CELEBRATIONS

Birthday party basics

When children enter school their circle of friends expands. This means that when their next birthday arrives, there may be requests to invite the entire class to the party. Parents facing the prospect of 20 or more children may wonder what to do in this instance.

Parents and children have no doubt heard the tales of extravagant parties. Reality shows follow families who throw sweet 16 parties that rival weddings or those who spend thousands on their kids' party regardless of the child's age. The average family may feel torn over what to do to celebrate important milestones.
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What to do if Mother Nature rains on your party

When hosting a party, hosts know there are many variables beyond their control. For those throwing a party in the great outdoors, no element is more uncontrollable than the weather. When Mother Nature cooperates, the result can be some memorable fun in the sun. However, if rain rears its ugly head, the party could be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
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Get guests moving with dance songs

A party is often made more memorable with some music, especially if hosts want to entice guests to dance. Whether you're hiring a DJ or simply putting together a playlist of songs, you may want to consider these tunes -- all of them with "dance" in the title.
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Cost-cutting entertainment tips

Cost-cutting measures are being taken in nearly every aspect of life. Thanks to the still-struggling economy, people are routinely looking for and finding ways to save money. And hosting a party for friends and family is no exception. There are some simple cost-cutting measures hosts and guests alike can take to ensure everyone has a fun and affordable time.
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The business of hosting

Make your business dinner a success Doing business over dinner is as old as business itself. When done correctly, a business dinner can lay the foundation for a lasting and fruitful partnership between company and client. If the business dinner somehow goes awry, those clients may never come back.
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Entertaining in a pet-friendly home

Pets are prized pals in many households. However, guests invited over for a special occasion who are not as enamored with animals may not be anxious about sharing party space with Fido or the family feline. In such instances, it's up to the host to make guests feel more comfortable.

In the days leading up to the party, consult guests about any pet allergies. If a person who will be coming over is allergic to cats or dogs, thoroughly clean and air out the house. Regardless of how diligent a host is, it only takes a little bit of an irritant to trigger an allergic reaction.
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Block party an ideal way to celebrate warm-weather holidays

The warm-weather season is often awash with opportunities to host parties and other celebrations. The months of June, July and August are commonly a prime time for birthday parties, graduations, celebrations of national independence like Independence Day and Canada Day and general social occasions among friends and neighbors. A block or neighborhood party can be a distinctive way to have a good time and share celebrations on a group level.
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