How to Host a Dinner Party in Your Apartment

Posted on February 20, 2013 by tpham

Whether it’s for a special occasion, holiday or just because, a dinner party is a great excuse to get together to enjoy the company of others, eat delicious food and perhaps indulge in a few adult beverages.

Hosting a dinner party in your apartment doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little creativity and DIY flair, you’ll have a great night with close friends.

Gather a list of guests and use our tips to help throw a glamorous dinner party in your apartment.

Start your apartment search today!

Guest List
Look at your space and figure out how many guests you can seat comfortably. You want to create a cozy, intimate atmosphere – not a space where your guests can barely move and are bumping into one another.

Dining Table
If you don’t have room for a dining table in your apartment, take advantage of furniture you already have in your space. Use a dresser, desk and other available tables in your apartment to create one large surface. Heights may vary, but knowing that things don’t have to be perfect will take a lot of the pressure off of the host/ess. If you’re inviting neighbors, don’t be shy and ask to borrow a few chairs for the night – and you can even ask very close friends attending to bring their own chairs.

Another important aspect to hosting a party is the seating arrangement. If you are having assigned seats, arrange it so your guests can be near someone new. Split couples up, and don’t sit your work colleagues next to one another. This will force your guests to mingle and break out of their comfort zones.

Décor
Keep your decor simple. Add bold-colored, low-profile floral arrangements to the dining table and throughout your apartment. Dim the lights and add a few candles to create an intimate atmosphere.

Food and Drink
Make sure you’re aware of dietary preferences and requirements in advance. You don’t want to prepare a large meal that only a select few of your guests can enjoy. If a guest has dietary restrictions that are unusual, feel free to ask for suggestions on what will work for them.

For your dinner menu, keep it simple and delicious. Choose dishes that can be mostly prepared ahead of time so you can spend more time with your guests and out of the kitchen. A sample menu could include a green salad, crusty bread and lasagna. Remember to not cook anything you’ve never tried before, and avoid potentially messy foods like spaghetti or lobster. If it’s easier, set up a buffet-style area so your guests can serve themselves. This frees up space on the dining table.

For drinks, provide bottled waters, sodas and beer to keep possible spills to a minimum. For adult beverages, you don’t have to get the most expensive bottle, but provide something that your guests will enjoy. Consider making a punch, like a champagne punch, that becomes your “signature cocktail.” When your guests offer to bring something, it’s okay to encourage them to bring a bottle of wine they like.

Be a Good Host
Prepare everything ahead of time in order to spend quality time with your party guests. Make an effort to connect with every guest, and be sure to introduce your guests to one another. Instead of just introducing your guests by name, add an interesting fact that could help jump-start a conversation. For example, “Joe, this is Jennifer. She just got back from a trip to Spain.” If you’ve invited a mix of work colleagues and personal friends, avoid talking only about work. Create conversations in which everyone can participate.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/arsenik

How to Host an Oscar Party in Your Apartment

Posted on February 15, 2013 by sharper

Blow it out superstar-style with a movie party that would impress the Academy!

It’s that time of year, again. Time to roll out the red carpet and invite your friends over to watch the Oscars telecast. But, this year, don’t just watch the show on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn. Blow it out superstar-style and plan a movie party that would impress the Academy.

Here are some ideas to glam up your own Oscar gala!

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Nominated movie themes
If you love the challenge of a themed party, Oscar night is the perfect evening to throw one. This year, be topical and invoke Hollywood inspiration by asking your attendees to dress like a character from one of the nominated movies. You might even assign a specific movie to each of your pals. (Best animated short should be a hoot.) Another option is to turn it into more of an actual celebrity theme, encouraging guests to show up dressed as one of the Best Actor or Actress nominees. Don’t forget to award prizes for most original costume!

Oscar oldies, but goodies
Another spin on the costume party is to ask your fellow Oscar fans to dress in the style of their favorite Academy Award winners from the past. This opens up ideas from silent film stars to 1970s celebs. The costume party might even turn into a live game of charades, where each star acts out a line or scene from their movie homage, while guests guess who is being portrayed.

