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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

I love giving parties, do you need some ideas?

999 replies

ShirleyKnot · 03/09/2011 21:56

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.

OP posts:
BlastOff · 21/11/2011 10:56

It wasn't me, but can I have it too please? Smile

stealthsquiggle · 21/11/2011 11:07

OK, chocolate cake - not my own recipe, I hasten to add - it's from a Lindy Smith cake book. It's a bit more faff than madeira cake, but much nicer IMHO.

For a 20cm round or 18cm square cake:

275g plain chocolate (50% min cocoa solids)
225g unsalted butter
150g caster sugar
8 large eggs
50g icing sugar
225g S R flour

melt chocolate

cream butter and sugar until light, fluffy, pale

separate eggs. Add egg yolks and then chocolate to the mixture gradually, beating well.

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites to soft peak and then beat in icing sugar.

sift flour, and then fold alternate dollops of egg whites and flour into the mixture.

bake for 1 - 1 1/4 hours at 180 deg C, until well risen, firm to the touch and tester comes out clean. It does form quite a firm crust which needs trimming off before you decorate it, really (but then most cakes need trimming flat anyway, IME)

I have scale up/down versions of the quantities if you need them.

BlastOff · 21/11/2011 11:15

Thank you!

Quick embarrassing question - when a recipe says, for example, 50% min cocoa solids, should you use that 50%, or can you use, for example, 70%? Or does it work best with the % it suggests? Blush

Original poster
ShirleyKnot · 21/11/2011 11:17

You can use 70 %. The minimum given is just t56o make sure you're not trying to stir a Mars bar in.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 21/11/2011 11:20

Not an embarrasing question at all. TBH I use a random selection based on what I have hoarded - usually a mixture of Sainsbury's basic plain choc (which is 50%) with something more expensive. If it is for children, I would hestitate to use all 70%+, as it would be too bitter, but I think at least a bit of stronger chocolate in with the cheap stuff makes it taste nicer (may be just my imagination, of course)

BlastOff · 21/11/2011 11:38

Ha ha! Thanks Smile

BlastOff · 21/11/2011 11:43

stealth - you manage to hoard and not stuff your face with chocolate in your cupboards?

Respect.

stealthsquiggle · 21/11/2011 11:47

only the dark stuff - DH doesn't like it, and although I am very fat I don't often eat chocolate. Dairy Milk-type chocolate "evaporates" though (mostly DH, occasionally me)

BlastOff · 21/11/2011 21:42

Ok - I may be boardering on obsession now, but do you think silver paper plates on a navy table cloth will look spacey or am I over thinking it? And might it look a bit unappetising? Or shall I just go for brightly coloured and not go too far with the rocket theme for the table?

I'm not going to put any star confetti stuff on though because, as someone pointed out quite rightly upthread, 2-3 year olds might eat it...

stealthsquiggle · 21/11/2011 21:46

silver on dark blue would be very "space-y" and cool IMHO. I got one of these for eating room so possibly I am not in a position to judge where exactly the border into obsession lies

Blatherskite · 21/11/2011 21:53

That was me Grin

Sliver plates on a navy cloth would be brilliant. Go for it

BlastOff · 21/11/2011 22:07

Yay - thank you!

Wow - that scene setter is fab stealthsquiggle. It's out of stock though Sad and my dh might actually finally lose patience with me if I make him put that up

Blatherskite - you are the voice of reason Grin

I am enjoying organising this party so much, I think I'm actually going to feel a bit flat once the party is over. But then it's only six months until ds2's birthday... Would it be wrong to have more children so I can organise more parties? Grin

jollydiane · 21/11/2011 22:52

Hi ShirleyKnot

Can I pick you brains then? What suggestions do you have for 40th birthdays?

stealthsquiggle · 22/11/2011 09:01

I am sure I can find other places where that scene setter is in stock, Blastoff [evil cackle]

Original poster
ShirleyKnot · 22/11/2011 09:08

Hi Jolly - depends what you're after really! There are some idea's earlier in the thread such as A Godfather/Soprano's dinner party, a big nostalgia fest - essentially a childs party for grown ups, um...I'm sure there were some others.

How many you got coming, when is it and where are you having it?

