Love on a budget!

Valentines day is a few short lovely weeks away and we’re sharing our tender suggestions to save money but still spend that special day in a special way with your honey! Whether you’re sharing Valentine’s Day with your best friend, a group of couples, or on a couch with a heart shaped cookie for two . . . love is all around.

1. Cook a sweet hearts dinner or dessert together! Save money by skipping the V-day menus at restaurants and spend some extra time mixing your favorite foods to feed one another. Allrecipes.com is a great site hosting a plethora of passionate recipes for you and your lover: http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/valentines-day/ Make your at home event even more special by playing some games, turning your dinner/dessert into an indoor picnic or just by popping on some romantic music.

2. Give each other long back rubs! Help yourself and your partner relax from the day by enjoying relaxing massages that you give each other. Paired with a bottle of wine or a hot bubble bath and both of you will be whisked away to comfortable cloud of dreamy passion.

3. Take a long walk. Visit your favorite neighborhood or local main-street and enjoy one another's company by walking and talking. Maybe pop into a local bar for an appetizer and a drink or a café for a hot chocolate and a slice of something sweet.

4. Take advantage of deals and freebies! Visit a Whole Foods or another grocery store offering great free samples! With big competition for customers these days, restaurants are offering Early Bird specials for Valentine’s Day! Check out specials available in your area.

5. Progressive dinner with friends! Valentine’s Day is for everyone, it’s an excellent opportunity to spend an awesome night with friends! Create a moving party by having one friend host an appetizer course, head to another friend’s place for dinner and move on to a final location for dessert! Mix in games and music for laughs and dance party action!

6. Family bonding night! Make Valentine’s Day meaningful to your family by making handmade Valentine’s cards together, or create a caring jar where you all write why you care about one another on heart shaped pieces of paper, maybe take some cookies to civil servants like librarians, police officers, fire fighters and together express your gratitude.

Need a little extra help for the perfect plan, canvas the web. There are exceptional websites offering great advice on how to put the thoughtfulness and romance back into Valentine’s Day! Looking for more, visit our site for lovely favors and party perfect essentials to spread the love! ForYourParty.com

Photos provided by (top left) ForYourParty.com Love coasters and envelopes.
(top right) Paper bouquet image: http://myeverafter.bigcartel.com/product/retro-yellow-turquoise-and-red-paper-flower-bridal-bouquet
(bottom left) Heart brooch pin: http://en.dawanda.com/product/2673822-Brosche-be-my-real-heart-Himbeer
(bottom middle) Cupcake shower cap: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/ (bottom right) ForYourParty.com Cutie Pie Match sets

Ice, Ice Baby!

Chicago has been recently blessed with bouts of warm weather. Seriously unexpected warm weather has included, 52 degree days and above freezing nights. It’s allowed everyone in the Midwest to enjoy a lovely longer stint of outdoor fun.

According to recent weather reports a snowstorm is headed our way and the bright clear skies we’ve been basking under are about to cloud over.

It’s time to prepare for freezing fun! Once the streets are covered in white and snowmen’s begin popping up in yards and balconies around the city, it’s the green light for chilly outdoor enjoyment.

Bundle up your family and friends and head out in to the great white yonder armed with squeeze bottles filled with food color dyed water for snow painting. This is a great way to teach your kids about color mixing! And an excellent way for them to make a huge mess without any necessary clean up, just make sure they keep the “paint” on snowy lawns and do not create slippery sidewalks.

Our favorite winter pastimes include ice-skating, sledding, snowball fights, and skiing! However you choose to spend these wintry days ahead we hope everyone is safe and whether it’s indoors or out, can take pleasure in the winter wonderland to come.

Bottles image provided by: http://craftintexan.blogspot.com/2011/01/painting-snow.html Children painting snow image provided by: http://www.chicagonow.com/cheaper-than-therapy/2011/02/kids-home-for-a-snow-day-what-to-do/

Pop Art Baby Shower!

