When you are planning a luau party at your home, you will find that it always seems like no matter how much you clean, or how much you organize; there is always more which you could do.  The key to effectively preparing your home to host a luau party is cleaning and de-cluttering some very vital areas.  You should understand that as long as those areas care clean and clutter-free, then your guests will feel comfortable and welcome in your home. 

However, even the most seasoned hostess can be intimidated by trying to prepare their home for guests.  So, for that reason, here are some tips from professional cleaners and organizers on how you can best prepare your home to host your party:

Tip #1 – Take a look around your home in a quick sweep and decide what you need to do.  Take along a pen and paper and make notes for each room of your home.  You will want a closet for your guests to hang their coats in and a place to store women’s purses.  While you are doing your home walk-through decide where these two locations will be and write them down.

Luau Deluxe Party Pack

Tip #2 – The first place you will want to start cleaning and tidying up is the entry area of your home, and then work from there cleaning the living room, bathroom, and kitchen areas.  In addition, if there are other areas in your home where your guests will be, perhaps a game room or similar, that area will need a good cleaning and de-cluttering as well. 

Tip #3 -  While everyone has some clutter which they treasure; understand that clutter can give an even spotless home the appearance of being messy and unclean.  You want your guests to be able to move freely in your home and not be knocking things off of tables or shelves.  When you are cleaning for a party be brutal and get rid of as much clutter as you can bear – even if you just simply box it and place it in the garage for the night.

Tip #4 –  If you have a spouse and family, now is the time to enlist them to help you in cleaning and de-cluttering your home.  You can easily assign a room to each person and have them be responsible for cleaning and removing anything in the room which does not absolutely need to be there for the party. 

Tip #5 -  If you have children with messy rooms, but are having an all-adult party, it is fine to simply close your children’s bedroom doors and not make a big deal about them cleaning their rooms for the party.  This can greatly relieve your stress pre-party.  In essence, stick to cleaning rooms which you absolutely must clean because guests will be in them.

Luau Party Music Cd

Tip #6 -  If your party is informal, consider using casual serving dishes and casual eatery as well.  You may even want to purchase some good quality paper plates for the event if it will be a pot-luck or BBQ type event, rather than a sit-down meal. 

Tip #7 -  It is important for you to know that where there are people with food and drinks, there will be spills and stains.  The easiest way to deal with these issues is to be completely prepared to deal with them before they ever happen.  Have a small box with cleaning supplies which you can use to clean up any messes which might occur during the party. 

Tip #8 – Once your home is clean and clutter-free, then it is time to go around your home and add back some small, personal touches which make your home comfortable and inviting for your guests.  You can accomplish this through the use of flowers, photographs of your family, and candles.  To deal with any musty odors your home may have, you can burn candles or simmer cinnamon and cloves on the stove. 

Tip #9 – Once your home has been prepared and you have a back-up plan to deal with any unforeseen stains or spills, then it is time for you as the hostess to sit back and enjoy your party. 

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Technorati Tags: luau party, Luau Party Ideas, party planning

Aloooooooohaaaa! Ok, that's lame, but your party won't be with these Hawaiian luau party themes!

Where

As with most theme parties, you'll need a decent-sized room or backyard, or you can rent a party room. These themes, weather permitting, definitely would be great in an outdoor setting (especially if you have a pool). Also, these kinds are parties are popular in the winter to help people "think warm!"

One creative idea for a Hawaiian luau party invitation is to make fake flight tickets, arrival destination at Maui, Oahu, or one of the other islands on the date and time of the party. Other imagery that could be used includes beaches, Tiki, palm trees, Coconuts/Pineapples, hula dancers, etc. You could create a "Special Luau" flyer for a special party (birthday, anniversary...).

Other options for your Hawaiian luau party are to get tropical looking blank invitations or paper and print them on your computer, or to buy fill-in-the-blank invitations.

As far as dress, luau party themes call for grass skirts, leis, beach hats, coconut bikini tops, Hawaiian shirts, bright floral prints, etc. Be sure to note on the invitation if you expect your guests to dress up.

Favors (or game/door prizes) for your Hawaiian luau party guests can include palm tree shaped votive candles, a toucan candle, shell necklaces, leis (traditional and floral, even light-up ones!), hula girls and guys, poi or other Hawaiian dish samples, and any other small gift that is Hawaiian.

