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Bubble Party! No, Not that Kind of Bubble!

Boba drinking glass

Guys. Big news. Did you know that April 30th is National Bubble Tea Day?! I KNOW. Please, hold your excitement, I know it is hard! Anyways, what better way to celebrate this fun and random holiday than to throw a bubble tea party!

If you don’t know what bubble tea is, you might recall something called “boba.” It’s the same thing! So, if you hear people referring to bubble tea as boba or vice versa, just know you’re all on the same wavelength. It is a super trendy, tasty, and customizable drink that is loved all across the world. Wonder where you can get some? Here are some local places that sell boba in Fort Smith:

Smiling Cup Boba Tea

Sakuu Asian Bakery and Deli

Asian Cafe

Phở King

For your boba party, you could totally support your local businesses by getting your boba there for the event, or you could even think about asking if you could throw it there!

Another fun idea for a National Bubble Tea Day party would be to make it a boba crawl! You could print out a little checklist (like the one below) with all the places your group will go to and try all the boba! How fun!

Bubble Tea Fort Smith Arkansas Crawl List

After you’ve done the crawl, you’re gonna need a space to chill and drink all the boba you’ve now acquired. As the weather warms up, it is the perfect opportunity to have an outdoor backyard party! Let’s get to decorating.

The focal point of this boba party is obviously boba, but how do you translate that into a decoration? A boba balloon, duh!

As shown in these photos, you can make a huge cup of boba that is just so darn cute!

Diy Boba Balloon decoration
Boba balloon
Photos Courtesy of Etsy

At Party Place, we have all the supplies you need to make a boba ballon! Check out our balloon section here  to look at all the color offerings. You can also talk our balloon experts and talk about how to make your boba balloon the best of the best!

You’ll also want to include some sweet snacks to go along with your boba so check out our partyware here

This is a super simple party idea that packs a big punch! You support the local businesses, your decor is minimal, and we’ve got everything you need! Just get that boba balloon together, some aesthetic plates, napkins, and forks, and you’ve got yourself a boba party.

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Bunny Brunch: An Easter Celebration!

Bunny Brunch

I think Easter has some of the cutest decorations out of all the holidays in the year. It is like the ultimate way of saying spring has sprung! The pastels! The eggs! The bunnies! The flowers! Just thinking about it makes you smile, and I mean seriously, how could you not? Bunnies are certifiably one of the cutest animals. Sorry, but it is the truth, and I only speak facts. Regardless of your opinion on a bunny’s cuteness level, we can all agree that it is time for me to talk about this Easter brunch. So, let’s get started.

When I plan a themed brunch, I love to take a more sophisticated but still cute spin on my theme. For example, i would invest in more elegant plates and napkins that still fit my theme. These Golden Easter Napkins and Golden Easter Dessert Plates are perfect options for putting a little more of an elegant flair on your Bunny Brunch but still also being very fitting for the theme. Going along with this little golden theme, these Metallic Gold Easter Eggs are perfect for table decorations like in the photo below.

Metallic Gold Easter Eggs
Courtesy of MarthaStewart.co

Now that we have an idea for our table decor, let’s think about food (the best part).

These Hashbrown Egg Nests from Feel Good Foodie are truly calling my name. They are easy, festive, and can be made in under thirty minutes.

Now, I love savory food like hashbrowns, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t also have a sweet tooth. These Cinnamon Bun Palmiers are just the thing to satisfy my cravings, plus they are also an under thirty-minute recipe with little involvement, and you can even shape them to look like little bunny ears. You can find the recipe here on Brit + Co.

Cinnamon Bun Palmiers
Courtesy of Brit + Co

Back on the savory foods, these cornmeal biscuits are something you do not want to exclude from your Bunny Brunch. They are like the perfect combination of cornbread and a buttermilk biscuit with a bit of a spicy quick. Um, say less? I am already obsessed. They are perfectly soft with a flaky exterior, okay, my mouth is drooling, that’s all.

Alright. I am starving now, but at least now we have a good start on how to wow our crowds at this Easter Brunch.

Stop by The Party Place to get all your supplies for your Bunny Brunch or call ahead for easy shopping! The best part about it is that this is all lowkey and very easy to do, even the cooking! So, no need to feel rushed around this Easter. Just sit back, relax, and eat all the cornmeal biscuits, hashbrowns, and cinnamon buns you can!

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St. Paddy’s Day in the (Home) Pub

St Patrick's Day Pub

Alright, folks. I don’t know about you, but when I think about St. Patrick’s Day, I immediately think about going to a pub. More specifically, I think about going to a pub where there is lots of beer being poured, green everything everywhere, and singing karaoke. Perhaps, I am just thinking back to past experiences or things I have seen in movies, but that truly is what I think about when it comes to this iconic and very green holiday. Therefore, we are gonna talk about how you can host your own little St. Paddy’s Day fun in your at-home pub (complete with a karaoke machine).

