Celebrate The Hunger Games movie release by throwing a Hunger Games themed party!

The premiere of The Hunger Games movie.  Josh Hutcherson,
Jennifer Lawrence & Liam Hemsworth.  Photo by
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.

Ok, I admit it.  I'm obsessed with the Hunger Games.  I fought it, I really did.  My 13 year old daughter brought the first book home from school earlier this school year, telling me how amazing it was, but it really didn't seem that interesting to me.  At Christmas, when she asked for the other two books in the trilogy for presents, and nothing else, I was intrigued.  I went shopping with my stepdad to look for the books but they were sold out at several bookstores.  My interest was growing.  Thoughts of Harry Potter and Twilight were running through my mind (other books I didn't jump on the bandwagon with until much, much later).  He did find them at a store outside of the city, along with The Hunger Games Companion.  When she unwrapped them, she was just as excited as she was when she opened the iPod Touch she had be wanting for two years.  For a teenager to be so excited about a bunch of books?  I think we all were wondering what was so special about The Hunger Games.  She spent Christmas vacation completely engrossed the books, and when she wasn't reading, she was either texting her friends about the books, or searching the internet about the upcoming movie.  When she finished all three books, she read them again....and again....and again.  I knew then they were pretty special.

I didn't get around to reading them till a few weeks ago.  I hadn't been feeling well and was so sick of television, so out of boredom I picked up the first book.  After reading the first paragraph, I was completely hooked, and within about three days I had finished all three books.  They are YA books (young adult) so they are easy to read, but the story is captivating.  Now I, like the rest of the world, find myself eagerly awaiting the release of the movie on March 23rd.  If you've read the books, you know that the Capitol (the elite governing class) forces the Districts to celebrate the Hunger Games each year.  But for all the fans who have been desperately awaiting March 23, no one will be forcing them (ok, us) to celebrate.  So, why not throw a Hunger Games movie release party?

I posted an article on Examiner about throwing a Hunger Games themed party, with ideas on food (lamb stew, squirrel or "groosling" anyone?), decorations, and even creating your own "reaping" for your guests.  As the movie release draws closer, more and more Hunger Games merchandise can be found.  If you're looking for entertainment for your party, Amazon now offers The Hunger Games:  Training Days Strategy Game for $24.99.  The game, based on the book allows players to choose Tributes from their favorites Districts and challenge each other to matches of wits and skills.  Amazon also offers The Hunger Games Jabberjay Card Game for $9.99, where each player represents a District Citizen or Capital Citizen and their identity remains secret during most of the game.  This is a game for 5-12 players, so it's great for a larger group.  Internet fan site The Hob sells Hunger Games merchandise that would be perfect for party favors or for the winner of whatever games you hold at your own party.

After browsing the boards on Pinterest, it seems I'm not the only adult to fall in love with The Hunger Games.  There are Hunger Games inspired weddings, jewelry, clothing, cookbooks, even new nail polishes inspired by the books and movie.  You can check out the boards I created here, or do your own search for hundreds of Hunger Games related results.

While we probably won't be waiting in line for the midnight opening of The Hunger Games since it's a school night, the odds are in our favor that we'll be seeing the movie this weekend.  If you haven't read the books yet, I urge you do so.  Happy Hunger Games everyone - and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Free (yes, free!) wedding invitations from PartyPop.com!

In this day and age of pop-up ads filled with spammy offers and mysterious links leading you to scams all over the Internet, it is really difficult to believe when you come across a truly free (and amazing) offer.  But in this instance, PartyPop.com is offering a legitimate and incredible gift to engaged couples planning their weddings.

PartyPop.com, an extremely useful website, well known for their online tools for party, event and wedding planning, is offering 100% free wedding invitations for engaged couples in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.  There are absolutely no hidden fees, no design fees, and no fees to be paid later on.  The invitations will be printed on 80 lb card stock and include envelopes.  This offer is good for anyone placing their orders through the end of 2012.  Click here to see the invitation and website designs.

