Let's party

It’s the house party to end all house parties and you’re invited. From sport to street styles, we’ve been outfitting the world in 3 stripes for decades. Now it’s time to celebrate 60 Years of Soles and Stripes and we’re doing it like only adidas Originals can. All our friends are here including David Beckham, Katy Perry, Kevin Garnett, Missy Elliott, and Mark Gonzales. All the celebrities, athletes, and kids who have helped make us who we are today. And with everybody under one roof, things …

decide between handing out and not handing out party favors? Definitely go with the plan of giving your guests a favor! What better way to thank your guests for coming and spending time with you than with a little thank you gift to take home with them. No matter what you are celebrating, there is a party favor that is sure to please even the pickiest guest.

Party favors these days are very nice and many are less than $2 or even less than $1 each. Party favors are small gifts given to guests who attend an event such as a birthday party, retirement party, baby shower, anniversary party, wedding or holiday party. The types of items given as party favors vary widely depending on the occasion and the budget. Time for a birthday celebration and choosing a perfect birthday party favor becomes a centralized point because these birthday favors are a way to show your guests how thankful you are for their attendance and how much you appreciate their presence. Party favors and prizes are particularly important for children’s parties no matter what type of celebration it is. As a Girl Scout leader for my daughters’ troop, we often held themed events. One such event was a Hawaiian Luau and each girl received a flip flop key chain to remember the fun they had that day. Kid party favors and prizes are a must and thinking about the theme of the party may make it easier to select party favors.

Another event that you will definitely want party favors for is an anniversary party. Everyone automatically thinks of wedding favors but I often think that anniversary party favors are so much more important because they represent the love, time, effort and more of a couple that has stayed together through thick and thin. It also really doesn’t matter if the party is for 5, 10, 25, 40, 50 or more years. The important thing is to celebrate what is almost a magical feat in today’s world.

Holiday parties are also on the top of the list for party favors. These parties are often some of the most fun to plan as they are usually a combination of family and friends. Some great ideas for favors for a Christmas party or other winter event would be snowflake ornaments with a place for a picture in the middle. Your guests can insert a picture from the party or another picture and place it on the tree.

Also, don’t forget the office party. Many companies have discontinued parties at the office because of costs but a party is actually a great, inexpensive way to spread a little good will to all your employees no matter if they are full-time, part-time, contract and otherwise. A great barbeque on a Friday afternoon is a fantastic way to end a week during the summer. Give your guests a party favor that screams summer such as a beach ball bottle stopper or a Hawaiian shirt photo frame – men or women would like to receive these favors.

So go ahead and give your guests a party favor to remember the event. You will love giving it to them and they will love to receive it.

In a recent personal injury settlement in Texas, a well known auto accident lawyer was able to wrap up his pending auto accident lawsuit and bring his client an offer that exceeded 1 million dollars.

This personal injury settlement had been poorly publicized and in fact slipped under the rug that typically would have drawn a crowd of reporters and swarmed the auto accident lawyer and his client to the point of harassment.

The guilty party was a well known member of the community in very high standing, and he had an auto accident because he had engaged in recreational drug use at a party one night. He left the party, and within a mile of his home, hit a car full of sober teenagers returning from a party as well. The jail time he was facing didn’t even begin to cover the damage he left behind as he drove away without checking if the kids were okay.

Unfortunately, numerous auto accident lawsuits are filed in conjunction with criminal charges. The influence of recreational drugs often makes people do things that they would not normally do, and behave in manners they would normally find appalling.

Auto accident lawyers are relatively busy filing auto accident lawsuits in the wake of drug related car accidents, as the damage done is often exacerbated by the behavior which occurs immediately following the accident. The driver is aware that they are illegally intoxicated, and thus feel the consequences for stopping to make sure everyone is okay simply isn’t worth it.

It is no doubt a cowardly action to take, and this often is the result of the loss of reasoning skills associated with being affected by illegal drug use. Personal injury settlements are often hand in hand with jail sentences.

