10th Birthday Invitations

I have never been all that inventive with birthday cards but there seems to be a general theme among all the ones I have considered sending out, each one has seemed to hit just the right spot. I have used a variety of styles, and continue to experiment even though I have now moved on to a slightly more advanced version. Before you do something similar, you may have an idea of the basic format that you would like to use.

1- To save time and make your life a bit easier, a nice personalized card with the pic of the person’s face, and a personal message is a great idea. Most of the ones I have looked at that are over 4 inches wide have been personalized beautifully!

Not only that, but it is a great opportunity to personalize it, and what better theme is there to be based your entire party upon?

2- Use a theme

You should have a theme already if you have any sort of tradition, and this will be a major part of your party. Don’t just choose a theme because it sounds interesting. One of the themes that are really popular is a Pirate party, so you could choose that if you wish. Another popular theme is a game of board game. This will allow you to set up a variety of games, and will be a great way to relax and have fun with your guests.

Of course, you want to keep chilled so you don’t get overwhelmed by the amount of options for your party, so you will want to do a little bit of research and follow a few simple steps.

3- Decide on whether you want a buffet style meal or a silver service sit down meal.

This is simply because a sit down meal more easily controls the amount of food, and allows you to keep those serving the food to one side of the dinner table versus allowing them to circulate around the room. This also gives you a little more room to mix and match your food choices.

A buffet style meal comes with an array of food choices, and allows you to choose your carbs. This is a wonderful option for those that are on a diet and less than ideal for those that are watching their weight.

4- Go ahead and get the necessary ingredients.

While you want to get the ingredients prepared, you should also consider when you are going to cook them. Different versions of curry powder will require different amounts of spices and if you are not familiar with the different spices that go along with a given recipe, you may need to ask the person who is recipe to prepare it for you.

You will also need to get the dough ready to make the biscuits, and this again needs to be prepped by a certain percentage of the previous day’s dough. You will also need to determine when you will bake the biscuits and also the time they will need to cook. This will ensure that you are not disturbing your schedule while they are in the oven!

5- Know your guest list.

You really need to consider who you are inviting to your Christmas party before you invest on any catering. Read up on the characteristics of your potential guests and make sure you can accommodate them. For example, many families opt for all kids; while others have to have adults in the house. Everyone has unique likes and dislikes regarding not only food, but also personality and mannerisms. Just remember that your goal is to make the person “feel” like they are wanted. A little attitude will help, but don’t overdo it. You are there to enjoy a great meal, not to giggle at it.

6- You can’t go wrong with a full service overnight stay.

In the wonderful words of Chef Joe Naccarato, “dependability is the key to success.” which means the food needs to be dependable in preparation, especially in terms of service. One of the biggest reasons for leaving a 4-star restaurant and opening a simple coffee shop is so you can have dinners available all year-round. Add on the ability to accommodate large groups, and you now have an instant family restaurant win.

7- People will be happy if they can eat with you.

Studies have shown that 75 percent of restaurant owners believe their cooking has improved upon the cooking of their child’s school lunch. So, don’t bet on what your child’s teacher may say about your cooking. They may be covering up their Passion for cooking. As far as their ability to eat is concerned, don’t be fooled. These days, children are more fussy of what they eat, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may be a allegation for their dislike of school lunches.

If you want to be in the cooking game, always be prepared. Never assume that people want to eat what you are preparing.