Let's party

Planning a Sweet 16 Party and trying to decide on a party theme? There are so many wonderful party themes to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the more common themes. These themes will work fantastic if you have a time crunch and need to get the party planning done quickly.

1. Fairytale Party Theme. Every little girls dream is to be a princess. A fairytale themed Sweet 16 party is a fantastic way to make that dream realty ‘ at least for one day.

2. Favorite Color Party Theme. Using the Sweet 16’s favorite color, design a celebration using that color in the favors, decorations, party dress, cake and more.

3. Beach Party Theme. Always a favorite, the beach party theme is actually easy to recreate at a backyard pool, picnic area, and community recreation center and at the lake or ocean.

4. Hollywood Glamour Party. Think of Hollywood in the good old days. Women dressed to impress and dapper men. Have your guests dress in the style of their favorite glamorous movie star.

5. Surprise Sweet 16 Party. May not be easy to keep the party of secret from your Sweet 16, but if you can do it ‘ it will be all worth it. Select a secluded location and swear all the guests to secrecy.

6. Musical Sweet 16. Choosing music from any favorite decade, plan the Sweet 16 party around the music. 50’s music can be a sock hop. 70’s music is disco inspired.

If you have more time, the following Sweet 16 party themes will be well worth the planning and effort you put into them:

1. Las Vegas Casino Night. What could be more fun that a party with a Las Vegas Theme. Decorate the location casino style with card tables, dice games, and playing card party favors that can be used during the party then taken home by your guests. Use a large marquee in front of the hall that announces the event for the day. Remember, what happens in Vegas Baby….

2. Masquerade Sweet 16 Party. I don’t think I know any teenager that wouldn’t love to wear a mask to a party. Decorate this themed party in silver and gold sprinkled with other dramatic colors like burgundy or sapphire blue for effect. Have your guests dress up and provide them with a mask when they enter the hall or room. Choose matching favor boxes filled with trinkets to give your guests on the way out the door.

3. Willy Wonka Candy Themed Party. An all time favorite movie becomes a fantastic party theme. After you have selected the location for the party, it’s time to really get creative. Choose a chocolate fountain with plenty of dipping items like marshmallows, bananas, and strawberries. Place large bowls throughout the room filled to the brim with M&M’s, Sweet Tarts, Jolly Ranchers and any other favorite candy. The cake should be decorated all around with candy with Jessica’s ‘SWEET’ 16 in the center. Fill party favor boxes or bags with sweet treats for your guests to take home.

We hope the few ideas above helps you get started to create the Sweet 16 party that dreams are made of. Most importantly, have fun.

There’s never a better excuse for party accessories than on a hen night.

Cheeky and flirty are usually the way forward and here are ten top recommendations of party supplies to ensure maximum attention!

Balloons

Whether they are L-shaped, round, foil, latex or even phallus shaped (!!) balloons can not only provide an element of fun they can actually be quite useful if you are out somewhere and need your ‘hens’ to follow someone. Asking a group of girls to follow a balloon in the shape of a certain part of the male anatomy will always get their attention!

Hats

Cowgirl hats are a popular choice and can be chosen to match a colour scheme making the overall ensemble more of a complete outfit. For true cowgirl style don’t forget your daisy duke shorts and sassy attitude to woo those cowboys on your night out.

Other headwear

Where would the world be without head boppers? And who knew there were so many to choose from! These days they can be fluffy, flashing, L shaped, personalised and glittery. Other headgear includes bling tiaras, veils and devil horn headbands.

Badges and Sashes

To compliment your very tasteful headwear don’t forget the matching badge options! Again, feathers, glitter, flashing and even glowing badges are available. Sashes also come with a range of labels including ‘girls night out’ ‘ bride to be’, ‘mother of the bride’ and even ‘mother of the groom’ (for the brave amongst you!). Note that badges, sashes, headwear and often wands etc can be purchased as a ‘pack’ for the complete matching set.

Other ‘body’ wear

Personalised tee-shirts, garters, L plates, novelty jewellery, Hawaiian lei’s, eye masks, ‘bride to be’ satin gloves and my personal favourite – the shot-glass-on-a-necklace – also present great ways to emphasize the fact that you girls are out for a fun night!

Furry Handcuffs

These get a category all of their own as a trusted favourite amongst any respectable hen. Make sure they are fluffy, make sure you only use them on good looking guys and make sure you have the key!

