Hosting a dinner party is loads of fun, but planning and carrying off a successful evening can be a little stressful. Those feelings of stress can rock your ‘hostess with the most-ess’ confidence, and sometimes lead to chaos in the kitchen …

The cupcake has come a long way and today we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to flavours, decorations and sizes. Whether your event calls for something classic and elegant, or you’re looking for cupcake ideas that are whimsical and fun, we’ve found 10 fantastic cupcake recipe ideas that we think take the cake! Here are 10 of the best cupcake creations for 2011…

Don’t stress – here is a selection of dishes that are suitable to serve to all types of guests, from small fry to the in-laws, or even your partner’s boss! Check out these kid-friendly, sophisticated and casual meal plans.

When it comes to parties, doing it your self (D.I.Y), isn’t just a smart way to save money, it can also be very satisfying and with some planning and creativity – a lot of fun!

Got a 2 year old birthday party to organise and not sure about how to keep the little ones entertained? By running some simple and fun games you can ensure that the fun continues and hopefully avoid some of the dramas that can emerge with a touch of 2 year old boredom or tiredness!

Do you have a signature cocktail? It’s always impressive when you’re out with friends to casually order a sexy-sounding cocktail with relative ease and style… Rather than devouring the often intimidating cocktail list next time you’re out and about, you can roll out a request for one of seductive sips below (complete with novice notes to ensure you get the right one)

Got a picnic to plan? You can make a picnic as fancy as you please, but if you want to keep things super simple, use our checklist below and enjoy the outdoors.

Do you need to level the playing field when it comes to footy? Pop these definitions in your back pocket and you’ll never be short of conversation when it comes to NRL or AFL (…for those who do not know the difference between the two – please see NRL and AFL – suggest you do a bridging course by way of 3 minutes on both sites before attempting to use the terms below!)

"A Hoy Me Hearties!" Bring your backyard alive by hosting a Pirate Party. Pirate Parties are an adventure-filled day with teasing treasure hunts, exhilarating expeditions and gallant gatherings. This party is sure to go down in history!

Attention animal lovers! Have you ever considered having a dog (or cat) party when it’s your pet’s birthday, or a puppy shower to welcome a new furry friend? It’s more of an excuse to get together with other canine lovers than anything else … because it’s doubtful your dog will actually realise they are turning three! But how fun would it be to gather in your garden or at your local dog-friendly park to celebrate?

If you are a fan of eating and drinking well, then this weekend, indulge your passion for culinary delights by asking a friend to join you at a food and wine event.

We've been on the hunt for the perfect banana bread recipe for some time and we think we've got it! Ideal for brunch with the girls, or even as a warm winter dessert. This recipe has come all the way from Botswana.

Were you and your family among the millions of Aussies gripped by Masterchef (and then Junior Masterchef)? For many of us, these shows have lead to renewed inspiration in the kitchen.

The birthday cake is an important part of any boy's birthday party, with the cutting of the cake often serving as the conclusion to a spirited and fun-filled day.

The birthday cake is considered an important element of a little girl's party, as girls generally exhibit finely-tuned observation skills, and an appreciation for detail.

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Birthdays are traditionally a time for reflection – soul-searching, thinking of the years gone by, and looking to the future.

If you have a children's special occasion to attend and you're required to bring a plate, we have some great ideas to ensure your contribution is a hit on the day.

How do you celebrate your birthday? Big bash, night on the town, intimate soiree – or grit your teeth and wait for it to be over?

Here are the answers to common cocktail food questions – from what type of canapés to serve, how to serve them, and the number of bites required to satisfy each guest’s hunger …

The cupcake craze has been in full swing for a few years now, and thankfully it’s showing no signs of letting up!

As the weather starts warming up, pool parties can be found in almost any neighbourhood. The relaxed atmosphere pool parties create make them the perfect party to celebrate a birthday, moving house, end of school or just as a catch up.

Is your child’s birthday about to roll around again? Eek, what wacky idea will they come up with this year? A theme is a great way to get the ball rolling with the party planning – once you and your child have settled on an (achievable) theme, sorting out the decorations, food and party games/activities should follow quite easily.

The doona is coming out and we’re experiencing crisper mornings and cooler afternoons once the sun disappears behind the clouds … yes, we’re in the last weeks of autumn before the big winter chill arrives with a vengeance.

Whether you have an office party to plan, a Christmas dinner to host, or a New Year’s celebration to organise, why not create your own invitation?

Calling all creative geniuses, this party is perfect for you! A make-it-your-own party allows guests to bring their creative flair into many aspects of the party from their attire for the day to the food they will be eating. The idea for a party like this is to encourage guests to create their own party.

Spring brings the start of food festivals across the country, like Crave Sydney, a celebration of food, outdoor, art and fun, incorporating the Sydney International Food Festival. This spring, plan to head to one of the many events, or set yourself an at-home culinary challenge – a three-course, formal sit-down dinner in the spirit of fine food!

