Parties

The weather is getting warmer and patio party season is about to begin—are you prepared? Be sure your deck and yard are party-ready with these expert tips so you can throw the summer’s best bash.

"I'm sorry, Mama, but my friends are a little bit like wild animals," Joseph said sweetly as I tucked him into bed. I smiled at him, pretending my hair wasn't standing on end and my makeup wasn't smeared by a combination of dust and sweat.

I sat at the table and explained my plans for Joseph's birthday party to a childless friend. Her eyes widened. She smiled a bit and said, "When I was a kid it was usually just me, my family, one or two friends, three or four balloons, a couple streamers, and a cake."

I've only seen three of the movies nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture this year.   That's what happens when your life revolves around a 5- and a 7-year-old!  (Fortunately Toy Story 3 is one of the nominated movies -- and it's great!)
 

A great winter cocktail, this refreshingly minty, creamy drink will be a hit at your New Yea'rs Eve bash or any party you throw this season. Just a few ingredients makes a beautiful and delicious cocktail that will impress your guests.

When winter evenings chill you to the bone, warm up with a with scents of warm spices and bright citrus. This is also a great cocktail to serve at a winter party—try it on New Year's Eve!

If you're craving a hot buttered rum, but you aren't drinking, we've got a virgin version that tastes just like the real thing! Satisfying, spicy, and steamy this mocktail has no booze and lots of flavor. Drink it on a winter evening or serve it at a party. Try the recipe below.

If you love fruity cocktails, but aren't drinking this year, we've got a sweet solution. there's no reason for you to abstain from tasty drinks just because you're abstaining from alcohol—try a mocktail! This Pomegranate Fizz Mocktail is booze-free but still has the kick you crave. Try this easy recipe at a party or on New Year's Eve.

If you love smoky cocktails, but aren't drinking this year, you make want to try this Blood and Sand Mocktail. Free of alcohol, this mocktail still imparts the smoky flavor you may be craving. Perfect for parties, try this drink on New Year's Eve or mix up the recipe anytime you need an nonalcoholic refreshment.

Looking for some creative drink ideas for your next party? These easy-to-mix cocktails make a festive occasion even merrier! Try one of these recipes at your bash.

If you need simple appetizers to serve at your New Year's Eve party or any other special occasion, look no further! These elegant dishes make abslutely scrumptious finger food! These party pleasers will impress your guests, and best of all, each of these recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less! Try these delicious party snack foods for your celebration!

Looking for a great finger-food to serve at a cocktail party or on New Year's Eve? This is an easy appetizer you can whip up in about 20 minutes and your guests will be very impressed. Try this recipe for next party!

Looking for a fun dessert idea for a New Year's Eve party? Ring in the New Year with these indulgent and celebratory cupcakes. Even if you have no cake-decorating experience, you can pull these off! Try this recipe for New Year's Eve Party Cupcakes ans your guests will be be impressed.

Are you having guests over for dinner? Whether it's New Year's Eve, a party, or any old evening, kill two birds with one stone by making napkin rings and placecards, in one! Older kids can even help by writing the names on the napkin rings. Try this DIY with your little ones.

With a gorgeous pink hue, and a delicious bright and fruity flavor, this is the perfect drink to serve at a party. Mix up a big batch of this recipe for New Year's Eve or serve during cocktail hour at any gathering. Your guests are sure to be happy (whether or not the world ends).

It's time to close out the year with some budget-friendly shopping. We've got deals on accessories and games that will make you the hit of the party! Put on your party dress, gather your friends, decorate with flair, serve up finger foods, start the music, and get the new year started in fabulous style with these fun finds under $35 for New Years Eve.

This bright mocktail makes a great celebratory drink to serve at a party. This is perfect for those at your gathering who can't have alcohol; just because a guest can't enjoy a cocktail, that doesn't mean you can't serve an elegant and flavorful citrus drink. Try it on New Year's Eve or on any special occasion.

This winter, warm up on chilly evenings with a steaming, comforting mug of Hot Buttered Rum that imparts a tantalizing aroma you won't be able to resist. An excellent alternative to a standard chilled cocktail, you can even serve a pot of this at a party (like New Year's) or as an after-dinner drink. Find the recipe below.

A gooey, cheesy, flavorful sandwich makes a great munchie at a party or on any afternoon. Whip up this recipe in a speedy 15 minutes as a quick appetizer for a New Year's Eve bash, or serve it to your kids in the hours before dinner to tide them over.

This creamy, sweet cocktail makes a great drink to serve at a party. Try this recipe at your New Year's Eve bash or on any special occasion.

What's better than a cocktail that tastes like your favorite cookie? This sweet drink with a mild kick makes and excellent party treat you can serve on New Year's or any special evening. Try this recipe this season.

Even the most inexperienced bartender can handle this one! St. Germain is an elderfower liqueur that gives any cocktail a delicate and mildly sweet flavor. Add some bubbly and this is a great last-minute sparkling drink to serve at any party. 

A fresh and sweet sparkling cocktail, this party drink imparts tantalizing, bright flavors, and the recipe is a cinch to make!

