Don’t shoot the messenger! Now that we have our gorgeous spring weather, of course we have to remind you to plan for your Christmas party.

Event planning. Say those two words and see how fast your coworkers run for the door. But you’re game. And fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We are award-winning, event
planning experts. We plan all aspects of any kind of event, no matter the size or circumstance. From extremely small to a cast of thousands, we’ll keep our eye on the details so you don’t have
to. Simply Elegant – Event planning that makes you look good.

Party Planning
You’re thinking: great friends, great time, great party. We’re thinking: great parties come out of great party planning. It’s hard to believe that something as fun as a party can take so much work. But it does… Always. Of course, great hosts make it look easy. Great hosts rely on great people. We’re your people. Your party planning people. We’ll do the planning. You have the fun.

The rewards of a successful Christmas party will carry on throughout the year. There are many steps to planning leaving it to the demands and challenges of the holiday season is a recipe for headaches. Here are some tips to lighten the burden in planning this years parties:

Things to think about in planning this year’s Christmas party:

Use task lists and schedule deadlines to complete all your planning on time. If it’s an office party, then the location, budget, and date all three are usually determined by management so you’re working within limits already. Be mindful of your corporate culture in planning on food and entertainment. (IE food restrictions due to religion)

It is never too early to start organizing. In fact, numerous 500 guests or more companies have completed this planning already. Many of the large facilities are pre-booked on an annual basis with first come first served for the smaller ones.

Book your facility now. The larger the number of guests, the less number of local facilities are available. Why not look at unique locations such as a museum, garden or cultural centre. The environment in these locations create the base decor and give a refreshing feel to the festivities.

Re-think your theme. Successful parties create a common thread that tie everything together using the budget as your guide. Coordinating the entire Christmas program with the menu, decor and entertainment allows for a memorable celebration. An example of this is an international Christmas theme with world food/action stations with matching decor and entertainment.

Poll your employees as to what type of theme and entertainment they would like this year? You could make it a competition! Instead of the comedy show, perhaps they would like to experience a cirque show or a Christmas themed murder mystery? Focus the opportunity for an engaging and interactive party this year.

Guests love to take the dinner table centrepiece home. Why not set up a centrepiece creation competition between departments where the pieces are raffled off to generate money for your favourite charity. Remember to make a note in the invitation that there will be a prize for the department that decks out the most ingenious Christmas centrepiece.

Promote the designated driver concept and these alternative forms of transportation in your invitations. Let’s face it – drinking and driving never mix. Offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverages for the designated driver and others who prefer not to drink alcohol. If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base. Provide for for alternative modes of transportation for guests range from shuttle, limousine service or passenger vans taxi fare for the end of the evening. Don’t forget to budget for this!

Save a tree and go green e-invites for your event.

Planning a party is a lot like buying a house. You do the research, crunch the numbers, think ahead – and you put the best possible team around yourself to help you achieve your goals. When party disasters happen, it usually comes down to poor planning. And many smart, capable social committees just plain and simple don’t think through some of the basic details that will make or break their party. That’s what a planner is for.

Call Simply Elegant if you need support with some or all of your Christmas event. It’s what we do best. From planning, to decor, to entertainment, to catering, we work hard to ensure that every facet of your corporate event says what you want it to say. After all, this isn’t just some corporate event. It’s yours. It reflects back on your Company — and on you. Every detail has to be on message. You wouldn’t let an email go out that didn’t look good on the Company. You’re sure not going to let your company look bad through a poorly thought out or executed event.

Ultimately here are the Top Ten Signs You’re at a Bad Office Christmas Party according to CBS
– Late Show with David Letterman

10. Eggnog smells suspiciously like Liquid Paper.
9. Anyone caught under mistletoe gets choked by Latrell Sprewell.
8. Because of corporate downsizing, Santa is only 120 pounds.
7. Only food available is something called reindeer kebabs.
6. Last time you saw this much sucking up was on the Tommy Lee-Pamela Anderson videotape.
5. Christmas tree is just a fat intern in a green sweater.
4. For the 16th year in a row, the Canadian band leader has passed out in the eggnog.
3. Thanks to the alcohol-free punch, not a single butt gets photocopied.
2. Boss offers to give you a raise, and hes not talking about money.
1. Its held every year on July 23rd.

