Everything Nice Cake Making

When your son or daughter is graduating from any phase of life, it’s a perfect opportunity to throw a party and to let them know how much you love them and how proud you are of them. The biblical patriarch Abraham even threw a “great feast” for his son Isaac the day he graduated from nursing. Those folks loved to party! (See Genesis 21:8) You don’t have to go quite that far, but you can have a party for your son or daughter when they graduate from preschool, or after the final bell rings on their years in elementary school. Certainly you should throw a “great feast” for them when they graduate from high school—and definitely celebrate when they finish college. They have put in countless hours of work and deserve a party!

Planning a graduation party is not much different from planning a birthday party or any informal “mix and mingle and munch” gathering. As usual, you will need to decide on what food you’ll be serving. Now, unless this absolutely has to be a surprise party, you would be best to ask your son or your daughter what kind of food they and their friends would like to eat. But chances are you already know their favorites—so go with that. And get creative with the dessert! For example, bake a two-part cake in the shape of their graduating year, and ice it in their school colors.

Okay, you’ve decided on the menu, so now you need to finalize the guest list so that you know how much food to prepare—or how much soda and snacks to buy. Again, unless you want to surprise your child, it’s best to ask him or her who they’d like to invite. Of course, if they want to invite most of their classmates, you’ll have to help them trim the list. If you really do think you can pull off a surprise party then you’ll have to get one of their closest school friends to help you come up with a list of who to invite and, equally as important, who not to invite. As your child becomes a young adult, they may have good friends who weren’t necessarily in the class they just graduated from, but whom they’d want to invite anyway—such as old buddies, neighbors, workmates or fellow club members. So make sure you don’t miss anyone out.

Now that you have a final guest list, along with each person’s contact information, you need to get on the phone (or on the computer) and begin inviting them. If it’s a surprise party, be sure to let them know. You don’t want them to slip up and tell the guest of honor that they’re looking forward to attending their grad party.

Once the guests have been invited, you should give some thought as to whether you’ll be decorating or not. There are lots of decorations to choose from these days, but even if you opt for a simple, no-fuss décor, you’ll probably still want balloons and a banner. Even if you’ll be handwriting the “Congratulations Grad!” sign, you’ll still have to buy the balloons and the banner material, felt pens, etc. So draw up a list and buy the supplies ahead of time.

By the way, you don’t need to go with just a graduation theme even though it’s a grad party. If your guests are game, you could even throw a costume party or a luau or whatever.  The main thing is that the celebration is both fun and memorable. After all, your grad has finally come to the end of years of studying, homework and tests and needs to unwind and have some fun with friends. They’ll soon be facing a whole new phase of life with more work and maybe more study, but tonight or this afternoon … it’s time to party!

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Tags: Graduation, Party, Planning, Tips

1. First decide what sort of impression you want to make with “pictures”. Do you want to be fashionable and arty or do you want to display family photos, nostalgia or personal interests? If you wish you can include all of the above, but you may make a better job of it if you have designated areas for each. For example you may want to make a statement with an impressive single abstract piece in your living room, while in the hall or dining room you could display more personal items. There are no rules as such, but try to harmonise your displays so that they do not compete for the viewer’s attention. If you can try and rationalise where and why you hang each item. Ultimately you will get more out of each piece and your guests will sense yours to be an organised and methodical household.

2. Keep your choice of art in proportion to where you will hang it. If a picture is too large it will look cramped and suffocated, if it is too small it will look lost and insignificant. Many people think that if there is room for a picture to squeeze in between the mantelpiece and the ceiling it will work there. Not so, you must allow the space around the picture to become part of the framing too. All surrounding space must be balanced and equal.

3. Never try to save money by forcing a picture into a frame that neither suits it, fits it or displays it to the best advantage. A cheap frame is a false economy for you can end up with a dreadful result that simply looks “make-do”. Compared to furniture and flooring, pictures can often be thought of as of minor importance in the grand scheme of the room. This is not so at all. Think of a picture as the Tiara on the Bride or the Cream on the Cake. It is the finishing touch that will often turn into the major focal point of the room. If it looks denied its full potential splendour – so will the room.

