the half-moon cable guard with the matching wall paint and paintbrush. Allow 24 hours for it to dry.

12

Run the loose wires along the back base of your equipment.

ReferencesCrutchfield: Tips and Techniques for Home A/V Cable ManagementPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Dinner Party Activities for a Business Dinner

A business dinner often includes ice-breakers and other games for dinner party members to get to know each other better.

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Large and small businesses alike host business dinners to bring together clients and colleagues, to celebrate the company's success, employee promotions or to finalize a business deal. Often held in restaurants, it is important to use ice breakers that encourage conversations and prevent awkward silence among guests that might not know each other well. In addition, dinner games help maintain team spirit after hours.

Related Searches: Interview the Other Guests

Divide the guests into pairs and ask them to interview each other for about three minutes. Each interviewer must find three interesting facts about their partner. Then gather the guests at the dinner table and ask them to present three facts about their partner to the other guests. Give the participants one minute to present their facts, then keep moving until each guest has said something. Ideally, this game is played before dinner, as it encourages conversation.

Fact or Fiction?

Provide each guest with pen and paper, and ask each guest to write three things about themselves that other group members would not know. Two would be true statements and one must be false. Each guest will read aloud the three facts, asking which statement is false. This activity generates conviviality and helps guests and leaders know each other better. However, guests should refrain from revealing intimate details about their lives, to prevent embarrassment in the office.

Ask Questions of Other Guests

To stimulate conversations, give each guest a piece of paper with a series of questions to ask other guests. Questions can include who has the most unusual hobby, the most embarrassing experience, the favorite meal a guest has ever had and where it was or which holiday destination they found interesting. This game may be played before dinner, since it helps the guest to mix, as each guest talks to the other guests.

Message Under a Plate

The phrase game involves printing an interesting phrase or phrases on a business card and placing it under each dinner plate. Phrases such as, “I wish I could go to the moon” or "If I knew then what I know now" or "To the victor go the spoils" are commonly used. Before dinner, ask each participant to memorize the phases under their plates without sharing it with anyone else. Each guest mentions the phrases in a sentence while other guests try to figure out the phrase from the conversation. This game livens up the table and opens up conversations between guests.

ReferencesUltimate Dinner Party: Fabulous Dinner Party Games and Fun Conversation Starters; Kathy Baldwin; May 2009Divine Dinner Party: Funny Party Games and Dinner Table GamesInsight Type Pad: 40 Icebreakers for Small Groups; Grahame KnoxPhoto Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Rules for a Uniform Resource Locator

Anytime you use the Internet to browse the Web, you use Uniform Resource Locators, or URLs, as these are Web addresses. Most modern browsers are flexible and forgiving if you type a shortened form of a URL; instead of typing “http://www.yahoo.c...

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How to Display Cosmetics for a Party

Display cosmetics in an orderly fashion to make them look appealing to prospective buyers.

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A party is an efficient and enjoyable way to put cosmetics on display for friends, co-workers or neighbors. Select a theme for your cosmetics party based on the interests of your guests or based on the season during which you are holding the party. Think of themes like a wine and cheese party, fashion show, garden party or a Christmas in July party. Put your cosmetic products on display within the theme of the party to move the product out of your hands and into the homes of your guests.

Related Searches:Difficulty:EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedTable2 black tableclothsAcrylic boxes or risersLighted mirrorsPrice sheets and acrylic paper standsNew cosmetic productSuggest Edits1

Recruit a host for your cosmetics party or host the party in your home. Select your theme and purchase the props, food and drinks needed to bring it together. Consider planning a party for women only, having them make wish lists of the cosmetics they want. Follow it up a week or two later with a men’s night out in which the husbands, boyfriends and brothers of the women can purchase items from the wish lists.

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Order enough new product to put on display so that the cosmetics look new and attractive to guests. Set up a large table draped in a black cloth that reaches to the floor. Place the table in a well-lit area, beneath bright spotlights if possible.

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Arrange your cosmetic products on the table by type. For example, place eyeshadows and eyeliners in the top left corner of the table and lipsticks on the top center of the table. Set foundations, blushes and powders in another section. Place toners and skin creams in the bottom right. Fan out brushes, pads and other accessories in the center of the table.

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Use clear acrylic boxes or risers covered in black cloth to create a tiered effect for your table. Highlight the product you most want to sell by putting it on the risers and platforms. Place lighted mirrors on the table and risers so guests can open and test some of the products.

