For Easter, my 7-year-old daughter received a small terra cotta pot filled with plastic grass, seed packets, a hand rake, some gloves and a bunch of chocolate flowers. The candy is gone, but we’re now anxiously waiting for peppers to sprout from the pot. The cute gift came courtesy of my sister-in-law, and was nice change from the traditional Easter baskets. However, I think it would be equally appropriate to hand out as a favor at a spring garden party. In fact, you could go one better and have young guests decorate the pots with glitter glue, paint, markers, sequins, … Continue reading →

Labor Day is such a bittersweet holiday for me. Whereas I love the extra day of play, I hate that the weekend is the unofficial farewell to summer. Still, there’s no better way to bid the season goodbye than with an end of the summer bash for all your family and friends. Picnics: Whether you are entertaining a small group or a huge clan, picnics are a great outdoor activity. Grab your checkered tablecloth and plan a seasonal menu complete with fried chicken, watermelon, potato salad, grilled corn, and lemonade. Don’t forget to bring along some sports equipment to work … Continue reading →

I heart Oriental Trading Company. If it weren’t for the catalog-based business I would have never been able to pull-off my daughter’s circus-themed seventh birthday party. Of course, when you’ve got 30 six and seven year olds running amuck you don’t really need elephants, clowns and acrobats to create a circus-like atmosphere. I shudder to think how our pint-sized guests would have reacted if they were forced to leave the party goodie bag-less. Oh the horror! Fortunately, my child’s birthday had a traditional theme. Consequently, it was easy for me to purchase a bunch of trinkets from Oriental Trading Company. … Continue reading →

Who says you have to hire a DJ, a caterer and massive tents to host a summer get-together at your home? When it comes to throwing a memorable party, keep it simple and concentrate on having fun. You don’t need to drain your wallet purchasing elaborate decorations and expensive party favors. Rather, use what you already have and add some pizzazz by exercising some creativity. For example, instead of rigging up a series of spotlights to illuminate a backyard BBQ, adorn a fence with strings of Christmas lights. If you are having an afternoon bash, skip the lights and use … Continue reading →

Which is harder, planning a party for a temperamental teen or a picky preschooler? I’ve had experience party planning for the latter and it was no picnic, but witnessing what my friend is having to go through putting together a summer shindig for her 15-year-old daughter, I realize now that organizing my preschooler’s bash was a piece of cake. My friend has gone to great lengths to make this party one to remember for her one and only daughter. However, it has been rough from the get-go. Mother and daughter couldn’t come to terms on a theme, menu or decorations. … Continue reading →

Given how unbearably hot it’s been this summer, it’s likely that you would need to spend much time or effort enticing guests to attend a pool party. In fact, I recently received a call from a friend of ours offering money if we would be so kind as to invite her brood to swim at our neighborhood pool. She was joking of course. About the money, not the desire to go swimming. If it weren’t already booked for the rest of the season, I would happily rent out our neighborhood pool and invite all of our friends to splish and … Continue reading →

With much of the country melting under triple digit temperatures, I’m not sure you’d want to throw an outdoor summer party unless it involves a pool full of ice. Last week, huge chunks of ice were added to public pools in Omaha, Nebraska, to help patrons cool off as heat indices surpassed 115 degrees. Not a bad idea for a backyard pool party as well. If you are looking for other cool ways to keep your summer party guests entertained in the sweltering heat, consider these ideas: Movie Night in the Pool: Our local Parks and Recreation Department just hosted … Continue reading →