Top College Party Themes

As you head back to college, you might already be planning the first party of the semester. Here are nine of the best college party themes to inspire and entertain:

Halloween

Halloween comes around just after the fall semester starts, so it’s never too early to start preparing. You can use ‘Halloween’ as a theme in itself, or choose a different theme for the occasion.

Toga Party

The Toga Party is a college classic. The craze has somewhat worn off now, and a Toga Party is more the territory of middle-aged partygoers than college teens. However, it’s a good theme to fall back on if all else fails, and will produce a novelty evening.

Pick a Decade

Like the Toga Party, theming your party around a certain decade works every time. The sixties, eighties and nineties are most popular, but you can also go back further and throw a prohibition or war-themed party. Some decades definitely have more party potential then others, so choose wisely.

Pick a TV show or Movie

This type of theme is ripe with possibilities, so it’s probably best to be specific. You could ask guests to come as their favorite reality star, to dress up as a celebrity they look like or base the whole party around a certain TV shows.

Dress up

It’s college, so smart dress counts as a theme. Asking guests to come in black tie and cocktail dresses or ball-gowns will put an unusual spin on the traditional college house party. You could also take the theme further, serving cocktails and spirits instead of beer.

Make a Random Selection

If you’re really stuck for suggestions, bring 5-10 of your closest friends together, ask them each to write a theme on a piece of paper, and then put all papers into a bag. Draw one out blind, and you have your party theme!

Choose Alumni

All colleges have celebrity alumni of one form or another. If you go to a college with a particularly famous roster of graduates, bring them back to the dorms for one night only by requiring guests to dress as their favorite character.

Look to the Future

Movies and TV shows depicting future life are notoriously inaccurate, and you can throw a party that follows this trend. Choosing ‘the future’ as a theme is broad enough to give guests a lot of choice, but not so broad that they’ll be stuck for options.

Letter Party

This is a fun theme that challenges guests to get creative. As the party creator, choose a single letter from the alphabet. All guests have to come dressed as a noun (person, place or thing) that starts with the letter.

Don’t forget to use iPartyGram to manage your guest list and send out invitations. Using the app, you can create and send professional-looking invitations for free. VIP guests can also upload pictures to the app, giving you a chance to remember the night before the morning after!

iPartyGram - Independent Just-Released Review - iPhone/iPad Party App

Click here for just-released link to iTunes.
 
iPartyGram is a new party-planning app from TECHtionary. It’s a useful tool for planning parties, sending out invitations to guests, and uploading photos. Inviting guests usually takes so much time, it’s a relief to find an app that can make the process quicker, simpler, and, best of all, lets you send invitations for free.  

Hosts When you open up iPartyGram, you’ll see a log on screen for hosts and guests. Hosts can create their own account, from which they can input party details and invite guests. Each party has its own separate “folder” with details and pictures, and you can create as many parties as you like. Once you’ve entered all the party details into your host account, you can send out invitations to guests. Usually this is something that can take hours or, if you get professional invitations printed, can be very costly. 

With iPartyGram, however, you can create professional-looking invitations for a fraction of the price, and send them out to guests for free via email. When you tap “Invite Guests” the app automatically compiles all the party information into an invitation. You can then choose a background to suit the party, which makes it look professional, and then email it to as many people as you like. The invitation shows up in the email as a PDF. Partygoers can then respond to your email to RSVP, and keep the PDF for reference later. When I’ve used iPartyGram, this feature has been really helpful, as you can include information about dress code and what guests need to bring on the invitation, which reduces the amount of questions you get from attendees later! When inviting people to your party, you can select individuals to be “VIP” guests. These guests have special privileges in iPartyGram, including the ability to add their own photos. This feature is lovely, as it means I can share pictures with my closest friends.  

Guests At the top of each iPartyGram invitation, guests receive their own unique log-in number. They can use this to log in to the iPartyGram app or website to view details of the party and any pictures the host and VIP guests have uploaded. As the invitation is a PDF, guests can download this and save it to their computer, or print it out, so they have the details with them when traveling to the party venue.  

iPartyCal iPartyCal is the newest feature in iPartyGram is really useful whether you’re a guest or a host. I find it really helpful when scheduling parties, as I can take a quick look and see when other people have already arranged events, without leaving the app. It's a great way of keeping track of your own events, and friends’ parties too. iPartyGram is an easy-to-use and intuitive party-planning system that makes life easier for hosts and guests. Having used the app both as a party organizer and an attendee, it’s really helpful to be able to view all the party details in one place, straight from my phone. iPartyGram helps you get the practical arrangements out of the way quickly so you can focus on more fun aspects of planning - and enjoying - the event!

Party Planning Apps for iPhone & iPad

Party Planning Apps Whether you’re celebrating a milestone in life, such as a wedding or graduation, or simply want to plan a fun time together with family and friends, a party can be the ideal way to celebrate most any occasion. As technology progresses and becomes more highly integrated into everyday life, it provides us with better methods for planning and preparation. Smartphone and computer apps can be used to help you plan your next party. By streamlining the time and effort you put into planning and preparation you can provide yourself with the opportunity to enjoy your party as much as your guests do. Use one or more of these apps the next time you’ve got a shindig to plan.

