What’s on Your Calendar for February 14th?

Valentine’s Day is a boondoggle, according to cynics, that benefits greeting card companies, florists, jewelers, and chocolatiers.  Others maintain Valentine’s Day is more.  I’m in the latter camp.  There are infinite ways to enjoy February 14th.   Valentine’s Day isn’t a one size fits all celebration, yet all can participate.  The worst Valentine’s Day is sitting on the sidelines.  Jump into the game and stay clear of the worst Valentine’s Day:

•  Put the “fun” in fundraising.  Volunteer.  Send messages to people and organizations that are doing a good job.  These are three of the fourteen suggestions in, “14 Charitable Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day,” written for the Case Foundation, by Elaine Gast. You’ll lift someone’s spirits while improving your day.  As a Development Director at a nonprofit organization I received notes from grateful Board Members and clients.  Their appreciation reinforced my efforts to go the extra mile. ​

• Step out of your comfort zone – and into a zoo, dark restaurant, or French speed dating party.  Check your local paper for Valentine’s Day events.  You may be surprised that many listings are for people looking for love, as well as couples.  The Boston Globe features, “14 Valentine’s Day Events in Boston,”  Suggestions include: Glass Blowing and Wine Tasting, “Sex at the Zoo Lecture,” and eating a meal while blindfolded.

• Make a restaurant reservation.  Plan early to get your chosen time and place.  Check Opentable for opportunities near you.  There’s nothing quite like getting away with a friend of any stripe – away from screens, work, and home responsibilities.

• Chill with a hot cooked meal.  Visit Epicurious  for a variety of Valentine’s Day menus and recipes.  Menus include:

1.  “Without Reservations,” including poached shrimp, radicchio and arugula salad, pan seared strip steak, celery root and parsnip puree, and lemon ice cream with raspberry granita sauce
2. “Romance on the Cheap,” including a tasty pasta dish, salad, and chocolate pudding
3. “Claudia Fleming and Gerry Hayden’s Valentine Menu for Two,” including flatbread with fingerling potatoes, shitake mushrooms, and truffle oil; rack of lamb, arugula avocado, and blood orange salad, and almond cakes with chocolate passion fruit sauce.

Spark imagination for design and decoration with Pinterest or Martha Stewart.  Think flowers, hearts, poetry, and music.

• Valentine dinner parties can be for two or twenty.  If children are in the mix, consider starting a tradition.  Introduce “Secret Valentine,” similar to “Secret Santa,” where each person chooses a name from a hat days before the dinner and purchases a small token at a set affordable price, that’s wrapped and handed to the recipient at the Dinner.  Or, guests might like a Valentine Scavenger Hunt, where the host writes clues on pieces of paper that lead to small gifts (chocolates, conversation hearts, flowers, gift cards, Valentine cards, cupcakes, stuffed animals, announcement of a trip, etc.) and other clues.  Clues are hidden before guests arrive.  At the end of the party each guest can be given a poem, token, or valentine.

Whether you choose to play games, volunteer; celebrate alone, with a special someone, family, or friends – let your inner Cupid sing.  No fear. No worst Valentine’s Day. Spread the love!  Happy Valentine’s Day!  Life is short. Celebrate!

“And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

– Paul McCartney

You don’t have to be “the Boomer” (Chris Berman, ESPN Sportscaster) or an event planner to know that the Super Bowl calls for a Party. Scheduled on Sunday, February 3^rd, you can invite friends and family to a casual dinner with built-in entertainment.  Since this is a casual party with established entertainment, party execution can be a piece of cake. However, like the football players competing on game day, avoid being over confident. Prepare.  Decide the basics of your party, and then consider what could possibly go wrong.  After considering the following pitfalls and ideas, you’ll have a winning party.

