Becoming a Savvy Party Hostess With the “Mostest” – CL Stress-Free Edition!

If there’s one thing I love about summer get-together’s, it’s being in charge!  I love putting together parties and playing hostess, and I have since I was taking orders and handing out lemonades at age 10!  But that’s just me…a lot of co-eds enjoy the parties, but not so much the stress that goes along with party planning and day-of preparations/clean-up.  Especially when planning a party by oneself!  I have some FAB news for you:  the party can be a hit with practically stress-free planning.  Here are 3 great steps to hosting an unforgettable summer party that you’ll enjoy as much as everyone else attending!

1) FOOD!  As all savvy hostesses know, food can be BY FAR one of the most stressful portions of hosting a party.  But smart co-eds should try this step: prepare EVERYTHING that you can the night before.  If you’re making burgers, either purchase prepared patties or shape up your own and stick them in the fridge over night so all you’ll have to do is stick them on the grill the next day.  Prepare your kebobs for grilling with the raw veggies and meats in its marinade and refrigerate overnight.  If you’re baking something, prepare the mix and stick it in the fridge so the next day all you have to do is pop it in the oven.  You’ll save yourself GOBS of time with the food preparation step, and you’ll have less to worry about.

2)  DECORATIONS!  Decorations are the other biggie that can stress you out as a hostess on the day-of.  Not only that, but they’re a pretty big expense to think about too, on top of the food that you already purchased.  So for smart co-eds that are trying to work on a budget and remain stress-free, try this:  on your party invites, personalize them to ask for a small contribution.  For one person, ask for paper plates, or plastic silverware, a couple streamers (probably at .99 cents each from some stores), some paper japanese lanterns (again, sold at many dollar stores), and other inexpensive decorations.  You can set out candles to be lit right before the party, and set up a table that has supplies on it such as extra sunscreen, fresh towels, a some water bottles, and bug spray.  When party goers arrive, make the party creative by handing them tape or tack of any kind and saying that you’re decorating as-you-go so that everyone has a part in making the party fantastic and creative!  It’s a fun, inexpensive, and smart way to handle decorations – and will leave you feeling more relaxed in the long run!

3) PARTY CLEAN-UP!  It’s the end of the party, and you’ve had a blast but are WIPED out!  There’s an easy solution for clean-up.  First, save yourself time by trying to make sure the party remains as much outside the house as possible so there is very little to do inside.  Second, during the party have  a visible trash can for everyone to throw any and everything in, a recycling bin beside it for all pop and beer bottles that can be recycled, and a box beside that titled “left behind.”  At the end of the party, when you find something that someone has left behind, put it in the box so that everything is one place at the end!  Finally, when everyone is done with food, have lids and foil/saran wrap at the ready to put right in the fridge or toss in the trash, and fold up the table it was on (if applicable) so it doesn’t have to be done later.  The more organizing you do right off the bat, the far less you will have to worry about once everyone leaves!

Planning a party can be fun, and executing one doesn’t have to be a stressful day.  Enjoy it as much as everyone else at the party, and think of this: the more relaxed you are, the more fun everyone else will have, and the more they will appreciate all your efforts!  So get out the grill, put on your summery sweet dress and get some cocktails ready (of age of course) — your summer party is bound to be a cinch!

Kelsey Book is a  writer and a dreamer who thinks faith, family, and musicals make her world go ’round!   She loves hosting fabulous parties while wearing adorable summer dresses from Express, and thinks you can’t go wrong with a make your-own strawberry shortcake station.  MMMM….

“5 Penny-Pinching Ps” – A Savvy Co-ed’s Guide to an Adventure Filled, Yet Affordable Summer

Summer is a fabulous chance to spend time with friends.  It is the perfect opportunity to strengthen existing friendships, as well as create new ones.  Be creative with the way you chose to spend your time together; hanging out doesn’t have to empty your wallet.  When looking for fun, affordable ideas, be sure to remember the “5 Penny-Pinching Ps.”

1-Photos. Go find pretty spots on your University or go to a local park, and snap away.  Not only will this serve as a fun way to occupy your time, but it will also supply you with memories that will last forever (who doesn’t love pictures?).

2-Picnic. Let’s face it, hanging out with friends rarely occurs without involving some type of food consumption.  Meeting for lunch or mid-afternoon ice cream serves as an easy solution for finding something to do.  Although this is nice on occasion, it can really make a dent in your wallet.  Try being creative with your meal options; plan a picnic.  Ask each friend to bring something to contribute to your meal and voila!  Not only have you saved money, but you have also found something exciting and out of the ordinary to do.