So, let’s get your home looking like an Irish pub! You’ll need a place to host, and you could totally do it anywhere in your house, but with the warmer weather, you could even think about making it an outdoor, patio-style pub!

The Party Place has tons of options to get that pub vibe with signs, decorating kits, and even some accessories for your guests/”customers.” Here are the top 5 decoration picks from me to decorate your pub!

  1. Metallic St. Patrick’s Day Beer and Shamrocks Banner
  2. Beer Mug Cutout Metal Hanging Sign
  3. St. Patrick’s Day Bar Decorating Kit
liquid luck
  1. St. Patrick’s Day Plastic Mini Top Hat
  2. Green and Gold St. Patrick’s Day Balloons

Next, let’s talk about food. Pub food. We all love it, you know you do. It is also a relatively easy type of food to make, especially for larger quantities so there is another plus. You do not have to worry about giving people a four-course meal, instead, think about side dishes and snacks that can be made in large quantities and still be pretty filling. For example, a pub snack mix might be one of the best options for a St. Paddy’s Day Pub Party. You can find very recipes on Pinterest and Google, but no matter which one you choose, it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You can find one of our favs here.

Next, consider putting out french fries, hushpuppies, fried pickles, buffalo wings, or anything else that is easy to grab and reminiscent of the days we could all just enjoy ourselves at the pub on a Saturday night. If you don’t feel up to making all the food, we suggest getting a local restaurant to make it for you. Just place an order a few days ahead, and get it going! You’ll be supporting small businesses, and who doesn’t love that?

karaoke

Lastly, let’s get to the karaoke part. There is truly nothing like a good karaoke night at a pub. I love karaoke as a social activity more than anything else, yet I never want to sing. I just like to cheer everyone else on and see how the night progresses, like whether or not the singers get better, worse, or stay the same as the night goes on. When I used to go on cruises with my family, I would drag everyone to the karaoke club every night after dinner. Still my favorite thing, and I cannot wait to do it again. Anyways, how fun would it be to dust off that old karaoke machine and get your pub truly pumping. You can sing those classics like Bohemian Rhapsody or Don’t Stop Believin’ to your heart’s desire. No one can stop you either, because it is YOUR pub! Now, go get your supplies and get ready for the most fun St. Patrick’s Day you’ve had yet!

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A Dr. Seuss Worthy Birthday

Dr Seuss you're invited

When I was a kid, when we got to read Dr. Seuss in class, it was really something special. Not to mention the absolute whimsy and wonderfulness that overtook the classroom any time we had a little Dr. Seuss celebration for the author’s birthday! Dr. Seuss still remains a big influence in children’s lives, giving them the opportunity to be whacky, creative, and gives a new perspective to everyday things. I love it, and with Dr. Seuss’s birthday upcoming, how about a little inspiration to do a Dr. Seuss party theme for your little one! There are so many classic books to choose from, but we’ll be taking the timeless tale, The Cat in the Hat, for the basis of our birthday bash decor.

The Cat in the Hat is probably the most famous work by Dr. Seuss. It is loveable, recognizable, and perfect for anyone and everyone! One of the greatest things about a classic party theme like this is that it can be easily recognizable simply through the color palette! The Cat in the Hat is simple enough with a lovely four-color palette of blue, red, white, and back! Decorations are easy peasy when you’ve got such a distinctive color palette! We’ve got lots of great options to get your whole house or party venue looking like it came out of a Dr. Seuss book!

Here are some of my favorite decorations:

You can never go wrong with streamers so we’ve got a whole slew of those to choose from. These are great because you can easily decorate an entire space with a few rolls of crepe streamers and a pack of tape. You can twist all the colors together to make a really fabulous and cohesive look as well as create so many interesting things! Oh the places you’ll go with a pack of streamers! (Yes, that was a Dr. Seuss pun, I couldn’t help it!)

Blue Streamers

Red Streamers

White Streamers

Oh, and just for fun, these shiny red ceiling streamers would totally just bring the whole streamer vibe together. You can find those here.

There are also plenty of Dr. Seuss themed plates, signs, cups, and so much more available on the website here for all the little details that truly matter!

Another good idea to add that whimsy and over-the-top whacky feel that is oh-so Dr. Seuss would be to add a huge variety of balloons, and perhaps even a balloon arch! Here is one of my fav balloon ideas that is just perfect for The Cat in the Hat vibe.

