With the e-commerce booming and the online stores to facilitate you for all your needs, there is no room left for your worries. With the hectic lifestyle and busy routine, we hardly get time to do even things which are meant to be done. But, one thing is sure that everyone wishes to celebrate the happy times. Can we let the most treasured moments wash away without friends and loved ones around? Can we afford to lose association with clients and stakeholders, just due to an address change for business? Can we think of being so busy and forgetting to invite someone or the other for the fun filled party? Not Possible!

Here is something that lets all of us be well connected to our own small world amidst moves of our life. The convenient approach of moving cards and party invitation cards solve your problem. Be it a change of home or shift to your own purchased apartment, be it a new home announcement or just a change of business address, being in touch with all is no more difficult. If you need to keep everyone updated with new home message, taking the help of Moving Announcement Cards is the best option. For your housewarming party invitations try the unique cards, which do all you want to, but can’t. Choosing the Thank You Cards for Housewarming Party leave your loved ones with a lovely smile making the occasion memorable for them and for you!

There are an assortment of personalized announcements for moving and invitations for housewarming and open house, which include All About Moving Announcements Cards, Housewarming Party Invitations and Open House Invitations Cards, Housewarming Party Invitations and Open House Invitations Cards, Moving Cards, Change of Address Announcements, We’ve Moved Cards and We’re Moving Announcements Cards, Moving Thank You Cards and Housewarming Party Thank You Cards, Moving Announcements Cards, New Home Announcements Cards, Business Moving Announcements Cards and Moving Announcements Wording Verses, Housewarming Party Invitations Wording Ideas and Sayings for Open House Invitations Cards.

You can select your preferred verses and sayings for Change of Address Announcements and see what suits you best. These moving announcement cards provide you with amazing wording ideas and allow you enjoy a wide range of choice to fit your requirement. Be it a simple short message conveying the new home announcement or a little wordy for colleagues and clients, moving cards have all for you.

Offering prompt services, personalization, best quality, customization matching your needs, these moving announcement cards and Housewarming Party Invitations come from the experts who make it affordable for you with their online services. These cards leave an impression to make it memorable with your personalized expression. These moving cards make it more effective with a photo of your choice to add to the perfection!

The experience of opening doors to your friends and family for being a part of your happiness is wonderful. You can cherish the sweet moments by inviting all your friends with the popular housewarming party invitations and call them for a visit after your new home announcement. You would find discounts and offers that would lure you to choose these for yet another occasion of your Open house party. So flip through and get ahead by selecting the moving cards that do it all for you; be it inviting friends for the party or informing business associates for a new place of business. They take the onus of making your important times beautiful with their services.

There are a few websites where you can order unique moving announcements, custom housewarming party invitations and printed business moving announcements, add your own text, type style, ink color and then preview before you buy. This takes the guess work out of buying online!

Sarah Porter is Press Agent for several websites including Housewarming Invitations, Moving Announcements Cards, Business Moving Announcements and more.

Housewarming Party Invitations & Open House Invitations have been in style since ages. If you have a circle of friends and relatives and want to invite them to your see your new home, you can have a. The best way to invite them is through good Invitations, which are ideal to call your loved ones to celebrate the happy times with you.

Housewarming Invitations can be unique and personalized, and Open House Invitations are available for free, can be generated online as printable forms; can be formal for your colleagues and clients; and can be fun and colorful for your children to invite their friends. These can combine creativity and styled to impress your guests. With such trendy, cute and personalized invites to your guests will definitely attend the event!

Invitations can be customized or personalized with unique Wording Ideas, Verses & Sayings all at affordable rates. If you are looking print your own, then blank cards are ideal. You can fill out lines using freely available quotes and Wording Ideas, Verses & Sayings.

Happy moments are meant to be shared with everyone. So allow the experts to create Invitations for your friends and family. With years of experience, such service providers know exactly what you are thinking of for your Invites. One look at these specially customized Invitations is enough to bowl them over!

There are a few websites where you can order unique housewarming party invitations, add your own text, type style, ink color and then preview before you buy. This takes the guess work out of buying online!

