Do you know how fun it is to prepare for the end of the world, zombie-style? It's my new favorite hobby! The best part is I never run out of gift ideas anymore (my husband is one of those impossible-to-buy-for guys). I'll use any holiday as an excuse to add to our collection. Here's what I put together to make Easter working with our prepping plans.
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Large parties are rife with what I call "fringe friends" — strangers, distant family, or people you don't know intimately. You might get invited to (or asked to organize) a wedding, reunion, baby shower, barbecue, work function, or camping trip. If you're shy, this can be a source of anxiety instead of fun. Large parties prove difficult for those who are shy, and are a true challenge for the introverted host.
Here's what has worked for me when hosting and socially navigating large parties.
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I LOVE BIRTHDAYS. They make me very excited. Happily, I have a husband who, while less excitable, loves me for my super-planning tendencies. This is the birthday party I threw him this year.
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On New Year's Eve, we raised over $2,000 for a local food bank by dressing up, showing off, and getting cheerfully smashed with 30 or so of our best buds. We don't have loads of cash, a fancy venue, or any (particularly) super powers, so how'd we pull off this feat? By focusing on what we do have.
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My husband Sean and I recently celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary (yay!). I was totally intimidated by the idea of a Fifth Anniversary, so I very politely asked him to plan informed him that he was in charge of making plans for the day. Since we're parents of a three-year-old and don't go out as much, the idea that we'd spend a night together, just the two of us, for many hours on end, was awesome.
I wanted our evening to be a surprise, especially since Sean and I both suck at surprising one another. After arranging childcare (yay, house mates!), we headed out.
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NO! Not another pretty party! With perfectly-planned coordinating courses, a playlist, and cleverly-crafted decorations! NOT TODAY! Today, we celebrate the ugly party.
This winter I have been learning the value of the ugly party. The unplanned party. The no-decorations, unfancy food, just-get-together-and-love-it party. These impromptu parties have been some of the most enjoyable socials I've been to all year — and I think hosting an ugly party fosters skills you need to ensure you'll never attend a boring party again.
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I love animated gifs! They're like the magical photos in the Potterverse. Here's a reason you can make one this week: PARTY TIME. Whether you're planning a Super Bowl party, a Valentine's Day cocktail hour, or just a mid-winter soiree, you can make an animated gif invitation in a few quick steps.
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