By Michael N

Let’s all try something new and exciting this holiday season. I recently helped a couple in Florida that wanted to do something out of the box this year for the holidays. I suggested a Holiday Block Party.

This would of course only work if you live in an area where you have nice weather in December. If you are lucky enough to have this nice weather and are not dreaming of a white Christmas then let me give you some tips and ideas.

First I would make up some real nice holiday invitations to send out to your neighbors and friends. You should remember that lots of people are busy during this time of year so I would suggest doing it early in the month of December. Give a few dates and let the masses decided when it will be.

Second you will want to let all the participating houses know that they should plan on decorating the house, in festive ways depending on the religion. You have to try to accomadate everyone.

Next I hire a DJ to play holiday music as well as party music. I would have a pony ride, and orginize a few games for the even. You can find many idea’s at theblockpartyhome.com .

Someone needs to dress up like Santa and give out gifts. I would have all the parents for the participating houses get a little something for their kids and give to whoever is going to be Santa. You don’t want to leave anyone out, so when you set a household budget make sure you leave some money to buy some cheap toys to give out just in case the parents do give a gift.

Some other Idea’s. Bring the Christmas Tree out to the driveway. Hold a

50/50 raffle (you can get tickets at theblockpartyhome.com). Have a pie eating contest, just be creative.

For more basic block party ideas visit [http://www.theblockpartyhome.com]

For more basic block party ideas visit [http://www.theblockpartyhome.com]

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By Don Crass

If your company holiday parties have become a little ho hum over the years, perhaps it is time to shake things up a bit. Consider adopting a theme to help this year’s party to be the best yet. Spread the word that this year’s party is “A Winter Wonderland” and let the good times begin !

The DJ
Hiring a DJ for this type of party can make the difference between a night to remember and a night too quickly forgotten. The DJ does more than play the songs you hope to hear. It is important to realize that he or she will actually set the pace for the night and guide the guests through an evening of fun. Trust the DJ to encourage the wallflowers to participate in the evening’s various activities, to draw attention to particular highlights during the night, to coordinate the meal and generally just ensure that all party guests have a wonderful time.

The Decor
Set the stage for an evening of fun by decking the halls in wintry decor. Light blue and white are a perfect color scheme for a winter theme. Use this combination wherever you have a color choice to make: the table linens, drink napkins, etc. Sprinkle sparkling white confetti here and there and drape as many things as you can think of in shiny white tree garland. Add a few well placed snowmen (from the local craft store) and you will have transformed the room into the perfect winter scene.

The Music
Christmas music will of course be the choice for the night, but consider including classic carols from Sinatra and his contemporaries to really bring out the theme of the night.

The Games
Too many games can take a corporate party from professional to elementary in a hurry, but some clever and well chosen activities might be just the thing to get everyone into the spirit of the night.

Consider a snowman contest. Place a gift bag of “snowman supplies” at each table. The “snow” can be a container of white modeling clay for kids. The snowman’s accessories can be fashioned from various other craft supplies you will include in the bag such as buttons, modeling clay in other colors, bits of fabric, etc. Choose an impartial judge and award a prize to all members of the winning table.

Set up a cookie decorating station to help everyone relax a bit and get creative. Just provide a table full of baked, snowman shaped sugar cookies along side a tray of decorating supplies such as frosting and colored candies and let guests have fun trying to outdo each other’s creations.

Extra Touches
You’ll likely pay close attention to the most important details such as the DJ and the decor, but don’t overlook the importance of the little extras. Why not use plastic snow globes with each guest’s name attached as place cards? Serve roasted chestnuts as an appetizer. Ask the caterer to include some warm drinks on the cocktail list. What about setting up a wintry background and hiring a photographer to give guests the chance to get a nice photo with their significant other in time for the holiday cards? Little extras like these will definitely add to the fun.

The company party doesn’t have to be a dreaded holiday commitment. With a clever theme, a well chosen DJ and a bit of creativity, this annual party can become the social event of the season.

