I love throwing parties.  Everyone is so busy these days that as much as we want to see our friends, it takes so much time to coordinate schedules, that we don't get over that first hurdle and "Just Do It!"  So I try to be the person in my friends' lives that can always think of a reason to celebrate and be the one to organize everyone.   

I also always try to plan a party on a budget.  Whether it's making my event a pot luck so everyone contributes to the cost of food, or decorating using items I already have around the house, I find it is easy to have an impressive party without putting out an impressinve amount of money.