4. Always consider the picture first when framing it and not the décor of the room. The picture will always stay the same and is a complete entity in its own right. Its position in the house or the décor of the room may change many times in its life with you, so make sure the picture is “right” in itself and is not dictated to by the colour of the curtains it hangs next to. Such influences can ensure the picture is actually diminished in stature by forcing it to conform with its surroundings.

5. Always choose images “you” like and not what “Mavis across the road” considers to be good taste. Certainly never take the advice of anyone likely to say something like “Well I think it will look good in your place but, of course, I’d never hang it in my house”. Have the courage to be guided by your own taste. Other people not liking it does not make it bad. Art is very personal and you should never set out to please others outside your own family.

6. If you buy a print or painting for a good price don’t allow the fact to convince you it only deserves a cheap frame. If you got a bargain – great! Now invest the money you saved on a frame that will really make it look fantastic. The value of a good picture is not necessarily determined by how much you paid for it, but much more by how it looks and what it does for your home.

7. If you have short or narrow rooms you can make them look longer by displaying long panoramic pieces that carry the eye along the wall. This works especially well along the length of a dining table or across the back of a settee. Alternatively you can use three to six smaller square pieces hanging in a balanced, evenly spaced line.

8. Another space illusion can be achieved by matching your framed art with a similarly treated mirror. Not only will this give the illusion of more space, it will also help to spread more light around the room.

9. Picture rails seem to be coming back into fashion, but think long and hard before you decide to actually use them to support your pictures. Long wires required to suspend pictures at the proper height can introduce ugly lines to otherwise clear walls and can complicate the overall effect. The best way to hang a picture is as if “by magic” with no apparent evidence for its maintained position.

10. Always insist your pictures are strung for hanging with a good quality wire and not cord. The use of cord can often ensure a future trip to the framer to repair a picture that “suddenly fell off the wall for no reason”. The reason is of course fatigue and rotting which will eventually occur in most cords regardless of quality. Also insist that your wires are fitted into the back board of the picture and not to the frame itself. This is for two reasons. Firstly, such frame fixings will ensure long term pulling on the mitres which can eventually pull the corners apart. Secondly such wide wiring will also give the picture a tendency to sway more thus hanging out of line. Central back board fixings are much more balanced and sturdy.

11. The coloured cardboard edging that framers use to surround a picture when framing is called a Mount, Mat or Pass Pa Tu. Always try to include such a feature when framing a print or water colour. In truth it is often an essential component in the frames structure, used by the framer to hold the picture in place. However, it also provides another dynamic to the overall look, keeps your print away from the glass and when used properly, protects your print from any acidity in the frame that may cause damage over the years. Photographs especially benefit from a Mount as when placed against glass can often stick or give the appearance of wet patches which are at least, very unsightly.

12. The terms “Portrait” and “Landscape” are more accurately applied to the attitude of the picture, that is, “Tall” or “Wide” rather than to the picture content. A portrait does not necessarily have to be a picture of a person any more than a landscape has to feature fields and trees etc.

13. Always insist on a wooden frame as opposed to a “composite” which will be made from extruded and pressed plastic. The latter may be cheaper and lighter but they are usually hard to join securely and will often show gaps at the mitres. Larger pictures will often bow over time and require re-framing. While often very attractive, they are not the best investment in my opinion.

14. When framing family pictures consider placing more than one in each frame. Modern mount cutting equipment is computerised and a good quality framer will have such equipment to enable him to produce almost anything you ask for. It will save money too. Displaying three 8″ x 10″ photos in one frame can cost up to a third less than it will cost to frame them individually.

