Family Entertainment is Changing

With the costs of entertainment soaring, American families are changing their entertainment strategy.
It will cost almost $50 just for the tickets for a family of 6 to go see a movie.
Then they easily spend $50 at the concession stand. Almost $100 for a family of 6 to go to the movie theater? WOW!

More and more families are choosing to spend their entertainment dollar at home in the form of a fully equipped game room.
Not only do they get their money's worth in entertainment, they are also adding tremendous value to their home.
A game room in your home is a very strong selling point. Many families are converting unused space in their home into game
rooms that are equipped with a variety of table games such as Billiard and/or Foosball tables. Most will also include
a top notch Video Game System such as a Wii, Xbox360, or a Playstation III in their game room. Many sports fans add to the
ambiance of their game room with a wide screen HDTV to view their favorite sports teams on in a pub-like setting. But, without
being surrounded by a bunch of drunks. Add in a nice HiFi Stereo System, and you have created a perfect entertainment zone in
your home.

But, the entertainment doesn't have to be confined within your home. Inflatable Bounce Rooms are rapidly increasing in popularity
among families with younger children. Inflatable Bounce Rooms are the safe alternative to trampolines. They set up and inflate in
just a few minutes. Children love them and spend hour upon hour jumping and romping around in them. This is healthy and safe and
entertaining exercise.

Almost all of the families that have shifted their entertainment dollar from external entertainment to in home entertainment, have
realized how much money they were throwing away with very little return on their money. A game room is an investment that will pay
dividends over and over for years and years. A well set up game room provides a sanctuary of safe entertainment. With fun activities
readily available, your children will tend to stay home more often where you know they are safe. Most often, your children's friends
will want visit your children in your home. While this can sometimes get a little annoying, you will know where your children are.

Ghoulish Entertaining Tips for Halloween

Ghoulish Frozen Hands

An absolute must for any Halloween party where there will be refreshments. These can be made well in advance and stored for use on the day.

What you need:

• Latex gloves (one per mould)

• Food colours

• Support for latex glove (optional) - best support would be something with a diameter that allows the glove to fit inside with the wrist section turned over the support to grip it

What you need to do:

1. If using a support, fit the latex glove into it

2. Fill the latex glove with water - clear or coloured

3. If not using a suport make a tight knot at the wrist so that it doesn't leak

4. Freeze for about 24 hours

5. Either gently remove ice hand from the glove or it can be left complete for a truly gruesome effect as the ice melts

6. Use the 'Hands' in bowls of punch or dotted around your refreshments table under salads etc.

Spooky Dinner Guest

A quick and fun addition to any dinner table. Your own Halloween guest direct from the graveyard.......

What you need:

• A full size 3D skeleton

• Spider's cobweb material

• Selection of small plastic spiders and other ghoulish creatures

• Chair

• Length of fishing line

What you need to do:

1. Using the fishing line attach your 3D skeleton to a chair in an upright position

2. Add spider's cobweb material inside the ribcage and around skull - mouth and eye sockets

3. Place the spiders and other ghoulish creatures in the cobwebs ensuring that some appear to be coming through both the mouth and eye sockets for a truly gruesome effect.

Graveyard Buffet Table

A scary buffet table that will really help you set the scene for your Halloween party. Where else would you want to serve your refreshments other than in the middle of a graveyard?

What you need:

• Black sheet or tablecloth roll to cover your table

• A full size 3D skeleton

• Spider's cobweb material

• Selection of small plastic spiders and other ghoulish creatures

• Full size cardboard coffin

• Length of fishing line

• Cold melt glue gun or alternative fixings

What you need to do:

1. Cover your buffet table with he black cloth or table roll

2. Using the glue gun sparingly, fix the spider's cobweb material along the front and sides of the table and stretch to the floor

3. Add some of the siders to the web

4. Place the cardboard coffin on the table

5. With half the coffin lid open, sit the 3D skeleton upright so that it protrudes through the open top. You may need to use the glue gun to complete this.

6. Add spider's cobweb material inside the ribcage and around skull - mouth and eye sockets

7. Place the spiders and other ghoulish creatures in the cobwebs ensuring that some appear to be coming through both the mouth and eye sockets for a truly gruesome effect.

8. Use any remaining cobweb material to run from the edges of the coffin to the table and add any remaining creatures.

9. Arrange your buffet around the coffin - light weight platters can be located on the coffin to see who is really brave....!

No Fear Entertaining - The 7 Golden Rules of Entertaining

Follow these 7 rules to entertaining success:

1. Never let them see you sweat --

We never let our guests see us tense. If they see or feel any tension between us they are sure to become tense themselves. This is human nature. So if you are fighting and have people coming over put it on the shelf for a couple of hours and take it up after if it is still important. And whatever you do don't worry about the bread that you forgot to serve, or the beans that are still on the stove after dinner or the special dip that you made that is still in the fridge after the guests are gone. This happens to the best and it is usually because you are enjoying your guests too much. It is normal and forgivable.