Ever wonder how you can create a great party that is fun and safe for your children for less than $60 including gas?

Considerations for age appropriate parties:

1. Invite a maximum of children to match the age of the child. An easy guideline is to invite only as many children as your child’s age, plus one. This keeps the party small with young children reducing the opportunity for them to be overwhelmed. Each year your child learns to emotionally handle a larger group of children.
2. Have the child choose a theme. It makes your job easy (a favorite book, sport, movie, or a TV show. Then they can further help with the planning plus make decorations.
3. Keep the party simple.
4. Focus on structured group activities. Individual games focuses on a winner which leaves children out – maybe even the birthday child.
5. Always ask parents about food allergies.

Ways to cut birthday party costs without cutting the party experience:

1. Hold the party in your home
2. Avoid traditional meal times by holding the party between 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and serve snacks & dessert.
3. Bake your own cupcakes and let the kids decorate their own cupcake for a fun activity.
4. Make and hand deliver your own invitations, or “be green” and send e-vites with an RSVP date.
5. Resist hiring an entertainer or bouncy castle! Kids only remember the fun activities and birthday cake.
6. Make it a family affair and ask family members plus the guests parents to assist with activities.
7. Source theme decor from your own home first, then purchase the rest of supplies from economy stores.

ACTIVITIES FOR A BEACH PARTY (GEARED TO 5 YEAR OLDS)

We chose a beach theme to counter against our snowy Calgary weather. Collect all your colourful beach towels to cover your
party table and inflate all beach air mattresses and balls to decorate the party room.
Welcome each guest at the door with a lei and a tropical sun visor (can be part of their take home goody bag).
Encourage everyone to dress the theme (beach shorts, T shirts, flip flops, sun glasses and visors)

Simple party activity starters:

1. Decorate the birthday cupcakes (while the children are calm) using an assortment of frostings and toppings.
2. Do simple crafts (stickers, buttons with yarn, straw crafts, using little sea shells with beads and pebbles etc. Glue these onto mini frames or juice-cans. You can even use lids and add a magnet on the back.
3. Save time and purchase simple craft kits for only $1-$2 at the numerous economy stores.

Games for children with energy:

1. Fill balloons with small treasure based on your theme before you blow them up. For beach we used mini fish, wiggly worms, costume jewelry. The children then pop several balloons and gather their treasures. You can hang, hide or put them in a large garbage bag or box.
2. Group hunting games (same as Easter egg hunts) This can be treats, treasure chest items or even a puzzle piece to a treasure map that all the children work collectively to put together.
3. A circle dance of ”Hokey Pokey” works great and is completely non competitive.

Move into quiet games:

1. Hand make Lei Necklaces made from yarn, drinking straws, and colored crinkled tissue paper.
2. Simple relay races such as potato-on-spoon using a beach water toy.
3. Pin the “crab on the beach”. No winner needed here too!

Holding the party mid afternoon reduces the cost on food. Create a mock tail with juice and give it a beach name. Snacks can
include vegetable sticks and dip, seasonal fruit kabobs, mini pita pockets or bagels and finish with the individually decorated
cupcakes.

BEACH THEMED GOODIE BAGS

For less than $9, our goodie beach pail was equipped with a shovel had a snorkel face mask strapped to the outside of the pail
and was filled with a house safe beach sponge ball, squiggly florescent worm, a motorized bathtub sail boat plus a colourful
slinky. The children go home in their colourful foam visors (we collected a mixture sharks, butterflies, monkeys and pink
flamingos) Always make a few more in case extra guests arrive – yes this often happens!

THANK YOU NOTES

It is never too soon to teach etiquette to children. Create a list of the guests’ names before the party, and then jot down each gift
beside the giver’s name as they are opened for thank you cards.
Take photos of the children dressed in theme or put them in front of a prop. Download the photo onto your computer and
colour print them into thank you cards.

The party is a quick two hours, organized with a logical rhythm for child interest and safety and it was super inexpensive. Plus
why not forget our Calgary snow for awhile and transport yourself to the beach? Happy Birthday!

‘Tis the season to be jolly. And to throw a Holiday party.

