Labor Day Fun!

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Labor Day is “a day set aside for special recognition of working people.”  According to the Unexpectedly Fabulous Hostess, however, the definition is “a day to host a Fabulous event without working hard on the party planning details!”

The easiest way to do this - why not host an end of summer bbq?  Hamburgers and hot dogs are easy to fix and don’t take much time.  Guests can bring their favorite side dishes and voila!  Instant party, no labor added!  Check out our Quick Eats link to get the full menu of Fabulously quick and easy treats.

Of course, to have a Fabulous party, you need easy and fun cocktails to toast the end of summer.  Click here ---->Cocktails to see our list of labor-free favorites.  Cheers to that!

And don't forget to set the mood with some fun, quick, and labor-free decorations.
Click here ----> Decorations for some ideas and check out our WOW factor so you can WOW your guests with your Fabulous party throwing skills in less than five minutes of your time.

Who says you can't have a Fabulous party without any labor?

Looking for the "WOW" Factor

Stay tuned to find out how to use this bbq to create a "WOW" factor for your next bbq.  We realize it isn't "WOW" now but just wait and see what we come up with.

 Remember to keep your eyes out everywhere for great party finds!!

Back to School...No! Back to Fabulous Events!

August is known as Back to School Month, but for us, it is Back to Planning Fabulous Events Month!  Did you know August is…

• American Artist Appreciation Month
• National Golf Month
• National Inventors Month

And each day has a theme of its own for you to celebrate!  Join us in getting back to planning by taking on one of these fun themes:

Aug. 1: Picnic Day in Australia - You may not live down under (although a quick shout out here for our friends in Australia!), but why not put another shrimp on the barbi, grab those picnic baskets, and head out with the girls to enjoy the day at your local park?

Aug. 2: National Ice cream Sandwich Day - There is nothing better than an ice cream sundae party!

Aug. 3: National Watermelon Day - Watermelon makes summer time fun so invite your friends over for a BBQ.

Aug. 4: National Chocolate Chip Day - This is a great excuse for a chocolate fondue party!

Aug. 5: National Waffle Day - Surprise someone you love with breakfast in bed.

Aug. 6: Odie’s Birthday (Garfield’s Friend) - Have a party to celebrate your best friends!

Aug. 7: American Family Day - This is a good day to call your sister and go shopping - a great excuse to buy some cute new shoes!

Aug. 9: Betty Boops’s Birthday - A girl who knows how to party!  Think champagne, deserts, lounge music, and cute cocktail dresses!

Aug. 10: S’mores day -Backyard camp fire!

Aug. 11: Play in the Sand Day - Gather some friends, head to the beach, and have a sand castle building contest!

Aug. 13: Annie Oakley’s Birthday - For all you outdoor lovers, set up an old time shooting gallery and get out those water guns!

Aug. 14: National Creamsicle Day - Loving some of that orange and cream goodness.  What a way to cool down.

Aug. 15: National Relaxation Day - Can you say spa party??

Aug. 16: Roller Coaster Day - Gather up your friends and head out to your local amusement park - who says the party has to be at your home?  Just pack it up and have a tailgate lunch party (but not before you go on the roller coasters :) !)

Aug. 17: Davy Crockett’s Birthday - Celebrate the frontier in your local park - BBQ, roast marshmallows, and tell stories in the wilderness.

Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day - Host a wine and cheese poetry reading and have all your friends write the worst love poem they can think of.

Aug. 19: Potato Day - Build your own baked potato bar - yummy!!!

Aug. 20: National Radio Day - Have everyone come dressed up as their favorite rock star and dance the night away!

Aug. 21: Senior Citizen Day - Gather up your friends and take your party to the local retirement home...share some happiness with others by bringing the "party" to them

Aug. 22: Be an Angel Day - While it might feel out of character for some of your friends  have everyone come wearing a halo that reflects their personality...some may be more crooked than others... ;)

Aug. 24: Strange Music Day - Create your own musical instruments and "perform" for each other - definately have a prize ready for the winner.

Aug. 25: Banana Split Day - Have everyone bring a topping and enjoy a banana split bar!

Aug. 26: National Dog Day - Host a doggie party for all of Fido’s friends

Aug. 27: Just Because Day - Host a dinner party for your friends...just because!

Aug. 29: Speedy Gonzales Birthday - Mexican Fiesta anyone?

Aug. 30: National Toasted Marshmallow Day - If you missed s’mores day earlier this month here is a good chance to make up for it!  Host a marshmallow roast bar - have different types of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers so your guests can mix and match.

Aug. 31: National Trail Mix Day - Schedule a hiking day with friends...and don't forget the trail mix!

The Hostesses Have Returned to the Party!

Hello Fabulous Hostess Friends!

Please forgive our absence from the party these past couple of months.  Jen's wedding in July took over our worlds for a bit, but we are back and ready to help you plan your next Fabulous event!  We are excited for all that is to come - we have more Fabulous ideas and parties to share and we can't wait to get started!  So grab a cocktail and get ready because here we go!

Cheers!

No Foolin! Its Time to Host Some Fabulous April Parties!!!

Looking for a good reason to host a Fabulous party in April?  How about these:

Did you know April is…

• Autism Awareness Month
• International Guitar Month
• Keep America Beautiful Month
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Frog Month
• National Garden Month
• National Humor Month
• National Mathematics Education Month
• National Poetry Month 

April 1-One Cent Day: Gather up your friends and all of you gather up your spare change to donate to a local charity – one cent alone may not be much, but together you could make a difference!