2. It does not have to match --

Use what you have for service ware and place settings. We usually do buffet style meals. Remember all the serving bowls, platters, serving spoons etc. need not be the same pattern! Keep that casual laid back feel to it all. With large groups we ALWAYS use paper or plastic plates and cups. For smaller groups (maybe one or two families) or special holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving etc.) we will use real plates for the adults and paper or plastic for the children. You don't want the parents fretting over your fine china plate that Little Johnny is threatening to throw at Little Lulu. Paper and plastic clean up much faster as well giving you more time to sit and enjoy your guests after the meal!

3. Keep it casual --

Save the dress and ties for work functions. You want people to be comfortable in your home and how can they be comfortable if they are not comfortably dressed? As long as they are wearing a smile and are clothed all is good!

4. Keep it simple --

Sometimes the easiest meal is the most spectacular when served to a crowd. Think fried chicken. Any one can go to KFC (and who really wants KFC?) and get a bucket but who makes it for themselves at home? Everyone loves it but no one does it. That can make it really special served with all the fixings. Roasts done on a smoker or a grill are always huge hits! Hand made burgers, high quality hot dogs or sausage have wowed our guests before and always will! (Hint: very inexpensive)

5. Always, always, always include the children --

We are a close family and when we entertain we want everyone to be involved and included. Even when we know it is going to be a late night we set up places for the youngest ones to fall asleep. During the meal we make the children feel special (and give the parents a break) by setting up a separate area with kiddy tables and chairs. They love to eat with all of their friends and it helps give us all some adult time! We are lucky enough to have a large pool and it is a great diversion for the kids. You may also consider renting a bounce house or water slide. Tons of fun!!!

6. Avoid a theme at all costs --

I know it sounds harsh but we have all been to a Luau and do we really need to go there again? Remember that we want to keep it casual and easy. Going all over town to find tiki torches is not what I call easy and who really wants to wear a grass skirt and a coconut bra??? Skip the theme and concentrate on your food and beverages. Now I am not saying to do nothing. A few nicely and safely placed candles always help but don't go over board. No cardboard cutouts, piñatas, streamers, balloons etc. Concentrate on spending the bulk of your budget on the food and beverages. Now Holidays are a true exception to this rule. The 4th of July (my oldest daughter's birthday) just comes to mind! It is always fun to have a bit of decoration for the holidays. Another thing that needs to be remembered is that you will probably want to keep all those decorations that you just bought so now you will need to find storage for everything.

7. Be conscientious of your guests diet and religious restrictions --

They will truly appreciate being considered. We regularly have a vegetarian join us and it really isn't anymore work to make a hearty vegetarian side dish that she can eat as her main course.

Party Entertaining At Almost Zero Cost?

How to make your party "Fun & Bonding" in 3 simple steps at almost zero cost?

What are parties all about? Getting together a group of people to share our joys of some special event like a birthday, anniversary, graduation, promotion, engagement, birth of a baby and so many more. A party could be just a social event for building contacts and firming relationships. It could also be a party for sealing new business ventures. Or maybe just to show off our latest possessions!

Whatever the event, the primary idea behind any party is to have some fun and bonding at the end of the day.

So, here are a few simple tips which can be kept in mind-no matter what kind of party or whatever the size of the party.

#-1 If you have a large group of guests-more than 10, then make some innovative way of making “NAME CARDS” for them which they can pin on their shirts or blouses when they come in. Generally, when people come in, they have a tendency to be self-conscious and inhibited. Having a name card often makes them feel recognized and happy and it is easy for people to break the ice. It also gets them to respond and interact with each other more easily.

#-2 Most important is also the atmosphere you create for everyone. SOFT MUSIC and FLOWERS always make any place very cheerful.

#-3 Make sure that you lead the guests towards people they have not met before and introduce them as it is the natural tendency of people to get settled into their own comfortable group.

#-4 Start off with some ICE-BREAKER game as soon as 50% of the guests have arrived and welcome the late comers to join in.

#-5 Have plenty of PRIZES on hand. They don’t have to be expensive or fancy or big. But it helps to make an award.

#-6 Organize all the games in advance so that you too can enjoy and be relaxed in your OWN party. If you as a host are at ease, your guests feel and at home and comfortable.

Anuradha Kabra is the daughter of the world famous Indian classical guitarist, Pandit Brijbhushanlal Kabra of the "Call of the Valley" fame and Kamla Kabra-an artist in her own rights.

She grew up in a large family of almost 20 and learnt the values of relationships along the way. She was used to having guests always welcome in the house and saw every small happening or achievement become a reason for celebration and casually turning into a party.

The family was a combination of 3 generations and so it was always ensured that all the family and guests were included in all the events. She loved this strong family bonding and as she moved on her flair for organising such events reflected in her parties.