Parties


12
May 11

Home Birthday Party Ideas For Kids: 8 Tips For Stress-Free Children’s Celebrations

So, you’re planning to host your child’s birthday party at home. But how to make it fun without spending a fortune and driving yourself crazy?

The trick is to keep things simple. Here are some home birthday party ideas to make your celebration a success.

*Keep it short. I learned the hard way that three hours is too long for a party. Schedule two and a half hours instead. Many children will arrive late resulting in a two-hour party, which is perfect.

*Invite only girls or boys. This limits party size and makes it easier to plan activities that engage everyone.

*Encourage drop-offs. Entertaining kids and parents divides your attention and makes it hard to host if your space is small. Note a “pick up” time on invitations. By grade school, most children can handle parties on their own.

*Mix and match. Nothing limits options more or makes the bill add up faster than organizing a party around a theme. Let your child pick a special cake and mix and match decorations and activities.

*Create the goodies. If the kids do a craft, like beading, as an activity, the necklaces they make can serve as the treat to take home.

*Give the sibling a job. Our “birthday sister” sticks the candles in the cake and announces activities. She’s been completely co-opted.

*Stock up on silly string. Kids love to spray the stuff. And they also love to pick it up, packing it into little balls. Like magic, the mess disappears. Plan on one can per kid.

*Skip the party. Offer to take your child and a few friends on a special birthday outing instead. The zoo or a movie followed by ice cream – almost any outing is easier than throwing a party. And the kids have just as much fun.

(c) 2007 Jennifer Bingham Hull. Reprint rights granted as long as entire article is published, including resource box and its live links.


9
May 11

Office Christmas Parties in Bristol, UK

Discover the West Country Charm of a Bristol office Christmas Party

If you’re planning the office Christmas party and are looking for a location with an abundance of charm and elegance then consider the West Country jewel in England that is Bristol. This beautiful city situated round the River Avon is a UK city brimming with activity whilst being surrounded by luxurious rolling landscapes. With a population of almost half a million it’s no shrinking violet and the vibrant student nightlife, and young professional population puts a dash of electricity into the evening air. As the nights draw in and winter approaches, Bristol only becomes much more appealing for a Christmas party setting. We take a look at some of the fantastic aspects of having your office Christmas party in Bristol.

The importance of the right location for your Christmas Bash

The office Christmas party is an important occasion in your company’s calendar. It is a time for people to get together and reflect over the successes and challenges of the past year, and reward one another for all the hard work. It’s a super chance to let people come together who might not normally socially, and spend some time talking to one another outside of the office environment. Picking a suitable location for the Christmas party is probably the most important first step in organizing one and Bristol has a great deal to offer businesses considering having their Christmas party there. If you’re looking for a city that isn’t too hectic but still has a lively scene, then Bristol fits perfectly. With a range of venues to cater for large parties to intimate numbers you will have plenty of choice and if you choose a location in town you won’t have any trouble finding somewhere else to continue the party into the early hours if you wanted to!

Getting to Bristol

Getting to Bristol from the surrounding areas is very easy. The two main railway stations are Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway with regular services. If you are driving, you need to be on the M4 or M5 motorways for the main access routes into the city.

Types of Christmas Parties to Have in Bristol

There are a number of different venues and themes to choose from for your Bristol office Christmas do. From elegantly decorated “Ice White” themed evenings, to school disco party nights! Depending on whether your company is a sophisticated crowd or a fun loving group you’ll be able to find something to satisfy most tastes. Why not consider a Dickens themed Christmas or go completely modern and have a casino themed Christmas party? You’ll be spoilt for choice if you choose Bristol for your Christmas party!

Places to go to after your Christmas celebration in Bristol

Bristol is a charming city with an eclectic mix of pubs and inns, perfect to warm yourselves in on your Christmas celebration.?If you’re looking for a more vibrant atmosphere then St. Nicholas Street and Baldwin street have popular and recognizable pubs such as The Revolution Bar, The Slug and Lettuce, and O’Neills. Or poke around a little further round King and Little King Street and you’ll find some quainter public houses to entertain your crowd!