• Evite. People have been using Evite on their computers for years. This handy application allows you to create customized party invitations and send them to people on your contact list. Now you can use Evite Mobile to create and send your party invitations on-the-go. This app provides you with a few convenient ways to invite people to your party, including sending the invitations from your mobile app to their email, phone or via text message.
• The Cocktails App. You don’t have to be a trained bartender to delight your adult guests with delicious cocktails. The Cocktails App helps you determine which mixed drinks would be best for your party. It also provides you with a list of necessary ingredients and simple directions to make the drinks. The additional tips provided with this app help you add delicious variations to your drinks and explain the benefits of using certain bartending tools and supplies.
• Dinner Party Food Street. If you’ve planned a party but have no idea what to serve your guests to eat, this useful app can assist you in creating and planning the entire spread. Look through countless meal and appetizer suggestions and click on each to obtain a necessary ingredients list and recipe. When you’re not using this app for party planning, you’ll enjoy using it to plan your regular meals, as well.
• Let’s Party! After enjoying the delicious dinner spread you’ve created with the Dinner Part Food Street app, your guests might be too full to dance but they’ll enjoy the party games you come up with Let’s Party! This party game-lover’s app has games for all kind of occasions, from children’s parties to holiday parties. Search through the app’s database to find several games that fit with your theme or occasion.
• iPartygram Organizing, planning and having a great party experience is the concept behind iPartyGram. With more than hundred different background photos and images available through the app, you can choose an image that suits the theme or occasion of your party. You can add all the information you need to the party invitation, and it’s the perfect opportunity to let guests know if the party has a certain dress code, theme, or whether they should bring their own drinks. You can also use the “Notes” and “Reminders” sections to give guests a date by which they should RSVP, saving you the hassle of having to chase people up later. When sending invitations to guests, you can select the box marked “VIP” if you want that guest to be able to upload their own photos to the party section within iPartyGram. You can either send the invitation to each guest individually with your own customized message, or send the same graphic file to multiple people. iPartyGram is a versatile app that makes the party planning process simple, quick, and cost-effective. It allows you to spend less time on practical tasks, like sending invitations, leaving you with more time to focus on the big event.

Using apps to create, invitation and drastically reduce your party preparation time and your stress level by taking advantage of party planning apps that give ideas and instructions for creating the perfect party. Whether your occasion is casual or formal, in the backyard or at the local club, these party planning apps can take the stress out of “being the host or the hostess with the mostest.” When all is said and done and the last guest has said “goodnight”, you’ll be able to look back on a party that was easy to plan and fun to enjoy with your guests.

iPartyGram Independent Review - Pre Release First Look - By Hannah B

iPartyGram is a new party-planning app for the iPhone and iPad from TECHtionary. It enables you to upload party details and photos, share information with friends, and create customized invitations to send via email. You can use iPartyGram when planning variety of parties, from large-scale events like weddings, to smaller events like house-warming parties. You can also use the app in combination with other software, such as Microsoft Excel, to keep track of your guest list and RSVPs. Party hosts can sign up to a special account on the app, which allows them to create new parties, add details, such as time, place, and other notes and instructions, and share these details with guests. As a party host, you can also upload photos that your guests will see when they log in using the details in their invitation. These could be photos of the party venue, costume ideas for a themed party, or photos of previous parties. One of the app’s most useful features is the ability to create and send invitations to guests.

Using iPartyGram, you can create customized invitations and send them to others for free via email. Not only does this save you the time it takes to write out and mail physical invitations, but it also saves you money - particularly if you intend to send invitations to a lot of people. To send an invitation, simply enter the correct details in the boxes provided, choose a background image, then enter your guests’ email addresses. The app transforms the invitation into a graphic file that guests can view in the body of the email. With a variety of different background photos and images available through the app, you can choose an image that suits the theme or occasion of your party. You can add all the information you need to the invitation, and it’s the perfect opportunity to let guests know if the party has a certain dress code, theme, or whether they should bring their own drinks. You can also use the “Notes” and “Reminders” sections to give guests a date by which they should RSVP, saving you the hassle of having to chase people up later. When sending invitations to guests, you can select the box marked “VIP” if you want that guest to be able to upload their own photos to the party section within iPartyGram. Guests can only view party pics/snaps

You can either send the invitation to each guest individually with your own customized message, or send the same graphic file to multiple people. To keep each individual’s email address private, enter your own email address in the “To:” field, then enter the other recipients’ addresses in the “BCC:” field. That way, when guests receive the invitations, they only see your email address, and other guests’ emails stay hidden. The graphic format means that guests can easily print out and take the invitation with them to the party, so they have all the details on hand. When guests receive their invitations, it contains a unique ID number. To access the party details, all they have to do is download the iPartyGram app or log on to the website, and enter the ID number in the Guest Login section, then they can access the party details and, if they are VIP guests, upload their own photos.

iPartyGram is an extraordinary, simple and versatile app that makes the party planning process simple, quick, and cost-effective. It allows you to spend less time on practical tasks, like sending invitations, leaving you with more time to focus on the big event. Speaking of planning, the iPartygram website has a growing list of cool ideas on all kinds of party planning ideas, tips, checklists and more.
click on graphics for website.

Bachelorette Party Planning Ideas from iPartygram

Bachelorette parties are more than just a night out with the girls, they celebrate the bride-to-be’s passage transformation from single woman into married life. It’s a chance for her to celebrate this life-changing event with her closest friends and family. The bachelorette party is usually planned by the maid-of-honor, although she might also want some help from other members of the bridal party: planning an event like this is an enormous task. Here are some tips to help you plan the perfect bachelorette party that the bride-to-be will never forget:

1 - Find out who else is in the bridal party.
Traditionally, the guests at a bachelorette party are the members of the bridal party, and maybe some close family too. It’s important to get details of the other people in the bridal party as soon as possible so you can involve them in planning the event, and know when everyone will be available to attend.