This balloon game is super cute, easy to play, and perfect for the kids! Pop the balloon and win a prize!

Dr Suess balloon game

There is so much you can do with a Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat birthday! With a great color palette, it is super easy to get some supplies and really amp up the food to go with the theme! Think about things like a red punch and blue chocolate covered strawberries, pretzels, and any other goodies that can be dipped in chocolate (my ideal party food). Here are a few of my favorite pieces of party inspiration for a great Dr. Seuss birthday.

Cat in the hat birthday
Courtesy of Catch My Party
Cat in the hat candy bar
Courtesy of Catch My Party
Cat in the Hat dessert table
Courtesy of Amy Atlas Events
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Will You Accept This Rose?

Will You accept this rose

Well, the holiday of love has come and gone, and you’re either feeling lovey-dovey or sad because you’re single. This is not to bring your spirits down, I am simply just speaking the truth. Not gonna lie, I might be a tad bit of the second option at the moment. Anyhow, the point is that we’re all still thinking about love. Now, what better way to celebrate (or cry) about love than to throw a Bachelor watch party? 

By now, we’ve gotten to know our guy, Matt James, a little bit better, as well as the women on the show this season, so this means it is the perfect time to throw a Bachelor watch party. It’s simple really… get a few rose petals sprinkled on the ground, some delicious snacks, and of course, some type of game to keep track of the oh-so-many times something dramatic happens. We’ll come back to the game in a second. 

First and foremost, a watch party doesn’t need a lot to be great, you just need great company! However, to really add a little spice to your watch party to make it unforgettable, add little decorations that add to the corniness of the show. (trust me, your friends will think it is the cutest thing ever.) Rose petals are a surefire way to get that vibe of “looking for love on reality tv.” They are a great space filler without being too work-intensive, heck you could just throw them on a table or the ground, and they look great! 

bachelor party image the blue eyed dove
Courtesy of The Blue-Eyed Dove

Next, we need the snacks. I suggest finger foods that people can munch on all night long. It could be as simple as chips and dip, pretzels, and something sweet like cookies. Again, think simple! This doesn’t need to be a big ordeal, people are always satisfied with a plate full of Oreos and chips, I mean… who isn’t. Anyways, the real fun is in the game you come up with to play during the show! 

You can find tons of different game cards and rules on Pinterest, so I will be sharing one of my favorite ideas with you. The best one has to be a drinking game for every time a contestant does something. You don’t have to use alcohol if that’s not your thing, feel free to sub with a fun punch, sodas, or anything else you’d like! Nothing can’t be more fun than laughing and being with friends at tacky reality TV! 

The Bachelor Drinking Game: Water Edition

Cheers, to love!

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Mushy Gushy Valentine’s Day Fun

Candy Hearts

I don’t know about you guys, but I love Valentine’s Day, like, I really love it. You may be thinking to yourself, oh so she must be in a relationship or something. No. I am not, and in fact, I have never been in one on Valentine’s Day! It is a crazy thing to love a holiday about love and have never been in love. It’s ironic, but kind of iconic, don’t you think? Either way, I love a good Valentine’s Day party. I throw one every year! Even if my “party” consists of 5 people, we still have a really good time. I love my friends, and I make sure to show them that with my fab Valentine’s (or Palentine’s) Day fun. Anyways, let’s talk about how to throw a chill but super fun Valentine’s Day party for all your pals.

I love to do a simple party that consists of a drinks (you know I love a festive punch or cocktail, Pinterest is my go-to for recipes), lots of sweets, and of course, decorations!

I think my favorite part of Valentine’s Day decorations is simply the cheesy, mushy gushiness of them. Bright red and pink hearts with over the top fonts and cheesy love puns for days? Yes, that is perfect to me. Lucky for you, we have a wide variety of the cheesiest decorations you’ve ever seen! When decorating for a Valentine’s Day party, I always say more is more. Give me all the hearts! To save you the time and probably me from embarrassment, I will only show you my top three decorations I will be investing in this year.

  1. These White Heart-Shaped Doilies

            I love, love, love doilies. Yes, the three “loves” were completely necessary to convey my opinion on them. These are perfect for easy table decorations, hanging on the wall, or even for under cookies or other sweets. They are great for lining trays with treats for added Valentine’s Day fun.

White heart-shaped doilies Valentine's Day Party Supplies
  1. Heart Garland 

Honestly, give me any festive garland, and I will be all over it. It always adds the best little touch of fun. It can really bring a tablescape together, or honestly the whole room! It is super cute, cheap, and easy to use! A perfect option for anyone.