Noise makers

What more could a group of girly mates ask for other than ways to communicate more loudly with each other and those around them?! You are HENS after all and demand attention and respect. Whistles, kazoos, party horns and best of all – megaphones are great ways to get everyone in order (and possibly escorted from premises).

Random party products

In the wonderful world of hen party accessories it would be a shame to forget some of the more modern additions offered. Cleverly labeled ‘stud finder’ binoculars are now available – in pink of course. Stickers to ‘rate’ all males you come into contact with are also high on the list, as are a great assortment of games, ‘hen party in progress’ police style tape and the all important inflatable man. Personally I wouldn’t be without the bum or ‘bun’ pincher or a slap and tickle set, but with so much to choose from the choice is yours!

Tupperware party host benefits may be the biggest reason people agree to have a Tupperware party. They are the enticement – a “come-on” that makes people more willing to turn their homes into stores for a few hours.

Tupperware party hosts have expenses and responsibilities, though, which should not be considered along with the rewards.

1. The host is usually responsible for sending out invitations for the Tupperware party. Follow-up phone calls will be necessary if you expect to have a successful party.

2. Tupperware party hosts must spend time and money cleaning the home and preparing for the party. When the party ends and guests leave, the host will be responsible for cleaning up again.

3. Refreshments are also the responsibility of a Tupperware party host. Even if the Tupperware consultant will prepare refreshments as part of his or her demonstration, the host will incur the expense. If you choose a menu that allows the consultant to demonstrate a product you like and believe your guests will order, you can come out the winner.

4. If you decide to host a Tupperware party, you will probably be left with the task of delivering orders, which will arrive at your home. You may ask people to pick them up, or you may take them to their homes. Either way, it will be your responsibility. The Tupperware consultant is not involved.

Tupperware Party Host Benefits

If you enjoy throwing parties, and are comfortable with the responsibilities, you might throw a Tupperware party for the rewards it offers. A recent Tupperware party host flyer I saw tempts prospective hosts to receive $808 in Tupperware for $60. That would be about 93 percent off of the regular price.

Here’s what’s in it for you if you become that Tupperware party host.

1. Tupperware Party Planning Reward: If you simply discuss with a Tupperware consultant the possibility of holding a Tupperware party, you receive a $2 value “Little Wonders Bowl” free.

2. Tupperware Party Scheduling Reward: If you actually set a date for a Tupperware party, you receive a $4 value 20 ounce canister free.

3. Tupperware party Reward: The host that follows through and holds the schedules party receives a $20 value set of 4 “Big Wonders Bowls” free.

4. Host Bonus: When you host a Tupperware party, you earn credit toward Tupperware products. A recent flyer I saw said that with $425 in party sales, the host bonus equals 15 percent of sales or $64. A Tupperware party host with that amount of credit may select $64 worth of Tupperware products free. He or she may also purchase any two additional products at half price.

5. Host Credit: Once a Tupperware party host reaches $425 in sales AND gets 2 or more party-goers to schedule their own parties, the host can use the Host Bonus to shop from an Exclusive Host Product Selection. If party sales reach $1000 or more, and 2 party-goers schedule their own parties, on-the-spot, the host receives $200 in Host Credit. Add this to the Host Bonus, and you have $264 in credit to redeem in products. Buy the special featured products with your credits, and you can save even more.

6. Reward Added to Rewards: The Tupperware party host flyer shows a “Caribbean Craze” set and promises the host 83 percent savings. The flyer promises that if a party is hosted during the flyer month, nets $1000 or more in sales, AND yields two additional scheduled parties, the Tupperware party host can purchase this 25-piece set, a $301 value, for only $50. The host also receives free shipping on orders. Add together all of the above, and you get over $808 in Tupperware for $60.

7. Entertainment: The final benefit for a Tupperware party host is the entertainment – the opportunity for a short “night out” to unwind and relax with friends, family, and neighbors. Tupperware recipes can provide great refreshments, and if the consultant prepares them as part of the demonstration, you have little preparation to do.

Those are some of the reasons I have seen for hosting a Tupperware party. Does that mean I host them frequently? No. I am not a party person, and you may not be either. But if someone asks you to host a Tupperware party, you now have more information on which to base your answer.

Disclaimer: The author is not now, nor has she ever been a Tupperware dealer. She has no acquaintances, friends, or family who are Tupperware dealer. She offers the above information for educational purposes only.

By: Anna Hart

Surprise Party Celebrations for Adult Birthdays and Other Surprise Party

Many people enjoy a good party and birthdays are often just a reason to have another celebration. All too often people can feel neglected as they get older and birthdays are not celebrated in quite the same way as they were when they were younger. On the other hand these same people may resist suggestions that they have a party for their birthday because they are trying to ignore the fact that they are getting older, or in the case of much older people, generally female, they don’t want to make a fuss. This is when the surprise birthday party is most often used.

