It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and you know what that means? It's December and it's time to celebrate all your favorite December babies! If there's a month made for fun festivities, it's this month. So what are some of the best ways to celebrate December birthdays? Well, we put together a short list of some of our faves: Continue reading "December Birthdays" »
In the age of Pinterest, everything is customizable. And with social media at our fingertips, we get to see the best of the best. Moms everywhere have raised the bar with birthday parties. You creative gals have won our hearts with your smash cakes and tutus. No longer are party favors a bag of candy. Check out these fun custom party favors for your kid’s next birthday party!
Us moms are so creative and will put a monogram on anything that can handle the stitching. Customizing is our forte and Etsy is our friend. It’s a new year so that means new and fresh ideas for birthday parties. You’ve probably already nailed down a theme, but what about party favors? Noise makers are things of the past. Check out these fun custom party favors for your kid’s next birthday party!
Custom temporary tattoos
Because what kid doesn’t love temporary tattoos all the way up their arms, and on both sides of their cheeks? You can order these online. On most websites, you can email in a design or have a designer work on some for you based on your ideas or theme of the party. They’re actually not as hard on the wallet as you would think. You can order the tattoos in sheets and then cut them up yourself to save money. Your kid’s friends will at least remember the party for a few days any way!
If you are throwing a video game themed party, you need something memorable for those little gamers! Wedding and Party Network has the top five party favors for a video game themed party.
1. Chocolate Coins
As every fellow gamer knows, always collect those coins! Chocolate coins will be a yummy reminder of the fantastic party.
2. Fake Mustaches
Everyone will want to look like their favorite plumbers–Mario and Luigi. See who does the best Mario accent!
3. Pacman Cookies
You can make sugar cookies and use icing to make Pacman's eye and mouth. They will be a huge kick to arcade lovers.
4. Joystick
Lollipops make great joy sticks. You can also make cakepops with red icing to make them look like joysticks too!
5. Game Over Bags
Make sure to put all their goodies in a bag that says game over. It will make the perfect end to your bash!
Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more great party favor ideas and tips!
Whether it's a 10th birthday or a 21st birthday, you are never too old for a Star Wars themed party. Wedding and Party Network has your top tips for throwing a fun galactic bash!
Food and Drinks
Get creative with fun Star Wars puns. With Hans Rolos, Pincess Lays, and Vaderade, you can create a fun snack table that will crack lots of smiles. For the main course, make burgers with Leia's Buns or Jabba Hutt Dogs.
Here is a simple recipe for Yoda Soda:
Games
For the little ones, create a Jedi training camp in your back yard. Put together an obstacle course and make each Padawan a Jedi certificate. For the older crowd, play Star Wars Bingo with any (or all) of the Star Wars movies. Really put your knowledege to the test with some Star Wars trivia.
Are your friends hardcore fans? Act out the movie instead of watching and record it. Your rendition of Star Wars Episode III could go viral!
For Adults 
Have your guests choose their allegiance (Jedi or Sith) and make themed drinks for each team. Turn Star Wars bingo into a drinking game and spike the Yoda Soda.
Don't forget the cake! You can make two different flavors–chocolate for the Sith and vanilla for the Jedi.
No need to hide your love for this Sci-Fi favorite. Let your geekiness show through this fun themed party and prove to your friends that you are the ultimate Jedi master!
For more party themes, check out the Wedding and Party Network Celebrations Blog.
When my daughter turned one last fall, it was all I could do not to go all out and spend lots of money on a big bash. After all, it was her first birthday! Not actually having the tons of money to spend, I had to be frugal for my little girl’s big day. First birthday parties can be big productions if you have the money and time to put into them, but if not, there are plenty of ways to still throw a great party.
Utilize The Season: Instead of buying every single Minnie Mouse party item the stores have to offer and never using any of it again, make it about whatever season your little one’s birthday falls on. My daughter’s birthday is in October, so we put pumpkins on the tables, used hay bales for seating, cooked up a couple crock-pots of chili and had her party right in our backyard.
However, if your child's has a spring birthday, take advantage of the nice weather and rent a pavilion at a park. Most of the time they are free and there are plenty of natural options for entertainment for the kids. You can also have beautiful arrangements with fresh, spring florals and use food that's in season to create tasty treats.
