Sitting here in my woollen winter coat once more, I thought that I’d put out a quick snapshot of party theme ideas for the upcoming chilly months. Best you sit down with a sweet cup of tea and take these in:

Beatnik Party

Only the best party idea I’ve had yet! This is seriously my favourite theme of the original hipsters of the 1950s. Throw on some warm jazz and a cosy sweater, pour some liquor and yank out your creative side. You might even create a masterpiece to hang on your wall, or hear some impressionable poetry (as did happen at my last party; that guy blew me away!)

Christmas in July

Kinda corny, I know, but us southerners don’t get Christmas holidays like they do up north. Why not give it a go? Those decorations only get out once a year, and you could even play Secret Santa to include the gift-giving sentiments. Plus, if you need any more convincing, there’s EGGNOG!

Positive Party

This is another I want to run sometime soon. Happy moods only! Play the happiest of tunes, have colourful food and dress code; encourage compliments, and even have a sort of “swear jar” for anyone caught gossiping to add a penalty coin – you could later donate the contents to a local mental health charity or hospital. This theme would be more ideal for the absolute coldest months, or near the end of August to pull everyone out of any lingering SAD moods.

London High Tea

Get all fancy, Brit! I’m a massive T2 fan (oh, my GOSH, I could spend hours drooling on that website!), although you can find all sorts of scrumptious tea varieties in other stores around the country. Snuggle up with your favourite teapot, some sugar cubes, teaspoons and mittens. Might want to leave the croquet for the springtime, but cards or other board games would be great.

Or, if you’d like to try the other form of UK class, hit up a working class gig and go all Shameless on your mates with a bonfire in the back yard if it suits. The original though, not that US remake junk!

How do these sound? Do you have any creative themes for the seasons? It could just be the climate here in Australia, but I find winter ideas a little more difficult to think of. Half the fun is going all “trial and error” on your guests though!

National News | News.com.au

So I’m not really sure what I am to think of this other than “what a rad idea! But it would never work in reality.” I guess there are just some out-there ideas you’ll never know will take off until you dive in.

This isn’t children growing up too fast; at least not as much as adult-captioned t-shirts or heels for toddlers. Children have parties and dance too, you know. The temporary tattoos are fine too; I remember having one of my first when I was five or six. And I’m still into roses, but I’ve not a real tattoo or joined a biker gang.

Entry prices include healthy snacks for children, a “chill-out” play area, bathrooms kitted out with nappy change tables and a goodie bag and glass of champagne for parents.

Sounds safe and healthy to me and I hope that chill-out area has Pass The Parcel or a ball pit. Or even a corner of teddy bears! And the champagne for the parents is a great addition; if I were the mother of unpredictable young children, I’d take every chance I could for a glass of champagne while knowing my kids were safe.

While I’m positive a children’s event would be the second-last* event I’d like to hold, I don’t think this club is the worst thing adult society has thrown at children in recent times. If anything, I’m sure the kids are having a blast.

*weddings just aren’t my thing.

…and on a charming segway from my previous post…

Double Decadance is on this Saturday night at Fortitude Valley’s Step Inn. Funds from the event go towards Open Doors which supports young people aged between 12 -18 years who are exploring, questioning or identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT).

Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday disadvantaged LGBT teens can drop-in on Open Doors for support and networking. I’ve always loved the idea of drop-in centres and this one is definitely a fantastic use of the resources run by a former Family Planning Queensland counsellor and educator. Fantastic stuff!

On another related note, the Open Doors website links to Think Before You Speak, an initiative to halt derrogatory sayings such as “that’s so gay.” It’s aimed at schools, which I think is pretty accurate. Loving the Say Something Original pledge where you can contribute your version of the saying mentioned. “That’s so redunkulous!” is so far my favourite but “girl putting a fork in a toaster thats on [sic]” is pretty strange also! If only there was an apostrophe it would be complete, but you can’t ask for much when it’s going towards raising awareness on such a topic.

Anyway, you should come along on Saturday. It will be fun!