You read Cater-Hater, so there's a good chance that you're probably a true party maven like I am - you've purchased, borrowed, and maybe even been gifted with some wonderful party decor booty or valuables. Maybe you've even had to have closets expanded (like I need to). Irregardless, it didn't solve the problem - your love of entertaining and throwing wonderful parties.
People might have presumed because you've had so many parties, that you have this Holy Grail of a "party closet" with a practically endless supply of party decor supplies - a magic closet, organized (meticulously, mind you because it's your "party things") and outfitted with an array of Houdini-magic, room transforming wonderful props. And they're right, you do.
But in reality, your party closet is closer to an overcrowded party supply municipality - that should have it's own zip code. Mine is, no doubt.
Think about this. There's no coincidence that environmental awareness and a tanked economy became hot-button issues right around the same time as the light bulb (energy-saving?) idea might have gone off in your head, about having so many parties and so many party things. Right?
So, now's the time to cut back. Now's the time to entertain in a more efficient way. Either have fewer parties or continue to entertain just as much as before, but with half the people making it onto your guest list. The party decor in your closet - you know, some of the things that you never used - you might want to consider getting rid of. If you aren't planning to use them because you're going into business as a professional event planner or caterer, why keep them?
If you never missed it until you found it while going through what you have, it might be better as someone else's Goodwill hunting trip. Because as you go through some of it you may just find yourself thinking, "Seriously, did I really need that candelabra that I bought at that antique shop four years ago? Or those Asian-inspired room dividers?"
You may discover how to invest a better system for mixing and matching your things, in which a few items can seamlessly mix and match in several variations. I don't know. But here's the thing, pretty soon your new way of thinking just might expand into other areas of your life - shaping a new way to entertain. Not only downsizing your party closet, but also downsizing the size of your parties - which means, fewer people will be invited to your parties, so when you do have a party just getting invited to attend will become the major part of your party becoming "a major event".
I discussed my issue with this with my cousin in Texas, Shirl. She told me, "You're not the only one having a too-much-party-stuff type predicament". She's busy. She hosts several big parties a year and runs in a gazillion different directions doing it, while trying to keep up with current party trends, too. But Shirl embraced her plight and moved on with her day. Which, having heard her like I did, maybe a light bulb will go off for you too, the same as what happened to me.
Shirl pays it forward. I pay it forward. You should pay it forward, too. If you feel like you know enough, pay it forward with your experience and expertise. I've done that before, but it's been a while. I recently decided to pay it forward again. I offered to help a woman with her daughter's high school graduation party and birthday party.
My "party closet" is always organized and my life is such that I can make the time to help her. After all, there's nothing more important on my party-friendly books than paying it forward by helping someone. There's nothing that says that dusting off and using some of my unused party supplies will lower my standards any. Or, that if I use them it means that her party won't look chic.
I started my business because I wanted to help people go from having a party to creating an "experience" for themselves and their guests. I started my business to help simplify people's lives. I started writing about parties to share some of my recipes and easy solutions to hosting a party with you. I wanted to share my ideas and party tricks that will, I hope, help you to create an "experience" too.
But, do me a favor. Keep having parties. Just have them with more efficiency. Oh, and let me know if you get that TV deal (wink).
Image source: Wikipedia
Event planning, Parties, Shopping, Children, Home, Entertaining, Television, High school, Business and Economy: Technorati Tags
Related Articles:
Eco-friendly Cookie Celebration Gift Bags
Budget Basics for Parties at Home
Conversation Piece: Andrea Wyn Schall & A Wynning Event
Party Adaptation
When it Comes to Parties, Everything's Changed
The Art of Luxury Parties
Are Caterers & Event Planners Parties Perfect? (Or, Are they Like ...
What You Should Know About Becoming a Catering or Event Planning ...
The Best Way to Work with a Wedding Planner or an Event Planner ...
Aspiring Caterers and Party Event Planners: You're Going to Make ...
Party and Wedding Madness
A Caterer and Event Planner Warn You: Be Careful! Watch Out for ...
Bug Spray 101 (How to Keep the Guests at Your Party Comfortable ...
Three Easy & Inexpensive Party Ideas
Parties for Family and Friends
How to Have a Beautiful Party in Spite of a Recession