2 - Decide on the date, duration, and budget of the party.
It’s also tradition that attendees pay for the bride-to-be to attend her bachelorette party, so you need to make sure that party guests can cover their costs, and put some money towards covering the bachelorette too. The budget will influence where you hold the party, and how long it lasts. Some bachelorette parties run over a weekend, while others last for an evening. The date of the party can be anything between a month and a few days before the wedding. Even if you’re keeping the party a surprise, the run up to the big day will be a busy time for the bride, so make sure she knows to keep the day or weekend of the party free.

3 - Choose a theme.
Bachelorette parties don’t necessarily have to have a theme; however this can make the party more entertaining. Some parties become risqué, so if you’re choosing a theme make sure it will be agreeable to all guests. You should also consider what the bachelorette herself will want: will she want a big night out, or is she the kind of person that would prefer time at home with friends?


4 - Hire or book a venue/hotel and entertainment (if necessary).
Even if you’re having the bachelorette party in someone’s home, you should start thinking about the kind of entertainment you’re going to have. This might include party games, movies, music, or even something like a cooked dinner. Once you have the theme and know what kind of venue you’re using, you can start thinking about purchasing bachelorette-themed decorations and costumer accessories.

5 - Send invitations to guests well ahead of time.
Remember to give guests a date by which they should RSVP. You should also ask them to tell you if they have any special requirements, such as food allergies. The iPartyGram app lets you send out free, customized invitations to guests via email, saving you time and money. Simply download the app, create your invitation, and then share it with everyone you want to invite. Guests can also upload their own photos to the party’s page within the app, so it’s a lovely way to get everyone involved in the bride-to-be’s big night out.

6 - Book accommodation and transport (if necessary).
If you’re booking a hotel for the bachelorette party, you should try to arrange it as soon as possible to ensure you get the best deal. You also need to arrange transport to and from the party venue, especially if there are no designated drivers. Some bachelorette parties hire a limo to travel in style, but arranging transportation might be as simple as booking a few taxis.

7 - Ask guests to pay their share of the night’s costs in advance.
This is important for two reasons. Firstly, having other guests’ share of their costs on the night means that you can pay for everything yourself, saving time and minimizing any complications that might arise with everyone wanting to pay for food and drink separately. Sometimes people can drop out of bachelorette parties at the last minute, leaving the other members covering the bachelorette’s costs on their own. Asking guests for money to cover expenses in advance reduces the financial impact if someone isn’t able to make it on the night

8 - Double-check confirmations the week before.
Make sure the guests know the date, time and venue for the party, especially if it’s a surprise. If you’re planning to travel from one venue to another, it’s helpful to send guests an approximate itinerary for the evening so they know what’s happening, and you can focus on having a good time.

Wedding Place Planning via iPartygram

Finding and selecting (hiring is used in UK) a venue is one of the biggest costs - and headaches - associated with a wedding. The reception venue in particular is where you and your guests will spend most of the day, so it’s important to choose the right venue carefully.

1. Price Your venue budget will dictate other factors, such as the size of venue you can afford to hire, and its location. When visiting prospective venues, you should enquire about different price options, for example whether the venue is cheaper at certain times of the year, or on certain days of the week. Hiring a venue on a weekday tends to be cheaper than at weekends, but the downside is that some guests might not be able to take the time off work.

2. Size One of the most important considerations is the size of the venue. You need to make sure venue is large enough to house all guests, plus extra furniture and accessories you will have. A space might look large when it’s empty but by the time you fit tables, chairs, and entertainment equipment in there, the extra will disappear quickly. Part of the size decision includes knowing whether you want to have ceremony and reception all in one place. If the ceremony venue is small, you can invite a certain proportion of the guests just to the reception. The reception venue needs to have enough space so that you can separate out different areas for guests to eat, drink, and dance.


3. Privacy Having your wedding or reception in a public space might sound romantic, but in reality it won’t be very private. If you want to have your party in local gardens, or in a place of public interest, you should think about how much privacy you want. If you’re planning to use a venue that might not have as much privacy as you’d like, try negotiating with the vendor, and ask whether they would be able to give you a section of the venue to yourselves.

4. Atmosphere It might sound like a small detail, but the lighting in your venue can make a huge difference to the atmosphere of your wedding ceremony and reception party. Try to visit prospective venues at the same time of day you’d like to have the ceremony so you can see whether the lighting will work for you. Equally, you want to make sure that the lighting is right for the occasion when you’re having dinner and your reception party. It should be dim, but bright enough for people to see what they’re doing. By the time you’re visiting venues, you’ll probably have thought about some themes. Does the venue fit with any of the ideas you had in mind, or would it clash?

5. Facilities The facilities available at the venue are another important factor in your decision, as they will contribute to the guests’ enjoyment of the party. You should check that any prospective venues have enough toilets for the number of guests you plan to invite. Another consideration is the number of electrical outlets in the room. If you are having entertainment, such as a DJ or a band, they will need several sources of electricity. You should also check if whether the venue has an alcohol license.

6. Accessibility When visiting a prospective venue, it’s important to look at the location’s accessibility. You need to ensure it has enough parking, and research the local public transport options too. Then, when you’re sending the invitations, you can tell guests whether they can bring their own vehicle, or need to arrange a lift home.

Party Invitations and Guest Lists Using iPartyGram

iPartyGram is a new app from TECHtionary that enables you to create events and send stylish, digital invitations to guests for free. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars designing and printing professional invitations, then taking the time to mail them all, iPartyGram lets you create beautiful customized invites, and send them to multiple guests at the same time via email. Perfect for weddings of all budgets, iPartyGram is an easy and fun way to complete one of the most important steps involved in your wedding planning.