6
May 11

Unleashing Your Inner Child With This Classic Game

Games aren’t usually part of the adult’s vocabulary. When the term is conjured up, what is usually visualized is a group of children gathered around either a spot on the street or in front of a gaming console and television. Definitely not adult fare. But hey, grown ups need to unwind a little bit too! And there are some occasions wherein adults can also loosen up and play games like they were kids, especially if they’re in the presence of close friends and loved ones.

And what better venue for them to unleash their young hearts than in a baby shower? This is a place where only the closest family and friends are allowed so there’s no shame in it at all! Plus there are many games that you can play in a baby shower that not only give you loads of fun but also allows you to lose the trappings of adulthood and just be yourself.

One game that is perfect both for giving endless fun and for playing in the baby shower. It’s called pin the tail on the mommy! It’s a very cheap and effective game to play because the instructions are so simple (if you know how to play ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ then this game is a piece of cake!). You only need a cardboard cut-out of a little baby, ideally the size of a medium-sized doll and some double sided adhesive tape.

The mom-to-be stands in the middle of the room and just like in its parent game, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, the contestants are blindfolded and turned around, after which they try to pin the baby as close to the baby as possible. This is really great fun! But of course measures should also be taken to ensure that the mom and her kid aren’t hurt in the course of the game!


2
May 11

Guess Who is Not Invited to Dinner

What would a party be without party crashers? It happens all the time, no matter the level of the event. Someone always shows up who was not invited. Based upon many years of event planning here are a few options to consider when uninvited guests arrive and think they will be partying with you.

First, if you don’t know them you can easily approach them and explain that this is a private function by invitation only and to please leave. Most often, people are just looking and will do so. If they refuse to leave and you are at a facility, then go to the facility manager or security personnel and have them escort the party crasher out. If it is at your house and a stranger just happens to walk in and doesn’t want to leave, then you may have to call the police.

At your event, you do need to be careful and be aware as to a guest who is invited and then brings someone you don’t know without telling you in advance. It is acceptable to approach this guest you haven’t met and ask them who they are as well as which attendee they are a guest of. This simple step will not only introduce you to a new person but will also grant you peace of mind allowing you to enjoy your party.

Occasionally at weddings or events occurring at a hotel or banquet hall, it is easy for people to learn about the event, dress the part and then attend it uninvited. Sometimes, they are looking for a free drink and some food. This incident has happened to me quite a few times. During these instances, we just approached them directly, took the drink out of their hand, explained that this was a private affair and then asked them to leave immediately, which they did. Basically, when the ruse is up, they are embarrassed and leave quickly since most people have some level of morality.

Another instance regarding uninvited guests, especially at hotels or banquet facilities, is that these people could be scamming the event looking to see what they can easily walk away with such as cameras, purses or expensive coats. Unfortunately this experience is the downside of throwing a party and you just need to be aware of who is in the room and if necessary, call security or the police if you are uncomfortable or don’t feel safe approaching these people yourself.

Sometimes your guests may bring their babies because the babysitter canceled last minute, or they just assumed the party is a family affair. This situation can be a bit tricky and most often will be handled by the parent who brought the child. If the event is a formal sit-down dinner, then the parent will quickly realize bringing the baby or child was not a wise decision and will most likely excuse themselves from the party. If the event is a large or more informal party, then I would suggest allowing the baby to stay as long as the child behaves. Most often, parents realize quickly whether their child is ruining the party and will self-correct the situation.

Through my years of event planning, the easiest solution I have found to uninvited guests is to hire a security person to check names off at the entrance to your party. With private house parties, a suggestion is to provide a guest list to someone who is assigned to check names at the door. These simple steps can save you time and allow you to enjoy your party without worrying who is not suppose to be enjoying it with you.


29
Apr 11

Kids Party Planning – A Hello Kitty – Themed Party

Gone are the days of a birthday party that consists of simple balloons and a cake. Those things still exist when it comes to kids party planning, but today’s parties are so much more involved. Nowadays, every party seems to involve some sort of theme.

Kids choose themes based on a popular movie or television series of the time, and it seems like new ones are popping up every other week on television stations like Disney, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. With so many kid’s shows and movies to choose from, there are literally hundreds of different themes you can come up with when planning a party for kids.

One party theme that’s a favorite with girls of a variety of ages is Hello Kitty. There are toys, books, games, and cartoons based on the deceptively simple drawings of Kitty, her sister Mimi, and their friends.

