tips from the pros

while glancing at my Instyle magazine... i came across some tips...

 party dos 'n' don'ts.... 

Here is a few of my favs!

1. music playlist is a good place to start but after either dinner or phase 1 of party the WHOLE playlist needs to be brought to another level....
2. the host's mood sets the tone... DON'T be grumpy!!!
3. invite your single friends, single people are always looking for a good time and usually provide a life to the party as they usually have not lost their "game" as some of us ole married and parenting peeps have....  but note to you: its never too late to re-gain your GAME!!!
4. they say "warm the plates before serving something warm"

*i think my dishwasher has a setting for this but would this mean i have to use my real plates?  i love real but the paper they are making now are just so fun and sturdy and cute...... oh decisions decisions!!!*

5.  don't use plastic

6. let guest make their own cocktails....

uummm! thank you. i think by now, all my guest who come over know "help yourself, serve yourself, my house is YOUR house.... i want you here ALL the time but i will not serve you unless you are 10 years old and younger....just go through my drawers, snoop around, use WHATEVER and find what you need" 

needless to say i LOVE this rule.

7.don't serve only clear liquids, just have some handy wine saver potion, club soda, folax and RELAX!!!

8. elegance YES!  fussiness NO!

9. don't take yourself too seriously.  anything goes these days with table decor and the menu.. have fun!

10.  stick your candles in the freezer for days prior to use.  this eliminates most of the messy dripping wax on your table.

*i love this tip, i love scented candles but don't usually EVER use candles on the supper table-  too many kids and dogs i guess*

11. TURN OFF CELL  PHONES.... vibrate incase your children are as wild as mine and quite possibly run the babysitter off, but LET IT GO.... No email checks, phone calls, internet surfing....quit flattering yourself, you are NOT that important or either you are NOT having fun....I have noticed Daddyc is getting really really really bad at this.... Leave it in the car, on silent.  LET GO for awhile and have fun!!!! no daddyc really needs to bring his, as i do NOT have mine and the babysitter usually knows to call him, but we don't have to check it ALL THE TIME, do we???

just FYI it makes everyone think you are bored, etc. not having fun, don't enjoy your company etc.  if that is the case LEAVE!!!!

12.Put some individual hand towels or napkins in the powder room for handwashing, for a large party NO ONE wants to re-use the ole' hand towel a HUNDRED times and that linen just doesn't dry you off very well anyway.

AND LASTLY

 look, i know your children are adorable.  I know your dog is even more adorable and does not beg at the table... yadda yadda yadda! but please keep their WONDERFUL acheivements, awards, awards THEY should have won but didn't, their oh so perfectness, ability to tie their shoes, say their ABC's light years before their peers, etc. etc. etc. 

We all know how advanced your child is and honestly don't want to hear about it AGAIN as you probably talked about "precious" the whole last party.....  If you need reassuring how utterly WONDERFUL your child is, GO HOME or better yet GO TO THE GRANDPARENTS HOUSE......  'cause if you are filling MY ears with that junk, i will look for the fastest way to LEAVE that conversation but don't be confused I LOVE YOUR CHILD more than anything,   

I told Daddyc JUST LAST NIGHT, if i didn't have my tubes tied OR had 10 minutes to spare i would beg and pleed for another baby.....  But i fear i would not have the time to even glace that child's way so its better for everyone in the end!!!! that being said, i want to keep YOUR baby.... but do NOT want to hear you talk about how wonderfully OVER achieved they are.... I ALREADY KNOW!!!!

this post was not nearly as fun in the least, as i thought it may be....   they had over 100 rules, these are the rules i may or may not abide by.... I have my middle child's mentality... 

RULES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN

Here are some shots of us leaving for school yesterday....

Costume Change for 1.  No more spiderman, a fireman..... 3 years in a row isn't bad. note to self: BE GLAD you didn't spend a fortune buying costumes this year. the fireman pants and shirt prove too tight....

And for #2.  Not in the least is he going to wear the batman costume he has planned all month... but summer seer shorts, rain boots, ONE spiderman glove carrying a shark, uncle chris' superman shirt (33 years old), and a separate batman cape.... note to self:  i really miss my sweet phase of letting me dress them in the big ole fat pumpkin suit or just wearing a NORMAL costume....

and for #3. whose teacher clearly stated WE ARE NOT DRESSING UP. they are too young, don't know, and no parties at mothers day out for children this young.  NOTE TO THEM:  my little lamb had his costume begging me to help him get dressed, was so very excited to sport it to school that day and i will be the first to say "he wishes he was having a party too 'cause he can eat some candy with the best of them and will actually CHEW gum for hours and not swollow it"  so i allowed him to break the rules and wear his costume, if you saw his face you would have let him too.   It was not consticting or getting in anyone's way and clearly could have been pjs.   is that so bad???

yes, that is his milk and a cinnamon roll, he rolls out of his crib about 5 minutes before mothers day out starts and never has time to relax and eat breakfast.

later that night, we had a birthday celebration for our mimi's way belated birthday but when you travel like our mimi does, we celebrate when we can!  

i wasn't going to snap any pictures but had too....

just FYI: the older two were in face having fun, it was late and they are both EXTREMELY laid back.....  and word on the street is they are having a spend the night party tonight???