Successful Holiday Entertaining

Successful holiday entertaining doesn’t mean you need to be stuck in the kitchen while your guests are having all the fun. 

Here are few tips, for a fun holiday party that everyone can enjoy!

Make as many dishes as you can the day before your party.

Keep the number of recipes that involve last-minute preparation to a minimum.

Avoid recipes that must be cooked at different oven temperatures.

Don't experiment, make recipes that are tried and true.

Think about contrasting colors and taste of the food. 

Avoid repeating flavors, each dish should stand out on its own.

Consider the presentation, and make a list the day before the party, of every item you will need to serve up the food.

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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Planning The Details

The weather outside is hardly ever frightful.  Most of the time it’s very delightful. But despite the relative unchanging weather in Southern California, the calendar unbelievably points toward the upcoming Holiday Season.

Have you been thinking about throwing that perfect Christmas cocktail party, holiday office party, or an elegant sit-down dinner?  

It doesn’t matter if you're planning to do the work yourself, or hiring a professional caterer/party planner; if you want your event to be successful, you must begin planning the details... ASAP! 

With all the gatherings that will be happening at homes and businesses this holiday season, one major party planning detail that is often times missed, is the proper handling and disposing of Trash! 

It’s best to plan for the trash in advance, then having to spring into action when the first guest questions what to do with his plate full of garbage. (Hopefully he’s not talking about your food…) 

Planning in advance is the key to the success of any party or event!

  

If you want to do something special this Holiday season, give PartyCharlie a call.  I specialize in traditional parties to out of this world extravaganzas! 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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PartyCharlie's Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips:

The safest way to defrost a frozen turkey is in the refrigerator. 

Allow 24 hours of defrosting for every five pounds of turkey.

Before buying your turkey, make plenty of room in your refrigerator.  Make sure you have a plate big enough to accommodate the turkey, so the leaking juices do not contaminate other foods.  

Before preparing the turkey, thoroughly clean the counter as well as all the equipment you'll be using.  Clean immediately with hot soapy water anything, including sponges and hands, that come in contact with the raw turkey or juice.

Do not trust the "pop-up" thermometer that comes with the turkey.  It's always best to check the temperature with a conventional meat thermometer.  Cook the turkey until the temperature reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit in the inner thigh.

The safest way to cook stuffing is on the stove or in the oven, but separate from the turkey.

Be sure to refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking the food.  The turkey should be removed from the bone and used within four days.

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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Thanksgiving Day!

It’s that time of the year for turkeys, stuffing, Indian corn, and holiday parades. Thanksgiving Day!

Traditions are a big part of the Thanksgiving holiday, and every American family has their own. 

Football, homemade desserts, and unique side dishes are just some of the things that make Thanksgiving…Thanksgiving! 

If you truly want a unique Thanksgiving experience, why not celebrate the holiday at a Malibu Carbon Beach Cottage on the Sand!

This is a 3-bedroom 2-bathroom beach cottage on one of the best beaches in all of Malibu - it's called Carbon Beach and there are some spectacular homes here.

Carbon Beach is excellent since it is relatively quiet, there is plenty of dry sand, the contour of the beach is relatively wide and gently sloped, there are some stately homes and mansions nearby, and it is relatively close to 'town' - Santa Monica, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, etc.

So why not give yourself a break, and celebrate Thanksgiving in style!  Call me now!!!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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Charlie’s Tip for carving a Jack O'Lantern:

Select a pumpkin that is ripe, has no bruises, cuts or nicks. 

Cut a hole in the bottom, large enough to reach in and pull out the seeds and stringy membrane. 

Draw an outline of a face on a plain sheet of white paper. Tape your paper to the pumpkin where you want the face to be. 

Score the design onto the pumpkin by punching through the paper into the pumpkin with a large nail or pin. 

Carefully cut out the design with a plastic knife. When you are finished cutting, simply push out the pieces to view the final results. 

Now you're all set to light up your home on Halloween night!  Have Fun!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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Halloween Game Ideas:

Traditional Bobbing for Apples:

Fill a large, galvanized washtub with water after thoroughly cleaning it. Float a couple dozen apples in the water. The object of the game is to retrieve an apple with your mouth. It's extremely wet and messy, but a ton of fun. To make the game more complicated, remove the stems from the apples. For an evil flair, use ice water.

