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Girl Birthday Party Ideas – Same Time Each Year!

April 23, 2012 By Randy Markus Comments

Happy Birthday written in green with leaves and lady bugs

Photo courtesy of manuelressel on flickr

So it’s that time of year again, your tween is approaching another birthday and you are struggling to come up with the greatest way to mark this special day. Tweens are entering that uniquely amazing time in life when everything slowly, but surely, begins to matter. Birthdays and birthday celebrations are meant to be a very special occasion in a girl’s life and development. So if you are searching for some fun (and so much more) think about planning a sleepover for your tween’s next party!

Girl Birthday Party Ideas – Who Doesn’t Love a Sleepover!

Girls just love, love, love sleepover parties, no matter the reason, occasion or age. Sleepover parties are the bomb and the perfect way to celebrate. Sometimes just the thought of a house filled with tweens doesn’t hold the same thrill and excitement as it may have in the past. But what tween doesn’t just love getting a select group of their BFF’s together for a night of amusement. A sleepover party is the perfect chance for your tween and her friends to celebrate and spend some quality time together. It has been said that sleepover parties are the first opportunity for a tween to flex their rights-of-passage muscle. Oh the fun that awaits!

Sleepover parties are filled with lots of fun and create memories that will last a lifetime. Remember back in the day when you and all your besties enjoyed late nights, grooving to music, talking and laughing the night away? And don’t forget about all those tasty snacks! These are some of the best parts of growing up.

Girl Birthday Party Ideas – Sleepover Party Planning

While sleepover parties are all the rage for our kids, they can pose a bit more of a challenge for the parents doing all the planning. It is important to incorporate both the parent’s vision as well as the child’s when putting all the party pieces together. Sit down with your daughter and find out what she truly wants and is anticipating for this party. And then the time is now to get to arranging and organizing this fun filled sleepover party. But first there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

Set a budget, stick to it, and reflect that information in your party plan.

Some things never change the majority of parents and experts agree, co-ed sleep overs are a big (BIG) no-no. It is fully recommended that the guest list include one and only one gender. So if the tween celebrating this special day is a girl then all the invited guests should be girls too.

Limit the number of guests you invite. Take into account the blend of friends and personalities. Think about your time, space and the logistics. And be sure to have contact details for all the guests, as you never know.

Choose a theme. Lots of parents just go with the “sleepover” as the theme. But in an effort to make things unfold in a smoother and easier way some parents and kids choose a specific theme. It will ultimately aid in decision making for invites, decorations and activities.

Be sure to have a blueprint that includes meals, snacks, games, activities and the like. Be aware that you will most likely not stick to the blueprint but it will help with maintaining the action and party flow. So think about how you want that party to unfold and include it in the blueprint.

Sleepovers are all about the food and when we say food, truly thoughts go directly to the junk part of the experience. So in addition to the usual fun junk food, be sure to have some healthy snacks on hand for those that prefer a fruit cup to chips and dip (really?).

Make any and all rules clear from the start. And in this situation, parents are the ones that should be seen and really, not heard too. Be around and available. Be sure the party revelers know you’re there. But give them the space to enjoy and create memories.

I don’t know a kid, myself included, and that has been to a sleepover party and doesn’t remember those times fondly. A night of friends, fun, food, laughs and secrets…at some point we all should have the chance to enjoy a sleepover.

Filed Under: Planning Parties Tagged With: birthday celebrations, birthday party, birthday party ideas, girl birthday party, Girl Birthday Party Ideas, party plan, party planning, sleepover parties, sleepover party planning

Party Planning – What Can Go Wrong…

April 20, 2012 By Randy Markus Comments

Photo courtesy of Coba on flickr

We often blog about the ABC’s of party planning; the “what” to do as well as the “what not” to do. For some, just the idea of planning and hosting a party (whether it is for our own child or an adult) can cause stress and fear like nothing else. While at the same time for others party planning is the road to pure joy. The facts are, party planning thoughts and emotions can run the gamut. So no matter where you fall on the party planning scale, have no fear! There is lots of party planning advice available to help with all your planning needs.