Text, tweet, and call for face to face conversation.  Positive social connections increase longevity.  Maintaining positive relationships is as important as exercising, following a healthy diet, or not smoking.  In a Scientific American article by Katherine Harmon, the author illustrates how “social ties boost survival by 50 percent” : Nurturing friendships and family connections may enhance all aspects of life.

“Are you kidding?” you ask.  “Responsibilities at work and home are overwhelming.  Meeting someone for lunch or hosting a dinner party seems frivolous.”

What may seem superficial compared to pressing needs is a priority.  Invest in yourself.  Take a break.  Schedule a lunch, dinner or party.  Meet with a longtime friend or family member.  Join a social group.  Attend a celebration.  Host a party.  Share ideas.  Get feedback.  Provide support.  Swap resources.  Relate stories.  Relax.  Laugh.

Opportunities for relationship building count in the workplace, too.  Businesses are rejuvenated when Staff, Board Members, or Customers/Clients have opportunities to interact.  A nonprofit organization hosts a dinner prior to a Board Meeting.  A florist hosts a “Flower Arranging 101” class for customers.  The local sports equipment retail store invites customers for coffee with a sports coach.  School PTO’s schedule gatherings to enable parents to meet other parents.  Businesses host parties.

Technology provides unimagined opportunities, however nothing replaces a good party.  No focus groups needed.  Studies indicate that positive relationships increase longevity.  Focus on yourself.  Host a party!

Good Celebrations, LLC

Life is short.  Celebrate!

5 Time, Energy, and Money Saving Party Planning Tips:

 1. Invite Instantly

Save time, money, and energy by NOT shopping for invitations and stamps, looking up addresses, writing on invitations and envelopes, mailing invitations, and following up with guests who haven’t responded.  Rather, with Paperless Post all you have to do is enter guests’ e-mail addresses, choose an invitation, fill in information, and send.  You save further time and prevent awkward conversations by scheduling automatic reminder notes to those who have not responded by a given date.  When filling out your invitation be explicit about date, time, place, type of party, name of host(s) and RSVP date.  Paperless Post does the rest!

2. Plan Ahead

If you run out of time, you’re plum out of luck.  To avoid last minute predicaments, create a list of all necessary arrangements.  You don’t want to be waiting for the guests to arrive and discover that you forgot to clean the bathroom.  For a basic party planning checklist see suggestions by  Real Simple.

 3. Do Decorate

Whether you’re planning a Birthday, Anniversary, Superbowl, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, Chinese New Year, Academy Awards, or Cinco de Mayo Party, set the stage. Decorations can be simple and inexpensive.  For example, for Valentine’s Day, consider decorating tables with conversation candy hearts, Hershey’s chocolate kisses, cut out red paper hearts, and red rose petals.  For an Academy Awards Celebration make a sign for the paparazzi, and set movie theater cartons of popcorn and movie candy in strategic places.  If you’re hosting a Superbowl Party and have a few footballs, you’ve got a centerpiece.  Make signs out of butcher block paper, and purchase a few pom poms and megaphones from a party store.  You can get a variety of decorating ideas at your local party store or iParty.   

4. Create a Menu

Find out if guests have food preferences and limitations.  With that in mind, chose items that are realistic for you to make or purchase.  If you like to cook, Epicurious has interesting entertaining ideas, menus, and recipes.  Many restaurants and caterers offer great food for entertaining and accommodate dietary restrictions.  One example in Brookline, MA is The Fireplace, known for high quality New England comfort food. Party menus can be simple with a twist.  Instead of the usual pizza for this year’s Superbowl Party, consider sharing a 6 foot submarine sandwich while drinking beer in half yard of ale glasses or mason jars.  Valentine’s Day Party guests might like a sweet and savory Crepe Buffet, supplied by a local Creperie, such as The Paris Creperie.  What could be better than Jambalaya for a Madi Gras Party?  You can make Jambalaya the day before, or plan ahead and contact your local caterer, such as the real deal, Miss Jeanie for the best Louisiana cooking this side of the Mason Dixon line.  If you live near Brookline, MA, Party Favors features cakes for every occasion.  Special orders require a minimum of 10 days notice.  Thinking of hosting a cooking class? Contact Liora Kushner (liorascatering@gmail.com) who caters as well as teaches groups of adults or children. Her specialty is Moroccan cuisine.

