Many of us who have planned a wedding, dinner party, or a similar event can agree that setting up the seating chart is not one of the easiest tasks to do.

Luckily, Social Tables offers an efficient, fun and easy way to set up seating arrangements for any occasion! With the ability to import your guests from multiple sources, categorize your guests, and quickly access your event, you can organize your tables quickly and effortlessly.

Social Tables allows guests to view their seating assignment ahead of time so that they can know what to expect before they arrive on the scene. Guests can share information about themselves and even interact with each other, helping them to get acquainted ahead of time. Needless to say, those uncomfortable silences and lengthy conversations about the weather are usually not the most exciting part of the evening.

Be sure to check out Social Tables to help you start planning your next event!

The big game is near. It’s the Sunday where we’ll show our competitive spirits and fill up on food. It’s the day of touchdowns, friends, and wearing our favorite team’s jerseys as we shout, cheer, and eat throughout the night.

Are you planning on hosting a party to watch the big game this year? Here’s some tips for throwing the football party that will keep your guests amped and entertained.

• Send an invitation that will get your guests excited for game day. Get your invitations out early to spread the word as soon as possible, since there’s bound to be a few football gatherings in the neighborhood.

Football03_Green designed by hmdesign - Heather Maas

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The holiday season is the time for festive fun with friends and family. What’s a sure thing to bring people together for the holidays? Cookies!

If you want to plan some extra holiday activities this year, try arranging a cookie swap, a delicious and entertaining way to share recipes, stories, and of course, cookies!

Here are some recipes and ideas to make this year’s cookie swap the sweetest.

• Send out an invite that looks good enough to eat. This design is a wintry and cute invite that will get your bakers excited for some sweet socializing.

Cookie Exchange designed by Tara Green

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As we gather gifts and spread joy and cheer, it’s easy to tell that the holidays are here and the new year is right around the corner! Are you planning on celebrating the arrival of 2012 with a flashy and fabulous New Year’s party?

Here are some tips for throwing the best party of the new year.

• Offer flavorful appetizers and desserts to keep your guests energized and to express your theme. Delish suggests serving an arugula pizza as a delicious and easy to snack on treat, and it’s a recipe that hosts can easily adapt to please varying tastes. Desserts are a great way to show off some creativity and to tie your party theme together. Cupcakes with vanilla frosting and silver sprinkles are a simple and festive dessert that will surely be a hit, while a New Year’s Sparkler Cake will undoubtedly be the talk of the dessert table.

Arugula Pizza by Delish

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We are working our way toward the holiday season, and the weather (at least in New York City) is getting colder. The holiday season calls for comfort when you’re not in the midst of gathering food for feasts and gifts for loved ones. How about arranging some relaxing get togethers to enjoy good company and the cozy indoors?

Plan a movie night:

• Make this into an event by sending out a movie night invitation. I love this design for its classic and vintage appeal.

Popcorns designed by Cindy Garber Iverson

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Today, kids’ birthdays can be extravagant events, and just the thought of hosting one can send some parents into a frenzy.  Your saving grace?  Summer! Parents applaud summer as their favorite season to host or attend a children’s birthday party.  They credit the great outdoors for providing more activity options for kids and an easier clean-up for parents.

To help plan a summer party, check out these top theme picks and unique gifts:

Top Party Themes:

1) Make a Mess: If you’re going to encourage good old fashioned mess making, there is no better time to do so than when you’re outside!  Kids will love the fact that parents are actually encouraging them to get down & dirty.  Send a “messy” handmade invite and ask kids to arrive in their bathing suits with an extra set of clothes.  Provide activities like finger/face painting, a gelatin-eating contest and water balloon toss.

Party Product Picks & Gifts:

Pumponator Balloon Pump for Air & Water Balloons ($19.95)
My Art Kids Art Portfolio ($17.95)

2) Drive-In: Hang a large white sheet from a backyard tree and project your child’s favorite movie while kids lounge in the grass.  Send a “movie ticket” invitation, and ask kids to arrive in their PJs with their favorite stuffed bedtime friend.  Serve popcorn and/or ice cream sundaes and send the kids home full & ready for bed.

Party Product Picks & Gifts:

Portable Outdoor Blanket ($39.95)
Nap Mat ($39.95)

3) Camp Out: Set the party in the early evening & send a “compass” invitation with directions to the party.  Ask kids to arrive dressed in their favorite camping attire with a backpack & flashlight.  Grab a couple jelly jars for firefly catching, play flashlight tag, have mom or dad tell a story and roast s ‘mores.

Party Product Picks & Gifts:

Kids Camp Shelter & Camouflage Set ($49.95)
Kids Campfire Glow Lantern ($19.95)
My First Back Pack ($14.95)

4) Carnival: Decorate your backyard or local park with brightly colored tablecloths and balloons.  Send a “ticket” invitation for admission to the carnival.  Set up easy game stations like a bucket toss, clothes pin drop and a three-legged race.  Make tickets out of construction paper and hand them out as game prizes (everyone’s a winner!).

Party Product Picks & Gifts:

Animal Croquet ($34.95)
Turbo Bubble Machine ($25.95)

What to pick up some of the great gifts & supplies featured here? Friends of pingg One Step Ahead are offering 15% off orders $100 or more exclusively for pingg readers with the code PINGG15. They provide great products for kids to help make party-planning and gift-giving easier. Check them out for additional birthday party accessories, exclusive gifts and resources.