5

Place flowers, drinks, leis or other small, tactful decorations on the table to incorporate it into the theme you’ve chosen for the party. String indoor twinkling lights across the front of the table to make it attractive and to draw guests’ attention toward the table.

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Clearly mark prices on the items. Or, create a price sheet and place copies of it within acrylic paper stands so guests can easily tell what items cost. Have a “specials” table with merchandise that is marked down, on sale or cheaper when bought in bundled packages.

Tips & Warnings

Include a demonstration of the products during the party where guests can have makeup such as eyes, lips, cheeks or foundation done. Use the demonstration to highlight the benefits of the products and pique guests’ interest in purchasing them.

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ResourcesHome Party Plan Network: 101 Theme Party IdeasMake-Up USA: Cosmetics and Skin Care DisplaysMakeup-Artist-World: Professional Makeup Display CounterThe Confessions of a Product Junkie: An Attractive Way to Store Makeup BrushesPhoto Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Fun Nightstand Ideas

You can jazz up your nightstands with decorative lamps and accessories.

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Use paint, decor, embellishments and other tools to create distinctive nightstands for your bedroom or your child's room. A variety of elements fall into the realm of "fun" depending on the decor and theme of the room. An adult might like a few simple touches, while a child may want a nightstand that blends in with his circus-theme bedroom.

Related Searches: Distressed Nightstands

Distressed nightstands blend well in an old-fashioned, country or antique-theme room. You can sand down a painted nightstand to create a distressed look or buy nightstands that have already been altered. Look for a plain oak or white distressed nightstand, or find these in various colors such as teal, red or yellow. The distressed nightstands showcase plenty of color along with grooves and blemishes that make them look worn.

Decor Ideas

Dress up your nightstand with funny embellishments or decorative accents. Choose odd-shaped lamps that look like flowers or mushrooms. Place dinosaur stickers on your son's lamp shade and surround the shade with small dinosaur figurines. You can also tape silk ivy vines and silk flowers along the border and sides of your nightstands. Wrap the stems of silk flowers around the knobs. Use other nightstand decorations such as glass bowls filled with rose petals, tiny treasure chests, glass bottles, seashells and crystal figurines.

Shaped Nightstands

Shaped nightstands work especially well in theme bedrooms that feature forest, gardens or cartoon-theme rooms. Find nightstands that look similar to tree stumps or mushrooms, if you plan on designing a mystical forest room. Flower shapes go well in a girl's garden or ladybug-theme room. Colorful circular shaped nightstands can also work well in a kid's room or guest bedroom.

More Ideas

Decorate your child's nightstand with color, embellishments or other decor to blend well with the rest of the room. Paint the nightstands bright colors, if your child's room features colorful circus, rainbow or cartoon themes. You can paint the nightstand one solid color such as yellow and then paint the interior and exterior of the drawers lime green. A little girl might like a light purple nightstand with dark purple drawers and white knobs. If you don't want to paint, decorate the nightstand with cartoon decal stickers or use glue to add embellishments such as plastic butterflies or ladybugs on the drawers, border and sides of the nightstand. Glue a pink tutu around a rounded nightstand that has no drawers and only holds a lamp on top. You can also dress up a nightstand by installing fake crystal knobs and tying colorful ribbons around each knob.

ReferencesReal Simple Magazine: 20 Creative Tips for Kids’ RoomsPhoto Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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What Is the Proper Hand Position for Throwing a Bowling Ball?

The competitive sport of bowling is enjoyed by amateurs and professionals alike. From team leagues to kids' birthday parties, the sport is played with the same scoring rules. It's simple: throw more strikes and receive a better score. To throw more s...

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Activities for a "Mary Poppins" Party

eHow.comFoodHomeStyleMoneyFamilyHealthShiftMoreGardening & PlantsLandscapingInterior DesignHome Improvement This SeasonSimplify the SeasonFriendsgivingTailgating HomeWeddings & PartiesHosting & Throwing PartiesParty ActivitiesActivities for a "Mary Poppins" PartyActivities for a "Mary Poppins" PartyPrint this articleEver since the film was released in 1964, “Mary Poppins” has become one of the most popular Walt Disney movies in American pop culture. The popularity for this movie called for a Broadway musical production of the story, which has seen the stage in New York, London and Sydney. A "Mary Poppins" theme party allows fans to relive the movie experience through games, singing, activities and, of course, watching the movie.

