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Three Party-Throwing Tips

For the common partyphile, throwing hot parties seems natural. We simply create a theme, stick to it, invite a handful, pour some alcohol click some glasses, and voila--- an epic party has been thrown. However, during this season, partyphiles always have to face their worst fear: throwing a Christmas party.

Here is the deal: when we talk about Christmas parties that we throw ourselves out of our own will, we actually enjoy it. Unfortunately, when we are forced into organizing a Christmas party, it seems like all hell breaks lose and stress just comes flooding through our lives as if flood gates of stress-triggers have just been opened. For the really pitiful partyphile pushed into organizing a Christmas party for his office, school org, school mates, class mates, church mates, seat mates, cheat mates, and all other social groups sine time immemorial, a comma is inevitable. Why? Because organizing a party that is supposed to be fun for everyone is hard to do. Why? Because when you take some random group of people, it is hard to get an idea of what they like doing and what they enjoy. Moreover, it seems impossible to please each and every single one of the party’s attendees. In fact, simply gathering all the attendees before the party happens to draw names that decide who shall exchange gifts with whom is a gargantuan task all in itself. The good news is, I felt really inspired today so I decided to give you three tips on how to make organizing a Christmas party a little easier for you instead of going on and on with my holiday rants. So here are my tips:

• Although it is really tempting hire a caterer to get rid of your food preparing problems, the truth is, for groups comprised of people who do not see each other often, asking for the payment for the caterer is very difficult. Moreover, caterers’ prices spike up during the season and since they are extra busy, you would need to book them way ahead. The solution: a potluck party. Again, the only problem with potluck parties is that people bring either similar food, or food that are so different they can not be eaten together. The solution is simple: throw a potluck party but set a theme. For example, you can require the party attendees to bring Pizza or Pasta ONLY. Or, you may ask them to bring some Chinese food. If you want a more diverse spread, assign each person to bring a specific kind of foodstuff. Assign some people to bring dessert, some to bring some alcohol, some to bring entrees…. You get the idea.
• When it comes to exchanging gifts, it becomes very difficult to see each other at one time just to draw names to decide who gives gifts to whom. I suggest you set a price range and simply exchange gifts on the day of the party. Of course, everyone would have to bring a gift that would be good for everyone, but all the effort that goes into scouring for the perfect gift that anyone would like is part of the fun.
• If you want to keep your party exciting for everyone, it is important that you follow a program. Leave all your hang-ups out the door and play silly games and give away prizes. You may also play drinking games or a trivia game involving bits of trivia about Christmas and the attendees of the party. Although eating and giving gifts is exciting, it should not be the only thing to transpire during the party. Remember, you are get together to bond with the other attendees of the party. Plan activities that will allow you to have fun while bonding and strengthening relationships with other people in the party.

Catch Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 in the PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph or tweet the columnist at twitter.com/zhaun

Drink of the Week: Cuba Libre

Since it is my birthday week (i'm celebrating my 25th birthday tomorrow) I decided to give out a recipe for one of my all-time favorite cocktails-- the Cuba Libre. This cocktail is easy to make and is quite refreshing. Here is how you do it:

Grab a highball glass and fill it halfway with ice

Add a shot of rum

the juice of half a lime

And then fill it to the brim with some coke.

Drink of the Week: Caribbean Bay

Our drink of the week is called the Caribbean Bay. It has cool tropical flavors and a strong kick. Try serving on your next house party. Here's how you make it:

In a glass with ice add:

• half a shot of dark rum
• half a shot of light rum
• half a shot of coconut rum

then fill it to the brim with pineapple juice.

Piolo: Talk of the Town

Here's a photo dedicated to the talk of the town

Drink of the Week: Bad Trip

The Bad Trip is one of the fastest-rising stars in the local cocktail making ad drinking world because it is easy to make an easy to drink. Here's how to do it:

In a highball glass, pour:

1/2 a shot of White rum

1/2 a shot of Vodka

1/2 a shot of Gin

then fill it halfway with ice

top it with some pineapple juice add a teaspoon of blue curacao, and stir.

Pacquiao-MArquez Scorecard

I just woke up. It's 4PM. hahaha. Everybody's complaining about Pacquiao not putting up the best fight and still winning.

I dont know. Again, I just woke up. I havent seen the fight. Whatever. Here are the stats, the scorecard, whatever you call it.