Don Crass is a professional Houston disc jockey with over 10 years of experience and co-owner of RetroDJtoGo, LLC located in Houston, Texas.

Corporate Parties, Holiday Parties

By Adam Hine-Haycock

If you are considering an Office Christmas staff party, one of the largest costs of the event will be the food. There are five initial considerations when deciding what level of service and what format you would like for your annual Christmas event.

1. The number of guests predicted to attend the Christmas Party
2. The Christmas Party Venue that you have chosen and it’s intrinsic pluses and negatives with regard to food service
3. Food budget
4. Previous Christmas Party formats and the levels of expectation of your staff
5. What the event represents for the staff, what do they want from the Xmas Party?

Once you have ascertained what your guests require from their Christmas party and that the chosen Christmas party venue is large enough for a sit down meal of either format, there are two types of buffet options and several options for a three course served sit down Christmas meal.

A three course served seated meal is the most common Christmas menu serving option and has a perceived value with your staff members. It is the end of the year, it’s the Christmas party, and this is your thank you to them. This format will ensure that all of your staff are served similar portions, that quality is the same across the board and that networking with workmates is an integral part of the evening. The downside of this service is that, given waiting staff numbers, it can be costly, therefore taking away from other elements of the Christmas Party entertainment. Three Course seated service can also lead to some elements of staff feeling uncomfortable in their environment, if you have a range of skills throughout the company e.g. a large shop floor and large amounts of office staff, their requirements from the Christmas event could differ.

A Formal seated Buffet is a good medium option, it allows a full set up for the tables which adds to the look of the party venue, allows for networking at table level, as well as allowing your staff to choose the type and portion of festive food on their plate. Staff costs for this format will often be equal to the three course sit down meal, with waiting staff laying up the tables, serving at the buffet and clearing crockery, the same numbers of events staff are often necessary. Christmas meal service can also be slow in this format, calling up staff members to a serving station to choose their food can be very time consuming, if you’re the last table called all of your wine is most likely to have been consumed. Always ensure that the venue has adequate numbers of serving stations to avoid unnecessary queues.

An informal seated buffet is probably the most cost effective Christmas party idea but comes with negative points as well as positives. The informal seated buffet is very popular with companies who really like to party at Christmas. The lack of lay up on the table can often make the venue theme look a little sparse and collecting your plate and cutlery from the end of the serving station can be more school dinner than Christmas dinner dance. On the plus side, informal Xmas buffets often provide much more choice; catering for all tastes, allowing large portions and often provide a second service for the really hungry. If you are a company of varied tastes this option could be ideal for you Christmas party.

Of course there are variations on the service options for your Christmas event. You could have silver service waiting staff, two courses served and a dessert buffet or chocolate fountain, out of hand food served off trays around the venue, a finger buffet or buffet with occasional seating that runs throughout the night.

Whatever your decision with regard to the Christmas party food service the most important elements are the first five points, if you know your staff and venue and the caterers are experienced then the rest should naturally fall into place.

Your Christmas Party Meal Just Got Better!

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By Rafi Michael

Anyone belonging to a large organization or party may be well aware of the annual corporate party. Planning a corporate holiday party is however much more demanding and will have a lot of things to consider. In Toronto, a holiday party for the office will usually require the employees to just show up and enjoy themselves. In some large organizations, these parties do not require careful budgeting. However, in many smaller gatherings, everything must be accounted for since the party may be regarded as part of the company’s expenditure. A Toronto corporate holiday party is also an excellent opportunity to allow the company directors and their juniors to interact and get to know each other. Some companies take this opportunity to discuss business matters in a relaxing environment. Whatever happens during this party, planning a corporate holiday party is no small matter.

The first step usually involves making a master list of what is expected to be done. This list should be made weeks if not months in advance. It should also include making arrangements to have the place cleaned up after the party. The kind of menu that will fit Toronto executives is another important aspect of a corporate party. There are usually two options available, either a buffet or a sit-down dinner. Everything should be thought out from salads and desserts to breads, vegetables, drinks and appetizers. It is also important to ensure that healthy, low-calorie foods are available. To avoid the last-minute hassle, have foods prepared in advance and have them frozen.

