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DIY Broadway - Themed Party Ideas and Decorations

"The Phantom of the Opera" is one of the 10 most iconic Broadway costumes of all time, according to Playbill. Whether you’re a theater lover or just have a finger on the pulse of pop culture, you’ll instantly remember the white mask covering half of the Phantom’s face, white tailored shirt and cape disguising his disfigurement from his beloved Christine.

Capture the magic of Broadway and the spirit of its iconic costumes, sets and makeup with your own theater-inspired party. Even if you're on a budget, some creative DIY Broadway party decorations will transform your house into a 42nd Street stage.

Phantom of the Opera

Turn your next dinner party into an evening of mystery with a gathering inspired by "The Phantom of the Opera." Ask your guests to dress up as their favorite character and be ready to trade songs and dialogue from the movie to piece together who the real phantom of the opera is.

Set aside an arts and crafts table for kids to make their own phantom masks with plenty of jewels, buttons and paints to liven up the fun. Buy the phantom's iconic half-white mask for each adult to wear as party favors. You may not be able to bring the Broadway show to your party, but you can pop the 2004 film into your DVD player for a midnight showing.

Cats

Whether you’re a cat lover or just inspired by great musicals and poetry, celebrate "Cats," one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, at your next party. Recruit a friend or makeup artist to help your guests look the part. If you’re not into a full-costume party, pass out cat ears or masks to add some flair, and use glow paint to add the infamous yellow eyes around your home. Let the kids put on their own "Cats" production to entertain the crowd.

A "Cats" party makes for a fun trivia night. Write out some questions and answers on cards, divide up teams and play for a gift certificate or donation to a local pet shelter. Need a good trivia question to get started? What book inspired Tony Award-winner "Cats"? Devoted fans will know it’s T.S. Eliot's 1939 poems "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats."

Les Miserables

Invite friends over for dinner and a movie night with a "Les Miserables" theme. Create a French-inspired menu with fresh bread, cheese, wine and pastries, and serve your guests on tables decorated with French flags. Complete the meal with red velvet cupcakes frosted with white icing and blue sprinkles as a nod to France.

Play the soundtrack to "Les Mis" before the movie starts. By the time the night is over, your guests will feel inspired to devour the book. Send them home with the novel as a party favor and schedule a follow-up party as a special book club night with "Les Mis" at its center.

Broadway Glamour

Can’t decide among your favorite Broadway shows? Go for Broadway glamour and transform your party into 42nd Street nostalgia. Roll out a red carpet and add some velvet ropes leading to your front door. Add a pin-up board with Broadway flyers or find a theater-inspired template online to add the name of your party. Greet your guests like an usher and hand them a playbill with the list of events and snacks for the evening before ushering them to a designated area to chat with other guests.

The best kind of Broadway party actually happens on Broadway. Instead of creating your favorite play at home, take your guests to see the real thing. Telecharge can help you select from among the many choices, and ordering your tickets online will streamline your planning. Then, treat your guests to a fun evening of Broadway glamour.

Fun & Festive Fall-Themed Birthday Parties for Kids

When it comes to a perfect time of year for an outdoor birthday party, it’s hard to beat fall. The hot weather is behind you, so you are not locked into a pool-party theme. And because Old Man Winter has not started doing his thing, you and the kids can have fun outside without having to fuss with heavy coats and scarves. Whether you plan to have the party in your backyard or at the park, here are three fun and festive fall birthday party ideas to consider:

Fall Carnival

If your child loves playing games, host a fall carnival birthday party. Set up cornhole boards in the backyard — you can either purchase them in a big box store or make your own — and have the kids throw beanbags in autumnal hues like red, gold and orange. Other game ideas include tossing ping pong balls into colorful bowls of water, throwing darts at balloons and spinning a mystery prize wheel. To really take the party over the top, rent a dunk tank and a bounce house from a local party rental company. For fall carnival supplies, Oriental Trading Company is a holy grail of ideas for everything from games and prizes to treat bag items and photo booth props. The company has an entire section devoted to photo booth props that the kids can use to take hilarious pictures in a photo booth, whether you rent one or create your own DIY version. For prizes, pick up some small toys at a discount store and buy some large bags of Halloween candy.