But let’s be honest. Sometimes it’s difficult to be jolly when it comes to planning a holiday event.
There’s just so much to do, so many details to take care of, and there’s never any eggnog to be found
when you need to buy some.

Luckily, we at Simply Elegant are experts when it comes to putting the festive into festivities. Our
worker elves know what it takes to … Wait… Worker elves??? Just kidding!

Our “incredible staff” know what it takes to make sure your holiday event is a huge success. We’ll
ensure that every facet of your holiday event shines as brightly as your unique holiday culture and spirit.
Plus, we’ll never run out of eggnog.

Because the holidays mean so many things to so many different people, it’s important that your specific
holiday event is custom tailored to your particular needs. Not only are we at Simply Elegant renowned
for our diverse and delicious culinary experiences, but our attention to event planning detail and style
guarantees a festive experience that suits your holiday experience.

Theming your party can involve everything from lighting, to the food, to all stops in-between. Whether
your event is a formal black tie or a night of finger foods and Karaoke, it’s important to make sure
that your entertainment compliments the party theme and the activities. Decorations, food, and
entertainment – you’re going to need to have them all to make sure your holiday bash is a fun, festive,
and a memorable one.

You might also want to consider having staff on hand to serve the food and drinks so that you and the
party planning committee have more time to enjoy your party and guests. It’s no fun if you don’t get to
enjoy the party too.

And remember, if you’re serving holiday libations, you absolutely must have taxi vouchers and/or pre-
arranged car pooling with designated sober drivers.

We also recommend food themes. A food theme can be as simple as a colour or something more
elaborate like celebrating international food. Don’t forget to incorporate whatever theme you choose
throughout the entire event, from the invitation to the décor, food, activities, and music.

Want something completely different this year? Why not try someone else’s customs. Below is a fun
example of a Asian holiday theme from start to finish.

Invitation:
Preprinted and stuffed in Chinese fortune cookies

Asian Cuisine

Hot Menu

Phnom Penh Lemon Chicken Wraps
Spiced Rubbed Thailand Beef Skewers
Asian Chicken with Roasted Peanuts
Teriyaki Meatballs
Chinese noodles presented in take out containers and chop sticks

Chef Action Station

Korean Barbecued Beef
Sushi

Presentation Buffet Menu

Coconut Curry Scallop, Kumquat and Asian Pear Canapés
Gingerroot and Cucumber Salad
Mandarin Salad
Spiced Kumquats
Coconut Fruit Skewers

Sake Bar

Decor Ideas
Archway (entrance) can be decorated with Bamboo, Parasols and Room Dividers. With its unique blend
of rich colors, life sized Rickshaws, wall and ceiling décor featuring fabric silks, Pearls, wall fans – the
décor will amaze and delight your guests. Combining a selection of Asian accessories, you can create a
Japanese Garden finished will an array of Buddhist or the Chinese wall complete with a stunning Pagoda
for memorable photo opportunities. Chinese parasols or lanterns can be suspended from the ceilings or
large flying Chinese Dragons will transform your event space with magical illuminating lighting.

Entertainment
Tiako Drummers, Chinese Calligraphy (Guests name drawn onto rice paper), Fan dancers, Ribbon
dancers, Sushi Making, Dragon Parade and Rice Mural.

Take Home Gifts
Chinese coins with lottery tickets for “good luck” tied through the hole in the money.

However you choose to celebrate the holidays, we at Simply Elegant wish you joy and peace. Oh, and if
you don’t want to run short of eggnog, give us a call.

Because there are all sorts of simply elegant ways to fold napkins that can make a dramatic impact on a table setting, we’ve decided to share six more napkin folding techniques with you.

Whether it’s a formal sit-down dinner, an everyday family meal, or a festive party buffet, artfully folded napkins add stylish flair and enhance any occasion. No matter how simply or intricately done, elegant and creative napkin folds transform meals into celebrations.

French Pleat

Fold napkin in quarters.
Roll the first layer of the napkin toward you to the center.
Fold the second layer toward you and under the first - Do not Roll.
Leave the same width of the napkin as the rolled edge.
Fold the next layer of the napkin away from you and under the second leaving the same width as other two folds.
Fold under the right and left side edges to center back.

