Strawberries are at their peak…perhaps you are building a kids’ party theme around this beautiful summer fruit…or maybe you are having a family party and want to spotlight this wonderful treat for the little ones…if so, enjoy a look below!

Delectable Strawberry Foodie Ideas:

Little sandwiches cut into fun shapes filled with strawberry jam and cream cheese.

Strawberries with chocolate dipping sauce.

Strawberry Shortcake Snake…so CUTE!

Strawberry Smoothies.

Strawberry Ice Cream with Strawberry Cake.

Make sugar cookies, and have the kids frost them with pink frosting and top with a strawberry.

For Strawberry Goodies:

Of course bubbles, and if you can find them scented like strawberries even better.

Strawberry-Scented Bubble Bath.

Strawberry Gummy Candies.

Sheet of Strawberry Scratch and Sniff Stickers.

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A good summer party idea…a camp out!

This theme works especially well with children between the ages 8 to 12 and, of course, during the summer!

Here are some fun activities to pass the evening:

Enjoy a proper cookout…end the evening with smores.

Have a water balloon fight.

Tell scary ghost stories before going to bed…pass around a flashlight which the storyteller will use while he tells his tale.

Play flashlight tag.

Pitch the tents together.

Get a telescope and gaze at the stars awhile. Could teach a fun astronomy lesson in the process.

Make tye-dyed t-shirts.

Blow bubbles and gaze your flashlights on them…cool effects everyone is sure to love.

Make luminary bags with your guests to light their paths to their tents.

Take a long hike/walk through your neighborhood…even better if you have woods or a park nearby.

Have a sing-a-long around the campfire. Does anyone play guitar?

Provide bug jars and catch fireflies.

Favors can include: Flashlights, tye dyed t-shirts, little knapsack filled with camping stuff, i.e. bug spray, glow and the dark stickers, water guns, glow bracelets, little plastic animals that you would find in the woods…ideas are endless…

As you can see, overnight camping parties are a fabulous theme. Kids love them and you will too given the variety of activities that can easily fill the night.

One cautionary note, and this is true of any sleepover, make sure to get the contact information of the parents when they drop their kids off. Some kids are ready to spend the night away from home and others are not. In case someone wants to go home or gets sick, etc….make sure to have the parents’ contact details on hand to make that important call.

Happy trails to you…

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The Cheetah Girls One World movie is being released on the Disney channel on August 22, 2008.  This looks to be a successful follow-up to the other Disney Channel original movies, parts one and two.  The storyline picks up with the girls headed to Bollywood to make their mark, however, only one can be the star of this group and this is going to cause drama!  This is going to be fun and I can imagine filled with vivid colors, dancing, and singing…as they say: while in Bollywood, do as Bollywood does.  This is a great party theme to build around for the tweens.  Whether a movie-viewing party or a party party, find some inspiration here:

Send your invitation to your Cheetah Girls One World party by doing something bright and colorful.  Using bright heavy card stock and write all of the movie details on the card.  Hope punch a large hole into the invitation paper and pull through the hole a colorful piece of fabric to mimic the Indian look of a sari.  You could invite your guests to dress up in their own Indian garb for the party.  Baggy pants with long tunic shirts mimic the Salwar Kameez or ask guests to wear colorful scarves to the party…at the very least, ask the guests to wear bright colors!

When the guests arrive, do a special activity and purchase a Henna kit to  paint the guests’ hands and feet with.  You can use the Henna on other areas, but traditionally it is done on the hands and feet.  This will get everyone into the spirit.

Place bright colored streamers and fabrics throughout the party area and perhaps yoga mats to sit on.  If you don’t have enough, ask your guests to bring their own.  If you are looking for the official Cheetah Girls party supplies, find them at Celebrate Express.

Yoga also originated in India and so you could do some yoga stretches to get into the party mood together.  Perhaps your parents have a yoga video.  Stick it into the DVD player and have fun stretching.

The majority of this party will be taken with watching the movie.  Afterwords, however, have your own Cheetah Girls Bollywood style competition.  Turn on some Indian tunes…and there is some great music out there that combines western with India called Bhangra or you could download the soundtrack from this movie and create your own dance moves as a group or as teams or as individuals as the Cheetah girls must do in this movie.  Combine the dance moves and try out new ones and have fun dancing and singing into the night.

For the party menu, take it east and enjoy samosas, papadum crackers, and Indian takeout…Tandoori anything is wonderful with rice and naan bread.  You will feast as they do in India.  Whip up Mango Lassis as a cool drink to enjoy as well.

For a sweet treat, enjoy Mango pudding too…or grab some sweets from the Indian restaurant where you order your food.  It is a culinary treat.

Have your guests head home with their henna tattoos and also hand out thin colorful bracelets for them to wear and enjoy. 

Cheetah Girls Bollywood Style…a great party any day!  Have a Cheetah-licious good time!

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The Dark Knight is just about to open in theaters, and it is going to be the blockbuster of the summer.  Next, comes, eek!, I hate to say it so early, but Halloween…and thoughts of Halloween costumes.  Joker is surely going to be an especially popular costume this season.  What’s even better about a Joker costume is it is completely no-sew and easily created.  Take a look at this Joker…you need a disheveled suit, a good make-up kit, and a pack of Joker cards for the trick or treater to toss around.  Really, it is that simple.

All you need is:

• Disheveled suit, with vest and tie…mix & match at a Goodwill or other thrift store
• Makeup kit…go all out on this front
• A pack of Joker cards
• Dyed blond hair done up with gel would also add to the authenticity

Jokester will be more than hitting the theaters this year, watch out in your own neighborhoods!

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Well, it’s the “Dog Days” of summer I imagine most people are off at the beach or enjoying some respite before the Autumn madness kicks in of heading back to school, coordinating after school activities, and, of course, all of those looming holidays! And for good cause…it’s hot out there.

Well, if you have a party planned and it is over-the-top hot where you live, here are some ideas to keep it cool:

• Find a shady spot at the park for the venue.
• Water always works, either a water balloon fight with a slip and slide at home or an actual pool party or trip to a water park would be excellent choices.
• Take your party to an air conditioned venue, such as a bowling alley, Children’s Museum, etc.
• Schedule your party late in the afternoon when it is cooling off. This is particularly a good idea if kids are a bit older and you don’t have to worry about naps.
• Serve cool treats, such as fresh fruit, frozen fruit sticks, ice cream, popsicles, etc.
• Plan more crafts rather than run around activities to keep kids from overheating.

Happy Chill’n at your upcoming party!

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• Cool Birthday Treats
• Hannah Montana Halloween Costume
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