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Guidelines For Playing With Piñatas
Kids love seeing a piñata at a party because it’s two doses of fun. They get to destroy an inanimate object with their parent’s permission and eventually it looks like the sky is raining candy. Pinatas come in all different shapes and sizes. Girls might like a princess, purse or pink pony piñata, while boys would rather have a train, tank or sports piñata. There are also plenty of piñatas shaped like children’s movie or television characters. Be sure to use a piñata that is large enough for your party. The last thing you want is to run out of candy and leave some kids to go without. If you’re concerned that the children at your party are too young to use a bat to break a piñata, there are safe alternatives. Pull-string piñatas have ribbons flowing from the bottom and once they are pulled a few times, the bottom falls out and candy showers down on the children, just as it would with a traditional piñata. This style piñata is also great if the party has to be taken indoors unexpectedly since no one is swinging a bat. The selection of pull-string piñatas is broad and you can most likely find one that will fit your child’s interests.
If you’re planning on playing with piñatas during any celebration, follow these few guidelines to keep everyone safe and happy.
Find a sturdy place to hang the piñata from, like a tree or basketball hoop.
If the kids are old enough, provide a blindfold and stick. Then spin them around a few times and let them hit the piñata a more than once before moving on to the next child.
Very young children should go without a blindfold.
Always keep several feet clear around the child who is hitting the piñata. You don’t want anyone to be accidentally struck.
Consider pull-string versions of piñatas for an indoor birthday event or with toddler aged children.
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CelebrateExpress.com Tip: Birthday Party Favor Bags
There are so many options for birthday party favor bags. You can find bags for almost any cartoon character imaginable, as well as bags with princess, pirate and animal themes. Obviously, if you are throwing a themed birthday party, it is simple to narrow down the selection to one or two bags in a matter of minutes. However, not everyone has a theme in mind when choosing party favor bags. Try a few of these tips for picking out the right bags for your celebration:
If you don't already have a theme in mind, consider hobbies and interests the birthday boy or girl has. If you are still not sure what to get, look for neutral bags that would fit well with several different themes, such as bags with solid colors or geometric patterns on them.
Think about how many favors you want to buy for each bag. Nice, big roomy bags look very skimpy if they aren't packed with goodies, while smaller bags need to have only a few things in them to look nice and full.
Consider the bag's design. Bags that have a drawstring or some other way to close the top are great for younger kids, who tend to shed toys and treats from their bags as they wander around.
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Over The Hill Sayings
Getting older may not be easy for some, but having a healthy sense of humor certainly helps. Over the hill sayings are perfect for summing up what’s funny about getting older. Here are a few we've compiled:
I'm 50 & I feel great. Feel for yourself!
I can't believe you're 50. Maybe 49, but never 50!
Age is not a destination. It's a journey!
50 year-old. One owner. Needs parts. Make offer.
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of it.
Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.
Old fart. Young heart.
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CelebrateExpress.com Tip: Party Themes for Bug Lovers
Young boys and girls love squishy, squirmy things. Even those who aren't fond of the grosser aspects of bugs are delighted by ladybugs and butterflies. With this many options, party themes that involve bugs are sure to delight most children.
A ladybug theme is so bright and cheery. Red and black ladybugs cover napkins, cups and tablecloths. Plates that are shaped like ladybugs are fun to eat on.
Fruit plates fit for a ladybug are one great menu choice. You can also make ladybugs for the kids to eat. You'll need Oreo cookies, licorice and strawberry fruit leather. Use an Oreo for the body and another Oreo for the head. Cut the fruit leather into wing shapes. Use slivers of licorice for antennas and cut a piece of licorice into thin rounds to make spots for the wings.
One great activity is to read The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle with the kids. Then, have them act out the different parts in the book using puppets. It is also fun for the kids to make their own ladybugs using paper plates, crayons and pipe cleaners. Finish off the day’s activities by letting them break open a ladybug piñata filled with treats.
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1st Birthday Party Supplies To Entertain Little Ones
On the day of your child’s 1st birthday, you’ll need to keep on hand some items to entertain all of the younger guests. We’ve put together a list of 1st birthday party supplies for you, so when the day of the big event rolls around, you’ll have plenty for your little one’s playmates to keep busy with.
1st birthday supplies like large, colorful plastic balls and plastic containers to practice fine motor skills will keep infants as well as toddlers entertained.
A fabric tunnel and tent to crawl through, walk through, or run through will keep toddlers and younger children busy.
Large, fat, washable crayons and a large roll of white paper for doodling will give a creative outlet for all your younger guests.
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CelebrateExpress.com Tip: Quality Kids Party Favors
If you haven't looked at kids party favors lately, you may be thinking that you're going to be wasting your money on cheap trinkets that don't even make it out the door before they break. If so, you'll be surprised at the number of quality items available. For favors that will last longer than ten or so minutes, you should:
Look for things that kids would normally use, such as reusable cups, that come in party theme designs. There are so many great options for reusable cups, from plastic goblets fit for the most glamorous princess to adorable train caboose cups that would delight any toddler who is a fan of Thomas the Train.
Hats are another good choice. While flimsy plastic hats may not last for years, they still should hold up through several days of play. Baseball caps that have a party theme logo on them, such as John Deere hats, can last for many years.
Bean bag toys can spend many years on a child's bookshelf or bed. In fact, many college students have a collection of bean bag toys from their childhood. This makes these stuffed toys a good option as a birthday party favor.