Don't discriminate against those who don't drink! With this refreshing, ginger mocktail, your guests who are abstaining this year will be able to join in the merriment and party! This delicious non-alcoholic mixed drink has got a tangy kick and tastes just like the real thing. You can even try fooling guests into thinking it's a cocktail!

Just because you're not drinking, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the party! Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive, or simply abstaining this holiday season, trade in a cocktail for an alcohol-free mocktail! This berry sweet drink gives a convincing tangy kick that makes it taste like the real thing. No one will guess this recipe is booze free.

A few quick steps leave you with an elegant appetizer you'll be proud to serve at any party. Pass these around during a cocktail hour, serve them as a snack before dinner, or make them for New Year's Eve. This simple recipe takes 30 minutes or less to whip up.

These are a sweet and gooey snack that your guests will gobble up. Each cheese ball is a luxurious bite with a luscious hint of tart and a little crunch. Whip up these appetizers for your next party (maybe a New Year's bash?) and no one will guess they took just 10 minutes to prepare! Check out the recipe below.

A great appetizer, this spicy dip adds some zing to your party food and will keep your guests coming back for more. Serve this cheese dip as a snack before dinner, or at a cocktail hour. The best part? This recipe is done in less than 10 minutes! Make it for a New Year's eve bash or any special occasion.

This luscious, berry-licious, sparkling cocktail makes a fabulous and special drink for any party. Serve it at a New Year's bash or any festive occasion. This simple recipe only requires a few ingredients.

This bubbly cocktail gives your party a special sparkle. Ring in the new year with this light and refreshing drink and give your guests something to talk about. Try the recipe below.

A fruity, sweet way to ring in the new year, this cocktail has bright, citrus undertones and goes down smooth. Try it as a luscious party treat, and your guests will thank you (no one has to know that the recipe is super easy!)

Are doing some entertaining? Whether you're having a party or just want a fun appetizer or snack to make for your family, you want to keep it simple and easy. This recipe is a snap and can be made ahead of time. Try these for New Year's!

In less than 10 minutes, you can prepare this easy appetizer that will be a big hit at a posh New Year's Eve bash or any cocktail or party you have scheduled this year! These luxurious cheese bites make a perfect snack for lucky guests, and the recipe is super easy.

This simple syrup makes a great mixer for cocktails. Mix up this recipe and keep a batch in the fridge so you can serve fun drinks at your next party!

Got a New Year's celebration to attend? If you're not in the mood to wear a sparkly dress to your party, try mixing in a little sparkle by adding a sweater with sequin sleeves or a fun clutch this season. Gold and black are the hot sequin colors for the season but if you really want to make a style statement, shop for a navy or bright blue color or a pop of red to be festive. use these fun fashion finds to sparkle this season.

These Ice Lanterns are very easy to make, incredibly inexpensive (practically free!) and are absolutely beautiful when lit on your doorstep through a cold night. Make these any time this winter: for New Year's Eve, a party, or any chilly evening. You can make  various sizes and can even dye the water to make colored lantern! With just a few supplies you can DIY these gorgeous lanterns!

Sipping a sweet and sparkling cocktail with a vibrant ruby red hue is the perfect way to ring in the new year! Make this in mere minutes with an easy recipe; it's perfect as an after-dinner drink, or for any cocktail party.

An excellent party appetizer, these flavorful Fig and Almond-Filled Prosciutto Cups are a big hit at any party. Got a New Year's celebration to attend or throw? In a just a few steps, you can whip up this easy recipe with impressive results and have a luxurious party snack! (No one has to know these took less than 30 minutes to make!).

This fizzy champagne cocktail is a bubbly treat for New Year's that will start your new year right. Two simple ingredients make it an easy recipe to serve at your party. Your guests will love this drink! Happy new year!

A sweet sparkling wine made from Muscat Canelli grapes, Biltmore Pas de Deux, makes an excellent champagne cocktail. This drink puts fruit forward with honeysuckle, orange, strawberry and lemon notes on both the nose and palate. Make this recipe for your New Year's bash or any party for an easy guest pleaser.

Today is day one of Elizabeth's Three Day Birthday Extravaganza. I'm still a little confused as to how her birthday is beginning to expand to fill a a good portion of a week.

Step into summer on the right foot with a homemade party the kids will never forget. No swim suit required!

The Fourth of July is synonymous with parades by day and fireworks by nights, but for some families with small children, being in large crowds, with lots of noise isn’t so appealing.

Celebrate the 4th this year by decorating the easiest way possible: Simply display the American flag in abundance. 

With summer here, it's fun to experiment with parties and decorating. These animal themed place holder are perfect for an outdoor event!

They happened by accident, these taco bites. We’d run out of taco shells, but not of taco beef. My husband, the Hungry Papa, grabbed tortilla chips. Turned out we’d gotten the kind shaped as a scoop. He carefully spooned beef, beans and fixings into the mini shell and the fiesta-ready Taco Bite was born.

The blogosphere is virtually overflowing with perfectly stylized kid parties these days. 

Make your champagne glasses even more party friendly with this easy project.

For how much I love cake and a party, it's pretty pathetic that I still don't know how to frost a cake without turning it into a lumpy blob.