Kitty Mac Garage Door Screens

As your children, family and friends start dusting off the pumpkins and carving knives, it’s time to plan a little fun for Halloween. Whether it’s a small family gathering, or a big neighborhood bash, Halloween parties bring out the kid in all of us. Here are some party ideas to help your friendly ghosts and goblins enjoy themselves:

Funk up your food. Halloween is not the time to serve boring cheese trays. Remember all those yucky, gooey things you tried when you were a kid? Like gummy worms sliding out of Jello, or cupcakes covered with plastic spiders? Dig out your old recipe books and find some fun twists on party dishes. Try checking out www.familyfun.com, or www.foodnetwork.com for hauntingly yummy recipes.

Spruce the place up. Why not become known as the neighbor with the most Halloween decorations on the block? Let the other guys do it up right for Christmas. You don’t have to spend tons of money. There are lots of crafts that involve the most basic of supplies, and it’s even better when the whole family can get involved. Try searching these sites for tips: www.amazingmoms.com, or www.familymanagement.com.

Get your game on. Halloween is the perfect excuse for family fun. There are tons of games to choose from, whether it’s Spook Bingo, or the traditional bobbing for apples. Make sure you choose games that are appropriate for those attending. Or you can divide games into categories,  gearing them toward younger kids, teenagers and adults. Great ideas can be found at: www.partygamecentral.com, and www.partynook.com.

Set the stage. Remember that if the weather allows it, you’ll want to give your guests the opportunity to be outside. Nothing is better than a Halloween party at night … it’s only fitting! Clear out your garage so you can handle the crowd, and provide a place for seating , along with your food and beverages. This way you won’t worry so much about spills and messes. Make your garage the perfect gathering space by installing a garage door screen. This helps keep bugs and debris out of your party space, while allowing fresh air to flow. Check out www.freshairscreens.com for details.

Above all, remember that as a host, you will set the tone for an amazing event. So dress up! Get into the mood, and allow your guests to have a frightful, but fun-filled, evening!

As the end-of-summer temperatures start to peak, the excitement of football season can’t be ignored. Whether it’s at the little league, high school, college or professional level, football games mean one thing: It’s time to party!

There’s nothing better than hosting a football watching party. Friends and neighbors come together to root for a favorite team, eat plenty of food and catch up on each other’s lives. So as the leaves begin to turn and you get the itch to watch a game, consider these tips to be the perfect host:

Set the mood. Whether it’s by purchasing special theme party supplies, or making do with sports memorabilia you have sitting around the house, you’ll want to create a festive atmosphere that says, “Party Here!”  Cover your food table with a green table cloth, then sprinkle confetti over the top. Make a centerpiece with your favorite team’s colors, and your food table is good to go.

Let the games begin. During half time, why not supply some homemade flags and have a hearty round of flag football in your yard? All you need is wide ribbon and Velcro. Make a belt, with two detachable “flags” on each side. Purchase ribbon in your team colors and hold a tournament throughout the season. Keep track of the winning teams throughout the year in order to declare a final champion when the season is over.

Be comfortable. You don’t want dozens of people coming over, only to squint at a small screen in one tiny room. Make sure that you have enough viewing room, or multiple televisions in order to accommodate your guest list. Consider having various viewing rooms, or if it’s a nice day, have a TV set outside as well. If you have a garage that serves as a party overflow area, consider purchasing a garage door screen in order to keep your guests comfortable, and your watching area free of pesky bugs or debris. Check out garage door screens at www.freshairscreens.com.

Play games. Consider having a betting pool and let guests choose half-time scores, most valuable players, number of fumbles, etc. Be creative, and provide fun trinkets or inexpensive gifts for the winners.
Dig out your recipes. It’s easy to get in the rut of making the same old thing when hosting a party. Pull out those recipe books collecting dust on your shelves and try new appetizers or main dishes. Stick with “comfort foods,” and avoid anything too unique, as you’ll want to appeal to a wide array of tastes.

Have fun. Most importantly, make your parties memorable, and ones that your friends and family will want to keep attending. Cater to  your guests, make sure strangers become fast friends, and enjoy the spirit of football!