We do love a good party here at ParentMap — some of us more than others! The two dozen moms who work to bring you this special issue have hosted scads of bashes between us — everything from backyard sack races to elaborate, expertly planned affairs that would make Martha Stewart weep with shame (“Canapé, Cindy?”). Several PM staffers have literally elevated birthday parties to an art form. They are scary. We call them our Party Mavens.

We know that planning parties is thrilling for some, a dreaded chore to others. Need to keep it simple? Don’t worry, we’ve got the ‘Map! Read on for inspired ideas, money-saving tips, etiquette advice, and even a few ways to “green up” that backyard bash. Our Web site is in on the fun; check out our huge, searchable database of essential resources for party planning on our Web site. There, you’ll also find a few outrageous party ideas from the Mavens.

Besides PartyMap, we publish ParentMap each month, in print and online. With a focus on education, and an eye on the courts and the environment, we bring you news that’s important to families. We also bring you the award-winning Family Directory (searchable online), BabyMap, LearningMap, SummerMap and, new this year, HealthMap.

But our quest to hook you up with the info you need doesn’t stop there: Every year, we bring you a veritable “who’s who” of parenting pros in our Pathways Lecture Series. We host preschool preview nights in King and Pierce counties, and the wildly successful LearningMap Education Fair and Camp Fair.

Be sure to sign up for our free e-newsletter, Passport, a little present to you in your inbox each week. You’ll get our editors’ picks for the best family fun around.

We never stop working to find new ways to make your parenting journey easier. We hope you find PartyMap interesting, fun, and useful. Please tell us what you think. Write to us at editor@parentmap.com.