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Come Party With Me: 4th Of July - The Look & Music

partysugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:01:38 -0700

The 4th of July is probably the easiest holiday party to decorate. The requisite red, white, and blue, stars, stripes, and American flags do all of the work for you. Every store in the nation is flooded with red serving platters, blue and white star tablecloths, American flag this and American flag that so weed through the options and find stuff that fits your need and goes along with your style. I'm not too into the patriotic look, so I'll only have the American flag on teeny toothpicks. White paper lanterns add soft lighting and beer will be placed in lots of little red buckets. The tablecloth is red and the tableware navy. Wrap red, white, and blue ribbon around your poles, banisters, and deck. Create floral arrangements with blue glass vases and red, white, and blue flowers. Decorate the space with red hurricane holders and fill with white pillar candles.

For music compile a list of songs related to America or the 4th of July. I'll be playing BuzzSugar's 50 Songs for 50 States playlist.

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Come Party With Me: Beach Picnic - The Look & Music

partysugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:03:18 -0700

When planning a picnic on the beach, start by making a list of all of the things you need to bring. Incorporate the theme colors (mine are turquoise, yellow, and orange) into the beach blanket, beach chairs, plates, and napkins. Fill a big bucket with ice and cold beverages and toss a few throw pillows on the blankets so when night falls guests can lay back and gaze at the stars. Have one floral arrangement of vibrant lilies. Instead of regular votives purchase cheap candles in sea shell votives. Enclose your party space by sticking several tiki torches in the sand. Arrange the blankets around the fire pit/grill, set up an area for dancing and food. Oh and, don't forget to pack the kites!

Create a playlist with current summer hits and fun party music. BuzzSugar has created a fabulous summer playlist with songs that are sure to be a great background for your beach picnic.

Come Party With Me: Father's Day - The Look & Music

partysugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:00:00 -0700

For my Father's Day picnic at the Nascar races I'm keeping the decor simple with a theme based on the invitation inspired by classic racing red, black, and white. I'll put the food on a plastic folding table and cover it with a black and white checkered tablecloth. The drinks will be in a collapsible red cooler. To ensure that the guests can find us I'll tie a few balloons to the table ends and place one beautiful bouquet of white flowers on the table. Since this is a sporting event music doesn't really play an incredibly important role. Instead of bringing a portable stereo, I'll make cds of BuzzSugar's Father's Day playlist to hand out as party favors.

Come Party With Me: Graduation - Music

partysugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:11:18 -0700

No graduation party is complete without a playlist of sappy songs with lyrics that discuss lost innocence, having the time of your life, and parting ways with old friends. At my sister's graduation party, I'll be serving up her favorite foods (empanadas and a frozen chocolate peanut butter dessert) amongst her school colors while Green Day's "Good Riddance" plays softly in the background. Compile a playlist of old and new songs to please the wide range of ages that will be in attendance at your backyard bash. Throw in the grad's favorite songs and my dear fabulous friend BuzzSugar's graduation playlist and you'll have several hours of music for the soundtrack of your party. Got a great grad song? Tell me below so I can add it to my playlist!

Come Party With Me: Welcome Back - Music

partysugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 07:03:18 -0700

The last thing you need to worry about when hosting a party is the music. That's why it's incredibly important to set aside time before the party begins to create a playlist. Oftentimes I delegate the song selection to a more musically inclined friend like BuzzSugar so I can focus on the other aspects of the party (invitations, food, drinks, decor, etc.). But if you have to make a soundtrack yourself for a party like the welcome back one I am hosting tomorrow make sure you have several hours of good tunes to groove and converse to. For my musical choices (ok with help from Buzz!) read more

The party is for my friend who loves reggae so I want to blend a bunch of classic songs by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Buddy Wailer, and Barbara Paige. The theme of the party is San Francisco so I'll throw local musicians into the mix. Michael Franti and Spearhead fit both the reggae and local requirements making them a must play. Got a great reggae or San Franciscan artist I should add to the playlist? Tell me about it below!

Come Party With Me: Memorial Day BBQ - Music

partysugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:03:18 -0700

My big memorial day bbq is tomorrow and everything has fallen into place for a successful, fun, and memorable party. Earlier this week I started prepping and planning to ensure that no detail would be overlooked. From the easy invites to the grilled food, the cool drinks and the outdoor decor, all is ready for the bbq to begin. Not to be forgotten or overlooked is the music. Music is important at a bbq to encourage mingling, movement, and merriment amongst the crowd. Since this party is all about welcoming the start of summer, the songs will reflect this attitude. For my musical suggestions, read more

I like to create a summer playlist with a whole bunch of songs that include the actual word summer or images and lyrics that are reminiscent of summer. Examples are The Dove Shack & Warren G, Summertime in the LBC, Sublime's Summertime Sheryl Crow, Soak Up The Sun, and U2's Beautiful Day. I'm a native Californian and will add songs that remind me of summer in California like Red Hot Chile Peppers, Californication. Throw in the songs from BuzzSugar's bbq playlist (including my all time favorite classic warm weather hit, Fresh Prince's Summertime) and you'll have a few hours of music ready for your party.

What's your favorite summertime song? What do you listen to when you bbq? Share with us below!

Come Party With Me: Bachelorette Party - Music & More

partysugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 07:08:31 -0700

The clock is ticking for the soon-to-be married Julie. She has time for one last fling before she faces the ring and this week I'm helping her maid of honor with a complete bachelorette party plan. It's going to be an amazing and memorable event, complete with a strip class, finger foods, slutty cocktails, and a boa-laced look (hopefully without much of a hangover!). Having a great soundtrack of girlie songs will only enhance the entire experience. Burn copies of your playlist onto a cd and include them in the goodie bags for all of your gal pals. To see my musical suggestions along with a few fabulous favor ideas read more.