Related Searches: Sing-A-Longs

Some of the most memorable songs from classic Disney movies come from "Mary Poppins." Many of Mary Poppins' songs are ensemble pieces – meaning they are meant for groups to sing – which allows everyone at the party to participate. Some Mary Poppins ensemble songs are “Jolly Holiday,” Let's Go Fly a Kite,” “I Love to Laugh,” “Step In Time,” “Fidelity Fiduciary Bank” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius.” Certain songs are meant for soloists, such as “Feed the Birds” and “A Spoonful of Sugar,” so partiers at a Mary Poppins party may sing these as well.

Costumes

Since the movie takes place in the early 19th century, Mary Poppins parties allow partiers to dress in costumes based on the movie's characters. While many female partiers will probably dress as Mary Poppins, other notable characters from the movie are the bird woman, Ellen (the Banks' housemaid) and Mrs. Banks. Young girls may dress as Jane Banks. Men have the option of dressing as Bert, the whimsical chimney sweeper, Mr. Banks, Uncle Albert, Admiral Boom and, for boys, Michael Banks. Some theaters host Mary Poppins march-along parties, where guests may parade across the stage in costumes from the movie.

Sidewalk Chalk Art

In “Mary Poppins,” the character, Bert, introduces the Banks children to the concept of creating sidewalk chalk art. Hosts for a "Mary Poppins" party may consider allowing their guests to express their artistic bent by drawing on their driveway using chalk. Guests may draw whatever they desire, even if their work is not derived from the movie. After the party is over, hosts can easily remove the chalk by hosing down the driveway. In case of rain, party hosts can lay a tarp over the art.

Creating Kites

The last scene of “Mary Poppins” shows Bert and the Banks Family participating in kite flying and singing “Let's Go Fly a Kite.” In honor of this scene, guests at a Mary Poppins party may build their own kite. Do so by gathering a spin and spar stick; these sticks form the cross which serves as the primary support structure for the kites. Create the frame of the kite by connecting the ends of the sticks with strings. Attach the cover (made of plastic, paper or cloth) to the frame; the cover may resemble one of the kites in the Mary Poppins movie. After attaching the flying line, tail and reel, the party guests may fly their kites.

ReferencesAll the Lyrics: Mary Poppins Soundtrack LyricsRegent Theater: Sing-A-Long Mary Poppins"Mary Poppins" film; Walt Disney Productions; 1964Jen's Skratchpad; Go and Fly a Kite; Make Your Own Kite!Read Next:

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How to Be a Successful Party Promoter

Successful party promoters can fill the dance floor.

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Party promoters partner with nightclubs to host parties or fill the club with people. Being a party promoter takes a combination of understanding the nightlife in your city, having a strong business sense and possessing an outgoing personality. Being a party promoter can be a fun job or career, however, it also takes work to ensure that business is booming and that club owners are happy.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions 1

Conduct research to know what draws people to clubs, who are the big spenders and what entices people to spend money while out on a Saturday night. Go to the parties and clubs that draw large crowd and study the people to see the habits of different groups. Notice who spends most of their time at the bar, on the dance floor or are more sedentary at tables. Talk to patrons to determine what attracts them to specific venues, the aspects that make them want to stay in that particular club and those that make them want to leave. Record every detail that you learn in a notebook or database so you retain all of the information. Use this information as a basis for developing a promotional plan.

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Approach a smaller venue to start your promoting business. The larger clubs will likely already be working with established promoters. Smaller clubs, however, may welcome the help to bring more people and, therefore, more money, into their business. Make a name for yourself by helping the smaller club increase its notoriety.

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Network and treat everyone with respect. Developing a positive reputation can help you excel at promoting. People like to work with people who are credible. Hang out at different clubs and events and get to know as many people in the business as possible. Become friends with more experienced promoters so you can learn the tricks of the trade from people who have been at it for a while.

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Learn the ins and outs of marketing, public relations and advertising. Party promoting is a business and promoters who are educated in the practices of business will likely better excel. Take classes at your local community college or university; most colleges will allow you to attend classes without becoming a matriculated student. Buy books on effective marketing tactics. Conduct informational interviews with marketing and public relations professionals. Email or call marketing associates in your area and explain that you're just starting in the promotional field and would like to speak with them for 10 or 15 minutes to learn more about the industry.

ReferencesMiami Beach 411: How To Be A Nightclub Promoter…(For Dummies)Uuniversity of California, Los Angeles Career Center: Explore CareersPhoto Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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What Do I Serve at a Tea Luncheon?

Keep your tea party classy with miniature morsels.

