You have heard of an archaeologist, speech pathologist and psychologist. They are experts in their fields of ancient civilizations, speech and the human mind. You can be an “ologist” too. A partyologist. Just follow the 10 Tips below and visit www.cleverparties.com for your PhD.

1. Plan & Organize: Establish a guest list, shopping lists for food and decorations as well as a to-do list. In this stage, determine your style or theme. Whether you are planning a birthday, baby shower or wedding, consider what kind of party you want to throw. Will it be fun, casual, elegant, formal, indoor, outdoor, princess or pirate? Setting the tone will help you carry the theme and style in the rest of the party elements.

2. Invitations: Get your guests excited and announce your upcoming celebration with creative digital invites or eye catching printed invitations.

3. Decorations: Stay focused and select flowers, balloons, lighting and other decorations that reflect your party’s style and theme. Find simple yet bold decorative items that will impress your guests.

4. Tabletop: Choose plates, glassware, napkins, linen and serverware that will compliment your party theme. If you want easy cleanup then go with elegant paper plates. For a formal occasion go with china. For party hosts who are environmentally conscious, there are many wonderful eco-friendly tabletop products available.

5. Favors & Gifts: It is always a nice gesture to have guests leave with a nice memento. Be sure to give something useful or that can be enjoyed right away such as a small box of chocolates.

6. Food & Drink: Plan a menu that goes with your party theme as well as time of day. Consider your budget and guest count then prepare a list of food and drink options. Don’t get caught with not enough food or drinks for your guests. Instead work with your caterer to have the right amount of food served and to ensure a bar is properly stocked. If you will be preparing and cooking the food then create a menu that fits your style, timeframe and allows you to enjoy the party. A great tip in a time crunch is to mix up gourmet ready made items from a store with homemade food.

7. Costumes & Attire: Advise your guest on how to dress for the occasion. Clearly state formal dress or costume required on the invitation.

8. Crafts, Games & Activities: Keep your guests entertained and engaged with an activity. It gets everyone in a celebratory mood and stimulates good conversation.

9. Music & Entertainment: At minimum, have music playing in the background that is appropriate to your special event. Hire entertainers and musicians to create a memorable experience.

10. Locations & Vendors: Research, employ, and book the right venue and supplier.

An important element to remember at your child’s next birthday party is to take pictures. If your tend to get caught up with making sure the party runs smoothly then get someone to help and capture the precious moments. Be sure to get candid shots and close up angles that are engaging, expressive and detailed. I asked a fellow mom and professional photographer for some advice on taking pictures of kids’ parties. Below are 10 clever tips.

1) Designate a photographer. There is nothing worse than not having had the time to take photos or having been too busy to pick up the camera. Give someone specific the job of taking photos, that way you are guaranteed to get photos and you are able to relax and enjoy the party.

2) Know the schedule of events. Make sure you and the person you designate as photographer knows when the events are happening so no one is running to grab a camera or missing any priceless moments.

3) Get the details! All the cute stuff: Balloons, Cake, Happy Birthday Sign and any fun birthday cards written by kids

4) Let the kids warm up to the party. Sometimes taking a little time before you start shooting so everyone is already busy having fun and not acting so shy is a good idea. Arrive at the party early and get all the details and then stand back a bit to see who looks comfortable and start shooting with that person or group.

5) Get your kids’ perspective. Get down low to take some photos so you are seeing the party from the child’s perspective. A favorite approach is to be on the same level with the kids for the cake so you see what they see.

6) Get wide and tight! The best shots are the close up shots. Get a camera in there so you really get great expressions and sometimes concentration on the kids faces. Always mix a little wide angle in there so you can see the party as a whole and get more of the action going on.

7) Shoot candid photos. It is always nice to have those photos no one knew you were taking. Get lots of candid photos, that is where the magic is.

8) Shoot lots of photos. Take several photos of people so you get all those little expressions in between. Peoples faces change as you take several photos and kids are very good at doing what ever it is they are doing and letting you just shoot away till you have the whole moment.

9) Take before, during and after. An example is… take pictures of the cake before the candles are blown out, with the candles lit, during the blowing out of the candles, that first special slice of cake for the birthday girl/boy, and a photo of them eating the cake. Before, during and after works with pinatas, face painting all kinds of craft and kids activities at parties.

10) Don’t forget the adults. Kids are so cute and we love to photograph them doing cute things but don’t forget to include the grandparents and parents who are there. They will love being part of the photos and will really enjoy those photos later.

11) Don’t forget to print and create a photo album. There are so many easy options available to create a special scrapbook. Check out this Seaside Memo Album from exposuresonline.com or make one on Shutterfly.com. They have an easy process.

If you have a great photo tip please share it.

With Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Summer upon us, outdoor entertaining is a welcome change. Make the grill the center of attraction for your next party. Plan a menu that allows your guests to sample various barbecued foods. How about hosting a Kabob Party and offer your guests the opportunity to make their own skewer from a selection of marinated meats, seafood, veggies and even fruits. This will be a fun activity for your guests and will satisfy your kids, and vegetarian friends while engaging the guests in conversation.

The benefit to planning this kind of party is less work and your food goes a long way as the guests choose how much to put on their kabob. There is always one or two “master grillers” in the crowd. Let them be in charge of watching the grill. Keep them happy with refreshing drinks and snacking foods while they are in charge. Also, make sure to have the grill area ready with ample space for cooking and the right BBQ tools, serving plates and cleanup items.

More tips for a successful grilling party
1) Send out eye catching invites.

2) Be Prepared: Prep the day before and have your meats cut, seasoned or marinated. Do the same for the vegetables and breads.

3) Save time: Put out some store bought side dishes or starter dishes for guests to graze on while they wait for their kabobs.

4) Portion Control & Labeling: Make your food stretch out by evenly cutting the grilling foods and placing them in individual plates with labels that describe the food and marinade or sauce

5) Plan a couple of outdoor games such as Horseshoes, Croquet, Bocce Ball and Badminton or other activities while your guest wait for their food.

Grilled Summer Fruit from TV Foodnetwork
Nonstick spray
3 firm but ripe nectarines, halved, pitted
3 firm but ripe purple/black plums, halved, pitted