Here’s a super simple party favor idea for a monkey theme party.  Buy or make a great trail mix (mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joe’s make this mix special), fill glass jars with the mix, then add a label and some ribbon or yarn (or a combo like I did here).  A lovely party favor created in just minutes!

My hip sister requested that postcards be sent as invitations for her bridal shower.  An eco-friendly idea since you eliminate the need for envelopes.  Postcards are more casual than traditional card and envelope paper invitations, but a little more substantial (and practical if older guests are on the guestlist) than an electronic e-mailed invitation.

A few things to keep in mind when sending postcard invites.  First, buy postcard stamps.  It’s a small savings, but it adds up.  Second, you’ll need to buy small labels to use for addressing them, unless you plan to handwrite all the invites.  The side of the postcard reserved for the address is too large for regular mailing labels.  You can print on regular labels and cut them to size, just be sure to measure the margins before printing so they’ll fit on the postcard without any of the text being cut off.  Third, have the postcards hand canceled.  The postmark will go all the way across the top of the postcard and cover any text that you have at the top.  Hand canceling is a small ink stamp that just covers the postage, without blocking any of your text.  Many post offices will hand cancel for free; other post offices will charge 5 cents per postcard for this service.  Finally, be sure to have the post office hand cancel in front of you.  (I paid the 5 cents for 70+ postcards, only to find out that the post office did NOT hand cancel them after I left so make sure they do it while you are there.)

How many salon products have you purchased and decided you didn’t like after a few uses?  For many people (myself included), too many to count. Here’s a fun way to purge without adding to a landfill: Host a product swap for friends to exchange barely used products they purchased and decided they didn’t like after a few uses.

Ask each guest to bring a few products (at least half full) that they would like to exchange for other products.  Moisturizers, hair products, skincare, perfume, nail polish, self-tanners and sunscreen are all sanitary to exchange among friends.  Host this party in the afternoon and serve coffee, tea and cookies for snacking.  Invite guests to use a mud mask (leave the tube and disposable guest towels next to the sink in the bathroom) during the party.  The mud masks will make for some interesting party pictures.  Serve spa-type snacks, such as roasted edamame, trail mix, carrots, hummus and water with sliced cucumbers.

Photo credit:  Back Garage - www.backgarage.com

Early fall is the perfect time to host an apple-picking party—a fun outdoor activity that will get everyone outside
to enjoy the crisp, sunny weather. Make it an early-afternoon event and plan a post-picking picnic if the weather
permits. Or, plan a late-afternoon picking and head back to your house for a casual apple-themed dinner. Apples
are grown in all 50 states, with California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington as the top
apple producers. To find a local orchard in your area, visit www.pickyourown.org.

Check out my September column on The Family Groove for more tips and ideas for hosting an apple picking picnic.

http://www.thefamilygroove.com/sep10_EntertainingOnTheEasy.htm

Looking for a craft project for those wine corks you’ve been saving all these years? Turn them into place card holders for your vineyard or wine tasting party!  Using a sharp knife, slice a small piece off of the cork so the cork will lay flat. On the opposite side, slice a long slit in the cork lengthwise and tuck a place card into the slit for a wine-themed place card holder.

If you’re not a DIYer but like the idea, you can order wine cork place card holders, like the ones pictured above, online.

Wine Cork Place Card Holders – $8 /set 4

www.beau-coup.com/wine-cork-place-card-holders.htm

Use pretty potted flowers for a centerpiece – either one large pot or several smaller pots with different flowers and/or herbs.  A potted plant works especially well for a party in the garden or any outdoor event, and will last longer than fresh-cut flowers.  Tie ribbons around the pot for added interest.  For a shower or birthday party, place a colored napkin under one plate on each table and let the guest who chooses that seat take the centerpiece home.

Photo Credit:  Flowers Quata (potted Hydrangeas)

Whether you’re hosting a wine tasting or just a dinner party, add some interest to your table with wine cork candles.   No need for expensive crystal candle holders; use empty wine bottles and faux wine cork candles to add ambiance.  Wine cork candles are available from a number of online retailers.  A few I have ordered from in the past are listed below. 

Uncommon Goods – $22/ set of 12
http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=12841

Amazon – $10/ set of 6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029K2TKS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&cloe_id=0f2fabef-c00a-4420-a0b0-4c76d1c57e3f&attrMsgId=LPWidget-A2&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000199GC8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0WE3GAKN9X5WMTXNSTPQ

Beau Coup – $7.20/ set of 4
http://www.beau-coup.com/wine-cork-candles.htm

You don’t have to sacrifice style to keep track of drinks with these fun chalkboard glasses.  They’re perfect for a casual dinner party or wine and cheese get-together.  Leave white chalk on the bar in a silver mint julep cup or juice glass to dress up the sidewalk staple.  Unlike other chalkboard cups, these glasses are reusable.  Simply erase names while washing glasses and reuse until your heart’s content.  These babies are dishwasher safe, though I hand wash them or use the china setting on my dishwasher to prevent the chalkboard area from wearing away.   
Available at Wold Market, $16/ set of 4 glasses
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3596187

http://www.thefamilygroove.com/nov09_TheDinnerParty.htm