Sarah Porter is Press Agent for several websites including Housewarming Invitations, Moving Announcements Cards, Business Moving Announcements and more.

As a wise proverb says “There is a time for everything under the sun. A time to run, a time to laugh, a time to skip about.” With that sentiment there is a time to strengthen the bonds of family union. And what better way to begin then planning for your next family reunion. Family reunion events have evolved into big-time annual family shindigs these days. From gatherings at the ol’ homestead to luxury cruise ship gala events. But when is a good time to start planning for your family reunion? The fact is, anytime is a good time to start planning a meaningful memorable family gathering.

KEEPING TIME ON YOUR SIDE

They key to successfully planning a modest to large family event is giving yourself and the rest of the family plenty of time to put it all together. This will also allow family reunion planners drum up support when and where needed. This calls for good communication and organization on the reunion planners part.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FAMILY REUNION SOFTWARE

Your best approach to organizing a family reunion event is using what is called a family reunion planner organizer with *attendee registration spreadsheet features. Planner organizers now come in many software formats. A stand-alone program may require the manual input of information such as reunion date, time, number of attendees, guest list contact information and such. It is advantageous to choose reunion planning software platforms that allow users to export and import data into formats most users are familiar with such as MS Word and Excel Spreadsheets.

COMMITTEE MEETING PRESENTATION FEATURES

Users should be able to take advantage of spreadsheet data report and presentation features such as bar and pie charts for surveys, dues ledgers and such. Your family reunion planner organizer should allow you to easily enter survey data and tally. For example, the reunion committee narrows down three possible locations for the family reunion event. Perhaps you want to find out how far these locations are from each attendees home address. Features that allow you to enter travel distance to the reunion event location per household and run a comparison report can help you narrow down the most convenient locations.

CHECKLISTS ACCOUNTS AND BALANCES

Your software should include features the allow you to add up T-shirt orders and payment balances. Keep track of desired reunion activities and menu surveys. Keep track of delegated assignments. Make sure your planner also comes with a family reunion planning primer. It should contain an editable pre-written timeline planner with built in checklist. Reunion supplies and materials lists are extremely helpful. Many reunion planners come with a host of templates such as flyers, labels, nametags, official reunion correspondence stationary, welcome letter template to name a few.

HELPFUL SEARCH ENGINE FEATURES

Now major search engines offer features that allow users to share standard data in MS Word and Excel spreadsheet format with other online users making the reunion communication process a whole lot easier for all involved.

REUNION PLANNING STEP BY STEP

Step 1. Your first task is to gather information from family members regarding the kind of family reunion event they would like to have. To do this you should first commence announcing that plans are underway for the next family reunion and the need to consider ideas and select committee member volunteers.

Step 2. Compile a list of family members and their addresses and send out your announcements as a flyer or in newsletter format. Your announcement should include a brief survey asking for their opinions and suggestions for food, entertainment, theme, events and location. Those who respond quickly and provide practical input should be asked to form the reunion committee.

Step 3. Establish an initial committee meeting time and place where most can attend.

Step 4. Form your initial committee members including the chairperson and treasurer.

Step 5. Using your “Committees List” commence selecting other subcommittee heads. Your committees lists includes the following duties:

Food committee
Welcome/Greeting Committee
Finance Committee
Communications Committee
Setup and Cleanup Committee
Fundraising Committee
Family History Committee
Photography Committee
News and Media Committee
Supplies Department
Health and Safety Committee
Security Department
Genealogy Research and Presentation Committee

Step 6. Now review your consideration elements and consider potential reunion site locations visited”, reunion themes, proposed date, initial cost estimates for budget. Remember to use the survey you sent out with your initial mailing. Many Family Reunion Planner organizers contain 30 or more elements for consideration.

Step 7. As you discuss consideration elements record final decisions as to who will do what. Delegate committee heads and volunteers accordingly. Make sure delegations are in harmony with your committee heads department. Avoid overlapping assignments.

Step 8. Now get into the details of planning the event. Using a “Possible Locations and Activities ” list compare completed surveys to the possible location and activities list. Draw a line thru locations not recommended and narrow down the desired location to about three or four choices. Now take a vote. Follow the same pattern for activities.