In Toronto, it is not uncommon to find buffets being the preferred option due to their ease of planning and organization. Napkins and towels should also be made available at all times. Ice cubes can also be bought and placed in a galvanized bucket for anybody to pick. It is even possible to have napkins or utensils have personalized messages that reflect a corporate outlook. There are many designers in Toronto that are capable and qualified to do this. Some companies in Toronto have what are called defined themes. In these corporate parties, a certain tone is established that reflects the ambience of the party. For example, a corporate holiday may incorporate classic colors to reflect a sophisticated tone to the whole event. Alternatively, a colorful Christmas tree will establish a more casual feel among the guests. Thus selecting a theme is important.

While the atmosphere is important, it should be accompanied with the right decorations. Having the right matching decorations and delightful meals will give an upscale touch to the party. Arrangements should also be considered. For example, having the drinks table on one side and the food on the other side of the room will encourage intermingling and moving around. In some settings, it can be practical to include some fun games that will keep people interacting, like doing a karaoke or playing a board game. In any planning, having a good understanding of what the party is supposed to accomplish will give one a platform from where to start.

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By Christine A Shoemark

Dressing up in Christmas costumes is a great way to spread some cheer during the holiday season. You and your family will definitely experience more holiday fun this way. Here are some xmas costumes that you may want to wear to your next Christmas party or family gathering.

Santa Clause
Santa Clause remains to be the classic Christmas costume for adult males. You can rent or buy Santa suits from many different online costume shops, or from your local specialty store. Several varieties of the Santa suit are actually available, such as Santa overalls; however, the classic red Santa suit with a big belly remains to be the most popular. Together with the Santa suit, don’t forget the Santa beard, hat, bell and bag. When you’re all dressed up, you can start giving out the gifts to your friends and family members. For adult women who want to dress up during the Christmas season, try out a Mrs. Santa Clause outfit. You can help Santa give out his gifts in this fun costume!

Elf Christmas Costume
Every Santa Clause needs his elf! You can choose from a number of elf christmas costumes on the market, most of which are green. Some examples include the classic elf costume or the child elf. Some pet stores and costume stores even sell elf costumes for your dogs so they can tag along with you when you dress up as Santa Clause. Nowadays, there are even sexy elf costumes that you can buy. You’ll definitely be in Santa’s naughty list if you wear those sexy christmas costumes!

Reindeer Xmas Costume
Reindeer costumes are always a big hit! They are very easy to wear – just put on a plastic horn and wear an all-brown outfit. If you’re planning to be Rudolph, remember to put on a red nose. Even children and babies can wear reindeer costumes with the many reindeer headbands available in stores.

Christmas Objects
Ready-made christmas costumes for different Christmas objects can now be bought in costume stores. A classic example is the Christmas tree. Aside from the tree, you can also go as a snowman, a gingerbread man, a Christmas ball, or stockings. You can come as mistletoe and make everyone around you kiss each other. An easy costume to make is a Christmas present – just tie a ribbon with a Christmas design around your head, and you’re all set to go!

Other Christmas Costumes
Many movies and books have produced Christmas characters that we all remember and love. For your Christmas party, you can go as Scrooge or the Ghost of Christmas Past. If you want something that not many people can pull off, try wearing the Grinch costume. For those wishing to spread the deeper meaning of Christmas, they can go as Mary, Joseph or the 3 Wise Men.

These are only some of the more common Christmas costumes that you can wear. You don’t have to limit yourself to these – you can think up any concept and look for a costume at your local costume store or online specialty shops. If you can’t find the xmas costume that you want, you can even try making your own!

Your Christmas party will surely become more entertaining if you ask people to dress up in different costumes to celebrate the season. You will have some good laughs and many great memories.

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