Monte Carlo Night | Casino Night Invitations

A Monte Carlo Night or Casino Night is a popular theme for Holiday Parties.

Our two favorite invitations are the Shimmery Silver Playing Card Suits and Shimmery Gold Playing Card Suits invitations. The soft metallic sheen of these invitations make them hot, hot, hot! Matching shimmery gold or silver envelopes come with the invitations.

Click on the images to enlarge and to order

Caring for your Poinsettia

The length of time your poinsettia will give you pleasure in your home is dependent on:

1. the maturity of the plant,
2. when you buy it, and
3. how you treat the plant.

With care, poinsettias should retain their beauty for weeks and some varieties will stay attractive for months.

• After you have made your poinsettia selection, make sure it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves.
• Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal. Keep the plant from touching cold windows.
• Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.
• Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible.
• Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.
• Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize when it is in bloom.

Information from the University of Illinois Extension Poinsettia Pages website.

Happy Halloween - Your Christmas Party Invitation is Already Late

We know, it's not even Halloween, Thanksgiving is still weeks away, and you're supposed to plan your Christmas party, now? We also know:

• As of Halloween, there are 56 days until Christmas, (Yikes!)
• Less 20 days for the first Saturday in December - the 5th
• Less 7 days, the minimum amount of time you should give for RSVP before your party date
• Less 7 days, give or take, to order and get your holiday invitations delivered
• Less 3 days average time it takes hosts to get invitations in the mail
• ...you're running out of time!

And then, there's your guests to consider. They have invitations for his work, her work, their kids, their "other" friends, professional organizations they belong to, New Year's Eve, and you probably have those same commitments too. December calendars fill up at warp speed. The race is on to grab the RSVP of your party invitees before they are swamped with a dozen other offers.

How is your party going to grab your guests' attention? By sending them a custom printed party invitation.

Don't make the mistake of skimping on an invitation. Your party invitation needs make guests say, "We're going to this party!" Custom printed invitations can be the difference between a packed party or a dismal, embarrassing "is anyone coming?" turnout.

When guests pull out their calendars, you want your custom printed invitation on the top of the pile. A casual invitation by phone call is too informal and often slips their minds if their calendar is not in front of them at the moment you call. It's also ineffective for conveying the tone of your party like a custom printed invitation. A letter sheet folded into a "bill-size" envelope that reads like a laundry list of boring details won't make it to the top of the pile in the bid for a coveted party date. An emailed invitation, provided guests remember to print it, loses its appeal quickly when it's printed on plain white copy paper and lost in the pile of other papers on your desk.

Impress your guests with the best! Send custom printed party invitations your guests can't resist and enjoy a great holiday party.

Written and published in EZArticles by Jeanette, owner of Announcingit.com

Christmas Medley by Storm Front

Storm Front, a barbershop quartet, sang this Christmas Medley in July 2006 during International Barbershop Convention and had people rolling on the floor with laughter.

The song they followed up with isn't about Christmas, but it will make you smile.

Christmas Prayer

We found a beautiful blog and this Christmas Prayer:

Lord Jesus,
Please forgive me for being so grumpy

as I trudge through the never-ending tasks

set before me this holiday season...
My to-do list seems to keep growing

with shopping, church services, and family gatherings---
and I'm running short of time!
Restore the joy of Christmas to my heart . . .
and help me to relax each day and make time for
YOU--
my one true Source of Joy.

The Kindle - Should be first on your Wish List!

My husband bought me a Kindle for Mother's Day. I have to say, "This thing is amazing!!!!" I'm always reading something, books-fiction and non-fiction, magazines, newspapers, you name it, I read it. This summer, I even figured out to put my Kindle in a large Ziplock bag while floating in the pool!

It didn't take me long to figure out that I hear a book advertised, read about a book, someone tells me about something I have to read, I turn on my Kindle, and in less than 60 seconds, my choice has been downloaded to my Kindle.

If this isn't great enough, you know when you're engrossed in your book, you can't put it down, put you need to drive to work, clean the house, make dinner...no problem, click on the "text to speech" option and

YOUR KINDLE CAN READ TO YOU!

I turn on the speech option, put on my headphones and go on with the rest of my life, all while "listening" to my book. Amazon really needs to stress this option more to us readers who still have a life to live.

Hot Buttered Rum in a Crock Pot

Great way to warm up the holidays or any other day that calls for a warm drink. Makes your home smell wonderful, too! I'm making this for the Thanksgiving eve to enjoy while we're all in the kitchen.
Ingredients

• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 3 cardomom pods
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 2 cups dark rum or spiced rum
• Garnish with whipped cream for topping and a cinnamon stick
  
  Directions
• Put first 7 ingredients into crock pot.
• Add 2 quarts hot water.
• Stir well.
• Cover pot and cook on low for 5 hours.
• Add rum and stir to blend.
• Serve from pot in warm mugs with a scoop of whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon stick.