Pin the Hat on the Witch:

Pin the Hat on the Witch is a variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Before you can play, draw and color a hatless witch on a piece of posterboard and make hats to be placed on her head. When you are ready, spin the player around three times and watch them attempt to put her hat on straight. If drawing a witch is a bit beyond your creative talent, substitute her with a jack o' lantern and pin its eyes or nose on instead.

Skeleton Race:

For this game you will need several paper skeletons. You can either buy them in the Halloween section of a general store or make the body parts yourself. Make sure each person has all the body parts before they begin: skull, two arms, two legs, two hands and so on. The object of the game is to construct an entire skeleton as quickly as possible. Whoever completes their skeleton first, wins.

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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Halloween is just around the corner...

Halloween is  just around the corner, but that doesn't mean you should let the kids have all the fun!  

Follow my tricks to treat your friends and family to a ghoulishly fabulous costume party with a grown-up twist!  

Hollow out pumpkins of various shapes, sizes, and colors. Drill small holes in them to create your designs. Add votive candles and arrange near the front door.

Play scary Halloween sound effects, and horror movie music as the guests arrive.

Have a door prize for the best Halloween costume.

String fishing wire over the buffet table and hang orange paper lanterns. Scatter Halloween confetti over the tablecloth.

Plan a simple party buffet menu.  A variety of soups, salads and sandwiches will make it easy on you and your guests.

Make a graveyard cake for dessert. Cut cookie dough into tombstone shapes and bake. Use icing to write R.I.P. on the cooled cookies and personalize them with guests' names. Stick the tombstones into a chocolate cake to resemble a graveyard.

Create a refreshment station. Fill an aluminum tub with ice, and pack it with all your favorite canned and bottled drinks, and let everyone just grab an go.

Or  give me a call, and let me turn it into a Monster Bash!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

PartyCharlie's September to Remember Party!

WOW!!! In a blink of an eye, the summer has flown by!  Other than Labor Day, September has always been an in-between month for parties. 

The summer may be heading into the past, and the Holiday season may be coming around the bend,  but don't let that stop you from throwing a party extravaganza!  

We are lucky to  live in Southern California, so there's no need to take your party inside. Let the outdoor fun continue, with PartyCharlie's September to Remember Party! 

Let your creative juices, shine... A September to Remember party, can be anything you want it to be, as long as it is... Memorable!

If you're having trouble coming up with a theme, don't worry, September is chock full of merriment!

Here are a few of my favorite, off-beat September holidays:

September 14, National Cream-filled Donut Day, September 15, Felt Hat Day, September 19, National Butterscotch Pudding Day, September 28,  Ask A Stupid Question Day!  

If you can dream it, PartyCharlie, can make it happen!  Give me a call, and I will create an event for you and your friends and family, that will always be remembered!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

Buffet Basics - Part Two

Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party -  Chapter 27, page. 137.

Buffet Basics - Part Two

If you don’t have much of one particular buffet item, put it on the end of your buffet. That way people will fill their plates with the items of which you have plenty, then just a taste of the item of which you have little.

Don’t forget the condiments such as mustard, chutney, or relish. If you have the room, set up a separate, smaller condiment table. This moves people away from the buffet so they’re

not blocking other’s access to the food.

In order to make the party run smoothly so you’re not running around, put out the desserts that don’t require refrigeration at the same time you open your buffet. A separate table is

recommended, unless you’re pressed for space or dessert is a surprise.

Make coffee before you serve the food. You’d be amazed how many people like coffee with their meal.

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Buffet Basics - Part One

Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party -  Chapter 27, page. 136.

Buffet Basics - Part One

What goes on the buffet? Plates, napkins, utensils, and food. Decorating your buffet is a great idea, but make sure you have room for your essential items.

If you’re having just one main dish and a few side dishes, you may be able to use one large buffet table. However, if you’re having a lot of different types of food, consider setting up the

buffet tables as food stations throughout your venue. At one station, you might have appetizers. At another, entrees. At another, salads. At another, warm side dishes. And finally, the dessert.