If there's one thing girls love to do at parties it's dance and sing! A Disco party provides the perfect opportunity to move and groove.

Thinking of getting away for a ski weekend? Check out our favourite ski sites and leave more time to plan your après activities.

Spring has sprung, so why not get out and smell the daffodils? What better way to enjoy catching up with friends than over a picnic. Here are some tips to ensure your picnic is as enjoyable and easy as possible:

Your invites set the scene for your party. They’re the first glimpse of what to expect at your event, so it’s worth getting them right! Here are 3 gorgeous options for your fairy party invitations.

Did anyone say nachos? How about inviting some families over this weekend for an early dinner with the children – and give the gathering a Mexican theme! It’s fun and suitable for all the family. Here’s an easy-peasy Mexican-inspired menu plan:

This party season the streets have been speckled with frocked-up party-goers as fancy dress parties make a bit of a come-back.

We’re thrilled to share that our party and event directory has recently undergone a massive facelift. One of the things you told us in the recent member survey was how important finding party and event suppliers was to you, so we have improved our directory BIG TIME. What’s new…

Planning a fairy party for your little princess and not sure where to start? Here are 4 tips to designing and delivering a delicious fairy party:

If you’re a lover of parties, or a lover of list-making, then this handy party event planner is for you! It’s available to all myinvites.com.au members and comes in both pdf and excel format – so you can either write on it or fill out and adjust the checklist on your computer.

Is it party time at your place? To throw the best bash ever, we’ve got a rundown of the freshest decorations, outfits and eats of the season.

Let’s face it, squeezing your party planning in around work, friends, family and the rest of your life is stressful. Drowning in party paperwork and e-mails and losing track of your to do list? Follow five super simple tips to Paper Flow your Party, from Brigitte Hinneberg, author of Paper Flow, your ultimate guide to making paperwork easy! The end result? An organised, fabulous event and a relaxed and confident host.

Overdue for a catch-up with the girls? Then organise a Girls Night In (GNI). During the month of October each year, women are encouraged to spend a night in with their girlfriends, and then donate the money they would've spent on a night out to the Cancer Council. The event raises vital funds to fight women's cancers.

Kick your husband or boyfriend out of the house for the night, and send the kids to their grandparents. It’s time to host a girls’ pamper session at your place! Invite half a dozen of your closest girlfriends to share in the fun with one of our girls’ night in invites.

What child doesn’t love making mess? Encourage the mayhem and fun at your pre-schooler’s next birthday party by hosting a ‘messy party’! Here’s how …

Whether you’re the kind of person who does a lot of planning in their head, or a super-organised type who has a to-do list for every day of the year, when it comes to entertaining, everyone can benefit from a checklist.

We can all be a little kinder to the environment if we try, and most kids are really switched on when it comes to protecting and preserving our planet. If your child is keen on the idea, how about throwing them a party with an environmental theme?

Gardening is a really fun activity for kids to get involved in – and it’s also a unique party idea. Send out a greeny invite, then gather a selection of inexpensive supplies like small plastic or terracotta pots, seeds or seedlings, potting mix and trowels.

Can you remember the last time you received a hand written card or invitation in the mail? There’s something special about receiving a handwritten message from a friend or loved one, because they’ve taken the time to put pen to paper for you!

So you’ve sent your invite out in plenty of time, but now the RSVP date has passed … and to be honest, you’re getting antsy about who’s coming to your party. When friends don’t reply to an invitation – whether they have a reasonable excuse or not – it can make it very hard to complete your party planning. So how do you prompt a definite response?

Those who've hosted gatherings for little people are well aware of the effects that too much sugar can inflict on a get-together. Hyperactivity, tantrums and tears are all best avoided on this special day, and by serving nutritious food, it's almost certain that some of those negative party experiences can be avoided.

Party time doesn’t have to equal junk food all the time.

It's Bandaged Bear Day in NSW and the ACT this Friday 26 March, so be sure to support the cause by buying a cute bear, notepad, pen or hacky sack. You can also make your contribution to The Children's Hospital at Westmead by hosting a fundraising party during March - how about having your own teddy bears picnic?

Being a princess for a day is every little girls dream, and what better way to celebrate turning a year older than hosting a Fairy Princess Party in true royal style.

Barbeques are such a top Aussie way to cook and enjoy food and let’s face it, they’re the easiest way to get your man involved in the cooking! These days you can cook almost anything on the barbie from a delicious whole snapper wrapped in foil to gourmet vegetables.

For many, hosting a children's party can be a financially daunting task. The great news is that kids don't know or care what things cost, so with a little organisation and some clever planning, it's easy to host a successful party on a shoestring.