Acceptance speech action
If your friends aren’t into costumes, have them come as they are, but ask them to bring their own creative acceptance speech to read during each commercial. Set a 2 minute (suggested!) time limit. Assign your guests a number when they arrive, and then draw numbers out of a hat at each commercial break to see who will deliver their acceptance speech on the spot. You might give out fake awards like “Best Trained Dog” or “Best Wig Design.” In your invitations, be sure to encourage the kind of zany behavior becoming of a denizen of the silver screen.

The Oscar Ballot
Let’s face it: besides the costumes and the crazy speeches, the fun part of the Oscars is finding out who wins. Any self-respecting Academy Awards party will print out ballots for their guests to rate the movies before the show starts — over cocktails, let’s say. Then the person with the most correct choices at the end of the night wins a prize. (Movie tickets are a great reward!)

From movie-specific to celebrity-era themes, there are many unique ways to celebrate Oscar night. Grab your best costume and your Oscar ballot, then prepare to enjoy a Hollywood-inspired evening with your favorite supporting cast of friends.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Tatyana Vychegzhanina

On a Budget? Spend Valentine’s Day at Your Apartment

Posted on February 13, 2013 by sroman

If you’re on a budget this Valentine’s Day, create a romantic mood in your apartment.

Not everyone has the means to shower his or her loved ones with expensive gifts on Valentine’s Day—even though we may want to. Here’s how to show your special someone that you care a lot while spending just a little.

Start your apartment search today!

Set the Mood
There’s no place like home when it comes to creating an intimate, romantic setting. Plan Valentine’s Day at your apartment (or your partner’s) and decorate with items that represent romantic memories—photos from a trip that you both took, crafts that you made together or pieces of furniture that you picked out as a couple.

More about Valentine’s Day:
Create DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts in Your Apartment
Shake Up Your Valentine’s Day Routine
How to Do Valentine’s Day For Less Than $50

Turn off cell phones, computers and the TV to minimize interruptions. Create and play a mix of your partner’s favorite love songs or music from a special concert that you attended together. Light candles, dim the lights and make sure that your Valentine’s favorite scent is in the air. Our sense of smell can trigger feelings of relaxation and pleasure, so wearing a perfume or cologne that your partner loves can help set the mood.

Table for Two
Preparing a meal at home will save money and you’ll avoid the hassle of crowded restaurants on Valentine’s Day. Some couples might enjoy making dinner together, or you may want to cook your partner’s favorite foods ahead of time. If cooking is not your thing, many supermarkets offer fully or partially prepared meals that you can dress up with garnish or by presenting with your best plates, silverware and cloth napkins. Decorate the table with candles or fresh flowers, and pick up a bottle of champagne or wine to enjoy with your meal.

If your date has a sweet tooth, don’t forget the dessert! Petits fours, fruit dipped in chocolate and truffles make fun treats that you can share. If you have a fireplace, roast marshmallows or make s’mores by a cozy fire.

Pamper Your Valentine
Does your loved one need a little TLC? It’s easy to turn your apartment into a spa. Run a bath with scented salts or a few drops of essential oil. If you’re on a budget, add baking soda to soften the water or create bubbles by pouring in some shampoo as the water runs out of the faucet. You can also use sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil or jojoba oil for a massage. Heat a couple damp, rolled up hand towels in the microwave for a few seconds and place them on the neck and shoulders to help release tension.

There are many other ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day on a budget at home—paint a portrait of your date, restore an antique that he or she purchased or write a song together. You don’t need a big wallet to show your love, just a big heart!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/AlexandrMoroz

Create DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts in Your Apartment

Posted on February 11, 2013 by mprice

Don't spend a fortune on flowers this Valentine's Day. Make origami roses instead.

Don’t want to spend a fortune on flowers this Valentine’s Day? Make origami roses instead.

Valentine’s Day can get rather pricey, as marked-up red roses, designer chocolates and jewelry are the typically expected gifts on this day of love. But you don’t have to break the bank this year to give your true love a gift he or she will cherish and remember. With a little creativity and some DIY know-how, you can create budget-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts in your apartment that will stand out from the usual offerings. Here are some ideas that make our hearts flutter.

