Birthdays are always a milestone. Next weekend, we’re celebrating the youngest girl’s birthday and it is the big 1-0! She’s so excited for this year’s extravaganza. We’ve decided to host a salon themed birthday party, makeovers included!

The simpler everything is planned, the easier it will be to set up on the big day. There will be three or four main “stations”—hair, make-up (mostly glitter and lip gloss), manicures and a glamour photo station. The main course, to be served on Glamour Plates, will consist of pizza and small appetizers like chips, vegetables & dip and of course, the cake and the ice cream!

There will be plenty of wonderful helpers at each station ready to pamper each “client” with the proper tools and treats. Goody Bags will consist of small candies, favors and a photo frame to be decorated after the photo shoot is complete.

It’s important to make a child’s birthday memorable, after all it is their special day. There’s no need to go crazy, but with some imagination, the day can be a magical one he/she will never forget.

November is Aviation History Month, a time frame set aside to pay tribute to and celebrate our progress in aviation technology. The Wright Brothers definitely opened a wide range of opportunity on different levels. Aviation has contributed to the strength of our military, our economy and our travel efficiency.

Take a minute this month to take your children to an aviation museum, or to share the wealth of information available at your local library. Add ambiance with Pilot themed partyware!

Veterans Day is next week! Although a 3-day weekend to sleep in sounds amazing, it is important to understand the reason our country has marked this day as a national holiday. President Wilson proclaimed November 11 a holiday with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

That said, I definitely suggest you look up your community’s plans for celebration. These usually take place in the form of parades, ceremonies and/or military tribute exhibits. After the celebrations, invite friends and family over for a potluck style barbeque. Don’t forget to dress up your meal with Patriotic Party Supplies!

November 15 is America Recycles Day (abbreviated as ARD), and it is a day devoted to educating American about recycling and encouraging them to incorporate “green” habits into their daily lives. This year will be the 12^th year that this day is recognized on a national level.

The purpose of the day is to inform the public about ways they can join the movement for an improved natural environment by buying certain products or recycling certain products used on a daily basis.

Not all of us consider the harm we do to the environment when we throw a gum wrapper out the car window, or when we discard our fast food trash under the car in the parking lot. It is, however, important to consider that our children, tomorrow’s future, will need to endure the serious aftermath of minor actions such as these.

Join the cause or do your part by integrating Recycled Paper Goods into your daily life.

P.S. The air is cleaner already!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner (can’t wait!), however, so is American Education Week! Each year, the entire week before Thanksgiving is dedicated to honoring different components of education:

MONDAY: Open House Day – a great opportunity to celebrate education and an excellent time for parents to take a gander at their child’s progress in class.

TUESDAY: Parents Day – a day set up for parents to go through a day the way their children do.

WEDNESDAY: Education Support Professionals – a day on which individuals who dedicate their time and efforts to improving education are recognized for their work.

THURSDAY: Educator for a Day – community leaders are invited to teach for a day as a “walk a day in a teacher’s shoes” type event.

FRIDAY: Substitute Educators Day – a special day honoring substitute teachers.

Each day is a great opportunity to fund raise for educational programs and the school. Parents and teachers can unite to plan Bake Sales (use paper doilies for a decorative touch), School Supplies Sales (treat bags with pencils, rulers, erasers, Kleenex and other necessary items), etc. The ideas are endless.

Thanks to www.nea.org (National Education Association) website for this year’s education week layout.

We are almost exactly one week away from November, which is Peanut Butter Lovers Month! Although it may not be a widely known “celebration,” it is a fun opportunity to get together with the children and put together a few activities. Baking and cooking are always great hands-on projects.

A fun idea to honor Peanut Butter Lovers Month is to make home-made peanut butter. Whether you’re setting up for a few of your children or siblings, or a whole class, I would definitely suggest grabbing some plastic or paper table covers and disposable bowls. Distribute the plastic bowls among your students, and get ready to have some fun!

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups unsalted roasted peanuts
• 1 tbsp. peanut oil

Utensils

• food processor (you’ll need help from your adult assistant)
• large bowl
• mixing spoon
• storage container
• measuring cups and spoons

Directions

1. Mix the peanuts with the peanut oil and pour into the food processor.
2. Process the blend until it’s very smooth.
3. Store your smooth peanut butter in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be good for 2 weeks.

