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Mother’s Day is a very big deal for many men and women around the country, as it’s a day to honor the woman who brought us into this world and make her day as special as possible. Whether you want to honor a biological mother, stepmother, adoptive mother, grandmother or just someone who has been like a “mom” to you your whole life, what better way to say I Love You, Mom than with a Mother’s Day Party.

Some mothers will prefer a more low-key type of celebration–maybe just a quiet family dinner at home or in mom’s favorite restaurant. But for those moms who like a good party, why not use these Mother’s Day party ideas to throw mom a bash she’ll never forget!

When considering throwing a party for someone, it never hurts to find out how they feel about parties. If you know your mother is shy and prefers the company of family and maybe a few close friends instead of hundreds of acquaintances, then you should nix the idea of a Mother’s Day party altogether. But if you know the special woman in your life enjoys a good party and likes being the center of attention, check out these Mother’s Day party ideas to get your creative juices flowing. After all, Mother’s Day, which is always observed on the second Sunday of May (May 13, 2012) is right around the corner.

Mother’s Day party tips:

1. For a surprise party:Create a list of all invitees and send a spring themed invitation that clearly states it is a surprise party. PaperDirect has an extensive line of party invitations for all occasions and tastes.
2. Party decorations are a very important part of any celebration. Decoration should always be according to the taste of the person for whom the party is being thrown. Decorate the venue, be it a home or anyother place with flowers of your mother’s choice. If the party is at home, then change the look of home by putting up some beautiful family photos. PaperDirect also has a variety of vinyl banners on which you can personalize special messages to mom.
3. If you want to be really creative, you can choose a specific theme for your Mother’s Day party such as the 50’s or whatever decade will bring back fond memories to your mother or grandmother. You can do a Hawaiian theme party or an all white party. You can host a pool party (as long as a lifeguard is provided), or any number of other themes. Just make sure your mom would enjoy and approve of the theme you choose.
4. Food is one of the most important aspects of every party, and you want to be clear on the invitation what type of food will be served (appetizers only, full dinner, buffet, desserts, etc.) People don’t want to show up hungry expecting to eat only to find cheese and crackers and other light snacks. If you serve food, you must estimate how much food will be necessary to adequately feed all of your guests. Drinks are important, too. You must provide non-alcoholic drinks for those who don’t drink at all and you must be able to monitor alcohol consumption in case someone becomes too intoxicated to drive. It is your responsibility as host to ensure your guests get home safely. You can either have a designated driver to get your guests home or call them a cab.
5. Choose music that will be pleasurable to the majority of the guests. If your guest of honor and guests are senior citizens (or even if they’re not) you need to keep the volume to a comfortable level at which people can easily hold  a conversation without having to raise their voices. Be sure to provide an area to dance and dance music in case people want to boogie.
6. Hire a photographer and/or videographer to capture the party so it can be remembered for years to come. If you don’t have pictures and videos of this special event, you may regret it when Mom’s no longer with you.

PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for many party items including personalized napkins, place cards, and thank you notes.  Looking for more party ideas and tips? Check out these PaperDirect blogs:

Party Planning Tips for the Novice Host

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Online Invitation Printing for Last Minute Flyers

One of the most memorable events of a young couple’s life is their baby’s first birthday party, so if you’re getting ready to plan your little one’s first birthday party, you may need some birthday party tips for kids’ parties. While many young parents have visions of throwing an elaborate party that will be unforgettable for all those who attend (except, probably, for the guest of honor and all of her one-year-old guests), you must keep in mind that because your baby is only one year old, he may not be able to handle all the excitement you have planned. As much as you want to make this day unforgettable, you have to keep your guests’ comfort in mind as you plan. PaperDirect offers these birthday party tips for your little one’s big day:

Keep the guest list fairly small. You can invite just a few relatives, friends and their kids, and grandparents. Most party planning experts recommend no more than five kids (accompanied by a parent) at a baby’ first birthday party, but if you feel you can handle a larger crowd (and have plenty of help to do so), then, of course, feel free to invite as many little guys and gals as you like. Just remember that huge crowds may overwhelm the guest of honor.

Choose a baby-friendly venue. Your backyard or a local, familiar park is ideal so the kids can crawl and toddle around in the grass, and when things get spilled, no one will care since you’re in the great outdoors. But if you don’t want to gamble on the weather, or if you’re looking for a place away from home, you may want to consider fun places like a family-entertainment activity center, a kid-oriented gym, a kid-oriented pizza place, or even your own daycare center. These places are familiar to your child, and the staff at these locations know how to entertain children.

Pick a time for the party that matches your baby’s schedule. The best time of day for a party is when your child is most alert and calm–usually in the morning after a nap. Most experts say that 1.5 hours is long enough for a child’s first birthday party. Long parties and those held late in the afternoon or in the evening will find all the young guests low on energy, patience and attention.

Don’t go overboard with the entertainment. Loud music, performances and other types of shows may scare your child and his guests. Keep the activities fun but not too loud and rambunctious as your little guests will be scared if too much is going on at once. Here are some ideas for appropriate “entertainment” for a one-year-old’s birthday party: a short sing- and clap-along session with some of your child’s favorite songs and other age appropriate games. For a backyard party, supply push toys, tents, or tunnels, and if possible, a sandbox or digging area. Indoors, create a safe play area by removing breakable, dangerous items and setting out plenty of toys appropriate for the age group.

Offer food that caters to kids. For a morning party, the only food you’ll really need will be the cake and some juice. If you’re scheduling close to lunchtime, you can offer nutritious finger foods such as fruit slices, bread sticks, bite-sized treats and maybe some cooked pasta. Avoid any foods that may present a choking hazard, and of course, find out about any food allergies your young guests may have ahead of time.

Avoid opening presents during the party. Many experts say that opening gifts often turns into a grabbing “free for all,” and that it’s best to put the gifts out of sight and explain that they’ll be opened later.

Take plenty of pictures and video, so you can look back on one of the most important milestones in your child’s life. Not only will you, the parents, be able to relive your baby’s first birthday, but with pictures and video, this wondrous occasion will be preserved for generations to come. Imagine what it will feel like when you and your child watch this video with your grandchildren. Years later, when it comes time to watch this special event with family and friends, the effort will have been well worth it.

PaperDirect has an extensive line of party supplies including banners, invitations, place cards and thank you notes. Shop online and get everything you need at our one-stop online party shopping headquarters.