Posts tagged party
DIY
Kids Birthday Party Ideas for Winter
Cold, rainy weather doesn't have to ruin birthday celebrations with these fun, indoor children's party ideas!
January 25th, 2013 | 6:01 AM
Splashing in the pool, soaking up the sunshine and chowing down on barbecue are some pleasures that make kids’ summer birthday parties a breeze. But for those born any other time of the year, water parks are closed down, the air is a frigid temperature and soup partnered with cold medicine becomes a typical menu item. Don’t burn out on pizza and slumber parties, Mom. We’ve got winter-proof birthday party ideas that will not only be fun to attend, but fun to plan (any time of year)!
These cold weather friendly party ideas will keep the kiddos’ birthday spirits high, despite the conditions outside. Forget singing “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to“ another year - winter birthday parties will become something the kids will look forward to knowing you’ve got something new, innovative and exciting in the works!
A few of our favorite Girls’ Birthday Party ideas are chic, sassy and celebrate your little princess:
- Fancy Schmancy Tea Party: Invite guests to wear fancy hats and jewelry, or provide some costumes for dress-up and warm up with fruity tea or hot cocoa; serve mini sandwiches with your little lady’s favorites condiments and let your guests decorate cookies or cupcakes for dessert. Prefer to skip the mess? You can find elegant cupcakes from most bakeries.
- Pop Star Concert: If you aren’t near a local recording studio, send VIP rockstar invites with exclusive “Backstage Passes,” then make a playlist of her favorite songs to burn onto CDs for favors, set up a video camera and let them create their very own music video. Let them sing and dance to their heart’s content while the camera rolls and the tunes play, before decorating cupcakes with edible glitter – every pop star needs some sparkle!
Some of our favorite Boys’ Birthday Party ideas are playful, adventurous and celebrate your little dude:
- Indoor Campout: Let them build a fort with sheets and blankets. Send them on a scavenger hunt through the house for goodies and prizes, and improvise with a s’mores pie or cake. End the night telling stories and singing some tunes in front of the toasty fireplace!
- Science Laboratory: Turn your kitchen into a science lab with a couple science experiments of the birthday boy’s choice. Let each guest decorate their very own white lab coat, and decorate the house with bio-hazardous and radioactive signs. You can even find science kits that contain everything you need for an explosive party!
If you don’t have the space, time or energy to host at home, we love these indoor party ideas that you can find in any town or city:
- Head to the neighborhood ice rink or roller rink, lace up some skates, and take a few laps. It’s fun for all ages, and most venues offer party rooms and packages
- For younger birthdays, local children’s museums will offer fun, crafty and hands-on activities that will keep them busy and entertained for hours
- Bowling is great for all ages, especially alleys that offer bumper lanes and fun glow bowl nights where the evening is lit up with glow-in-the-dark balls and neon signs
- Head to the movies! With great, mom-approved flicks and awesome kids packs (or sneak in some of your own DIY treats!) send the kids to an entertainment center that’ll send their imaginations aglow
- The local library often has excellent entertainment on the weekends – from story time to reading circle – and for those inquisitive groups a storybook adventure might be right up their alley
- YMCA always offers affordable, indoor fun that can be built do meet your needs – with bouncy houses, pool time or active indoor play
{images: main image via nest, tea, s’mores}
DIY, Plum Community
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Party
Celebrate the New Year with family and friends with fun kid's party activities and adult-only beverages
December 28th, 2012 | 6:54 AM
Kids love making noise, staying up late, eating fatty foods and celebrating – so why wouldn’t they love New Year’s too? If it’s an event you’ve skipped out on because the kids were too small to understand or too young to stay up past midnight, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to share in an unbelievable experience with the whole family.
This New Year’s Eve, instead of skipping the hootenanny altogether or slipping out the door for an adult-only soiree, throw a bash that all ages can enjoy. We can bet there are a few parents in your same boat, so share the holiday with them too for the ultimate family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration.
Celebrate on Another Time Zone
If you’re lucky enough to live on the West Coast, there’s no harm in celebrating with Ryan Seacrest and New York at 9pm. But that isn’t the only time zone that celebrates a little earlier than the rest of us in the United States. Why not celebrate with the UK? If you’re based on the East Coast New Year’s in London is 6pm, meaning you can all clink glasses – whether they’re filled with champagne or sparkling cider – together.
Games, Food and More Games
Pull out all the stops for the kids, and for yourself, this New Years. Kid’s party activities can range from board games to fun DIY crafts, while you can throw in some adult-only games for family and friends once the kids are put down. Drinking games might seem obsolete but add it to the countdown and it’ll be worth every final minute.
Noise
Kids love to make noise, and most of the time you can’t stand it. Let them scream and shout with gusto through the help of New Year’s Eve party noisemakers that do all the talking for them. The afternoon can be spent crafting your very own party noisemakers for a family-friendly activity that will go well into the evening.
Tunes
Let them be the DJ. Kids will manage to stay up a bit longer, and get the dance floor moving and shaking, if they’ve got tunes they’ll love. Plus, you can turn up the good old oldies once their eyes start to flutter. And with their extra energy and dance moves around 9pm, you’ll be sure to see them snoozing within no time.
Photo Booth
Say cheese! No family friendly party with fun kids party activities would be complete without a photo booth. You don’t need to rent one to have a photography session, just clear out a closet near the living room and put your camera on auto-shoot. Add a few accessories from the kids’ costume closet to make a great addition to all the funny faces.
Me Time
Hostess Gifts Moms Love!
A mom should never show up to a party empty handed - here are some ideas we know your hostess will love
May 14th, 2012 | 11:30 AM
Kansas City’s Deb Clem offers a list of gracious hostess gift ideas that will have your friends grinning!
The month of May marks the start of the summer entertaining season. From Mother’s Day brunches to graduations to outdoor barbecues, you’re social calendar is filling fast! You’ve had your fair share of get-togethers, so you know planning these events is a lot of hard work, and it only seems right to reward your hostess with a lovely gift. But what?
Hostess gifts aren’t required but they’re a sweet gesture your friends and neighbors will appreciate. Most of my friends show up with a bottle of wine, but not everyone is partial to vino, so over the years I’ve learned to get creative. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Blooming plants — Cut flowers die within days, but plants can last for months or years. Bamboo, is easy to care for and is said to bring good luck. I just happen to have a great Asian market nearby to pick one up, but they are also fairly typical at most green houses. I just adore Orchids as well. If you happen to live in a Trader Joe’s market you’ll have to check out their selection of elegant offerings.
- Artisan Foods — I often gift a dip, cheese ball, or bread mix in a gorgeous bag. I love Tastefully Simple products and so do lots of my friends. It’s an easy and useful way to say thanks.
- Picture frames – You never have enough of these little gems. Why not pick some up at the end of each season and have a few on hand? Instead of a thank you note, simply add a sweet message or “thanks” in the frame to show how much you appreciate the invite.
- Monogrammed anything — From towels to napkins to coasters, we all love to receive personalized presents. Guess what? Your hostess does too. Anthropologie always has adorable, monogrammed handkerchiefs and mugs that your friends will fill for.
Always remember to match the gift to the hostess. Think about what she really likes before you make a choice. A couple of months ago, one of my friends showed up with the perfect gift — a bottle of Skinny Girl Cosmo’s. The note read, “Save this for a girl’s night.” We’ll be having one soon!