15. Non reflective Glass will usually cost you up to double the price of regular 2mm float glass in your frames. However, it will cut down glare by up to 80% and reduce the damage to your art from UV light by around 70%. Usually, after you choose non reflective glass once it is unlikely you will ever go back to the cheaper alternative.

16. If you are buying an Oil Painting stick to these two rules: Buy what you like and spend what you can afford. Never buy as an investment as in 99% of cases – it won’t be. Make sure the picture is an original painted by one artist and don’t be fooled by the factory painted originals from the Far East. They often look good and are okay to buy so long as you know what you are getting for your money. The “original” you fall in love with could be just one of hundreds that look exactly the same painted on a conveyer belt principle.

17. Try and avoid fancy baroque style gold frames “unless” they suit your décor. Elaborate or fancy frames take attention away from the picture itself, the important part. The modern way is simple straight lines with more attention to clever mounting than fancy frames. Your framer will advise you.

18. Beware of Fads! Wacky art may look great when you first see it, but how quickly might it become out dated? If you are fashion conscious you must either be prepared to spend your money chasing the “latest thing” or preferably choose more carefully, selecting items that won’t date so fast. Abstracts are often good at deflecting the passage of time but choose a good one, some would say “anyone could paint that” but believe me – they can’t!

19. We’ve all seen them, those clever pictures that light up, dazzle us with flowing waterfalls, sparkling backgrounds, foil images often purchased from salespeople at the door. Well, they all fall into one category – Junk. The best advice when considering buying something along these lines is – Don’t!

20. Take a look at the old pictures you have in your home right now. If you are thinking of getting rid of them – ask yourself why? Do you hate the picture itself or has the whole ensemble simply started to look tired or tatty? Very often the existing pictures in your home are exactly the new thing you are looking for, they just need smartening up. A new frame, clean glass and a different mount can make all the difference and provide something both new and familiar you will be very happy with.

Tags: Artwork, Hanging, Tips

Shared By David Kaiser SOBA

Cooking Your First Thanksgiving Dinner By Kathleen G. Huertas

Is this your first Thanksgiving that you cook for the family? It is not mine, however I do remember my first quite well. I called my mom in the weeks before gathering all of what she used to buy and asking for certain recipes. My first dinner came out wonderfully and every one after that. Now I cook every year and invite family and friends to share Thanksgiving with my family. Follow tips in this article to start preparing for your very first Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving is nearly here, so start planning now. You can shop wisely and start your invites now. Make your list of guests and send out the invitations and then start getting ready for shopping.

Once you have your guest list, then you can plan your meal without overspending or not having enough. The best time to shop for you Thanksgiving Day dinner are in the weeks before. This is because the stores have sales, coupons and in store specials for the big day.
Most grocery stores offer free turkeys, or an inexpensive one depending on what you spend. When choosing your turkey be sure to buy the correct size for your guest list. If you go ahead and spend a little money each week for

Thanksgiving supplies you will not have the huge grocery bill at the end of the month. So pick up the odds and ends to avoid last-minute shopping. These items could be, salt, pepper, napkins, foilware, silverware, canned juices, cranberry sauce, frozen goods, thermometer, turkey baster, roasting pan, etc. All of these items are things you can store without spoiling.
Cooking takes up a huge part of your time, and you don’t want to take away from quality time with your guests. With that in mind, there are many dishes you can prepare the night before. Sweet potatoes can be prepared and covered, peel and cut the carrots and potatoes, be sure to keep them in cold water with a tight lid. You can prepare spinach, pies, and cakes. This way you have the morning to focus on your turkey and the wonderful stuffing recipe that was handed down to you.