Get Family Involved: Most likely your family members will be just as excited (if not more) to celebrate with your little one. So, take some stress off yourself and let them help. Delegate between them, having someone make their own pot of chili while someone else handles a couple of yummy desserts.
Chances are, your mother-in-law is going to be dying to pitch in as much as she can. Recruit moms and siblings to help run errands or help decorate once the big day arrives. This frees up your time to set up party decorations or do last-minute prep.
Do It Yourself: The internet is full of DIY ideas for parties. This route tends to be a little bit more budget friendly, and it gives your child’s party a personal, rather than completely commercial, touch. One thing we did for my daughter was order cheap prints online of her first year of life and display them in a timeline for guests to enjoy.It was fun to go back and pick a couple of pictures of her from each month and see how much she had changed in only a year. Your family will love to see the transformation. Party favors, while not totally necessary, are still a fun way to put a finishing touch on the festivities, which again, you'll find lots of ideas on Pinterest that are definitely DIY friendly.
Realize it’s Not About You: When it comes down to it, the day is really for your child. Keep in mind that they are not going to notice, or even remember, that you hand wrote/stamped/decorated all 47 of the party invitations. They are just going to enjoy being around everyone they love. Add to that by getting to open some carefully selected presents and eat cake, and they will be smiling for days.
If you are hosting a back-to-school party for your kids, follow these easy do's and dont's for a successful fun-filled party.
It doesn't take a lot to throw a back to school party. You can throw a fun party at your home in the backyard. Hold the party at your local bowling alley or arcade. Or you can do like a few of my friends do — after their daughters have been in school for a few weeks, they hire a limo and take the girls and their friends shopping for more back-to-school clothes. They started this when they girls were about eleven and now at fifteen the girls can't wait to have their back-to-school shopping party. Back to school parties are great fun for kids. A new school years bring new friends and new parents together. These back to school parties are a great way for parents to get to know one another.
Children's parties can be a bit tough, even for a well-seasoned party host. In this month's blog we are going to explore the do's and don'ts of children's parties.
Do Plan Some Type Of Entertainment Or Play Activity
One thing I cannot stress enough is have an activity planned for the children. Even a simple game of pin the tail on the donkey is a good planned activity for a kids party. You may choose to hire cartoon characters or a magician as a way to entertain the children. You may even rent a big screen tv, so the children can play video games. Whatever you choose, the key is having some type of an activity or type of entertainment for the kids.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
You will need to have a few adults on the party scene to watch the kids. Don't be afraid to ask other parents to help watch over them. Most parents will be glad to help out. You can reciprocate when they throw the next kids party.
Do Expect A Few Messes And Some Tears
Kids will be kids, and the younger ones will spill and make messes. Be prepared ahead of time to handle these situations. Here's a hint: If you have the party at your home and you have lightly-colored carpet, don't serve red punch (the tears shed may be your own). Plan you party so that any mess or spilled punch won't matter. You can always do an outdoor party or rent the local community building for a day.
Do Have A Variety Of Food
Children can be picky eaters. Some may like pizza and others may not. To make a good party for the kids offer a variety of foods. Serve pizza and hot dogs, or chicken strips along with hamburgers. Don't forget to include some snack-type foods like potato chips, Chex Party Mix, jelly beans. You can even put out different brands of cereal in paper cups. Don't forget to throw in some veggies; the parents may want to nosh on them as their kids have fun.
The key to great kids parties is to plan ahead for any crisis, such as food issues, messes, and tears, and don't forget planned activities. If you have these things covered your kids party will go well.
This kids party post is sponsored by Arlington, Virginia, caterers.
As a party host your job is to throw a great party. But how do you do that with out being stressed out ? By keeping four things in mind.
1. Plan your party well. By following the rules of check, check and double check you can throw a great party. You must be clear to all of the people you hire. Your caterer must know exactly what you expect from them; be clear and concise. Same thing goes for any one you hire to do a job. From the printer who prints your invitations, to the bakery who makes your cake, to the DJ that brings the music, you must have clear communication about exactly what it is that you want. Don't forget you must be in charge to make a great party.
