Design & Styling by Celebrations at Home
Printables by Paper & Pigtails

 “I wanted to create a party that would inspire you all summer long, including 4th of July ideas, so naturally I went with red, white, and blue,” Nease says.  “I believe in having a ‘welcome’ table at a party, especially when you’re outside and have wide open space.  Bring an indoor table outside, and set up a sign and snack cones filled with chips.”

Nease suggests using outdoor game paraphernalia as part of the décor.  Above, she places coordinating croquet balls in a wire basket. Arranged flowers peek out from a bureau drawer – a clever and lovely detail.

Place settings in coordinating fabrics of red, white, and blue are offset by simple floral arrangements. “Wooden planter boxes turned upside down act as a great base for recycled cans-turned-vases,” Nease says. “A quick tie of coordinating fabric and you instantly dress up the cans for any occasion.”

“I found a couple of fun accessories at Cracker Barrel Restaurant and knew I had to find a way to incorporate them.  The wooden triangle & peg puzzle definitely takes me back to my own childhood, and the ‘faucet’ dish is just so unique, I fell in love.  It’s actually a soap dish but I put retro-style bubble gum in it and it looks great!” Nease says.

Sliders are a great alternative to full-sized burgers. They’re the perfect size for kids, and guests who wish to have more than one can experiment with different toppings and condiments. Slider sized buns can be now be found at many grocery stores and markets, or try them on sweet Hawaiian rolls.

Baked beans are served in small canning jars that Nease purchased from Wal-Mart. “They are a perfect serving size, holding a little more than ¼ cup each, and guests can just grab and go – no messy drips from bowl to plate,” Nease says. “I also transferred condiments into pretty containers.  I love doing this and if there’s one thing you can do to elevate the design of a party, it’s serving your condiments in a lovely container.”

Inexpensive canning jars make cute drink containers, and can double as a take-home gift. Nease suggests attaching a tag to each jar that guest’s can write their name on and keep as a memento.

Find other summer entertaining ideas and Christina Nease's favorite "juicy burger" recipe at Celebrations at Home.

Seating can often be an issue with impromptu gatherings; stock up on outdoor pillows in a variety of shapes and sizes, like these Marimekko cushions from Crate and Barrel, to give your backyard a pop of color and add some casual seating options for guests.

Forget fussy table settings, here large green leaves make the perfect coasters for glassware. They're beautiful, inexpensive, and naturally waterproof. From Martha Stewart.

A hostess' best friend: melamine! These durable, virtually unbreakable melamine servingware  from Pottery Barn make a festive tablescape. Mix and match patterns for a Bohemian look, or pair with solid pieces in complementary colors or clear  for a modern take.

Soft lighting gets a rustic treatment with this Mason Jar chandelier from Beth Helmstetter Events. This can be a relatively easy DIY project if you have a router. Saw holes in a wood plank to fit the narrowest part of the jar. Slip a jar through a hole, and secure in place with the outer ring of the lid, leaving the top of the jar open. Insert tea lights, and secure with sturdy rope.

Mother’s Day should really be about celebrating all the mothers in your life- not just your own. These caregivers administer hugs, bandage boo-boos, and nourish their loved ones on a daily basis. Why not nourish the ‘mom’ closest to you with a backyard brunch or breakfast in bed?

“Here are a couple of really easy recipes that are practically foolproof,” says Julie Mayberry of InPockets Catering and Bakery. “These are sure to nourish and please mom on her special day.” Don’t be afraid of going too ‘traditional’; some surprises are simple and never go out of style (just ask Mom!).

Egg Muffins
“To simplify the egg-cooking process, try making her favorite omelet ingredients into easy-to-serve muffins,” Mayberry suggests. “Just remember to pre-cook any raw meat items before adding them to the mixture.”

Ingredients:
1 dozen eggs, lightly beaten
Salt & pepper (to taste)

Optional Ingredients:
Black olives
Onions, diced
Mushrooms
Red or green bell peppers, diced
Tomatoes, diced
Zucchini
Bacon or sausage (pre-cooked)
Ham
1-2 cups grated cheese
Goat cheese

Instructions:
1. Toss her favorite fillings into a bowl with lightly beaten eggs
2. Pour into a lightly greased muffin tin, a silicon muffin tray, or foil-lined muffin cups.
3. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. The eggs are done when a toothpick that is inserted into the middle comes out clean. These can be frozen and enjoyed later, too!