The iPartyGram app is also perfect for managing your guest list, as you can use the app to select VIP guests. This could be special members of the groom and bride’s families, the best man, the bridal party, and whoever else you’d like to include. When VIPs log in to iPartyGram, they can add their own photos to the event for other guests to see.

When sending invitations through iPartyGram, you can include detailed information about the venue, and separate notes and instructions. This is the perfect time-saving opportunity, as you can provide your guests with information about the dress code, menu and any gift requests in one go. Doing so helps you save time sending further messages or answering multiple questions later. As you can create as many invitations as you want per event, and send each invitation to multiple people at a time, you can send out separate invites to separate groups of guests. For example, the invitations you send to the groom or bride’s main parties might also include details of the bachelor or bachelorette parties, while invitations you send to friend and family who have volunteered to help out on the day might include different instructions.

As well as choosing the information you want to include in your invitations, you can also customize their appearance, choosing the background that you think suits your wedding the most. Whether you want a traditional-style invitation, or would like to do something a bit different, the wide range of styles available with iPartyGram means you’ll be able to find the image that’s right for you.

Once you’ve sent the invitations, you need to find a way to keep track of your guests’ RSVPs. To do this, you can use one of TECHtionary’s other apps, iFlipTips, which enables you to store information on digital flashcards. Simply create one folder for confirmed, one for declined, and another for outstanding, and you can easily view which guests you still need to chase. Alternatively, you can also try creating a spreadsheet and color-coding it according to whether a guest has said yes, no, or you’re still waiting to hear.

Finally, you can use iPartyGram as a record of the build-up to your wedding. Guests marked as VIPs can add photos, so you can show guests the edited highlights of your bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as images of your wedding preparations. It’s a lovely way to keep the whole wedding party involved in the run up to the big day, and set the tone for a fun event with friends, family and each other.

Wedding Planner Quicklist - Check & Re-Check the Details

Essential Wedding Planning Shortlist Planning a wedding is a huge endeavor, and it’s easy to get so caught up in the planning process that you find it difficult to enjoy the big day itself. One of the key ways you can organize your wedding planning to minimize your stress level is to create a wedding planning checklist. Using this checklist, you can make sure you get everything done on time, and with good preparation, so on the day of the wedding, you can focus on each other.

One year to nine months before

1. Start a wedding folder - This is particularly useful if you’re not sure what you want to do for your wedding yet, as you can gather clippings, notes and pictures for inspiration.
2. Decide on a budget - Your budget will determine what kind of venue you hire, and how many guests you invite. Many people get into debt paying for their wedding day, so think carefully about how much you can afford.
3. Create a guest list - This includes choosing the key roles like your best man and maid of honor.
4. Hire a planner - If you have the budget and want someone else to take charge of the details, an event planner can help alleviate some of the stress that goes with organizing a wedding.
5. Make a date and reserve a venue - If you want to keep costs low, choose the same venue for the ceremony and reception, and otherwise remember to plan time for the journey between the two locations.

Six to nine months before

1. Hire any third-party contractors - This includes caterers, photographers, transportation, florists and entertainment, such as a band.
2. Decide on and purchase a wedding dress - Remember that you will need to get fittings, and you should make the final fitting as close to your wedding date as possible.
3. Research guest accommodation - If some of your guests will need somewhere to stay overnight, now is the time to start researching and reserving blocks of rooms to ensure they are guaranteed overnight accommodation.
4. Create a gift list - If you’re using a registry service, this is a good time to set up and start adding items.
5. Send save-the-date cards - If you’re skipping save-the-date cards and just sending invitations, you can also do this now. Letting people know the date well in advance gives them enough time to make the necessary arrangements to come.

Three to five months before

1. Plan the rehearsal dinner - You will also need to plan the menu to account for guests with dietary requirements.
2. Order the cake - Choose your baker carefully; it’s worth sampling several different services before deciding so you can make sure you’re getting exactly what you want, and at a good price.
3. Plan the wedding music - Doing this in advance is especially helpful if you’re hiring an external DJ.
4. Finalize the menu - You know who your caterer is, and you can now agree on what the final menu will be.
5. Organize favors - If you’re giving guests wedding favors, these can easily slip under the radar until the last minute, so plan and purchase them now to avoid stress closer to the time.
6. Plan the day’s schedule - This includes who is giving speeches, and what will happen at the reception. You can also send this schedule to your venues so they can make plans.
7. Purchase your rings - This might seem like a simple task, but you will need to leave time in case you want engraving, or need the rings resized.
8. Send invitations - You can send free invitations via email using the iPartyGram app. Remember to include an RSVP date to encourage guests to respond as soon as possible.

One month before

1. Get a marriage license - Do this in advance to leave room for any delays.
2. Chase guests who haven’t RSVPed
3. Pay vendors - Most vendors will require complete payment in advance of the day, so remember to pay their invoice in full to avoid any unnecessary stress over the next few weeks.
4. Create a seating plan - If you haven’t done so already, create a seating plan and send it to the venues.

The week before

1. Delegate tasks to close friends and family - Take some of the heat off by asking others to carry out small tasks, for example liaising with contractors on the day.
2. Send a final guest list to the venue - Last minute changes are inevitable, but you should send the final list of attendees at least 72 hours in advance.
3. Double-check arrival times with the venues and contractors.