Planning a surprise birthday party can be more difficult than planning any other type of party because of the need for secrecy, especially if you are planning the party for a husband or wife. In order to keep such a party quiet families have to resort to what might be seen as underhand methods, so you need to be prepared to feel a bit sneaky during the planning phase.

If they are honest, most people actually love the fact that people care enough to go to the trouble of planning a surprise birthday party in their honor, they may not appreciate all the undercover work that went into making the birthday party a success at one level, but on another, they are often delighted that it is going to happen.

The time when many families will want to keep party plans a secret is when they are planning an over-the-hill surprise birthday party. Often this will involve a party themed around a particular decade. Many people like to hark back to times that as they grow older become a sort of golden age so the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80, and even the 90s were the best time to be alive in their opinion. If you plan this type of over-the-hill surprise birthday party it could be tricky getting the birthday boy or girl to get dressed in the style of that decade without arousing their suspicions.

Sometimes people have to learn to be a bit creative with the truth if they are planning an over-the-hill surprise birthday party. It is often easier to preserve the surprise element if you hold the party at an outside venue otherwise you might have to make alternative parking arrangements for guests as thirty cars parked along your street could raise suspicion that something is going on. There are many online sites that offer unique surprise birthday party invitations cards.

Planning a surprise party can be a lot of fun, as well as a lot of work. Ordering personalized surprise birthday invitations, getting friends and relatives not to mention the event before it actually happens can be tough going, but they are part of the business of planning a successful surprise birthday party. You may decide that you want to give a themed surprise party that includes themed surprise over-the-hill birthday invitations and decorations. If you plan to hold a surprise party at home then you may have to get the person out of the house in order to get the house ready for guests. You will have to be quite sneaky here if you want the party to remain a surprise but when you see the happiness your actions bring then you’ll probably decide that it was all worth it.

Planning your child’s birthday party is never an easy task; there are just too many things to keep track of. Use this simple checklist to help you begin planning.

—–

4-6 weeks before your party

If you are planning entertainers, face-painters, bouncy castle hire etc, check out a list of local suppliers and contact to find out how much notice they will need. This may vary depending on the area in which you live, and the time of year you are choosing to have your party. Be prepared to book very early.

—–

3-4 weeks before your party

Pick the party date and time. Parties usually range from one and a half hours to three hours.

Book any outside services you require, such as entertainers, face-painters, bouncy castle etc, if you have not done so already.

Choose your party theme. Your child should enjoy doing this with you. If they have a particular favorite character this may be an obvious choice. Otherwise, your child could help choose by browsing the partyware themes pages with you.

Create the guest list. Let your child pick out the friends he or she wishes to invite. If you want to restrict the party to a particular number of friends, make sure that your child narrows down the list to this number. In any case, it may be advisable to review your child’s list to ensure that no child would feel unreasonable excluded (for example, if all the boys in your child’s class are invited, except one).

Order your party supplies, decorations, party favors, prizes for games etc. Be sure to order enough tableware for adults that will be attending too, and additional party bags and fillers for siblings of guests who may arrive.

—–

2-3 weeks before your party

Send the invitations. It is best to ask guests to RSVP to estimate how many children you may expect.

Decide on activities and games for the party.

Plan your menu. Are their any special dietary requirements? For a kids party, we recommend staying away from nuts all together.

Arrange for extra help on the day of the party from relatives or friends.

—–

1 week before the party

Order your cake from a supermarket or cake decorator if you are not baking your own.

Let brothers or sisters invite a special friend over for the day of the party.

Confirm booking of any entertainers or outside services.

—–

2-3 days before the party

Buy the food, drinks, sweets and treats for the party. If you have not already got them, don’t forget the candles.

Check batteries and film for the camera and/or camcorder.

Arrange to have balloons filled with helium to pick up the day of, or the day before the party.

If you are making your own, bake the cake.

If your child has a particular outfit they want to wear, make sure it’s ready to wear.

—–

1 day before the party

Pick up the cake from the cake decorator or supermarket, or finish decorating if you are making your own.

If a morning party, pick up helium-filled balloons and/or blow up non-helium balloons.

Prepare the party area by removing furniture, or breakable objects and decorate. (Indoor only, outdoor area is best left to the day of the party).

Prepare any food that can be made ahead of time.