OP posts:
Tinkerisdead · 22/11/2011 09:15

Morning all. Things do not bode well here. DD has been collapsed in a heap with a fever. Had to get my next door neighnour nurse to look at her and she packed me off to docs as DD's temp was 39.8 and not responding to calpol. Doc has told me to keep an eye on her as at that level she is at risk of a febrile convulsion. Then my friend with gallstones called to say she's still in hospital so cant bring her two kids to party on saturday. explained to dd and much sobbing and wailing, then she was saying "you'e still coming to my party though aren't you mummy?" The whole time I'm thinking is there gonna be a party?

Because she's missed playschool and latched on to me like a limpet I've achieved nothing and so time ticks away with no cake, no food, no plates etc. Have to laugh. I've spent months agonising over this bloody Grufffalo party and 4 days before it all goes tits up!

Jolly diane - theres a lot of ideas for 40th's further up the thread of you can pick through it. particularly good one was a 1940's theme, either hollywood glamour or dig for victory/wartime effort stylie.

Blastoff- def have more kids for parties, I'm still planning Dc2's christening and I'm not due til Feb11th! And I have no idea what flavour the baby is. In my mind I've done a green/familytree theme. Then I have them at a rainbow party for their 1st birthday. I'm losing it. It must be hormones.

stealthsquiggle · 22/11/2011 09:28

Oh, big hugs to DD, DrsWife. DD will bounce back and it will all come together, don't worry. DS had mega-high fever in the run up to his own naming party, and then turned out to be allergic to penicillin - his wonderful godmother turned up and we pulled an all-nighter to get food sorted and all was fine (apart from drug-filled DS!). Then DD managed to have chicken pox for another one of DS's parties - I thought I was going to have to cancel, or somehow keep DD away, but in the end I emailed everyone to check and they had all had CP and weren't worried about spotty (but otherwise fine) DD.

Blatherskite · 22/11/2011 09:43

Oh DW!

Is it worth postponing the party by a week? I know it won't technically be DD's birthday then but she might enjoy it more if her friends are there anyway?

Or could someone else bring your friend's 2? A grandparent or someone?

If it weren't the MN meet up on Saturday night, I'd load my 2 in the car and pick up my niece on the way past :)

Crossing everything that your DD is better very, very soon. Me and DD have been ill since Thursday last week and while we've had nothing as scary as temps that high, it's been really hard work - and I've not been in the middle of planning a party!

Blatherskite · 22/11/2011 20:56

How is your DD DW?

Better, I hope. DD and I seem to have finally shifted our tummy bug so I need to start getting ready for the meet up now. I haven't even decided what I'm going to wear! Shock

Original poster
ShirleyKnot · 22/11/2011 21:25

Sorry to read your news DrsWife. I agree with Blathers about maybe putting it off for a week?

Blathers - glad you're all better, I have no clue what I'm wearing yet either Shock

Also my hair needs a cut!

Also...oh gawd... Wink

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 22/11/2011 21:33

My hair needs a cut, my nails need doing, I am white as a sheet pale and interesting and looking a bit worse for wear after 5 days of D&V and no sleep last night after DH had the great idea of letting wheezy DS sleep in our bed! It's going to take a lot of slap to make me look presentable this weekend!

I promise I will try very hard not to mention teddy bears or picnics all night Grin

Original poster
ShirleyKnot · 22/11/2011 22:14

You can talk about teddy bears and picnics all night to me if you want - I promise I won't mind! Grin

OP posts:
BlastOff · 22/11/2011 23:56

Oh goodness TheDW - I really hope your DD has picked up now. Poor her - and you.

Hope you both have fun at the meet Shirley and Blathers. I bet it will be brilliant.

Blatherskite · 23/11/2011 20:08

Is she better DW?

Tinkerisdead · 23/11/2011 20:48

Evening all. Picture me metaphorically collapsed through our threshold holding on to the carpet. Dd is waaaay better. Mil took her for the day, dd asked her to make her comfort toy (a lizard) some pj's. Poor mil. Couldnt believe it, the lizard now has a perfect pair of red fleece pj's complete with teddy motif!!!!! I'll have to post a picture.

Meanwhile i made and iced the cake and genuinely short off dd its my proudest achievement. Ive made 4 sugarcraft cakes in my life, this is my 5th and im so proud of myself. Ive been at it since 11am and i couldnt give a shiney shite if its stale by sat. It looks perfect. Mission complete.

Have a fabulous time at the meet up all who go and fill us in afterwards.