Costume Party

For kids who love dressing up, an outdoor costume party is a fun idea. As a bonus, being outside in the cool fall weather will help prevent the kids from overheating in their superhero or royalty-themed costumes. Ask your guests to come in their favorite costumes, or suggest a theme, like a Morphsuit party. For kids who are a bit on the shy side or have sensory issues, wearing a Morphsuit that covers their entire body can help boost their confidence and provide calming sensory input for kids with autism. They also come in funny, silly and scary patterns, so they are sure to fit every child's personality. If you are uncomfortable asking your guests to purchase a specific costume, ask them to match the theme, and then purchase party plates, cups and decorations to go along with it.

County Fair

To give your child a more rural-themed party with plenty of Americana, plan a county fair celebration. Serve caramel apples on a stick, deep fry some Twinkies, rent a cotton candy machine and make fresh-squeezed lemonade. If your child loves animals, search for petting zoo rentals and arrange for some chickens, baby goats, lambs and other four-legged farm animals to be at the party. For games, hold a pie or watermelon eating contest, and send everyone home with balloons and plenty of sweet treats.

Tips For Planning A Beautiful Vintage Wedding

If you have chosen to have a vintage themed wedding, you are probably brimming with fantastic ideas. From having a vintage-style wedding dress to hiring a vintage ice cream bike, there are so many cute things that you could do.

The good news about planning a vintage wedding is that you can do it how you like. However, having said that, when it comes to a vintage wedding, knowing where to start is the hardest part.

Photo from Flickr

To help you plan the perfect vintage wedding, we have put together some simple tips, below:

Look out for vintage fashion brands

By choosing to go vintage with your wedding, you can save yourself a lot of money. Many vintage fashion stores do beautiful, affordable dresses that are ideal for bridesmaids. So make sure to have a look for a vintage fashion brand that you can use, as you will find that you can get your dresses much cheaper.

Make your own decorations

When it comes to planning a vintage-style wedding, it’s crucial that you make your own decorations. While there are lots of shops that sell vintage decorations, they are often expensive and lack authenticity. By choosing to make your decorations, you can cut costs and make your wedding more authentic.

Get your bridesmaids to come over and spend an evening or two helping you to make beautiful vintage-style decorations. If you get stuck for ideas, make sure to check out Pinterest, as the photo boards on there should give you lots of great ideas.

Use vintage furniture

Don’t hire wedding furniture, instead invest in pieces of vintage furniture. You could also have a look online, as you can often find great deals online when it comes to antique and vintage furniture. Have a look at the Love Antiques online store for a range of beautiful antique pieces - trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Yes, it might be a little pricey, but it will add authenticity to your wedding. You could even tell your guests that all the furniture is for sale, so they can browse on your big day, to see if there is anything that takes their fancy.

Ask everyone to bring a cake

Instead of worrying about having lots of fancy desserts made by a caterer, ask each guest to bring a cake along. When you have lots of gorgeous cakes lined up on a table, your wedding will feel like the most authentic vintage event, ever.

Just make sure to tell all guests to avoid using nuts in the cakes, in case anyone is allergic to nuts. If you have any guests with a gluten, wheat or egg allergy, make sure to ask a guest to bring a cake that is suitable for them.

Choose a simple venue

For an amazing vintage wedding, a hotel venue is not necessary. Instead, opt for a venue that’s a little bit different - somewhere like an old barn would be ideal. Many weddings used to take place in village halls, so if you want a touch of authenticity, make sure to look into village halls for your reception.

Planning a beautiful vintage wedding isn’t as hard as you would think. Believe it or not, all it takes is some creativity and smart thinking, and you can plan a fantastic vintage inspired wedding.

 

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Throw the Best Barbecue Ever With These Tips

 

 

With summer just around the corner, it's time to start planning your first cookout of the season. Keep everyone happy, full and entertained this summer with these tips for throwing an awesome BBQ.