2.Don't sweat the little stuff. If you've been concise and let everyone who you hired know your expectations, then any problem that may arise will be small stuff and inconsequential to your party.
3. Don't let alcohol overtake the good times. One of the worst things to ruin a party is too much alcohol in the wrong person. If you have an guest who has had a bit too much, cut them off immediately. Your best course is to see if you can find someone to drive that person home. Simply putting them in a cab and expecting the cab driver to handle the intoxicated person is unacceptable. If you cannot find anyone willing, see if you can engage that person in conversation by letting them tell you a story–anything to try to divert that guest from causing problems. Stopping them from consuming more is also important. When over consumption happens, the best thing you can do as a host is be calm and handle the situation.
4. Let kids be kids. If you're hosting a kids party let them be kids. This means expect messes, screaming and some crying. Keep plenty of handi-wipes and towels on hand and your kids party will be great. Rule 2 applies here–don't sweat the small stuff!
By keeping these four things in mind when planning a party, you are sure to have a celebration to remember without losing your mind in the process. Plan ahead, breath, keep things in moderation and relax and let the party move ahead! Remember, you want to enjoy being at your party, too!
This party idea post is sponsored by Virginia DJ's.
It astounds me how expensive and lavish children's birthday parties have gotten over the last few years. It seems parents will go overboard to make sure Little Suzy has the biggest birthday party on the block. They rent moon bounces, clowns, ponies and caterers to make sure their three-year-old has the very best. But, to paraphrase an iconic song, kids just wanna have fun. And to kids, the simple things in life are the most fun.
I know a little boy who got a trampoline and a Wii for his birthday. Do you know what gift he liked best? A bag of suckers! It's not how much we spend, or even if they get the latest toy or gadget, it's about what really gives our children pleasure–and that's usually something ordinary and inexpensive.
Try these ideas for your child's next birthday party:
* Gather water toys that are age appropriate like kiddie pools, balls, water guns, sprinklers, slip 'n slides and the like for a summertime birthday pool party. Borrow from friends and family to accommodate the number of guests. Serve summer food favorites like hot dogs, chips, fresh fruit, and lemonade and let the kids have a great time in the water.
* For a toddler's party, borrow playhouses, slides, and other outdoor play equipment and let them have a blast outdoors for a fun-filled party. Provide sidewalk chalk for those who want to take a break.
* Little girls delight in tea parties, so let them dress up and create their own party with plastic tea party sets and tea party food.
* Boys will have a great time at a Legos birthday party. Have a bakery made a cake resembling Legos, and let the boys build to their hearts' content. You can even send some new blocks home with each guest as a party favor.
So you see, it's not about how much money you spend. It's about seeing the world through a child's eyes and finding joy in the simple things.
This kids party theme post is sponsored by Douglasville, Georgia party cakes.
Photo courtesy of Flikr Creative Commons.
Stumped on a theme for your 4 or 5-year old's party? Throw them an alphabet party! Use every letter of the alphabet from A to Z. Start off the alphabet party with colorful alphabet invitations. Decorate your party location with all the letters of the alphabet by purchasing alphabet streamers, confetti and other alphabet-themed decorations. Get creative!
You can buy letters and streamers at a party supply store or an office/school supplies store. Don't forget balloons! Make sure they carry the theme and have letters or the alphabet on them.
Utilize your local bakery for alphabet cupcakes, cookies or crackers. If you don't want cupcakes, order your child a birthday cake using his or her name. You can spell out your kid's name or you can use just his initials.
Ask your favorite deli if they will make letter-shaped ham and cheese sandwiches. If not, you can buy letter cookie cutters and make your own ABC peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
For party favors, buy alphabet flash cards or letter magnets that match the guest's initials. Some party stores have age appropriate, ready-made alphabet party favor boxes.
A great party game is Pin-the-Letter on an item/person, played like the game Pin-the-Tail on the donkey. Using heavy duty craft paper, cut out the letters of the alphabet. Have the birthday boy or girl pick a letter out of a box. He or she then has to find something or someone with a name that starts with that letter and "pin" (I suggest using tape) the letter to that object or person.
Wedding and Party Network is a proud sponsor of this children's party theme.
