Summarize the following:
Traditionally the parents of either the groom or the bride will host the engagement party, but it is also common for the couple themselves to host the party. Other options include a friend of the couple, both families co-hosting the party or even the groom planning the celebration. Since it is not always customary to have an engagement party, the couple may not even know that there is interest in giving them one. It also isn't the type of party that a couple could ask someone to do for them, so letting them know you are interested in throwing the party will open the door for them to talk to you about what type of party they are interested in. This will help you to get a tentative guest list from them. While the best man or maid of honor can throw the engagement party, it is usually better for the families or the couple themselves to throw the party since the maid of honor and best man will have to organize other parties later on. If the couple is announcing their engagement for the first time, then they likely will host the event. The engagement party is usually held one to three months after the proposal but this will depend on the individual circumstances of the bride and groom. If the couple plans to have a short engagement then the party should be sooner rather than later. If it is too close to the time of the wedding then it can feel like an early wedding shower and this is not what you want. Nine to eleven months before the wedding is a good time for the engagement party. Holding the party on a weekday rather than a weekend can significantly reduce the cost of the celebration. While many parties are held in the evening, the engagement party could also be a breakfast or brunch event, a mid-day pool party or held during happy hour at your favorite bar. Be creative. The engagement party does not have to be costly. It should be a fun and happy celebration so it can be as relaxed or high-energy as you choose. Some prefer to hold just a small get-together while others prefer to hold an evening filled with dancing and music. A formal dinner party would be more expensive than a backyard barbecue but either are acceptable for an engagement party. Set a budget that includes all aspects of the party: invitations, food, drink, entertainment, decoration, venue and favors. The purpose of the engagement party is to bring together the bride and groom's friends and family so that they can all meet one another. The engagement party is usually an intimate occasion and it is usually inappropriate to invite anyone who will not be invited to the wedding. Get lists from the bride and groom of close family and friends. If you are on a tight budget, reduce the guest list by inviting only immediate family members and close friends. Sometimes you can invite people to the engagement party that are not invited to the wedding. This is especially true nowadays when many couples live and/or host their weddings far from friends and families. If the engagement party is going to be a surprise, make a guest list including the family members and close friends. Ask two or three other people to review the list to make sure you don't forget anyone. The venue can be anything you choose: your own home, a park, the beach, a restaurant, a hall or a bar for example. Remember your budget and the theme of your party when deciding on a venue. Consider having the party at a place that is special to the couple. For example the location of their first date, a park they enjoy going to or some other location. Gifts can be a source of confusion for guests and it is important to inform people ahead of time if gifts are accepted or not. Many do not accept gifts at their engagement party and the invitations should read "no gifts please" to clarify this fact. If you do choose to accept gifts then you should expect low- to mid-range priced gifts and can register for these. The location of registration should be marked on the invitations in this case. If you have requested no gifts yet guests bring them, wait until after the party to open them so that other guests do not feel uncomfortable. Throwing a party can be a lot of work so try to find a few other people in the planning and preparation. If you already know the members of the wedding party then you can involve them in the engagement party. These should be sent out around one month to six weeks before the party. Invitations can be elaborate but it is also perfectly acceptable to send email or another kind of electronic invitation. This will also reduce the cost of the party. They should be kept with the theme of the party. Invitations should be sent out four to six weeks before the party. The invitations do not have to match the rest of your stationary, especially if you have not decided on a theme or color palette yet. You can include a return card for RSVPs or not depending on your preference. It is not necessary to provide party favors but if you do want to then you can choose something small like baked goods or treats. You may also choose to give a small gift to your wedding party to show your appreciation. If you choose an outdoor location like the beach or a park for the party, make sure you have a back-up plan if the weather does not agree. You do not want to wake up to rain and have nowhere to host the party! If you are hosting the party at your home or another outdoor location, make sure you give yourself enough time to buy the food, drinks and any other goods you might need such as plates and cups. Ensure that there are places for the guests to sit and eat. If the party is hosted at a private residence then make sure the yard is tended to, the house cleaned and that the AC/heating system is working. If you are accepting gifts, make sure there is an area to put them. Depending on the size of the party and the venue you may need to arrange special parking areas. Make sure there is space for the guests to park their vehicles to avoid traffic jams.

summary: Agree on a host. Pick a date and time. Determine a budget. Create a guest list. Determine a venue. Decide whether or not you will be accepting gifts. Find others to help you organize the party. Send invitations. Decide on party favors. Create a back-up if you plan to have the party outdoors. Go shopping in the week before the party if necessary. Prepare the venue. Make sure there is space for vehicles to park.

Summarize the following:
You need a few special materials to make a matchbook advent calendar. Craft matchboxes come in various sizes, so feel free to mix and match. Washi tape is a type of decorative masking tape. You can find these supplies online, or at your local craft store: Enough matchbooks to make 25-31 days Patterned paper Washi tape Stickers Ribbon Craft glue Decorative trinkets Markers and paints Decide how many calendar days you want to include in your advent calendar. Lay out the appropriate number of matchboxes. Remove the drawer from each matchbox so that you're only decorating the shell. Use a combination of ribbons, washi tape, and decorative paper to decorate each shell. Decorate the front of the drawers to match the shells. You don't have to use identical patterns for the drawers and shells, but make sure they complement each other. Use paints or markers to add numbers to the front of the drawers. Or, if you prefer, cut out some numbers from the scraps of your decorative paper and glue them to the drawers. Feel free to mix and match techniques when making the numbers. Your advent calendar should be a reflection of your creativity. Once you've decorated every matchbox, fill them with tiny gifts such as candy, money, or small toys. Get creative with your gift ideas! You can also make personalized certificates to put in the matchboxes. If you're making one for your mom or dad, put a certificate that says you'll do a chore. If you're making one for your boyfriend or girlfriend, make a certificate good for a romantic dinner. Stack the matchboxes until you've made the shape of a Christmas tree. Once you're happy with the shape, glue the boxes to each other. Make sure all the drawers are facing the same direction. Place the calendar on a table or counter top, or thread some ribbon through the top box and hang it on the wall.
summary: Gather your supplies. Decorate the boxes. Add numbers to the drawers. Fill the matchboxes with gifts. Arrange the matchboxes into a tree.