Of course, the world is not always fair, and people with good reputations, high profile jobs, and a lot of money often do not face the same criminal consequences as the average factory worker in America. Thus, the only recourse is the filing of an auto accident lawsuit and the hopes of a large personal injury settlement.

More often than not, a personal injury settlement is awarded to avoid the negative publicity a trial can bring. People with large names, or even small names, are not interested in having the entire state of Texas, or any other state for that matter, know the extent of their poor judgment and bad behavior.

Personal injury settlements arrived to via a large name figurehead is often contingent upon a silence clause, meaning the victim is not permitted to speak to anyone at all about the conditions of the accident, the case, or the personal injury settlement.

Personal injury settlements only help to alleviate the financial pressure that can be accrued after a serious car accident. Of course, people who are injured can not return to work until they have healed, and there are instances where they will never be able to return to work.

Filing an auto accident lawsuit is the only viable method of recovering financially from the devastation of a car accident. A car accident that involves the use of illegal drugs is considered so egregious simply because it could have been avoided. In most cases, car accidents involving drug use involve the affected individual’s lack of judgment or driving error. Unfortunately, these accidents also tend to happen at higher speeds due to the influence of illegal drugs.

A competent auto accident lawyer can meet with the victim and their family members to discuss the potential for filing an auto accident lawsuit. There are rules and regulations which must be followed when filing an auto accident lawsuit, so it is vital that the auto accident lawyer is able to describe everything in great detail and in a manner that can be easily understood.

Car accident victims are often medicated on pain killers and may not retain their full mental capacity during the first few meetings with the auto accident lawyer. Thus, it is recommended that the victim have a representative such as an immediate family member there to discuss the possibility of filing an auto accident lawsuit, the likelihood of receiving a personal injury settlement that will afford for the medical bills and lost wages, and of course, pain and suffering.

Only a victim of a car accident involving the use of illegal drugs can know whether they want to file an auto accident lawsuit, however a spouse or other family member can take notes and ask pertinent questions during meetings with the auto accident lawyer to make the process easier on the victim.

Most of us tend to keep to the same hairstyle every day. We find a style we like and we stick with it, especially for work. You might scrape it back into a ponytail for practical reasons and to keep it out of your eyes, or you might simply wash it and let it dry naturally, adding no more than a blast of hairspray to keep it in place the next day.

When it comes to going out it’s nice to make more of an effort and do something a little different. It’s natural to want to spend longer on your hair when you have more time to do so; thus getting ready to go out on the town at the weekend is easier than getting up and getting ready before rushing out the door for work.

But what about preparing for those Christmas parties?

On this occasion you will probably have a nice party dress to wear – something really memorable and out of the ordinary; so you’ll want to do more than just blow dry your hair and finish it off in your normal style.

The key to creating a successful party hairstyle is to experiment beforehand. Don’t leave it until the night itself to try and decide what you want to do. You might have a specific style in mind but unless you try it for yourself you won’t know what the finished result will actually look like. The other crucial factor is how long it will actually take you to achieve the look you want.

Quite often the best hairstyles are the simplest ones. Using a set of hair straighteners to make your hair perfectly straight can be the best style of all. Coupled with an elegant dress and accessories you will certainly turn heads when you arrive. Make sure you allow plenty of time to do it properly, and separate each strand of hair to straighten individually. The key to achieving this look is to do the layers underneath first, and then work your way outwards.

Try using a misting spray before using the straighteners; some ranges of hair products have these and they can make the job easier, as well as holding your hair in place and preventing it from becoming wavy.

Many people tend to overdo it when looking for ideas to make an entrance at their Christmas parties. Just as you don’t have to wear an outrageous dress to attract attention, you don’t need to select an unusual or extravagant hairstyle either. Straightened hair not only looks classically good, it also lasts the whole evening – especially when you use hair products to hold those locks in place.

After all, you don’t want to be worrying about your hair when you are partying the night away by the Christmas tree.