Put all your cold food together — salads, chilled pastas, and so on. Similarly, put all your hot foods together.

Always serve your cold food first on the buffet. You’ll want your guests to choose their cold foods and then decide on their hot foods. This ensures their hot foods won’t get cold by the

time they walk back to their tables.

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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The Western Hoedown Party!

The PartyCharlie summer party series continues with a scorcher of a party to match the rising July heat...

The Western Hoedown Party! 

Do you have a friend that owns a farm?  Is there a barn nearby that you can rent?  No?  That's okay...  All you need is a good sized backyard, and a little imagination!

To set the mood for your Hoedown extravaganza, send creative western themed invitations to your guests.  Tell your guests to get themselves a cowboy hat, a pair of boots, and spurs and get ready to square dance the night away!

Good, stick to your ribs foods, served buffet style is ideal for this type of party.  Serve an assortment of grilled meats, beans, biscuits, and salads, served on rustic wooden trays, surrounded by bales of hay.

The line dance starts here!  Call me, PartyCharlie, and I'll have you and your guests riding into the party sunset!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

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Know Your Crowd

Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party -  Chapter 4, pages. 26, and 27.

Know your crowd

Instead of planning your party around what you like, consider whatyour guests like. This goes for all stages of your party, such

as your theme, music, and menu.

Garlic is great, but if it’s a cocktail party and people

are talking close to each other, think twice about the amount you use.

Consider the age group of your guests. This will tell you a little bit about their eating habits. Older people tend to stay away from spicy and chewy foods, whereas younger people like trendy foods.

For a children’s party with lots of adults in attendance, provide two menus: one for the children and one for the adults.

Knowing your crowd will tell you if you should serve beer, wine, or possibly tropical blended drinks. Maybe it’s a martini crowd.

If it’s a dancing crowd, make sure to provide music

and an area for dancing.

Themes are great, but a toga party probably would

not be a great choice for an older crowd. But then

again, maybe it will. That’s the point of knowing your crowd.

Take a minute and consider the crowd. It’s that simple!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

It's summer, and it's time for PartyCharlie's summer party series to kick into full gear.
 

This year PartyCharlie's summer party series will focus on the most delectable of food, fun... YEP, I'm talking barbeque! 
 

My 2012 summer series, will concentrate on unique barbeque, from around the globe.
 

This month I would like to introduce you to The Italian Barbeque Party!!!
 

Everyone loves Italian food! It is the number one food choice for restaurant patrons, around the globe.
 

When we talk about Italian barbeque, the number one component is an amazing menu!
 

To kick the party off, how about a grilled Italian, fresh mozzarella, and basil pizza!  Followed by slow, and smoked ribs, infused in a Tuscan, garlic marinade, sprinkled with, my special Oreganato  blend.
 

Dessert on a barbeque? You bet, Italian style! You will have died, and gone to heaven when you experience my Grilled Pound Cake with Espresso Chocolate Sauce!

Start your party with my Quinoa Pasta Extravaganza recipe! Check out the  video at Super Mommy... Not - a parenting website for the less than perfect parent!

Gluten free pasta was used for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite pasta size, or shape.

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Prohibition Party Tips:

Everyone loves a costume party, so the Prohibition theme is a natural.  There are many places to buy costumes from the 1920's, but with a little ingenuity you can make them yourself.

For men, a slightly oversized golf hat, matching vest, and pants, a pair of spats, or two-tone shoes, accessorized with a pocket watch on a chain.

For women, a sleeveless knee-length dress with fringe at the bottom, accessorized with an extra long peal necklace, a headband with a feather on the side, and high-heels.

Get creative with your invitations.  It's prohibition, so make sure you let your guests know the password to get into your speakeasy.  (“Swordfish" is a great password, that was first used in the 1932 Marx Brothers movie Horse Feathers)

Alcohol should not be allowed for the first thirty minutes of your party.  When the time is up, make a big, fanfare announcement, that prohibition has been repealed, and open the bar.  If you really want to get creative, have someone dressed up as a corner news-seller, complete with authentic copies of newspapers that carry the prohibition repeal headline.