There are LOTS of decorations and favors for Hawaiian luau parties. Here are some ideas:

* Cover a wall with a Hawaiian mural

* Tan and blue balloons scattered about (beach colors) or tropical floral colors like yellow, pink, purple, green.

* Use any of several kinds of palm trees, parrots, tropical fish, and suns (inflatable, metallic, paper, tissue, lighted strings or otherwise). You can also have hula girl decorations, pineapple and other fruit displays, and tiki/totem pole decorations (and tableware).

* Exotic flowers (real or silk) or luau, hula, or tiki candle holders or luminaries can be table centerpieces or accents anywhere in your party area.

* Grass skirting on the tables is a neat touch too. If you really want to go all out, you can get a grass tiki "hut" and use it as the bar or other serving area.

* Don't forget to have luau or Tiki-themed tableware and napkins in bright colors, mix and match bright luau solid colors, or even shell-shaped plates and coconut cups!

* I personally love the Tiki look. Take a look at some of the luau (and Tiki) decorations that are available at Shindigz. They have decorative masks, flaming Tiki head, Tiki nut cups, even a Tiki Tower (totem pole) and "entrance!" CherylMakesParties has several luau tableware sets to choose from, including a very colorful Tiki set. They also have Tiki citranella candles, lights and invitations. And for favors, there are even Tiki bobbleheads!

Whenever I think of Hawaiian food, I think of pineapples and pork. Have a pork roast, if possible, and if not, have Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs as a main dish. Other Hawaiian delights could be: Ham with pineapple glaze, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Huli-Huli Chicken (Hawaii's version of barbequed chicken), pineapple/fruit salad, Kalua Pork, Chicken Long Rice, Pacific Rim Beef Salad with Ginger Sesame Dressing, Ahi or Fried Poke, steamed dumplings, egg rolls, Hawaiian sandwiches, potato crab salad, wontons, and volcano shrimp dip.

Hawaiian luau party desserts could include Pineapple Haupia, coconut cream pie, macademia nut cookies, banana bread, pineapple coconut bars, and other Hawaiian-related treats!

Don't forget tropical drinks for Hawaiian luau party themes! Be sure to have fruit punch (Pacific Punch), along with drinks like Blue Hawaiians, After Luaus, Pina Coladas and Daiquiris (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Include the basics like Kona coffee, beer, soda, iced tea, and wine. Get drink recipes at DrinkNation. Search on tropical, rum, beach, and similar terms.

If it's a birthday or other celebration, you'll need a cake. Or you might just want a cake as a dessert item. With a Hawaiian luau party, I'd go with coconut or pineapple upside down cake! Or you might want a round or sheet cake decorated with hula dancers, palm trees, a map of the Hawaiian islands, exotic flowers (with a lei around it!), etc.

Have a hula dance contest and do the limbo!

Have a Don Ho impersonator or hula dancers do a performance, or have your guests give karaoke or hula dancing a try. Regardless, you'll need Hawaiian music.

By Cheryl Williams

Cheryl Williams Levey owns Party Planning Ideas ( http://www.party-planning-ideas.com ) a resource for party planning. Check out the site and send her your requests for articles about specific party themes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Williams
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hawaiian-Luau-Parties&id=2677702

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Technorati Tags: hawaiian luau party, hawaiian party supplies, hawaiin luau, luau decoration, luau party

Apart from the obvious Hawaiian music and food, the main factor that sets a Luau apart from a normal party or celebration is the plentiful use of colour. As well as in the food and punches, this vibrancy of colour is expressed through clothing and decoration and is a natural reflection of the Hawaiian islands where the luau was originally conceived.

So you definitely fancy holding your own Luau and need some tips, read on;

Pick a location: Obviously, the location will depend on the number of guests you want to invite, but in most instances, Luau's are held outdoors and work especially well when there is a pool available. This would generally make it a summer party although there is nothing in the rule book to say it can't be indoors during deepest winter and this maybe when a colourful Luau would be most appreciated.