'Mock'-Mosa
Pour orange juice with a generous splash of lemon-lime soda into a fancy glass for the special mom in your life. Garnish with a strawberry, or float natural anti-oxidant pomegranate seeds in the glass.

Café Mocha Fondue with Fruit Kebabs
A pinch of instant coffee and a splash of vanilla makes chocolate fondue a pick-me-up treat for any breakfast or brunch! “Count on the kids to make the skewers fun and interesting,” Mayberry says.

Ingredients:
1 pound milk chocolate chips
¾ cup heavy cream
1 ½ tsp instant coffee
½ tsp vanilla extract
Bamboo skewers or swizzle sticks
Strawberries, stemmed
Banana, sliced
Apple, cubed
Grapes
Pineapple, cubed
Marshmallows (optional)
Rice Krispies treats (optional)

Instructions:
1. To make the skewers thread fruit, marshmallows, and even Rice Krispies treats onto bamboo skewers.
2. To make the fondue, melt the chocolate and cream together in a double boiler or in a saucepan on low heat. Stir continuously until the chips are melted smooth.
3. Remove from the heat and add the coffee and vanilla. Stir and serve with fresh fruit skewers.

Whether you decide to make one or all of the recipes above, don’t forget to clean up the kitchen when you’re finished – that’s a treat moms everywhere can appreciate!

Anders Ruff: “We wanted to show how a dessert table doesn’t have to be on an actual ‘table'. No rules to displaying your desserts; we opted for two side-by-side white painted metal garden type shelving. I love the effect the height had on the display. Think outside the ‘table’ and use some of your fabulous furniture as the focal point of your party.”

Paper parasols in pink, chartreuse, and aqua, from Luna Bazaar, hang above the display. Wheatgrass is planted in long, clear glass containers wrapped with chartreuse ribbon, and makes a charming display for treats like marshmallow bunnies and chicks, and Easter lollipops with printable party logos. Polka dotted favor bags from Michael’s are filled with treats and decorated with coordinating printable party stickers.

Anders Ruff: "Minnie Pearl, our bunny model, enjoyed nibbling at all the treats, but really loved her favorite food: carrots!"

Below, egg-shaped cake pops, from Terri’s Party Treasures, are displayed in small glass ramekins and decorated to look like dyed Easter eggs. The cake pops are topped by printable party flags from the ‘Easter Has Sprung!’ collection.

Anders Ruff: “We made our own Easter baskets using natural fiber planters that we painted with matte white paint. We drilled holes in the sides for the handles. Ribbon was wrapped tightly around wire to create the handles. We then embellished the basket with thick wired ribbon. They are very lightweight, which is great for young children.”

Cupcakes are served in small natural fiber pots that were painted white; containers are embellished with ribbon and filled with kraft shred.

Anders Ruff: "These fabulous exclusive fondant cupcake toppers are from Two Sugar Babies and are so perfect with our printable set. They really added a pop of color onto the natural white butter cream and natural shred."

The fondant cake was designed by Mandie of Got What It Cakes; notice how the kaleidoscope pattern matches the patterned paper included in the printable set. Too cute! The bunny topper also coordinates with the party logos. Visit the Anders Ruff blog to learn how to make the sweet egg-shaped button candies displayed on the right.

Anders Ruff: “The kids loved holding Minnie Pearl outside and running around the green in our neighborhood, finding eggs.”

Event Styling, Graphic Design, and Printables: Anders Ruff
Photography:  Becca Bond Photography

Desserts
Candy: Candy Warehouse
Custom Cake: Got What It Cakes
Cookies:  Allyson Jane
Cake Pops: Terri’s Party Treasures
Fondant Cupcake Toppers: Two Sugar Babies
Bunny & Chick Marshmallows: Dandy Delights

Clothing and Accessories
Dress & Tie: Sweet Funky Vintage
Hair Accessory: Sweet Things Kids

Decor
Paper Parasols: Luna Bazaar
Paper Straws & Paper Baking Cups: Hey Yo Yo
Ribbon Topiary: Shes Kinda Crafty
Label Material:  OnlineLabels.com
 

Photo courtesy of visuallee.com

We see it all in color.  And what we experience is a reflection of the overall societal climate.  You can even trace color patterns and trends with history – literally seeing the naturals – those quite colors – when times were rough or in conflict, and the brights – those vibrant colors – when times were optimistic and hopeful.   Color trends are reflected in fashion (note: honeysuckle is the it color for 2011) and the styles of the world; but also in advertising, magazines and the sports and automobile industries, just to name a few.  Paying close attention to the previously mentioned can not only indicate color trends to you but can be a great resource for the one color element you are looking for to fit an event.  In fact, paying close attention is key – observe this colorful world at all angles and take note.  You can draw color inspiration from just about anything. 
 