5. Enjoy!

Be sure that all plans enable you to be available at the party.  Either serve foods and beverages that do not require your attention during the party or arrange to have helpers in the kitchen. Helpers can be hired through part-time business offices at local universities or Event Temps.

The 2013 Party Year has begun. Stress less; enjoy more.  

To your Good Celebrations!

Life is short.  Celebrate!

 Pumpkins disguised as football fans 

Here’s to tasteful “ham”!  An oxymoron?  Set an elegant table.  Serve delicious dishes. Ham up the Holidays!  ‘Want to caffeinate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve events?  Serving or being served – pass the “ham”!  Each holiday gathering presents an opportunity to create memories.  If having “fun” – not taking the moment too seriously is important, here are a few of my favorite links to places from CA to NY to MA that have your back:

Silly hats – get hosts/hostesses/guests into the spirit (highly rated on yelp):  http://www.villagehatshop.com/chistmas-and-hannukah-hats.html

“Unexpected necessities” for host/hostess gifts or favors: http://blackinkboston.squarespace.com/

Novelty gifts – adds levity, breaks the ice (Figuratively and literally!  They sell ice molds): http://fredandfriends.com/

Not Your Average Kitchenware Store – examples: ceramic berry box, artist palette cheese tray, NYT Crossword Puzzle Mug, “In Crowd” Celery Dish: http://www.fishseddy.com/

Chocolate prepared in the Viennese tradition with fine ingredients  – themed chocolates for favors or gifts, including special pinata cakes with custom messaging and handmade chocolates inside): http://www.serenadechocolatier.com/

Fun jewelry (such as light up Christmas Lights necklaces) and an array of fun stuff not listed online but available online and in the store, as well as a wonderful book and travel guide selection, knowledgeable and friendly customer service: http://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/gifts2012/cng.html

Ideas?  Send your favorite resources for fun Holiday Celebrations.

Happy “Ham”-Filled Holidays!

Life is short.  Celebrate!

If you’ve seen the movie, “What’s Cooking,” you know Thanksgiving’s not perfect. Despite best efforts to enjoy the big meal, reality falls short of expectations.  How can you avoid the pitfalls featured in “What’s Cooking” or challenges that you might have experienced firsthand?  That can be a tall order.  The following are Good Celebrations suggestions.  (Good Celebrations does not take responsibility for the implementation of these ideas.)

1.  Keep expectations low.  There’s no place to go but up.

2.  Participate.  If you’re visiting, offer to bring food, help serve and clean up.  If you’re hosting, delegate.  If you’re hosting and you like having others join you in the kitchen to help prepare the meal, delegate dishes to each participant.  Be sure guests agree before Thanksgiving.  Eat.

3.  Note food preferences.  Some may be vegan, lactose intolerant, or have nut allergies.  Some like to play with their food.

4.  If you’re hosting, know your audience.  Are place cards a good idea?  Will some want TV access to watch football?  Would they enjoy wearing funny hats?  If children are in the mix what kinds of activities do they like?   Would all be willing to try an icebreaker such as Charades, Karaoke, or Pictionary?  If weather permits, would some like to walk, run, or play touch football before the meal?

5.  Improve Thanksgiving for others.  Volunteer to serve at a community Thanksgiving for people who have no other place to go.  Volunteer or purchase your pie from Community Servings: http://www.pieinthesky.org/events/pies/    or other similar organization.  Volunteer to make food baskets at a local nonprofit that distributes baskets to those who cannot afford Thanksgiving dinner.