BuzzSugar has created a bachelorette party playlist with a no boys allowed theme. A few years ago I helped my bff Melissa put together a bachelorette party for her older sister. Melissa made a special cd with girl power songs like Cyndi Lauper's classic, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the Beastie Boys Girls, Lil' Kim's Ladies Night, Black Eyed Peas' My Humps, Pussy Cat Dolls Don't Cha, Destiny's Child's Independent Women and Bootylicious, These Boots Were Made For Walkin, Like A Virgin (or your favorite Madonna), and I Know What Boys Like. Use your creativity and include all of the songs that make you feel empowered as a female, make you and our gals sing at the top of your lungs and make you a dancing machine.

For the favors provide girls with items they can use throughout the evening and those they can enjoy in the future and lovingly remember the party. Besides the cds discussed above (make a cute label with the date, location, and colors of the party) and a bottle of Bitch Wine, great goodies for the goodie bags are:

lip gloss
packs of gum
fragrance samples
Simple pretty drop earrings: give each girl a different accent color (it's fun when each bag has different colored things because then people trade around to get the one they want)

matchbook of mini nail files
lighters
at least one sexy gag gift like a handblown glass dildo (all different sizes and colors)

What songs that make you think of a bachelorette party? Have a great favor suggestion? Share with us below!

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Music

partysugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 07:05:32 -0700

Mother's Day is only two short days away and I am busy as a bee preparing my mom's brunch. Everything is going along quite smoothly - a party for one is so much easier than a party for 300. I took care of making her a card earlier in the week by turning the mother's day card into a Mother's Day invitation. I'll make an easy breakfast of fruit salad, an egg sandwich, and sweet crepes with a strawberry bellini to wash the whole thing down. A very delicate beautifully set breakfast in bed tray will hold the magnificent meal. On Fridays, I usually talk about what kind of music will play at the party. Quite simply it all depends on your mom. If your mom loves Sting get a copy of his greatest hits for her. If she loves jazz make a compilation of new jazz songs for her. BuzzSugar suggests getting her The Reminder by Feist, a new cd filled with interesting ballads that your mom will love.

However there may be the chance that your mother prefers to watch tv or a new movie or read the paper. If this is the case, then netflix the movie she has been dying to see or order her the new book she has been talking about. The most important thing that you must remember is that Mother's Day is all about making mom feel loved and appreciated. Oftentimes the people we take for granted are the ones we love the most so go out of your way to be honestly nice and genuinely loving. If you do so, I can guarantee that your party will be a success and your guest of honor, your mom, will be unbelievably happy.

Come Party With Me: Cinco De Mayo - Music

partysugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:55:31 -0700

Well I'm taking the 5:30 flight down to San Diego and I have a lot to do when I arrive. In case you haven't been following along all week, I am planning a Cinco de Mayo barbeque fundraiser for my sister Trish and her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. I sent her an email attachment with the flyer I made to advertise the event on and have everything planned from the food to the drinks and the decor. However all of this virtual planning is nothing compared to what I will have to do when I land. Trish is going to pick me up and we are going directly to Costco to purchase the goods for the bbq. I have to make cupcakes, count how many Mexican blankets we have, and make sure the sodas get chilled. Heading down with a long playlist of my favorite Spanish music will definitely ease the last minute stress. To see what I'll be putting on my compilation read more

I have a huge collection of Spanish language music and actually really enjoy regatton and latino tunes. Shakira, Paulina Rubio, Julieta Venegas, and the new J.Lo Como Ama Una Mujer are wonderful female vocal pop selections. The Gypsy Kings are pretty well known but I like Alejandro Sanz, Fito y los Fitipaldis, Luis Miguel, and El Canto de Loco. La Oreja de Van Gouh and Chambao are also on the list. BuzzSugar's recommendation of Mexican flamenco fusion duo Rodrigo y Gabriela makes the cut. I'll take the latest cds from all of these singers put them on one playlist on my iPod and hit shuffle during the party.

What's your favorite Cinco de Mayo tune? Tell me who else I must add to my playlist.

Come Party With Me: KatieSugar's First Birthday Party - Music

partysugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:57:31 -0700

Doesn't it seem like the days are just flying by?? I mean it seems like just yesterday KatieSugar could barely crawl and now she's turning 1 and is on the verge of walking. A baby's first birthday is an excellent way to invite your friends and family over to see how much your child has grown within the last few months. Steer clear of inviting lots of other babies (save that for the 3rd birthday) and let the birthday girl bask in all of the attention. Plus, instead of worrying about how your baby is going to interact with a bunch of other children, you'll be able to enjoy your guests and catch up with old friends. Send out stylish striped invitations a month to three weeks in advance and have guests come for a mid day feast of miniature hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, and more. Both the drinks and the decor will be done in shades of pink creating a party that is youthful, uniformed, and fabulous. The final stages of the pre-planning are upon us and the last thing I have to do is figure out what music will act as the party's soundtrack so read more

At birthday parties the only music that is played should be the birthday girl's (or boy's) favorite songs, and not surprisingly, the whole Sugar family are fans of pop. Katie enjoys classical, and of course Madonna and Jay-Z, and she has been known to dance around the office to a little old school MC Hammer Can't Touch This. Other than those, the playlist will consist of pop hits from a wide range of performing artists: Britney, U2, Elton John, Eminem, Lenny Kravitz, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder. Also classic rock hits from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Beastie Boys, Tom Petty, Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, The Roots, and The Beatles will be in the mix to please the guys in attendance.

Got any last tips that will help make KatieSugar's first birthday the best around? Please do tell us below!