If you want to save some extra money if things are tight this year, try having a pot luck and have some guests prepare certain dishes and bring them. You can also have them bake some pies. and treats, this will help save you time and money. Don’t expect your guests to prepare side dishes or baked goods, you can ask them and plan accordingly. Remember, you are the host and they are here to relax, eat and enjoy.
If you like to decorate for the day, you can head out to your local thrift or dollar store. They have many items to make your day in the Thanksgiving spirit. You can also go outside and pick up some pine cones and leaves, and have the kids decorate them for festivity, it is always important to include children in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

One last thing before you set out to prepare for your first Thanksgiving dinner. A huge part of Thanksgiving is family tradition. It is always memorable and inexpensive. Maybe you want to start a new tradition. You can try something like going around the table and telling everyone what you’re thankful, although that is a common tradition, but a good one. You can have all the guests sign the Thanksgiving tablecloth in permanent marker or ink. So many memories are created by doing this. All you will need is a nicely colored flat sheet, a marker or a pen and then begin your own Thanksgiving tradition and memories. Remember Thanksgiving is a day of Thanks, so be Thankful for all you have, as family and friends are the best to cherish forever.

David Kaiser SOBA Noodle

Tags: cooking, David, Dinner, Helpful, Kaiser, Shares, Thanksgiving, Tips

In many movies you’d have seen couples getting married in June. However, winter is not such a bad idea for a wedding. A snow wedding can be exquisite, elegant and more than anything else, extremely romantic. With every details planned and every mishaps foreseen, a wedding during the winter season in the middle of snow and ice can be an unforgettable experience for the couple as well as their loved ones.

Where to have the wedding

If it’s a large wedding with a lot of guests, you could rent a historic mansion with a fireplace that can provide adequate warmth. In the case of a small intimate wedding an inn would be ideal, again, without missing the fireplace. Make sure that the place has enough warmth for all. If you want to have a scenic background you could find a place with large windows that can unveil a beautiful snowfall.

What to wear

Bride in a white gown and groom with a tail is an ideal picture for a snow wedding. Normally brides go for strapless or sleeveless gowns. However, for a winter wedding this would not suffice, considering the weather. You could use wraps, shrugs, capes or even long white coats to go with your white gown. Make sure you wear adequate coverings for your hands and feet. In the midst of all this, don’t forget the bridesmaids. Make sure they are also dressed enough to keep them warm.

Choosing the menu

Maybe you have already fallen for the whims of your friends and relatives to have some of their favourite food for the wedding. But that doesn’t have to stop you from adding some of the winter flavours and food. Hot chocolate and warm pumpkin soup are ideal for the season. An all white cake with silver decorations would match the surroundings. Get suggestions from your caterer before deciding on this.

How to decorate

One main advantage of snow wedding is that you would get most places already decorated for Christmas. For the wedding you could choose silver and white to add elegance or go with the season with red and green. Make sure the decorations inside the rooms match the bouquet you hold. Don’t forget the tables and chairs, lights, doorways and arches. Candles can enhance the romance in the atmosphere. As for the flowers, the best idea is to talk to the florists as they would know the flowers available for the season in your region.

These are a few ideas to enrich your special day with a festive spirit. However, to all these you could add objects like an ice sculpture, a crystal bouquet, miniature Christmas trees, horse carriage to take the bride and the groom, etc. Getting a theme for the whole ceremony would also add to the charm. In short, nothing else is better than a snow wedding to make your special day even more special and romantic.

Are you making a layer cake? Learn how to frost the first layer of your cake with expert tips in this free recipe video. Expert: Jamaica Crist Contact: www.jamaicascakes.com Bio: Jamaica Crist is the owner of “Jamaica’s Cakes” in West Los Angeles, CA. Her store specializes in original birthday cakes, elegant wedding cakes and many other fine desserts. Filmmaker: Traci Holsey
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Tags: Snow, Tips, Wedding

What could be more perfect than a fall wedding? With perfect “not too hot, not too cold” weather in a beautiful setting in a park with a backdrop of changing red and gold leaves, the bride and groom exchange their vows in front of friends and family. Then it’s on to a dinner reception and dancing under starlit skies. Sounds perfect and it often is, but anytime a bride and groom choose to wed outdoors, there are concerns to be addressed. 