Because of its popularity, Hello Kitty has a myriad of party items available that make planning a party for kids very easy. Party City is a good place to find plates, napkins, cups, balloons, banners, goody bags, jewelry, and other little gifts.

For a cake, there are a couple of options. You should be able to find something at your local grocery store already pre-decorated. If not, the bakery should be able to put something on the cake for you. Bakeries have rules on what characters they can and can’t put on cakes, so if your bakery can’t do it for you, buy some icing, and do it yourself. Hello Kitty’s characters consist of very simple line art without much detail, which makes for an easy drawing using writing icing.

There are many games available for kids to play at the party. One favorite that the younger kids enjoy is Pin The Bow On Hello Kitty.

All you need to do is make a large drawing of Hello Kitty (or commission an artistic neighbor or friend) on a 24 x 36 piece of poster board. Draw a number of Kitty’s signature bows so that every child will have one. You can either decorate them yourself, or have the kids do it at the party. Have things like markers, glue, little jewels, and glitter available so the kids can personalize them in their own style. Make sure to use a little double-stick tape on the back of each bow so it will stick to the drawing.

When it’s someones turn, blindfold her and spin her around three times. Face her in the general direction of the Hello Kitty poster you’ve created, and let her go. Whoever gets the closest to the correct spot on Hello Kitty’s head wins a prize of your choosing.

Another great item they have at Party City (others probably carry them, as well) is a Hello Kitty pinata. The pinatas seem to be constructed really well, so the kids will be whacking away at it for a long time, and will have a ball doing so.

If you’re looking for a theme when planning a party for kids, you can’t go wrong with Hello Kitty. This theme is a snap because the accessories are easy to find and there are numerous games and activities available. Your child will definitely love it.


28
Apr 11

Balloon Decorations – Do You Know the 3 Secrets of Selecting and Using Your First Helium Tank?

That magic gas which gives latex and mylar balloons alike its life is called helium.?/strong> Helium is a colorless and odorless gas obtained from the earth which by being lighter than air causes balloons to float.?It is non-toxic and non-flammable, but it is not recommended to be inhaled as some people playfully do causing their vocals to momentarily constrict allowing them the noble honor of being able to talk like Donald Duck for a fleeting few seconds.?A super big gulp of this gas can accidentally cause suffocation and a surprised victim gasping for breath.

When filled, a latex balloon will last anywhere from 5 hours to 24 hours depending on the size and quality of the balloon.?An 11-inch high-grad latex balloon will last about 24 hours if they are tied properly.

And now you ask, how do you go about selecting your first helium tank.

The 3 Secrets of?Selecting and Using Your First Helium Tank

Secret #1 – Get A 219 Cubic Foot Helium Cylinder – Helium is compressed in various sizes of metal cylinders.?It you have decided to do balloon decorating professionally, then I would suggest that you get a helium cylinder size of 219 cubic feet.?This cylinder size will hold roughly 400 11-inch balloons and about 700 9-inch balloons.

Secret #2 – Rent Instead of Buying A Helium Tank When You Are Just Starting Out - There is no need for you to shell out $200 or $300 to buy a helium tank for a decoration that you are going to be doing on any given day.?Just calculate the number of balloons that you plan to utilize, and do your best to empty that tank before you bring it back.?Depending on where you go, you may pay anywhere from $30 to $60 per tank to rent.?And some places will charge you from $50 to $150 returnable deposit on each tank.

Secret #3 – Shop Around and Negotiate for The Best Rental on Helium Tanks – Because helium tank rental is such a competitive business, it behooves you to go out and shop for the best rental rate.?Seek and thou shalt find.


24
Apr 11

Serving Wine at Holiday Parties

Hosting a party can bring about a great deal of stress. You may find this true for any kind of party, but it seems to be particularly true for a party thrown around the holidays. For some reason, the holidays are a time when parties aspire to be a little grander; they need to have tastier food, more elegant alcohol, and those who are hosting it need to wear red and call each other by names like, 揇earest.?

While a holiday party is something you will likely want to throw well ?hoping to impress your friends, your relatives, and your next door neighbor whose front lawn animatronics nativity scene makes your decorations look inferior ?you will also want to save some room on your credit cards for all your holiday shopping.

