What do you celebrate?

The key to hosting a GREAT party is choosing your celebration carefully. If you are new to hosting parties, don’t bite off more than you can handle—start small. If your neighbor’s house is the place to be on New Years Eve, don’t try to compete. I find that my most successful parties are the holidays that most people don’t celebrate. Instead of hosting a Christmas party and competing with everyone’s busy holiday schedules, we have an after-Christmas re-gifting party. It's a huge success and I get to take advantage of all the after-Christmas sales, making it a Budget Savvy choice, too. One small holiday that I love to celebrate is Cinco De Mayo (probably because I grew-up 2 hours from the Mexican border).

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated throughout the Mexican state of Puebla, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16. Even better, it’s a great excuse for fiesta, fun, food, and margaritas!