A night to remember: think setting out a bowl of Doritos, cranking up the tunes and stringing streamers in the basement add up to party time? Neh

Girls' Life, Dec, 2004

It might seem like invites and dimmed lights are all you need when you're in the mood to make merry, but for maximum shindig success, serious planning is essential. So what are you waitin' for? Get this party started....

THEME DREAM

Give your party some pizzazz by throwing it around a theme. Rock in the New Year '50s-style, for example, and let that guide your music, food, dress and decor. Or step outside the traditional, and turn whatever you like into a party. If you're into manga, say, go the anime way.

LIGHT UP YOUR INVITE

Your invitation will scream "fun!" if you send something unique. Throwing a Christmas party? Send a snow globe that reads, "Shake things up this season!"

MOOLAH MANAGEMENT

Be real when it comes to spending. Determine your overall budget, then make a list of every detail, allotting a specific amount of cashola for each. Splurge on what matters mostest to you, the hostess. Do you wanna serve up a frenzy of lab foods, or does your decor mean way more? Up to you, party girl. Just be sure you have the funds to cover the fun.

GUEST SUCCESS

When makin' your guest list (and checkin' it twice), be sure there's an even mix of girls and ... boys! Also, invite a variety of people. Crowd diversity=a way lively scene. Oh, and be bold! Invite someone you barely know, or have a bud bring a newbie or twobie (who knew your bio partner's cousin was so cute?).

SHOW 'EM UP

If you don't want to suffer from empty-chair syndrome, invite a bevy of buds: the crew you hope will show up and a troop of "sure things." For every four people, pad your list with one more to make up for the no-shows.

ARRANGE THE FURNITURE

It's a party pad, not a mosh pit! So make sure there is enough room in the party space for all of your revelers to move around comfortably. And provide plenty of spots for at least half your guests to sit down. Low on chairs? Toss around some floor pillows and empty milk crates for extra seating casual-style. Create a lounge area so people can get cozy while they converse. To do this, push together chairs, stools and ottomans so small groups can gather.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Don't forget about looking lab. Long before party night, pick out an outfit you feel great in. A few nights before, have a dress rehearsal complete with shoes and accessories (don't get stuck without a decent pair of non-runny nylons). Be fully ready about 30 minutes before your party is set to start. You don't want to be wrapped in a bath towel when the doorbell rings. Believe it or not, some people will arrive fashionably early.

PIN THE TAIL ON THE PARTY

Games are a good way to get things hopping and happening. Hokey as it might seem, go for the stuff you loved as a kid--musical chairs, limbo, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, charades or a pinata. Play Celebrity Psychic. Each guest pulls the name of a famous person from a hat (no peeking!), sticks it to her head and then has to guess the celeb's identity by asking "yes/no" questions to the crowd.

SAY CHEESE

Put out a few disposable cameras, and let guests get snap-happy. When the party's over, create a cool online photo album (ophoto.com). Or get the pics developed, and then slip the shots into thank-you-for-coming notes. Now that's a party to remember.

Q&A

When I'm the hostess, I get so freaked out that I don't enjoy my own party. How can I have fun?

Throwing a party can make even the most sane girl way stressed. There's so much to think about, it's easy to get anxious. But you don't want to bug out at your bash. So enlist a friend to be your undercover "sub-host." Your secret sub-host is the person who happily wipes up soda spills, helps shake the shybies out of their shells, and copes with other little stuff if you're distracted. When the punch runs low, you won't have to worry about being the one to rush to the rescue.

PARTY ON! TRY OUT THESE BASH BOOSTERS

THINK THIRST Sick of laying out a banquet of blah bottled ginger ale, Sprite and Pepsi? Let your inner drink diva free you from the soda-in-plastic-cups rut. Some awesome throat-thrillers? Whip up homemade cherry-chocolate sodas on Valentine's Day, steep exotic herbals at your tea party, or mix some milkshakes for a diner vibe at your '50s bash.

TUNE IN Whatever kind of party you're having, there is a compilation CD that'll work with your concept. Buy a few, put them in your CD player, and hit the random button. No hopping up every hour to pop in fresh tunes.

NIBBLES People like to snack, and they like to help themselves. Pass on the standard gluey pizza or sliced sub, and try to put out more unique and tempting treats, like Chinese dumplings or chicken satay.