Do something to dazzle for any party!

Need a new way to dazzle your guests at your party Make up your own mixed drink! Yep, who says you can't have a fancy mixed drink made up totally by you. Grab some juice and different liquors and try out something new. Then name it anything you want. How cool would it be if they came to your party and the next day said, "Wow, I was at Gene's party and he made this cool drink he called 'Blastin' Orange Coke-A-Lina!"

This is great to do for New Years Eve parties, Tiki Parties, Pool Parties, Halloween Parties, or just an anytime party!

Announcing the Favor Affair Contest!

We are pleased to announce a new contest here at Pippin Party!

The prize is a $25 gift certificate to FavorAffair.com. This site has the neatest favors; everything for elegant weddings to birthdays to girls' night out parties! Finding cool favors for your party is going to be so easy; they have a huge selection! Most importantly, these favors will really wow your guests.

These favors are not only unique and classy but most of all, affordable! If you don't believe me, just go check out their Girls Night favors. You will find some of the neatest things for your party.

So if you are getting ready to host an event and want the to impress with some fabulous favors, come on and enter!

Here's the deal:
1. Visit http://www.favoraffair.com/girls-night-out-favors.html and comment back on 2 items you found most interesting OR if you have a blog or website, post a link back to this contest.

2. The contest will run from today to January 8th. The winner will be chosen at random and announced Friday, January 9th.

3. Contest only open to U.S. residents and those over 18 years old. No anonymous comments please.

Out of the box homemade gifts

It's that time of year again! Are you ready? Well, if you are on a budget and need to think up some good last minute presents that won't cost you much but will make an impression, you are in the right spot. Here's a quick list of great gift ideas that will please just about anybody!

1. A car kit: I know you are asking, what do you mean a car kit? Doesn't sound that glamorous eh? Well, wait! Many people own their own cars and they often need things in their car that they often run out of...well, why not put them together a little car kit. Take a little basket, or perhaps a small storage bin and add some car goodies such as; tissue packets, flashlight, tire pressure gauge, pens, small notebook, bag of quarters, air fresheners, wet wipes, maybe even a couple packs of gum! Be creative. Think about things you use most in your car. Put it all together and pop a big bow on it. They will be eternally grateful and it is such a unique idea!

2. A DVD: This is an idea I thought of for my son's teacher. It does take some technical skills and equipment; video camera and video editing software. I decided to put together a few clips of video of my son "teaching" his teacher something. The video started with an "Introduction" where I had him list a few things he learned from her and now as a gift in return, he would teach her a few things that he is good at. He's only 5 so I stuck with things he could really enjoy talking about and made it entirely silly. I made a clip of him teaching "how to be goofy" for stress relief. He taught her how he stands in front of the mirror and makes silly faces. He taught her about laughing yoga and that she should do it every day. I also made a clip of him singing a song to his teacher. Then I used his own personal artwork as the DVD cover and inserted in to a plastic cover and titled it. Below the title, I noted "Bonus Feature: Comic Relief." Hopefully his teacher will get a kick out if it and enjoy something very personal right to her.

The truth is you can make a video about anyone to share with someone. It is such a nice thing to do to share some knowledge you may have; such as cooking skills or knitting skills. Whatever...or even make a video just to make someone laugh. Make a video telling jokes or singing a goofy song. If I had a video of someone doing something funny, I'd pop it in all the time. Its like a comedy you watch over and over.

3. A game: This is another creative one for ya. Yes, make up your own game and put it together in a little box for someone. Make it personal. Take cues from games already on the market but change it up a bit. Write up your own rules! Making a game is really simple. You just have to think "out of the box" and then figure out how to put it in a box. If you are not crafty, go simple. Get index cards and draw pictures on them to make a memory game. Of course you need to remember to draw identical pictures on 2 cards and make at least 10 sets of 2. Or how about making personalized playing cards. You can use a computer or by hand, design cool looking kings and queens then paste them on playing cards. Remember, it is the thought here that matters. People love personalized things!

