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You have guests arriving for cocktails in two hours and barely time to straighten up, much less decorate. No problem -- prepping for your next bash can be a cinch. Make it easy by creating "party boxes" filled with essentials that you can keep in the closet and whip out for various occasions. You can create boxes for casual, elegant, outdoor, cocktail, birthday, and holiday affairs. Just customize the contents to suit your style. Cheers!
- Candles: Stock an assortment of votives, tapers, pillars, and birthday candles.
- Napkins: Be sure to have a good supply of cocktail and dinner/dessert size -- Target and online sites like www.foryourparty.com carry a hip array.
- Picks: Toothpicks or party picks are smart to have on hand -- you can find snazzier styles in assorted colors.
- Glasses: Invest in an inexpensive set of small juice glasses -- it's a playful way to serve wine "bistro style" when you have a larger group or don't feel like pulling out the "good" crystal.
- Platters: Collect a few stylish melamine platters for serving hors d'oeuvres or sweets -- they're light, stylish, and never break!
- Bowls: You can't have too many small bowls for serving dips and munchies. Mix them up for an eclectic look -- glass, porcelain, melamine, pottery -- whatever suits you.
- Plates: Stock some quality paper plates that can be used for appetizers or dessert -- www.plumparty.com has a great selection.
- Placemats: Have an array of placemats in different shapes and material to use underneath vases or platters.
- Centerpiece Supplies: All you need is one medium vase along with fillers like marbles, sea glass, or stones. Or improvise with stuff from your kitchen (rice, red lentils, etc.). Fresh flowers are always a nice touch, but stash a small supply of twigs, bamboo, or dried flowers so you can throw something together without a trip to the florist.
- A collection of drink recipes
- An assortment of CD mixes
- Powder room essentials such as hand towels, guest soap, and lotion.
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