Want to be the hostess with the mostest? Follow our easy entertaining tips and fun party ideas. We've got simple party plans for every occasion -- from a Mexican-themed fiesta to a classy wine-tasting party.

Throwing a housewarming is the perfect way to meet neighbors and introduce your new digs to friends and family. Here’s how to pull it off with style.

What’s the point of throwing a housewarming party?
It’s a coming-out shindig for your new life together in your shared pad and a way to make people feel welcome in it. Okay, and maybe to gloat (just a little) over your new space with all that cool wedding swag on display. Don’t worry if you’re not living in your dream home yet. You still have every reason to throw a housewarming if you’re renters or even if you’re simply moving into his old place (or vice versa).

Can you have one to celebrate a new renovation?
It’s still cool to throw a party to show off your revamped kitchen or new deck -- just call it an open house, not a housewarming party. What’s the difference? An open house is less about your big-picture household and more about a new feature of your home. It’s also a more laid-back affair where guests can come and go, and gifts aren’t part of the equation.

Should we wait if the place isn’t quite the way we want it yet?
A home is always a work in progress, so there’s no need to wait until your nest is at its camera-ready best to send out invites. No one will notice if you haven’t slipcovered your sofa or repainted your bathroom the right shade of blue (trust us). You can have an informal get-together as soon as the movers unload the last box, or you can wait until the house is (mostly) ready for show.

What should we serve?
Housewarming parties are typically just cocktail hours with your basic drinks and hors d’oeuvres. But the party should suit your tastes and your new abode. If your place has a great backyard, an outdoor barbecue might be best. Or, if you want to show off the kitchen, try an a.m. brunch.

How do we invite people?
If the idea of another envelope-a-thon after the wedding and thank-you note blitz makes you cringe, you’re in luck. Evites are totally acceptable. If you don’t know your new neighbors’ emails yet (or even their full names), just slip casual invites under their front doors.

Are gifts a given?
Housewarming gifts are optional (don’t look so depressed). If people ask about the stuff you need, the polite answer is, “All we need are friends and family to help us celebrate.� If some guests do happen to bring presents, don’t make a big fuss of opening them in front of everyone. It’ll make the people who showed up empty-handed feel really lame.

Do we need to give a house tour?
Absolutely…it’s the main attraction! Your guests won’t show up at the same time, so plan on giving a couple of tours. Just keep it brief (5 to 10 minutes tops), and when you guide people through rooms, have some interesting talking points, like a cool piece of art from your honeymoon or a funny story about when you moved in. While one of you shows people around, the other should be by the front door to greet newcomers and have them sign the guest book. (A Polaroid guest book will make remembering names of your new neighbors a lot easier.)

See our favorite housewarming and hostess gifts (in every price range!)

Oh, summer, we’re so not ready to see you go. Okay, not so fast. We've still got some quality party-time left. Not to mention some favorite summer cocktail recipes to whip up, like Nest Rebecca's Spiked Rosemary Lemonade. Yum!

It's easy to throw an elegant earth-conscious party with these tips from Maria McBride.

Wine Bottle Vases

The lean, elegant silhouette of a wine bottle lends itself to a second life as a bud vase. It’s shaped to hold a well of liquid and its narrow neck makes it a superior vessel for long-stemmed flowers and foliage. Fill the bottles with shoots of ivy; these hardy plants are easy to root and, once established, make a natural sun shade. Let your centerpieces inspire conservation-minded conversation -- remind everyone that homes with well-placed shrubs and leafy vine cover help reduce energy costs by shading the building. It pays to go green.

Materials
3 used wine bottles
Bottle brush
Adhesive solvent
Water
3 10-inch ivy shoots

Directions
1. Clean used wine bottles with bottle brush. Use adhesive solvent to remove any label remants.

2. Fill each bottle halfway with water. Remove several leaves from the end of the ivy stems to easily insert into the bottles. Be sure at least 2 inches of the root end of the stem is submerged in water.

All you need is a stocked bar and a little inspiration for a bash where the drinks are second to the scenery. We'll get you on your way with five surefire ideas for a fab shindig.

A Day at the Races

Why? The Kentucky Derby might only happen in May, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate like the prize-winning horse owners all summer long.

Setup: Decorate for an outside picnic with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, give each table the name of a prized thoroughbred, and encourage women to wear fun hats. Put the TV or radio on a horse race and pass out faux betting sheets. The losers have to do the dishes!

Music: Crank up country tunes like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.

Nibbles: Barbecue chicken fingers, tea sandwiches, and ramekins of mac and cheese

Specialty drinks: Mint juleps, of course! But if you're not a big bourbon fan, try mojitos (which are made with rum). You'll still get the mint effect.

Green Party

Why? Who isn’t going eco-friendly these days? It’s a great excuse to get your friends together and help the environment while you’re at it.