This may seem to pose a bit of a problem, as if you are forced to make the choice of throwing a great party or buying presents for your children, children who ?as they contact social services and attempt to get on Oprah ?probably won抰 be too forgiving if the holiday season finds you empty handed. However, throwing a great party doesn抰 have to drain your bank account; there are ways to have a party that is both festive and frugal. Because alcohol is generally one of the most pricy party expenses, buying wisely is the first step in throwing a party that will leave both your social circle, and your children, still talking to you.

Have a Variety

Some people are under the impression that hosting a party involves purchasing the most expensive wine they can find, wine that would impress even the most seasoned connoisseur. However, when it comes down to it, the price of wine is not nearly as important as the variety.

Holiday parties typically consist of a large spread of food. From the p鈚?to the cheese balls, the months of November and December are like a giant buffet. Because of this, it抯 important to cover your bases and purchase wine that is adaptable, wine that all types of food consider 揺asy to get along with.?The simplest way to do this is to cover all your bases by purchasing both red wine and white wine.

For red wine, Merlots, Shiraz, and Cabernets are all good choices, with white wine抯 best bet being Chardonnay, though a nice Alsatian Riesling is also a great choice. While there are certain vintages that are expensive, it抯 relatively easy to find bottles that aren抰 extremely high priced; with some searching, or asking the clerk at the local liquor store for help, you can buy red and white wines that won抰 take away your ability to go holiday shopping, leaving you, ultimately, to holiday shoplift instead.

Serve White Zinfandel

When choosing a wine to serve at a party, White Zinfandel is an extremely popular choice. This is simply because people drink it up. A chilled beverage, White Zinfandel is light, sweet and low in alcohol content, which makes it a popular choice for folks who are driving. One of the least inexpensive, with many bottles costing around five dollars, White Zinfandel is a preferred choice of many party hosts everywhere.

A Box is Your Friend

There is an unfavorable stigma attached to box wine, like lawyers or people obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. But, box wine is often a party staple. This is because it抯 inexpensive, it抯 convenient, the leftovers won抰 spoil, and even if you don抰 enjoy the taste of it, many others do.

Box wine was once the laughing stock of the wine world: people often equated it with cheap wine, it was only purchased by those who had a cash flow problem, and cases of Pinot Noirs were often found pointing and laughing, mocking the box wine from the comfort of their glass bottles. However, over the years this stigma has gone down the drain, and the box wine of today now stores a variety of wine, including wines that are premium.

Appease the Wine Folk
While White Zinfandel and box wine may quench the thirst of some, many wine connoisseurs prefer something a little different, believing that drinking anything other than a unique holiday wine is the equivalent of drinking from the water bowl in the Christmas tree stand. Because of this, it抯 a good idea to have a couple of bottles of something a little interesting.

A fun holiday wine that is great to serve at a party is the Lady Bug Red Cuvee V. Not only is it visually appealing ?as it comes in a bottle with a green label and lady bugs all over it ?but the flavors are wonderfully fruity, containing a combination of blackberry, plum, cocoa, oak, and pepper. The wine, made up of Zinfandel, Carignane, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, is sure to satisfy a wide range of wine lovers.

Take People Up on Their Offers

It is etiquette for those attending a party to offer to bring something ?a casserole, a plate of cookies, a spinach dip. While you may have trouble accepting this gesture, thinking that you should be the one to generate all the party goods, keep in mind that many people who offer to bring something typically really want to.

People enjoy showing their gratitude and when they are able to contribute to a party, they feel as if they are given the opportunity to do just that. If a person asks you if they can bring anything, and you are stressing over the drink selection, simply request that they bring a bottle of wine. This not only assures that they will bring something they enjoy, but it also allows you to subtly shrug your shoulders and point your finger in their direction if others do not like it. That, after all, is what friends are for.

Holiday parties can be hard to plan. But, with the above tips, you should at least have the wine list taken care of, leaving you free to worry about food and d閏or instead.

More than anything, when it comes this time of year, keep in mind that the wine you serve at your holiday party shouldn抰 be that important: the holidays are a time for camaraderie, family, and love, three entities that not even the most expensive vintage can ever rival.


24
Apr 11

Having a Boston Tea Party Theme This Year? Find Out What Colonial Americans Enjoyed

Having a Boston tea party theme will make for a memorable party for years to come. Food is always at the top of the list, so some fun and easy Fourth of July recipes will get you off to a good start.

