Host the Best Oscar Watch Party Ever

The Academy Awards will be broadcast on ABC, February 22^nd, 2009. Here are great ideas to make your Oscar watching party a big hit.

First, the invitations! Go to www.evite.com or Windows Live Events to send e-mail invitations with an Oscar theme. If you have time to mail your invitations, download a picture of an Oscar, write or print your invite info and add lots of confetti stars or paper cut out stars to the envelope.

Secondly, the decorations. You have lots of options here, depending on your budget. Select either Black and Gold or Black and Silver as your colors. Select shiny paper goods and plastic utensils in silver or gold metallic and your local party supply store. If you have a disco ball, use it! Hang metallic stars everywhere and sprinkle different sized stars on everything. Check with your local video rental store or movie theater for left over movie posters, or download photos of Hollywood legends and nominated stars and hang them in inexpensive photo frames. You really need a red carpet runway, but you don't have a red carpet you say? If you have a large budget, check your wedding rental supplier for a red aisle runner, or use a red blanket, sheet or purchase red fabric at your nearest fabric store. Have shiny helium balloons. Make a photo background for photos of your guests.

For the food, because any good party has food! Select a Movie Theater Munchies menu with hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and theater candy, or go elegant and elaborate with smoked salmon on crackers, Brie, Caviar and finger sandwiches. If you want to do a pot luck and let your guest bring thier favorite party food, have them name their dish for a favorite star, like Marilyn Monroe Cheese Dip.

If you are planning to serve alcohol, serve movie and Hollywood favorites, like Sidecars, Metropolitans, Champagne Cocktails, Dry Martinis and Manhattans.

Costumes. Select from Red Carpet Formal Wear or Movie Character Costumes. Encourage your guests to get into the roll. You can shop thrift stores and put together some great outfits for not a lot of money, or put that Bridesmaid dress to use, finally! Get the kids into the act as well. Depending on their ages, have them dress as waiters and serve your guests with roving platters of appetizers. You can get shiny plastic trays that look like silver at your party supply store, or at many dollar stores in an assortment of shapes and sizes, if you don't own your own silver trays. If you have photo junkie kids, have them dress and act as paparazzi, taking candid shots throughout the evening. Small children can dress as their favorite child star or animated character.

Ambiance and Activities. Have someone be an official photographer and take pictures of your guests as they arrive, and in front of your photo backdrop. Then let your "paparazzi" do the rest. When your guest arrive, give them a "Score Card". You can find these online that list the awards and the nominees. Have everyone fill them out with their choice of winners and award a prize at the end of the evening to the guest with the most correct picks. During commercial breaks, play Oscar Trivia, Name That Movie Tune or if your guest are dressed as movie characters have a :"Best Costume" contest. Check your local bakery for Oscar shaped cookies to award as prizes.

When the evening is over, don't forget the goody bags. You can fill them with candies, magazines, inexpensive beauty products, and a home mixed CD of your favorite music, Movie themes from nominated movies or songs from movie soundtracks.

Most of all.... Have Fun!