Serve authentic cocktails from the period; Bee’s Knees, Colony Cocktail, Mary Pickford, New York Sour.  You can find these recipes, and more by doing a simple Google search.

And don't forget the music... You don't need to spend a dime, just head on over to The 1920's Radio Network,  They stream Big Band and Old Time Radio 24 hours a day.  http://www.whro.org/home/1920s/

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Prohibition Party!

This summer PartyCharlie would like to introduce his sensational new party creation, the “Prohibition Party!”

PartyCharlie will bring the roaring 20's right into your home; the look, the feel, the sound, and  genuine Moonshine!  

Original MOONSHINE ® Clear Corn Whiskey is hand-crafted from 100% estate-grown corn and distilled four times in a Prohibition-era copper pot still – in the same authentic tradition that moonshine has been made for hundreds of years. At 80 proof, our all-natural, gluten-free proprietary recipe is charcoal-filtered for the highest purity, quality and taste.  

Kick off your Prohibition Party by mixing the Original Moonshine with fresh-made strawberry lemonade, garnish with a slice of lemon and a strawberry!

Or for a sexy twist, mix the Original Moonshine with fresh made ginger lemonade. Shake and pour into a Martini glass, garnish with candied ginger! Refreshing and Sexy!

Did you know that Ginger is an aphrodisiac? Well, it is…so make a whole batch!

Fresh Made Ginger Lemonade

Here is a great recipe for twenty guests… Great for a Party!

Ingredients:

·                                 3 cups white Sugar  

·                                 4 quarts water

·                                 14 slices fresh ginger root

·                                 4 cups fresh Lemon Juice

·                                 2 lemons, sliced

Directions:

1. In an 8-quart saucepan combine sugar, water and ginger root. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

2. Stir in lemon juice. Cool 15 minutes. Remove ginger. Refrigerate lemonade at least 1 hour, or until chilled.

3. Serve over ice, and garnish with lemon slices.

Okay, so if it sounds like a lot of work, just keeps repeating to yourself….it's an aphrodisiac!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner!

 Here's some of my favorite barbecue tips for cooking perfect, mouth watering, meats and fish on your outdoor grill:

 1. Always rub grill with oil prior to cooking to prevent sticking.

 2. Use tongs or a spatula to turn meat and fish. Never pierce with a fork, because juices can be lost.

 3. When using a gas barbecue, grill meats evenly without flare-ups by only turning on one side of the barbecue and placing the meat on the other side.

4. Baste the meat in the last quarter of barbecuing time, as sugar content causes charring, thus drying out the meat.

5. Bring meat to room temperature about an hour before barbecuing.

6. Never add salt until meat is cooked, as salt draws out the moisture, causing meat to become dry and tough.

7. When gas barbecuing, pre-heat grill on high for 5-10 minutes. Then, adjust to desired cooking temperature.

8. For a charcoal barbecue, light coals 30 minutes before barbecuing.

9. Marinades tenderize meat.  Meat can be marinated for 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
 

Give PartyCharlie a call, and I'll do the grillin', while you do the chillin'!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Appetizers For FREE!

Team-building is a philosophy of job design in which employees are viewed as members of interdependent teams instead of as individual workers.

PartyCharlie's philosophy is to create an event that will be nothing less than a smashing success!

We can plan FUN Team Building Events for your company!

From causal to elegant, we can design any theme, and handle all the details!

We will handle all the logistics!

Just plan your event with PartyCharlie, and we will design a custom menu for you, which will include; appetizers for FREE!

That’s right we will throw in the appetizers for FREE!
This offer will expire April 30, 2012

You want Snow? PartyCharlie can make it SNOW!

You want Bumping Cars? PartyCharlie can bring it in!

You want a Time Tunnel? PartyCharlie can make it HAPPEN!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

30 Ways toGet Your Guests Involved - Part Three

This month's party tips are taken from my book...

“Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party.”

Chapter 32 - Guests - Getting Them Involved, pages, 180, & 181

30 Ways toGet Your Guests Involved - Part Three


21. Host an “Olympic games” party. Set up your own prize-filled version of the Olympics, with games like flag football, horseshoes, three-legged race, egg toss, and water polo if you have a pool.