—–

THE DAY OF THE PARTY

If a late-afternoon or night party, pick up the helium-filled balloons and/or blow up non-helium balloons.

If an outdoor party, decorate, and, if necessary, place balloons etc at the gate to direct guests to your house.

Prepare food and drinks that could not be made ahead of time.

Have your child ready and dressed one hour before the party.

Don’t forget to take plenty of photos or video to record the day. If at all possible, try to recruit someone to do this. You’ll be very busy with other party things that great photo opps will most likely be missed.

Enjoy the day and plan a relaxing treat for yourself after the party has finished.

Are you planning a birthday party or thinking about it?  While you’re deciding on the details for the celebration, take a look at these popular misconceptions about birthday parties.  Here are some of the top birthday party myths and the truth behind them.

MYTH: If you add RSVP to your birthday invitations, you’ll soon know exactly how many people will be coming to the party.

THE TRUTH: Many people won’t bother to let you know. Maybe they don’t know what RSVP actually means, or they think they only have to let you know if they will NOT be attending.  Sometimes people just get busy and forget.  You can try to add something more specific like, “please respond with either an acceptance or regret”.  It may help if you add that they should let you know by a specific date.  But no matter what you do, be prepared to make some phone calls to those who haven’t responded, if you need an accurate head count.

MYTH: Everyone likes surprise parties.

THE TRUTH: Some people loved to be surprised by a party in their honor. But, it might trigger a panic attack in another.  Don’t assume your guest of honor will be thrilled by an unexpected party, unless you know that person very well.   Do they enjoy being the center of attention?  Or is he or she the type that would shrink underneath the table at a restaurant if a group of waiters marched over singing “happy birthday”?  If you think there’s a possibility the birthday guy or girl might feel ambushed instead of flattered, you can still plan a party.  Just make sure you plan it with them.

MYTH: “Over the Hill” is a good theme for a party.

THE TRUTH: Sure, it’s fun to joke with someone about their age.  And they may even seem to appreciate it.  But many people are sensitive about milestone birthdays, even if they don’t show it on the surface.  It’s a rare individual who doesn’t ever experience anxiety over aging.  Instead of teasing the guest of honor about getting old, you can still highlight their milestone with a year you were born theme. Or have a retro party with music and decorations that reflect the years of his or her youth.

MYTH: Birthday party favors are just for kid’s parties.

THE TRUTH: Everyone loves a fun giveaway at the end of the party (even grown-ups).  It’s a great way to thank your guests for sharing the celebration.  Send them home with something inexpensive, thoughtful and useful.  Personalized party favors can even include a message. Though, of course, they’re not necessary for a successful party, favors can be that little extra touch that tops off the celebration.

MYTH: If you want to put your guests in a party mood, add lots of confetti inside the invitations.

THE TRUTH: This may sound like a festive idea, and lots of people do it, but please don’t be one of them.  Just picture it.  Your potential guest opens the envelope, pulls out the invitation and unexpectedly, a bunch of confetti spills out all over everything.  Instead of putting them in the party mood, they now have to scramble for the vacuum to clean up all the tiny little pieces of shiny mylar before the dog snacks on them.

MYTH: The more you spend, the better the party.

THE TRUTH: Just about everyone can remember a great party that was thrown together at the last minute.  Drinks were served in plastic cups and food wasn’t much more than chips with dip.  But what made that party memorable were the people.  Of course, good food, lovely atmosphere and fantastic music can all add to the party.  But they’re not the most important thing.  So, if you’re on a budget, don’t skip the birthday party. Cut corners with costs, even pare down the guest list a little, but go out there and celebrate.

MYTH: Some people don’t want you to acknowledge their birthday.

THE TRUTH: Yes, there are those who feel uncomfortable if you make a big fuss over them.  But that doesn’t mean that they really want you to forget them.  Birthday celebrations come in all sizes.  Find out what the special person in your life would like to do for their birthday.  They might want a big party.  Or they might rather spend a quiet night at a restaurant with close friends.  Their birthday is an opportunity for you to let them know how much they mean to you every day.

Of course, the undeniable truth is that birthday parties are fun. So go ahead and plan a big bash, a surprise party, or quiet celebration.  And guess what?  Even if you throw an over the hill party, stuff your invitations with confetti and serve nothing more than pretzels and soda, it will still be a hit, if you do it with heart.