When planning your event and incorporating color consider implementing that color in such a way that it "pops" in certain elements.  Incorporate these elements here and there throughout the event to tie it all in without overdoing it.  Go all neutrals with pops of vibrant colors like purple or turquoise.  Or go all white and use colored lighting to set the mood.  Pops or punches of color tend to make dramatic and refined statements. 
 

Looking for some sources of color inspiration?  The  Founder, VP of Media Relations, Concept Designer and Design Director of Perfect Surroundings, Inc. recommend looking at anything made popular by the younger generation – music, style, advertising, etc.  In terms of pulling color inspiration from just about anything – they suggest pulling from skateboards.  The art on the bottom of these boards showcase not only what's trendy, but how to mix and match.  Also try colourlovers.com for more ideas, inspiration and as a color editing tool. 

January 23: National Pie Day
The American Pie Council (yes, there is such a thing) created this day to celebrate, what else, pie! Celebrate: Bake or buy a few of your favorite pies and make some ding-dong-ditch deliveries to friends. Imagine their surprise to find baked goodies on their doorstep… they’ll be pie-eyed! Include a cute note that lets them know that they’re the apple (pie) of your eye.

Image by Lisel via Flickr, used under Creative Commons license

January 25: Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
Who can resist digging their fingers into those tantalizing pea-sized bubbles? They make such a satisfying POP! Celebrate: Host a bubble wrap game day with a popping relay race, and bubble wrap sculpture and fashion design contests.
   
February: International Friendship Month
What would life be without friends? Celebrate: Get the gang together and go bowling or watch a buddy flick. Or, simply send a shout out to friends old and new on Facebook.

March 20: Corn Dog Day
Also called a ‘pogo’, a ‘dagwood dog’, and a ‘pluto pup’, the corn dog is believed to have been warming hearts and tummies since as early as 1929. Celebrate: Tune into a sporting event and tuck into some cornmeal crusted goodness with family and friends.

April 23: Talk Like Shakespeare Day
Methinks thou woulds’t enjoy for a time / To speaketh as the Bard, in couplet and rhyme! Celebrate: Instead of ‘you’, say ‘thou’, and instead of ‘y’all’, say ‘thee’. When in doubt, simply add ‘eth’ to the end of verbs to kicketh it Shakespeare-style.

April 30: Hairstyle Appreciation Day
Whether you tease it to towering heights like Marie Antoinette or you do the comb-over like Donald Trump, today’s the day to express whatever is weird, wacky, or wonderful about your coiffure. Celebrate: Try on a new hairstyle or color at hairmixer.com and say hello to a virtual new you.

May 4: Star Wars Day
Despite numerous efforts to found a Jedi church, as of yet there is still no religious organization that officially supports May 4 as Star Wars Day. Celebrate: Park it on the couch with your fellow Jedi wannabes to view the trilogy that made it all happen – and may the ‘fourth’ be with you!

May 14: National Chicken Dance Day
Originally called the ‘Duck Dance’ or “Der Ententanz’ from the Swiss accordion song, the dance first came to the U.S. in 1981, when the only getup available for the dance’s demonstration on a Tulsa TV station was a chicken costume. Celebrate: Get out your hand beaks, flap your wings, and shake your tail feather, even if no one else is around.

June 11: Corn on the Cob Day
A vegetable so yummy and fun to eat it gets its very own day! Celebrate: Soak corn husks in a bucket of water for an hour or so. Fire up the BBQ, and cook the husks directly on the grill for 15 minutes or so, turning occasionally. Peel back the husks, dip the corn in some melted butter and chomp away.

July 31: Mutts’ Day
Every dog has its day, and if yours is a mixed breed, then July 31 is just for them! Whoever said that a dog needs a pedigree was barking up the wrong tree; mutt owners know that lovable and loyal non-purebreds are invaluable. Celebrate: If your dog is social, take him to a pooch park for some rough and tumble fun, or simply spend some time giving Fido a scratch behind the ears.