Crown

Fold the napkin in half diagonally forming a triangle.
Fold the left and right triangle to the top forming a square.
Turn napkin to form a diamond. Fold the bottom point 2/3 of the way to the top point and fold the bottom point back again to the base line.
Turn napkin over and tuck the far corners into one another forming a round base.
Stand a napkin upright and flair out the two top corners to form a Crown.

Flame

Fold tall four corners of a flat napkin to the center.
Fold the bottom half under the top half.
Fold the right half over the left half.
Turn the napkin clockwise to create a diamond.
Roll the top layer toward center forming a band.
Turn the second layer under to form a second band.
Fold the left and right hand edges under.

Trifold

Fold the napkin in half diagonally form a triangle with the long point facing you.
Fold the far left and right had corners of the triangle toward you to the bottom point.
Fold the napkin in half bringing the bottom point under to meet the top point.
Lift the napkin at the center to stand upright on the two side edges.

Peak

Fold the napkin toward on end into quarters.
Fold the right and left edge under and towards you creating a triangle at the top of the napkin.
Roll the right and left edges up into the base edges of the triangle.
Turn the fold over standing the triangle point up with the open edge facing you.

Candle

Fold napkin in half diagonally forming a triangle.
Fold one-quarter of napkin’s base edges, forming a cuff.
Turn napkin over. Carefully roll from left to right.
Tuck the remaining corner inside the cuff to hold the Candle firm.
Position the Candle with the highest point of the napkin facing you.

Napkin folding is an art that is easy to master. These simple folds will enhance your table and delight your guests.

Now that we’re right in the middle of the dog days of summer, we thought it might be a fun idea to offer some suggestion on how to throw a dog party. 

Yes, a party for your pooch. And why not?  After all, our pets are part of the family. And more and more, people are celebrating the tail-wagging member of the household.

Like all events, dog parties can range from down-home casual to upscale. The choice is yours. But one thing is for certain, if you want your dog party to be a howling success (sorry), you’ll need to do some planning…

- Put some thought into your guest list. You want to make sure that you and your dog are friendly with the other party animals. Make sure the dogs get along. A party can be soured by quarrelling canines. (Jack Russell Terriers tend to be aggressive with larger dogs and they like to get all the dogs barking.)  

- Keep in mind that some dogs are frightened by loud noises and might not do well at parties.

- Make sure that the dogs are up to date on all vaccinations and rabies shots and treated for internal and external parasites.

- Have plenty of toys and distractions for the dogs to make sure they don’t get restless.  

- You can make your own dog party invitations. If you’re feeling creative, you can make your own cards by stamping a paw print with a paw print stamp , and then writing your own personal message. (We’re rather fond of the “humans optional” gag.)

- Have the party outdoors so that the dogs can run around.

- Set up treats and party favours for both dogs and people. Purchase, or make some doggie treats for all your dog’s canine friends. Make bone shaped sugar cookies for the 2 legged party goers.

- Create your dog party theme with cut out paw prints that stick on everything; hang some streamers; cut out some dog bones from construction paper to dangle from the streamers.

- Make sure that dietary restrictions or food concerns are known before the dogs eat anything.

- Keep chocolate, strawberries and raisins away from dogs and make sure there is plenty of fresh water. On hot days, dogs need two to three times more water than they usually drink.

- If the dogs wear costumes, they should be made from breathable fabric and shouldn’t restrict an animal’s mouth or nose.

- Make sure the party environment is pet friendly by removing anything they can chew on, or, um, anything else on…

- On that subject: Designate a “pooper scooper” area for the dogs.

- Let neighbors know about your party (when it comes to a backyard filled with dogs, sometimes things can get pretty loud). Try and keep the excited howling to a minimum. (Yours and the dogs.)

- Make sure that the guests are all in agreement about your “house rules.” Some owners like to think their dogs are model houseguests and so they don’t always pay attention to their dog’s behavior.

Don’t forget the games at your dog party.  A few simple party games are fun for both your 2-legged and 4-legged guests.  Here are a few suggestions…

- Treasure Hunt: You can lead your canine guests and their owners on a hunt for a hidden treasure (let’s say, a bone). Divide your guests into three or four teams. Have hidden clues set up around the backyard for each team. The teams will follow the clues to a secret map, which leads them to the “treasure.”