A short time ago our crafty co-worker Katie threw a Baby Shower for one of her dearest friends. Katie created sweet cellophane bags for an adorable candy bar, super cute cocktail napkins for the bar and drink area, lovely luncheon napkins for the potluck buffet and gorgeous guest towels for the bathroom.

Katie and the other members of the “Baby Shower Brigade” invited guests to bring a dish for the potluck buffet while the “Brigade” provided delicious pulled pork sandwiches, an incredibly stocked candy bar, a wide selection of drinks and a home made whale shaped piñata!

The partying guests mixed and mingled enjoying food and drinks, adorned a soft tie blanket with messages to the baby and soon to be mother and father. Broke into the giant blue whale piñata and offered the parent’s to-be sage advice.

The people made the party but the comfortable home setting, color coordinated details of balloons, bunting and table runners all added to the festive ambiance.

Photos provided by ForYourParty

A very merry Holiday Season from ForYourParty.com!

Thank you to all of our amazing fans, customers and editors who made this year exceptionally joyful. We greatly appreciated being a small part of your unforgettable and extraordinary events.

We look forward to a dazzling, fabulous and flourishing 2012!

Our sincerest wishes to everyone have a safe and happy Holiday season and a magical New Year!

ForYourParty on Glossed & Found!

Our party planning president showed off her gift-wrapping skills and celebrated the upcoming holidays in style with D. Graham Kostic at Chicago’s skyscraper high bar Vertigo Sky Lounge.

They sipped on refreshing beverages, chatted about details for formal or fun table arrangements, had a present wrapping race and sang a very merry rendition of “Jingle Bells”.

Enjoy all the laughter, check out all the festive ideas and see the great accessories you can create at the click of a button, just select the image above.

Visit us at ForYourParty.com to create a wide variety of joyful accouterments. Visit Glossed & Found for more fun interviews about beauty, fashion and lifestyle!

ForYourParty on ABC Channel 7 Chicago!

We have as busy as Santa’s little elves designing and crafting a variety of options to throw your own memorable New Year’s Eve party! Our sharp dressed president discussed all of our creative endeavors with Sylvia Perez and Linda Yu on the 11 am broadcast.

We shared awesome home projects for dressing up your elegant dining table when hosting an adult only silver and gold affair. Great personalized bags and take home coloring books when entertaining children. A scrumptious chocolaty candy bar for any age group and our favorite a Mad Men inspired occasion.

Using 60’s thrift store glasses, an assortment of finger sandwiches, personalized beverage napkins and an party perfect cocktail cart the evening is set to host sharp dressed men and impeccably attired ladies.

Watch the entire interview and visit us at ForYourParty.com to get your creative juices flowing!

Darling Betty Theme

Nothing’s more sexy, sleek and stylish than the timeless combination of our soft ballet pink, poppy candy pink, wonderful winter white and strapping slate. We’ve taken a nod from the well-dressed cast of Mad Men and created this elegant and enduring arrangement.

Outfit your bridal troupe in a soft pink strapless dresses or gorgeous gray gowns for the mod ladies and perfectly pressed slate suits for the gents. Take priceless pictures of your entire well-dressed wedding cast in a stylish setting of ceiling to floor draped walls and banquet tables adorned with rich warm runners and sharp bright tablecloths.

Add bold elegance with over sized balloons in matching colors and tabletop touches of personal notes guests can drop off for the bride and groom in a 50’s style suitcase.

For more exceptionally fantastic color combinations and ideas for your next event visit us at ForYourParty.com!

SOURCES:
Top Row: Virgil Bunao Photography (via Style Me Pretty) | Archibald photography (via Style Me Pretty) | Mad Men promo shot
Bottom Row: Kristin Vining Photography (via Style Me Pretty) | Save the Date coasters from BeforeYourParty | personalized cocktail napkins from ForYourParty

Winter Skating Birthday Party!

This past weekend our delightful and talented designer Marisa hosted a fabulous birthday party for her sweet son Miles! The last of the single digits – Miles turned 9! All the ladies at ForYourParty had a delicious hand in stocking the dessert table with sweet treats. All of us made different flavored “hot chocolate on a stir stick” each paired with a homemade marshmallow!