Invitations: Be bold and creative when sending your invitations. Make them fun and get people into the party spirit from the first moment. Good, imaginative invitations build the expectation of the party itself and get your guest eager for the enjoyment to follow. You could use a 'message in a bottle' approach or what about printing your invite using a computer and sticking it on a bottle of sun-cream, or printing on a luggage label and attaching that to a cheap pair of sunglasses. More cheaply, you could print your invitation and then dress it with fabrics, sand, seashells – anything that implies Hawaii.

As mention in another article, make sure you identify any requirements to your guests, if you want them to dress in fancy dress – and there is a great selection available, you will have to tell them – obvious but often overlooked.

Themed Decorations: There is a huge array of Hawaiian themed party decorations available and these can be supplemented by items you probably already have in the garden.

One of the best ways of lighting your garden will be by candles, garden flares and oil lamps. I bought some cheap floor standing candelabras and these have been allowed to rust and tarnish naturally, each holding six candles, they look fantastic when placed amongst the flower boarders with candles lit. They offer a more natural and softer light, but safety is clearly a big issue and positioning critical to avoid injury.

Tiki Lounge Party Pack For 8 Kit Throw the ultimate luau theme party with our luau tableware and decoration. The tableware set for 8 includes 10 1/2" Paper Plates, Luncheon Napkins, 9 oz. Hot/Cold Cups, a 54" x 108" Plastic Tablecloth, and a 24-piece set of Plastic Cutlery in your choice of color. You guests will love these luau theme supplies!

When creating an outdoor buffet table, make sure that this is in easy reach of the kitchen so that food, hot or cold, can be delivered fresh to the table. If catering for a large Luau, it would be good practice to duplicate the layout from either end to the centre so that two lines can form doubling throughput, for smaller gatherings this is less of a problem. Make sure that the buffet table is well lit. Using candles here may not be such a good idea as the buffet table is susceptible to being bumped. There is a wide range of inexpensive table skirts that can be used to accent the buffet or drinks tables.

Select party tableware to compliment the theme and colours you have chosen. There are some fantastic ranges either floral or plain in a variety of colours that will really finish the buffet table. If you can, use wicker baskets – in keeping with the straw them, and use freely colourful party picks and drinking straws and martini umbrellas to add to the atmosphere.

Inexpensive table centerpieces such as honeycomb pineapples, hula girls, flamingos or palm trees offer instant colour and importantly height and balance to your buffet table and any of these themes. Alternatives to this would be; sand and sea shells, sand and pebbles, tropical and exotic flower arrangement (orchids or large lilies work well), helium filled balloons tied to colourful balloon weights.

Don't forget to decorate the actual table cover (if plain) using either flower petals of inexpensive table confetti which is now available in a number of colours, shapes and sizes or available tropical greenery (palm leaves).

Having decorated the table and lit the Luau location, use bright bold colours to complete the decoration of the raining space. Remember, keep most of it high so that it can be seen when guests are milling around – if it is too low it will be seen only by a few. Tropical flowers – repeat the colours and types used in the table decoration, if applicable. Fishing nets with outdoor lights threaded through can be applied to fences, ensure electrical safety is observed. In addition to lights, string Hawaiian leis into the nets or tie on some cheap straw hats etc.

Authentic Luau Fish Net Set Authentic Luau Fish Net Set >> Includes authentic fish net 6' x 6' multi-color flower lei and shells including 1 starfish . You can attach other luau accessories directly to the netting.  It is made primarily of the following Silk & Polyester & Shells. Authentic Luau Fish Net Set

Locate a inflatable dinghy – size depends on number of guests, looks best if made to look like it's just been beached (sand, driftwood and palm leaves), fill with ice and very cold water and then us this as a beer and cold drinks location for guests to help them selves.

Finishing Touch: floral leis are worn during special events or to welcome guests. Larger leis are worn around the neck (half to the front, half to the back), and smaller ones on the head, wrists and ankles. These are available in fabric and plastic and either as individual pieces or as complete colour coordinated sets. Why not welcome your guests by placing a leis around their neck and getting someone to take a photograph of your typical Hawaiian welcoming ceremony.