Let’s first start with your theme. The Boston Tea Party was a major event in American history. It was the one of the events that was a catalyst to the American Revolution. These events lead to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our celebrating the Fourth of July every year. This is a great time to mix learning history with some fun activities.

If you want to keep true to your theme, the food can be quite varied. It seems that the colonists did not have standard meals; they ate what was available to them. More often than not, the well off family that lived in the colonies was served two courses.

The first course, for their supper, included several meats plus meat puddings and/or deep meat pies. These pies contained fruits and various spices. They also were served pancakes and fritters. Accompaniments were side dishes of sauces, pickles and catsups.

Desserts appeared with the second course. An assortment of fresh, cooked, or dried fruits, some custard, sweet tarts were offered when available. Cakes served were of many varieties: pound cake, gingerbread, spice cake and cheeses were also offered.

It is also important to note that the colonists loved chocolate and tea. These were the two most popular drinks in colonial times.

So in keeping with the colonists love for tea, let’s explore some memorable Fourth of July recipes for your party.

Let’s start with what you want to serve to drink. If you want to stick to the red, white and blue theme, you can offer drinks that go with your theme. How does lemonade iced tea, Boston iced tea and a blueberry granita sound? Yummy, right?

If you love watermelon, you may want to consider watermelon tea spiked slushes. This is a great cool treat for a hot day.

Fresh fruit is plentiful this time of year. Hollow out a watermelon and refill it with fresh fruit mixed with tea syrup. It keeps the fruit nice and adds another taste dimension to the fruit.

More Having a Boston Tea Party Theme This Year?

For something different from the regular hamburgers and hot dogs, try orange spiced tea barbeque sauce on chicken or ribs.

Turkey was a big favorite in colonial times. Try grilled or roasted turkey with spicy cranberry tea sauce for a new taste treat.

How does red, white and blue potato salad sound? Your guests will be talking about this potato salad for a long time. The guests don’t need to know this is an easy thing to accomplish. Simply purchase baby red rose, baby white rose and small blue (yes there are blue potatoes) and put them in your traditional potato salad. It is just a fun way to keep the patriotic theme and have fun too!

Since the second course was dessert for the colonists, this is a great time to address what you may want to serve. Cup cakes, pound cake and even snicker doodles were very popular treats in colonial times.

The colonists loved chocolate. You may want to serve a Chocolate chocolate tea cake. This is a simple cake to make and will be sure to please.

In colonial times there was what was called the American 1234 cake. This cake was to make it easy to remember the ingredients. Of course, as other ingredients became available, the bakers added extra ingredients that become available to them.

Apple pie, apple dumplings were another dessert staple for the colonists. Consider making an apple cranberry green tea pie.

Of course, ice cream was a rare treat in colonial days. It has been told that when the signers of the Declaration of Independence were preparing this document, it was in the very heat of summer. The windows were kept closed so that everything that went on in the meetings was kept secret. The one and only treat the Continental Congress looked forward to everyday, was a serving of ice cream.

I keeping with the Boston tea party, consider making home made tea ice cream. Think about raspberry tea, blueberry tea and white almond tea ice cream. It is easy to make and very refreshing. The Continental Congress would have loved the irony of tea ice cream!

A Boston tea party theme with these types of Fourth of July foods will create a memorable time that will be talked about for many years to come.


24
Apr 11

Birthday Party Fun – Ten Essential Birthday Party Accessories For All Ages

There are three ways to look at birthdays. First, you can treat them as any other day, and just do whatever you always do. Second, you can groan inwardly at the thought of being another year older, and hide away from the world until the dreaded day has passed. And then there’s the third way, which is our favorite: have a big ol’ birthday party and celebrate another year of living life to the full.

If you’re planning to celebrate your big day with a birthday party – or if you’re organizing a birthday party for someone else – it’s important to get the right supplies well in advance, to ensure everything goes smoothly. Here are our top ten accessories to help you throw the perfect birthday party for birthday boys and girls of all ages.

1. Birthday Boy/Girl Badge

Let there be no doubt about who is the birthday boy or girl – wear a birthday badge and be proud! The birthday boy badge is blue, while the birthday girl badge is pink – they’re made in the style of old school badges, and both come mounted on an 8cm square old school report card in a clear cellophane wrap.