Additionally, PartyPop.com is offering each couple their very own wedding website, with designs available to match the invitations.  The website is the perfect way for you to share your love story, upload pictures, work on seating arrangements, link to social networks, and allow your guests to RSVP to your wedding events.

A few questions popped up after reviewing this offer from PartyPop.com.  For example, I noticed that the RSVP and Reception cards, very necessary parts of a traditional wedding invitation were not included or mentioned on the PartyPop.com page.  I emailed Ryan at PartyPop.com (who is incredibly helpful and wonderful to work with) to ask if these additional cards could be purchased if couples wanted them and was told they weren't available.  But there are ways to work around this.  After working in the bridal industry for many years, I have advised many budget conscious brides to add the reception information to the actual wedding invitation, rather than adding an additional Reception card.  First, it saves money on your invitation order, and second, it saves money on your postage.  Adding that little Reception card to the total weight of your invitation can sometimes push your invitation into the next postage bracket.  You can easily add in your reception information on these free invitations from PartyPop.com.

The RSVP card is another matter  you need to consider.  You definitely want to know how many people are going to be attending your wedding.  You'll need to give a final count to your caterer or reception hall.  They'll require you to pay them in advance of your event and the amount is dependant on the number of guests attending, so getting the RSVP's back is crucial.  When I brought this up with Ryan, he mentioned using their free wedding website and the RSVP option.  Just add the web address on your invitations, along with the date you'll need your RSVP.  However, we all have older family members who still aren't Internet savvy.  This option won't work for everyone.  You may want to consider adding a phone number on your invitation for RSVP's.  If you're not up for all those phone calls, (or your phone potentially ringing the day of your wedding with some guest asking for directions because your phone number is printed on the invitations - yes I could see that happening!) you could get a set of RSVP cards printed up on your own, and insert them in the envelope with your invitations when you mail them.

PartyPop.com knows how tough it is to plan a wedding in this economy, and free invitations can easily save you $600+.  Check out PartyPop.com, not just for their free wedding invitations, but for all their wonderful wedding and event planning tools and information.

Shopping for a cause.

I feel I would be remiss if I didn't mention this wonderful website for you to consider while shopping for your last-minute Valentine's day gifts (or anytime you feel like doing some online shopping).  Even though there's now less than two days left before Valentine's Day, and chances are anything you purchased wouldn't be shipped in time, I have a feeling if you bought something from The Animal Rescue Site for any animal lover on your list, you'd surely be excused for your tardiness because it's helping such a worthy cause.

The Animal Rescue Site is part of  CharityUSA which owns and operates the GreaterGood Network Stores.  Every purchase you make gives back to a worthy cause, at no extra cost to you.  When you purchase from The Animal Rescue Site, a portion of the purchase price of each item funds food for abandoned animals in shelters and sanctuaries.  Specifically, each item you purchase helps fund at least 14 bowls of food for homeless shelter animals, and helps such wonderful charities like Petfinder.com Foundation, IFAW, Rescue Bank, and others.

The Animal Rescue Site has hundreds of items available to purchase - jewelry, clothing, pet items, household items, garden and outdoor items, just to name a few.  GreaterGood is responsible about the products they offer for sale. They offer products to help improve the world and products connected to the charities they work on.  They believe in offering fairly traded products, and never purchase products that were manufactured by child labor.  They also will never offer any products for sale that harmed people or animals in their use or manufacture, or were tested on animals, sourced from wild or endangered animals, or where animals were treated inhumanely during manufacture.

If you're going to shop anyway, you might as well help a very worthy cause.  If you're shopping for Valentine's Day and the item won't arrive in time, show up for your Valentine's Day date with a bouquet of very pretty flowers for her (or perhaps a bottle of his favorite wine or whiskey), and a heartfelt card with a color printout of the item you purchased.  Explain to your sweetheart that you're sorry the gift is late, but that you're helping homeless shelter animals with the purchase. That should be more than enough to capture his/her heart.  I know it would work on me. (By the way, you can click on The Animal Rescue Site's link once daily to help give free food and care to homeless shelter animals.)

