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Adulting Food How To Life Things to Do

6 Tips For Hosting the Perfect Cocktail Party

Perfect Cocktail Party

From lavish garden parties to quaint dinner parties with home-cooked meals, there is something so special about throwing little parties, right? That is especially apparent when you’re going to be around those who are important to you. But what about cocktail parties? These can be done for any occasion and can be super special! So, here are some fabulous ways to throw the perfect cocktail party. 

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Perfect Cocktail Party
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How to Host the Perfect Cocktail Party

Serve cocktails

If you’re planning to throw a cocktail party, you’ll need a good variety of drinks. You’ll also need to make sure your guests are comfortable drinking them. Before you serve a cocktail, be sure you’ve read the ingredients. If there are any allergies, you’ll need to provide a safe drink for everyone. While yes, cocktails can be intimidating; you can learn how to make your own Miami vice cocktail here.

Identify the demographics of your group of guests

Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a cocktail party for the ages, a little forethought and planning go a long way in making your event a smash hit. Identifying the demographics of your group of guests is the first step to throwing a successful soiree. This list can include co-workers, friends, and family. If you have a large enough guest list, you may want to consider a caterer. However, if your budget is tight, you’re better off DIYing it. Is this for friends around the same age as you or co-workers with varying ages?

Create cocktail party favors

If you want to create cocktail party favors, think outside the box and consider combining edible party favors with your alcoholic treats. It will add a special touch to your celebration and is about deciding on a theme. A theme will help you determine what to serve and how to decorate the party. Having a color scheme can also be a great way to set the mood.

Add garnishes

There is something about garnishes that beautify a beverage. So, you’ll want to have some great garnishes to create the perfect atmosphere. These are a great way to add a visual appeal to your drink and can be a unique conversation starter. Whether you’re serving a martini or a gin gimlet, you can use these ideas to bring your cocktail to the next level. Decorative ice cubes are a simple way to create a festive drink garnish. You can fill them with herbs, fruits, or even edible flowers. Plus, some drinks need these garnishes as they enhance the flavors.

Think about martinis for a moment; the dry ones tend to have olives, while the coffee or chocolate-based ones tend to have coffee beans. Even something like a tequila sunrise has orange wedges or orange peeling. While yes, they don’t seem like a lot, the point of a cocktail is to look great and taste great. They can be a fun addition to any cocktail and can be prepared a week in advance.

Make sure you have the correct glassware

It may not seem like much, but it’s a big deal, so make sure you have the best glassware to showcase your drink. Not only will a proper glass enhance the flavor of your drink, but it will also show off its aesthetics. You wouldn’t want to put cognac in a martini glass, right? It’s going to look weird, raise some eyebrows, and the flavors might be off! Glassware has come a long way and is available in various shapes and sizes. You can find various options, from traditional martini glasses to ice spheres.

On top of glassware, you shouldn’t neglect the essential tools that go with cocktails. You have your cocktail shaker, the ice tray, the ice tongs, your toothpicks, umbrellas, the muddler, and the list can go on and on. They might not seem like much but are an essential part of the aesthetic and the creation of these cocktails.

Turn up the tunes

It is essential to choose the right music. You want to keep it at a low volume and ensure everyone has a good time. Playing some jazz is good, but you want to be calm. Keep a few classics in your playlist to entertain guests while they drink cocktails. For a truly fun evening, try adding some speakers to your house. These will not only make your party stand out, but they will also allow people to move around the house.

Recap: Plan the Perfect Cocktail Party

Planning the perfect cocktail party is easier than many people believe. Use these tips to plan the best one yet and have a good time with your guests.

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Adulting Healthy Living Parenting Things to Do

5 Perfect Activities For Parents That Need To Relax

Parents That Need To Relax

As a parent, relaxing time without the kids can be rare. It’s often so rare that when it comes, and the kids aren’t home, we don’t know how to spend it. The good news is you don’t have to waste any of your precious me-time working this out. Here are some of the perfect activities for parents that need to relax.

Parents That Need To Relax
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Activities For Parents That Need To Relax

Napping 

Yes, napping is number one on the list here because, as a parent, it’s rare we ever get enough sleep! However, a good nap without the threat of being woken up every few minutes can work wonders for the body and the mind.  

Make the experience special by making a warm drink, lowering the lights, and snuggling under your favorite blanket. You can even use sleep music or sounds like thunderstorms to help you gently drift off. Then you can wake up genuinely refreshed and relaxed at the end of your nap.

Meditation 

Mindfulness meditation is another great activity that can help you find relaxation. Primarily this is because it fosters a wider space between our thoughts and what we accept as fact, relieving stress. Although, in many cases, it needs to be a long-term habit, as when we meditate for the first few times the mind can be loud. 

However, if you are new to meditation and want an instant way to relax, try techniques like progressive muscle relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation is when you follow a guided meditation that goes through each part of your body. It encourages you to tense each body part and then let go, helping your body and mind let go of tension and promoting relaxation.

Massage 

Similarly to progressive muscle relations, massage can be a great activity for relaxation. There are many benefits to getting a professional massage, including:

  • eliminating toxins from your systems
  • loosening knots and tensions
  • promoting a sense of relaxation and wellbeing

Cannabis products for parents that need to relax

When the kids are out of the house, some parents use cannabis products to aid relaxation. There are plenty of products to choose from, including oils, edibles, and prerolls. As parents, safety is always a prime concern, so it’s a good idea to get something like the doob tube PACK CASE as it’s certified child-resistant, adding an extra layer of protection for your little ones should their inadvertently come across your products. 