Step 9. After deciding on location and activities you now have a better idea of event needs in the form of materials and services.

Step 10. Using a “Needs List” as a starter, begin listing all needs for your event with the help and feedback of department heads.

Step 11. Create a ballpark “Expense List” to get an idea of the amount of funds required for the event and activities and add this to your Reunion Planner Budget list and Calculation Tool.

Step 12. Using your surveys complete a “Reunion Lunch Program Agenda” if your reunion event will be held in the after noon. Otherwise create a “Reunion Dinner Program Agenda”.

Following these basic steps when choosing your family reunion software and organizing your reunion event will get you off on to a good start.

*A Family Reunion planning “Attendee Registration Worksheet” is a spreadsheet that allows the user to record information in the form of a dues ledger, tally reunion surveys, create a guest list roster”. Enter T-shirt orders and keep track of special needs.

Marcus Angelo is the founder of Fimark.net, an event planning media development network. Mark designed the award winning Fimark Family Reunion Planner, a family reunion planning organizer for reunion planners who wish to implement a more organized approach to planning and executing a successful family reunion. The site at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net offers reunion planning tips, tools and reunion planning software.

A truly wonderful and special party is one that reflects the personalities of the guest of honor. With a few simple personal touches, it is easy to create a truly memorable party…one your child will remember for years to come. Here are 5 Ways to Add a Personal Touch to Your Child’s Next Party.

Start with the invitation. The invitation sets the mood for the entire occasion to come. Purchase or create an invitation that reflects the party’s theme. My son’s last party was a jungle safari. I used jungle clipart and natural colored wraphia to create memorable invitations.

Create a party soundtrack. With iTunes and other sites to download music from, it is easy to create a soundtrack to match the theme of your child’s party. Having a basketball themed party? Simply search for “basketball related” songs and build your sound track. Or, having a tea party for your little girl? Do a search on tea parties. You will come up with many related songs! Give each guest a copy of the party soundtrack to take home!

Create a Permanent Party Memento. With digital cameras, it is very easy to create a quick party memento for all of your guests. Ask each guest to pose with the guest of honor when entering the party. Print out these pictures on your printer or photo printer, crop and put them in a frame. Set the pictures out on a table for them to pick up when they leave the party. You could even decorate the frame to match the theme of the party. Tip: If possible, appoint an “assistant” to help with this project.

Give a Personalized Party Favor. There are a wide variety of personalized party favors available for every party occasion now. The best personalized party favor is one that truly reflects the theme of the party and/or the personality of the guest of honor. Having a princess party for your daughter’s next birthday party? Give each attendee a personalized princess-themed candy bar. Is your son an avid sports enthusiast? Give each guest a personalized sports themed coloring book!

Say Thank You With Style. Don’t forget to thank all of your guest in a personal way. Send a thank you note that fits the theme of the party with a personal note. Make sure to mention how much you loved their gift!

This article was written by Kristine M. Lewis, owner of http://www.dreampressonline.com Dream Press provides stationery and gifts personalized just for you! Products include stationery, favors, labels, calling cards and more! Kristine resides in Michigan with her boyfriend and adorable 5-years-old son - Ben.

If you are having a pirate party, a mermaid party, or a beach party, send the invitations out on parchment -rolled into a plastic bottle with colored sand in; color the sand with food dye. Place a little plastic Nemo in the bottle.

If it’s a pirates, cowboy party send the invitation out as a ransom note! A dinosaur party can have conventional invitations but tied around the necks of plastic dinosaurs. If the party has a cartoon theme get the kids to dress up in that theme if they want.

Disney Characters are depicted in cheap coloring books and the kids can color in the characters and they can be cut out for the invitations.

Underwater parties can be held in the garden with a paddling pool and plenty of water pistols. Sand can be piles in boxes to look like chests and cheap toys can be hidden as both favors and prizes.

The kids can actually walk the plank using milk crates. Equally a castle can be made out of cardboard boxes, and the dollar stores have many Childs toys suitable for a castle knight or princess party.

If the kids are a bit older uses natural props and throw a kids star gazing party. Incorporate it with a sleepover. Rent a telescope a sneak a little education into the event. Cover the food table with a black cloth and cut out silver stars and moon shapes.