Themed parties are certainly making a comeback, but it can be tricky deciding on your party theme. Your theme helps to set the scene and tone of your event and can have a big impact on the success, so it’s worth spending some time researching what theme will best suit your event.

The entertainment at a party can make or break the success of the event so it’s smart to do your homework when choosing who you’d like to hire. Here are 5 things every event host should consider when employing an entertainer.

There’s nothing quite like the vibrancy of a Bollywood or Indian inspired party theme. The extravagantly produced movies of Bollywood provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable, magical and musical party – even the most timid of guests will find it hard to resist being part of your Bollywood spectacular if you follow some of the tips below.

Spring is a beautiful time to host a garden party. Go all old-worldly and feminine and set up a traditional tea party at your place. Think shabby-chic, romantic, pastel and pretty! This is a great idea for a girls-only event such as a kitchen tea, birthday celebration or baby shower.

So you want to host a surprise party? A surprise party can be the most fantastic and memorable event that gets talked about leading into and often long after the event takes place. It's such a great way of showing someone how much you think they rock - because organisng one is damn hard work!

If you missed part 1 of hosting a wicked surprise party, you can view it here. Once you’ve decided that you’re the right person to organise this kind of she-bang, it’s time to get planning! Here are a few ideas to keep you on track…

If you missed the first two parts of our surprise party series, you can check out Part 1 here and Part 2 here, which focus on the planning of the event. Here’s Part 3, all about the day of the surprise party itself.

You’ve been planning your big do for weeks, and after all that effort, the big day is almost here. Hooray! And while you’ve probably channelled umpteen hours into organising your special occasion – from decorations to food to music and the right mix of guests – you may not have planned your personal ‘party look’ yet. Don’t panic … Here’s a must-do cheat sheet to look your best!

Bunting is a great way to turn your leftover or scrap fabric into a pretty party or room decoration. Bunting can really liven up an outdoor dining area, and can transform a lounge room or simple hired space into a special event venue. It also looks fantastic in kids rooms, so the D.I.Y effort can be well worth it. Here’s a simple step by step guide to creating your own!

Here’s the dilemma: you sent out party invitations a month ago, and in the last few weeks the replies have rolled in steadily. But now that the RSVP date has lapsed, there are still lots of outstanding responses … and quite frankly, you’re starting to get a bit annoyed. How can you organise the party when you don’t know how many will be attending? It’s a sticky situation - so how can you handle it with style?

Talk about pressure! When recently hosting a toddler’s birthday party, I was blown away by the air time that the topic of the birthday cake received. What began as a simple bullet point on my long list of birthday party To Do’s, soon became a majorly stressful task that required every ounce of creativity, energy and imagination I could muster…

As the temperature rises it's the ideal time to head outdoors one balmy night and watch a great flick. There are outdoor cinema options all over the country - here are our top 5 picks:

Pack your compass and your binoculars, we're going on an expedition! A Jungle Fever Party is so much fun and takes guests on an adventure packed journey.

Yes… when the weather starts to cool down and we turn our entertaining indoors, what better way to keep warm than with some karaoke action. There is a good splattering of karaoke bars around town, so if you’re keen to get a group together and head out for some time on the microphone and air guitar, here are some great options in your city:

It's important to provide some form of entertainment at any children's party, to ensure the event has structure and momentum. Fortunately, there are many entertainment options to suit every budget, child and age group, so here are a few points of inspiration to help you get it right when hosting your next party.

If you have a birthday party to host, look no further for tips to keep the little ones amused.

Looking for a party idea for an older child? How about a cooking, art or sewing class? There are lots of companies that run these kinds of activities specifically for kids, and if you invite a group of, say, six to 10 children, you may be able to secure the class and teacher exclusively for your party.

Gatherings of kids are heaps of fun, whether it’s for a birthday or another occasion such as Easter, Christmas or an end-of-school-term celebration. One big part of a party is being allowed to have treat foods, which of course need to be limited to special occasions.

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors – not too hot, not too cold! And you don’t even need to leave the house. Why not ask friends over for brunch at your place? You’ll have the rest of the day to linger and enjoy both the weather and quality company.

Everybody loves surprises, don’t they? You know the good kind like a surprise picnic on a summer’s day, a surprise dinner at the end of a busy week or a surprise birthday party even though it’s not a special year. But then, there are the not so good surprises that usually start off with,’oh darling didn’t I tell you, I’ve invited six people for dinner tomorrow night! Aarrgghhhh…it’s about this time when your brain goes into overdrive and starts to plan menus; seating arrangements; what to wear and, most importantly, what needs to be cleaned! We can all live with a not-so-crunchy crème brulee but can we live with a not-so-gleaming house?

Getting out of town for the weekend is a great way to relax, recharge and leave the stress of the working week behind you. Throw in a beautiful location - coast or country - plus a snazzy tent and blow-up mattress for comfort, and you have the ultimate low-key, low-cost getaway.

