We often look forward to the holidays because it gives us a reason to get together for parties with friends and family. But if you enjoy parties, why wait for the holidays? You can use almost any excuse to throw a party, from buying a new condo to getting a promotion. Here are some ideas for 'between holiday' parties that will give you an excuse to hang out with friends and have a great time.

Congratulations Party

If you or one of your friends has achieved an important milestone recently, whether it's getting the renovations completed in your old home, finishing a big project at work, or succeeding in getting pregnant, why not throw a party to celebrate? Congratulation parties don't have to be elaborate affairs with gifts and games - they can even be a backyard barbecue if that's what you want to do. Just toss out some invitations via email or Facebook and feed people when they arrive. Add a congratulations banner to the wall and it's sure to be a hit.

Dinner Party

If you live alone in your townhome, it can seem like too much work to cook nice meals just for yourself. If you're missing home cooking, why not invite your friends over for a feed? That will give you the excuse you need to make a favorite recipe or try a new one you found in a magazine. To host a successful dinner party you don't need elaborate decor or a dress code, all you need is lots of good food to fill your guests' bellies, and some wine to go with it.

Silly Holiday Party

If you spend a lot of time on the internet, you've probably noticed that almost every day is some sort of holiday, perhaps unrecognized by the government or popular only in a far away country. These silly holidays, such as Talk Like a Pirate Day, the Mexican Day of the Dead, or May the 4th (the Star Wars holiday), can be great ideas for themed parties. You might consider making it a costume party to get more people to your new loft on the day, or arranging to play themed games.

Cocktail Party

If you like to have people over but you don't like to go to a lot of effort with cooking and decorating, a cocktail party could be just the thing. You don't need to decorate your home for a cocktail party - just make sure to pick up lots of liquor and mixes so people can make themselves exotic drinks and buy chips, candies, or bake some pre-made finger foods for snacking. You might also want to move some furniture out of the way so people can circulate.

Need some party favor ideas? Try MarthaStewart.com