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Birthday Party Ideas For Sixteen Year Olds
Turning sweet sixteen is a milestone for many teenage girls. This event calls for careful planning, consideration for your teenager’s wishes and preferences, and a realistic look at your budget. If you’re short on ideas, take a look at our birthday party ideas for sixteen year olds.
Dance party – If you’re comfortable with loud music and can muster up the requisite chaperones, planning a dance party is a fun way for your sixteen year old and her friends to spend an evening. Keep it a simple affair at home or hire a band and cater the food at a rented venue.
Formal Night Out – For the teenager who is on the brink of adulthood, a night out on the town with a few girlfriends can be a memorable event. Rent a car and driver, let her pick out a fancy dress, and head out to enjoy some fine dining.
Day to be pampered – Looking for birthday party ideas for a relaxing afternoon? It’s hard to find a girl who doesn’t like to be pampered. And that includes a girl who’s turning sweet sixteen. Have her and some girlfriends spend a day getting manicures, pedicures, and some spa time lunch to chat.
Karaoke Sleepover – If your sweet sixteen birthday girl will have a great time singing her heart out, have a karaoke sleepover. She can invite her closest friends, pick her favorite foods to dine in with, and croon to her favorite music.
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CelebrateExpress.com Tip: Planning a Pool Party Birthday
During the summer months, a pool birthday party is always a popular option for parents and for kids. Parents love that all the mess is kept outside and kids love cooling off in the pool when they are done running around. To plan a successful birthday pool party, you should:
Make sure you have plenty of extra beach towels. Kids are going to want to run from the pool to the bathroom dripping wet and you'll need to be prepared to dry them off before they hit the porch steps.
Stock up on sunscreen to avoid barbequing more than the food. Although everyone should come prepared, there is always one child that comes to the party without any sun protection.
Provide floating toys for younger guests to rest on as they play and always have an extra adult stationed near the pool in case of emergency.
Set up structured pool games like Marco Polo for the kids to play when they are done playing cannonball.
Be prepared with a few games on dry land for children who are afraid of water or tire of playing in the pool before the rest of the kids.
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Activities You Can Turn Into Kid Party Favors
Kid party favors don’t have to be throwaway items or hum drum birthday tokens. You can have kid party favors that the guests will enjoy as much at the party as when they go home. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Party photos – Get a kid’s digital camera, let the birthday child and her guests take pictures. Print out the party photos as keepsakes before everyone leaves.
T-shirts – Buy a number of white t-shirts as favors. Get some fabric spray paint. Let each child create her own design and take home a memento from the party.
Puzzle Sets – Give each child a small, boxed puzzle set to complete. When she’s done, she can take the completed piece to try again at home.
Lego Sets - Buy a complete Lego set which allows each guest to make her own creation. Your guest gets to take home the piece she’s finished.
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A Grown Up Birthday Party Theme For Kids
A lot of kids birthday party theme ideas are based on contemporary movies, TV shows, and characters. If you want to try a different alternative to the common birthday party theme for kids that’ll still give children a fun-filled day, try throwing a "grown up" dinner party or afternoon tea. Let kids choose their own "grown-up" invitation to send out to guests. You can help the kids decorate a more formal place setting and menu. Make place cards so that everyone knows where they’ll be sitting. Then let the kids dress up in their version of grown up attire.
For children who are more computer savvy, you might consider a party theme based on a non-violent computer or video game. One advantage to this party theme is the ability to make some of the invitations or party supplies yourself. Many sites have images or logos that you can download to make accessories for a party. Once the celebration is underway, you can continue the party theme by creating teams and letting each child have a turn playing the computer game that the party theme is based on. If the children are too young to play the game together, modify the activities by creating a challenge that the kids can participate in. For example, re-enacting a scene from the game or searching for objects that appear in the game.
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Etiquette For An Adult Birthday Party
If you’re attending an adult birthday party, it’s all the more reason to make sure you mind your manners. Following proper etiquette is not only good protocol, it’s a way of showing your appreciation for the hosts of the party. In case you’re a little rusty on what’s appropriate and what’s not, we’ve put together some etiquette guidelines for an adult birthday party:
Don’t come empty handed. Do bring a gift for the birthday guest of honor.
If you receive an RSVP on the invitation, do respond according to the instructions in a timely fashion.
Do compliment the host on the party – especially if you really are having a great time.
If you’re going out for a birthday dinner, unless it is a formal affair, do offer to pay and don’t assume it’s covered.
Don’t linger long after a birthday party is clearly over unless you’ve arranged to help the host clean up.
If you’d like to bring a guest to a birthday event, do check with the host if the affair is informal, but don’t bring extra people without making sure if it is okay.
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Birthday Cake Design: Make Your Own Ice Cream Cake
Birthday cakes are great but one of the best birthday cake ideas ever thought up was the ice cream cake. Yum...the best of both worlds. While many people routinely buy ice cream birthday cakes, they're really not that hard to make. To make your own ice cream cake, follow these instructions:
Bake two round cakes and cool completely.
Pull the ice cream out of the freezer and let it soften.
Cut each cake in half, horizontally, so you have 4 circles.
Lay down one circle and spread softened ice cream on top.
Top with another circle and repeat.
Frost the whole cake with whipped topping and decorate
Put it back in the freezer until ready to serve.
Get creative with the decorations by using small toys, candy pieces, and sprinkles. And, use food coloring to make the icing any shade you would like.