Charcoal or Gas

The debate over grilling methods is fierce. While you may prefer the taste of food cooked over charcoal, you should know that propane burns cleaner, while charcoal emits carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

Burgers

Have you ever noticed how burger patties puff up in the middle as they cook? This weird shape can make adding toppings a little awkward. You can fix this mishap by pressing into the top of each raw patty with your thumb. This will help the patty stay level so your toppings stay in the bun where they belong.

Fish Filets

If you like cooking fish or other small foods, it might be worth investing in a grill pan that is perforated to keep food from falling into the cooking grate.

Prep

Make sure to heat up your grill 15 minutes before you intend to start cooking, to give it time to reach the optimum temperature and to kill off any lingering bacteria.

Ribs

Ribs are best cooked slow, on low heat for several hours. Low temperatures will help produce a softer meat, whereas higher temperatures might dry it out. Also, be careful not to apply sauce to the ribs too early; if the sugar burns, it can compromise the taste. Sauce is best applied during the final 30 minutes of cooking. If you are cooking ribs along with others meats that require different cook times, think about buying another standard grill.

Steaks

After you marinate your steaks, make sure to pat them dry on both sides. If the steaks are too damp, they will steam, not sear as you want them to.

Chicken

Boneless chicken should be grilled quickly over direct heat. Bone-in pieces take longer and direct heat alone would burn them, so you should cook with indirect heat.

Veggies

Vegetarians attending? Not to worry — one need not sacrifice flavor or a hearty meal by not eating meat. Bon Appetit magazine has offers great tips for grilling a variety of veggies.

Are you frustrated that your grilled veggies often come out too dry? Soaking them in olive oil (even before a marinade if you use one) can help avoid this problem. This will also prevent sticking to the grill.

Entertainment

Are you looking for a great way to spruce up your yard and create an ideal oasis for guests? Try installing an outdoor television. Whether you give your guests the opportunity to watch the game or put on a movie to occupy the kids, it's a luxury worth having. You can even get HD television outdoors.

The Party

If you're looking for a way to spice up the spirit of your barbecue, why not choose a theme? It could be fun to have a luau theme if kids are attending, or perhaps a 'School's Out!' theme. A signature drink (or mocktail for the kids) will add some unexpected flair to a barbecue that your guests will be sure to remember.

The Invitation

An easy way to make your BBQ special is to invite them with an online invitation. Some have animation and music! Ask guests to bring items, poll your guests and allow them to easily check the weather and traffic.

New Invitation Series: Confetti & Celebration

St. Patrick's Day Online Invitations, Announcements & E-Greetings

If you're hosting a special event for St.Patrick's Day or just want to send family and friends a little "good luck" greeting via email, check out our St. Patrick's Day online invitations, announcements & or E-greetings.

Sendo makes it easy to create & customize. Try it now!

 

St. Patrick's Day Engagement Party Shoot

The page has moved. Click here to view new location: st patricks day table top

Happy Haunting Halloween Party

Eeeekkkk! Check out this Happy Haunting Halloween Party from Worth Pinning. Love the pumpkin hidden in the cake!

Click here for all of their Halloween food tutorials and free Halloween party decor downloads.

For more party or event inspiration follow us on Pinterest, Instagram & like us on Facebook!

Scary Online Halloween Invitations

Get ready for Halloween and everything pumpkin! Sendo has some new online Halloween invitations, most include scary animation and spooky sounds. You can create your own Halloween party invitations in minutes, track RSVPs, poll your guests or even sell event tickets. Try it now!

 

Back to School Party Ideas

Some of your kids may have already started school & others will start in September. Either way, here are some Back to School party ideas to get them excited. Some of these ideas would also work for a small Back to School dinner with just a few of your child's favorite friends.

* Eraser and Crayon Party Favors by One Charming Party

* Pencil Push Up Cake Pops by Bakerella & Apple Cupcakes by Cupcakes and Recipes

* Lunch Box Bites by Betty Crocker & Back to School Alphabet Soup idea from Party Pinching:

* Check out this adorable Vintage School House Birthday Party on Hostess with the Mostess:

For more party or event inspiration & tips follow us on Pinterest, Instagram & like us on Facebook!

Visit us at Sendo to create custom online invitations, announcements or Ecards