- Obstacle Course Relay: Have dogs and their owners maneuver through an obstacle course. You can borrow, buy or make obstacles such as jumps, tunnels and ramps. There can be prizes for the pup that completes the course in the shortest time, the most creative interpretation of obstacles, the happiest competitor etc.  

- Best Trick Competition:  Pick three judges. (Human ones, that is.)  Then get the dogs to perform their best trick. 

We’re all social creatures and a dog party is a fun excuse for people (and pets) to get together.  Yap (sorry), it‘s all about having a good time. Oh, and one last thing, don’t forget to make sure all your guests leave with a doggie bag.

Yes, that’s right.  This week we’re offering tips on how to throw a Friday the 13^th party.

Sure, it might seem a little “offbeat” but the idea behind this party theme is to poke some fun at superstition. 

So along with throwing caution to the wind (and maybe a little salt over our shoulder), let’s throw a Friday the 13^th party.

- You’ll want to make sure you invite the proper number of guests to your Friday the 13^th party. The key here is to make sure that all total, there will be 13 people in attendance.

- Do you have any friends who were born on a Friday the 13^th? If so, we recommend you make them the guest/guests of honour.

- Decorate your house appropriately. Place a ladder inside the doorway so guests have to walk under it when they enter. Paint lots of cracks on your walkway so no one can make it to the house without stepping on one. If possible, remove wooden furniture from the house so there will be nothing for your guests to knock on.  Decorate tables with “spilled” salt shakers. Place pennies face down on the tables. Leave a few opened umbrellas lying around.

- If you have a black cat, make sure it’s front and centre for the party. If you don’t have one, you can place fake black cats around your house that people have to walk by.

- Serve “unlucky foods” at your Friday the 13^th party. Perhaps some chicken wings because of the legend that your luck can fly away.  Grill up some blackened main courses. Turn a loaf of bread upside down after you’ve cut the first slice. Serve black cat cookies.

- Play games that poke fun at superstitions. See how far people can walk across the room with a salt shaker on their heads.

- Thinking of entertaining them with a DVD?  Nothing says Friday the 13^th like the “Friday the 13th”movies. 

- And to balance it out, end your Friday the 13^th party by giving each guest a party favour bag that is supposed to bring good luck. Include good luck charms such as acorns, four-leaf clovers, ladybug toys, tiny horseshoes, crystals, etc…

A Friday the 13^th party isn’t for everyone. But for those who are willing, we say have no fear and just have fun. Oh, and for the record, the formal term for fear of Friday the 13th is “Paraskevidekatriaphobia”. There’s a 20 dollar word you can throw out at your next party, in fact, a Friday the 13^th party would probably be the perfect place to use it.

So you’re planning to throw a summer party.

And, of course, you want your summer party to be a huge success.

Good news – that’s completely doable. But to throw a summer party that’s guaranteed to wow your guests and leave a lasting impression, you’ll need to get organized.

We have a few helpful hints on how to throw a summer party.

Summer parties with themes are always lots of fun.  And when it comes to choosing a theme, the options are pretty much limitless. (How’s that for a sunny party forecast?)  Movie themes, regional themes, musical themes, food and drink themes, even a “Jingle Bells July” works for a summer Christmas party – and you don’t have to shovel any snow.  Hopefully.  

To really make the theme successful, fully incorporate it into your summer party. Pick a theme and weave it in and throughout the whole event from start to finish – that includes décor, entertainment, lighting, costumes, food theming, invitations, and even take home gifts.  

If you’re planning a summer party and you’re on a budget (and most of us are), it’s best to weigh your expectations… Ask yourself what is important to you and the reason for the party before you start planning. Plan your budget from the start to finish. (Those invitation cards aren’t free.)  The one area we recommend that you spend the extra money on is for the food. Quality food is always guaranteed to please everyone. You can “cheat” in other areas.   

Remember to set aside the time you’ll need to get everything ready.  To throw a great summer party takes time. In fact, it’s usually a lot more work than most people might imagine. Oh, and don’t underestimate the food and beverage quantities; hungry and thirsty guests tend to be a grumpy group.