3-Pool. What better way to spend a hot day than beside the pool with your favorite pals?  Fill your pool bag with magazines, water, sunscreen, and don’t forget your radio!  A pool day will be a great way to spend a chill day with your friends, and you’ll even have a suntan to show for it!

4-Park. So it has already been suggested as a location for a photo shoot, but now make the park itself your main point of interest.  Parks can offer a variety of entertainment.  In my hometown we have parks with hiking trails, walking paths, ponds, gardens and even one with shoals and a small waterfall.  Going to the park is one of my favorite ways to spend a summer day with friends.  It offers exercise, quality bonding, and is always a guaranteed adventure!

5-Party. Throw a party!  You don’t need an excuse.  Turn something out of the ordinary into an excuse for a party.  No, this doesn’t have to be anything extravagant.  Have a themed movie night or reminisce from your younger days and throw a cliché slumber party.  For all of you FIFA World Cup™ fans, ask all of your friends to come watch the game dressed in their team of choice’s colors.  Just as suggested with the picnic, ask everyone to bring something!  For my friend Sarah’s 21st birthday, we celebrated with a “21″ themed party.  We asked everyone who came to bring their favorite party food in a quantity of 21 (i.e.: 21 cupcakes, 21 mini-sandwiches, etc).  Who doesn’t like “get-togethers,” especially when they are with a big group of friends?

As college co-eds, we are all looking for ways to have fun while saving our money.  Next time you and your friends are ready for a fun adventure, remember “The 5 Penny-Pinching Ps” for a guaranteed good time.

Abby Bryant is an intern with College Lifestyles™.  She is a senior marketing major at Georgia College & State University and the president of her sorority Sigma Alpha Omega®.  She loves finding new ways to have fun with her friends, especially during the summer.

Throw a Fabulous Summer Party for Less!

 

With the semester over, we finally have the time to throw a fabulous party that doesn’t begin at midnight and involve merely “jungle juice” and a frat house! Here’s some tips to help you plan the perfect party on a college budget: 

Put those college-educated brain cells to work when planning the guest list

I know we’re all used to those ridiculously crowded, sweat-filled frat bashes during the school year, but take note that no fabulous ladies were involved in planning them!! It’s summer, and your guests will likely be covered in sweat to begin with, let’s not shove them into a basement with 75 of their most distant acquaintances and call it a party. Depending on the venue, you should keep the limit to around 10-50 guests. Just keep in mind that you want to be a considerate hostess and you should be able to mingle with everyone! And remember to tell guests whether or not they can bring a friend. You don’t want to be in line for your own bathroom with someone who’s friends with a friend of a girl that lives with you. 

Party platters on a college budget!

A prepared platter of food from a restaurant or grocery store can cost up to $60 and feed only 30 people. Oh, and that was just cheese and crackers. Instead, make your own party dishes for less! My best friend’s mom makes a Buffalo Chicken Dip that is so yummy and much more filling than chips and salsa! Here’s her recipe (Thanks Barbara!!): 

• In a large bowl combine 2 diced or chopped boneless chicken breasts, 4-8 oz. of Frank’s Hot Sauce, 12-18 oz. cream cheese (softened), 1/2 cup of blue cheese dressing, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. You can adjust the amounts of hot sauce and cream cheese to make the dip mild, medium, or hot.
• Pour into a greased baking dish and sprinkle with a remaining cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes
• Serve with chips or celery and enjoy! 

Set the tone – for less!

Theme parties are adorable, but the decorations can get pricey! As cute as decorations are, they are not worth a $100 trip to Party City. Instead, check out the dollar aisle at Target for awesome seasonal odds-and-ends. I got these cute mini-buckets from Target for $1 each. In a variety of colors, the buckets are perfect for holding citronella candles at your summer party! Need more party ideas on a budget? Collect shells for table centerpieces for a summer party, check out the clearance aisles in party stores for last seasons decorations that you could revamp, sort through the craft aisles in WalMart for adorable decorations you can put together yourself, and don’t forget to ask the parents/friends/family members for any party supplies they might have lying around the house. Just make sure you’ll be able to return it to them in one piece!

Be a glamorous hostess without breaking your budget!

Even if you don’t have a designated dress code for the party, you are still obliged to look absolutely fabulous when entertaining guests! Here are some cute looks that even I can afford: This knit, wrap-style dress from New York & Co. is on sale for $24.99. It’s perfect for a summer party that’s a little more formal. If you’re throwing more of a backyard bbq and need something a little more casual, I love this top from Forever21 for only $10.50!

 

Share your summer party secrets below!