Saying goodbye is never easy.

But when your friend is moving away—whether to pursue a new job, attend a new school, move in with a spouse, or retire—it can be a great way to keep ties strong while kicking off the old chapter. It allows you and the rest of that person’s “people” to assure the departing friend that there are no hard feelings and that you’re excited about their next adventure.

You can also throw one if you’re the person leaving! If you’re throwing the party, it’s a great way to show the people in your life that you won’t forget them when you’re miles away.

Exchange Photos

Putting together a photo exchange can be a great way to celebrate memories. One way to do it is to ask each person to bring out printed copies of their favorite photos. Give out small albums as party favors and let the guests fill their books with pictures while encouraging them to reminisce.

You can do this even if everyone you know rocks a cell phone camera these days. Various online photo printing services will transform digital photographs into professional prints.

Create a Video Montage

You could also gather digital photos and edit them into a video set to music to create a fun video montage.

Or you could take a montage right at the party, interviewing each person and asking them what they’ll miss most about having the guest of honor around.

You can cut the responses into a video and send it to the guest of honor after the party.

Create a Giveaway

If the guest of honor has a lot of (nice) leftover stuff that won’t be going on the move with them, then you can use that stuff in the service of your party.

You could create a giveaway, raffle off the items, or use them as party game prizes. You could create a small charity auction for the items (for small amounts only). The guest of honor picks the charity the proceeds will go to.

Or just create a “take it if you need it” table so people can choose items without feeling obligated to walk away with anything.

Don’t Skimp on the Decorations and Food

At its heart, a going away party is still a party, so ensure you have good food and festive decorations.

You could even create a theme around the guest of honor’s intended destination. Have they been transferred to NYC? Create a Big Apple theme with balloons that spell out NYC and wall decor around famous NY landmarks.

Are they off to an exotic country? Serve food from that region and choose decorations that evoke it. That way, at least in part, everyone at the party can accompany the guest of honor to their new destination, at least for a night.

Commit to the Relationship

Being a long-distance family member or friend can be difficult. A person whom you might have interacted with every single day is now far away. Yet with a lot of effort, you can keep that relationship strong.

Consider taking it beyond Facebook with scheduled phone calls, Facetimes, Discord chats, or even an old-fashioned letter-writing campaign. Don’t forget to put together a care package or two.

Find ways to visit—don’t just insist your loved one always be the one to come “home.” Do your best to find new ways to be in this person’s life.

They’ll appreciate that effort even more than they’ll appreciate their awesome going away party!

Getting social again after our long, Covid-19-induced isolation is wonderful, but it can also be overwhelming. A cookie party is an easy, stress-free gathering to throw.

For an even easier gathering, make it a cookie exchange party!

How do you throw a cookie party?

First, let’s talk about when you should throw your cookie swap party. We’ve found the best date is the weekend after Thanksgiving. People are off work, are just starting to get into the holiday spirit, and don’t have too many commitments to worry about yet.

Send out your invitations well in advance. We also recommend scheduling your party in the mid-afternoon hours; you’ll only be serving cookies, not primary lunch or dinner foods. You don’t want to spoil anyone’s appetite. Of course, you might also serve cookies while directing your guests to just wrap theirs and gift them to one another; if you have many guests it could be easy for everyone to get sick trying to eat all the cookies at once. Put some out on a plate for your guests to enjoy all the same.

Then, add some cookie-themed decorations to your home to get everyone in the mood.

What do you serve at a cookie party?

Don’t just think about the cookies; think about everything else, too. For example, what will your guests be drinking?

We recommend milk as the perfect stand-by, but there are other options.

• Eggnog is a classic choice (especially boozy eggnog)!
• New Orleans Milk Punch offers a classic twist on “cookies n’ milk”
• Milkshakes
• Hot coffee
• Hot chocolate
• Sparkling punch
• Sodas

If you want a fun twist, you could use disposable, yet festive, cups, glasses, and plates to serve up the cookies and their beverage accompaniment.

If you’re having a longer party, you might add some protein-rich party foods just to ensure that your guests don’t go into sugar shock. Savory appetizers like cheese and sausage can ensure that everyone stays healthy throughout the gathering.

What are the rules for a cookie exchange?

The rules are pretty simple. Everyone makes cookies and brings them to share. Need cookie wrapping ideas?