You’ll not only want to keep your guests entertained but ensure that their kids have plenty to do (bored and restless kids are even more challenging than hungry and thirsty guests). Grab activities from a dollar store. Crayons and coloring books/glow sticks/balloons are cheap and will keep the wee ones entertained. But watch for choking hazards and other dangers. Or you could create a movie area and video game station. Interactive entertainment such as a magician will keep your younger guests happy and occupied. And don’t forget the child friendly food.

For any party to be successful, you need to answer the following questions:

-What is the reason for the event (birthday for family member or an anniversary party for in laws from out of town)?
-What’s the bottom line on how much I can spend?
-How many people do you want to attend the function?
-Will I need staff to help work on the event or can I do this on my own?
-Is the location convenient for the majority of my guests?
-Have I fully considered the physical environment and location (interior of home, backyard, hotel vs. tent)?
-What style of party do I want?
-What type of hospitality do I want my guests to receive?
-Is the access to the facility easy for the suppliers like the caterer to set up?
-What are my menu challenges?
-Will the Decor or entertainment affect or get in the way of the style of food service?
-Will I need permits (tenting, fire restrictions, and power and water availability)?
-What will my entertainment require (different entertainment requires different needs)?
-If my party is outdoors, am I prepared for bad weather?
-What about other public events that are booked ahead for any conflicts (e.g. Stampede)?
-Have I done all the research?

A little creativity can go along way. If you keep a close eye on the details, your summer party will be a memorable hit and a huge success.

Want to know how to throw a successful birthday party for adults? We can help.

Whether you’re throwing a birthday party for your wife, or husband, or your best friend, there’s good news: a little creativity can go a long way. And creativity is important. Who wants to throw a bland, forgettable party? Hopefully, not you.

Yup, nothing says “Happy Birthday” quite like a fabulous night with family and friends. Oh, and of course plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. So here are a few tips to help make your birthday party a success.

- Spend time on choosing a theme that reflects the guest of honour. What does he or she like? Movies? Another era? Egyptology? (What can I say, my friends are just weird). Choose something that reflects them. Then look to pull your theme and the colours you choose through everything you do, from the email/mailed invitations right to the food and room decorations.

-Don’t feel you need to go all out on decorations.  Minimal decorations strategically placed set the tone and are less of a tripping hazard for older and younger guests.

- Choose entertainment that works for a range of ages (5 – 65). For example, hire a magician who has a 20 minute stage show and will then spend the rest of his time roaming through the room and entertaining pockets of guests.

- Hire a caricaturist to theme everyone’s pictures to match the event; book for the
duration of the party as he or she will be busy ALL night!

- Hire two different types of roaming entertainers for the adults and kids. Entertainment for the grownups could include contortionists, musicians, murder mystery performers, leaders of improv games, etc.

-Kid-friendly ideas for roaming entertainment include: performers on stilts, clowns, theater roaming shows, balloon artists, arts and crafts stations.

- Stations in general work really well for parties of all kinds. Consider them for food, activities and all types of games, whether or adult or kid friendly (craft area, bouncy castle area, petting zoo, carnival games, sports, etc.).

- Body art painting (face painting, tattoos) and glow sticks are always a great hit with the kids.  

- Hire a professional photographer who can capture the magic moments so you can enjoy the party.

- If you have serving staff and caterers, consider costuming them with colours and fun props.

- Bring in a DJ who works for your guests and your guest of honour. If there are kids, make sure the music is appropriate. The Limbo and YMCA are great songs to get everyone up and then you can eventually migrate into other types of music appropriate for the event.

- Ensure you have kid friendly food available – but don’t kid down your adult food. Make sure your adult guests have great food. When it comes to kids, minimize unlimited candy and serve dessert earlier rather than later in the evening.

- Delegate someone (nanny, babysitter) to watch over the children in a play area to allow
parents to enjoy themselves.

- Food should have vegetarian components plus a list of ingredients for those with
allergies. It’s best to not serve food with nuts.

- Serve simple foods that are easy to eat, won’t stain the rugs or be a sticky mess.

- Mocktails are always a hit with the teens and smart to provide to all guests, particularly as the evening winds down.   

Smart choices can make family birthdays fun and memorable.  We only get one a year, so if you’re setting up a loved one’s birthday party, then try some of these suggestions. We guarantee they will make it an extra-special birthday. 

