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

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.

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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

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

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.

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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

Follow your bliss at the holidays! Add your own little twists to toast traditions — and start your own!

‘Tis the season to celebrate just the way you please!

The holidays may have their own history, but don’t be afraid to keep your own favorite traditions, ditch the duds and create entirely new ways to celebrate with your family and friends.

Here are some ideas for maintaining a holiday theme while adding your own twists to tradition.

Pick your perfect party
Kicking off the holiday season with a fantastic party is a great tradition, but you don’t have to stick with the same old cocktail weenies. Pick the holiday party that suits you and your guests’ style. Host a unique season opener party for the holidays you celebrate this time of year. (Christmas carol karaoke, anyone?)

Gift exchanges are always a fun option, especially when you pick out-of-the-ordinary themes like dollar store trinkets, quirky cocktail napkins or best (meaning worst!) re-gifted items.

If your friends are scattered around geographically, why not try a holiday hangout online? It’s not like being in the same place together, of course, but it is a way to share the spirit of the season.

If your holiday spirit takes a while to kick in, postpone your party for New Year’s Day or early January when everyone could use a post-holiday boost.

Communicate creatively
The thought of sending out holiday cards makes some folks seriously stressed. This year, relax and create a well-wishing strategy that works for your busy holiday schedule and your budget.

If you are short on time and money, send e-cards to family and friends. In this time of iEverything, it’s acceptable to post an online holiday greeting to your email list or Facebook friends. The best part is that you don’t have to prepare your thoughts so early in the season; you can wait for the right moment when the holiday spirit strikes you.

If you prefer more traditional paper cards, mix things up by creating a custom card design through an online vendor like Folded Words. Online card design sites like this and others feature fun templates which allow you to add your own sentiments or photos based on your favorite card theme.

To make your mailing strategy easier, use a handy web-based contact list like Postable, which creates a special website where your friends can enter their mailing addresses, building your address book for you!

Make your own kind of calendar
Follow the fun tradition of counting down to whichever wintertime holiday you celebrate. In the Christian tradition, Advent calendars track the days to Christmas, with various treats or gifts associated with each day. In a similar way, you can use your own special calendar to count down to whatever day or season you look forward to, be it Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s or Boxing Day. The key is to have fun and make it unique to your family’s tradition. Check out these ideas for cool containers you can adapt to your custom holiday calendar.

Start a new giving tradition
Often we get wrapped up in the tradition of “what are you going to get me this holiday season?” Why not flip the switch and establish a new type of holiday celebration where you give away instead of gather up?

One giving option is to plan a special day during the holidays where you meet with your friends and family to volunteer at a local homeless shelter or food bank. It’s a great way to share your holiday cheer beyond your own home. Or consider supporting an organization like Heifer International which lets you donate food and other needed items to help challenged families thrive in other countries.

This holiday season, challenge yourself to establish traditions that are truly meaningful and fun, ones you’ll want to celebrate for years to come!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Konstantin Chagin

Geek out with your friends over your favorite video games when you host a game-playing party in your apartment.

Make sure your next apartment party’s got game by hosting a cool video game party for your friends. Sharing game play can be a real ice breaker when party participants are familiar with the games and have their own specialty moves and expertise. 

Is it geeky? Perhaps…but do you really care when everyone’s having a great time?

Here are some tips on how to set up interactive games in your apartment. We also suggest some of the game technology that may be most popular for a party. Game on!

Multiplayer madness
Game geeks who love MMOGs (massively multiplayer online games) don’t have to stay home to be social. Simply host a party at your apartment where everyone brings their laptops and huddles around for some head-to-head World of Warcraft action. (If you’ve ever seen “The Big Bang Theory,” you know what we mean.) Just be sure to take a snack and drink break every once in a while — and don’t let your game go on for more than 97 hours.

Watch me, watch me!
Video game console play is another smart strategy for your video game party. If you are playing a sport like Madden Football, make sure you have enough controllers for everyone. Often the better choice is to choose a game that is interactive, but also fun to watch. Wii Sports games like bowling, tennis and baseball allow a lot of players to get in on the action.

Nearly everyone likes music, so why not break out a video game like Dance Dance Revolution for Xbox 360 or Rock Band for your Playstation. Just make sure you’ve cleared enough space for your guests to show off their moves without doing serious damage to your furniture.

Old school tournament
If you are an old-school gamer with a passion for vintage gaming consoles like the Atari 2600, then toss a few bean bags on the floor and get a Pong tournament underway. Folks who miss their old arcade days can bring back the magic by renting a classic arcade game like Ms. Pac-Man. And you can score some retro gaming fun with the Atari Anthology for PlayStation. Look out: asteroids ahead!

Snack attack
Hours of shooting down your best buddies and out-dancing your girlfriends will work up an appetite. Don’t let your party gamers go hungry! Lock and load with video game-themed snacks like Pac-Man cookies or Space Invaders cupcakes. Wash it all down with a Sonic the Hedgehog cocktail! 

Interactive video game competition is a great apartment party theme that sets the stage for a memorable, good time for your guests. And you can always keep losers appeased with the promise of a rematch at another party soon!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Deklofenak

Wine and beer tasting parties are fun ways to explore new spirits in the company of fine friends.

Wine and beer tasting parties are fun ways to explore new spirits in the company of fine friends. Engage the minds and enjoy the opinions of participants when you host your own event. 

Grab your best buds and find a few interesting bottles. Then use these tips to host a great tasting party in your apartment. 

• Take a head count. It’s always nice to know how many folks are coming to a party so you can be prepared with enough food, drinks and space to accommodate everyone. Party planners suggest sending out written invitations four weeks in advance of the party, with digital invites following up two weeks in advance.
• Make it BYOB. Feel free to provide some of the alcohol, but don’t be shy about asking friends to make it a potluck-style wine or beer tasting. Set a price point and ask friends to each bring a bottle. There are plenty of great, inexpensive options to try out. This way, you don’t have to break the bank buying alcohol, and you ensure you won’t run out. You might even ask each party-goer to talk a little about the bottle they’ve brought.
• Do a blind tasting. Another approach to make things interesting is with a blind wine or beer tasting. Set up a tasting room and test your guests’ palates to see who can identify the notes in different wines or identify styles of beer. You can even make a game out of it – the loser has to buy more!
• Provide the tools. Print rating sheets and offer pencils so guests can keep track of their favorite drinks. When the party’s over, you can compile and email a list of the most popular choices of the night.
• Feed the crowd.  When there’s booze, people need munchies. Try complementing the craft beers or wines with light fare like fruit, cheese, chips and finger sandwiches. Choose small items that party guests can pop into their mouths easily without getting too messy.
• Offer food pairings. Make things interesting for the foodies at the party by providing food that pairs well with wine or beer. Make it a true culinary experience that allows guests to expand their palates in more than one way.
• Decorate. No apartment party’s complete without the decorations. Work with the wine or beer tasting theme to come up with decor. You might make beer magnets or coasters. Or try these creative recycled bottle decorations. 

There are so many craft beers and wine varieties – not all expensive – out there to consider. Each participant can enjoy trying out flavors that are new and interesting. And these are just a few suggestions to get you started. 

Don’t forget to have designated drivers or the number of a good taxi company handy – it’s the responsible thing to do when you’re having so much fun!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / auremar