Put Endless at the top of your Gift Wish List

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Starlight Embossed & Foiled Christmas Invitations

These Starlight Invitations are accented with silver or gold foil and embossed for a very impressive finish. No matter what the occasion, you'll love to send these beautiful invitations!

These are old out - come see the current collection of Holiday Invitations

Christmas Tree Trimming - Red & Gold

I love to explore the Frontgate catalog and drool over all their beautifully decorated Christmas Trees. This tree is decorated with their Chateau collection.

You can purchase the collection that includes 115 ornaments and 24 florals, for up to 7-1/2' trees or a smaller 40 piece kit. The ribbons and a burgundy glass tree topper are also available.

Love this look? Print this out and go exploring at your local stores to recreate this red and gold trimmed tree.

Shop early for the best selection and to get the quantities you'll need to complete your tree.

Rock your Christmas Party - It's all in the Planning

So you've decided to have a holiday party? Our 12 Step Holiday Planning Guide walks you through the items you need to consider to make your party planning easy and the party itself a total success.

1. Invitations: Custom printed holiday party invitations get your guests excited! Does your invitation scream "I can't miss this party, it sounds fabulous!" or did you send out a letter sheet that reads like a grocery list of boring statistics that immediately got relegated to the holiday pile referred to "maybe we'll think about it unless a better invitation comes along." The party invitation is a sneak preview for your guests to see how great your holiday party will be and they won't want to miss the event of the season.

If you're in charge of ordering the holiday party invitations, pre-order them as early as possible to reserve the invitation design you can't live without. When you have all the party details finalized, you can then complete your invitation order by emailing the final information to be printed on your invitations.

You'll want to send out Christmas party invitations at least three weeks prior to the party date, and companies might send out invitations as early as September to ensure a great turnout. Have at least one week between the RSVP date and the date of the holiday party. Your RSVP's can be formal cards that are mailed back to you, a phone number to reply to or the less formal, regrets only phone number for invitees that cannot attend. Don't select the "regrets only" option if you need to have a final count on "who's coming" for the caterer or your own planning of how much you need of paper goods, booze, tables and chairs, party favors and so on. When in doubt, you can also call or email your guests if they haven't responded by your date.

2. The Party Date: If you want your party on Saturday, December 5th, check your calendar BEFORE you book anything and make sure the 5th falls on a Saturday. If there's lots of competition for your chosen party date, as in all the Friday and Saturday nights in December before the 25th, or if there are lots of parties in your social circle, send out your invitations as early as September.

If that's just too early for you, send a Save the Date card so people will be anticipating your formal invitation details after they've added your party to their calendars. If the location of the party is critical for its success, or certain guests just have to be there of the party will bomb, make sure they are available BEFORE you commit to your chosen party date. It would be a disaster to find out after the fact that the boss will be in Hawaii the evening you've planned to have the big office party.

"Read More" to learn about:

Date . Guest List . Location . Theme . Entertainment . Party Ware
Food . Dress Code . Alcohol . Getting Help . An Hour Before the Party

Christmas Music - The First Noel as you've never heard it

This is the best Christmas song we've heard in a long time. "Sarah Mclachlan-The First Noel Mary Mary." Great video, too!

How to Make a Splendid "Splenda" Pumpkin Pie For the Holidays

Diabetics and others watching their sugar intake can afford to indulge over the holidays just like everyone else when you serve this "Splendid" Pumpkin Pie. Top with sugar free whipped topping lightly sprinkled with cinnamon for a festive holiday touch. Grab a cup of coffee and a slice of pie just like everyone else in the group. Just remember not to over indulge, one piece is enough! If there are leftovers, refrigerate them and have another slice tomorrow or the next day. One of the keys to diabetics managing their diets is moderation!

A SPLENDID PUMPKIN PIE

• 1 9-inch unbaked pie shell
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
• 3/4 cup Splenda Granular
• 2 tbsp corn starch
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg white
• 1/3 cup fat-free half & half
• 3 tbsp heavy cream (or fat-free evaporated milk)
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp sugar-free maple-flavored syrup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a medium mixing bowl, blend pumpkin, Splenda, cornstarch, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix until all ingredients are well blended. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, egg white, Half & Half, heavy cream, vanilla and syrup; stir well. Add egg mixture to pumpkin mixture and stir well to blend. Pour filling into the pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until set in the center and the crust is golden brown.