While asking everyone to bring their favorite recipe is ideal, people are pressed for time and energy. We recommend making sure that your guests know that store-bought cookies are just fine.

Finally, you might consider a recipe exchange to keep the conversation flowing. If you ask everyone to submit their recipes beforehand, you could even use index cards and a pretty box to make a beautiful party favor that will help build a happy memory of your party every time one of your guests makes the recipe!

Ready to throw your holiday cookie exchange party?

If you need supplies for decorations or dishware, come on down to Paper Plus! We’re open and ready to help you throw a lovely social!

Got some 80s nostalgia? Plenty of adults do right now, which is why 80s parties are all the rage.

You don’t even need a reason to throw one! You can throw one just because things are finally opening up again, and you’re ready to have a good time with your friends.

Use these tips to create a night to remember!

What can you do for an 80s party?

An 80s party is the perfect opportunity to:

• Bust out your favorite 80s tunes!
• Create a glow-in-the-dark party!
• Set an 80s dress code!
• Serve up some retro sweets!
• Rent some 80s arcade cabinets, set to free-to-play!
• Get a green screen and a karaoke machine to make your own music videos!
• Get a button machine so that guests can make some bling!
• Set out some board games like Topple, Win Lose or Draw, Wheel of Fortune, Twister, Chinese Checkers, Uno, Battleship, and Connect Four.
• Don’t forget the decorations!
• Clear the dance floor!
• Throw lip-sync battles, karaoke contests, and dance-offs!

Believe it or not, adults can really connect and enjoy all of these activities, even when they seem silly. Especially when they seem silly!

What do you need for an 80s party?

Retro snacks are a must. We’re talking everlasting gob stoppers, Tootsie Pops, fizz bombs, snowballs, rock candy, and Jiffy Pop. Stock up on soda, especially Dr. Pepper and Sprite. Create neon signature cocktails. Make sloppy joe sliders.

If you rent those arcade games you could give out prizes for the guest who wins the high score of the night.

Make sure you have a dance floor cleared, and use decorations to make sure the dance area is clear to all. Set up stations for people to do all the fun activities you’ve set out for them.

80s Party Decorations: DIY

It’s easy to find a lot of cut-outs for 80s-themed decorations, or to make your own. You could deck the walls with 80s movie posters or create Pac-Man themed cut outs. Put out black lights and glow sticks.

Just about anything neon will evoke that 80s feeling. So will retro video game prints and hanging swirls with cassette tape danglers.

80s Party Props

Props and favors are easy for 80s themed parties, and they can be one and the same.

• Set out bowls with huge, angular glasses for guests to pluck up and wear.
• Give out neon glitter pen bracelets and jelly bracelets.
• Decorate with Rubix cubes and let your guests take them home if they want to.
• Set out neon hats!
• Set out tye-dyed pencils.
• Set out little 80s themed erasers!
• Give out 80s-themed keychains!

Other props could include neon glassware, plates, and napkins, as well as boom-box cut-outs, paper lanterns, and more.

80s Party Games for Adults

It’s hardly an 80s party without busting out the MadLibs, which can be made as clean (or as dirty) as you tell your guests to keep them. Set up an 80s trivia game.

We’ve already mentioned karaoke, lip-sync battles, and dance-offs, but you can turn them into full-scale contests. You can also give out a prize for the best music video.

You could even create a giant table full of Legos and just let people play. An 80s party is a great time for people to connect with each other and with the nostalgia of the past.

What do you wear to an 80s themed party?

To evoke the 80s style, don’t forget to tease up your hair and find yourself some shoulder pads. Wear some neon or dig up some leg warmers. Letter jackets and jean jackets are also a good call.

It was a colorful era, even for men, and there are plenty of options. Will you go punky, preppy, neon, or yuppie? The choice is up to you!

Have a totally tubular time!

Don’t overthink your 80s party. Right now you’ll be doing everyone in your life a favor by cheering them up with bright colors, music they haven’t heard in years, fun colors, and exciting games. Keep the energy up and go over-the-top: the 80s were all about going big and they were anything but sedate. And if this all sounds a little exhausting, you could always tone it down. Make a few glowy cocktails, set out a bowl of M&Ms, tell your friends to put on some 80s gear, and fire up Back to the Future, Die Hard, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 

It was a bright, fun time, and we could all use a little more of that in our lives.

