I love giving parties, do you need some ideas?

[ShirleyKnot]

Hello!



If you don't know me I'm Shirley and I'm a great lover of planning parties. I do a blog about it (which I'm not going to link here, but if you look on the bloggers network for PartySpanner you'll find me)

ANYWAY

If you're chucking a do, I might be able to help - I'm not a business, I don't charge for my ideas or owt, I just love to trawl the internet find good invite ideas, games and food.

Jump in and I'll see if I can help.

[RockTheFluffmeister]

Ok Mrs (I have a slight namechange, but you know who I be I should think...)

I have two for you:

DD1's 18th in November therefore alcohol will be a gogo like it hasn't before She, oddly, wants a fairy princess (think Disney) cake, so ideas for that porfa,

DD2's 17th in October. Bear in mind that I will have only just moved back to London. But, that is probably a plus. She wants to come up to London from school with maybe 9 friends. No idea what she would like, but she'll be happy with ANYTHING.

and months of notice for DD3 who will be 3 in Feb (half term) - this will be her first party and having been away from the UK for so long I am totally at a loss as to what the party deal is with smalls these days, but def want to do something for her. Probably at her nursery hall, so space is not an issue.

So, 6 weeks for one, 9 for the next and ages for the other. (DS's is in a couple of weeks, but he's not doing anything really this year)

[Blatherskite]

You know I would love some help :)

DD will be 2 on the 17th December - just 8 days before Christmas! - and I want to plan something completely non-christmassy for her party.

She'll be 2 obviously and we have a couple of friends with children around the same age but there will be quite a few almost 5 year olds too as I most of our friends with children I met at Ante natal class while pregnant with DS. We'll also have cousins between the ages of 13 and 18 months and adults too of course.

I've already booked the local community centre for the party which has a couple of good sized rooms, a kitchen and an outside area.

I was thinking maybe a teddy bears picnic as DD is currently very attached to a stuffed Polar bear but am open to suggestions...

[ShirleyKnot]

Right.

I will get to a googling and will ask you a couple of questions.

Let's get the closes one out of the way first.

DD1. 18th. Are you having this party at home or in a hall? How many (ish) are you catering for? I presume it's mostly going to be a DJ and snogging dancing?

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

Probably get a hall for that, and DJ yes - got some handy contacts so that bit is half set. Numbers, probably 75ish I should think.

DD2's is the first one though - looking at 15/10 for that one. 10 of them at home.

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

Er Blathers please can you make the cakes for me? Just seen your pics - they are AMAZING.

[ShirleyKnot]

Whoops, x posted. First questions are to Rock. Obv.

Blathers - How many are you catering for? Teddy Bears picnic is a lovely idea, but as it IS winter (not xmas ) how would you feel about a Polar Bear Tea instead? (very fitting as her polar bear teddy is her LOVE ATM?)

I'm thinking...snowy decorations...(easy to get closer to the time of course)...I'm thinking igloos, penguins, polar bears, snow, ice...

First thoughts - tell me if you don't like it, if it's too close to an xmas theme and I'll think on again.

[Blatherskite]

If it helps, for DS's 2nd birthday in the same place we had a a Jungle Theme - a bouncy castle outside, a load of his toys inside along with a colouring table (with jungle themed pages I'd printed off the internet and loads of crayons), my sisters on another table making sock snakes with the children and a Jungle-y cake (pic on my profile) and I did a buffet style lunch for the children with a few extra bits for the adults.

[ShirleyKnot]

Rock.

Duh, of course, sorry didn't read properly - blame the wine (or the pork)

DD2 - 10 to 15 girls (or mixed?) for a party at home, yes?

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

Mixed, probably half and half.

I blame the wine.

[Blatherskite]

I was going to try to make it Summery inside tbh. Was thinking picnic blankets on the floor for the picnic and bunting and balloons round the walls. Am happy to get stuff now and store it to get round the fact that the shops will only be stocking christmas stuff.

Most of the cakes are cheats Rock. They're Costco jobs that I just decorate. I just do the fun bit :)

[Blatherskite]

Forgot to say how many...erm probably around 50 with all the adults and relatives. Not done a proper list though so that is a guess at this point

[CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic]

DD2's party tomorrow.

1.30pm

A high ropes (sort of Go Ape) thingumy.

Twelve 10yos.

Any tips to preserve my sanity?

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

I can make the cakes, that's the easy bit for me - I love baking. But I can be a touch cackhanded when it comes to the decorating bit. Give me a Christmas cake with royal icing and I'm fine. Anything else - I'm fucked!

Bella wants either a (currently) Thomas cake or a Fireman Sam one.... Weird child.

[ShirleyKnot]

OK

Rock - What's she into? Is she a girly girl or is she more of an indie chick? What sort of music does she like? Teenager parties are something I'm just starting to investigate TBH, and the more I can glean of her interests the better I can google think about it.

Blathers - OK, that's a nice idea actually, summer in winter - OK I'll get started with some ideas.

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

CouldIBe yeah - delegate

[LeBOF]

Hahaaaa, I just saw the title, and thought "You need to talk to Shirley then- I bet your parties are SHIT in comparison"

[ShirleyKnot]

CouldIBE - Heh! I would advise a hip flask of alcohol, but I never drink during parties!

Sounds like you're all sorted arrangement wise.

My best tip? Remember that this is a PARTY and meant to be FUN. Let go of any worries now, at this point it's too late anyway! Enjoy it, take bundles of photos, and if you get stressed at any point just repeat my mantra:

"In this will all be over"

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

Hahaha shirl She's quite girly, but in a laid back way. Music wise - well she spent the summer clubbing in Banus and Fuengi, so enjoys house and other dance stuff. But then she ADORES Cheryl Bloody Cole, all my indie stuff too. They'll definitely want to dress up, was wondering some kind of buffet maybe, but with a hog roast? Or is that stupid in November do you think (the hog bit).

[Blatherskite]

I love baking too rock but the night before a party I'm generally racing round like a blue-arsed fly and am happy of the shortcut. Those Costco cakes are huge too, I could never make anything that big in my little oven and they're reeaallly scrummy too :)

[ShirleyKnot]

LeBof - Has this thread tipped into active then? OMFG I'm going to be busy tonight!



Oh, and thanks sweetie, what a lovely thing to say.

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

hahahahahaha LeBOF

[RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles]

Blathers that's worth knowing. I'll have to find out where my nearest Costco is when I'm back then.

[CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic]

I shall be saving myself for a Bailey's Milkshake when we return home Shirl.

I think I'm just going to hang around and occasioanlly yodel "Don't look dowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn."

[CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic]

Lawks, yup, Blathers, those costco cakes are so very soft and moist and huge too.

[delicious]

[Blatherskite]

Oh and they're £11 rock! No way I could bake and ice a cake that big for that either.

And did I mention they're delicious?