6.  Be grateful.  What do you appreciate?

7.  What can you learn from each person at the table?

8.  Mix it up.  Begin a new tradition.  Invite loved ones to Thanksgiving Dinner at a new destination.  Explore travel packages during Thanksgiving weekend in the USA and abroad.

9.  Invite local students, neighbors, or colleagues who are alone on Thanksgiving.

10.  If despite these suggestions, your Thanksgiving is guaranteed to be ruined, host a Faux Thanksgiving with different people, food, and entertainment.  Or forgetaboutit!

‘Hoping your Thanksgiving isn’t ruined.

Life is short.  Celebrate!

Liven up a small personal or professional Holiday Party.  Incorporate a Yankee Gift Swap.  Rules vary, however if you’re unfamiliar, here’s all you need to know:

When guests are invited all are asked to bring a gift that cannot exceed a particular reasonable price, such as $10.  They are asked to giftwrap the gift, not include a card, and bring it in a plain bag so the giftwrapped gift is not visible to others.  When they arrive guests can discretely empty their gift into a large bag designated for the Yankee Gift Swap.  To be sure that all can participate, it’s a good idea to have a few extra wrapped gifts on hand ahead of time in case someone forgets to bring a wrapped gift.

At the party, when it’s time for the Yankee Gift Swap, everyone sits in a circle and takes turns picking a number, from one to the number of people in the room, written on a folded paper and mixed in a hat.

The organizer places the gifts in the middle of the circle.

Whoever chooses #1 takes the first turn to choose a gift – any gift from the center of the circle, and opens it in front of everyone.

Person #2 then chooses a gift from the center of the circle and either opens it in front of everyone or swaps that unopened gift with person #1 to get person #1’s opened gift.

Person #3 and all numbers following in sequence then likewise choose an unopened gift from the center of the circle to open in front of others and keep (until someone might swap it) or give it unopened to someone else to open in front of everyone to get their opened gift.

After everyone has taken a turn, person #1 gets a final opportunity to choose whatever gift person #1 wants or keep what he/she has.

When the swap is over, some enjoy taking turns around the circle guessing who brought the gift that belongs to them.

A Yankee Gift Swap is a fun ice breaker and alternative to purchasing gifts for everyone in the group.  All ages can play, although I wouldn’t recommend it for young children.  Add a Yankee Gift Swap to your celebration.
Life is short.  Celebrate!

What life or work transition isn’t easier with friends, family, or colleagues? Recognizing transitions is cathartic.  When my oldest son, Josh, graduated from high school one of his classmate’s moms, Carol, invited me for a Moms’ Tea.  A group of twenty moms of high school graduates, many who met when their sons and daughters enrolled in kindergarten, gathered at Carol’s home.  During the Tea we were asked to share our reactions to our kids’ graduation.

The answers were as varied as the moms.  Some were euphoric; some could barely articulate their thoughts through tears; some were pragmatic.   All understood that graduation would change their family dynamics and to some degree their role in the community.  Like many life transitions, it was an occasion of mixed emotions.   And, like many celebrations, we found lots to toast and laugh about.  Carol honored moms while applauding children.  Kudos for Carol.

Toast colleagues, friends and family.  It’s good for your health!

Life is short.  Celebrate!

Rule Number One about hosting an event is, “Create a welcoming environment.”  If some guests can’t eat the food, Rule Number One is ruled out.  If hosts can gather guests’ dietary restrictions prior to the event and make necessary provisions, it saves uncomfortable day of event blips.

Many restaurants and caterers are used to serving folks with food allergies and special diets.  One person may be allergic to wheat, another to nuts.  Some are vegan, vegetarian, or lactose intolerant.  The challenge is being as tolerant and accommodating as possible.  When special diets are recognized, people appreciate the extra effort.  When food restrictions are overlooked, it can cause awkward, memorable moments.

Jasper White says, “Food is love.”TM

I say, like love, food is complicated.

Life is short.  Celebrate!