The date is set, the invitations are out, and now you’re preparing yourself for a house full of active, energetic children to entertain. Have no fear! With a few simple, well planned out innovative game ideas, you can not only throw a fun and memorable party, but actually sit back and enjoy the interaction and entertainment yourself. There are several great game ideas for kids of all ages that won’t break the bank, can encourage teamwork and bonding, are exciting, challenging, and educational, and are sure to put smiles on the faces of all of your party goers, whether it be at the next birthday party, slumber party, family get-together, class party, holiday party, or other event. To get you started on your way to hosting a great party, we have suggested just a few of our favorite easy-to-set-up and fun-to-play party games for kids.

Guess Who I Am: This is a simple but fun game that will have the children interrogating each other to discover each others’ identities. Make a list of identities – enough so that each of your guests can pick one. For example: Sponge Bob, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Scooby Doo, Batman, Jimmy Neutron, Power Ranger, etc. Make a master list of all of the possible identities for the kids to view. Then prepare slips of paper each with a single identity printed on it to be drawn from a central grab bag. Have each child draw an identity and keep it secret. Then let the questioning begin. Choose any child to begin. That child should choose another player to ask a yes or no question about their character, but they can’t ask directly, for example, “Are you Sponge Bob?” Once the other player has answered “Yes” or “No” to the question, any of the children can try to guess their identity. The asking of questions moves from child to child in a clockwise direction. When a child guesses correctly another’s identity, they win and collect their identify slip from them. If you like, you can put a prize or treat associated with each of the identities acquired. This is a great game to encourage interaction, memory skills, and lots of laughs. The best part is that its an easy game to play again and again simply by starting over with each child drawing a new identity, or change the topic for the next round and make each identity an animal, a job, a food, a toy, a super hero, etc. — use your imagination and have fun with it.

Plan a Treasure Hunt: All kids love the thrill of a hunt — solving clues and tracking down lost treasure. You can make a treasure hunt simply at home with a little time and creativity. First, look around your house (just the areas where the party will be gathering) and find some good hiding places. Then write clues on pieces of paper of a difficulty level appropriate to the group you will be entertaining that will lead them to those hiding spots one by one. For example, one clue might be “You’ll have to be nimble, you’ll have to be quick, to find the next clue hidden under this stick” The next clue of course would be found hidden under a candle or candlestick. Prepare at least ten different clues to lead the children on a hunt all about the party area, which can include outdoors, such as at a picnic or park. Hide the clues ahead of time before the children arrive. The first clue should be handed or read to the children, and the second hidden in the answer location, where the next clue can be found, and so on until, at the end when the last clue is solved, the final “winning treasure ticket” is found. You may want to provide a reward, such as goodie bags, party favors, sweets, presents, give certificates, or other treats both along the way or at the end. One variation is to attach a piece of gift wrap to each ticket, and the one who finds that ticket gets the gift that matches the wrapping paper. Of course, prizes are not necessary, and solving the final clue and knowing you won can be satisfaction enough. Just be prepared — this game often brings the “Can we do it again!?” request. If you lack the time or creativity to create clever clues and a treasure hunt on your own, there are great inexpensive pre-made custom printable treasure hunt games available online designed around common household or outdoor objects that come with hiding guides that you can purchase online, download, and print and play instantly, such as at Treasure-Adventure.com.

Truth or Do Balloon Stomp: This is the traditional truth or dare game with a new twist that will have children choosing their own fate one balloon at a time. Prepare a bundle of balloons filled with pre-made rolled Truth or Do questions or commands. Each child takes turn choosing a balloon, and stomping it open to reveal their Truth or Do hidden tab within. Be appropriate to your age group. Some Examples of “Do” tabs might say “Act like a dancing Monkey”, “Walk the length of the room with a book on your head”, “Sing the National Anthem”, etc. Some Examples of “Truth” questions might be “Tell your most embarrassing moment”, etc. You can print one “Truth” and one “Do” on each ticket to give children the choice of which they will do.

Double or Nothing: This is a fun, competitive game that kids love, that any number of players can play, and that all different ages can play together. Have the party guests form a circle. Place a pile of small, wrapped party favors or suitable gifts in the center of the circle, typically numbering at least double the number of players. The host decides on how many times around the circle play will go, but it should circle completely before ending a game so all players get an equal number of turns. If a birthday, start with the birthday child. Otherwise, the host may choose or start with the high roller of two dice. Put the two dice into a shallow metal pan or other container with a flat bottom. The first person rolls the two dice once in the pan. Each child that rolls doubles gets to choose a prize out of the center pile or steal one from someone else who already has one, but they must not open any presents they win until the end of the game, and must place all presents in front of them unopened during the game. If they roll doubles, they get to roll again immediately, and each time they get doubles, they get to choose another prize. If they do not roll doubles, they must pass the pan and dice to the next player to their left, and so on. There are two variations to this game. A less competitive option that ensures that all children get the same number of prizes follows the same rules as above, except that enough prizes are placed in the middle to allow all children to get the same number of prizes, and the first child that reaches that maximum number of gifts wins, take their gifts, and leaves the game. Play continues as each subsequent child reaches their maximum number of gifts and leaves the game. This is a great way to make sure everyone goes home happy!

