Do you love a good party but shy away from planning one of your own because the effort and expense seems overwhelming? Stick with me fellow merrymakers and we'll explore the DOs and DON'Ts of planning a fabulous party without breaking the bank. And, by "the bank" I may or may not be referring to breaking into my son's piggy bank for cash to tip my hair stylist. 

I used to be a Party Girl. I threw all sorts of parties. Big ones, small ones, even ones the local police attended. Who invited them anyway? Then I became a mom and grew into a more sophisticated hostess. I had become a Party Mummy. But after our second child was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, the parties stopped. There was no reason to celebrate.