Start your apartment search today!

Everlasting Love
Don’t spend a fortune on a dozen roses that will just end up wilting or a box of expensive chocolates that might not get eaten. Instead, get crafty and give your sweetheart a bouquet of long-lasting origami roses. Hit up your local craft store for origami paper, and take a look around your apartment for the basics like scissors, glue and a pen. Or, create your own origami chocolate box. Then, fill the box with these easy homemade Oreo truffles for a simple, creative gift she’ll eat right up.

More about Valentine’s Day:
Shake Up Your Valentine’s Day Routine
How to Do Valentine’s Day For Less Than $50
Ways to Celebrate Singles Awareness Day

Customized Coupons
Instead of relying on store-bought cards, why not create a customized coupon booklet that entitles your sweetie to a number of goodies around your apartment? Many websites offer free templates that you can download and use to create your own coupons. The only thing that’s required is some glue and a little creativity. If you’re having a hard time coming up with coupon ideas, stick to the basics; just about anyone can appreciate the gift of a day of cleaning around the apartment or a week of hearty, home-cooked meals.

Food for Thought
Speaking of meals, the most budget-friendly Valentine’s Day meal you can have is one you prepare yourself – and your sweetheart will swoon over how much thought and effort you put into it to make the evening that much more special. So skip the subpar prix fixe menus and packed restaurants and pour your heart into a homemade dinner. Start off with something to set the romantic mood, like this salad with fresh raspberries and marinated artichoke hearts. For the main course, try something simple yet healthy like Baked Chicken alla Milanese. End this special meal with a rich, decadent dessert like Mocha Pots de Crème.

Say it With Technology
If your significant other is a music lover, there’s no better gift than the gift of music. Hijack his or her iPod or MP3 player and create a playlist full of love ballads or special songs that have played an important part in your relationship. Or, take one of those old USB flash drives you have lying around your apartment and add photos of moments you’ve shared. You can even get a little crafty and attach a personalized Valentine’s themed keychain.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/dhavatar

Shake Up Your Valentine’s Day Routine

Posted on February 8, 2013 by sharper

If you’ve fallen out of love with Valentine’s Day and its all-too-typical routine, try an alternative this year!

Valentine’s Day is rolling around again, and, for some, hopes are high. For others, the active word might be “terror.”

If you’ve fallen out of love with Valentine’s Day and its all-too-typical routine, try an alternative this year and see how your sweetie responds. Take control and celebrate February 14th the way you want with one of these ideas that just might be worthy of the day.

Start your apartment search today!

Celebrate the day in your own space
Have you considered staying home in your sanctuary on Valentine’s Day? Why not cook your own meal, or plan a stay-at-home picnic with amazing ingredients you can assemble in advance? Creative types might design a surprise collage or art installation in the apartment. And let music be the other invited guest for the evening. Your apartment is the place where you can control all the variables and set the stage for a truly memorable night.

Take a hometown tour
Carriage rides are a Valentine’s Day cliche, but you might make your romantic evening more interesting with a custom tour of your hometown. If your city has a local attraction with regular tours, inquire whether they offer private ones. (They might even customize a Valentine’s version to include stories about historic couples and romantic tales.) A tour for two means quality couple time together where you’ll learn more about each other and the town you share.

Hurry! Book your own darn reservation
If you worry that your loved one will forget to make a reservation for Valentine’s Day and you’ll have to order Chinese take-out (again!) then take control and book your own reservation with OpenTable. This nifty online reservation system is available in most metro cities and allows you to read restaurant reviews, book a table and even earn points towards free dining. Plus, they’ll email you a reminder that you can forward to your Valentine to let them know you’ve got dinner under control.

Drop some not-so-subtle hints
Does your someone special continually come up a little short on Valentine’s Day gifts? Maybe it’s time to take control of the shopping and send your Valentine a few hints about what you want.

Skip the “surprise me” aspect, and build a wish list on Amazon.com or another online shopping site. A Pinterest board also makes a great place where you can pin images from all over the Internet. Wishpot is another site to declare your heart’s desire.