Oh, and don’t forget the cake!

Delicious caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail. 

Ingredients:
1 lime quartered
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 shot of cachaça
1/2 Cup of ice cubes with water

Place the lime and sugar in the bottom of a glass.
Using the handle of a wooden spoon, crush and mash the limes. Pour the liqueur and ice. Stir well.
Decorate the glass with a slice of lime.

Cheers!

Every four years, Canada embraces cultures from around the world in one massive, month-long World Cup Party.   Because, whether you like soccer or not, there’s something about the World Cup tournament that gets people excited.  Really excited.

It might be because of the country vs. country competition. Or maybe it’s the fact that even the smallest of countries are in the same league with the big ones. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that the world’s biggest sports tournament (a month-long phenomenon) is sweeping across workplaces and homes. 

And why not?  It’s fun. It brings old and young together to celebrate the cultures that raised them. And it gives everyone a chance to join together and cheer on their teams. Everywhere, people are wearing the colours of countries that they’re rooting for, and all in a frenzy of football. For the more than a billion soccer fans worldwide, “the beautiful game” borders on religion.  Cities come alive as people pack into restaurants and bars to watch their teams and celebrate.

But if spending time with dozens or hundreds of strangers isn’t your idea of a laugh riot, don’t be shy about throwing a World Cup party on your own terms – even right in your own home. How? Oh, we were hoping you would ask.

First off, decide what you want out of it. Do you want to use the occasion to visit with friends and families? Bond with co-workers? Impress the boss? Or blow off some steam?  Set your intentions and your budget. If the goal is to spend quality time with your guests, book a caterer ASAP. It’s party season and it will get harder to find a caterer as the month goes on.   

Regardless of whether you hire a caterer or do it all yourself, here are a few ideas to kick around that will let you really embrace the World Cup party spirit. 

- Send out stadium ticket-like invitations.  Make sure your guests know they need the tickets for entrance! Throw some confetti in the envelope for an extra festive touch.

-Ask each of your guests to come as their favourite competing country. Or draw country names out of a hat and assign each person a country to represent at the party. Have fun with it.

-Flags. Lots of ‘em. And from everywhere. You can buy them at various sporting shops or you can go all Martha Stewart and make mini flags for participating countries out of construction paper and popsicle sticks. Because let’s face it. When you think World Cup, it’s hard not to think of Martha Stewart.

-Decorate with soccer ball balloons.  You can put them anywhere and they’ll spice up your party room. Batch them with black and white balloons.

-Hand out the vuvuzela horns. And the ear plugs. You’d better invite the neighbours – and maybe take away the horns as the night wares on.

-Serve drinks that represent the countries whose teams you’re watching. A little research can go a long way. For example, Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail (you can substitutes vodka for cachaça), Limoncello is now considered the national drink of Italy. Both drinks are easy to prepare.

-Use soccer themed tablecloths, piñatas, banners, flags, jerseys, candy, cups, and bowls/serving trays. You may even be able to find some miniature soccer balls to keep your guests or their children entertained.

-Create your own world cup decorations.

-Have foods that people can munch on throughout the event … the most important part is being able to watch the game.

-Use the food to complement your party’s theme. In honour of the colours in a soccer ball, try making desserts – like brownies – out of both dark and white chocolate.

-Have soccer themed door prizes. Inflatable soccer balls, soccer jerseys, soccer ball maracas, are just a few ideas…

-Plan an international potluck.  This is a great opportunity to sample and taste all the spectacular flavours of the world. Frikkadels are like South African meat balls – and they’re delicious!  Or how about trying some Korean fried kimchi rice with beef? Or why not sample some authentic Argentinean chorizo?

-Hire a face painter.  For the football fan that really goes all out to support his or her nation, wearing the flag of their country on his or her face during a world cup match is a fun way to demonstrate their love of their country and the game.  

-What about an “indoor-outdoor” theme? People love being outdoors in the summer. Depending on your set up, you may be able to move your TV out into a shady spot in your yard.

Now that you’ve got all that sorted out, you can sit back and enjoy the game. Because, when all is said and done, isn’t that really the goooooooooooaaaaaaaallllllll!