Congrats Graduates - now it's time to let your hair down!

I'd like to offer a sincere "Congratulations" to graduates this Spring. Whether graduating from Pre-K, 8th grade, high school or college, graduation symbolizes a job well done and your ability to complete step by step tasks.

So what better way to celebrate than with a party! And...to help you do so, below is a step by step To Do List and considerations for planning a Graduation Party.

To Do List for Planning a Graduation Party:

- Assess Guest List - plan a menu that will feed total # of guests and then some!

- Mail Graduation Invitations 3-4 weeks ahead of time

- Plan a party that lasts 3 hours or more - for out of town guests, anything less is just not worth the drive

- Check the weather - account for the possibility that guests will need to be inside and outside

- Contact Rental Agencies for tables and chairs, a tent perhaps?

- Have plenty of beverages - stock coolers ahead of time and just pour a bag of ice over them on the day of the party

- Chow Line - use serving bowls and disposable forks to keep dishes to a minimum

- Get out the Sports Equipment - put up the volleyball net, set out some basketballs, bocce ball sets, croquet, etc... Your friends and family will know what to do!

- Provide lined garbage cans and recycling cans to make clean up a cinch

- Bees? Combine Mountain Dew & Dish Soap (1 cup solution) and place on outer boundaries of party area (it works!)

Graduation Party Supplies:

- Solid Color Tablecovers - be sure to match the colors of the graduate's school or university

- Paper Plates and Party Napkins - mix and match plates and napkins again per school colors

- Generic Graduation themed party supplies such as the Cap Toss Deluxe Party Kit

- Hang a "Congrats" Banner and decorate tables with graduation centerpieces

- Cocktail Parasols / Umbrellas - because a summer party just isn't complete without them!

- Try a theme? Does your graduate love Spider Man or Hawaii? Then plan your graduation party around various party themes and matching party supplies.

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5 products, under $5, 5 days per week

Hey, check this out! At least 5 products will be on sale at BuyCostumes.com for under $5, Monday through Friday! We have discount costumes and super cheap party supplies reduced to price tags less than $5.

Some of our best selling products are on sale now for under $5! But you have to be quick. Once we're sold out, we're sold out for good! And the prices on these products only last 24 hours. Updates take place at 9am CST.

Click here to see what's left on BuyCostumes.com for discount costumes that are under $5.00!

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Speed Racer!

May 9th...it's going to be a pretty cool day. C'mon!!! Is there anyone who's not excited to see Mach 5 zippin' through the finish line??!?!?! I didn't think so!

You know...I've been thinking about throwing a small get-together, and I think Speed Racer party would be pretty neat. Check out these cool Speed Racer party supplies - Mach 5 Pinata is totally awesome!

I digress...but in any case, check out the preview and more at Official Speed Racer movie website - I am totally diggin' the whole F-Zero race setting in the preview. I think it's gonna be a sweet movie :)

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BuyCostumes.com awarded "Online Party Retailer of the Year"

BuyCostumes.com wins "Online Party Retailer of the Year" during the National Party Retailing Awards 2008 at the TransWorld's International Halloween Costume and Party Show.

Read the Full Article article here.

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American Idol's Top 24

After last night's finale to "Hollywood Week," Simon, Randy and even Paula were able to decide on the final 24 contestants who will battle it out to become America's next idol. This year, Hollywood week was different in that you could play your own instruments and they nixed the group songs / performances. I didn't even miss those, however. I don't think many did. Now, it's time to rally up those American Idol party supplies because things are really going to get interesting...

Top 12 Female Contestants:

Alex Lushington
Amanda Overmyer - this is the nurse on a motorcycle that sound like Janis!
Amy Davis
Brook White - this is the one that has never drank, smoked or seen an R-rated movie!
Carly Hennessey Smithson - from Ireland, had VISA issues two seasons ago but she's ready to rock now
Kady Malloy
Kristy Lee Cook - does an amazing rendition of 'Amazing Grace'
Ramielle Malubay - wants to be the first Asian American Idol
Syesha Mercado - lost her voice during Hollywood week but still pulled it off
Asiah Epperson - sounds very hoarse when she talks but not when she sings, she lost her daddy just days before Hollywood week. :(
Joanne Borgella - plus size fashion model with a set of lungs

Top 12 Male Contestants:

Chikezie Eze - this is a sweet name, voting for him as long as possible
Colton Berry - has really long eyelashes, beat out Kyle (Oklahoma politician) in final two
Danny Noriega - snapped his fingers with lots of attitude during his performances
David Archuleta - 16 year old heart throb who is real smiley and makes me want to adopt him
David Cook - this is the rocker with crazy hair but a hellava voice
David Hernandez - probably had the best Hollywood week out of anyone
Garrett Haley
Jason Castro - white Bob Marley
Jason Yeager
Luke Menard
Michael Lee Johns - Aussie contestant that sang Queen and actually sounded good
Robbie Carrico - he's always wearing a funky hat low on his forehead

View pictures of the Top 24 American Idol contestants here

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Easy Way to Make Dinner More Exciting for Working Moms.