Yield: 8 servings. Per serving: 160 calories, 17 g carbs, 4 g protein, 3 g sugars

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information Click Here

For Linda's regular dessert recipes visit her Ladybugs Sweet Treats Blog

Favorite Finds - Cheetah Animal Christmas Tree Skirt

My favorite Tree Skirts seem to have an animal print theme going. I love this Cheetah Animal Skirt from Ballard Designs. You can add a name in Custom Script on the green border (up to 25 characters) at no extra charge. It also comes with red trim instead of the green shown here.

Show your wild side with a Holiday Cheetah Party Invitation. Cheetah animal print mixes with Christmas red and green in various size overlapping circles rimmed in gold faux embossed edges. When they receive your invitation, guests are sure to say, "Yes, we're going to this Christmas Party!"

Click on image to enlarge and to order

Not your same old "Jingle Bells"

Revamped, remixed, redone...these are not your standard take on the favorite Christmas tune "Jingle Bells". We're not saying they're all great and that we'd play them at our party, but hey, to each his own! Try these out, you just might like one (or not):

Jingle Bells Remix

Jungle Bells SKA / Punk Cover

Christmas with the Joker - Jingle Bells

Traditions - Christmas Eve

What a treat it is to have Christmas Eve Traditions to look forward to. My neighbors, Bill and Alice, introduced us to their Christmas Eve traditions of Tamales and Chili. Growing up in Illinois, I can't say if I'd ever even had a tamale until I moved to Southern California.

My parents always made Rueben Sandwiches after we all got back from seeing all their friends and enjoying Hot Tom & Jerrys at the Moose Lodge in the small town where they lived.

One year when my parents were at my home, I told them about Bill and Alice's second tradition of giving their girls pajamas to open Christmas Eve, thereby ensuring great Christmas morning pictures in new, usually matching, pajamas. My parents loved the idea and that year we went shopping and found coordinating pajamas for the entire family (except Lauren who's in red-no matching in her size that year.)

This was such a big hit, it has continued every year with the first presents opened Christmas Eve being our pajamas, and everybody changing into them to get comfy for the evening of fun. It's not always easy to find pajamas for a family of 14, but it sure is fun to wear them!


Let us know what traditions your family enjoys during the holidays.

Tom and Jerrys Recipe

We had these every year at the Moose Lodge with my family on Christmas Eve.

• 24 eggs
• 1/2 jigger rum
• 2 lb powdered sugar
• 1/2 jigger brandy
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 oz vanilla

To make the batter: Separate the eggs. Beat egg whites until stiff with an electric beater. Add sugar gradually. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Add in half of the eggs yolks, and blend until smooth. In a large mug fill with 1/2 batter, 2 shots of [60% rum and 40% brandy]. Balance with boiling hot water. Stir well and sprinkle with nutmeg. (Topped with whip cream is my favorite!)

In November and December, look for premade mixes at your grocery or liquor stores - much easier than making them from scratch!

Dad's Christmas Eve Reuben Sandwiches

My Dad's speciality on Christmas Eve. Mom and I assemble them and Dad would expertly cook them.

• rye bread


• Thousand Island dressing


• corned beef


• sauerkraut, drained


• Swiss cheese

Preparation:
Line up all the slices of bread on a sheet of wax paper and butter one side with soft butter (it's messy, but we like to butter before we make the sandwich).

Flip the slices over and on half of the unbuttered sides, layer slices of corn beef, swiss cheese and top with sauerkraut.

On the unbuttered side of the remaining bread slices, spread Thousand Island Dressing.

Toast on a griddle or grill, turning to brown evenly and until warm all the way through.

Slice in half and enjoy!

Favorite Finds - Burlap Christmas Tree Skirt

A warm, neutral alternative to traditional red and green, the Burlap Christmas Tree Skirt from Ballard Designs is hand sewn of textured 100% burlap with 4" fringe.

Tips for Preparing your Home for a Party

When you are planning a party at your home, you will find that it always seems like no matter how much you clean, or how much you organize; there is always more which you could do. The key to effectively preparing your home to host a party is cleaning and de-cluttering some very vital areas. You should understand that as long as those areas care clean and clutter-free, then your guests will feel comfortable and welcome in your home.

However, even the most seasoned hostess can be intimidated by trying to prepare their home for guests. So, for that reason, here are some tips from professional cleaners and organizers on how you can best prepare your home to host your party:

1. Take a look around your home in a quick sweep and decide what you need to do. Take along a pen and paper and make notes for each room of your home. You will want a closet for your guests to hang their coats in and a place to store women’s purses. While you are doing your home walk-through decide where these two locations will be and write them down.



2. The first place you will want to start cleaning and tidying up is the entry area of your home, and then work from there cleaning the living room, bathroom, and kitchen areas. In addition, if there are other areas in your home where your guests will be, perhaps a game room or similar, that area will need a good cleaning and de-cluttering as well.