The pictures above showcase the dessert table decked out with a gorgeous branch and snowflake centerpiece, decorative paper bunting, pumpkin pie, fruit kabobs, cookies, chocolate and confetti cupcakes, a variety of soda, and personalized napkins for the birthday boy!

While the kids skated and built up a big hunger the adults enjoyed turkey chili, taco dip, turkey hot dogs and various snacks from the savory table. After the skating all the kids enjoyed food and fun while playing Bayblades.

Adorable candy filled cellophane bags were finished off with a pair of winter gloves for each child as a take home gift. Everyone had a great time celebrating with Miles!

Visit us at ForYourParty.com to create all the accessories you’ll need for a winter themed birthday party!

Photos provided by ForYourParty.com

There’s always time for a little wine.

Recently our adventurous president visited Valentino Vineyards & Winery in Long Grove, Illinois. She and her small troop of wine tasters expanded their palates by sampling a selection of the vineyards 20 different wine styles. The wines are produced on site from harvested grapes off 6,000 vines that are all grown on the 20 acre estate.

Whether you take a short road trip with friends to check out a unique restaurant or winery near by, or spice up the weekend with a fresh adventure it’s always entertaining to experience the city and surroundings you live in.

Have an exciting weekend! ForYourParty.com

Images courtesy of Sari

Tis’ the season for Holiday Cards!

The last of the leaves are hitting the ground, the crisp smell of winter is lingering in the morning sun and turkeys are popping up like daisies at local grocery stores. It’s time for Holiday cards!

We’ve created elegant, whimsical and adorable Holiday cards for your Christmastime pleasure. We invite you to visit our Holiday card page and select the style that suits your family. We can personalize any of our card designs to suit your family’s personality.

Visit us at ForYourParty.com to order! Place your order before December 2nd and receive $10 Off your Holiday Card order by applying the code: CARDZ4

Wintergreen Theme

These past fall days of crisp blue mornings and cool gray evenings are the perfect backdrop to our new Wintergreen Theme. This is a friendly and elegant combination of rich slate, poppy leaf green, refined silver, feathery white and delightful turquoise. The sophisticated inspiration for this fresh arrangement is the warm and exquisite teacup highlighted above. The entire china set is being sold by Waterford Wegdwood and was created by Always a Bridesmaid the contemporary casual pattern is called City Chateau. Adorn your next table setting with perfectly matching dinner napkins at ForYourParty.com.

SOURCES:
Top Row: Dress via Pinterest | Taryn bridesmaid dress from J.Crew | Q Weddings via Project Wedding Blog
Middle Row: Personalized cocktail napkins and LaVie candy tins from ForYourParty | City Chateau china by Always a Bridesmaid
Bottom Row: image via GtheGentleman | personalized luggage gift tags from ForYourParty

We are thankful for YOU!

Thanksgiving is “gasp” a few short weeks away! We’d like to start this time of year off right by offering all of our customers 10% Off your orders now until November 4th.

The code to use is: THANKX11

Visit us at ForYourParty.com to create fabulous fall accessories for your upcoming holiday events.

Thank you!!!

Pumpkin Spice Theme

Fall colors are filling parks, gardens, and tree lined neighborhoods across the big city. The subtle smells of the season and the beautiful bursts of orange, rusts and yellowy greens inspired our Pumpkin Spice inspiration board. Embrace this awesome autumn with rich espresso; perfect pumpkin, soft celadon and gilded old gold.

Tasty sweets and treats await young and old this approaching monster weekend. Delight ghoulish guests with desserts like chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing, pumpkin fudge and the tasty tradition of candy apples. Adorn your tables with carved pumpkins, for added embellishment paint your pumpkins post carving with a supple green or rustic gold. From all of us at ForYourParty.com Happy Halloween!

SOURCES: Top Row: Martha Stewart lace patterned pumpkins (via Pinterest) | Abby Grace Photography (via Green Wedding Shoes)
Middle Row: Owl cupcakes (via Pinterest) | Tangerine Flicker Dress from Anthropologie
Bottom Row: pumpkins and gourds (via Pinterest) | personalized cocktail napkins from ForYourParty

ForYourParty on WGN!!