Party Planning: Venue, Food and Drink from iPartyGrams

Planning a venue, food and drink for the correct number of guests is one of the big hurdles facing a party planner - especially if not all guests have RSVPed. Figuring out the numbers can be stressful, however you can take steps to reduce the chance that you’ll end up with too many people to cram into a venue, or the wrong amount of food and drink on the day. The planning process will depend on the type of party you’re throwing, and how long you expect the party to last. Guests attending a cocktail party will expect different amounts of food and drink than guests attending a dinner party will. With informal events, you can also ask guests to bring a drink and a food item, such as a dessert. If you’re feeling confused about planning for the right number of people, you can use the tips below to help solve your dilemmas.  
 

Venue If you decide not to hold your party at home, planning a suitable venue can be tricky. You need to book a venue in advance to make sure the location you want is available, however when you book you might not know the final guest numbers. As an estimate, assume that 75% of your invited guests will come to your party, however when you invite people you can ask them to RSVP by a certain date so you have a better idea of who’s coming and who’s not.

Food When planning food, it’s important to think about the type of party you’re having. You don’t need a full food menu for a cocktail party, but at the same time you need to decide whether you’re going to offer guests meal choices if you’re planning a sit-down dinner party. If you decide to provide food at your party, you might want to check whether your guests have any dietary requirements. It’s a good idea to provide a mixture of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, but you will need to think about what kind of food you’re providing if some of your guests
have other dietary requirements (or ask them to bring their own food). As a general rule, plan for each guest to eat five small snacks during the first hour of the party, then three snacks per hour for each hour afterwards. Remember to make room in your fridge beforehand for any leftovers!  

Drinks You should consider several factors when planning the type and volume of drinks to purchase for your party. Questions to think about include whether the guests are heavy drinkers, or whether they drink less than most people. As a general rule, plan for each guest to consume one drink per hour, then purchase 25-50% more drinks than that to account for people who might drink more. If you’re serving food at your party, the type of food you offer will affect the amount of drinks guests might consume: spicy or salty food could cause people to drink more. When hosting a drinks party, you could create a drinks menu. This limits guests’ choices and helps you predict how much of each item you need to purchase. Providing a drinks menu can be easier to plan than offering a full bar, as in this case, guests will have more choice, but you will need to stock up well. Alternatively, if you want to limit the amount of drinks you buy, you could reduce the options to beer and wine. At any event, you need to have a choice of non-alcoholic drinks, in addition to cocktails and other beverages, especially if children are coming. Canned soft drinks are easier to budget and serve than bottled drinks; however they can also cost more. You can usually get around 12 regular-sized servings from a 2 liter bottle of soft drink, although it’s wise to purchase slightly more than you think you’ll need to avoid running out.

Party Planning on a Budget via iPartygrams

Planning a part on a budget can be a challenge, but there’s no reason you should have to forgo festivities just because you can’t spend a lot of money on an event. If you’re planning a budget-friendly party and want to save cash, you can take several steps to have a successful event without breaking the bank.  





Budget and save The most important step you can take when planning a party is to decide on a budget, then stick to it. You might be tempted to spend more in order to host the perfect event; however you will regret the extra expenditure after the party is over. If you’re watching your bank balance, don’t buy anything you don’t need. Before you make any party-related purchase, stop and think “Is there a way I could do this for less money?” before you make a decision. Finally, if you’re planning a party in advance, start saving a few dollars every week in a designated “party fund” to minimize the impact the party will have on your finances closer to the time.  

Venue One of the major costs associated with large parties comes from hiring a private venue for the event. Hosting the party at home instead of at an external location could save you hundreds of dollars, and will save you a trip to and from the venue too. Of course, one of the reasons you might consider hiring a venue is because you have limited space, so you have two options: you can reduce the number of guests, or invite everyone to a restaurant, bar or other public location suitable for large groups.  

Food and drink Food and drink is another major cost associated with throwing a party, and it’s easy to spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on alcohol, soft drinks, and food, only to have most of it left over at the end of the evening. To limit the cost, try asking people to bring their own food and drinks instead of gifts. Alternatively, you can tell guests in advance that you’ll be providing one drink per person, and people can bring their own drinks if they’d like more.  

Entertainment You don’t have to spend anything on entertainment; instead, use your creativity to keep guests occupied. Introduce a theme for the party, and plan some fun party games in advance. You can also use services like Spotify and iTunes to create your own home-made playlists for free.  


Planning If you’re hosting a big event, ask family and friends in advance whether they can help out with greeting guests and serving food and drink on the day. Instead of posting physical invitations to guests, try using the iPartyGram app to send invitations for free via email. The app’s invitation feature also contains a section where you can remind guests to bring their own drinks, or to tell them about the party’s theme. Decorations are fun, but you’re likely to only use them for this one event, especially if it’s themed, so try sourcing them from discounted stores. If you’re feeling creative, you can also try making your own.

Party Planning Checklist Essentials via iPartygrams

Having a party planning checklist can make the difference between a party you’ll never forget, and a party you wish you could. If creating your own party planning checklist feels like too much hassle, or you’re worried you’ll forget a crucial detail; here is a list of essential party planning items that will make or break your event. Months before Months before the party, you need to get important details in place. These include how much money you can afford to spend on the party, whether you want to hire a venue and, if so, where it’s going to be, as well as who you’re going to invite.
1. Work out a budget
2. Decide on a date, a time, and a venue (and book the venue, if applicable).
3. Decide on the guest list.
4. Plan a theme, if you intend to have one.
5. Send out invitations, giving details of the date, time, and place of the party, as well as additional details like whether the party is themed, and whether guests should bring anything with them. You can do this using iPartyGram, which sends free email invitations to guests telling them everything they need to know about the party.