3. While everyone has some clutter which they treasure; understand that clutter can give an even spotless home the appearance of being messy and unclean. You want your guests to be able to move freely in your home and not be knocking things off of tables or shelves. When you are cleaning for a party be brutal and get rid of as much clutter as you can bear – even if you just simply box it and place it in the garage for the night.



4. If you have a spouse and family, now is the time to enlist them to help you in cleaning and de-cluttering your home. You can easily assign a room to each person and have them be responsible for cleaning and removing anything in the room which does not absolutely need to be there for the party.



5. If you have children with messy rooms, but are having an all-adult party, it is fine to simply close your children’s bedroom doors and not make a big deal about them cleaning their rooms for the party. This can greatly relieve your stress pre-party. In essence, stick to cleaning rooms which you absolutely must clean because guests will be in them.



6. If your party is informal, consider using casual serving dishes and casual eatery as well. You may even want to purchase some good quality paper plates for the event if it will be a pot-luck or BBQ type event, rather than a sit-down meal.



7. It is important for you to know that where there are people with food and drinks, there will be spills and stains. The easiest way to deal with these issues is to be completely prepared to deal with them before they ever happen. Have a small box with cleaning supplies which you can use to clean up any messes which might occur during the party.



8. Once your home is clean and clutter-free, then it is time to go around your home and add back some small, personal touches which make your home comfortable and inviting for your guests. You can accomplish this through the use of flowers, photographs of your family, and candles. To deal with any musty odors your home may have, you can burn candles or simmer cinnamon and cloves on the stove.



9. Once your home has been prepared and you have a back-up plan to deal with any unforeseen stains or spills, then it is time for you as the hostess to sit back and enjoy your party.

All items shown are from Frontgate.

Christmas Party Invitations - Santa in the Chimney

What's Christmas without Santa Claus? I think Santa's buns are about to be scorched by a roaring fire as one of his reindeer looks on.

Shop Santa in the Chimney Party Invitation
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7 Tips to Building your Party Timeline

One of the best things that you can have when you are planning a party or event of any size is a written party timeline and master shopping list. By making yourself a good solid timeline and comprehensive list for shopping, you can ensure that your party goes off without a hitch. Here are seven tips from professional party planners to get you on the right track in planning your shopping list and timeline:

1. Before you can start to build your timeline and shopping list, first you must decide on where your party or event will be held and how many people you will be inviting. If you will be using an event location or a restaurant, you need to secure your space before moving along to do anything else.
2. No matter what the size of your event, if it is for children or adults, a wedding or a simple birthday party, you must have a master shopping list as well as a good timeline. Simply use a pen and paper and decide on how long things will take you to do and start filling in your timeline. And, while you are going through the process, this is the time to start a shopping list as well.
3. Once you have secured your date and location for your party, then you can start to build your lists. It is time to think about what you will be doing at your party, what type of food and drinks will be on the menu, and how long you want the party to last. Dedicate a single sheet of paper just to your party day and list everything you will need to do, in order, by time. For example, preparing food before guests arrive would be at the top of the sheet of paper, while giving out party favors may be at the absolute bottom.
4. To start building your timeline think about the things you will need to do before the party, such as send out your invitations. If you will be having them custom printed you will need to allow extra time for the printing before you can mail them out to your guests - we suggest mailing your invitations at least 3-4 weeks prior to your event. Allow enough processing and shipping time (anywhere from a few days to a week) for delivery of custom printed invitations. Upgrade your shipping if time is short.
5. In addition to your timeline for the day of the party, you will also want to formulate a timeline for the two weeks or so leading up to the event. Here you will need to block out time for cleaning, shopping, decorating, etc…
6. As you do each of the steps above, you will start to develop a good timeline and a great shopping and supplies list of things which you will need. This will be a great help to you and can even help you to remember to pick up things that you might otherwise have forgotten. In addition, you will also start to see if there will be any conflicts in your timeline where you might need to move a few things around or enlist the help of others.
7. Once you have your lists generated then it is time to stick to them and make sure everything gets done. If you are finding that you have more work to do than time to do it in, it is perfectly acceptable to ask other people to help you with carious parts of the event. In fact, most people you will find would be happy to help you.

If you will be hosting a party or event, the best thing you can possibly do for yourself is to follow these tips, and others you hear from friends, and develop yourself a good timeline and master shopping list. By writing things down, you will much more clearly see what you need to do and what you will have time to do yourself. Ornaments and tree can be purchased from Frontgate.

Christmas Invitations - Randolph Reindeer

While maybe not politically correct, we love Randolph Reindeer, Rudolph's cousin and his partying ways. Just make sure to call him a cab after the party's over. My husband cracked up when he saw this invitation and declared Randolph his favorite invitation of all time.

Click to enlarge and to order

See Randolph Reindeer Party Invitation full size and pricing.

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