Cover the plates with metal foil and hang shapes from the trees, have a look at Christmas decorations or have a craft table and let the kids make their own. Use star shapes to cut out sandwiches and pizzas. Theme party ideas and supply are not restricted to birthdays a star gazing party can celebrate the longest night of the year or midsummer.

Find free printable invitations online at: http://www.4ninvite.com

Nina is an expert freelance writer. She is a cake decorator and a certified naturopath. Presently she is happily RV-ing with her husband.

If you’re planning a 50th wedding anniversary party for your parents or close friends, there are a few things to consider. Since gold is the traditional symbol for a 50th wedding anniversary, you’ll likely want to incorporate gold into the decor. You can do that inexpensively with gold ribbon, gold candles, or by adding gold stars to ivory candles.

Although you won’t have any trouble assembling a guest list just because the couple has had 50 years to accumulate friends and associates, this is the perfect kind of party for a small, intimate gathering. If you invite 6 or 8 couples, there will be time to go around the room and listen to each other tell stories about the golden couple.

When you are planning a 50th wedding anniversary party, you have to choose whether it will be a surprise to the golden couple or if they will be in on the planning. Unless you are very close to them, it isn’t advisable for this kind of party to be a surprise. Women, especially start dreaming about planning a 50th wedding anniversary party much like they once dreamed of getting married in the first place. She or they might have plans of what kind of party they would like this to be.

Did you know you can request greetings from the White House for the occasion? For people who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary or their 80th birthday and beyond, the White House will send a card signed by the president for the happy occasion. They ask that you send your request six weeks before the event and they will send the greeting out ten days before the event.

If you have access to memorabilia, a scrapbook detailing their 50 years together would make a wonderful gift. Old pictures, accomplishments, mementoes, highs and even some lows could be chronicled here. A video would also make a great gift as would a video of the party. A short skit based on some aspect of the couple’s life together could serve as the entertainment. You also want to leave time for toasts and warn guests ahead of time that you’ll be calling on them to toast the special couple.

Presents can be a sticky subject. Some people choose to ask for donations to a favorite charity in lieu of gifts. Some people still bring a gift. There’s no right or wrong answer on this. As you are planning a 50th wedding anniversary party, keep the wishes of the golden couple in mind and try to honor any requests they have made.

For Unique Gift Ideas visit us at http://www.epicnicbasket.com

You may republish this article on your website, or e-zine so long as none of the content, or author information has been edited or changed in any way, and all links are left active and unchanged.

Looking for a fun birthday party theme, or just a fun party theme for a get together with friends? Consider a Mexican Fiesta party. Just think - spicy Mexican dishes with a cold Mexican beer or a margarita to wash it down with. Play some island music and leave some sombreros lying around - they’re bound to be picked up and worn by some animated guests after sampling the Mexican beer and margaritas.

Following are some tasty south-of-the-border appetizer and cocktail recipes:

Black Bean Quesadillas

Ingredients
2 burrito-size tortillas
1- 14 oz can of refried low fat black beans
1 cup salsa
1½ cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
½ cup guacamole (homemade or from the Deli store)
2 Tbsp sour cream

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lay one tortilla on a flat surface. Spread the beans evenly over the tortilla. Spoon ¾ cup of salsa over the beans, then sprinkle cheese. Top with the second tortilla. Place the quesadilla on a foil-covered cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes (cheese will be melted and the top tortilla will be crisp and brown). Mix the guacamole and sour cream and pour into a bowl, add to a large plate, add another bowl with the remaining salsa, cut the quesadilla in 4 portions and transfer to the plate. Colorful presentation, tasty appetizer or meal.

Guacamole

Ingredients
3 - 4 Avocados depending on the size of the avocados
1/4 or 1/3 jar salsa
Salt to taste
6 oz cream cheese (to stretch dip during high avocado prices!)

Preparation
Mix avocado chunks, lemon or lime juice, diced onions, diced tomato and cilantro. Mix by hand with a fork until the consistency still has very small (1/8″) chunks of avocado. Never use a food processor for making guacamole. To prevent browning over night, put Saran Wrap over dip with no air in between (push Saran Wrap toward bottom of bowl to expel air).