Bachelorette Party Games

Bachelorette party games have begun to grow in popularity over the last 50 years as women began having more wild and outrageous bachelorette parties – similar to the celebrations that men have. Party games for bachelorette parties are a lot like bridal shower party games since they test how well the attendees know the bride-to-be. The main difference is that while bridal shower games are fun in their own right, bachelorette party games usually add some debauchery and mischief into the mix.

Balloon Pop

Balloon Pop is a perfect way to involve several kinds of games. The objective of the basic balloon pop game is for the attendees to pop balloons to try to get to the strip of paper that is found inside. The winner of this bachelorette party game is the person who pops the balloon that reveals the paper with the bachelorette’s name.

Balloon pop games for a bachelorette party can easily be spiced up by having dares written on the strips of paper, such as “dance with a stranger” if your party plans on painting the town that night. Another funny option might be to have everyone write something down on the strips of paper, then blow the balloons up and have people pick one to pop and read, beginning the sentences with “On the honeymoon night…” This is a great bachelorette party idea that can be changed to fit the bachelorette’s preferences. 

Who Knows the Bachelorette Best

This bachelorette party game will reveal once and for all which guest at the bachelorette party knows the bride-to-be best. 

All attendees will be asked to answer a list of questions about the bride to be. The bachelorette will first fill out the questionnaire, and then leave the room while the guests answer all the bachelorette party game questions on the list. The bachelorette returns and the questions and correct answers are read out loud. The winner of the game is the woman with the most correct answers.

The list of questions can be as clean or dirty as you’d like. If you want to make it very interesting and maybe embarrass the bachelorette a bit, tailor the questions so they ask personal, mischievous questions about the bride to be and her groom. The bachelorette party game questions will certainly get the party started, and you might learn something about your friend that you never knew!

“I Never”

A must- have staple at bachelorette parties around the globe is “I Never,” by far the most interesting of bachelorette games. 

The bride-to-be and guests sit in a circle. Each person either has something to drink or tokens of some kind (think candy or pretzels) in hand. The first person starts with an “I Never” statement like “I never shoplifted.” Anyone who has shoplifted before has to take a drink of their drink, or put one of their tokens into the center. Then the next person comes up with a different statement, and it continues around the circle as each person comes up with a creative and sometimes funny “I Never” statement. When someone runs out of a drink or their tokens, they’re out of the game, and the last person in the circle is the winner.

Better hope that you have been a good girl, and have “never” done anything naughty!

Guess What’s in the Bag

A game that can lead to rather risqué answers is the Guess What’s in the Bag bachelorette game.

The hostess should begin with a brown paper bag. The first step is to secretly place an object into the brown paper bag. This can be any object the hostess desires- either clean or somewhat naughty. The bachelorette then puts her hand inside the bag for ten to thirty seconds. As the bachelorette feels what the item inside is, she is also describing it to the guests. The guests guess what the object is, and whatever guest correctly guesses what the item is gets to keep it as their prize. 

Feel free to put any item in the bag, personal or otherwise. Don’t forget to use things of funky shapes and sizes to throw off the bachelorette and the guests! And hostesses, don’t put something in the brown bag that you aren’t ready to part ways with! 

Party Prizes

As with any other party, bachelorette party prizes should fit the theme of the party. If the hostess decides to throw an elegant and clean bachelorette dinner party, the favors should be of the same elegant taste. These prizes don’t have to break the bank, but should show that some thought and time went into preparing them.

Some excellent ideas for bachelorette party gifts for any type party are bath soaps, a somewhat naughty gift bag, nicely scented sachets for between the sheets or in a clothing drawer, a fun girl’s night out picture frame, or perhaps a calming candle that can be a romantic mood setter or a decorative piece.

Make sure you get all the girls together by sending out evites for the party! This is an easy way to get the word out and trac RSVPs.

People have a tendency to draw a stark line between who they are in their personal lives and who they are in business. While many businesses operate this way to create a high level of professionalism at the work place, some businesses function better when the atmosphere is more casual and relaxed, and it can often be very lucrative to choose a job that utilizes your natural personality and passions. One great example is the party industry. The person who is instinctively able to see the big picture for an event, organize people, and throw an exceptional party is not at all restricted to only doing so for friends and family; their services are in high demand in the marketplace, and not just in the specific business of party planning. There are a few different avenues with plenty of business opportunities for someone who loves having a good time and ensuring that other people have a good time too.