Looking for a Valentine’s day where you get exactly what you want? Just “accidentally” forward the link to your honey a few days before V-day. Wishes CAN come true!

Surprise shopping spree
Here’s a more active option for picking out unique Valentine’s Day gifts. Surprise your Valentine with a spur-of-the-moment shopping spree.

Head to a store supporting broad interests — a place with lots of options — or pick a local store you both love. Set a spending range and a time limit in which to spend it, then move out to find the items you want: you’re each buying for yourself! Meet back at the front of the store and present what you have picked out for your partner to purchase for you. Then thank your darling for “finding” the perfect present!

Party of One!
When you’re single, a day like Valentine’s can salt the wound. That is, of course, unless you turn the anxiety around to your advantage. Why not think of Valentine’s Day as just another day, one where you can do whatever you please! Whether you paint the town with other single friends or stay at home and wait it out patiently, you can choose your mood!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Hasloo Group Production Studio

Super Bowl 2013: Party Planning for the Non-Football Inclined

Posted on January 25, 2013 by sroman

Keep any non-football inclined guests entertained at a Super Bowl party by offering creative eats.

Bets are being placed at offices across America, giant flat screen TVs are on sale and the liquor stores are packed. That’s right — it’s Super Bowl time, occurring this year on Sunday, February 3. And if you’re excited to watch the game (or even if you’re not), you may want to use this opportunity to gather your friends for a Super Bowl party.

Though it’s a no-brainer to invite fans that are already hyped about the game, remember to also make guests feel welcome who may not be football fans. Sound impossible? Try these tips.

Start your apartment search today!

Time Out
When you set out to decorate your party space with balloons, banners and team colors, be sure to leave a “football-free zone” that guests can escape to when they’ve had their fill of player stats and scores. Furnish this space with a table and chairs, cushions and snacks for your non-sporting guests to mingle.

The Way to a Guest’s Heart…
All of your attendees will enjoy a creative take on food and tasty appetizers. Besides traditional football fare like chips and dip, wings or burgers, offer unexpected options like sushi or a fancy fruit and cheese plate.

Give everyone something in common to chat about by choosing a fun theme for your food. For example, you could coordinate eats with team colors. For a red team, mix up pomegranate martinis and red velvet cupcakes, or for gold, trick out your treats with a gold leaf dusting and champagne as an option to drink (besides beer!). The more creative, the better.

A Game Within a Game
For guests who prefer not to camp out in front of the TV, provide a few other game options. Set up a cornhole board in the next room, start a game of darts or offer incentives to encourage people to follow the Super Bowl as it happens. For instance, have everyone choose three random players at the beginning of the game. If any of these players score a touchdown, hand out a small prize to the guests who chose them!

Delegate an “event photographer”
Any shutterbugs in attendance might enjoy capturing photos or video of the fans as they react to the game. They can also be in charge of keeping your social network involved by posting updates online. But make sure they get permission from other guests first—before the alcohol starts flowing! Plus, everyone will have memories of your Super Bowl party to enjoy after the festivities end.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/sdstockphoto

Delight Your Friends with a Decorative Housewarming Gift

Posted on January 22, 2013 by jpalmer

Consider giving a bottle of wine with a personalized label as a housewarming gift.

When a friend or relative moves into a new place, it can be hard to come up with a nice housewarming gift for them. Below are a few ideas for creative, decorative housewarming gifts to help your loved ones feel right at home in their new apartment.

Start your apartment search today!

Go Green
Plants always make a nice, thoughtful gift and can add a bit of life and color to a new place. If the recipient doesn’t have a green thumb, opt for something relatively easy to take care of, or an indoor plant such as a fern, cactus or bonsai tree.

Silver Lining
Silverware and stemware are perfect housewarming gifts, especially if your recipient likes to entertain. Additional items like napkin rings and candleholders can also add another layer of elegance to their table, and they’ll think of you every time they bring them out to use them.

Art is the Key
Decorative key holders are a nice housewarming gift and can add some artistic flair to any home. They’re also something the homeowner isn’t as likely to have already. Choose a key holder made of metal or wood with an artistic design.