April 2-Hans Christian Anderson's Birthday: Host fairy tale party – so much room to be creative here!

April 3-Find-A-Rainbow Day: Welcome in spring with a colorful party – think vibrant veggies and cocktails!

April 4-1st Home Phone Installed In 1877: call up your girlfriends and invite them over for a good old fashioned game of telephone.

April 5-National Read a Road Map Day: Around the world party anyone?  Think food and cocktails from different places…and costumes too!

April 6-North Pole Discovered In 1898: why don’t you discover some fun chilled cocktails with friends?

April 7-No Housework Day: Perhaps the best day of the year, and a great excuse for the girls to get together.

April 8-Ponce de Leon Day: He discovered the Fountain of Youth – why don’t you and your friends discover a spa day to keep yourselves feeling young and beautiful?

April 9-1st Public Library Opened In 1833: Have a book club party with your friends – thanks Oprah!

April 10-National Sibling Day: Sounds like a great excuse to have a dinner with your siblings.

April 11-U.S. Navy Acquires its 1st Submarine:  Anchors away party anyone?

April 12^-Space Shuttle Columbia First Launched: Space - the final frontier for party plans. The possibilities are endless.

April 13-Thomas Jefferson's Birthday: why not have a birthday party for him?

April 14-Titanic Struck The Iceberg: Sounds like movie night….but pick a different movie J

April 15-Income Tax Day: Why does this have to be a depressing day?  Host a monopoly themed party!

April 16-National Eggs Benedict Day: Have a eggtastic party.

April 17-Sherlock Hemlock's Birthday: Host a murder mystery party!

April 18-First Laundromat Opens: Host a laundry party at a laundry mat – it’s crazy, but that’s why it is fun!

April 19-Humorous Day: A comedy film festival night – yes thank you!

April 20-Cuckoo Day: Cuckoo party…make everything crazy and fun

April 21-Kindergarten Day - the first kindergarten was founded: Finger foods and craft projects; just make sure your friends don’t eat the paste.

April 22-Earth Day: Host an around the world party and make sure everything is recyclable.

April 23-Home Run Day Hank Aaron hits his first home run in 1954: Have a baseball party.

April 24-Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day: Have your friends bring their take on a classic.

April 25-National Telephone Day: if you didn’t get to party on April 4, then call up your girlfriends and invite them over for a good old fashioned game of telephone!

April 26-Hug a Friend Day: We love excuses to get together with our friends!

April 27-Tell a Story Day: Host a campfire and have everyone sit around and tell scary stories.

April 28-Poetry Reading Day: Put together a poetry reading and have your friends share their favorites.

April 29-Arbor Day: Share the gift of life with your friends by planting trees together or gift them a tree to put in their yard.

April 30-National Honesty Day - George Washington inaugurated as first US president in 1789: I cannot tell a lie….host a cherry party in honor of George.

RSVP...it's as easy as 123!

Fabulous party etiquette begins with the invitation.  Whether you are throwing the party or being invited to one, it all starts with the RSVP.

The term RSVP stands for réspondez s'il vous plaît, which, for all of you non-French speakers, simply means, "Please reply."  As Fabulous hostesses, we all know how hard it is to plan an event when we don’t know the number of people that are planning to attend.  RSVP's allow the hostess to plan for food and other party fun, but they also provide an opportunity for friends to take time out of their busy lives to talk.

But what is the proper time frame to RSVP?  Etiquette dictates that you respond to an RSVP as soon as you can, even the same day if possible. If you need to double check your schedule, make sure to do so in a timely matter.  A Fabulous guest will always respond at least by the date posted on the invitation.

If you are unable to attend the event, it is proper to RSVP to the host  by providing a simple explanation of why you are unable to attend and thanking the hostess for the invite.

Now if you are the Fabulous hostess inviting people to your party, there are a few things that you need to consider:

• Make sure you give yourself enough time.  Don’t set your RSVP date too close to your party. You don’t want to stress yourself out by running around at the last minute trying to get stuff ready.
• If you are having a casual party your RSVP could be as simple as…. R.S.V.P: Please respond by April 15^th .       Name:  ___________Accept ___ Decline ____ (and allowing your invitees to respond by email is even more convienent!)
• If guests can’t make it to your party, be gracious.  If they are as Fabulous as you are, of course their calendars are busy!

No matter if you are the hostess or the invitee, simple RSVP etiquette is important and as easy as 123!

Adding A Special Touch

So are you looking through your cupboards looking for the right dish or tray to use at your next party? If you are like me, I get bored with using the same things over and over, but I don’t have a lot of money to keep buying new serving trays.  Have you ever thought of visiting your local goodwill, Salvation Army, or garage sales?  Now I hear you, you are too busy.  You work right?  Me too.  Who has time to go trompsing through a store in search of the perfect serving dishes?

Well if you are not into the thrill of a hunt in person, you can access these places online and still get great deals!

For instance, Goodwill: Did you know you can shop them online?? www.shopgoodwill.com This site works like Ebay.  You bid on items that you like.  They have some nice things on this site.  This tends to be higher end stuff.

Garage sales: Don’t have time to go from house to house??? What about Craiglist? Craiglist is a treasure trove of fun items.  Sometimes you can get some great buys on there.

Don’t forget Ebay: They have been around forever and I am sure that many of you have tried your luck at an auction or two.  Lots of bargains can be found here if you are careful at your bidding.

So for us we are always looking for that “Wow” Factor.  The possibilities are endless and there are lots of great bargains to be had.  Happy treasure hunting Fabulous Hostesses!