Are your kids tired of the same old dinner, but you really don’t have the time or energy to make something other than Hamburger Helper? Make dinner a little more fun with hardly any effort. I’m not suggesting you stray from your tried and true recipes. Sometimes bringing home KFC is as good as it can be. You’ve had to be creative and “think outside the box” all day long at work, the last thing you need it to try and be Mrs. Creative in the kitchen after a full day at the office.


So instead just pick up some fun themed paper plates, cups, and napkins. Break them out on a Tuesday just for fun, or added spice on a Saturday night. Shrek is sure to help make the kids think Grandma Sally’s casserole is a little more exciting. Mac ‘n cheese will go from “not again” to cool when served on Cheetah Girl plates. There are hundreds of themes to choose from. You’re sure to find something to appeal to each of your kids’ unique personalities.

Plus, as an add bonus, less dishes for you to wash after! Which means more quality time with your family.

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Big Game Blues?

Well a field goal scored by the New York Giants in overtime sealed the deal; my beloved Green Bay Packers are done for the season. An absolutely wonderful season, I’m not complaining, but they are done none the less. So now what’s a Midwestern girl to do? Winter just dumped 9 inches of new snow on us last night, so spring is no where in sight. Football at least made January a little more exciting. Like so many Americans who don’t live in the North Eastern part of the US, the teams going to the super bowl leave little for us to get excited about. But the football season isn’t quite over… there is still one last game, the BIG GAME. One last chance to cheer, yell, scream like the players can hear us, and wait with baited breath as the that piece of pigskin sails though the air with precision and grace. One last game before we have to say good-bye to our favorite sport until August.

So how can I care about a game when I don’t care about either team? The Giants aren’t even from my division, so rooting for them seems wrong, but so does rooting for the AFC. These were the thoughts I pondered this morning during my commute, which was twice as long, thanks to last night’s snow fall. Then it hit me…

The elusive “perfect season”.

The Patriots have the chance to make history with a perfect season, 19-0. What football fan wouldn’t want to witness that? (Maybe a Giants fan.) On the other hand the Giants, or should I say Eli Manning, have the chance to make history too. If the Giants win, the Mannings, aka “The First Family of Football”, will be the first set of brothers both at quarterback to win the super bowl and in consecutive years no less. Talk about sibling rivalry! Either way, I’m sure their parents Archie and Olivia are proud.

So maybe the game will be exciting after all. If not, there are always the commercials.

Having a Super Bowl party? Afraid your guests won’t be able to play nice? Dress in a referee costume so you can throw the flag on all of their unsportsmanlike conduct. And remember as the host you have home field advantage, so you don’t have to allow any challenges, and can enforce unlimited time outs.

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Celebrating the Big Game in style!

Whether your favorite team made it to the Big Game or not, most people are sure to watch the four hour plus marathon of entertainment on Super Bowl Sunday. After all, it is the most highly watched television event of the year and missing out on all of the funny commercials during the game would make most people feel left out on the following day's water cooler talks.

With million dollar 30 second commercial spots every 5 minutes and highly promoted halftime shows with big name performers, the Big Game becomes more about commercials and event sponsorships than the actual game each year!

Whatever reason you have for watching the Big Game, make sure you have the right party supplies for watching the game! Some must have items to keep your gathering from growing stale are below:

Inflatable Goal Post Cooler with Football - This is a must have for so many reasons. Not only will it keep your drinks cold, but it can provide entertainment during the often sub-par halftime show!

Yellow Penalty Flag and Red Challenge Flag - Now you can be the ref or coach! Think the ref made a bad call? Throw a penalty on them! Think a play needs further review? Throw the challenge flag!

Football Hat - Sure it may look ridiculous, but it is sure to grab a ton of laughs.

Mini Soft Footballs - These are great to play catch with! They are also soft, so the not-so-good catchers won't get hurt.

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