Setup: Turn your pad into a green scene. Serve food on biodegradable appetizer plates (BranchHome.com sells great sets) and light a bunch of soy candles. Ask guests to bring one thing from their home that they don’t use -- from clothing to DVDs -- and set up a “Recycle Table� in your living room where everyone gets to walk out of the party with a new gift!

Music: Go with artists who have green agendas, like Radiohead and Jack Johnson.

Nibbles: Organic fruit and crudite kabobs, specialties from your local farmer’s market

Specialty drinks: Serve eco-friendly beer. Brooklyn Brewery (BrooklynBrewery.com) and Belgium Brewery (NewBelgium.com) are both wind-powered, environmentally sustainable breweries.

Pink Slip Soiree

Why? We’re pretty much in a depression, so why not party like it’s 1929! Encourage laid-off pals to bring a “personal� business card so they can network with other guests. Whoever exchanges the most cards by the end of the night wins a bottle of booze.

Setup: In true ’20s style, turn your pad into a modern speakeasy. Have the women wear cocktail dresses. Hand out inexpensive pink boas, fake pearl necklaces, and paper fans. Men can don black suits with black or white ties. For a prohibition twist, fill your bathtub with ice and turn that into your bar.

Music: Play jazz icons like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. If you have an old-school record player, use it!

Nibbles: Dole out “stimulus packages�: Chinese take-out boxes filled with colorful candy, warm salted nuts, or gourmet potato chips.

Specialty Drinks: Pink Slip Slammers made with vodka, pink grapefruit juice, and a splash of simple syrup, topped with a raspberry

Modern Luau

Why? Everyone loves a luau. And, at this one, your guests don't have to look at the gross pig on a stick!

Setup: Think clusters of pineapples on the tables, mini tiki torches secured in buckets of sand, grass hula skirts as table skirts, and shells scattered about. Will people be cruising indoors too? Throw in a DVD called Riding Giants for some cool surf vibes in the background.

Music: Make a mix of steel drum music by Steelasophical, reggae by Bob Marley, and mellow Hawaiian tunes by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

Nibbles: Island-inspired faves like coconut shrimp and mini squares of pineapple pizza

Specialty Drinks: Piña coladas, daiquiris (don't forget the umbrella toothpicks), and fruity cocktails with names like Wailin' Marley and Kingston Night

Rolodex Bash

Why? It’s time to get off Facebook for a few hours and actually “friend� people in person. The premise: Ask each guest to invite one of their favorite people. Because who doesn’t want a larger network?

Setup: Have a camera? Take pictures of everyone who walks through your door. Midway through the party, upload them to your TV -- it’s a fun way for guests to check each other out. Before people leave, ask them to jot down their email address in a guest book. Each time you throw the party, it’ll get bigger and bigger because your new friends will be inviting their friends, and so on.

Music: It’s all about the community effort. When you send out your Evite, ask guests to submit their favorite song requests and download it for a fabulous mix.

Nibbles: Anything in bulk, from frozen taquitos to big bowls of chips and salsa. You have double the crowd you’re used to!

Specialty Drinks: Shots, of course…what could be friendlier?

What advice do you have for Nesties who are hosting their first holiday?
Don't cook something for the first time when you're having guests. Choose recipes that you've made before and have mastered. Use presentation to wow your guests, not fancy food that you've never prepared.

What are some shortcuts when entertaining for large crowds?
A common mistake is when people try to cook too many things. Keep the menu under control by asking your family to bring their specialties. If they don't cook, ask them to bring some good wine. And keep an eye out for great specialty shops or bakeries in your area -- you don't need to make everything yourself.

What can I do ahead of time so I'm not trapped in the kitchen?
The idea is to be a guest at your own party. Make a game plan -- a war plan for the holiday season, if you will -- and write out your menu, then decide how you'll shop for the items. Go to the grocery store a week early for your nonperishable groceries, which will ensure you avoid last-minute holiday crowds and empty shelves. Get your fresh ingredients the day before and set the table if you're planning to sit down.

What are some unique touches to wow my guests?
Cook dinner at your living room fireplace or serve appetizers around an adorned kitchen island. Serve champagne and wine in chic, large vessels, such as goblets or magnum glasses.

Did you just say cook over the fireplace?
Ham steaks are easy to cook that way. Slice the ham a bit thicker than usual and grill it over the fireplace. Bruschetta and chocolate panini would be great over an open fire as well. You'll be creating a great food memory.

What's your favorite holiday tradition?
My family always gets together for a baking day. Some bring lunch, some bring ingredients, and others bring skills. We bake and laugh together, and when the day's over, we all have a variety of great things to take home.

Do you have any no-fuss ideas for throwing a holiday party?
Try hosting a dessert party. Fill hurricane lamps with festive candies and sweets of all varieties: dark chocolates, candy canes, peppermint pinwheels, and caramels. Top off the evening with a flute of Italian dessert wine, such as Moscato di Asti or Prosecco, and voila -- you've got a party.