Spoons. This is a fast-paced, hilariously fun party game similar to the game of “horse,” and the more the merrier! It is best for ages 8 and up (adults love it too!), but can be played by sharp younger players also. Have the kids again form a circle. Arrange metal spoons (numbering one less than the number of players) either in a close circular formation or in a pile so they make noise when they bump together in the center of the circle. Shuffle two decks of cards well, and have one of the players deal out four cards to each player face down. Leave them face down until the game is ready to start. All players must keep four cards in their hands at all times. The goal is to get four of the same cards (not same suits), such as all 4s, 10s, Jacks, etc., and when you get them, sneak one spoon. The dealer starts by putting the deck face down and drawing quickly one card from it at a time. He may keep the card if it matches ones in his hand and discard one of his own face down in a new pile for the next player to pick from, or pass on the card he just picked by placing it face down in the new pile of discards for the next player to pick from, again, one card at a time. The dealer keeps picking quickly and passing cards until all cards are gone, and may then pick from new cards passed to him when the cards have come full circle. All players should go as fast as possible, all the while keeping four cards in their hands, keeping count of the spoons, and watching carefully for anyone attempting to sneak a spoon while they are picking cards. Once the first spoon is taken by someone who has all four of the same cards, everyone else must try to grab a spoon before they are gone. The one left without a spoon gets a letter. The first person who spells “SPOONS,” is out of the game, and a spoon is removed from the center to ensure there is always one less spoon than the number of players. If the person who sneaks the spoon is not noticed by anyone else, he should sit the spoon in his lap, and keep passing cards until someone notices one is missing. Watch out for people pretending that they have four of a kind – they may reach out towards the spoons, but not touch them to fool someone else. If they touch a spoon accidentally on such an attempt and do not have four cards, they get a letter. If someone else is fooled and thinks they are going for a spoon, but they don’t, and touches a spoon when they don’t have four of the same cards, they get a letter. Only the first person who touches the spoon when they shouldn’t have gets the letter – the rest who follow do not. They simply put them back. Play continues until one person is left and wins the game.

Charades: This is a classic party favorite that is always good for a few laughs. Prepare ahead with some charades to act out that are appropriate for the group and age level. If you’ll be entertaining younger kids, give them simple words to act out, making it clear that they cannot speak. For example, sing, happy, monkey, dog, guitar, sick, hungry, bounce, flower, climb, draw, etc. For older children, prepare a couple of categories of clues and write the category on a piece of paper or white board. For Example: Movie Titles (The Lion King), Sayings (You win some you lose some), Songs (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star), etc. Prepare the charade tabs ahead of time. Divide the group into two teams. Team #1 will draw a random charade tab and try to act it out for their own team (give a set time limit). When time is up, if the first team hasn’t solved it, the other team can take a guess to try and steal the point. Then Team #2 takes their turn, and so on. Be sure to rotate the charade actor on each team each time. Decide on a set number of points to be reached, and the first player or team that reaches that number of points wins!

The Cotton Bowl: Another fun team party game for all ages that is hilarious to watch and play. Split your party goers into two even teams. Place two chairs back-to-back, with a player from each opposing team in each chair. Blindfold both players well and ensure that they cannot see. Hand them each a large spoon, and place a bowl containing equal numbers of well-separated cotton balls on their lap. The host stands between the two holding two paper plates on each of their heads. A timer is started. Each seated competing player has 30 seconds to scoop as many cotton balls out of their bowl using their spoon and carefully raise the cotton balls and place them on the plate over their head. When the buzzer is up, the number of cotton balls on each plate gets added to the respective team’s score. One point for each cotton ball successfully placed on the paper plate that does not fall off. Typically, the first team that collectively reaches 50 points wins, but you can set the goal to whatever you wish.