August 13: International Left Handers’ Day
With a mere 5-15% of the population designated as lefties, August 13 is the time to express your right to be left-handed. Celebrate: Restrict your space to ‘Lefties Only’ and encourage your majority-handed friends to try out everyday tasks, like writing and eating, with their left hands. Then sit back, and enjoy the show.

August 25: Kiss and Make Up Day
“For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.” ~Author Unknown. Celebrate: Whether it’s a family member, a friend, a coworker, or a lover, resolve your issues and get over it – but you don’t have to wait for August 25! Some would argue that making up is the best part of fighting.

Image by Scinern via flickr, used under Creative Commons license

September 25: National One Hit Wonder Day
Vanilla Ice, ice, baby (too cold)… Need we say more? Celebrate: Visit iTunes and download some of your favorite ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ chart toppers and enjoy. Suggestions? Macarena by Los del Río, Too Shy by Kajagoogoo, Nothing Compares to You by Sinead O’Connor, I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred, and of course, the incomparable Mr. Vanilla Ice.

October 6: Mad Hatter Day
In the spirit of Mad Hatter Day, silliness must be paid its due respect. Drop your assumptions of what is ‘normal’ and celebrate the inanities of our modern existence, like jumbo shrimp and neckties. Celebrate: Detailed plans for Mad Hatter Day observance will be announced October 7 – everyone knows that plans made after the fact are more accurate and easier to fulfill. Or, as the Red Queen said, “Sentence first, then the verdict!”

 November 11: Guinness World Record Day
Andy Warhol said that everybody gets 15 minutes of fame, and if you boast an unusual skill, like the ability to hold a lot of tennis balls or do push-ups with one finger, now could be your time to shine. Celebrate: To make it official Guinness requires a registration process that could take several months, so plan ahead. Current categories include ‘Most Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Eaten in One Minute’ and ‘Most Books Typed Backwards’.

Image via The Telegraph and Guinness World Records

November 26: National Day of Listening
Listen up! Did you know the average person talks at about 125 words a minute, while we can listen to about 450 words a minute? Celebrate: On the day after Thanksgiving, sit down with a loved one and interview them about their life. You may wish to record the conversation for posterity, and make a tradition out of preserving memories.

December 22: National Haiku Day
A brief little poem / Amidst the holiday rush / So cleansing and calm. Celebrate: Traditional Japanese haiku consists of three lines containing five, seven, and five syllables, respectively. Take a timeout off from shopping, cooking, wrapping, and making merry to contemplate the slant of light on a Koi pond, or just to exhaaaaaaaaale.
 

Honeysuckle: Described as “muted raspberry with a kiss of tangerine” by Kimberly McDowell of The Event Essentials, Pantone suggests pairing honeysuckle with russets, corals, blue-greens, lavenders, and metallics. Confident, courageous, and vital, honeysuckle is a beautiful choice for birthdays, showers, and weddings.

Natural Greens: Fresh, natural, tranquil, harmonious. Green occupies the most space in the visible color spectrum and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Pairing bright green with white will inject your event with a bright, springy feel and create a soothing atmosphere for guests. Fresh floral accents and ferns can add texture to your green scheme and bring a breath of the outdoors in.  

Blues: Whether the shade is conservative and subtle or bold and dramatic, blue is the overwhelming favorite color of Americans. Stephanie Flies of Scottsdale Moms Blog recommends vibrant, versatile teal for kids’ parties. “I love to use teal because it works for both genders; pair it with pink for girls or pair it with red for boys. It sends a “Fun!” message to the party attendees.” For grown-ups, try mixing different shades of blue to create an atmosphere that evokes the sky and sea.  

Purples: A color that has been associated with royalty and mystics alike, purple often appeals to creative personalities and risk-takers. “Event décor is often translated from what is popular in fashion, and lavenders and purples are hotter than hot right now,” says Amy Petrovsky of Sensational Events. “It’s a very sensual color palette, but also very powerful.” She suggests using purple on central details to make a statement, such as invitations, specialty linens, or a signature item, like a custom cocktail.  

Metallics: Precious metal tones add a look of luxury to any event. Gold, silver, platinum, copper, and bronze are considered neutrals and can look elegant in a monochromatic scheme or when paired with a specific palette. Whether you go full glitz with lots of sparkle or you pair down the gleam to a few accents, metallics can add elegance and a touch of glamour to any formal setting.  