22. Organize a scavenger hunt. Provide lists to each of your guests and then allow them to form two-person teams. You can make it an elegant affair by providing champagne and asking the guests to dress in formal attire.

23. Hire a magician. A magician can be entertaining as well as a great medium for getting guests involved.

24. Hire a caricaturist. This is a way of involving your guests and treating them to a gift at the same time. They’ll have fun comparing pictures.

25. Hire a masseuse. Neck and shoulder massages can be amazing stress relievers for a party that follows a hard day at work. And the more comfortable and happy your guests are, the more likely they will be to want to get to know one another.

26. Hold an interactive cooking party. Have your guests bring an apron and their favorite food, and everyone can help one another prepare a dish. You supply the wine!

27. Have a name game. As your guests arrive at the party, tape the name of a famous person on everyone’s back. As guests mingle, they can ask for clues about their famous person. When a guest announces the name on their back, they win a prize.

28. Encourage conversation. Place Trivial Pursuit cards in bowls where guests will see them. Encourage your guests to read the questions to one another to start conversations.

29. Break the ice. All those who wish to learn the names of the new friends get into the circle. Start by going clockwise, with each guest announcing his or her first and last name. Now the first person must try to name all the guests. If he or she misses, the next person takes over. You would be surprised how quickly this happens. And it gets funny!

30. Promote curiosity. Assign someone to walk around with a box with a gift in it. Give clues about what’s in the box, but don’t make it easy. Guests are not allowed to ask questions. Give a new clue every minute. Ask people to write their guess on a small piece of paper. If there is a tie, flip a coin!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

I'm happy to announce that I will be involved in next years events for Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment. GATE is the pioneering and leading organization shepherding the emerging and rapidly expanding Transformational Entertainment and Media genre and worldwide movement.

Dates for next years events:

Friday February 1, 2013, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – GATE Transformational Story Conference

Friday February 1, 2013, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM – GATE Transformational Film and Media Festival Premiere

Saturday February 2, 2013, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – GATE Transformational Film and Media Festival

Saturday February 2, 2013, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM – GATE 3 (including the GATE Imaginal Awards)

Presenter / Performer / Film / Media submissions begin - March 2012

Guidelines will post on GATE website, www.gatecommunity.org

Submissions close - August 2012

Selection process – August and September 2012

Event Programs Announced - October 2012

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

30 Ways to Get Your Guests Involved - Part Two

This month's party tips are taken from my book...

“Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party.”

Chapter 32 - Guests - Getting Them Involved, pages, 179, & 180

30 Ways to Get Your Guests Involved - Part Two

11. Provide a karaoke machine. Often the people who you’ll hear making jokes about karaoke are the same ones who are up at the microphone singing away at a party.

12. Do makeovers. Hire a makeup artist (or a team of them) to do makeovers for your guests.

13. Hire a fortune teller. This is a great way of enter- taining your guests and encourages mingling as guests compare notes.

14. Teach a craft at your party. If you or one of your volunteers knows a craft, teach it to your guests. Don’t forget
to provide the supplies and protect the furniture with disposable table coverings.

15. Award prizes. Every 15 or 30 minutes, have the DJ call out a question that pertains to the guests at your party, such as: “Who’s the youngest here?” “Who’s wearing the best costume?” ”Who brought the tastiest food?” Have the DJ award a prize to each winner.

16. Hold a charades tournament. Teams can battle one another in a fast-paced round of charades. The winners will play one another in the next round, and so on. Prizes are given at each stage, with a grand prize at the end. Depending on how many people are at your party, you can have anywhere from two to four rounds.

17. Hold a board game tournament. Set up a variety of
board games, specifying a 15-minute time limit, and tell your guests that the winners of each game get a certain number of points. The person with the most points wins a prize. (If there’s a tie, you can have a final face-off.)

18. Throw a casino games night. Rent casino-style games for use at your party. If it’s a charity event, the “house winnings” can be donated.

19. Have a carnival game party. It’s easy to set up carnival-type games such as water gun target practice, a coin toss, a pie-eating contest, and ring around the bottles.

20. Offer lawn games. Party rental companies offer some terrific, large-sized inflatable lawn games like a bounce house, dunking booth, and lawn bowling.

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

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