1. The weather. November in Maine? Probably not. Late September and October in the Southwest and South – odds are good that you’ll have a nice day. There’s more than rain that you need to look out for, though. The Santa Ana winds of Southern California have transformed more than one bride’s hairdo into a fright wig. Plus gusty winds kick up allergens and dust, leaving guests sneezing and wiping off their clothing and chairs. If you’ve decided on a fall outdoor wedding, be sure to have a backup plan with an indoor location. 

2. Dry pathways to the site. Maybe the sun is shining on your wedding day, but a downpour the night before may have left the paths to the meadow full of mud. It’s best to have the ceremony and reception site close to the parking lot so guests don’t have far to walk. Also give thought to any guests who are handicapped who may not be able to navigate something other than flat pavement. Also have umbrellas handy if needed for escorting guests back and forth. Make sure there is adequate lighting for guests to find their way back to their cars after dark. 

3. Tents and heat sources. Even if it’s showery, guests can be comfortable and dry under an outdoor canopy. Rental companies have them especially for weddings. You can also use fire pits or portable heaters to add a little warmth to chill fall air. You can also have some lightweight blankets and wraps available. 

Now that you’ve got the natural element concerns taken care of, let’s focus on the positives of an outdoor fall wedding. 

1. Use natural plantings. Instead of buying elaborate flower arrangements for the ceremony site, simply position it in front of a fall flower garden or against a backdrop of evergreen or colorful trees. You can emphasize the beauty of the season by incorporating fall flowers, leaves, and greenery in your table decorations. If you choose a rustic setting like an antique barn, you can decorate with bouquets of sunflowers and wheat and transform the rafters with Chinese lanterns and the tables with hurricane lamps. Whatever your setting, look around you to see what there is to enhance your décor. From baskets of walnuts and apples as centerpieces to mini jars of maple syrup for favors, Nature has an incredible selection to make your wedding in tune with fall. 

2. Serve a fall menu. Along with wine and beer, serve hot apple cider. Wineries are favored sites for fall weddings and of course will want to include the latest varietal wines of the season. Feature harvest specialties like fresh-picked corn, roasted squash, mushrooms, nuts, and berries in your menu. On a cool October night, a hearty meal of roasted pork, mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables hits the spot. A beach side wedding meal is perfect with hot or chilled salmon, crab or lobster bisque, fresh-roasted red potatoes, and green salad. 

3. Decorate with fall foliage and flowers. Of course you’ll want to use them on your tables, but how about the wedding cake? Colorful autumn leaves scattered on the serving table and frosting accents in the shape of leaves are ways to honor the season. 

4. Carry the fall theme into your wedding invitations with perhaps a border of fall leaves along the side. You can also get the tissue that goes inside the invitation in colored hues. Buy or make your thank you’s at the same time with a similar design. 

5. Take advantage of the setting for the photos. If you want to include the beautiful colors of Nature in your photos, make sure you get photos taken before the sun sets. 

A fall wedding is a celebration of the harvest of love. Make yours unique and memorable by incorporating the essence of fall in every aspect. 

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Tags: Fall, outdoor, Tips, Wedding

All children look forward to their Birthday each year. That is why throwing a Disney Cars themed party will make the day even more special. The kids will be amazed at seeing their favorite characters decorating the room and there will be plenty of fun for everyone.

Cars has been one of Disney’s most popular movies for years. Kids are completely enthralled by all of the characters of Radiator Springs. Lightening McQueen and Mater have become a staple in most children’s rooms. They collect toys, clothes, and other memorabilia featuring the faces of these fascinating little vehicles.

Planning things out

There are many different ways to create a Disney movie themed party. The best method is to simply rent some great DVDs and decorate the room around it. Be sure to use foods that are inspired by the video.

