Friday, December 31, 2010

Party Collaboration

The next time you're planning to have a party, consider collaborating with someone who knows you well to get the job done.

The key to it is that you have plenty of conversation and discussions about what you need to accomplish. And, if you have to, argue with each other (incessantly) until you both can agree. You'd be surprised. That can turn out to be very productive; arguing it out.

The benefit of working with together is that there is always someone there who, like the ultimate partner, is there to push you further, making your party even better.

If you hate planning menus and cooking, maybe choosing the perfect, delicious cuisine can be their responsibility. Or, if you're tied up with the husband, the kids, and your job, your collaboration partner can stop by a previously booked party to check out an entertainment possibility.

Your half of the deal is to supply your creative energy and then come together to do the "heavy lifting".


Some might say that party collaboration lacks subjectivity of one person's viewpoint - which is what they feel is wrong - it can make things seem too impersonal. But, I disagree.

When there's someone you like, who you spend a substantial part of your free time with anyway, joining together in party collaboration for some can be really good.

Party collaboration means this, if nothing else; even if everyone else in the world misunderstands your party vision, at least one person gets it. And, hopefully truly "gets" you too.

Image source: SuperStock
: Technorati Tags

Other Related Articles:

Be an Inspired (and Inspiring) Party Host
Consumer Marketing 2.0 and Caterers & Event Planners
Top 5 Sizzling Killer Party Dance Tracks
How To Have A Movie Night Party
Party Favors
Catering & Party Trends #3 - Host A Dessert Party
Party Confliction
Cater Your Party Yourself


Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Thursday, December 30, 2010

How To Host Your Thanksgiving Dinner Party and Lose Weight

Thanksgiving DinnerYou know what they say, "It's okay to eat what you want for Thanksgiving". Yeah, right.

Check out these stats.

On a normal day, the average woman consumes about 2000 calories. On Thanksgiving Day, that same woman typically eats more than 4500 calories. Yikes!

That's roughly 229 grams of fat.

Here's the deal. You can get around some of the holiday fat issue if on November 1st, you cut 100 to 300 calories out of your diet everyday.

Here's how to host your Thanksgiving dinner party and lose weight:



In the morning, don't stop for a McCafe latte (or anything from Starbucks, except a Venti serving of black coffee). And, skip that slice of cheese on the burger that you order from your favorite burger joint.

When it comes to your holiday dinner and desserts, do this: Make your pumpkin pies with artificial sugar. Because fat-free stuffing sounds seriously boring, control yourself before and especially after the meal. Watch your portion sizes instead.

When you're the cook, sample a small plate of NOTHING.

Did you know that 9% of Thanksgiving Day calories are packed on before the actual dinner? Yes, it's true. One of the main things you'll want to remember is, don't cook on an empty stomach.

Start cooking early - say, after breakfast. Make breakfast an egg-white omelet. This may not sound good (and that's the point), but chew a piece of gum or pop a Listerine breath strip into your mouth so you won't be inclined to cheat. Later, enjoy healthy portions of your delicious home cooked Thanksgiving meal.

Don't starve yourself.

You don't want to binge later. So, start Thanksgiving Day with a filling low-calorie breakfast; an egg-white omelet, for example. Then, at dinner have a little of everything. And, whatever you do, DON'T GO BACK FOR SECONDS.

Remember: The first bite is always the best bite.


Eat turkey and vegetables. Throw out the fat-filled, heavy dishes and save some room for an average portion of one rich dessert.

You've been good. You deserve it. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

Got any calorie saving tricks to share? Tell us about your event. Leave them in the comment section below.


Image source: The Vault DFW
:Technorati Tags

Other Related Articles:
Tailgating Basics: Like Catering Basics
A Caterer and Event Planner Warn You: Be Careful! Watch Out for ...
Turkey Enchiladas Made with Leftovers
Cowboy Caviar
Cranberry Cream Pie
The Customary Superstitions of a Spicy Turkey Gumbo
Delicious Recipes
Party Bones: Party Design Style Decorum
Party Cliques


Related articles

Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Parties First and Foremost

Party City The life of a party fascinates me.