November 1 is the celebration of All Saints Day, a day that honors all saints, regardless of whether they are widely known or not. This feast is not unique to Catholicism, as it is observed by other religions such as Lutheranism, Methodism and Protestant.

In some Latin countries, “ofrendas” or offerings are made. Some cultures create altars on tables with pictures of deceased loved ones, an array of their favorite meals, trinkets, tiny skeleton decorations and other arrangements. Some altars are elaborately decorated with elegant paper table covers and candles.

In some parts of Europe such as Austria, Portugal, Spain and France, people visit the graves of dead friends/relatives and take them flowers.

In English-speaking countries, groups of people celebrate the festival by reciting the hymn, “For All the Saints.”

This year, All Saints Day is celebrated on a Sunday and is therefore a Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics. Regardless of what it has been named, this feast should be observed by all in remembrance of those loved ones that are no longer with us.

Find a wide range of Religious Party Supplies here for any commemorative events you may host.

Although it’s nice to have a reason to throw a party, because that would mean there is something to celebrate, a reason is definitely not a must. Fall is always an awesome season because the new school year begins, new TV show seasons premiere, there are two amazing holidays (Halloween & Thanksgiving), etc.

Those rare moments when you can get together with close friends and family in spite of everyone’s busy schedules, are the best. Even just fitting quality time with friends is the perfect excuse to host a small party or get together. Begin by sending a quick message to everyone providing tentative dates so they can select which day might work best.

At home, gather some autumn plastic table covers (for a quick clean-up) and grab a few bowls that can be filled with fruit, pumpkins, gourds and leaves. There’s no need to spend too much money on Autumn Centerpieces, so creating your own out of stuff you already have is the perfect way to set the mood. Create a playlist based on everyone’s favorites, or pop in an IPod, then grab your most outgoing friend (if you have a tie, grab two) and give them a tray of appetizers to start passing around. It’s the perfect ice breaker.

Make sure and lay out the food family style so you have the opportunity to eat and catch up with friends at the same time.

It’s fall again and let’s face it, it is officially hibernation weather. It may not be completely freezing outside quite yet, but it’s definitely getting there. Am I the only one who enjoys comfort foods, such as cruel carbs, exponentially more during the fall/winter seasons? Perhaps it is the body’s own way of creating heat, but I must say that pasta certainly makes it’s way into my menu a lot more often these days.

I once read a comic strip about a man who claimed, to his scolding wife, that if he added a crouton to his ice cream sundae, it made his dessert healthy. Although this was obviously a joke, there is some truth in this wise man’s theory. Pasta may not be the best item to feature on a daily menu, but salad is and I suggest pairing it with comfort foods for the next couple seasons.

Thanksgiving is almost here and you have plenty of time to create “practice meals” for the family. There is absolutely no excuse when the supermarket now sells pre-made salad kits (I love those!). Open a bag and throw it into a salad bowl. I suggest keeping a good one on hand as salads and veggies should be on the “daily menu” list. I suggest Premium Plastic Bowls and Salad Tongs.

Chocolate Brown is undoubtedly one of the most popular colors at this time. You see the color trend in everything from clothing fashion trends, to hair color, tableware, shoes, purses and even technology (my phone, ironically, is chocolate brown). Here at MyPaperShop.com, we have definitely noticed the trend in wedding color choices and party themes.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Chocolate Brown is obviously a favorite for table top decorations. Our Chocolate Brown Linen Like Table Covers (banquet or 82 Inch for round tables) will add that elegant look to your event, yet they’re disposable for an easy clean-up. No one wants to worry about cleaning up after hosting a big Thanksgiving feast! My mother usually hosts Thanksgiving for our family and she raves about this innovative product.

For more casual (usually outdoor) events, Chocolate Brown Plastic Table Covers (banquet or 82 Inch for round tables) are perfect. Almost any bright colored tableware accents will contrast beautifully with this color for the perfect fall themed party.

Brown is the current black.

Advice from the MPS Sales Team: Stock up.