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Does
the thought of having to throw a party put you
off so much that you never even pick a date
for the event? You're
not alone. Many people find the project
daunting -- and yet this is the season of parties.
There are graduation parties, bridal showers,
baby showers, family reunions, birthdays, and
just-because-we-wanted-to summer parties.
This
week, we've assembled some great tips to make
planning and hosting a party a snap.
It's really not as bad as it sounds, and once
you've done one right, you'll be more likely
to try another. Soon, you'll have a reputation
as a great party-thrower, and that's no bad
reputation to have!
As you plan, remember
that we can help both before and after.
We can apply water-repellancy
to linens to help keep stains to a minimum.
We can also add extra starch to your table napkins
to make your fancy folding efforts more successful.
(We're available to attend parties, too, if
you're desperate!)
So, have a party --
and have fun.
Ed and Mary Longanecker
Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company |
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Toast
of the Week!
As you
slide down the bannisters of life,
may the splinters never point the wrong way. |
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Clean
Up Crew Coupon!
The
party was amazing, the food was fabulous, the
decorations stunning, and everyone had a great
time. But somebody spilled wine on the
table cloth, everybody got stuff on the napkins,
and there's a mystery stain on the table runner.
Let us handle
the tablecloth, and we'll do all the matching
napkins at no charge.
Nobody should have to clean up alone!
(Include first page of this e-mail
with your order. Offer expires June 15,
2004. Cannot be combined with other offers.) |
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Let's
Have a Party!!!
When
those words ring out, there is an initial thrill
of delight... and then reality sets in.
There's so much to do! It's tempting to
just say, "Oh, forget it." But think of
the memorable parties you've been to in your
life. They were special times, and somebody
took the trouble to arrange them. Think
of it as your turn.
Take
it from the top.
Where do
you even begin? A
good place is to select a THEME for the party.
Don't groan! This means less work, not
more, since a theme helps limit your choices
down to a manageable few. For instance,
if you have a luau theme, there's no point in
looking at red, white and blue decorations,
is there? If it's a 1940s movie theme,
no need to order in Chinese food. Choosing
a theme gives your entire planning process direction.
How do you
even come up with a good theme? And how
can it help you? Here's an example:
Family
Reunion 2004
Summer is
a great time for reunions. Imagine
that you selected a theme of Time
Goes By -- a natural one for such a gathering.
Build your theme around the idea of a Family
Time Capsule. Ask each
person who is attending to bring with them something
that means a great in their mind about the family,
or an event that occurred that left an imprint
on the family. These will all be put into
the time capsule, and it won't be opened again
until a specified time has passed -- 5 years,
10 years, 20, 100? It's up to you!
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Decorations
can revolve around time
-- clocks, watches, egg timers and hour glasses with
sand, you get the idea. Use lots of
old family photos, too, blown up on computer
scanners and printed out. (Remember
not to overdo it on decorations, though.
They are there to create ambiance, not to
be the focus of the event.)
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Party
favors could be inexpensive watches that
the whole family gets, so you'll all match.
Even get the reunion date and family name
imprinted on the face of the dial to make
it more memorable.
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Invitations
could be packaged in small
bottles or decorated to look like a time
capsule.
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Food
could be prepared from family recipes handed
down generations.
Setting
the theme immediately sends you in creative
and productive directions to pull the pieces
together, and gives your planning a real boost.
Need
a theme? Check out these resources:
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Party
411 -- more themes and ideas,
plus expert advice on everything from etiquette
to fashion.
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And
then what?
Choosing
a theme will not only give you direction, it
should re-energize you in your planning.
It's time to ask
yourself a few vital questions:
- What date
and time will the party be?
- Where will
the party be?
- What style
will the party be (formal/informal, sit-down
meal or appetizers and finger foods?)
- Who will be
invited?
This sounds like the
beginning of all the pesky details, so you need
a plan. Fortunately,
you can download and print out lots of party
planning worksheets that will keep you on track.
Try a few of these sites to find the one that
works for you.
- All
Recipes website -- has great
tips on the food for your party (including
food safety) as well as links to recipes,
wine selection and more.
- Suite101
-- it's tagline is "Real People Helping Real
People" and when it comes to party ideas,
nothing is better than that. Fun parties
described with lots of details to get your
imagination going.
- Checklist
for ANY party -- If you like
the satisfaction of checking off things as
you get them done, this checklist is for you!
Just eliminate the items that don't apply
to your party, and you've got a roadmap all
the way to the finish line.
It's
the little things that make the difference.
Don't you love it when
you go to a party and win a prize? Be
it door prize or party favor, everyone likes
getting something fun unexpectedly.
Stumped about what to have for favors or prizes?
don't worry. The link below has ideas
you can really use.
What
about something really unique?
Entertainment, catering, photos... you can find
it all. The website listed below has categories
of items you might consider (from caricaturist
to draw cartoon likenesses of your guests to
florists, entertainers to clergy) and an interactive
map of the country so that you can click on
the state and get what you need. Super
for planning a party far from home where your
usual contacts do you no good!
There's a lot to think
about with a party, so
plan with a friend or family member if you can.
Two (or three!) heads are definitely
better than one for getting the details handled.
Consider the following:
- The
date -- plan at least 4 weeks
out if possible, with the RSVP date set a
week prior to the party.
- Budget
-- yes, that ugly word has
a place in party planning. Without one,
you may find the party becomes something less
than a joyous occasion. Make one and
stick to it.
- Weather
-- if it's to be outside, either rent a tent
(expensive) or have a back-up plan in case
of bad weather.
- Parking
-- even if you've got a big
house or venue to hold the party, if they
can't park it will be a disaster!
- Equipment
-- you'll need more than you
think! For instance, just to be sure
nobody goes hungry, planners suggest the following:
- 4 forks
per person (unless you want to
be washing in the middle of the party!)
- 2 knives
and 2 spoons per person
- 3 plates
per person AND a dessert plate
(assuming buffet service)
- 5 cups
or glasses per person (people put
cups down, aren't sure which is theirs,
and go get a fresh one.)
To
get the low-down on every detail, check out
the website below:
Absolutely
Don't Forget This!
No matter what kind
of party you're having -- spontaneous or elaborate,
surprise or planned -- there are three
things you MUST have in order to be successful:
- A
plan and budget you can live
with
- A
sense of humor
- Fun!
This isn't a root canal... it's a PARTY!
Enjoy yourself, and don't
sweat the things that don't happen as you
expected. If
you have fun, so will all your guests.
If
we can help in any way, from pressing the
linens to helping with clean-up, don't hesitate
to
let us know. We're here for you. |
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We
are enormously appreciative of the opportunity
to share our weekly newsletters with you.
We feel that much of the content is valuable
for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is
interested in their preservations and cleaning.
Click on the symbol to the right if your would
like to send this and future newsletters to
a friend.
Thanks a million, Ed and Mary
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The Iris
City Cleaners Connection
is
a weekly news letter dedicated to the interest
of fine garment care, restoration,
and conservation.
It is published in Mt Pleasant, Iowa by Iris
City Cleaners and is an extension of our services
described in www.iriscitycleaners.com
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