Do other decades interest you – 50s, 60s, 70s?

And, of course, if you come on down to Paper Plus you’ll find plenty of supplies, from cut-outs to favors to neon-themed glasses and cups. Our shelves are all stocked and waiting to help you launch some summer fun, so stop on by today!

National Night Out is coming on August 2, and it’s the perfect excuse to throw a block party. We really encourage it, since it’s a chance to do what many of us have never done before: meet and communicate with your neighbors.

This can be intimidating if you’ve never thrown one before, so we’ve got some fun ideas to share.

What does a block party consist of?

Most block parties include:

• Lots of free food and soft drinks. If you don’t want to pay for it all, you could set up a potluck table. Other block parties do it as a BBQ, a picnic, or even an ice cream social.
• A lot of promotion in advance: people need to know about your block party if they’re going to go!
• Plenty of tables to hold food, and kegs or ice chests to hold drinks and ice.
• Music, if local ordinances allow.

Block parties help you have fun and meet people you’d never met before. They’re a great way to make friendships with people who live right where you do.

What can you do at a block party?

You can do anything you’d do at a normal party. Most block parties are kept family-friendly and allow space for the kids to show up and have a good time.

Most will include food, music, and some light games to help people get to know one another. You can block off an area for dancing as well, though you don’t want to blare the music too loudly. Ultimately, you want your neighbors to talk to one another.

How do you throw a small block party?

You may be having overwhelming visions of 40 to 50 strangers showing up to your event, but in truth you can control the size of your block party.

First, use old-fashioned methods to advertise your party. Don’t jump on Nextdoor or Facebook. Pick a few streets, perhaps the street above and below yours, or even just your own street. Hang a few invitations on people’s doors or send them through the mail after taking a walk to gather the addresses.

If you want to let people invite friends, family, or relatives, say so on the flier. If you want to restrict it to people who live on your street or block, you can say that, too.

Block Party Games

While the words “block party” can evoke images of wild parties, they can be family-friendly events, too. In fact, we encourage it, especially for National Night out! Here are a few ideas.

• An egg toss.
• A bean bag toss with canisters of different heights and widths.
• Office chair races with helmets.
• Hold a simple best dog contest: let people enter and show off their dog’s tricks and award points for loudest clapping.
• Hold a pet costume contest.
• Get local businesses to donate prizes and hold drawings or give them out as prizes for pet contests.
• Think old time games: musical chairs or Red Rover can offer good, clean family fun.

Tips For a Good Street Party

Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Check with your neighbors. They may be planning block parties too. You can team up or if more appropriate, choose another date.
2. Advertise at least 4 weeks in advance. You might want to send out reminder fliers two weeks in advance.
3. Parties should be finished before 9:00pm, especially if there are kids or seniors on your street.
4. Keep it on the lawn but keep your garage as a rain-out option, or, if you can get a permit, reserve the whole street. If you’re not comfortable having people wandering around your home you can keep the party on your back and front lawn.
5. Make food fun and accessible. For example, renting a cotton candy machine, a popcorn machine, or both can make outdoor-accessible food easy and fun.
6. Check your local regulations before you put on a party, as there may be ordinances that impact you. You may, for example, require a permit.
7. Set out balloons to mark entrances and exits. This shows it’s an organized activity.
8. Use colorful signs to direct people to the party-accessible areas, and the off-limits areas.
9. Get some volunteers! You’ll need people to help you post signs, advertise the party, serve food, and even circulate among the crowd making sure everyone has someone to talk to. Some might even be amateur entertainers who will be willing to make your block party even better.
10. Set out a sign-in book so you can get contact information for your neighbors. This can come in handy for future block parties, but can also help bring your neighborhood together in a crisis.
11. Encourage security. Remind neighbors to lock up doors and equipment while they’re at your party.
12. Don’t forget to clean up after your party. You won’t endear yourself to your neighbors if you leave trash all over the street after it is done.

You’re ready to meet the neighbors!

Don’t stress out too much! If you get some people joining in and having a good time with food and fun, you’ve done more than most. And after two grim Covid years most people will appreciate an opportunity to have some fun.

Don’t forget you can come on down to Paper Plus to get balloons, disposable flatware, table cloths, sign supplies, game supplies, and more. Our shelves are fully stocked and we’ve got great prices. Come on down and see us! We like meeting our neighbors, too!