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Answers: I've been having an annual Christmas party since 7th grade. I'm a senior, and it's my last year to throw one.

I need ideas! Things big, but not too big. Money is somewhat of an object, but I really want to go all out.

Thanks in advance!

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What about a "winter wonderland" party? Ask all of your guests to arrive wearing white or ivory ... Since you mentioned a budget ... I am sure that wherever you live they have dollar stores (where everything is one dollar)? I needed a ton of party supplies for a birthday party around the same time you are having your Christmas party. I went to a store here called the Dollar Tree and bought a ton of things! Use white and light blue for your colors. Get all sorts of plastic snowflakes - they have them in all sorts of shapes and sizes, glitter, no glitter, white, light blue ... I bought table cloths in both colors, round glittery "fuzzy" ornaments that look like snowballs for one dollar ... the stores will be well stocked now because there is a bit of time left before the Christmas rush. Use pictures of all of your friends and place them in white picture frames all around the party area. If you want to, have a girls' night where your girlfriends can come over and you can prepare for the party. Make the frames, paint them, decorate them with white and light blue snowflakes, glitter ... If frames don't fit in your budget, get out the crayons and markers and use those! Print off the great pictures and use borders from the computer ... Do like kids do in elementary and cut snowflakes out of folded paper and use them for door prizes or coordinate them in some other creative way. Use styrofoam and cut out giant snowflakes to sit around as "props". Since this is your last hoorah, I am sure you will want to take plenty of pictures, too, so the big styrofoam snowflakeswill make for awesome props in your photographs! Set up a place in a remote corner with light blue and white fabric (that can be purchased at a fabric store really inexpensively as remnants or you could even use toulle; that would work good, too!) and take photographs of all your guests. "Wrap" a chair or two in matching paper or fabric with bows in the back and have some guests sit while others stand for the photos.

As for food - you can go crazy here, too! I have found a ton of recipes for things like "baked snowballs" (it's actually naked ice cream!), white chocolate covered peanut butter balls that look like snowballs, cookies iced one half light blue, one half white (buy store cookies and use powdered sugar / milk icing if you want to stay on your budget)or you could have a sundae bar (call it something more wintery if you want) with ice cream and tons of toppings to chose from ... If you want to have food food, try staying with the theme by serving "white chili" (it's made with chicken broth and chicken rather than beef and tomato), have a baked potato bar (they are white! buy your potatoes in the ten pound bags at the grocery to save money and wrap them in foil to keep with the "wintery" theme!), you could even serve soup (chicken tortilla, chicken noodle, potato) or chicken and dumplings! Have friends pitch in a couple nights before to help prepare, chop, dice, dip, bake, and frost to cut down on the stress level and the cost. You can even use the snap shots I am sure you would take while your friends are helping decorate, make and bake, etc. to fill the frames for the party decorations! Crown yourself snow princess and take votes for your snow prince! Have trivia games with questions either regarding your past parties, your classmates, or the holiday season ...

You could really have a lot of fun with a party like this! I am so excited about this party I want to be invited!

I hope you figure it out. It's a great tradition, by the way! Keep me posted (if you don't mind) as to the results. And if you just happen to need any more help, recipe ideas (I have a load of them) or even crafty inexpensive ways to make this party a success, just let me know. I will be more than happy to help!

Happy Party!
Best Wishes Your Senior Year -

daizeydee33@yahoo.com

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make a christmas party theme, like christmas in the 80's, or futuristic christmas or polkadot christmas party or gold/silver christmas party.

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It could be semi formal. See if you could rent out a rec center or hall through your local parks and recreation district. Can someone at your school volunteer to dj?

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