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Happy May!!
Spring is finally in full bloom. It's the season of prom parties, graduations, and
outdoor festivity once again. If you are looking for some ideas to help you celebrate
these important occasions, check out Peppers and Pollywogs' ideas below for creative
suggestions!
As the month unfolds, the American Idol TV show finale will air.
Check out our sponsor's contribution of great ideas to celebrate the big show!
Don't forget to check out our current giveaways! The African Dreamland CD is great for
a jungle-themed party and to listen to long after!
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Pre-Prom Party Tips
It's Prom Season...and before your teens head out for the big night,
they may want to host a Pre-Prom Party with their friends. Decorate
an area of the party room/home with balloons/streamers (your school
colors would make a great color scheme), perhaps strands of twinkle
lights for each couple to pose for a glamorous picture when they enter the party!
Serve up easy foods that won't be messy. Serve a cheese and cracker platter.
Water Crackers with fancy cheeses, like Brie, will work quite well. Serve it
with grapes too. Make fruit kebabs using wooden skewers. You can purchase
either pre-cut fruit or cut it up yourself. All of your favorites will do, i.e.
berries, melon, grapes, kiwi, etc. Buy a baguette and serve with the brie or
other delectable spreads. Serve veggies cut up with a ranch dressing.
Set up a Mock-tail Bar and have someone (ideally a parent) make up the frothy concoctions.
Have fun buckets in the bar area filled with olives, sliced fruit, etc. that can be added
to the drinks. [read more...]
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High School Graduation Questions
The season of graduation is almost upon us. For high school graduates,
it is a major lifetime milestone that many families look to celebrate.
The key to any good party is planning!
When you think about your upcoming graduation party, certain questions
come to mind that you need to answer. Given that your kid is 17 or 18-years-old,
definitely discuss these questions with him early to begin to decide your party details.
- Will we host a graduation party?
- Will it be a large party or a small gathering of close family and friends?
- Who is on our invitation list? (Be prepared, your graduate may change his mind several times.)
- What is our party budget?
- Do we want to host the party outdoors? If so, what sort of back-up plan do we have in case of rain?
- What is a date and time that would work well for our party? (This can often be very tricky given that everyone else in your kid's class is also graduating and planning parties. If your graduate wants to include his friends at his party, you may really need his input to pick a date/time that does not overlap with others.)
- Do we want to host a graduation party that is a general gathering, or do you want a particular theme for the graduation party? (There are some fun themes you could use for the party, including a "Roast to the Graduate" or a party based on Dr. Seuss' Oh the Places You'll Go. You certainly can become creative and have a thematic graduation party.)
- From here, you will determine the invitations, the decorations, the party menu, and any thematic activities.
Give yourself plenty of time to plan this event. Six to eight weeks in advance of the party
date will give you this time. [read more...]
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From Our Sponsor - An American Idol Party
Does your child dream of being a star on American Idol? While your aspiring singer may need to celebrate a few more birthdays before he or she can audition for the show, they can take center stage at their next birthday with American Idol party supplies-available only at Celebrate Express! Check out some chart-topping party ideas below, or view the entire set of American Idol party tips.
Setting the Stage (Decorating)
Parties are fun, and preparing for a party should be fun, too. In addition to decorating with colorful balloons and twisted streamers, create an early buzz by putting a large, metallic gold star on your front door with "Superstar Guests" written across the front. Create an air of exclusivity by hanging long strips of crepe paper streamers in a doorway with a sign above the doorjamb that reads, "VIP Guests Only." Kids will love walking through the VIP "curtain". Inside the party area, display an American Idol Personalized Banner with your child's name on it. Not only will it be a wonderful decoration and make your child feel special, it will serve as a fantastic backdrop for group photos as well.
Grand Prizes (Party Favors)
Don't send guests home empty-handed-surprise them with American Idol Favor Boxes, filled with fun items kids will rave about long after the party. And, if you're looking for game prizes, here are a few fan favorites that get our vote: American Idol Tattoos, American Idol Mad Libs, Hand Clappers, and American Idol Mini Light-Up Guitars.
Star Performances (Party Games)
American Idol Makeover Contest
We've all seen contestants change their appearance in some way during the competition. This game gives party guests a chance to do the same. Take instant pictures of everyone at the party and set aside. Then pair kids up and supply them with make-up and hair styling items. One player in each pair will be the star, the other the stylist. Give everyone a 15-minute time limit. When you shout, "Go!" the stylists race to make up their stars before time is up. When time runs out, take another set of instant pictures. Then have the stylists and stars switch roles. Once you've taken "before" and "after" photos of everyone, have party guests hold a secret vote to decide who they think is the best stylist.