Salsa

Ingredients
4 medium fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (up to 1 cup)
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh green pepper (bell pepper)
1/4 cup oil
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh green chiles
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tsp cilantro (coriander) seed, crushed (or fresh cilantro leaves)

1 tsp salt

Preparation
Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill. Stir occasionally. Serve with corn chips.

Margaritas

Ingredients
1-½ oz tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur
¼ oz fresh lime juice

Preparation
Shake 100% blue agava tequila with Grand Marnier and lime juice, and strain into a chilled salt-rimmed cocktail glass. Serve. Makes one drink.

Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients
2 oz tequila
4 oz orange juice
½ oz grenadine

Preparation
Pour Tequila and orange juice in a highball glass over ice and stir. Trickle grenadine on top. Makes one drink.

Mexican Beer

There are many types of Mexican beer. Pacifico, Dos Equis, Negra Modelo, Sol, Tecate and Corona are some of the more popular Mexican beers.

Find a reason to throw a Mexican Fiesta party soon, whether it’s for a birthday party or a get together with friends, and enjoy some south-of-the-border-style fun.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find birthday party planning tips and resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/birthdays

Trying to organize a birthday extravaganza for your spouse or friend? One theme that never fails is a Mexican Fiesta party.

Send out some fun chili pepper birthday invitations. For some fun decorations, consider an inflatable cactus, hang a string of fiesta lights or balloons and find some colorful Mexican blankets to drape over the furniture. Leave some sombreros lying around - they’re bound to be picked up and worn by some animated guests.

Following are some tasty south-of-the-border-style recipes:

Tamales

Ingredients

2 cups Maseca for tamales
2 cups lukewarm water or broth
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup lard or vegetable shortening
Dried corn husks

Preparation
Soak corn husks for at least 6 hours. Combine maseca, baking powder and salt in a bowl, work broth or water with your fingers to make a soft moist dough. In a small bowl, beat lard or shortening until fluffy, add masa and beat until dough has a spongy texture. Prepare tamales with desired filling. This recipe will make enough dough for 16 small tamales. Easily doubles.

Tamale Filling

Ingredients
1 1/4 lbs boneless pork loin or shoulder (optional: chicken or beef)

1 1/2 lbs chile pasilla or California pods
1/8 cup cooking oil (corn)
3/4 cup water
1/2 tbsp salt
16 corn husks
2 1/4 lbs prepared Masa (above)

Preparation
Cover meat with water, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until done (about 2 hours). Lightly saute clean chile pods (removing stems and seeds) in cooking oil. Place in blender, add water and blend until smooth. Cut meat into small pieces, cook in cooking oil until browned. Add chile mixture and salt to meat, cook approximately 7 minutes. Soak corn husks for a few minutes and rinse well. Using the masa spreader, spread evenly over the smooth side of the corn husks, place a tbsp of meat mixture in the center. Fold sides towards the center, fold end of husk and pinch the open end, place tamales upright in steamer with the folded side on the bottom. Cover with a wet cloth or more husks, add water and steam, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Fajitas

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs beef skirt steak, cut in strips
3 garlic cloves, chopped
juice of 1 lime
large pinch of mild chili powder, paprika & cumin
1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
12 flour tortillas
vegetable oil (for frying)
salt & pepper to taste

Preparation
Combine beef with the garlic cloves, the lime juice, chili powder, paprika, cumin and olive oil. Add salt & pepper. Mix well & marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or overnight, sealed & refrigerated. Cut meat into bite size strips and grill in 1Tbsp oil in large skillet over high to medium high heat until browned & cooked through. Serve with pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole & cheese.

Chicken with Rice (Arroz con Pollo)

Ingredients
2 cups long grain rice
1 - 16oz jar Rice Mex

2 cup or 16 oz. jar of water
1/2 chicken (parts or boneless breast)
3 tbsp oil

Preparation
Boil chicken in rice mex and water. In another deep pan heat oil on high setting until it starts to smoke. When oil smokes, put in your 2 cups of rice and stir constantly until it turns white like popcorn. When the rice is mostly popped, put in the chicken and broth. Cook on high until it comes to a rolling boil. Lower heat, set to low, cover pan and allow rice to cook for 25 minutes. Serves 6 to 8 persons.