Once you've entered the party zone, you inhabit it's party-world, exclusive and reclusive in the mind of it's planner - until each guest arrives.

But, when you get there, after awhile - if you pay close attention - you'll be able to understand it's culture and see if the planner has made it all work.

Many times, us planner-types understand it's "party reality" better than most everyone else. Although through the years, when you've planned and produced a lot of parties, you can easily tell who's mastered them.

Throwing a great party is an art.


The best of the best of parties are a luxury. They're well planned, and typically provocative and sharp.

Case in point: Good planning. This summer I moved to Houston. The execution of the move was like a reality television show unto itself. Suffice it to say, moving in the summertime, during times of extreme Texas heat is stressful. Thus, moving in extreme heat with an appearance of a reality show takes stress to a whole new level.

The fascination with parties, clearly has no boundaries because in my eyes, parties first are about each one of us, and our unabashed desire for relaxing release and fun. Oh, and that includes an Andy Warholian 15 minutes of personal fame.

I'm thinking, let's turn 15 minutes into weeks and months, or even better, years.

Create positive party "reality" moments, you guys. I mean, just because the prognosticators tell us that the sky is falling doesn't mean we have to give up.

Because thanks to stores like Party City, you almost don't need any particular talents to plan, organize, and decorate.

Party City sells you possibilities and helps you to realize that your party goals are attainable.

Keep this in mind: There's a generational/technological shift happening because of what technology has done to the human mind. Progressive thinking people have understood it for some time now. Hence, cyber -vents and cyber-parties.

But there is no substitute for creating a face-to-face activity. Face-to-face parties keeps people ready for powerful emotions and "real" memories.


Warhol was smart enough to recognize the magic in everyday life and make money on it. After creating magic from the mundane, he put his celebratory party first. No doubt he would agree, so of course he would approve.

Image source: Wikipedia
: Technorati Tags


Other Related Articles:
Outdoor Fall Harvest Parties: Cool Ways To Color The Fall Season ...
When It Comes To Parties, Less Is More
The Economic Flip-Flop & How It's Effected Parties
How to Make A Good Party for Your Guests
The "Other" Party - Parties That Simply Evolve
Parties Past Perfect
How To Have A Movie Night Party
How I Broke the 5 Rules of Party Planning and Succeeded
A New Party Cool: The Shape of Parties to Come
Balloon Party Decor
When it Comes to Parties, Everything's Changed



Related articles

Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Top 5 Sizzling Killer Party Dance Tracks

Johnny CashThese top 5 sizzling killer party dance tracks will set your party's dance floor on fire!

Have a great time.

Getting your guests dancing is the best guest interactive entertainment. Let us know if they burned up the dance floor.

Be sure to tell your D.J. to add these tracks to his mix.

Click on the links below to hear these hot club dance tracks.




  1. "Walk the Line (Laurent Wolf Remix, Club Version)", by Laurent Wolf and Johnny Cash
  2. "Riverside (Club Mix)", by Sidney Samson
  3. "Dirty Disco (STFU Mix)", by STFU
  4. "Pick Up the Phone (Arithmatix Remix)", by Dragonette
  5. "I Rock I Sweat I Dance", by Morris Corti and Eugenio LaMedica


Image source: Wikipedia
: Technorati Tags

Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Monday, December 27, 2010

Holiday Returns

Homemade Corn BreadIt's too bad you can't return some of that so-called delicious cuisine, like Aunt Tilda's funky cornbread, isn't it?

Return that awful oyster appetizer that your cousin who flies in from Long Island, New York makes, that everyone in your family drools over, except you.

It's too bad you can't return Uncle Jessie's alcoholic outburst. Or, the ugly decor item (that you're still trying to figure out what on earth it is, and what, pray tell, to do with it) that your next-door neighbor gave to you for Christmas.

