July 6, 2011
 Leave your guests "Oo-ing and aww-ing" at your party! I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July! I sure did. I promised that a blog would be on its way on how to keep guests entertained and you are probably thinking, “Great! Now that the party is over…”
But, trust me, there are many more to come and with summer being a hot time to have people over by the pool, you are going to want to hear this.
I didn’t think of some of these things until after my party this past Monday. There are a few tips on the list that I naturally do and a few new things I tried and I figured you would like to hear!
So, our 4th of July was originally going to have a group of fifteen-ish since that is how many can fit on the boat at one time to watch the fireworks on the lake.
Well, that ended up turning into 7 people total. Some people might think that would be easier to entertain, but let me tell you… it can actually be even harder!
So, I, of course, naturally go above and beyond the call of duty for themed parties, but you can use any of the tips I did for any kind of party you plan to have. Just vary it to work for you.
From start to finish, I:
-Bought and prepared all of the food for the guests according to their favorite types of food, in addition to holiday traditions and some new recipes.
-One theme example is that we bake a sugar cookie, frost it with our own cream cheese frosting and place strawberries and blueberries on it to look like a giant red, white and blue sunflower.
-Having all of the favorite snacky foods out while preparing the main dish is a great idea to keep people entertained.
-In order to set a nice environment when they initially come over, have all of your preparation done and stress gone. Turn on some festive music, and welcome them at the door. Maybe even through some red, white and blue leis on them to get them feeling even more spirited!
-In addition to snacks, have fun and festive drinks out as well.
-Bring out what has been new with you. We recently got back from New York so I had videos and pictures to show them. Sharing important parts of you is another form of entertainment!
-We ended up turning on the New York fireworks show- having that, music and all their favorite snacks was a winner!
-From there, have your own little photo shoot. I absolutely love to scrapbook and I take pictures constantly. Setting everyone up to be in a high mood as soon as they walk through the door makes taking pictures that much more fun.
-Move the party around. You do not want to remain stagnant. Even if it is warm outside, have things set up to do out there like volleyball, help grill, sit at a table or a large lawn swing, relax by the pool or play games.
-Have cold and festive drinks that can be served outside in addition to little cold snacks. Make a little parfait or put some frosted cookies or brownies in the fridge so when you bring them outdoors in the heat, they are nice and refreshing.
-Keep extras of everything handy- even blow-ups for the pool. You never know where the party will migrate so as a hostess, you’ve got to be fluid and willing to have a party wherever it ends up. Even if the party makes its way outside to the street for a block party.
-Make little gift bags for everyone to take. It’s your duty to make everyone feel special. We, for example, give everyone glow necklaces to wear out on the lake. They love it!
-And share your leftovers. If people are ranting and raving about your food, give them some to take home. And if it’s a potluck setting, take some of theirs. Doing so, reaffirms that people a.) appreciate your hard work b.) love your cooking c.) want to come back!
Now these are just some simple things that I think most of us do, but some we might not think about or might have had a realization about while reading!
More blogs to come on themed parties! Let me know if you want me to break it down into different types of parties because I would love to go there OR if you have any special requests.
I hope your holiday weekend was special and that you celebrated for all the right reasons! Let freedom ring!
Tomorrow: bunk beds… yikes!
Moxie Girl Household Assistants organize homes in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Peoria, Glendale an Surprise.
June 28, 2011
 Need help organizing a party? Visit the websites I posted and let me help you! Since 4th of July is right around the corner, I’m starting to plan and organize a party at my new place! Talk about a semi-stressful time: a big move, a new place and now a party?
Some might call me crazy, but I’m not worried about that because I have the easiest steps to organize a party and even tips on how to keep the party thriving.
I happened upon eHow Home’s website and found simple tips on how to organize parties in general, and when I did so, I found related articles on themed parties, where to find supplies, decorations and ideas. Check it out!
I agree with their process and think that it’s easiest to think of your party as a movie. There’s going to be the introductions, the climax and highlights in the middle, and closing time for the guests to bid farewell. So, work through the party in your mind and determine how you want it to play out to properly ensure it will happen that way.
Plus, another tip: it is sometimes fun to get party favors even as adults! Think of what will be the most entertaining for them (which I’m going to chat about next post).
IN ADDITION!!! Moxie Girl Household Assistants provides this service to you. If you need help with organizing invitations, the party itself, catering, a hostess, and more, we have got you covered! And that is another reason why I’m not stressing about organizing my party. And I’m definitely not too proud to ask for help! :+) The more hands, the better!
In life, it’s all about connections and how you use them. Feel free to check out all of the information and tips I use to make sure the party is a bang! I will keep you posted on how it goes.
Next post to come: how to keep guests entertained in 114 degree weather… Trust me, it can be done!
Let me know if you find any other tips!
Moxie Girl Household Assistants organize homes in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Peoria, Glendale an Surprise.
May 19, 2011
One of my friends posted the question, “Do I bring a gift to a birthday party if the invitation says ‘No Gifts Please’?”on Facebook this past week and I was surprised to see the variety of answers that followed. First, I should clarify that the party my friend was attending was for a 5 year old, and the child’s parents, not the birthday boy himself, requested no gifts.
Responses that were left on this wall were everything from shock, “What kind of a parent wouldn’t want their kid to get presents?!?” to rule-abiding, “If the parent says no, then don’t bring anything.”
I felt like I needed to chime in because I had a slightly different perspective than most people had. Working closely with our clients and perspective clients, one of their biggest stresses is clutter around their house. What drives them even battier is when they finally make a dent in their clutter, only to have a well-intentioned grandparent/aunt/friend bring over a bunch of toys/clothes/stuff as a gift or hand-me-down. The biggest culprit? Birthday parties.