Those of us who’ve got kids know that their first birthday is a big cause for celebrating. Your teeny tot will love sticking their fingers in the cake and crawling or toddling around with a few other littlies. And every parent should be proud of getting their child through that first year, having survived sleepless nights, teething and first fevers, as well as watching them develop from a newborn into a dynamic little person! How will you celebrate?

With the rise of the internet, and the emergence of some wonderful children's, and service-oriented websites, party planning has recently got a while lot easier, with the internet providing a one-stop location for all party planning needs.

Who doesn’t love Italian food? It’s a real crowd pleaser. This is a great menu plan for novice chefs – the dishes aren’t complicated but still taste yummy!

There’s nothing like a good Indian takeaway on a Friday night, but what’s to stop you from creating your own Indian dining experience at home? These classic favourites will have your guests coming back for seconds.

Transport your dinner guests to the laid-back lifestyle of the Mediterranean – here’s a delicious selection of food to serve outdoors on a balmy evening. Chill the white wine and relax!

Asian food is always tasty and it’s often good for you, too, with its clean, fresh flavours. Treat your guests to a tastebud explosion with these Oriental-inspired dishes.

There's something about water that makes you feel calm and relaxed, isn't there? Think nautical thoughts this weekend and gather a group to enjoy some antics on a boat - big or small, fast or slow-moving, you decide...

We may live in modern times, but this doesn’t mean that good manners and proper etiquette don’t matter any more. Here’s a check list of the do’s and don’ts when attending and hosting a party in 2010.

Everybody loves a spooky theme and what better way to celebrate turning a year older than by being scared out of your wits?

Turn your cupcakes from good to great with these cupcake accessories below. Using these products even the most simple cupcakes can look extraordinary! You can check out our full range of cupcake accessories including cupcake wrappers, little takeaway containers and cupcake decorations and stands by visiting My Party Store

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It’s never been easier to find ideas and inspiration on myinvites.com.au. We’ve just upgraded our content section that includes hundreds of original articles with a new search function, so you can find what you want faster, a new easy to navigate layout and social media sharing tools so you can easily share information that you’ve found useful with your friends.

Did you know that you can now purchase last minute tickets at myinvites? Whether it’s tickets to the hottest concert in town, a virtually sold-out play, or a breathtaking performance of modern dance, we’ve got the tickets you want at prices you won’t believe.

Are you heading off on a winter mini-break? Whether you’re headed to coast, country or city, cool-month getaways inevitably mean you have to pack much more gear than for summer trips.

So your child's birthday is fast looming, and the questions are coming thick and fast regarding what the day will hold. Depending on your child's age and personality, and your capacity to pull off this much-anticipated event, a few considerations and simple steps can help ensure a fun-filled event for the kids that's as stress-free as possible for you.

Let’s face it, with most of us having to watch our pennies at the moment, now isn’t the time to be spending frivolously.

Mums and Dads have been hosting children's parties for decades, and while fads and themes will come and go, there are some key elements to ensuring successful parties, which are best not kept secret.

Who doesn’t love a drink or two around the silly season? Champers, beers, cocktails, shots, RTD’s … Hey, there are stacks of ways to celebrate! With Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve all coming up, the end of the year signals one big party. Yee ha!

It’s party season which means fun in the sun, hanging out with friends, lots of laughter, good food, great wine, a few headaches….. and mess!

For the preschooler, parties are a major event on the family calendar and an increasingly important social occasion - usually with growing consideration and excitement each year.

At primary school age, parties take on the greatest significance. Events are anticipated well in advance, kids are more discriminating, and they will likely have some reasonable, or unreasonable party expectations for you to reach!

Whether you're hosting a gaggle of toddlers or a gang of school kids, easy finger food always proves a popular party staple.

Running out of weekend activity ideas for the kids? You’ve done the bowling, bike tracks and movies, so now give yourself a break from driving all over town, and enjoy some no-effort, at-home fun. Allow each child to invite a friend over so it’s double the fun. Here are a couple of classic activities to keep them busy …

There’s something chic and cool about going retro, from fashion to furniture and even food! Here are some menu plans if you fancy hosting a retro dinner party – many of these recipes take inspiration from the ‘70s, so you could invite everyone to dress up in flares to fit in with the food theme! We’ve included a selection of retro entrees, mains and desserts to get your menu planning started:

Are you a child of the ‘70s or ‘80s? Then you’ll probably have fond memories of going to birthday parties at groovy venues like the ice-skating rink, roller-skating rink, ten-pin bowling alley, or even the drive-in movies. Remember the fun you and your friends had?

Yes, McDonald’s parties are still here and they’re even more fun than when you were a kid. You can still enjoy the ice‐cream cake, but there’s way more on offer now.