With Halloween literally days away, WGN’s Dina Bair invited our purr-fect President to the studio to share our favorite ideas for hosting and decorating a variety of freakish fests of your own.

Slide our luggage tags on to small pumpkin stems and use them as unique place card holders. Decorate your dinner table with candy corn filled hurricane vases and a candle for mysterious mood lighting.

For any mixed age event have a fierce feast that includes pumpkin coolers filled with different chilled sodas kept frosty by ice cubes; take away treats in adorable pumpkin and ghost faced goodie bags; and a stocked creepy dessert bar make a serious impression on your fearsome friends.

When hosting an all-adult affair customize your bar by making devilish drinks, like Blood Orange Bellini’s, Pumpkin Martinis, and Bleeding Heart Bloody Mary’s. Personalize your bar with monogrammed carved pumpkins, blood curdling napkins and scary stir sticks.

Watch the entire segment by selecting the video image above.

All of our products can be customized to any holiday or event. To create your own festive gift tags, goodie bags, straw flags and all the other fun products we showcased on WGN visit us at ForYourParty.com.

Five fabulous custom gift websites!

We love to be inventive and unique daily and always apply those same creative juices when we give gifts to friends and family. Here are some of our favorite sites to shop for those distinctive presents.

1.    Uncommon Goods - http://www.uncommongoods.com/ - We’re talking every room in the house and every person on your holiday list is covered on this site. Check out the unique family games, awesome octopus shower caddy and their wide selection of recycled wares!
2.    Psycho Baby - http://www.psychobabyonline.com/ - We love that this site specializes in personalization just like us. Their custom shop has endless options for infants, toddlers, children and parents!!
3.    Stamps.com - http://photo.stamps.com/Store/ - We found this simple site ideal for custom postage stamps. You can quickly preview your image on the stamp and choose from a wide variety of borders for added sweetness.
4.     Redenvelope - http://www.redenvelope.com/ - Fine leather wallets, personalized pub glasses and culinary herb kits make this a great site for useful men’s gifts but covers the gamut of gift recipients.
5.    Tastebook.com - http://www.tastebook.com/ - This savory and sweet site was highlighted in one of our previous posts. Our food savvy President created her own family cookbook for a late summer reunion. Follow this link to read more about Tastebook.com and her creative book creation - http://foryourpartycom.blogspot.com/2011/09/delectable-way-to-share-memories.html.

Whether you shop till you drop in stores or online, we wish you good luck this approaching holiday season. Visit us at ForYouParty.com for our selection of Personalized Gift Sets.

Photos provided by: http://www.uncommongoods.com/, http://www.psychobabyonline.com/, http://photo.stamps.com/Store/, http://www.redenvelope.com/, http://www.tastebook.com/

Flirty Fall Theme!

The days of fall are soon to tumble into winter but before they do make sure you celebrate the season with this tender color arrangement. Our Flirty Fall Theme is an enchanting combination of warm plum, cranberry, deep espresso, green olive and vivid tiffany blue. It’s almost edible how perfect this palette is arranged. Contrast sea-colored dishware, with chocolate-topped cupcakes and succulent table arrangements to create a dazzling harvest occasion.

Top Row: Dapper Images (via Pinterest) | Nine Photography (via Style Me Pretty)

Middle Row: custom printed cocktail napkins from ForYourParty.com

Bottom Row: Olivia Leigh Photographie (via Style Me Pretty) | Stephanie Williams Photography (via Pinterest)

An apple a day tastes delicious!

Since harvest season has begun and we have made our way through all the sweet corn – apples are next on the list. Apples are a preferred fruit here and we eat it in countless ways. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this versatile produce.

1. Apple Salad, use crisp apples like Gala, Fuji and Granny Smith combined with blue cheese, walnuts, and spinach tossed with a light mustard and honey vinaigrette for a savory plate.

