Back to School

If you are like me you love ANY excuse to party...

So for my kids I throw a back to school bash. This includes all of both my child's classrooms. I know it may seem like a huge ordeal with 60 kids to deal with but with these tips it will go over like a pic nic!

Remember that throwing a back to school bash helps you to get to know who will be in your kids class and help you get to know the parents you will be seeing for the next year!

Time to get creative:
Have your children create 30 invitations before school starts using construction paper and art supplies. On your computer type the typical invitation information (minus the persons name) to look like...

Who: You and your family
What: Back to School Bash
When: September 12, 2009
Where: 123 Main Street
Why: to have fun and get to know you!
RSVP: 123-456-7890

Now cut small squares and paste on invitation wherever you like.

Planning...

1. Have stuff to do!
I do not allow the kids in the house for this so I have stations of things to do outside.

• Bounce house
• Pinata
• Pin the ruler on the teacher
• Decorate Apples

2. Have snacks not meals - make mini hot dogs, buy bake your own pizzas and cut into squares after cooking, chips, crackers and drinks are all you need! If kids are playing they will not want to eat a lot!

3. Don't forget the parents - Put on the game for the dads provide adult refreshments if you like or it is right for your household. The moms will navigate to where ever the kids are and will be willing to help watch while you are mingling.

4. Don't forget to greet - Be at the door and have them sign in with name/phone/email/address - this is great for holiday cards, birthday invitations, thank yous and classroom contacts!

5. Create memories - I have invested in a Polaroid camera, so that when the kids come in they can take pictures with the respected child in their class - you can have a teenager help you with this kind of like a photo booth! Then you can write the kids name on it so you can remember all the kids in your child's class and your child has a scrap book of it!

6. Favors - Kids always expect favors at the end of a party - I suggest using a grab bag style have a bag full of school stuff - sticky pads, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, stickers etc and have each kid reach in and grab a prize before they leave.

7. Decorations - no need to go all out - this is a meet and greet after all. Simple decorations are fine, streamers and color schemes go a long way - have your kids participate by making the decorations for you!

8. Relax - this is a casual event don't worry too much about structure, worry about getting to know the kids, and their families!

I hope you have a great upcoming school year and find reason to celebrate it!

Back to Basics

When planning an event it is sometimes difficult to get back to basics. With all of the stress and running around it can seem like the event has overtaken your life!

Here are a few basic tips to get you back on track when planning your event. It doesn't matter if you are planning a wedding, birthday or corporate event the basics are still the same!

1. Step away, slowly, slowly, that's right, just step away:
Step away from the grind already! It is hard to see what kind of damage we are doing from inside the eye of the tornado!

2. Reassess your situation:
Look over your timeline and check off all that is complete. For those things that still need to be completed do one thing at a time! This is hard to do if you feel like everything is equally important so...

3. Prioritize your to do list:
Prioritize which of the tasks are most important to take care of first, usually your timeline will give you this information - if it is first on the time line it should get done first. Sometimes it has the same urgency value, in this case plan to do both that day, but DO NOT SPEND ALL DAY on it!

4. But, But, But:
Do not BUT yourself into the psych ward. But, the caterer hasn't called me back, but I have not received the fax confirmation, but I have to take the kids to the dentist... If they do not call you back today, call them again tomorrow, if they have not faxed you something call to confirm they got the fax number correct, if you have other obligations that are (at this moment) calling for you, do it and come back to the task.

5. It will ALWAYS work out:
If you are following the time line it will work out especially if you are following a reasonable timeline. Just tell yourself that everything is falling into place, because if you are working on it, it is and it will.

6. Believe in yourself and your abilities:
You are a great person for the job! Otherwise you would not be appointed to do it/it would not be part of your job title! Having confidence that you will get it right is all you need!

7. No One Knows!!:
No one knows (except you and maybe the client) what was supposed to be served, what color flowers or how many flowers were suppose to arrive. Your job in planning any event is 1) making the guests feel comfortable and engaged 2) full filling your/clients/businesses needs 3)everything else. It is okay to have things not go exactly as planned - it happens the most important thing is to make sure that it does not look like anything has happened and that the guests have no idea! So you still look fabulous!

De-stress take a breather and tell your self that you are doing a fabulous job!