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Tea parties are all about charm and elegance, both of which should be reflected in your menu. Aside from being aesthetically appealing, dainty drinks and bites will help promote conversation and manners among your guests; messy, cumbersome foods are difficult to eat while mingling, so stick to neat, petite treats so your guests aren't spilling the goods, shaking hands with sticky fingers or attempting to speak with a mouth full of food.

Related Searches: Beverages

As the title of the party would suggest, the tea ought to have the spotlight at your get-together. While it's perfectly acceptable to serve a standard variety of tea, it could be more interesting to offer guests a selection of funky, exotic teabags from around the world to try. If you're hosting your party during the summer on a particularly hot day, serving iced tea might make more sense than doling out hot beverages; serve fruity flavors like raspberry or peach for a refreshing twist. Despite it being a tea party, it's possible that some guests might not be fans of the beverage. To accommodate the picky drinkers, serve ice water flavored with lemon or cucumber to maintain a sophisticated feel.

Finger Sandwiches

One of the benefits of finger sandwiches is that they can be filled with a variety of different ingredients to suit many tastes. For a sweet and salty finger sandwich combination, use items like prosciutto, fontina, arugula and fig jam as your filling. You could also keep it sophisticated and simple with sandwich fillings like cucumbers, olive tapenade or egg salad. For picky eaters, be they children or full grown, serve some options like cold cuts and cheese or even peanut butter and jelly.

Savory Bites

Punch up the snack table with some tasty bite-size morsels that will allow your guests to easily chow down and chat simultaneously. Dishes like quiche or savory tarts are simple to downsize without compromising any of the taste or sophistication; use store-bought miniatures to save time, or make your own mini bites at home by dispersing your fillings into smaller pastry containers. Serve other savory bites on the ends of toothpicks to ensure a quick and easy taste treat for your guests.

Petite Sweets

Add a touch of whimsy to your tea party by offering a spread of dazzling petite sweets for your guests to enjoy. Think French patisserie when planning out your dessert menu; include items like miniature fruit tarts, bite-size eclairs, tiny cream puffs and pastel petit fours. You can also downsize your favorite baked goods like brownies, cookies and candies if you want to keep it simple. For a little something extra to display your treats, make your own tiered serving tower by stacking a hodgepodge of teacups, plates and saucers on top of one another.

ReferencesSouthern Living: Favorite Finger Sandwiches for a LuncheonThe Tea Party Club: Tea Party FoodResourcesCraft Foxes: Upcycle Vintage Teacups Into Something NewPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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DIY Home Chinup Bar

Chinups work your arms and shoulders.

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A chinup is an exercise that works the latissimus dorsi and bicep, helping you to gain upper body strength. If you don't have the time or money for a gym membership, you can build your own chinup bar using basic plumbing parts and some lumber. This chinup bar will be positioned over a doorway, giving your legs room to swing back and forth if they need to. All of the required materials are available at your local hardware store.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll Need2-by-8-inch board, 42 inches longSaw4-inch steel pipe nipples, 2Steel flanges, 2Steel elbow joints, 23-foot double-threaded steel pipePencilDrillStud finder4-inch wood screwsScrewdriver2-inch wood screwsSuggest Edits1

Screw two 4-inch steel pipe nipples into two flanges. These and all pipes and fittings should have a three-quarter inch diameter.

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Screw an elbow joint onto the other end of each nipple.

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Screw the other ends of the elbow joints onto a 3-foot double-threaded pipe, with both flanges pointing the same direction.

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Place the finished chinup bar onto the board. Center it and mark the locations of the screw holes with a pencil.

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Drill a one-sixteenth inch pilot hole into the board at each pencil mark.

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Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs above a doorway.

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Place the board onto the wall above the door and mark the stud positions on it.

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Drill three one-sixteenth inch pilot holes through the board for each wall stud, evenly spaced. Drill matching pilot holes into the wall studs.

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Screw the board to the wall with 4-inch wood screws through the second set of pilot holes.

10

Screw the chinup bar to the board through the first set of pilot holes with 2-inch wood screws.

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Fun Necktie Ideas

Use your necktie in fun, creative ways.

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Neckties come in a wide variety of colors and patterns and are often made of soft, luxe materials, such as high-quality silks. Corporate and formal neckties are usually of subdued colors and patterns. Whereas neckties don’t usually conjure up the idea of “fun,” they lend themselves to several unusual uses. Some companies allow you to make your own fun designs to print on neckties, so you can express your personality. Silk and polyester neckties can be used to make quilts, rugs and even dresses.

