I was just given a Bath & Bodyworks foaming hand cleaner & it smells wonderful! Nephew's wife was using it & I said it smelled so good! Not like the normal kind. So I went to their site & they have all kinds. Mine is coconut, lime, verbena in 1.7 oz bottle & just takes a quick pump smells like a nice lotion. They have sale online right now for some wonderful sounding sanitizers for 3 for $10. I'm going to store to see which ones I would like. Another little gift for your relatives gift bag that is nice is to type up or handwrite your 5 favorite Christmas breads, candies you make,cookies, or punches, hot or cold. I put them on cards & slid each into a plastic sleeve & punch small hole in corner & tie them together with a small length of satin ribbon with bow to finish it off. I always do this for wedding showers when I give bread pan, cookie sheet, muffin pans or cake pans so new bride has some "tried & true" recipes even if she didn't get a cookbook as a gift. I hear from brides yrs later, I was at a gathering recently when someone walked up & said she still uses, my recipes! I gave them to her 30 yrs ago!!

Double check with the school before you get too far into the project. Like slinkey said - there are getting to be many restrictions on what can be sent - even our school went to "no home-baked" goodies last year. Only pre-packaged stuff. That is ok, I guess. I am comfortable with what I make, but I am not so sure about some others, lol! I have made the paper mache pumpkins from the Martha Stewart site - very easy, but time consuming. You blow up small water balloons and cover them with orange tissue paper strips. Paint the strips with wallpaper adhesive/size and put a couple layers on the balloon. I clip them to a laundry rack to dry. Then cut the balloon and pull it out the top (leave the very top open with the first bunch of strips) - then fill with candy and/or halloween trinkets. Cover the tops with more strips. When dry add jack-o-lantern faces with a marker. They are really neat - but like I said - time consuming. I can dig out the Martha Stewart magazine that has the good directions if you are interested. This is a free printable from Prim Doodles: You can print out an "icicle box", fold it, and fill it with candy. You could even personalize them if you are familiar with using photo editing software. She has another design that has a Raggedy Ann doll with a pumpkin. Go to the link below - click on the printable you want so it goes to full size and then save it to your computer. You can print right from "My Pictures" if you don't have editing software. Check out the whole Prim Doodles site - bag toppers, popcorn wrappers, cards - tons of stuff and it is all free. Here is a link that might be useful: Prim Doodles - printable gift bags/boxes

If you have a graphics program you could make seed packets. The front could have a photo of your friend and say something like "She keeps going and going...". The back could say "Thanks for coming!", date and occasion info, the type of seeds and something like "Hope these seeds keep growing and growing!". I plan on making seed packet favors for my DD's graduation party coming up in June. I will be using the templates for the seed packets in the link below. Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Packets

How thoughtful of you to do this for your parents! Especially your wanting to ensure that your guests will be cool & comfortable (I'm so done with attending outdoor summer weddings & sweating/melting in my good clothes) is impressive. Your plans sound great - especially having it butlered so you can enjoy this special party along with your guests. I was just a kid in the 50's and barely remember attending those weddings & receptions (but I do remember they were lovely and low-key...either watercress sandwiches, champagne & wedding cake, or the sit-down dinners). I do remember my parents & their friends hosting cocktail parties (which were very popular)...my folks made daiquiries or whiskey sours. I don't remember the hor d'oeuvres as being all that great though - not like today's. Onion dip was popular (made from Lipton's dry onion soup)...you might want to make the Barefoot Contessa's onion dip which is much better and serve with home-made potato chips as a 50's hor d'oeuvres (along with current healthier appetizers!). Have some chilled champagne for a toast, do big posters with photos of your parents' school days, courtship, friends, early marriage, babies arriving, etc. (my sister & I did that for the 50th anniv. party we held for our parents--lots of fun to create & guests enjoyed seeing themselves "back in the day"). Maybe have a CD featuring hits from the 50's (what a major change in music over those 10 years, especially when rock and roll came along). And, if possible, someone who will do a bit of emceeing (for lack of a better word), welcoming everyone, saluting the guests of honor maybe with funny stories from their courting days or wedding day, introducing special guests (their wedding party), etc. Oh--and someone to take videos and photos. Have a good time planning this party. It will be a lot of fun for your family and your parents will be so pleased. Ann