2. Carmel drizzled apples, nothing is more simply sweet and delicious than apples and caramel.

3. Apple Crisp, this is absolutely one of the easiest options for a hot delicious apple dessert. Most recipes have a 15 min prep time.

4. Carmel Apple Bundt Cake, yes it’s as delicious as it sounds. Check out this Food Network link for the recipe. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/caramel-apple-cake-recipe/index.html

5. Carmel Apple Pancake, perfect for a dessert or a dessert breakfast start by slicing a peeled and cored Granny Smith apple into ¼” slices. Heat one-tablespoon butter and one-tablespoon sugar in a sauté pan. Add three slices of apple in the pan until golden brown on one side. Flip and pour pancake batter over the top. (Pancake batter made with one-cup pancake mix, one-cup milk and one egg.) Let the pancake brown on one side. Right at the end, place a lid on top of the pan and to heat the pancake through. Invert the pancake on a plate, add a dollop of sour cream or whip cream and enjoy.

6. Homemade applesauce will knock your socks off and this quick and easy recipe from All Recipes.com is a lightly spiced sensation with everyone.
      

      6 cups apples - peeled, cored and chopped
      3/4  cup water
      1/8  teaspoon ground cinnamon
      1/8  teaspoon ground cloves
      1/2  cup white sugar

In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, combine apples, water, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, and simmer 5 more minutes. (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/applesauce-2/detail.aspx)

Whatever your fall food pleasure we hope you enjoy some apple packed options before the orchards go into hibernation.

Visit us at ForYourParty.com for your autumn and apple-embellished favors.

Apple image provided by: http://onlyhdwallpapers.com

Imma goes to the Cider Mill!

I love autumn! This past weekend I went to Kalamazoo, Michigan to visit my sister Melanie and my little baby nephew Harrison. We went to Gull Meadow Farms, a quaint and traditional cider mill. Fresh air and hot doughnuts drew quite the crowd. The weather was perfect and sunny with clear blue skies. The smell of yummy sweet treats lured me into the shop so I picked up a peck of McIntosh apples, a half gallon of cider, a dozen doughnuts, funky gourds and, of course, a jar of pure Michigan honey to put on everything. Harrison got his own mini pumpkin too! Melanie had never tried apple butter so I made sure she went home with a jar.

We kept our picnic fun and festive with some of our sample autumn party accessories. Afterwards, we took a much anticipated stroll through the apple orchards and the endless pumpkin patch to really soak in the beautiful autumn harvest. If you're planning a party that's coming up, there's no better way to jazz up your party inexpensively than with some cute autumn inspired party napkins, coasters and stir sticks at ForYourParty.com.


- Imma (aka Rachael Lester)

Trick or Treat Halloween Sale!

One night not too far in the future treasure seeking pirates, pretty petite princesses and menacing monsters will be giggling through neighborhoods near you!

Halloween is just around the bend. We’re already putting together nocturnal napkins, scary stir sticks, tricky Treat bags, vicious votive candles and magical matches for the ghoulish fun to come.

Use this discount code: SPOOKY2011 to receive 15% off your order.

Visit us at foryourparty.com to use any of our designs to create your own BOOO-tiful bunch of accessories for any upcoming celebrations.

Images by ForYourParty.com

Max Mara Monogramming Event

For one lovely day in Downtown Chicago Max Mara offered a unique personalization technique to customers with help from ForYourParty. They employed one of our talented production members, Juan, to monogram their luxurious leather purses, bags or totes purchased that day or brought in by a returning patron. Above are some of the fun photos we snapped during that afternoon.

The foil stamping equipment and the individual metal letters Juan used is over 50 years old. Movable metal type has been around since its invention in Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty around 1230.

When we produce your designs they are all first made into a metal plate and stamped by a fantastic production member on a more advanced machine that functions primarily with hydraulics, heat and pressure.

Thank you to the friendly staff at Max Mara for this exclusive opportunity to share our personalization passion with a new audience.

Visit us at foryourparty.com and create your own distinctive design.

Images provided by ForYourParty.com