Month before The basics are in place, and it’s time to start paying attention to the details. 1. Decide what food you’re going to offer. 2. Ask friends/family for help during the event if necessary. 3. Make a shopping list of items, food and drink you will need to purchase for the party. 4. Purchase non-perishable items you need. This might include paper plates, plastic cutlery, soft drinks, and decorations. 5. Decide on what party games you want to play.

1. Start creating favors or party bags, if you plan to offer these to guests.

Week before The countdown to the big day has started, and the week before the party is one of the most important planning times. The more you get done earlier, the more relaxed you will feel about the preparations. 1. Confirm that the people who have offered to help can still volunteer. 2. Follow up with guests who haven’t RSVPed yet. 3. Create a music playlist for extra entertainment.

1. Organize the layout of the party room (this applies to events in homes and in professional venues).
2. Confirm catering and food choices.

6. Pick your outfit if the party is going to be formal.

1. Create an agenda. This is especially helpful if you are hosting a more formal party, as it gives you a structure to focus on during the evening. An example party agenda might look like this:

7-7.30: Guests arrive and drinks. 8-8.30: Guests seated at dinner table and first course served, etc.  

Day before The day of the party is nearly here, and you still have time to do a lot of preparations in advance to minimize the amount of stress you feel on the day of the event. 1. Clean your home (if the party is going to be at your home) and organize the layout of rooms guests will be using. 2. Put away any items you don’t want your guests to see, or things you want to keep safe, including in the bathroom. 3. Start putting up decorations. 4. Designate specific tasks to each of your volunteer helpers.

Day of Hopefully you’ve prepared enough in advance that you don’t have much to do on the day of the party. Your main tasks will involve ensuring that the food and venue are ready. 1. Finish any last-minute decorations. 2. Start preparing for the post-party clean-up by making space in the fridge, and readying trashbin liners. 3. Put out perishable food items and drinks about an hour before guests arrive.

In summary, great parties begin with great planning.

Party Planning Sponsored by iPartygram.com

Ideas for party planning Parties cover a huge range of events and celebrations, and if you’ve been tasked with planning one, you might be wondering where to start. As well as birthdays, national holidays, corporate events and life changes, you might want to throw a party just to see friends. When looking for party planning ideas, the best place to start is to think about the nature of the event. The kind of party will depend on what you’re celebrating, as well as the age and the background of the attendees. For example, a kids’ party will be very different from an office Christmas party, which in turn will be very different from a student housewarming party. Each different party will require different entertainment, a different venue, possibly even different food. Key areas to consider when trying to think of ideas for party planning include:

• Guests
• Budget
• Venue
• Food
• Entertainment

You also need to consider whether you’re going to ask other people to help out with the preparations or during the event itself. Each factor influences at least one other - for example, the number of guests you want to invite to the party will dictate the size of venue you need. The food and entertainment will depend on the number of guests, and whether these things are provided by the venue. Every area will be influenced by your budget. Within each area, you have important decisions to make. If you want to provide food at the party, you need to plan whether it will be home-cooked, bought in advance from a store, or provided especially by professional caterers. Entertainment is also important, and it’s usually a good idea to provide a range of entertainment that will suit as many guests as possible. This might include providing music, and lighting, as well as party games. For kids’ parties, you might want to consider hiring external child entertainers or equipment like a bouncy castle. If you’re struggling to find ideas for party planning, try theming the party to a certain occasion. For example, if you’re planning a birthday party, try theming it to the decade the person celebrating their birthday was born. Parties celebrating national holidays or events are also easy to theme. Theming a party can make it easier to select food and entertainment, and can also provide a more interactive experience for guests, especially if costumes are involved. If you plan to host a party with costumes, or you want guests to bring food, drinks or other items, you need to give them enough notice so they can organize this themselves. Sending out reminders or notes about the party is best done with the invitations so that people have plenty of time to plan what they are going to wear or bring, and they are less likely to forget. Depending on the event, you might want to provide your guests with something to thank them for coming to the party. Although this is something you might send out after the party, it’s still an important factor in the party planning process and needs to be organized alongside the event itself. Ideas for guests include thank-you notes, which you can send after the event, or party favors, which you can prepare in advance and hand out during the event. Whatever kind of party you throw, forward planning and good organization are the key to a successful event. If you spend time on the event in advance, everything will come together on the evening, leaving you free to enjoy the party alongside the other guests.

Party Planning

If you’ve been tasked with planning a party, you have no small challenge ahead of you. Whether you’re planning an informal baby shower for a good friend, or organizing the office summer party for 300 people, the same good party planning practices apply. Don't get stressed This is easier said than done, especially when there’s a party to plan. Minimizing your stress levels, however, will help you keep a calm head if things go wrong, and aid your ability to solve any problems that might arise during the planning process and the party itself. To a certain extent, you can’t control your stress levels, but you can take steps to alleviate the amount of anxiety you feel. Some of these are below, and involve planning as much of the party in advance as possible, having back-up plans, and enlisting the help of other people. Plan well in advance The more you can plan the different elements of a party in advance, the more likely you’ll be able to create a successful event with minimum stress. Once you have the necessary information like the budget and guest numbers, plan other aspects of the party, such as the venue, entertainment, and food, as far in advance as possible - even if you think these aspects will be easy to organize. Create a party checklist Make lists of everything you need to do, from creating and sending out invites, to organizing the music, venue and deciding on guest list. Next to each list item, specify a deadline for each task. This should be at least two weeks before you really need to complete the task, as then if preparations are delayed; you still have time to complete the planning. Create back-up plans You might assume that if you prepare for the party properly, you won’t need a back-up plan, but part of preparing for a party properly is to have a back-up plan. No matter how well you organize the different elements involved in a party, things outside of your control can go wrong. Having a back-up plan for food, drinks, entertainment and a venue means that, although it might not be ideal, the party can still go on, even if disaster strikes. Ask for help Depending on the size and complexity of the party, planning the event on your own is a huge responsibility. Part of successful planning is knowing when to delegate tasks to other people, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you don’t feel you can manage, or if you have tasks on your to-do list that you’d rather others completed. Focus on the guests Even when you’re throwing a party for a birthday, wedding, baby shower, or other major life event, the focus of the party should be on the guests. It’s easy to get caught up in making the party perfect for the person who is supposed to be at the centre of the festivities. While this is still important, if you neglect to focus on what the party guests might want from the event too, you will end up with a room full of dissatisfied partygoers. Make sure your guest's needs are provided for, and the party will flow. Use Party Planning Apps Just as it’s important to ask for help from other people, you might also find it useful to utilize a party planning or personal organizer tool, such as the iPartyGram app. Not only will this help you manage the guest list, but it will help you plan exactly what you need to do by the day of the party, and make sure you remember all those little details that can make the difference between a good party and a great party.