Party Planning

Obviously, there are party franchises opportunities in the realm of party planning, because folks of all walks of life enjoy a good party, but not everyone has both the time and talent to organize a fun and functional party. There are two franchise businesses in this $500bil industry that have made their mark by organizing the best events.

One such business is Plan Ahead Events, a franchise opportunity that is known for organizing everything from simple meetings to conventions and trade shows with a solid sense of both professionalism and style. This work from home business takes people with the natural focus and ambition necessary for a good event planner and teaches them all they need to know about finding clients and orchestrating resources to make a great party. Depending on the city you want to operate in and what resources you will need access to from the outset, prices can range from $26,000 to $33,000, which is a reasonable price for entry into what is one of the 50 best industries, according to CNN/Money Magazine.

One Hour Parties is another exceptional name in party planning, in part because they specialize in a corner of the market that few do: the one-hour office party. Birthdays, successful business deals, expansions, promotions, there are a number of great reasons to throw a quick party in the middle of a work day. It keeps up morale without costing anyone a good deal of time, except for the person who has to organize the party. But if a company can outsource that part of the event, business-as-usual is not interrupted. That is precisely where this home based business steps in, arranging the party on the company dollar, not the company time. Very low overhead and shorter timeframes for events make this the perfect opportunity for an entrepreneur who likes to be able to bounce quickly from job to job.

Party Facilities

Party planning is great for some, but others prefer something a little more regular than a business that varies greatly from party to party. For such a person, opening an entertainment franchise for people to come and party on your terms is a great alternative.

Most of us have been to some form of a kiddy play land, designed to engage and entertain children of all ages with various games and attractions. It’s a profitable business because kids are always interested in having fun, and parents are always interested in throwing birthday parties without having to clean up afterward. With a Recess franchise, parents, kids, and the franchisee get to “go bananas.” There are three different investment levels to choose from that represent different designs that each include a wide array of inflatable attractions, redemption games, and even toddler entertainment. Depending on what will work in your area and what you’re capable of investing, there is sure to be a right choice for you.

Sometimes, however, party facilities are a little more specific as to the kind of entertainment they provide. Laser Nation and Monster Mini Golf are two such examples. Laser Nation franchises take advantage of the growing trend of laser tag. The concept is simple: people come in to a location and pay money to play various games built on shooting each other with high-tech laser guns, which is surprisingly fun. With the franchisor helping throughout the establishment of the business and continuing to give marketing resources, a franchisee could easily be set up to schedule birthday parties and family outings for people every week. As fun as laser tag is, though, some people find no party more fun than a classic round of miniature golf, or putt-putt, and none is more fun than Monster Mini Golf, the only place that mixes ghouls and goblins with golf balls. The family entertainment industry is one of the largest and most steadily growing markets available, and with the balance between self-determination and oversight that only a franchise can offer, this may be the perfect way for you to enrich the community, entertain the masses, and make your money all at the same time.

Party Retail

Finally, if actually planning parties or providing the space for them is not your idea of fun business, perhaps offering the equipment and tools for them is. If so, a Discount Party Store retail franchise is an excellent choice that brings parties and retail together. Considering themselves the “Cadillac” of party stores, Discount Party Store helps you make your business all that it can be for the needs of your particular area. Depending on what you can afford and what your store needs, there are plenty of options in size and merchandise that you can choose from, and the merchandise is always second to none, because the franchisor keeps in constant communication with product providers to ensure quality. The words franchise and franchisor here are somewhat deceptive though, because this is not truly a franchise: from day one, the owner is completely in charge of the operation and never has to pay royalties. By and large, it’s a good deal.

Whichever aspect of the party industry is your personal favorite, there is a franchise that undoubtedly works with your natural propensity to prepare and throw noteworthy parties. Anything can be a money-making tool, and nothing more so than the business of fun.

