Slumber parties never go out of style! How to plan and host your own

If you're a teen or pre-teen, it's a sure bet your Mom and grandmother remember how much fun it was to go to a slumber party. The parties they attended were strictly girl events, just as they are today. There was giggling, gossiping, talk of boys and pillow fights. However, your slumber party offers a lot more in the way of entertainment as well as food choices. Here's how to plan and host a party that won't soon be forgotten.

If you want to invite lots of your friends, you'll probably need to get your parent's permission to take over the living or family room for the night, so everyone has room to lay out sleeping bags when you're ready to hit the sack. If you want a small party, and your best friends can all be stuffed in your room, that can work too. Just be sure to consider you'll need room for food serving and a good view of the TV, if that's in your plans.

It's a good idea to send invitations. Parents like that formality. A phone call might do, but your friend's parents are saved the inconvenience of remembering or nothing the date and time with an invitation they can just stick on the frig for easy reference. Include your parent's home phone number, as well as what the girls need to bring, like sleeping bags and towels.

You can have fun making and printing your own invitations right off the computer and your guests have a memento of the event. It's a good idea to send them out a couple of weeks in advance, so other plans don't interfere with your slumber party date.

Now you need to make your slumber party food plans. Make it easy on your parents and yourself by choosing foods that don't require a lot of preparation. Pizza, chips and dip, soda, ice cream and cookies can all be fixed quickly and served on plastic plates and in paper cups.

Plan your entertainment. This isn't hard either. Rent a couple of videos or video games. Put together some music CD choices and some board games, if you and your friends are into that type of entertainment.

That's about all there is to planning slumber parties. Be a gracious hostess and make sure all of your guests feel comfortable and welcome. Remember too, that the easier you make this event on your parents, the more likely it is that there won't be undue, embarrassing parental interference during your party. Your parents will also be more receptive to another party down the road.

As for the inevitable pillow fight, move breakables into the closet or whatever. Your Mom will not be a happy camper if her favorite vase or lamp is broken! Now you've got your perfect slumber party plan. Simple as that.