  Do you have a favorite color but don’t know how to incorporate it? Visit ColourLovers.com to explore unique color palettes, patterns, and trends.

Printables and styling by Anders Ruff
Photography by Becca Bond Photography

Anders Ruff: “The magic of the 'magical' Christmas Elf is a tradition that my family has enjoyed for years. After all, how can Santa possibly watch over all little boys and girls? Our sweet little Japanese knee-hugger elves are so precious and this year our holiday party was themed around their magic.”

Vibrant colors, graphics, and bold patterns like chevron, dots, and snowflakes, coordinate in the printable collection for a feeling of fun and playfulness. There are so many adorable details to take in; every image holds a special surprise.

Anders Ruff:” We set up the party at the corner base of Adria’s stairwell which gave us a lot of flexibility with hanging decorations as well as the wall space. Also, stairwells always remind me of Christmas morning as we waited to be called down to see what Santa had brought us!"

Colorful yarn is used to accent the party, from these {ingenious!} Christmas trees to pom ornaments and holiday gift wrap. The collection includes 'Inspected by Elf # …” tags, as well as cute Santa tags and elf tags.

Anders Ruff: “We thought of a craft that would help make our printable Christmas posters (a set of three printable posters are available in the shop) really pop off the walls. We cut custom frames out of foam core board and wrapped them with yarn. This was a super simple (just a little time consuming) craft and one that was economical and made a big impact."

Keeping with the “naughty or nice’ theme, old card catalog drawers are used to display treats and printable logos. ‘Naughty treats include black rock candy, licorice, gumballs and ‘coal’, made from flattened marshmallows dipped in black colored chocolate and rolled in sprinkles. ‘Nice’ treats include red and green ribbon candy, lollipops, gumballs, and candy canes.

Anders Ruff: “When thinking of little elf treats, we decided to reuse an old pop bottle crate as a display… We spray-painted it a bright blue to add a pop of color on the display. We filled it with green rock candy, red licorice, little containers of naughty and nice treats, lollipops, meringue elf hats (which we made!) and little printable notes to Santa. We placed some plastic (kid-friendly!) drink bottles from Smash Cake Studio filled with milk on top of the display with a printable wrapper and straw.”

The tree is decorated with yarn pom ornaments – a great project for Santa’s little helpers- and advent calendar hang tags. Each day contains a special activity or treat for the family, like eating pancakes for dinner – too cute!

Ander Ruff: “Cookies for Santa were left on a plate and a DIY cake stand (wood plaque + candle stick base) with a little printable note.  How amazing are the Elf cookies by Sugarbelle!?”

Ander Ruff: "We enlisted help from a few fabulous bakers. Got What It Cakes made festive snow cone mini cupcakes (that we displayed in printable party cones out of the dresser drawer). Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats made whimsical cake pops that were stuck on paper straws, which were perfectly displayed next to a magical elf in the other dresser drawer.

The amazingly talented Sugarbelle made gorgeous elf and Christmas gift sugar cookies. We displayed those gift sugar cookie pops out of fun Blumeboxes that we wrapped with pom yarn garland. We also displayed reindeer chocolate pops from Nicole's Treats out of Blumeboxes. They looked so precious and festive and were an unexpected way to show the treats.

Inspired by Elf Magic? The printable party invitations, banner, posters, tags and coordinating Magical Elf Holiday printable collection are available in the Anders Ruff shop.

CREDITS:

Production and Styling: Anders Ruff
– Magic Elf Printables: Anders Ruff
– Professional Photography: Becca Bond Photography

SWEETS:

– Snow Cone Cupcakes: Got What It Cakes
– Cake Pops: Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats
– Custom Elf & Gift Sugar Cookies: Sugarbelle’s
– Chocolate Reindeer Pops & Santas: Nicole’s Treats

FASHION & DECOR:

– Custom Embroidered Christmas Pajamas & Bottoms: Great Stitch
– Custom Dress & Tie: B. Belle Couture
– Custom Stockings: Aimee Broussard Events
– Snowflake Headband: Drop of Honey Bowtique

PARTY SUPPLIES:

– Baking Cups, Chevron Bags, Drink Bottles, Paper Straws: Smash Cake Studio
– Floral Boxes to display Gift Shaped Cookies: Blumebox
– Twine: The Twinery
– Clear Favor Boxes: Nashville Wraps
– Label Material: Online Labels

Gumdrop Poms: These sugary gumdrop poms from My Blessed Life are too sweet!  Perfect for the holidays, a Candyland party, or just about any child’s birthday, they are easy to put together and easy on the budget, too.