Grape Expectations
Wine is a great housewarming gift, as long as you put a personal spin on it. Consider giving a bottle of wine with a personalized label. Many local and mail-order wineries allow you to customize the bottle’s label to reflect your friend’s exciting move or some other memorable event.

Photo Finish
An old photograph of you and the recipient, placed in a nice, decorative frame, makes a great, personalized housewarming gift.

Be Practical
A small kitchen appliance is a great practical housewarming gift. Before you give a particular appliance, make sure your recipient doesn’t already have one.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/YinYang

Throw a Budget-Friendly Party in Your Apartment

Posted on January 7, 2013 by mprice

Save money on party invitations by hand delivering them to the people you see regularly.

As the New Year is just beginning, it’s the perfect time to think about budgets, saving and taxes. But tightening up the purse strings doesn’t have to mean the end of fun. Birthday parties, dinner parties and showers are great ways to get a group of friends together and socialize in your apartment, but hosting a party can also be costly. Here are our tips on how to throw a great party without spending a lot of money to do so.

Make it Count
It may seem like a no-brainer, but determine how much money you actually want to spend and stick to that figure. Coming up with a budget will help you limit your spending to things you really need for the party, so you’ll be less tempted to splurge on unnecessary items, like that custom ice statue or face cake.

Keep Track
Once you’ve settled on a dollar figure, make a detailed list of everything you’ll need. Be as specific as possible when making your list, but make sure to stick to things you need, not things you want. Taking your list along with you while you’re shopping will keep you organized and prevent impulse purchases, allowing you to easily stick to your budget.

Spread the Word
If you’re sending out invitations for a casual party, websites like Evite or Punchbowl are free and do all the heavy lifting for you. For a more formal occasion where printed invitations are appropriate, stay on budget by making them yourself. You can purchase blank invitations for cheap, or make custom invitations and have them printed online at Vistaprint. Save postage by hand-delivering invitations to guests you see regularly.

Set the Mood
No party is complete without decorations, but there’s no need to spend an arm and a leg on them. A little can go a long way in this department, so pick up a few balloons and some streamers at a discount or dollar store. Instead of paying for helium, you can blow up the balloons by mouth and scatter them around your apartment. For nontraditional decorations, visit a local craft store and pick up some artificial flowers to place in vases you already have lying around your apartment, or purchase cheap grocery store carnations and jazz up by placing in a pretty bowl. Or, fill clear vases with water, drop in a few drops of food coloring to match your theme and place small, cheap floating candles inside for a unique centerpiece for a dinner party. If you are throwing a shower or a birthday party for someone, decorate using childhood and current pictures of the guest of honor. You can even make your own decorative bunting with fabric scraps, ribbon and a needle and thread.

Serve it Up
Save money on food by doing the preparation yourself rather than getting it catered or picking up prepackaged snacks. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables and cut them up rather than splurging on an expensive tray, and make your own dips. Or, turn the party into a potluck and have guests bring their favorite dishes while you supply the drinks. A punch-type cocktail like sangria can be made in advance and the ingredients purchased in bulk, which can be a time saver and cheaper than trying to stock a full bar. Purchase soda and water by the case at a discount or wholesale store like Costco, and buy beer by the keg. While it may make cleanup more difficult, using real dishes and utensils that you already own will cut down significantly on your costs.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/khz

Host a Budget-Friendly Night In for New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 26, 2012 by sroman

Host a cozy New Year’s Eve gathering in your apartment without breaking the bank.

Do you have family and friends in town for a visit? Is it your turn to have the neighbors over for New Year’s Eve? While we may look forward to the celebration itself, planning a party can be daunting if you spent too much over the holidays. But hosting a budget-friendly evening from the comfort of your home or apartment doesn’t necessarily mean handing out paper hats and streamers made from last weekend’s newspaper.

Here are a few tips for hosting a cozy gathering that your guests will remember without spending too much.

Go Potluck
While you should definitely provide a few appetizers and snacks (crowd pleasers like Chex Mix and popcorn cost little and make large portions), ask your guests to bring their favorite dish or cocktail to share. Not only will this save you money, but guests can also bring homemade recipes or unique foods that will start conversations and make your party more personal.