iPocketBra or iBraTop - iPhone Pocket Running Bra - Ideal for Running or Running from Thieves

According to Seattle-based JoeyBra, "Our unique design will hold most cellphones, ID, key, and other small items regardless of bust size - no amount of items will change the way your bra fits you. When the pocket is empty, our patent pending design will look exactly like any other bra which means you can wear it night or day. Never again will you have to reach down the front of your dress looking for the key that slipped out of place. Our product places all pockets within easy, yet appropriate reach." Here's a little more on the Bra Design:

• Sexy lace detail
• Lightly padded push-up
• Convertible and removable straps
• Comfortable fit and design

This is a cool concept for any girl who goes anywhere who just wants to take her iPhone, ID and credit card to the bars without having to worry about pickpockets or thieves who assault especially women for their valuable iPhones.  

G-Spot Discovered? Real Girls Dish on a Very Touchy Subject

We came across some news on the recent research that has been done on the magical and mystifying area known as the G-spot.
First take a look at this video from ABC News. Click on image for story. The recent research states that the G-spot is actually an area on the front vaginal wall about 2”-3” inside. The tissue that surrounds the urethra is located here and they are very similar to the prostate gland in men. Deeper inside are the ‘arms’ of the clitoris which are also affected when this area is touched. The studies report that about 70-80% of women claim to have this area. However, it is thought that the other 20-30% may have just never located or tried to locate the area.

We we’re so curious about this topic that we decided to poll some lady friends of ours and see what they thought of this tricky but interesting subject. We asked them what they actually knew about the infamous G-spot, what they thought they knew about it, what they’d like to know, and if they had any personal experiences with it that they wanted to share. Since this is a pretty personal topic we’ll just number our wonderful interviewees as #’s 1, 2, and 3. Check out their thoughts on the G-spot and then tell us what you think. #1- What do you actually know about the G-spot? Or, what do you think you know? “Well, I’ve always thought, or been told, that the G spot is a little bumpy spot inside of the vagina. But, I haven’t actually felt or experienced anything from it. I’ve always thought it was a fictitious thing made up by some doctor or industry trying to gain from the theory. I’d be willing to learn more about it though. If new research says it’s there then it’s worth looking into. I mean, who wouldn’t want to experience what they say it causes.” Since this interviewee didn’t claim to have any personal experiences with the G-spot we thought we’d ask her how hard, or if ever, she had tried to find this area. She replied: “(slightly blushing) Honestly, I haven’t tried too hard. I haven’t really asked anyone to ‘look’ for me either. Now that we’re talking about it maybe I should. For research sake (giggles).” #2 - What do you actually know about the G-spot? Or, what do you think you know? Are there any personal experiences that you’d like to share?

“I feel like I know quite a bit about the G-spot actually. I…I guess, found it a few years ago. Actually my fiancé helped me ‘find’ it. It was very different than anything that I’ve ever experienced before. It was great! I don’t really know how else to describe it other than to say it was really intense and felt deeper when I came to orgasm than typically. It was different. As far as what I know about it factually, um, very little I guess. I’ve heard that it’s an area of nerves inside, but I’ve never actually researched it. It would probably be interesting to find out though.” #3 - What do you actually know about the G-spot? Or, what do you think you know? Are there any personal experiences that you’d like to share?


I’m a pre-med student so I actually like to read and watch news about women’s’ health topics. I’ve seen the recent research about this and it’s really interesting. I agree that the area exists. I also agree that it can cause a deeper or different type of orgasm than a clitoral orgasm. I’ve read the recent research vs. the older that says there is no G-spot. As a woman and a future medical professional I agree with the more recent studies. It’s definitely there! You just have to know how to find it. Also, it may be for some women that their tissue in that area is different so they don’t think they have one because it’s not as ridged or textured as described. If you’re interested in achieving a different or stronger orgasm through the G-spot you should definitely work with a partner (grin). Allowing a partner to assist you can help you find the area and be able to locate it yourself later on. Those are my thoughts.” So, any personal experiences that you’d like to share with the G-spot? “If you’re asking if I’ve found my G-spot the answer is YES! (laughs out loud) Like I said, I’ve researched on this topic.” So there you have it ladies. We got the opinions of three very different females on this controversial subject. Do you agree or disagree with them? If you agree please feel free to share your personal experiences or thoughts with us. If you disagree and think that it doesn’t exist, then maybe we can convince you to explore the topic with us. What do you think? Don’t be shy! Dish!