The most important part of setting things up for a birthday is decorating the room. Lightening McQueen themed decor can be found at any party supply outlet. Get table cloths and balloons to match his colors. Be sure to pick up little Car novelty toys for all of the guests to enjoy.

While shopping for party accessories, don’t forget to pick up plates and cups. Many stores have disposable dinnerware that has the faces of all the beloved Cars. The kids will get a great deal of enjoyment seeing them on the table and the cleanup will be easy.

When ordering the cake make sure that it matches the rest of theme. Many bakeries have books full of Disney designs that they can easily put on the pastry. Most boys love having Lightening McQueen and Sally is great for girls.

Any child would be happy to have a Disney Cars birthday party. There are plenty of different decorations and toys that will fit into the theme and the DVDs are sure to be a hit. The smiles and laughter will make it well worth any effort that was put into the event.

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Tags: Awesome, Cars, Disney, Party, Themed, Throwing, Tips

Happy Thanksgiving! Well, a few more days until the big feast, and we thought we’d take a look at the Thanksgiving themed weddings. (On a side note, if you need any fall themed wedding ideas, don’t forget to check out our recent Fall Themed Wedding Series). So, the Thanksgiving wedding is basically just a fall wedding with a little touch of Thanksgiving inspiration.

According to EleGala.com, Thanksgiving is the perfect time for an elegant yet relaxed celebration, as the autumn holiday lends itself to natural settings, simple decor and comfort food. And while the general rule of thumb is to avoid having your wedding around a holiday, Thanksgiving presents an entirely different set of circumstances. While you probably don’t want to hold it on Thanksgiving Day, the Friday or Saturday after can be a great option. Most friends and family will either already be in town or planning on traveling anyway, so making the trip to your wedding may not be a burden. Plus, most of your guests will already have the day off. Need more convincing? Here are some creative ways to plan your Thanksgiving wedding in style…

Ok, so let’s talk invitations. One of the most important aspects to Thanksgiving wedding invitations is to make sure people know it’s a Thanksgiving wedding. Send out Save the Date cards early so that people have enough time to prepare for the holiday and the wedding. As far as the invitation theme, use fall colors and add a touch of embossed lettering and pressed autumn leaves or acorns for that classy touch.

Every Thanksgiving wedding reception has the cornucopias full of seasonal veggies as the centerpiece, so if you want to go traditional with your Thanksgiving wedding theme, take that route. If you want to do something a little different with your reception centerpieces, consider using pumpkins with floating candles or white pumpkins with pinecones to set a wonderful contrast.

The menu is all up to you, however for a Thanksgiving themed wedding you can always get away with turkey and mash potatoes. Consider traditional foods with a twist to add even more sophistication to your Thanksgiving wedding. Take a chance with traditional family recipes and customary Thanksgiving foods by mixing it up a bit and blending the old with something modern.

And then there’s the cake, the best part of any wedding. The wedding cake is where you can really take some risks.  Consider cupcakes topped with autumn leaves or shaped like pumpkins, or go completely traditional with a tiered cake in autumn colors. The choice is yours.

A Thanksgiving themed wedding might seem a little out of the ordinary, but have fun with it!

Learn how to make butter cream frosting for a sheetcake and get expert tips on baking homemade dessert recipes in this free cooking video. Expert: Karen Weisman Bio: Karen Weisman graduated from Boston University with a degree in Hotel and Food Management. Since then, she has helped a national grocery store chain develop and launch a gourmet food division. Filmmaker: Karen Weisman
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Themed, Tips, Wedding

The celebrations of Valentines Day bash are already in full swing in London. Get your creative juices flow and chart a different route from the regular. Make your beloved love you more. This is the best present you can endow your soul mate with.  Pour out all your feelings for him. Hire party venues that can be moulded to any effect to surpass your expectations. A way to take that extra route:

A Unique Theme to go with

Sweet Love- This theme allows you to indulge in your sweet tooth without any guilty pangs. Cherish the sweetness of your love by throwing a candy or chocolate themed party. From candy invitations to a menu that is chock- a -block with cookies, pastries, nut cakes, this party will be a fun reminiscent of your child hood days. Games like sweet fortune and sweet conversations will be enjoyed by one and all.