Lip Sync Contest
You can't have an American Idol birthday party without music. This activity lets kids experience what it's like to perform in front of a crowd. A karaoke machine is helpful, but it's not necessary. Hand the guest an American Idol microphone, play a song from a CD chosen by the singer, and encourage the solo artist to perform like they're on American Idol. If guests are hesitant to perform by themselves, divide kids into groups so they can lip sync together. When everyone has had a turn (or two), let the birthday child award prizes for most real, most brave, most energetic, and silliest performances.
Backstage Bites (Recipes)
On-the-Road Snacks
Live performances are often physically demanding. This healthy treat will give your future stars plenty of energy between songs (and games). Simply mix dried fruit, pretzels, chocolate chips, granola, or any other healthy snack in a large bowl. Label the bowl "Superstar Snacks," and let guests grab a handful whenever they need an energy boost.
Tour Bus Toasters
After a long night on stage, party guests will love toasting their performances with these miniature floats. To make, fill small cups with cherry soda. Add a dollop of vanilla ice cream and top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. This treat is a real crowd pleaser; so don't be surprised if you hear encore, encore!
Our sponsor this month is Celebrate Express, the ultimate resource for kids' birthday party supplies. Celebrate Express offers a full selection of products that make planning your child's party a piece of cake. Choose from over 100 party themes, piņatas, activities, favors, toys, birthday scrolls, and cake decorating supplies. We also offer a wide assortment of cake recipes, party planning tips, party resources, ideas shared by parents and more!
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It may be a favorite story for your kid. If so, it would be a fun theme to build a party around. It can also be considered a "Renaissance Party," since this is the time frame that the story takes place in.
This is a great party to have in the spring time when the action can take place outdoors either in your backyard, a woodsy area or a park. Use colors like green, brown, and rustic yellows for balloons, streamers, and table ware. Place banners around the party area and make up a "family crest" to place at the front entrance to the party. Spread chocolate coins around the party table as festive confetti.
You can also hand out simple felt hats with a feather sewn in. Green smocks would also be added fun. Other options include: face painting and moustaches for the guests.The kids could take home their hats, smocks, and home-made swords as the party goody. [read about food, activities and more...]
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Do you have a little tyke who loves his "Big Wheel?" You know those great kid-mobiles that they love to drive around in the driveway or on the sidewalk. Many kids love their "Big Wheel," or their bike or their roller-shoes, etc.
All things that go kids love...especially 3 to 6 years old. Once kids get a taste of "things that go" it is just the start of an excitement that eventually leads to cars ~ but that's years later and for another day.
If your kid enjoys things that go, then a unique party idea would be to have a "Things That Go" Parade. Invite all of the party guests to bring their favorite "things that go" toy to the party. Once everyone has arrived, tie a balloon to the back of each bike, Big Wheel, etc. If you like, you could have a face painter on hand to paint wheels on the kids' faces before departing.
The main activity of this party will be a parade. You can hold the parade along the sidewalks of your neighborhood, or on a path that leads to a park. It really doesn't matter, but make sure as you parade around, you have music as well. Have a helper or parent bring along a Boom Box that plays festive music as you roll along. It will be easy and a ton of fun.
Once back at the party house, you can celebrate with cake and ice cream. A good cake may be a simple round cake decorated as a wheel or tire! [ read more....]
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Party Tip: Birthday Morning Greeting
 On your kid's birthday, the day is all about her! What a fun idea to have your kid awake to a special birthday banner hung in their room saying, "Happy Birthday! Welcome to Your New Year!" It will be a delightful surprise.
If you want to further embellish the fun, have a birthday note placed somewhere that is prominent and can easily be seen. On the outside of the note write, "READ ME." Inside the note, tell your kid to follow the balloons to find breakfast. Have small balloons leading a path to the kitchen or a favorite spot in the house to enjoy their birthday breakfast.
These are simple ideas to kick-off the celebration!
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Trend Watch: Bar and Bat Mitzvah Dance
 Dance! With the popular explosion of shows like American Idol and Dancing With The Stars, kids are looking to create their own reality dance at these parties. DJ's, Emcees, and Dance Teachers are all part of the package that kids love to have at their parties.
DDR, Dance Dance Revolution, is a hot trend these days with the kids competing head-to-head, following dance moves on a video screen. This is based on the popular video game. [read more...]
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