Marzipan Snowflakes: Aromatic and almondy marzipan snowflakes from Torie Jayne make a beautiful topper for surprisingly simple mince meat pies. Go to Torie Jayne for her gluten-free mince pie recipe and how-to.

Scrabble Tile Crafting: This ornament from Shopworn Designs is darling inspiration for easy-as-your A-B-Cs crafting. Old Scrabble tiles make great place settings, door placards, gift tags, and more.

Ribbon Garland: Simply elegant, from Better Homes and Gardens. Start with a piece of ribbon cut to the desired garland length. Cut shorter pieces of ribbon to thread through ornament hooks and wrap around the long ribbon, securing with a knot. Tie a cluster of ornaments topped with a wide, complementary-color ribbon to each end of the garland. Choose a different color scheme and get a totally different look!

Fabric Trees: The Creativity Exchange shares how just about any candlestick can be converted to a gorgeous fabric tree for the holidays. So clever! The opportunities for reinvention are nearly limitless. Visit the free tutorial or purchase and download a PDF template.

Toilet Paper Roll Projects: We love love love this DIY wreath from See You There Design. Have you ever seen paper towel and toilet rolls  look lovelier? The finished project may be a little ‘two ply-able’ (so sorry, we couldn’t resist the pun!), so consider shellacking the final design for hanging and future use. Check out the pic-by-pic tutorial.

Recycled Wrapping: Parcel paper is inexpensive, eco-friendly, and often sturdier than traditional gift wrap. We love the idea of a blank canvas! Inspiration for Home suggests using old holiday coasters, vintage cards, and repurposed ribbon to dress up packages in a unique and enviro-conscious way.

Book Page Origami: From The Girl on the Go, this is such a simple project and we love the vintage chic ‘Anthropologie’ vibe. Tie one to a wine bottle for a hostess gift, place them on the boughs of your Christmas tree, or use as a cute gift wrap embellishment. Visit Extreme Cards and Papercrafting for the origami tutorial.

Christmas Card Display: Display the seasons’ greetings from glittery boughs or rustic bare branches. Use an opaque vessel, like the one shown, or fill the bottom of a clear glass vase with ornaments to anchor the branches. Use a hole punch and ribbon to hang your cards, or secure them with clothespins.

Cinnamon Stick Wreath: Pretty and sweet smelling, this wreath is easy and inexpensive to make. All you will need is a 12-inch wooden wreath ring, several 6- inch cinnamon sticks, a glue gun, a length of burlap, and some ribbon. Follow the tutorial at My Home Ideas.

According to Pete Pershall, of DJ One, guests young and old won't be able to resist tapping their toes to these catchy tunes. "Don’t worry if some of the songs seem cheesy or clichéd," Pershall says, "it may not win a Grammy, but who doesn’t love doing the Funky Chicken? Inviting guests to just be silly is a surefire way to get more participants on the floor."  Here are his top 20 selections:

Top 10 Dance Songs, via a Rolling Stone readers' poll:

10. Staying Alive, Bee Gees
  9. Le Freak, Chic
  8. Groove is in the Heart, Deee-Lite
  7. Thriller, Michael Jackson
  6. Shout, The Isley Brothers
  5. Vogue, Madonna
  4. D.A.N.C.E., Justice
  3. Twist and Shout, The Beatles
  2. Blue Monday, New Order
  1. One More Time, Daft Punk

Top 10 Songs of 2012, Billboard.com

10. Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye
  9. Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen
  8. We Are Young, fun.
  7. Payphone, Maroon 5
  6. Lights, Ellie Goulding
  5. Glad You Came, The Wanted
  4. Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
  3. We Found Love, Rihanna
  2. Starships, Nicki Minaj
  1. What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction

Of course, not every song on the list may be appropriate for every occasion. Pershall recommends following a few rules of thumb when selecting your party playlist.
* Consider the age range of guests attending, and pick a variety of music that young and the young-at-heart will enjoy.
* Avoid music with lyrics that may offend older or more conservative guests.
* If you want people to dance, make sure your upbeat tunes outnumber the slow songs.