Find your flow 

Many people find it supremely relaxing to be engaging in an activity where they can get into a flow state. A flow state is all about being present and absorbed in the activity you are doing. Many different activities can help you achieve this flow state, including running, drawing, crafting, gardening, and even singing! 

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Adulting How To Life On My Mind Things to Do

4 Reasons Why Future Planning Is So Important

Future Planning

Adults must plan for their future, but many don’t have any plans beyond the next day. For some, planning too far ahead is a laughable idea because when they plan anything, the universe has other ideas. The problem with a lack of future planning, though, is that it leads to drifting from their lives without considering that there could be a different curve ahead for them. 

The excuses are common: we are busy working, we’re busy studying, we’ll do it tomorrow, having a Will can wait, who needs to learn about urns when there are vacations to go on? The thing is, planning your future isn’t just about you. It’s about the family you save from arguing because you planned a funeral thirty years before the event.

Planning for the future is about the kids who need to know their futures are secured, too. Having a plan for your future is good sense, and it’s much easier to do when you know your reasons. This leads us to the reasons why future planning is so important listed for you below!

Future Planning
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Why Future Planning Is So Important

1. Future Planning Gives You Direction

Businesses have a huge plan for their business, and you can have a life plan in the same way. It should detail what you want from your life and how you plan to get there. Consider the place you’re in right now and the place you wish you were in. You have the chance to make that happen when you’re smart about your planning.

2. You Keep Control

Okay, so we can’t actually control our lives, but can we? We may not be able to control the outside forces that dictate the course of our lives or how it ends; however, we can control how we get there and what happens afterward in our funeral efforts. We can control how we plan to reach every milestone. Future planning allows us the feeling of control that we are doing something about the life we have. This feeling goes for every aspect of your life. 

Whether you are searching for a brand new job or if you are searching for a brand new home. You have control over where you work and where you live. Something as small as going to a recruiter to find a job or finding the perfect moving & relocation services that will help you on the day you are moving. You control who you let in to help you, and you control where that help gets you. You are the master of your destiny and although certain things are out of your scope of control, what you can control is the true essence of your life.

3. You Get The Chance to Focus

It’s nice to think about what you want from the future and to plot the path to get there. The point of future planning is to give you focus and ensure that you get where you need to go. 

4. Visualization

Your plan for your future is going to change your life and you can do that when you visualize the plan happening for you in real-time. Being able to visualize your goals helps you get where you want to be with ease.

Future Planning

With future planning, whether for your retirement, your future, or the education of your children, you need a plan. Without a plan, you won’t have any set path, and you won’t know what to spend your life aiming for. With a plan, though, you can relax a little knowing that everything is taken care of.

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Michigan Things to Do Travel Travel Tuesday

4 Fun Things to Do In Battle Creek, Michigan

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If you ever find yourself in or near Battle Creek, you should make it a point to spend some time there. There are so many fun things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan. Most people think that the only thing to do there is going to the casino, but that is just the tip of the ice burg.

My husband and I often stop at the Casino in Battle Creek when we are traveling without the kids since we pass right through it when we head toward Lake Michigan. This last time, we spent a day exploring the city and we had so much fun doing it. It was the perfect day date for us, and we truly had a blast.

Things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan

1. Handmap Brewing

Things to Do In Battle Creek, Handmap Brewing

We stopped at Handmap Brewing on a whim, and it quickly became one of my favorite breweries. They play great music and have different music themes each day. We went on a Saturday and reggae music was playing to give a vacation vibe.

The brewery is beautifully decorated and had a relaxing vibe. I could have spent the entire day there with a good book and yummy beer. Oh, and the beer was amazing because it was different than most places. They had choices for everyone, but I was especially impressed by the Black IPA they had called Black Squirrel.

I was lucky enough to meet the owner while we were there, and she was so nice! She took the time to talk with my husband and me, and the staff was just as friendly.

Things to Do In Battle Creek, Handmap Brewing, Black IPA, Black Squirrel
Handmap Brewing

2. Griffin Grill and Pub

The thing I like most about Griffin Grill and Pub is that they have an extensive menu for both food and beer. Our food was delicious, and they played fun Irish music, which I loved. The service was great, too, with our waiter coming by often and returning quickly when we needed something.

3. 32 Social Cafe

Things to Do In Battle Creek, 32 Social
Coffee in Battle Creek: 32 Social
Things to Do In Battle Creek, 32 Social
32 Social Cafe

If you’re looking for a coffee shop, 32 Social is the perfect place. Their coffee is delicious and the environment is perfect. It’s sunny inside and so chill, it just left me feeling positive and optimistic. They also have yummy treats like cupcakes, cookies, and other snacks.

Things to Do In Battle Creek, 32 Social
32 Social Cafe

4. FireKeepers Casino & Hotel

The casino is fun, of course, but you have to remember to limit yourself. My husband and I decide on an amount we want to spend ahead of time and then only take that amount with us. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and we move on. Hence the reason we decided to explore the rest of Battle Creek.

If you decide to stay overnight, the FireKeepers hotel is really nice. They also have many restaurants to choose from, but our favorite is Dacey’s Taphouse.

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Things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan

I hadn’t realized it before, but there are so many fun things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan. There are only a handful of things discussed here, but there is still so much more for you to see. Make a day trip to check it out!

Have you ever been to Battle Creek? What did you do there? Leave a comment and let me know!