Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Themed Parties

I was invited to a toga party one of the weekends during the Olympics here in Vancouver.

As much as I want to expereince the Olympics in my own city, it's being discouraged... the city would much rather we locals stay home and let the streets be filled with tourists who are paying top dollar to stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and help pay for the absurdly over-budgeted Olympics...

Anyways, I will gladly avoid downtown and go to this house party... Themed parties are what I do best... planning them, attending them, helping people prepare for them... it's one of my most fave things to do.

In the past I hosted a Toga Party.... we had colden columns/pillars, gold balloons, an arch, golden grapes and statues, gold spirals from the cieling, white sheets over all the furniture, white lights, extra sheets for people who arrived sans toga and a photo station so we could all remember the event.






In fact, I have done so many themed parties (attended, planned, helped prepare) I think I will share a few ideas and photos with you....

For my 28th birthday, I co-ordinated with 2 friends who also had their birthday the same week and we did a Giant "90's" themed party....



Before NKOTB / Lady Gaga was an "80's" Themed Party




Im fact, I have done more 80s Themed Nights than I can count.... I Love the 80s....

My 25th was a costume party (My birthday *IS* in October, so it was fitting, like a Halloween / Bday Party)



I've attended my fair share of "tiki" themed parties....


 
 

And Tacky Toursit Parties....



Little Boat Parties....



With lot's of boats...




Medium Boat Parties...




And Big Boat parties...




And Bus Parties....


1950s Parties....


And of course for various holidays....

St Paddy's Parties...

**Another one next month

NYEs Parties....




Cinco De Mayo Parties....




Canada Day Parties...


Christmas Parties....



Halloween.... will get its own post at some point, my husband and I have done Dog and Beth the Bounty Hunter, Fred and Wilma Flinstone and more... we run a 5000 person event every Halloween in Vancouver...

Honky Tonk Parties...





Balloon Parties....



Keg Parties...



Pirate Parties...



Superbowl Parties...


**More Pics after this weekend, as I am having a superbowl party again this year GO SAINTS!

Crazy Cup Parties....




Superhero Parties...



Always lot's of....



There are more I am missing photos for such as 1950s themed party, Princess Party, Black Light Party, Twilight Party, Dead Celebs Party, Ugly Sweater Party, Retirement Party, the list is long...

There have been so many more parties... I've come to the conclusion that I should plan parties for a living.... I mean I already do event planning as a side job, but if I could do it full time, how fun would that be?


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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Emotional Manipulation and Covert Aggression - "Those" Friends

A good friend and I were recently discussing the absurdity of one of her friends.

We've all had them, that one friend who feels like more trouble than she's worth... the one you know you should drop but for some reason keep hanging on to, despite the emotional strain she puts on the rest of your life.

This article discusses such friends as "Emotional Manipulators" or "Covert Aggression."

It lists and discusses these as ways to identify such people:

  • There is no use in trying to be honest with an emotional manipulator.


  • An emotional manipulator is the picture of a willing helper.


  • Crazy making - saying one thing and later assuring you they did not say it.


  • Guilt. Emotional manipulators are excellent guilt mongers.


  • Emotional manipulators fight dirty.


  • If you have a headache an emotional manipulator will have a brain tumor!


  • Emotional manipulators somehow have the ability to impact the emotional climate of those around them.


  • Emotional manipulators have no sense of accountability.



  • Furthermore, This article: Psychopaths in Sheep's Clothing elaborates on the ideas and discusses various types of aggression and the process of victimization from these types of people.

    It's very interesting and hopefully an eye-opener for those of you who have these kinds of friends.

    I luckily cut mine out a couple years ago and let me assure you, life got a lot easier and more enjoyable! Once you cut out the bad seed you can develop healthier relationships with your other friends since you are not always "dealing with" that "one" friend... also you can meet new friends who are amazing and brighten your life.

    Cheers.