2. Big Birthday Candle

The Big Birthday Candle is a great solution when tact says that a candle for each year would be a bit cheeky – and besides, at twelve inches high, it’s really quite impressive stuck in a cake!

3. Birthday Cake Mold

At last – a birthday cake that says “happy birthday” without the need for cake-icing skills! This silicon cake mold can withstand high temperatures – simply pour your cake mix into the mold, bake it, and when you turn the cake out of the mold it will have “happy birthday” in raised letters, all around the edge. And if you’re in a hurry, you can use the Birthday Cake Mold to bake a delicious birthday cake in the microwave in just six minutes.

4. Happy Birthday Candles

Let’s be honest – sometimes, one candle for every year of the birthday boy or girl’s life will just take up too much space on the cake. On occasions like these, you need Happy Birthday Candles, which spell out the words “happy birthday” in bright colors and very tactfully don’t mention age at all.

5. Birthday Candelabra

Celebrate your birthday in style – have a birthday candelabra on your cake instead of candles. The birthday candelabra comes in a tasteful ivory color, which won’t clash with your birthday cake, table settings or room decor.

6. Roman Candles

If you want to be coy about your age, spell it out in Roman numerals! Roman Candles are tastefully trimmed in silver, and each pack of eight candles comes fully equipped with a crash course in Roman numerology, so you can be sure you’ll get the age right every time.

7. Light Bites

All the best things in life serve more than one purpose, and Light Bites are no exception. Are they plastic forks? Are they birthday candles? Actually, they’re both. Pop the prongs of the fork into the cake, and plug a birthday candle into the handle, and there you have it – a reusable plastic fork that doubles up as a birthday candle holder.

8. Young at Heart Candles

Who says birthday candles have to spell out your age? Keep your age to yourself with these colourful birthday candles which spell out “young at heart”, and keep your secret safe!

9. Finger Food Party Plates

These nifty little plastic plates have a little ring attached at the back. Slip the ring onto your finger and you can balance hors d’oeuvres on the Finger Food Party Plate while holding your glass of champagne, leaving your other hand free for waving across the room at guests, pouring another drink or opening birthday presents.

10. Black Bars

If you have a tendency to misbehave at parties, and worry that your behavior may have been caught on film, then you need Black Bars. Working like a pair of spectacles, Black Bars are big plastic rectangles that sit across your eyes, keeping your identity completely hidden. With Black Bars you can get up to all sorts, with no fear of being identified. Go on, be naughty – it’s your birthday!


23
Apr 11

Ideas For First Birthday Parties

Wow, those first few months in a baby’s life go so quickly, don’t they? Isn’t it about time to begin thinking about first birthday party ideas? Because your baby cannot come up with her own party ideas, it’s all up to you the parent. You’d better get busy; there’s a ton of stuff to do!

Before you begin searching for first birthday party ideas, determine the party’s location and make the guest list. The place you decide to have your party, as well as the guests you invite, will help you formulate your ideas and help you decide on the best activities.

Kids’ first birthdays are primarily celebrated by the adults in their lives–parents, grandparents, and others. first birthday party ideas should be great fun, as well as appropriate for your space. Allowing small children at the party is all right, but you should attempt to limit it to just a few.

Another important aspect of first birthday party ideas is time. Usually, children’s first birthday parties should last one to two hours. If they are any longer, they will probably get fussy. For that very same reason you should try to limit the guest list to friends and family closest to the baby. A smaller party also makes it easier to find a few great first birthday party ideas.

Smaller groups allow you to plan fun activities for everyone. Little parties let you think about the past year and recognize how far the little scamp has come. For instance, you could decorate a poster-board with some pictures of your child at various milestones, but out of sequence. Then you can hand paper and pencils to the guests and have them write the dates of the memorable events and place their guesses next to the relevant photograph. This one is the hardest of all the ideas I’ve tried, but also one of the most fun!

It is very simple to find great first birthday party ideas when you have a small party–the people who love your little one the most. Looking for party supplies can be cheap and easy if you purchase a full set of theme party necessities online. Whatever your party ideas may end up being, finding the perfect party theme online will afford you more time to focus on getting more creative.