DIY Oscar Party Fab Frugal & Fun Ideas to Celebrate the 2012 Academy Awards at Home This Sunday

Do it Yourself Party

Limos line up at Four Season Hotel Beverly Hills before 2011 Awards

Didn't make any of the pre or post Oscars parties A-Lists? Not to worry, I didn't get any invitations this year either. Truth be told, like most of the rest of the world, I'm not on anyone's list and have never received an invite. But that doesn't mean that you and I have to stay home and cry all dressed up with no place to go while Hollywood is celebrating the biggest entertainment industry event of the year.

As the saying goes, if you can't fight them, join them! Well, sort of. This Sunday host your own Oscar Academy Awards Party for your friends where you decide who to invite and what's on the menu. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive -- it can even be last minute -- all it needs to be is fun. That's a whole lot better than being an actor or actress at the mercy of the directors and producers on any set, don't you think?

Nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch has a whole bunch of ideas to get you started to make your celebration affordable or even free. She says you should take advantage of free online services such as e-vite and your Facebook page to get your invites out fast and to keep track of the RSVPs. Woroch also suggests that you shop for some party wear at places like TJMaxx and troll the Internet to save on the refreshments at the grocery store by visiting sites like CouponSherpa and others offering printable and mobile coupons.

Hollywood Blvd near the theater at Highland where the Oscars will be presented

Building on Woroch's budget-minded philosophy, here's just a few of my own ideas to inspire your party planning creativity without spending alot of time or money on all the preparations. 

You'll notice that each of the five suggestions below from MommyBlogExpert all have several things in common: they're inexpensive and your guests share in the work and costs to make them happen.

The Hollywood Sign is as iconic as Movie Stars Themselves

Five MommyBlogExpert Oscar Party Ideas to Consider

Do Group Goody Bags

Here's a clever idea that's even cheaper and more fun than curating and buying all the trinkets yourself for the goody bags. Instead, give each party guest who's coming the heads up to bring a set number of the same item. Tell each person to spend no more than $10-$20 altogether and buy multiple identical items (like candy bars, stickers or even things from a dollar store). Meanwhile, as the host, purchase the same quantity of goody bags from a party store in advance. Then, have the empty bags set out on a table ready for everyone to drop in the goodies they brought. At the end of the party everyone who came will be surprised with their loot bag, even you!

Create a Fashion Boutique

How about totally skipping the swag bags for an all female crowd? Instead ask everyone to bring three accessories that are really nice but that they no longer want. This could be any accessory that one size fits all: a scarf, handbag, piece of jewelry, hat or other fashion accent. The main thing is that it should have some perceived valued to someone else and it should be either something new that was never used or an item that is in like-new condition. Then each of your girlfriends can "shop" for the equivalent number of items to bring home. You're bound to have at least a few of your guests going home very happy about their new treasures.

Hold a Celebrity Magazine Exchange

This one's good for a group of friends that likes reading People, the National Enquirer and the other movie star  magazines. Ask each person to bring a magazine of this genre, either one they are done with or a new one they picked up at the grocery checkout counter on their way to the party. Leave all the magazines out on your dining room table for people to flip through during the awards ceremony in case they get bored. Then after the final Oscar is announced encourage party goers to take any magazines home from this collection that they'd like. 

Organize a Pot Luck Buffet of Snacks & Drinks 

Ask guests to bring their favorite sweet and/or savory treats to share and assign others to bring their favorite drinks for all. Then you supply the paper plates, cups and utensils and serving dishes to present it all buffet style. Not enough food? Get everyone to chip in and order pizza for supper that's delivered to your party venue for everyone to eat during the show. 

Make Your Event Family Friendly

It's going to be a shame if one or more of your friends can't make your party either because they can't afford or can't find a babysitter for their kids. If you have the space, why not invite parents to bring their kids? Then set the little ones up with their own Oscar celebration in another room and ask your tweens or teens (or a friend's  responsible older kids) to keep them busy playing board games or doing simple craft since most youngesters -- gasp -- couldn't care less about the Academy Awards.

You get the idea. Think outside the box. Whatever you do you'll be having a memorable time with friends sans the expense and stress. Enjoy the awards ceremony and good luck to all the entrants from us all!

California-based DreamWorks is up for two Oscars in 2012

How will you spend Oscar Night 2012? What were your favorite movies, actors, actresses, directors and other crafts people last year? Who do you think will win this weekend? Share your thoughts as a comment.

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The Power of Female Friendships and Why They Matter in Personal & Professional Relationships

Friendship

Just a short while ago I was having one of those blogger writing block moments. Then I remembered I was meeting three girlfriends for lunch and began to reflect on all the reasons moms need our own friendships whether the kids are already post-college, at universities, in high school like mine are, or even haven't finished grade school yet. As a matter of fact why do female friendships -- whether you're single or married with or without children -- matter so much?