Related Searches: Custom

You can express your creativity by designing your own necktie using a custom printing company. Several online printers will allow you to upload your own custom design as an image, which can be just about anything you wish. You can then choose to customize a tie, pick the fabric and color, and apply your design as a single graphic or as a tiled pattern to the tie, using an on-screen designer. They will then custom-print your tie and ship it you. You will need to be creative and able to use image design software, or you can simply use your favorite photograph as the necktie design.

Knots

Dress up any tie by trying out different styles of knots for different looks. You can use a bow tie knot to convert a regular tie into a bowtie. Try it with very colorful or highly patterned ties for a fun effect. Try a Full Windsor knot for a very dressy look. You can use a four-in-hand knot to get a fun, lopsided effect. Try other unconventional and creative ways of tying your neckties.

Quilts

You can sew lots of patterned ties together to make colorful quilts, which you can use for decorating a child’s room. You can also cut up ties into small squares and use the bits of fabric to make highly creative and decorative quilt patterns. If you have trouble coming up with design ideas, you can purchase quilt patterns which have been specially created for remnants and use them as a guide for your necktie quilts.

Rugs

Sew whole ties together in a circular or rectangular pattern to make rugs. This is an especially good way to recycle old silk neckties or tie remnants. You can create rugs and help the environment at the same time. Rugs made of ties will add a touch of flair to your décor.

Dresses

You can sew whole ties together in various combinations to make dresses. Alternatively, you can remove the stitches from the ties and use the silk or polyester fabric to create dresses, scarves or accessories. Neckties provide a rich source of fabric for creating necktie couture, which is also a good way to recycle old ties and save the environment.

ReferencesHiwaay.net: The Necktie RepositoryWiseBread.com: New Ideas for Old NecktiesArtful TiesResourcesOddee.com: 12 Strangest TiesPhoto Credit Photos.com/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Ways to Arrange Tables for a Tea Party

Create warm, welcoming table arrangements for a tea party.

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Delight your friends with more than a spot of tea; arrange the tables for a tea party in an attractive way that will catch the eyes of your guests and invite them to sit for a while. Select a theme for your tea party and use elements that coordinate with the theme to create charming table settings for the event.

Related Searches: Holiday Tea Party

Whether you are hosting your tea party during the Christmas season or near the Fourth of July, arrange the tables for the event with a holiday theme. Set the backdrop for the table with a tablecloth that coordinates with the holiday: a red or green tablecloth for Christmas or a red and white checkered tablecloth for the Fourth of July. Alternatively, use a runner and place mats on the table. Use dishes that tie into the holiday-theme, such as plates and tea cups with Christmas trees or a combination or red, white and blue plates and tea cups, for example. A centerpiece ties the theme of the table together. Try a miniature Christmas tree or a collection of red, white and blue pinwheels placed in a decorative vase.

Vintage Design

Create romantic table arrangements for your tea party using a vintage design. Floral or lace linens are an ideal choice for a vintage table arrangement. Porcelain dishes, tea cups and tea pots with a feminine floral print suit this look well. Use pieces that match, or use mismatched pieces to add further interest to the table arrangements. Use floral arrangements for the centerpieces -- hydrangea, roses and daisies, for example. Set the arrangements in the center of the tables and surround them with votive candles or tea lights.

Posh Tables

Posh table arrangements will make your guests feel like they are dining at an exclusive restaurant. Drape floor length tablecloths in dramatic colors on the tables. Consider hot pink, silver or even black. To add further interest to the tables, top the tablecloths with a sheer organza or tulle overlay in silver or gold. Set metallic chargers at each place setting and top them with clear dishes. Clear tea cups and tea kettles add to the posh look. Feature an elaborate centerpiece on this table arrangement: fill a tall, clear vase with colorful faux gemstones and insert large feathers that coordinate with the color scheme.

Ethnic Infusion

Use elements that relate to an ethnicity to create vibrant tea party table arrangements. For this type of table arrangement, select a culture to base the table design on. Choose Irish or Chinese, for example, and use elements that relate to the culture in the table arrangements. If you are using an Irish theme, cover the tables with an Irish lace tablecloth and set out green place mats at each place setting. Waterford or simple white dishes and tea cups that feature shamrocks complement this design. Add an arrangement of Bells of Ireland in the center of the table to complete the look. For a Chinese theme, drape a red or gold tablecloth on the table. Set out decorative porcelain plates on top of gold chargers. Use live bamboo and Chinese dragon figurines for the centerpieces.

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