Matchmaking- Two is a way to go in this party. Couple every item in pairs of two even the smallest things. If you are decorating your London venue with hearts, balloons or chimes, embellish them in two. Two petal decorations can also be endeavoured.

Devilish Love- Arrive at your fun risk at this party. Get ready to hit by the love bug. Its confession time and admit your devil whims to the Mc Satan himself. Dash of magenta and white can be infused for the revelry around.

Singles Party- If you are single or your friends are, this party will be an ideal treat to them on this Valentines Day. Celebrate the revelry by playing fun games and gyrating and jigging to the heady music.

Decor for the Party

Heart Pomander Table- Party venues in London can be adorned wit a large heart sized table. Spot a crystal vase with carnations on it and place it on the centre.  A table cloth in red hues with white cutlery and aromatic candles on it will give the desire look. Heart confetti can also be placed on the table.

Ruby Table- Get a red shaded velvet material to be used a cover for your table. Red roses will take the centre stage.  Each place card can be affixed with an artificial jewel glued to it.

Philodendron Plant- Lay your hands on this plant gelling to the tee with your theme. This plant is decorated with the heart shaped leaves. Have every nook and corner festoon with this plant. Hearty cut outs can also be attached to it as per your choice.

Subtle Romanic Table- If you want to go the regular way, then have the place decorated with small round tables with classic red and whites.

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Tags: London, Party, Special, Tips, Valentine's

Nowadays more and more people are wanting to do a hen party on the cheap. Asides from the economic climate, weddings cost masses of money; travel, wedding gifts and new outfits all add up and so hen parties are being budgeted. But that doesn’t mean less fun! With a little know how and a few top tips, you can show your bride-to-be a cracking good time, without having to fork out a bundle of money. It’s worth it, even if it means making that extra bit of time and effort. 

1. Mr and Mrs. Questions: 

This is the best hen party game in terms of it being cost effective, taking up time and it is personal to boot. It takes a bit more time to plan but it’s great as it gives the bride-to-be a good giggle, plus entertains the rest of the hens; they get to hear some saucy secrets from the nearly wedded couple!

Mr. and Mrs. Questions, here’s how: Get the groom to agree to be videod (if he refuses ask him if he’ll answer questions on email, though video is much more fun). Now get all the hens to write in with questions about the bride-to-be, which they want the groom to answer. It’s essentially a game of ‘how well does the groom know the bride-to-be.’ The questions can range from super embarrassing to every day minutia – ‘What is your bride-to-be’s bra size’ to more saucy questions about what they get up to in the bedroom! Now video the groom answering all the questions and during the hen party, get the bride-to-be to second guess what she thinks her fiance has answered. If she gets it right, give her a drink. And if she gets it wrong, give her a drink! (If you have minimised spend elsewhere, you can ask everyone to bring a really cheap present; if she gets the question right, she gets a present). Here are some more Mr. and Mrs. Questions: Mr. and Mrs. Questions.

2. Personalised hen gifts

Personalised hen gifts are a fantastic way of budgeting. You can buy really cheap hen gifts and for a  few extra pounds (sometimes even less) you can get them personalised with the hen’s name or with some personal message. A few ideas would be to personalise some saucy knickers; perhaps for the hen’s honeymoon; or a dressing gown which would always be a keepsake reminder from her hen party! You can even personalise cakes, canvases, photo albums – pretty much anything really. (A popular personalised hen gift item is a new personalised male calendar; it’s got a different male model for each month and you can personalise then hen’s name in various ways). 

If you think it’s going to be expensive, choose one gift to personalise and get your hens to each chip in a couple of quid. You’ll be able to find something that fits. It’s a really lovely way of going that extra mile and showing your chief hen that a little thought and time has gone into her hen party. 