4. Old parts thinga-majig: We all have them laying around, tons of buttons, screws, paperclips, just plain old thingies. Well, make something cool! Take a plain frame or mirror and decorate around that baby. One of the neatest thing I have seen is when someone took nuts and bolts and hot glued them around a simple wooden frame. You can use anything...old crayons, beads, caps to things...another neat thing was a mirror that was totally framed with bottle caps.

5. Inspiration book: Everyone could use one of these. Purchase a cheap notebook, decorate the cover; using either fabric or some kind of designed writing or scrapbook paper. Then inside, fill the book with inspirational quotes, one per page. Hand write them. Then, scattered in between add some photos for that person, either of them with family or friends, or scenic images that would be pleasing and relaxing. Add in some nice memories of that person, like "I remember when you took me swimming at the lake and we splashed and laughed for hours..." It is so nice to have something so personal that you can have at your bedside table or somewhere when you can look through it every so often to cheer you up!

7. Reusable market bags: Skip the supermarket labeled bags and go to the craft store. Scoop up a few plain canvas bags and go home and decorate. Again, make it personal. Decorate with paints or writings. Draw something neat on it that that person is really into. Is it Grandma who loves sailboats? Draw and paint some beautiful sailboats on there! Make it special. She will never forget those bags when she goes to the market.

Holiday Parties: Decorations Part I

Planning holiday parties are all about two key things: decorations and food! Today I am going to tackle decorations because to me that is the most fun part.

First, you might start out what you want your theme to be.

Here are some ideas:

• Traditional, Christmas Santa, Reindeer theme
• Snowflake, Snowman, Winter theme
• Red and green classy theme
• Candy cane, Gingerbread theme, or Christmas tree theme

Then get shopping. Try discount stores first of course. You can find tons of great decorations at the Dollar Store, Marshalls, even Target. If you get a few things you really like but then can't find stuff for the details. Go online. If it seems to pricey, don't be afraid try to make you own version.

If cost is an issue and you really want to save, go for simple. I went to a lovely party that was simply green and red with lots of silver candles about. That's it. They had red and green plates, napkins, forks and table clothes and on each table silver candles. That way there is no mix and matching to worry about. You can throw up a few pieces of mistletoe above the doorways and perhaps even pull together some nice sized sticks, tied with twine and place up against a corner wall. It gives a nice woodsy look. I have some evergreen bushes out front that with a few snippings can make a great centerpiece. Simply take grab an old small basket, place the greens in and then stick a tall candle in the middle. You can even use a variety of greens from different bushes and trees in your yard.

A great idea for a beautiful centerpiece is something like this; a dessert display all dolled up even with small presents. Using food to help decorate is a great idea. You can make candy wreaths taking a Styrofoam base wreath and gluing on all kind of mints! You can use red and green mints or other candies. Another idea is to take a bunch of candy canes, line them up around a small vase or other empty jar, place a bow around them to hold them tight around the jar. Fill the jar up with some water and pop in some red carnations.

Homemade Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe with a secret ingredient

For Thanksgiving I made candied sweet potatoes from scratch. Well I must say they were incredible. You might want to try this for Christmas.

To serve 8-10 people

8 Sweet potatoes, peel them, cut them in 1 inch chunks, boil them for about 5-7 minutes. You only want them about 1/2 cooked.

In saucepan, 1 stick of butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup Orange Juice, pinch of nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of flour. Cook it until it starts to become thick, add 1/2 cup milk and 1/3 cup amaretto. Yes amaretto, who would have guessed it makes it so yummy. When its all warm and gooey, mix with potatoes and put in casserole dish.

Bake in oven until potatoes are completely soft. Optional, add mini marshmallows-- turn oven to broil and brown the marshmallows on top. This should only take about 90 seconds, so do not walk away from the oven.