Don’t forget the Mexican beer and margarita mix to wash down the great Mexican food at your Mexican Fiesta birthday party!

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find birthday party planning tips and resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/birthdays

A luau party seems to naturally conjure up images of fruity drinks with cocktail umbrellas. When planning a luau party, don’t forget the flower leis, tropical straws and coconut cups (and cocktail umbrellas, of course!). Get your cocktail shaker and blender out and enjoy some traditional luau cocktails with the following cocktail recipes.

Mai Tai

Ingredients
1 oz (2 tablespoons) dark rum
1 oz (2 tablespoons) amber rum
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1/2 oz (1 tablespoon) Cointreau or triple sec
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine granulated sugar
Dash of grenadine
Garnish with an orange slice

Preparation
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 1 cup ice cubes, then strain into a glass filled with ice cubes. Makes one drink.

Blue Hawaiian

Ingredients
1 oz light rum
1 cherry
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1 oz cream of coconut
1 slice pineapple

Preparation
Blend light rum, blue Curacao, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut with one cup ice in an electric blender at high speed. Pour contents into a highball glass. Decorate with the slice of pineapple and a cherry. Makes one drink.

Hawaiian Cocktail

Ingredients
2 oz Gin
1 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Triple Sec

Preparation
Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass (an old-fashioned glass). Garnish with cherry. Makes one drink.

Hawaiian Fruit Punch (this one is for the kids!)

Ingredients
1 oz. Lemon Juice
Juice of 1/2 Lime
1 oz. Guava Nector
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz. Passion Fruit Juice
Soda

Preparation
Blend with crushed ice and pour into a chimney glass. Fill glasses with soda. Stir and add fruit you like. Makes one drink.

Use these fun and tasty Hawaiian cocktail recipes to create a fun luau party theme!

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find birthday party planning tips and resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/birthdays

Trying to come up with a fun birthday party theme? Think Hawaiian with a luau birthday party. Send birthday invitations specifying the dress code - Hawaiian shirts, hula skirts, etc. Buy some island music from a party store for some Hula dancing or the Limbo. For decorations, consider bamboo tiki torches, inflatable parrots or palm trees. Serve some traditional Hawaiian dishes, such as shredded pork, but remember to fix some side dishes to accompany the main dishes. Following are a few recipes for Hawaiian side dishes certain to make any luau birthday party a success.

Banana-Yam Casserole

Ingredients
4 yams or sweet potatoes
4 ripe but not overly ripe bananas
1/4 to 1/3 cup brown sugar
2-3 Tbsp butter
Dash of salt
1/2 cup water

Preparation
Preheat over to 350. Parboil the sweet potatoes. Cool and peel. Slice into 1/4 inch slices. Slice the bananas into 1/4 inch slices. Prepare a casserole dish by buttering the inside. Place a layer of sweet potatoes in the casserole dish. Add a dash of salt and small pieces of butter. Sprinkle with the brown sugar. Add a layer of the banana slices, small pieces of butter and brown sugar. Alternate layers until the casserole is nearly full, ending with the bananas, brown sugar and butter on top. Add a dash of salt. Add the water and bake in a 350 oven 30-40 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Coconut Fruit Salad

Ingredients
1 fresh pineapple

3 oranges
3 pears
1 cup red seedless grapes
5 bananas
4 crisp apples
3 peaches
25 large marshmallows
1 cup of walnuts
1 cup shredded coconut (may substitute melon, kiwi, mango, papaya, guava, nectarines, grapefruit if necessary)

Preparation
All of the fruit should be cut or sliced into bite-size pieces. Combine all the ingredients except the bananas, walnuts, and coconut. Cover and chill. Just before serving, mix in the bananas and walnuts. Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the top. This is a delicious tropical fruit salad with a Hawaiian twist. Serves 25.

Enjoy your Hawaiian luau birthday party!

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find birthday party planning tips and resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/birthdays