By Keith Sinclair

 Article submitted by: KV Sinclair. Keith Sinclair has over 35 years of business experience and in addition to being a part time University Lecturer on Business Studies, he is CEO of Cavalcade; a group of companies operating in the party sector. Cavalcade operates Karnival-House http//:http://www.karnival-house.co.uk one of the UK's leading internet Fancy Dress Retailers. With massive stocks for immediate dispatch and an ever expanding range, Karnival-House continues to strive simply to offer outstanding service combined with outstanding value.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Sinclair
http://EzineArticles.com/?Luau-Party---Simple-Tips-to-Make-it-a-Fantastic-Event&id=556580

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Technorati Tags: beach party, Hawaiian fancy dress, Hawaiian party, luau fancy dress, luau party, luau party goods

A luau is a feast of Hawaiian foods. Luau parties are becoming more and more popular due to their festive atmosphere. Here are some simple luau party recipes you can try at your next celebration: Kalua Pig - Kalua pig is the centerpiece for most Hawaiian feasts. Here is a traditional recipe to try. Ingredients: 4 to 6 lbs pork butt chunk 2 to 3 tablespoons Hawaiian salt 2 tablespoons liquid smoke Aluminum foil Roasting pan Score the pork butt chunk all over Rub the Hawaiian salt and liquid smoke all over Wrap it in the aluminum foil so that no steam will escape Roast in the roasting pan in an over preheated to 450 degrees F for 1 hour. After the hour, reduce heat to 400 degrees F and cook for an additional 3 to 4 hours Shred the butt Add Hawaiian salt to taste *Serves 6-8 people

Banana-Yam Casserole Ingredients: 4 yams or sweet potatoes 4 ripe bananas cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter Dash of salt cup of water Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Parboil the yams/sweet potatoes, cool and peel Slice the yams/sweet potatoes and the bananas into inch slices Butter a casserole dish Alternate layering yam/sweet potato slices and banana slices in the casserole dish, putting a dash of salt, small pieces of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar between each layer. Bananas, brown sugar and butter should be on top Add the water Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown on the top *Serves 4-6 people

Pineapple Boat Ingredients: 1 large ripe pineapple Apples Seedless grapes, red and white Bananas Strawberries Cantaloupe Watermelon Honeydew Shredded Coconut * Any seasonal fruit Cut the pineapple in half, leaving the green top intact Remove the pineapple fruit from inside the shell with a small, curved knife Core the pineapple Cut all the fruit into chunks Put into the pineapple shell and sprinkle with shredded coconut *Serves 8-10 people For more fun luau party recipes, check out the cookbook section of your local bookstore or do a keyword search on the internet. You will find luau party recipes for appetizers, main courses and even drinks! By Gail Leino Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Luau Party Supplies, party planning tips, menus, free printable games to help complete your event. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino http://EzineArticles.com/?Luau-Party-Recipes:-Make-Your-Hawaiian-Celebration-A-Sensation&id=274560

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Everyone loves to visit the tropics and what better way to escape throughout the year than by throwing a Luau party?

One great component to a luau party is that decorations are not just limited to the party supply section. You may be surprised to find that hard plastic cups in the luau or other seasonal theme may be more inexpensive than disposable party cups. Serving bowls, plates and matching silverware may also be more budget friendly in the house wares section as opposed to party supplies. These can be used over and over again and will not only save money on this party but for parties in the future

Make a Great Luau Party with:

Drew's Famous Kon Tiki Luau Party

Luau Party Favor Box

Luau Party Music CD

Since the typical luau party is thrown in the summer, don’t think of it as off limits in the winter. If you haven’t settled on a theme and go to a closeout or party supply outlet you may find that luau themes are on sale and clearance. That’s when it’s great to use those items as your theme for the luau party. While you may have preferred to have something a little more classic, a luau can be a fun theme for any time of year, it shouldn’t be reserved solely for summer.

Luau Deluxe Party Pack Includes 8 invitations, dinner plates, cups, forks, spoons, 16 napkins, solid-color tablecover, 24 balloons (2 colors), crepe paper rolls (2 colors) and confetti.

Don’t forget as hosts of the party that you should dress up as well for the luau party. Make sure to wear a Hawaiian shirt and grass skirt. Terrific party favors to hand out as the guests walk in are plastic leis and those can also be found just about anywhere.

By Gail Leino

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for luau party supplies and fun party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Luau-Party-For-Every-Occasion&id=673656

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