Why not try to return the nasty, aloof attitude from that office mate who is still pissed at you for feeling slighted by not being invited to the cocktail party that you had last year?

The holiday return lines are probably going to be crazy. They always are.

Don't you wish you could return some of this stuff too?


Image source: Mr. Ducke
: Technorati Tags

Other Related Articles:

Your Holiday Cooking Is Almost Over
Top Holiday Gifts of 2010
Catering & Party Trends #7 - Happy Holiday Decor
Happy Holidays From Cater-Hater
Catering & Party Trends #8 - Activities For Your Holiday Special Event
Holiday Clementine Trifle
Top 10 Catering & Event Planning Books I Would Read If I Had The ...
New Year's Eve Appetizer & Dessert Party
The Customary Superstitions of a Spicy Turkey Gumbo
New Year's Eve Cheese & Wine Party
Celebration Chowder : New Year's Eve or any Occasion
A New Year and Party Bad Words: P-Bombs
Top Holiday Gifts of 2010
Cranberry Cream Pie
Easy & Quick Open Face Turkey Sandwich Recipe



Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Your Holiday Cooking Is Almost Over

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 31:  People toast... Which is a good thing (like opening holiday presents), after slaving over a hot oven and stove for umpteen days on end but that's some of what "the holidays" are about.

When you and your guests are happy and satiated that's about as good as it gets.

What if you spent all that time "slaving" and cooking, and no one showed up?
Talk about it being over, right?

Whew! I'm exhausted.

I'm a caterer and event planner. And now, for just a second, I can finally sit down. Better not get too comfortable. Here comes New Year's Eve!


: Technorati Tags

Other Related Articles:
The Holiday Cook's Cheat Sheet
Turkey Enchiladas Made with Leftovers
Holiday Clementine Trifle
Holiday Eggnog Cheesecake
New Year's Eve Appetizer & Dessert Party
The Best Spiked Punch Recipe Ever!
New Year's Eve Cheese & Wine Party
Celebration Chowder : New Year's Eve or any Occasion
The Customary Superstitions of a Spicy Turkey Gumbo
Top 10 Catering & Event Planning Books I Would Read If I Had The ...
Top Holiday Gifts of 2010
Cranberry Cream Pie
Easy & Quick Open Face Turkey Sandwich Recipe
How to Enjoy Football (at a Super Bowl Party)
How To Buy (and Serve) Cheese When You're Having A Party


Related articles

Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Happy Holidays From Cater-Hater

A Danish Christmas tree illuminated with burni...The holiday season is here, giving us time to gather with family and friends to celebrate the year.

I've included a couple of lists: Top 10 Catering & Event Planning & Books I Would Read If I Had The Time
and
Top 10 Books To Inspire Your Catering & Event Planning Style.

While lists are subjective, I hope the effort will give you and your family something new to enjoy and explore this holiday season.

And if you are still looking for that last great gift idea, consider something from the Cater-Hater's "Top Holiday Gifts of 2010".

You might find the perfect gift for a family member, a friend, a teacher, a neighbor, or co-worker - anyone in your life who shares your faith and joy in Christmas.

I thank you for supporting Cater-Hater this year, and wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

My best to you,

Carlo of Carlo At Your Service Productions
The Original Cater-Hater


Image source: Wikipedia
: Technorati Tags

Other Related Articles:
Catering & Party Trends #7 - Happy Holiday Decor
How To Get The Maximum Effect At Your White Party
Holiday Eggnog Cheesecake
Top Holiday Gifts of 2009
Holiday Words to Live By
Easy & Quick Open Face Turkey Sandwich Recipe
Three Easy & Inexpensive Party Ideas
Great Buffet Entertaining Secrets
Catering Secrets



Related articles

Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Top 10 Books To Inspire Your Catering & Event Planning Style

What is catering and event planning party style? Many would agree with me and say, "It's relative".

More importantly, what I wonder is this: What is your specific party style?

The bottom line: Style lies in the eyes of the beholder.