Pass it On: A great get-to-know-you game. Have the children gather in a circle to share their favorite things. Start with one child (the party boy or girl preferably) who should announce, for example, “My name is John and I like Football.” Then, the next child in line might say, “John likes football. My name is Matt, and I like candy,” and so on. Set a prize if the kids can make it all the way through without slipping up. If they get stuck, they can start again at the beginning with the child who got stuck going first, and then working their way back through the other children. This is a great memory game that will have children concentrating, interacting, and getting to know each other at the same time. It can easily be played over and over again by changing the fact to be shared, such as favorite candy, cartoons, books, foods, animals, games, etc.

Prize Balloon Stomp: This is not a game, but an innovative way to keep kids in anticipation, not knowing what is inside their balloons. Simply prepare a bundle of balloons with rolled prize tabs inside of each one that announces some special treat or reward. They may receive a balloon for finding a treasure clue, solving an identity, or guessing correctly in charades, etc. Or just place them at their assigned seats. Kids will have a blast stomping the balloons to retrieve their surprise reward.

For more treasure hunt and party game ideas, party supplies, and fun tips, visit Treasure-Adventure.com at http://www.treasure-adventure.com

The birthday party supplies you will need for a birthday party can be balloons, decorations, food and many other things. Plan the birthday party for your child around a theme party, it will be liked not only by your kid, but also by all his friends at school.

But with the proper party supplies, a little know how and a lot of imagination, you can throw a birthday party that the kids will be talking about all year. It is very important to consult with the birthday boy or girl about the kind of party they would like, as kids or teenagers have their own ideas of what makes a party fun. There are supplies for every kind of theme party.

When planning a kids Birthday Party or an adult theme event, it is very important to pay attention to all the details, including, and especially, the birthday party supplies. Birthday party supplies set the mood and solidify the theme of a well planned party.

A theme party can also be great fun such as a pirate party, or an outdoor garden party. Online party supplies and stores are useful because they carry a wide range of theme party supplies. Here are some party supplies to be included piñata, table decorations; goody favors bags, stickers, games, novelties and plates.

Most gift shops go out of their way to stock decorations, invitations, tableware, theme gifts, and more. An intelligent choice of the right material and theme will ensure a unique experience. It’s important to have a creative planning stage before each party during which you’ll sit down and decide on the theme of your event and how your party supplies will look.

These holiday events are easy to plan for and throw of you know what kind of party supplies by theme you are going to look for and where you plan on going to get them. With any theme you have a ton of ideas waiting to be used. Going on that idea your theme party supplies need to be something that will please you guest and yourself without going overboard.

Maybe you want to have a princess theme party, character party supplies for this might be some tiaras that everyone can take home. Matching paper napkins, paper plates, cups, and table runners or cloths can carry the theme even more completely.

You’re planning a big party celebration, and to save money, you consider searching for discount party supplies. For the newcomer to discount party supply buying, the best way to be certain that you are getting a bargain is to comparison shop. Using plain or white napkins may not be exciting and colorful the rest of the decorations with their vivid decorations the white or plain napkins really pop.

Don’t forget about the party favors. Today most people are opting for personalized party favors. Personalized party favors add a personal touch to the party. Adding a child’s name to a party favor is a great way of saying thank you.

It’s a long cold winter, but it doesn’t have to be boring, too.  Beat the blahs with a warm winter party. It’s a perfect time to reconnect with friends and have fun.  Or maybe you’re already planning an event such as an anniversary or sweet 16 celebration.  If you’re looking for inspiration for a big occasion in January or February or just a casual get together,  here are sixteen ideas to get you started.

1. If you’re having trouble finding a great winter party invitation, then look for a company that can customize one of their Christmas invitations or cards that is filled with snowflakes, snow, or a snowman.  Ask them to eliminate the holiday aspect of it and make it just a winter theme.

2. Decorate with tons of white and accents of silver and icy blue.  Use fabrics like chiffon, gossamer and other shears to create a winter fantasy feel.

3. Scented candles can enhance the atmosphere of a winter party.  Try scents like evergreen, hot cocoa or apple pie.

4. Do you own a sled?  Clean it up and use it as a decoration or even on top of the table to hold platters of food. 

5. Make a garland of mittens.  Attach every pair your family owns to a ribbon and hang it across the room.  If you don’t have enough gloves, you can pick up some extras at the dollar store.

6. Raid your box of Christmas decorations in the attic for your winter theme party.  Snowflake ornaments, white twinkling lights, silver garland, plastic icicles and snowmen can work both at Christmas and at your party in January or February.