So before the invites go out and the decorations are hung, take some time to consider all the factors that will be needed to plan a most successful celebration. As blogged here a time or two before, first and foremost come up with a realistic budget and then stick to it. A fun, outstanding and memorable party can be arranged whether the budget is big or small. Having a party plan that includes all the details will help you step by step with the entire process. So once the budget has been determined, be sure to embrace it and include it along with all the other planning details. There are many factors consider, theme, invitations, decorations, food, cake, activities and games. And of course, the always favorite loot bag.

But again have no fear; there is tons of help available. Don’t forget to tap in to all those handy friends and family. They have ideas and I bet you would love to share and help out. There are so many party planning resources that will assist, retail locations as well as online. It would be easy to sit here and list all the dos and don’ts. But as they say a picture, or in this case a video, is worth a thousand words. This humorous example not only teaches us all a lesson in party planning don’ts but also provides the opportunity for a laugh or two.

Party Planning – Will Go Wrong…

So enjoy! And this video proves one thing, when hiring live entertainers, always (always!) check references, or at the very least be sure to see the performers in action, especially if you are unfamiliar with the act.

Every single one of us wants to plan the most enjoyable and successful party of the year. So tap into all your available resources and remember, the number one tip is to have fun when planning and hosting the party.

Filed Under: Planning Parties Tagged With: comedy video, humor, party plan, party planning, party planning advice, party planning resources

Boys Birthday Party Ideas – Been There Done That!

March 27, 2012 By Randy Markus Comments

Photo courtesy of Katch

Are you looking to plan a birthday party for that special boy in your life? And at the same time are you looking to plan the best one ever? Planning your son’s birthday party can be both a fun and unforgettable experience for both the parent and child alike. With a bit of preparation, resourcefulness and imagination, you can easily create that special day that will be remembered for years to come.

Planning kids’ birthday parties doesn’t have to be hard. With some pre-planning and organization you can simply come up with some terrific birthday party ideas that are not only fun and original but won’t break the bank.

Boys Birthday Party Ideas – Come On Inspiration!

We can’t deny it, birthdays and birthday parties are meant to be special… for everyone. And with so many b-day ideas and concepts available, when it comes down to it pinpointing that one oh-so special birthday party idea can be tricky. When planning, it’s important to bear in mind what type of party your kid really, really wants. And with that theme what they actually want included in their special day. There is lots to decide on and then plan for; where to hold it, when to have it, how many and who to invite, how to keep the kids busy, what to serve and how to keep a smile on each and every kids face the entire time.

It is important to remember your child’s birthday party happens only once a year. So be sure to make it as fun and memorable for the birthday boy as possible.

Boys Birthday Party Ideas – Knock, Knock… Party Time!

When party planning, as we all know, boys can lean towards being somewhat more challenging. Boys do tend to be a tad more boisterous, noisy and energetic. All great qualities! So plan your party appropriately and remember to incorporate into the party plan tons of space and activities that will burn, burn, burn off some of that priceless energy.

So keeping in mind, the budget, your ideas and any timing issues there are some great theming possibilities to get you started;

Superhero Party – A party favorite amongst boys and girls alike. With so many super men and woman heroes as well as absolute baddies, there is a wide, wide range to choose from and plan for. We all love a great superhero! So how about instead of choosing just one, why not include all those super men and woman heroes for one big bash.

WWE Party – Professional wrestling and the WWE couldn’t be more popular and fun. These days the WWE really is a big deal with our kids and they thoroughly enjoy the tricks of the trade as well as the various scenarios played out on our TV’s. So if your son is a big WWE fan (and who isn’t) and you’re ready to rumble, why not throw a WWE Party.

Lego Party – Lego is a true classic! Is your son a Lego nut who just can’t get enough of it? Really, who isn’t hooked on the concept of Lego blocks creating and building? I bet you already have a ton of Legos and other supplies on hand needed to throw a most enjoyable Lego party. It’s a great party idea to plan that will keep the kids busy while having fun. Celebrate the Lego way, one brick at a time!

Pirate Party – Looking for some adventure then “Ahoy There Matey!” hop aboard. If your little pirate is wishing and dreaming of a swashbuckling afternoon of fun and pirate-y grub then chart a course and plunge into the world of pirates. This extremely popular party theme is great for boys (and girls) of all ages.