Gossip - The Accelerated Velocity of Terminal Inexactitude

We all know that dull news travels like a snail mail and gossip faster than warp drive. One of our favorite examples comes from the all-too-true movie Easy A starring Emma Stone. Three times in the movie, the director shows us the speed of gossip which Emma calls The Accelerated Velocity of Terminal Inexactitude. In this two part series we explore the "hit like a tornado" impact of bad gossip and next time we will explore how to create "buzz" to warp drive your message for maximum impact for the better. Photo Courtesy Sony. Denise Lones, founder and owner of the successful real estate marketing group The Lones Group, was in the midst of building a successful business when she noticed a competitor was using a trademark that looked suspiciously similar to her zebra-themed trade dress. When she confronted the competing business about it, she found herself blindsided by the reaction. False accusations, a lawsuit and personal threats occurred in rapid fire succession, causing great personal stress and damage to her business’s reputation. A successful business results from hard work and effective business-building techniques. One of the most important business-building techniques is a solid reputation. As you’ve worked on the growth of your business, no doubt, you’ve worked equally hard to establish a positive and solid reputation, too. A good reputation in the business community and with your customers requires effort, a focus on customer satisfaction and effective marketing campaigns. When a disgruntled/dishonest former employee, an unhappy customer or a person who wants to sabotage your success starts spreading gossip and negativity about your business, it can quickly damage the reputation you’ve worked so hard to earn. According to Entrepreneur Magazine Online, technology can cause this type of damage to quickly increase as false information begins to dominate computer search engine results pertaining to your business. The sooner you put an end to gossip and begin working on repairing the damage caused by it, the more quickly you can regain your excellent reputation. Include these considerations in your plans as you clean up the damage and prevent it from progressing.

• Actions Speak Louder Than Words. The Shady Maple Smorgasbord, a Mennonite-owned restaurant in Pennsylvania, was threatened by boycotts and loss of business when they were falsely accused of denying military members service in their restaurant. Even though Mennonites are known for their stance against military action, the Shady Maple was always happy to serve those fighting for our country. To counteract the damaging rumor, the owners offered a 25 percent Veteran’s Day discount to active military members as well as veterans. Their positive action worked. More than 17,000 customers dined at the restaurant over a two-day period, showing that actions have incredible power to dispel falsehoods.
• Counteract With Positivity. Use your business’s blog, email newsletters and social media venues to spread positive reviews and feedback from customers, vendors and employees. The more you can do to build your positive image, the sooner gossip will fade to the background. Next week we try to get our arms around that concept, though often good buzz gossip is just luck that someone notices all the good you do.
• Consult Professional Damage Control. Companies such as Profile Defenders, Reputation.com and your business legal counsel and others that offer businesses the service of conducting damage control and helping to rebuild a positive reputation. By optimizing search engine keywords and terms, and producing effective business-building blog posts and social media content, companies of this nature can help your business regain previous status by generating content that sheds a more positive light on your business.

Recovering from the damage caused by gossip and false accusations can be difficult at best and traumatic at worst. Doing your best to repair your business reputation is not just a matter of necessity; it’s often a matter of principle, too. There’s no reason why someone else’s malicious behavior should ruin years of hard work. In addition to being proactive, these steps can help you clean up the mess created by gossip and restore the reputation you worked so hard to build. Sponsored by iFlipTips.

iMakeupMirror Review - iPhone4 App

This is an independent review by Andrea M. "I was introduced to the iMakeupMirror application today for my iPhone4 and I have to say that I haven't found an app like this one since owning my iPhone. The iMakeupMirror illuminates the screen and enables me to see myself even in the darkest of clubs, bathrooms, or restaurants. As a busy writer who is involved in several local activities I find myself running from place to place when I'm not typing away. From the laptop, to the gym, to a meeting with clients; sometimes I literally pack a bag in the morning and live out of it all day.

This is where the iMakeupMirror has come in handy on numerous occasions. Instead of remembering to pack an extra mirror or compact in my bag that could potentially shatter or break and make a dusty mess in my purse, I simply switch to this app on my phone when a mirror isn't in sight and I need to check myself out. We all know how embarrassing it could be to meet a friend or client after lunch and realize that there's something in your teeth. With this application I don't have to worry about that ever again. I can take a look after every meal when I'm on the go.

I also travel a lot so the iMakeupMirror has been useful when I'm on the plane or waiting for a cab. If you've ever had to go from the airport to a meeting whether it's business or pleasure you want to look your best. The lines are often long for bathrooms, and your make-up bag is tucked away in your suitcase because of TSA regulations. This is when the iMakeupMirror saves the day. You can simply whip it out, do a touch up, smooth fly away hairs, or check your smile before you go. I know that I have had a powder compact burst in my bag a time or two and the experience is messy, costly and overall just a pain. This application completely eliminates the risk of that small tragedy happening.

Excessive clutter in my bag is another reason I love the iMakeupMirror. I like to carry a small bag whenever possible so having this on my phone eliminates the need to try to fit in a separate mirror. If I do carry a large bag and have to carry several items such as a phone, compact, lipstick, wallet, etc., they seem to get lost in the bottom. Having my phone do double duty in this department is great for eliminating another item to clutter the bottom of my bag.

I've also used the iMakeupMirror in a dark club and it worked wonderfully. I was able to reapply lip-gloss without smearing it everywhere and I didn't have to wait in line to use the bathroom mirror. Plus, I was able to carry a sexy little clutch because the only mirror I needed was already in my phone. On a scale from 1-10 on usefulness I'd give this app a 9. It's incredibly handy, and you don't necessarily look like you're looking in a mirror while you're using it (which I love). People assume you're just looking at your phone. If you haven't tried it, please do. Your face will thank you."