7. Have a fondue party.  When your guests gather around the fondue pot to dip their bread cubes into the warm cheese sauce, the conversations will flow.  Plus, since they’re doing their own cooking with the sauces you prepared ahead of time, you’ll have a chance to join in the fun, instead of being stuck in the kitchen.

8. Cook up your famous chili recipe.  Nothing warms your guests more than your homemade chili, French onion soup or beef stew.  A winter party is a great time to serve those stick to your ribs, comfort foods.

9. Feature gourmet hot chocolates in a variety of flavors.  Don’t forget the whipped cream and marshmallows!

10. Make your own ice sculpture.  You can buy inexpensive reusable molds on the internet in a variety of shapes.  Simply fill the mold about 90 percent with distilled water, freeze for 48 hours and unmold.

11. Winter party favors can be anything with a snowflake motif.  How about magnets with a snowflake background and personalized message like, “Your friendship warms the coldest winter – Jane and Barry Parker”? A quick online search and you’ll find lots of products that can be customized with your words and even a photo.

12. Plan your winter party around a seasonal activity such as sledding or ice skating.

13. If you don’t want to remind your guest of the cold, ice and snow, why not have a luau or Caribbean theme? Borrow some CD’s from the library of Hawaiian or reggae music.  Decorate with fake palm trees, seashells and flowers.  Blend some coconut drinks.   Break up the winter by going tropical and your guests are sure to think your party is hot.

14. Build your party around a holiday or event.  Have a Valentine’s Day party or a Super Bowl bash.  Turn President’s Day, Groundhog Day or Chinese New Year into a fun get together.  Check the internet for obscure special days to celebrate like Elvis’ birthday on January 8th,  Winnie the Pooh day on January 18th or National Gum Drop Day on February 15th.  Plan a party to watch the Grammy’s or the Academy Awards.  And don’t forget Mardi Gras!

15. Throw an ugly sweater party.  Invite your guests to wear their most hideous winter woolen-wear.  It might be a gift they received from a well-meaning relative during the holidays.  Or it could be a 20 year old impulse buy hanging in the back of their closet with the tags still attached.  Whoever makes it to the top of the worst dressed list, wins a prize.

16. Consider including a “snow date” on your invitations.  If you live in an area that gets a lot of bad winter weather, you might want to add an alternate date for the party, in the event that the forecast is for slippery roads.  Explain that you will call them before the party to change the date.  If you decide to go this route, make sure you plan your menu around make-ahead foods that you freeze.  In the event that the party is postponed, you won’t have to buy or make new party food.

So send out those invitations and get ready for a great winter party.  Your guests will be thrilled that you planned something fun and memorable to break up the cold weather blues.

Birthday is the most significant day in ones life as all near and dear ones especially endeavor to make the day all the more special for us. It is a hearty celebration that spreads excitement and cheers everywhere. It’s the time of commence the fresh start and welcome happiness in your life. The Birthday celebration is all about dance, party, music, cakes, balloons, greetings and

shouting out loud ‘Happy Birthday’. There are numerous ways of celebrating birthdays and blowing out candles and cutting the cake is the most popular tradition followed all over. Friends, families and guests sing birthday songs. It’s almost certain that birthday songs are sung to swing in the festive spirit and enjoy the gaiety and merriment of Birthday celebrations.

To make the birthday special for your beloved, give them encouragement, hope and affection as priceless gifts on their Birthday. The price of a Birthday gift doesn’t matter. All that matters is the love and affection with which it’s given. Although choosing a Birthday gift is a daunting task. But a gift should be the one that brings smile on the receiver’s face and make them happy. There are personalized gifts that imbibe your spirit in it. An engraved jewelry, photo frame or coffee mug with your name initials, personal message or the receiver initials engraved looks great. Then there are other interesting and unique gifts like gift basket which is an assortment of different gifts.

A gourmet gift basket will have a variety of white and dark chocolates, cookies, candies and cake. Then other popular gifts are chocolates, corsage of flower, birthday greeting cards, a bottle of wine, cosmetic products, centerpieces, paintings, electronic gadgets and a lot more. A Birthday card is the most adorable gift one can present to a loved one on his/ her special day. Available in a wide selection of choices, Birthday Cards go a long way in speaking volumes of the sentiments and emotions attached with the beloved. Funky spirits, religious idols, natural beauty as well as romantic essence, birthday cards are available in all genres and variety like Birthday ecards available in various categories such as Birthday Cards, Birthday Invitation, Friends Birthday Cards, Romantic Birthday, Birthday Flowers Cards, and Birthday Gifts Cards etc. Sending a perfect birthday card to your loved ones make them feel special.