3. Decorations 

Ok the fiddly bit. Decorations can be really expensive; you start buying a few things and then realise that it’s not going to be enough, so you buy more and more…STOP! You can make your own decorations really easily; buy a load of cheap balloons and personalise them with some coloured marker pens. For table decorations use a load of candy and sprinkle them around the place; star shaped sweets and hearts in pinks and reds work a treat. Get the hens to bring loads of photos and get them printed off on A3 (you don’t have to bother printing them off professionally; it’s a waste of money). Print off massive pics of naked/ half naked men and it will look more and more like a hen party. And to top it all off, buy some really cheap tea lights. You can get 100s for next to nothing at places like Robert Dyas. These make a place look amazing and doesn’t cost anything. 

4. Plan your own activities. 

Some activities cost a bomb; you can plan your own very easily. Do tournaments, or sports days. These cost nothing and with a little organisation can take up a whole day. You can do races (egg and spoon, three-legged etc). You can also get people to pay a small amount for prizes. Games and dares are also a great time-filler and don’t cost any money. If you want some pampering, you could have a pyjama party and get each girl to practise their massaging skills on the other hens. (If someone is rubbish at massage they can give a manicure). 

5. Make your own food. 

Ok the ingredients are going to cost a bit but it’s better than forking out for a private caterer. And if you get each person to bring a pre-planned dish, even better. If someone’s good at baking, get them to make a load of cupcakes with then hen’s name on them with sprinkles and silver balls; the personal touch will go a long way in making the hen feel special. 

Right – now the budget’s sorted, get organising and have fun! For more hen party planning ideas and resources, go to Hen gifts

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Tags: Budget, Parties, Some, Tips

If your kid’s birthday party is coming soon and you desire him to have fun with their friends, then by all means, throw a kiddie celebration. As you’ll need to pick a birthday party theme, you need to consider that conscientiously since your decorations and birthday cake will depend on that.

When choosing a birthday party theme, it’s best to get everyone involved, including your kid. If they do know, then they can help in the birthday party planning, so talk it over with them in a way they know and have them choose what the birthday party theme is going to be.

For parents who are throwing a kids birthday party for a boy, it’ll probably be something like Superman or any one of those other manly superheroes. It could also be Peter Pan or any other character. If you have girl, it might be Sleeping Beauty or one of those Princesses, so your list of choices are not necessarily so long.

Go online, visit the mall and drop by some party specialty stores. Apart from the hats or the dcor that you will be hanging on the wall, do not forget the birthday party theme needs to also be on the party cake.

If you don’t know yet what your birthday party theme will be, ask for help or brainstorm with your friends, and then present these to your kid. Notice how they respond because they may not say they want it out loud but you can view how excited they are when you look in their eyes.

Do you need to get a second opinion referring to your kids birthday party theme? The answer’s no. That’s your decision and folks will simply have to accept it.

Prior to going too way ahead with the theme of your party, make sure this is within your financial position. In these hard times, no one can afford to just throw money around, so you also need to be smart and do some price comparisons before buying things that will be used for the birthday party.

The rest will be easy when you already have a theme for the kiddie birthday celebration. The only thing you have to do now is pick out a location, send out the invitations, plan what food to provide, verify the guests who will be attending and then put up the decorations.

All these items should be done at least a month or two in advance so that you can plan everything to the last detail instead of panicking when it is a week or two away and there is a giant possibility that you could forget something.

Every kiddie party needs to have a theme. The main thing is that this is something that you and your kid desire because this is a special day for them. Don’t forget to take lots of picture and even record a video because this is a one time event that you do not want to forget.

If it was a challenge to think about a birthday party theme this year, just imagine what will occur the subsequent year since you may have to go through it all over again. Is it worth it? Oh yes particularly when this puts a grin on your kid’s face.

Tags: Birthday, Choosing, Party, Theme, Tips