So if you’re seeking a theme for a fun and memorable party for your son, nephew, brother or other favorite little guy, then look no further. With a little research you will find there are copious amounts of birthday party supply help out there. So go ahead and check out what’s available by searching online as well as those handy retail stores. Before you know it you will be knee deep in party planning fun.

Filed Under: Planning Parties Tagged With: Birthday, birthday party ideas, party, party plan, party planning

LEGO Birthday Party Ideas – Help!

March 14, 2012 By Randy Markus Comments

Photo courtesy of mwboeckmann

A couple of weeks ago I received a panicked call from a friend of mine. Her daughter had announced that after really thinking about it, she had decided that for her next birthday, she wanted a LEGO themed party. Yep, you heard it right. All LEGO, all the time. And my friend was at a loss, what to do, what to do?

Apparently her daughter is just obsessed with LEGO. Simply said, she loves everything, EVERYTHING LEGO. As we all know, LEGO is a terrific toy that inspires innovation, vision and imagination. LEGO provides unlimited hours of fun and enjoyment for would be builders and is a very popular party theme amongst kids. So why not throw a LEGO themed party? By allowing the birthday boy or girl to be part of the decision making and planning, not only will it help to individualize the party but planning a birthday party based on what our kids truly love and are passionate about will always be a success.

LEGO Birthday Party Ideas – Let’s Get Building!

First item on our party plan was to tackle the invitations. There really are a lot of ways to go with invitations. There are some truly great websites available where you can easily download and print LEGO invites from. But we wanted to create the invitation ourselves. There were lots of ideas to choose from. We considered building a LEGO town and taking a picture or creating out of construction paper a LEGO shaped block and outlining all the party details on the back. Or as one Mom did, create a mini figure in the likeness of the birthday honoree and add a tag with all the party details. But in the end we decided to go with creating a puzzle (on card stock) out of LEGO blocks with all the party particulars. When the invited guests received the invitation they had to put the pieces to read the details!

Decorating was an easy feat. Colors were a no brainer; we went with yellow, blue, red and white (LEGO colors). We hung streamers and balloons around the room. We were able to borrow some construction cones and attached balloons to them and scattered them around the room too. As each guest arrived they were given a plastic construction hat to wear (both a decoration and a favor). We downloaded and printed different LEGO blocks and creations and then created from construction paper and cardboard additional LEGO blocks and figures and hung them around the room too. Next, we had the kids build some LEGO creations and used them as table centerpieces. It probably goes without saying but the key was lots and lots of LEGO, LEGO figures and LEGO structures as far as the eye can see.

LEGO Birthday Party Ideas – Time to Play And Eat!

In addition to just playing with LEGO, with a little research we found some really fun LEGO designed games for the kids to enjoy while using up some of that extra celebratory energy. The kids loved this part of the party, they got to run around and, well, act like kids. The games we ended up playing were Pass the LEGO, LEGO Toss, LEGO Guess (using a jar and as many LEGO pieces as possible), LEGO Bucket (find the one off color LEGO), Build a LEGO (the tallest structure or biggest bridge), Pin the LEGO on the LEGO Man, Spy the LEGO Guy and the always favorite Spoon and LEGO race. And we had tons of LEGO available for the kids to play with. And play they did!

We decided to make the food all appear as LEGO like as much as possible. We agreed we should go with the keep it simple route. So we prepared party sandwiches, pizza and cheese and crackers, all designed to look like LEGO blocks. We then took veggies and dip and designed the platter to look like construction supplies. Cool right! Next, we had fruit skewers, jello cups also devised to look like LEGO. We complimented the food with LEGO looking chocolate treats and dry snacks. As an alternate to cake we did cupcakes designed with the LEGO look. But instead of completing all the cupcakes we left enough bare so the kids could decorate them. We had an abundance of supplies; M&M’s, block candy, LEGO candy and the like. The kids had a blast decorating and then devouring them.

Every kid loves a loot bag and we had so much fun putting them together, We designed the bags to look like a LEGO block and then filled them with some LEGO stickers, a LEGO set, some candy (LEGO like and not), and we lucked out and found some LEGO whistles at the dollar store. They also got to keep the construction hat they received on arrival and the kids loved that.