There are many types of car accidents that occur each year that result in damages, injuries, and even death. Many of these accidents are caused by negligent drivers, drunk drivers, and even defective vehicle parts or models. Because there are so many kinds of car crashes a person can be involved or injured in, it’s important to consult the knowledge and counsel of a specialized Los Angeles car accident attorney. These attorneys deal exclusively with car accident victims, including those who are injured or are simply filing a claim for material damages. Discrepancies in the details of car accidents often occur, particularly in crashes that involve just two parties or vehicles, making it even more important to counsel with an experienced accident lawyer who can help determine who is truly responsible for the accident and resulting injuries.

One of several reasons why many car crash victims seek legal representation for their claim is because of the lack of witnesses at the scene of the accident. Many car accidents occur at night when visibility is less clear and there are typically fewer drivers on the road. It isn’t uncommon for a car accident to occur with just the two parties involved as sole witnesses. This means it’s your good word against theirs, which can greatly reduce your chances of winning a fair settlement. An experienced auto accident attorney can be your well-spoken and well-educated advocate, increasing the possibility that you will win your rightful claim.

Many auto accident victims, whether injured or not, do not have the legal knowledge or patience to deal with fussy insurance companies. Oftentimes these companies attempt to make the process of receiving coverage so difficult for accident victims that they eventually decide it’s not worth the hassle to try to get help and compensation. Insurance companies, of course, do not wish to spend any more than necessary on any type of accident claim, and will therefore do their best to make receiving compensation a difficult process. This ploy often works on individuals, but it won’t work on lawyers. Car accident attorneys have all the legal knowledge, experience, and backing necessary to get you every bit of the insurance coverage that you’re entitled to following your accident. They are not easily intimidated or dissuaded by pushy insurance representatives, and they’ll handle all your claims needs while you concentrate on other aspects of your accident claim.

If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to afford the consultation and representation of an auto accident lawyer, you can relax. Many lawyers of this kind do not require any consultation fees or payments until and unless you win your settlement. In the case that you don’t win, your lawyer does not get paid. In the case that you do win, your lawyer will simply deduct a percentage of your settlement for his or her payment, so you won’t have any financial responsibility to them outside of a portion of your claims award. Even if you haven’t received injuries as a result of your car accident, don’t hesitate to contact a car crash attorney. He or she will help you get your rightful settlement to take care of any and all expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your accident.

Official or Third Party Gaming Accessories – Who Wins?

Having worked in the gaming industry for over 6 years and played with the majority of the gaming accessories on the market I feel I have a good idea of what makes a quality accessory. Whether it’s a controller, case, headset or keyboard I have my views.

With the launch of the Nintendo DS came a plethora of accessories and music to my ears. Previously all you could buy for console gaming was a new colour controller , poor quality headset and the range was pretty poor, from the best on the market like Logitech to some very poor own brand.

Now we have started to see a huge amount of products, unfortunately the quality hasn’t grown at the same level; there is some real tat out there. However, there are also some amazing additions to your console, handheld or PC. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, casual gamer, gaming granny or grandpa there are loads and I have started to decipher the wheat from the chaff.

We are all well aware of the top brands out there and I’m not talking about the first party i.e Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft. More about the other players out there who add true value and a point of difference to you their adoring consumer.

As new products launch I will analyse them, play with them, pull them apart and test them to all ends. The comments I make are purely my own and based on my knowledge of the market.

I’m going to start with a new product that I have just had presented to me and I think there will be a few more coming along in the next few months in the run up to Christmas. Yes, yes I know it’s only May!

The Nintendo Nunchuck v’s Wireless Nunchuck Verdict

A few weeks ago I was sent a Datel Nintendo Wireless Nunchuck and my first thought was, why? Why develop a new product that doesn’t really do anything vastly different than the wired original. So anyway; I unpacked it, connected it and played. You know what I’m impressed; I really didn’t see the point before hand and was not that optimistic. The wireless-ness offers the obvious, more freedom, it also stopped me from snatching the Nunchuck with the cable from the Wireless Remote. It has also been easier to store. I always seem to get wires tangled, you know the gremlins that jump around and twist them up ready for your next visit! Really, how does that happen?

