How to Host a Trendy Shabbat DinnerIn Feburary 2016 29,

In Feburary 2016 29,
Pop-up Shabbats are events in which a group of people converge at a particular location, such as an apartment, for a single meal. After the meal they may never meet there again. These ad hoc dinners allow people to explore their heritage and enjoy new foods with others of like faith. You can organize a pop-up dinner using social media like Facebook or Twitter to spread the word about the date and location. Tell guests whether they're expected to bring food. The host may prepare a main course or even hire a chef for the event.
Food Preparation
A trendy Shabbat dinner may include a combination of both traditional and contemporary dining choices. Braided challah bread, gefilte fish and chicken soup are staples, but you could also infuse an international flavor to the dinner with dishes such as Persian rice, Cornish game hens and lentil-stuffed onions. For vegetarian guests, serve black bean enchiladas or quinoa and salad.
Themed Meals
Shabbat dinner can be an opportunity to draw attention to pressing human rights issues. Host a community dinner to discuss a current social justice issue each week. Serve fair trade food and lead discussions related to persecution and human rights abuses.
Post-meal Entertainment
Bring in some after-dinner entertainment or activity after you've said the blessings. This can include playing recorded music or introducing live music, such as a jazz band. Hosts who are leading a justice-themed Shabbat may hire a guest speaker, such as a rabbi or professor, to speak on a current issue. Guests may also enjoy playing some board games or card games.
In Feburary 2016 29,

How to Host a Carnival FundraiserIn Feburary 2016 13,

In Feburary 2016 13,
Ask a local school, church or library. They may donate a space or charge a minimal fee.
Fotolia.com'>
Ask volunteers to build a small stage for performers, game booths or back-drops for photo shoots.
Advertise locally for volunteers.
Ask businesses for leftover materials for craft projects or to donate the cost of renting a 'bouncy house' or to sponsor another activity.
Solicit items for pot luck food or contact a local restaurant to provide a spaghetti dinner.
Work closely with members of the organization raising funds
Arts and Crafts Station
Set up an arts and crafts station with projects for kids and adults of all ages.
Fotolia.com'>
Arts and crafts are an entertaining way for carnival-goers to create their own souvenirs of the event.
Ask for volunteers from a local high school arts class to guide carnival-goers through different projects and solicit materials from local businesses and neighborhood residents.
Look for materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill and lower the carbon footprint of the event.
Cake Walk and Bake Sale
Sell baked goods, snacks and beverages.
Fotolia.com'>
Ask members of your organization to donate baked goods to be sold at the carnival.
Organize a cake or cupcake walk.
Charge for each entry.
Games
Arrange a carnival boardwalk complete with carnival games like ring toss, balloon darts, beanbag toss, bowling and three-legged races,.
Fotolia.com'>
Carnival games are easy to set up and fun to play.
Sell tickets for the games at a reasonable price and offer inexpensive prizes bought in bulk or donated.
Consider other games like bobbing for apples, croquet or mini-golf
Self-Expression & Entertainment
Ask for volunteers from a local beauty school or art school to facilitate this activity.
Fotolia.com'>
Allow guests to express themselves through body art.
Set up a tent wherein guests can adorn their cheeks, bedazzle their nails or temporarily ink their limbs.
Ask local clowns, jugglers, musicians, poets, comedians, theatre troupes, dancers, mimes, balloon artists and other talented performers to donate their time for a good cause.
Fotolia.com'>
Tap into the social consciousness of local performers.
Raise Funds
Solicit businesses and artisans for items.
Fotolia.com'>
Conduct a raffle, silent auction or task a volunteer with hosting a live auction.
Raffle off a donated prize.
Conduct a silent auction or host a live auction.
Fun Photo Back Drops & Costumes
Set-up a photo shoot and charge a small fee for the finished product.
Fotolia.com'>
Capture the memories on film.
Create painted cardboard cut-outs for guests to pose with.
Alternatively, set-up a background and add costumes for carnival-goers to wear.
In Feburary 2016 13,

How to Throw a White PartyIn Feburary 2016 10,

In Feburary 2016 10,
Choose invitations. You can find white invitations in stationary stores or online. This will set the tone for your white party. Send invitations out about three or four weeks before your party date.
Ask guests to wear white. It's nice to specify a dress code, whether it's casual, dressy casual, semi-formal or formal. The party venue and time mostly determine how guests should dress. An afternoon garden party can be fairly casual, while an after 5 o'clock event may be more semi-formal.
Decorate your venue with white streamers, white rugs and other white or light colored decor.
Decorate tables with white linens. You can use white flowers like gardenias in water-filled shallow bowls as centerpieces. Other white flowers you may want to use include roses, carnations, lilies and orchids.
Set place settings in white. This includes white place cards, place mats, napkins and plates.
Serve foods that are white or light in color to keep in line with your white party theme. Food ideas include white chocolate-covered strawberries, light cheeses, risotto, chicken, pork, turkey, white corn, cauliflower, angel food cake (with or without white frosting), coconut cake and vanilla ice cream.
Serve drinks like ginger ale, lemon-lime sodas, pina coladas, martinis, mojitos and White Russians.
In Feburary 2016 10,