Heart Garland Valentine's Day Party Supplies
  1.  Red Heart-Shaped Balloons

Okay, who doesn’t love a good balloon? Festive, fun, and they get the point across. That is a good decoration. Plus, if you don’t have a ton of money to spend on decorations, balloons are great for filling up a space and adding lots of festive fun into the room. These balloons are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and they just scream “mushy gushy love day” to me. Again, I really love this holiday, sue me!

Red Heart Shaped Balloons Valentine's Day Party Supplies

I could absolutely go on, but I promise you I would keep it limited to three! My next word of advice would be to get some really fabulous Valentine’s Day plates, which we have many options of, and really just go to town on your food options!

Word of advice: keep it simple. You don’t have to feed these people dinner! Valentine’s Day is about the sweet indulgence so go for chocolate, cookies, brownies, you know the drill! My favorite way to make any dessert more festive is to add holiday-specific sprinkles (heart sprinkles I am looking at you!). Get some drinks for your guests, tack up those decorations, and wowza you’ve got one heck of a Valentine’s Day party! I’m excited just thinking about it. 

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Mardi Gras Madness

Mardi Gras Madness

A holiday that is basically a month-long feast and party? Sign. Me. Up. I mean, seriously, what more could you ask for? Based on my previous statement, it will come as no surprise that the holiday I am referring to is Mardi Gras aka one of my favorite holidays of the entire year. Of course, most people only truly celebrate it on Fat Tuesday, but you can totally start decorating now since the Epiphany has come! Slightly off-topic, but I have a dream to one day spend Fat Tuesday in New Orleans for one heck of an experience, but given the fact that is *slightly* impossible right now… my home will have to do. Honestly, fine by me, because I can throw myself one heck of a party, even if it is only with three other people!

Mardi Gras Masks

So, let’s get down to the dirty details. Just kidding, the only thing dirty about this Mardi Gras celebration is the dirty rice. My ideal Mardi Gras party would be decorated with the borderline gaudy decorations (I love them), and filled with real, good Cajun cooking. We’d have a blast just feasting and sharing laughs together, and let us not forget the most important part! I MUST have a king cake at this Mardi Gras party. Above anything else, I am trying to find that baby Jesus hidden inside. I need the good luck! Today, I present you with the greatest Mardi Gras feast you’ll ever see. Picture this: a big dinner party… everyone decked in beads, masks, and boujee outfits. That is the perfect Mardi Gras ambiance. Let’s talk about how you can make it happen yourself.

Let’s start by decorating the table. Think BIG. The more beads, feathers, confetti, masks, and coins you can pile on… the better! However, don’t just let it all go. There needs to be a little bit of sophistication a plan as to how in the world we’ll make it a boujee Mardi Gras feast. I suggest using candle holders or vases of different heights and sizes to add some depth and dimension. Secondly, try to put out a festive runner to differentiate the decoration space of the table and the actual dinnerware space. Adding placemats can also help this, but they are not necessary. The images below are a good example of how I would set the dinner table. You can buy all of these decorations and more at Party Place. Look here for online options or in store for more.

Mardi Gras Table Setting
Mardi Gras Centerpiece
Photos courtesy of Celebrations at Home

For the menu, I suggest something truly Cajun. Go with some great staples like dirty rice, jambalaya, gumbo, or red rice and beans! You can authentic recipes all over the internet, but I suggest scanning through Pinterest to see which one you like best. Don’t forget the cornbread on the side! The same thing can be said for making the king cake, but if you would rather skip the baking process, check local bakeries like Harvest Moon to see what they offer for this cool holiday. Many bakeries offer king cakes to provide a more authentic Mardi Gras feel for your holiday.

Well, seems like we have it all planned out. Just throw on a fun outfit with some pizazz, a mask, and some beads! You’ll be golden!

If this is for some reason unable to happen for you because of health circumstances or perhaps your kid or anyone else you would celebrate with can’t be there with you this year, think about mailing the party to them! My mom has mailed me a king cake with beads and masks every year I have been unable to celebrate at home. It truly makes my whole holiday even better to know she wants me to have a great Mardi Gras even far away!

Mardi Gras King Cake
Photo courtesy of OnMilwaukee.com

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Club Quarantine: How to Throw a 21st in a Pandemic

Club Quarantine Invite

One of my best friends just turned 21, and we all know the excitement of turning such an important age. We also all know just as to why it is so important! Anyways, turning 21 is just not quite as thrilling since the pandemic began. We can’t really go out to all the bars and party as we would like, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun! I know we have been trying to figure something out to safely celebrate my friend’s birthday. So now, I present to you: Club Quarantine. Even if you just get to celebrate your 21st with your family, this can be tons of fun! Let’s go over how to make your own club for those 21 years old at home.