Martha Stewart, me and the other Dreamers Into Doers at MSLO New York

That's the inspiration for this post. That and the review I did on the New York Times Bestseller The Girls from Ames. Actually, I've been thinking a lot about that book the last few days in light of the sad news that the author of this title, Wall Street Journal Columnist Jeffrey Zaslow -- married and with daughters of his own -- died in a fatal auto accident last week. If you haven't read this amazing book about the power of deep friendships between women you might want to put this on your reading list.

Each of us has different groups of friends that we know socially and through our children and family. Most also have various meaningful feminine relationships with whom we have bonded with through our work as female professionals, mom bloggers and/or volunteering in the community. 

For example, I'm active in a women's entrepreneur community affiliated with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia called Dreamers into Doers. In fact, I was privileged to be among the 80 or so female business owners from around the U.S. hosted by Martha for a professional development conference in New York City last year.

Then there was SheCon in Miami Beach where I not only was a speaker, I hung out with and got to know other prominent working moms like social media pioneer Aliza Sherman  and Just Precious mommy blogger Julie Pron. Let's not forget BlogHer, either -- definitely the mother of  all blogging conferences for women. There's way more gal friends to see and catch up with (and new ones to meet) at that annual blogging event than there is time for.

I absolutely love attending as many women's and blogging conferences and other events as possible -- like many of you do. This explains why MBE has a dedicated page on this blog featuring the largest free calendar list of upcoming women and mom blog conferences complete with links available anywhere online. Definitely check it out if you haven't already.

These business trips and outings provide an essential social outlet away from my other job as a work at home mom WAHM. Indisputably this time away from my family has its rewards, contributing to both my personal and professional growth not only as a woman, but as a wife and mother. I have a feeling that the experiences of many of you are similar.

Two friends at SheCon Miami L to R: Julie Pron & Aliza Sherman

Think about it. Friends are a given when you're a child. But when you're a grownup mom of children with friends of their own and all the fun and drama that go along with it, you might get so immersed in family life that you inadvertently neglect close adult womens' friendships. 

Those thoughts hit me hard just after catching up with three close friends here in L.A. the other day. For sure, our lives are insanely busy. In my case there's a total of 12 kids between the four of us  -- sons and daughters at every stage of development from elementary school through post-college age.  I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that we're only able to manage going out for lunch together once or twice a year. Ironically, we all wish it were a whole lot more often than that since we have tight relationships and have all lived in the same neighborhood for over 10 years.

Yet, this brief ladies schmooze date with some good female friends is a reminder, a lesson about living life to its fullest from the feminine perspective. A concept that's worth repeating. We women do indeed love and need our hubbies, significant others, and children, as well as independent interests and hobbies outside the scope of our families. 

But there's something else we need too. We big girls need each other to thrive and nurture our multifaceted souls, enriching each of our lives in many unique and special ways.  That's the message of Zaslow's Girls from Ames, too, and my latest friends encounter reconfirms that ideal.

As females how do you maintain your adult friendships with other women? What are some of the ways these relationships enhance your life whether or not you are married and/or have children? Why do woman to woman friendships mean so much to you?

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Music for Autism Free Interactive & Innovative WindSync Concert in L.A Area March 18

Special Needs 

As readers know I love to share resources for free music for children because it's everywhere, you just need to know where to look for it. The latest example is a free Los Angeles area interactive concert for individuals of all ages -- both kids and young adults -- with autism and other special needs and their families that is planned for Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m. in Culver City, California.

The upcoming no-cost performance featuring WindSync, a young and energetic musical ensemble injecting their own novel approach to classical music, is presented by The Help Group and Music for Autism and takes place at The Help Group Culver City Campus, 4160 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066. There is no charge but reservations are required to attend.

According to the event's organizers, this unique concert will be professionally performed bringing forth an enriching musical experience in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. The musical one hour concert includes three segments: Concert Time, Conducting Time, and Percussion Time. The best part is that concertgoers aren't just sitting enjoying the music, the audience will be  invited to actively join the experience with body movement and instruments that will be provided.

Meet the Houston-based WindSync Music Group

Reservations are essential and may be made any of three ways

     1. Emailing RSVP@musicforautism.org

     2. Visiting the Concert Calendar section of MusicforAutism.org

     3. Calling Music for Autism at 877-863-7473 ext. 1

Music for Autism is raising public awareness and enriching lives through autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. The concerts, held in the United States and United Kingdom, feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners and Grammy-nominated classical artists.

Non-profit The Help Group is helps young people with autism and other special needs fully realize their potential. It is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive organization of its kind in the U.S. and is a recognized as a leader in the field of autism. A wide range of innovative autism spectrum disorder programs are offered each day to the 950 students ages 3-22 who attend its autism day schools.

My kids, hubbie and I are all musical playing multiple instruments. Some of us even sing! How about your family how do you and your children music into every day life?

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FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.