 In today’s “play fair” environment, many parents feel obligated to invite every child from their kid’s class, soccer team, dance team, and Sunday School class to the birthday party. While it can be exciting for the kid to be able to open 30 gifts of things they never knew they didn’t want, the parents are the ones stuck figuring out what to do with all the new stuff. And, let’s be honest, parents today are providing their kids with all their needs and most of their wants. This means that the gift from little Sally and her mommy is either already in the kid’s toybox, or something the kid isn’t at all interested in.
If the parent (or any party-thrower) takes the time to write, “No Gifts,” on the invitations, please believe them. While they will certainly feel loved that you brought them something, your gift will later later make them feel stress as they debate how long they have to keep it until they won’t feel guilty donating it, regifting it, or simply throwing it away.
If you really feel like you must bring something for to a child’s party, remember that cash is king. Give them a small amount (around $1/year of age is appropriate) and let the parents help teach them about saving vs. spending. For adults, a card with a heartfelt, hand-written message inside can’t be beat. And remember, sometimes the best gift you can give is your presence.
March 22, 2011
 Somebody's faking it... So I’m working at one of my favorite coffee shops and I just saw this piece for sale. I had to laugh a little, because my husband and I had friends over last weekend. To prepare, we ran around like crazy people ALL day Saturday trying to get the house in order. What would they think if they came to the Original Moxie Girl’s house and it wasn’t perfect?!?!
After a couple glasses of wine, though, I took everyone on the tour of the whole house. While our closet may have made people a little self-concious (That is one of the areas that my husband and I are
 Our flawed wall both super-OCD about keeping organized), it was our upstairs that has been half-painted for almost a year that made people feel at home.
The truth is, none of us are perfect, and pretending to be is stressful and exhausting. People want to see the flawed parts of our lives because they can relate. I’m not saying to bring your friends into your house when it is a disaster (no one is comfortable looking at your dirty laudry and trash while having dinner), but relax and let them see your flaws. After all, if they don’t like you just because your baseboards are dusty, you might want to reconsider your friendship.
November 1, 2010
I believe that some of my best work is done under pressure. In college I was the girl who, when I had a 10 page paper due Monday morning, I would start writing at 11pm Sunday night and get an A on the paper. Why stress for weeks about a term-paper? Instead, I would stress for 6 hours while writing, take a 2 hour nap, and go turn in my masterpiece to my 8am class.
As I have gotten older, I have had to learn the hard way that the rest of the world does not operate on my same timeline. For this  reason, I will share with you some of the things I have learned cannot (or should not) be done the night before hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
1 – Invite guests for dinner. While inviting guests the day before will produce a couple lost souls, inviting friends and family a few weeks in advance will actually make your day an event. And don’t assume that just because you hosted last year people will assume they are invited again this year. You actually have to invite them again.
2- Buy the wine. This can be done the day before Thanksgiving, but you will end up spending more. The Bevmo 5 Cent Sale and other wine sales happen the first week of November, so stock up early. Just make sure you don’t drink it all before the big day….
3- Take your linens to be cleaned. Some cleaners have a 10 day turn-around for linens. To make sure your guests aren’t eating off of stained tablecloths, placemats, and table runners, take them in 2 weeks before dinner.
4- Plan your meal. Your guests will ask what they can bring, and if you don’t have a specific answer for them, you will get duplicates of side dishes. Trust me, you don’t want your dinner to turn into a competition of who makes the best green bean casserole. Plan your meal 2 weeks in advance so you can make specific requests and have a variety of dishes on the table.
5- Inventory your serving dishes, cookware, and serving utensils. After hosting Thanksgiving with mashed potatoes being served with a teaspoon out of Tupperware, you will realize the importance of doing this at least 1 week before. This will allow you enough time borrow or buy additional pieces if you need.
6- Buy your groceries. Doing this the day before almost guarantees you will have to go to multiple stores to find all you need. Do your shopping 1 week before Thanksgiving for the best selection of turkeys and vegetables. And then remember to keep your turkey in the freezer after you purchase it. No one is thankful for food poisoning.
Those are my 6 tips this year. I’m sure there will be a #7 after this year because, even though I do more preparation than I did in college, I still enjoy the adrenalin of getting things done just in time.
February 10, 2010
It’s that time of year again. Our friends and family who have been dealing for months with the snow and cold of the Midwest are starting to call. And even though Phoenix is known for its amazing resorts and hotels, when they ask, “Can we stay with you?” we always say, “Of course!”
While I was searching for ideas to make our houseguests feel more at home, I stumbled upon this checklist from Martha Stewart. It is simple, to the point, and offers practical ideas that I sometimes forget (ie – clear out closet and drawer space) because I spent too much time on frivolous tasks (ie – finding the right color paper grass to line the bottom of the mega-basket of toiletries).
Here are the tips from the home guru herself:
 Help your guests feel at home □ Allot adequate closet and drawer space and provide hangers.
□ Fully stock your refrigerator and pantry, and take into account any special food requirements.
□ Have a full-length mirror in the bedroom.
□ Have a working alarm clock in the bedroom.
□ Invest in a few small touches in the room, such as bottled water, chocolates, or fresh flowers.
□ Provide a sitting area with a pillow and throw, an adjacent table, and a good adjustable-brightness lamp in the room your guests will be staying in.
□ Provide extra blankets for temperature control in the bedroom.
□ Provide reading material, including several magazines and a daily newspaper.
□ Stock enough towels, washcloths and hand towels for all guests.
□ Stock up on toilet paper and other necessities and make sure they know where to locate extras.
Thank you Martha Stewart for again being the voice of reason. While I will probably still have my jumbo basket of body wash available to my guests, I will first make sure they have blankets, food, and towels. 
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