The release date for the Wireless Nunchuck is late June and I’m expecting good sales towards the end of 2008 as we get closer to Christmas and no doubt the annual shortage of Wii Consoles.

As with all Wii accessories the price has been kept low enough to be affordable to everyone, but Nintendo quality is there. Although this product is not officially licensed, it does look and feel great. The retail price will be £19.99 to £24.99

Next time I’m reviewing the growing range of PS3 Charging devices for controllers. I’m testing a few at the minute and have just started using the Pelican (PDP – Performance Design Products) PS3 Charge Stand. Looks fabulous and with its own power supply is looking like a favourite already, but we’ll have to see.

Matt Holland |Gaming Specialist |www.tgrav.com

Oktoberfest takes place over 16 days in September and October every year in Bavaria. In addition there are many private Oktoberfest parties thrown throughout the world. You can throw your own with the help of the following Oktoberfest party ideas:

1. Get some cardboard to make your invitations. Cut out shapes of lederhosen, beer goggles, beer glasses, beer kegs, beer steins and bratwurst. Remember to say on your invites that they will be charged an admittance fee if they fail to dress up!

2. For costumes, the guys are expected to wear lederhosen leather shorts. They are truly horrible but very funny. Get some braces to hold them up! Also you’ll need some knee height white socks and a hat with a feather in!

3. Ladies, you get to wear traditional Alpine peasant girl costume. This includes a lacy blouse and a tight bodice.

4. Get your decorations in the colors of blue and white, the Bavarian flag color. Get blue and white balloons and place them everywhere.

5. Try and make your venue look like a traditional brau haus bier keller! You can do this with long wooden tables and benches stretching right across the room!

6. Cut out bratwursts, lederhosen, beer glasses and beer kegs from cardboard and hang them from the ceiling. If you’re ambitious, you can also hang gingerbread men up too.

7. Get some German flags to hang on the walls. Also get plenty of mini versions to place on the tables.

8. If its in your budget why not hire out a brass band to play some traditional beer hall music.

9. You should make some of the many famous German dishes such as; garlic bread, weiner schnitzel, sausage stuffed mushrooms, pretzels, sauerkraut, nuremburgers, meatloaf, bratwurst, black forest cake, apple strudel and gingerbread.

10. Of course, the most important element of any Oktoberfest party is the beer. Make sure you stock up with plenty! Make sure it is German beer! There will be people wanting to try many different sorts of beer so get in a variety.

Independence Day is a time to celebrate Americas independence from the British. So why not celebrate this year with a party for your friends and family? Take a look at these following 4th July party ideas:

1. Your party must start in advance with invitations. Send them out on mini American flags, either in the post or hand delivered. Get plenty in because you need them for the party!

2. State loud and clear on your invitations that if anybody turns up not wearing red, white and blue they will be charged on the door!

3. One idea you should consider is hiring out a pavillion if your local park has them!

4. Hire a face painter, or allow the kids to paint the American flag on each others faces! They will love it and it will keep them quiet.

5. Line the walkway to your house with mini American flags.

6. Use large American flags for the front of your property or venue. Hang it from the flag pole if you have one.

7. Get some squirt guns and fill them with blue or red water. Have two teams and have a fun game.

8. For later, make sure you have patriotic red, white and blue fireworks.

9. Of course your food should be all American. For starters have watermellon and you can have a seed spitting contest.

10. You should have a BBQ whether you have hired a pavillion or not. Burgers, sausages and chicken etc.

11. Bake a patriotic American flag cake. You can use strawberries and blueberries for the stars and stripes.

12. Gelatin deserts are easy to make and come in red and blue. Also, of course apple pie!

13. You should consider a range of fancy dress costumes such as Captain America or one of the founding Fathers. Cause a stir by turning up as a British redcoat.