Ask the Experts
If you’re offering alcoholic beverages at your party, stop by your local wine or liquor store and ask for assistance from someone who works there. Mention your budget and ask for a recommendation within your financial limits based on their experience and customer feedback. Many shopkeepers will also help you pair a wine with the food that you’ll serve—and their advice is free!

Get Crafty
The Internet is a treasure trove of decorating tips, how-to videos and DIY advice for party hosts on a budget. Just because decorations are handmade, doesn’t mean they can’t look elegant. For inspiration, search YouTube or Pinterest for party decorations or favors that you can make for your guests and check out popular craft blogs. We found these pretty Clementine candles that would be perfect to illuminate your space or give as gifts.

Use What You’ve Got
Chances are, you already have many items that can help your party feel more festive. Before you put away your holiday decorations, fill clear bowls and vases with your leftover ornaments. Glass balls, tinsel or colored lights in white, silver or blue are always pretty. Keep everything coordinated by selecting only one or two colors to use throughout your space. You can also place shoeboxes, paint cans or containers of different sizes on a buffet or long table and cover them with a tablecloth to create risers for food and serving platters.

With a little planning and some imagination, you can transform your home or apartment into a welcoming atmosphere for an evening of fun! The key to a great party is the guests’ experience, not how much you spend.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/knape

In for the Eve: Create the Ultimate New Year’s Staycation

Posted on December 20, 2012 by jgrimes

Have yourself a merry little New Year’s Eve at home this year.

While friends are out party-hopping, spending $100 per ticket to see a ball, peach or other object drop and trying to find a taxi on New Year’s Eve, you’ll be at home, watching all the action on television. Maybe you don’t feel like fighting the crowds, spending too much money or freezing while standing in long lines, but whatever the reason, the warmth of your living room and comfort of your fleece socks sounds more enticing. Whether you have no parties to go to or just don’t want to leave your house, you can still have an amazing time staying in for the night with our tips below.

Opt for New Year’s Eve kitsch
Stop by your local party supply store and purchase noisemakers, confetti bursts, actual confetti, New Year’s Eve glasses and New Year’s Eve hat – the more outrageous, the better. Invite a friend over for your New Year’s Eve staycation and when the clock strikes midnight, shout “Happy New Year!” and try to set everything off before a minute passes.

Know your shows
Whether you want to ring in the New Year with news, music or actors, television has quite the realm of entertainment to choose from:
• “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012,” 8 p.m. EST on ABC
• “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” 10 p.m. EST on NBC
• “NYE in NYC 2012 Live,” 11 p.m. EST on MTV
• “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin,” 11 p.m. EST on CNN
• “American Country New Year’s Eve Live,” 11 p.m. EST on Fox

Make party-worthy food
Just because you’re staying in doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in delicious party food. Have yourself a merry little New Year’s Eve dip party with crudités, toasted baguette slices and tortilla chips, along with hot corn dip, pan-fried onion dip and buffalo chicken dip. If you’re getting a head start on your New Year’s resolution to lose weight, opt for a vegetable tray, baked corn chips, baba ganoush, red pepper hummus and a lighter hot artichoke spinach dip. For serious indulgence, heat up a delicious pot of cheese fondue, made with Emmenthaler, Gruyere and white wine, and serve it with Granny Smith apple slices, toasted bread and slightly steamed broccoli. Take the whole pot into your living room and enjoy it while watching the New Year’s Eve festivities on TV.

Purchase bubbly, of course
No New Year’s celebration is complete without champagne or sparkling wine. If you’re on a budget, Freixenet Cordon Negro (under $10) and Cavit Lunetta Rose’ ($11) are excellent choices, according to Serious Eats. Make your drink pop by adding a splash of Framboise (raspberry liquor), peach nectar, pear juice, passion fruit juice or kirsch (black cherry brandy), and dropping a whole raspberry in the glass. Alternately, purchase a celebratory beer, such as Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Deschutes Jubelale or Anchor Christmas Ale, which even says “Happy New Year” on the bottle.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/LuminaStock

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