If you're unsure of your style, or what you think your style should be, here's some help.









Top 10 Books To Keep You Inspired




Product Details 1.)

Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Top 10 Catering & Event Planning Books I Would Read If I Had The Time

English: A Picture of a eBook Español: Foto de...If you know anything about me, you know that I love books and that I love to read.

So, I certainly would read every one of these books from top to bottom, if I could just find enough time.

Check this out. I bought the new Barnes and Noble Nook Color.

For all of you folks out there trying to decide which eReader to buy, recommend the Nook Color, but the Amazon Kindle Fire is the one that I'll likely purchase next. Either way you go, a tablet is a smart buy! I'm just glad I didn't buy an iPad. It's not that I have anything against Apple products, but they're just not the best product for the price - in my humble opinion.

The Amazon Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet, and the Nook Color - all give the iPad a run for it's money.

728x90- NOOK Simple Touch™ with Glowlight


If you don't have a computer, a tablet is a good purchase. And, if you love to read like I do, it's like carrying around "reader's heaven".

Now that I have a Nook Color, having a "book" at my fingertips - reading is a bit easier for me. Although, time is still an issue for me.

But hey... if you've read any of the books listed below, feel free to weigh-in in the Comments area below to leave your report. Thanks.










Top 10 Catering & Event Planning Books (and novels) I Would Read If I Had The Time



1.) The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate (Oct 26, 2010)


2.) Last Bite: A Novel of Culinary Romance Nancy Verde Barr





Introduction to Hospitality (5th Edition)
3.)
Introduction to Hospitality (5th Edition) by John R. Walker (Apr 7, 2008)




4.) The Professional Chef's Art of Garde Manger by Frederic H. Sonnenschmidt & John F. Nicolas



5.) Kids Party Games & Activities (Children's Party Planning Books) by Penny
Warner



6.) Great Parties: The Best of Martha Stewart Living by Martha Stewart Living Magazine


Modern Batch Cookery (Culinary Institute of America)
7.) Modern Batch Cookery by The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)



8.) Absolut Book.: The Absolut Vodka Advertising Story by Richard W.Lewis


The Flavors of Bon Appetit: Featuring the Best Recipes for Entertaining Friends and Family Throughout the Year
9.) The Flavors of Bon Appetit: Featuring the Best Recipes for Entertaining Friends and Family Throughout the Year by Bon Appetit Editors


The Ultimate EVENT PLANNING Guide
10.) The Ultimate EVENT PLANNING Guide [Kindle Edition] eBook-Ventures


I'm curious. What are Top 10 books you would read if you had the time?


Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog


Image source: Wikipedia
: Technorati Tags


Other Related Articles:
Top 10 Books To Inspire Your Catering & Event Planning Style ...
Why "Eco-Friendly" Parties are the Key to Cutting Party Budgets ...



Special Offers for Cater-Hater Subscribers!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
I'm Carlo. And this is my party truth.

I'm an off-premise catering evangelist/outlaw. I'm a passionista. I'm a paradox. I love when a client hires me to oversee their entire event, from start to finish - because I'm an event planner too.

I'm proud to be mom to Petey Wheatstraw, "the devil's son-in-law" - the best damn Chihuahua North of Mexico. I grew up in Rochester, Michigan. I currently live deep in the heart of Texas. And boy, do I ever miss Xochimilco Super Nachos, the fragrance of Fall and fresh cider and donuts at Paint Creek Cider Mill, and eating a Detroit Lafayette Coney Island when the mood hits me.

It's cool of you to stop by. And you know what's even better? Finding out what you have to say! Hit me up with a comment. Hang with me on Twitter (three accounts, you choose; @TheCaterHater, @CarloAtYourServ, or @CarloAtYourSer2). Or, connect with me using the FB gadget or G+ button on the sidebar. For real, I'd be honored if you'd click on either one. If you want to ask me anything or want to leave a comment, you know the drill; "Contact".

I like people. Especially, people who want the party truth. Talk to me.

 
shared hosting