Are there other causes near and dear to your heart?  GreaterGood has other websites, so you can shop and have your purchases benefit other issues and causes, such as hunger, breast cancer, veterans, autism, child health, rainforests and literacy.  Click here to find out more.

Last minute "instant" Valentine's Day gifts

Guys - if you haven't gone shopping for your sweetheart yet, time is running out. Valentine's Day is less than two days away. Unless you want to be stuck wandering the aisles of your local convenience store in a panic on your way home from work, it's time to get your tushy in gear. Believe me, your significant other does NOT want to receive windshield washer fluid or an ice scraper again this year.

Every woman has imagined what it would be like to have a love song written in her honor. Imagine presenting your Valentine with her very own customized song, performed by none other than Joe Pizzulo, singer of one of the most romantic love songs ever, "Never Gonna Let You Go." Simply go to InstaSong, answer a few questions about your sweetie and your relationship, and your song will be created on the spot. You'll get big points for this one.

Put your love on a magazine cover! Check out Your Cover, where you can make your own personalized cover, celebrating your love, or any number of milestone events and occasions. There's an entire gallery of templates to choose from. For last minute shoppers, you can download and print your own cover, or if you have enough time, Your Cover will print a high quality copy of your design and ship it to you. Make sure you stop by your local crafts store to frame your cover, for the perfect finishing touch. Your lady will appreciate this little detail.

How about printing about some Valentine's Day "love coupons" for your sweetheart? If you're not the creative type, use the coupons provided here. Add a pretty flower bouquet and some chocolates, and a nice dinner at home (don't forget the candles and a nice movie - romantic comedy preferred), and she'll love you for the effort.

Remember, it's really not about the gift at all. It's the thought that counts. Show your Valentine you know her, and you know her heart, and she'll be happy with whatever you give her.

An introduction.

For my first post, I just wanted to introduce myself, and explain a litte about how EventSpiration came to be.  For years now, I've worked in the marketing and sales fields, and in turn have planned many events, on-site promtions, trade shows and parties.  I realized that I really enjoyed the party planning aspect of my job, and I took a position as the Event Coordinator for a historic (and haunted!) inn here in Pittsburgh.  I worked with many different people and organizations, planning all sorts of events - weddings, surprise engagements, soroity parties and corporate events. I enjoyed every minute of working with my clients and meeting with their vendors.  After several years at the inn, I had to leave my position due to health reasons, but I never lost my love for event planning and entertaining.  My daily reading still consisted of wedding and party planning blogs, even though my two rescued dogs weren't planning a wedding anytime in the near future.

While searching through the internet, I came across Examiner.com and found out they were looking for an event planning writer for Pittsburgh.  I've always enjoyed writing, and since I had all this event planning experience, I submitted my application and thankfully I was hired.  Writing for Examiner has been amazing.  I truly enjoy every minute of it, and I've met some wonderful people because of my articles.  However, because I am the "Pittsburgh" Event Planning Examiner, I am limited to only writing about local events, people and things.  While Pittsburgh is a wonderful city full of vibrant and talented people, there are national trends and celebrities I would love to write about but can't.  So, the idea for EventSpiration was born.  This blog will give me the opportunity to spread my wings and be a little more creative.

I have also been given the title of "Pittsburgh Animal Advocacy Examiner."  From time to time you may see animal and animal-advocacy related posts here.  Animals, animal adoption and preventing abuse and cruelty are my true passions in life.  As I write this, my two dogs are laying curled against me.  I honestly don't believe that I'd be here and be able to do anything, had it not been for my two dogs after the last year and a half of my life.  I feel very strongly about giving back to them after the uncondtional love they provide me with every single day.  If you're an animal lover, I know you'll understand.  If you're not, I hope you'll bear with me and hopefully find the rest of the information I provide useful enough that you can indulge me a bit when I write about my "boys" or animal advocacy issues.