  1. The Club Space

If you’re going to turn your home into a “club,” you have to have a pretty good space to create the club atmosphere. A good idea would be to use one’s garage or basement so that your rearranging of furniture or boxes would be minimal. If you’ve got a mini bar in your basement or whatnot, well you’ve definitely got an advantage (aka less work to create the space!). Once you have a space cleared out and finalized, you can start planning out everything you need. First, you’ll need a bar, a dance floor, and maybe even a with a “bodyguard” and rope entrance for extra fun. Now, let’s get to the decorations now that the logistics are out of the way.

  1. Club Ambience

Party Place has an abundance of balloons and decorations for 21st birthday celebrations that would be perfect for Club Quarantine. It would be a great idea to add some of the balloons to the entrance of the club to signify the birthday aspect. They also have plenty of red-carpet-worthy decorations such as a literal red carpet or rope to add that club vibe. They also have plenty of catering supplies like margarita glasses, pint glasses, and other alcoholic drink cups for an authentic feel for the bartender! Another essential element to making it really feel like a club for your 21-year-old is the lights. Clubs and bars are always dimly lit with the fun colored lights and sometimes even a disco ball if you’re in one of those retro clubs (my personal favorite). Getting a few strands of the LED lights and get that garage-basement-club popping! Adding some sheer curtains and some fun furniture from the home can also really add to that ambiance as pictured below.

Photo courtesy of The Holiday Aisle
  1. The Big Shabang

Now that we have gotten the decorations under control, let’s talk about the final touches. You might even consider doing a theme for your club, whether it has caution tape or medical signs for “Club Quarantine” or if you decide to do a retro or modern club, there are plenty of options to give you the best 21st birthday experience possible in the midst of COVID-19. Just remember to have fun with it, and your 21-year-old will be thrilled with even the effort to give them somewhat of a club experience for this special year!

Photo courtesy of MGN Events

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Ornament Exchange Party

ornament exchange party cover

It’s the holiday season so hoop-de-do and hickory dock… and well you know the rest to the Andy WIlliams classic. It is officially the time of year to start hosting those holiday parties, social distanced and safe of course. If you are looking for something on the smaller scale I would recommend an ornament exchange party — this way you can keep the crowd small but still have the ability to gather with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season while getting and giving a little something for the tree. Also, if you are not comfortable with an in-person celebration this particular kind of party could easily be turned virtual and you can just mail your guests their ornament and they can send theirs to the other guest invited, just as they would have exchanged in person. Regardless of how you choose to host the party, make my heart happy and send your guests a paper invitation, Zazzle has some fabulous ones to choose from.

ornament exchange invitation
Photo Credit: ZAZZLE.COM

So, where do you need to start now that you have decided between virtual and in-person and your guest list? Figure out the price cap for the ornaments that your guests will be purchasing, or making, in order to ensure the party is fun and affordable for everyone. After you have done that, create a virtual name draw that way everyone knows who they need to be exchanging with especially if the event is going to be virtual. If you are choosing to do the in-person version of the event it could be fun to also make a few ornaments during the party. The blog Made In a Day has a fabulous but easy boho evergreen ornament that would look amazing on everyone’s tree one their creation is complete.

boho ornament
Photo Cred: MADEINADAY.COM

Now that we have the big stuff lined out it is time to focus on all of the little details that are going to make your party pop! Even if you choose to host virtually I promise these little details are still important, for example everything you would have bought to source up the party for your guests mail in a care package or the invitation rather for your guests. The blog A Subtle Revelery has some super fun holiday party hacks that really highlight the holidays. When it comes to drinks choose a classic cocktail, hot chocolate, or special punch to serve, but instead of cups head out to your local craft store and pick up some large clear craft ornaments to serve the drink of your choice in.

clear ornament drink
Photo Cred: ASUBTLEREVELRY.COM

These darling little “drinks” are the perfect addition to your decorations and to add an extra splash of fun for your guests.

One final step is to head on out to The Party Place to pick up some festive napkins, paper straws, plates, cups, and any other fun seasonal decor you think will give your ornament exchange all of the festive vibes you are looking for. Don’t forget to tag us in all of your social media posts!

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Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving cover

Can you believe it – we are so close to the holiday season of a year that has felt like it might not ever end. I personally love the holiday season and begin planning my Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving dinners in early October, this way you can be sure to snag everything you need to make your table look perfect! Have you thought about what your Thanksgiving plans are this year yet? If you are anything like me you have probably been missing your friends and family a little extra this year, so why not throw a Friendsgiving Feast?

Continue reading Friendsgiving