Shirley's party advice thread part 2

[stealthsquiggle]

...can I take the liberty of starting another thread, since the other one filled up?

Oh thank God, I thought I'd killed the thread

Hope you're not feeling too bad with the tonsillitis.

I'm better now I've finally got some antibiotics.

Had a few people round today to have finger prints done for some jewellery which was lovely but tiring. So glad DH was here to help though.

OK, ladies, any suggestions as to things a 14 year old can do to make her at home spa party a bit more special? We are having a visiting beautician to do manicures and pedicures, but I was thinking of the little extra things, that can help "make" the day. Things like having a mocktail on arrival, copies of teen magazines etc but my ideas are in short supply .........

Thank you!

At 14, they're old enough to get their party bags at the beginning I should think so why not make up a special bag full of spa type things? - a set of those toe separator things for while they're having their pedicures, an individual face mask they can wear during the party, an eye mask, maybe a mini tube of hand cream for their manicure or a lip balm and a mini bottle of nail varnish or a pretty nail file to take home?

I love the mocktails idea.

Instead of a cake, I think I'd go for a pretty cake stand covered in candy coloured cupcakes with American style frosting and pretty decorations. You could stick a candle in each one and let your DD blow them out and then give each guest one of the cupcakes. Cupcakes are really easy to make and you can get some lovely decorations and cases these days as well as fairly cheap cardboard stands.

Thank you! I will pass these ideas on to a higher (alost 14 year old, lol) authority ...........

I've been having a look for some more ideas for you Leeds. So far I've got...

Dotting scented candles around, maybe a vase or two of flowers to make it feel more spa-like
Food ideas - veg crudites and dips (humous etc), crackers and cheese, pretzels, sushi and a chocolate fountain with fruit and marshmallows.
Sparkling fruit juice (like Appletiser) in champagne flutes for those who aren't keen on the mocktails?
Raid the holiday section in Boots or similar for their mini toiletries and get some lotions and creams for the party bags
Cucumber slices for eyes - maybe to go with the face packs from the bags?

Anything sound good?

Just saw this thread in "most active" and thought I'd pop on to say thanks for the advice in planning boy's science party last month. It went really well, children were talking about it for ages afterwards.

So if anyone is wanting help with experiments please feel free to send them in my direction!

I still have the Biohazard signs on the toilet door. They seem appropriate so have kept them.

Yay! 50 Easy Party Cakes just arrived. I am so looking forward to making some of the fantastic cakes for future birthdays. I really fancy the sweetie covered house but will stick to the castle for DS's forthcoming birthday as I've persuaded him to go for the knights theme now.

I borrowed it from the library, Silver, however I think I'm going to have to buy it now, given that both DD & DS have spent the last few weeks selecting their birthday cakes for the next 3-4 years! .

BTW, here's the link for maderia recipe/tips and also the scaling up guidance that i've used a few times.

Haha, DS has just been through the book and chosen cakes for himself, his baby sister, DH, next Halloween and even a cake for his friend whose party we are going to tomorrow

I got it for £4.78 from amazon so not bad at all. If I borrowed it from the library I expect I'd pay more than that in fines when I forgot to return it, based on previous experience

Forgot to say, thanks v much for the recipes

Hi all. Back from hospital. Ive got pulmonary embolisms in both lungs. scary scary time. Got them from pregnancy/c section dvt must have travelled to lungs. Im shit scared because its about 5 in 100 die from it. Im on heparin injections twice a day for 6 weeks, then warfarin for 6 months.

Dont mind telling you that ive spent a fair share of time praying to the big man!! Awful time overshadowing that newborn high. Good thing is ive had lots of alone time with baby dd as visitors have stayed away except our parents.

Anyway, loved catching up on the party plans and im focusing on dd's thanksgiving service to get me through. Im aiming for aug bank holiday as my treatment should be finished by then. Want it to be a glorious day where i can revel in my 2 gorgeous girls. Ive had a lovely bouquet of a soft vintage pink rose and i'm all inspired.

Welcome to the newcomers and blathers sorry you've felt poorly. Xx

drswife, how awful for you, sorry to hear you're having to go through such a scary time - stay positive, and keep that fabulous august day in mind x.

silver ...less than a fiver?! It was 12.99 when I looked, which is why I went to the library! Off to amazon now...

Hello party planners extraordinaire :)

My son is turning 4 soon and would like to have a party - it will be his first ever birthday party .

There will probably be about 8 - 10 children (mostly girls). We'll have it at the pool (we live somewhere nice and warm).

Here's the thing - he would like a Tinga Tinga Tales party, but there is NOTHING Tinga Tinga in the shops here - can't go out and buy paper plates, party bags, usual tat, etc. How do I do a 'home made' Tinga Tinga party?

Here's what I thought so far...

• Make an invitation online... something about coming to the Water Hole with pics of the Tinga Tinga characters...?
• Orange and purple colours for table cloth / napkins.
• Something jungly in the party bags...? Little plastic safari animals? What else?
• Could go all American and print out and stick Tinga Tinga labels on the water bottles?
• Make a Tinga Tinga cake. Eek.
• Print out some Tinga Tinga colouring to do in the shade if anyone gets tired of swimming?

Any other / better ideas?

drswife sorry to hear your bad news. It must be v scary and it's such a shame that you've had to deal with that on top of coping with a newborn and looking after your DD1.

mrskitty just checked again and it's now £5 - they also have the hardback version for £12.99 but it's just the same book.

silentboob your ideas sound fab! I'm sure that any jungle theme ideas would be suitable. I have v little experience (I am currently planning my first party for DS who is also nearly 4) but the ladies on this thread are bound to have some good ideas

P.s. silentboob, at the 4th birthday parties we've been to this year it seems that most children of that age are happy to just run round after each other, especially if there are balloons or bikes/ride on toys available.

Blimey DW, my sore throat is nothing compared to what you're going through!!

I hope your treatment goes smoothly and that you're given the all clear soon.

Are the paperback and hardback of 50 easy cakes really the same book inside? The covers are very different.

DrsWife, Have just ordered it, so will compare with my hardback library copy when it arrives & let you know!

Silent boob, its way better if you do a jungle theme rather than just buying tinga themed stuff anyway. For my gruffalo party i didnt buy gruffalo themed stuff i did woodland instead and it worked much better. Your ideas are all brilliant. Print the characters off and maybe consider a story during food etc with a tinga tale.

I am just assuming they're the same book. They have different covers but the four cakes on the cover of the hardback version are all in the paperback version. I think the different covers may just be because they're different editions.

Photos of my castle cake now on my profile.

Been here 5 yrs, had no idea it was so easy to upload pics .

It looks fab MrsKitty.

Yes, a jungle theme could be really good couldn't it. And he's only 4. He'll be delighted whatever I do. And I'm pretty sure none of the guests will have heard of Tinga Tinga Tales anyway!

Brill cake mrskitty! Stealth you have competition!

Love the ideas of candles and flowers, Blatherskite. Will add them to my list of things to be approved ................

Do you buy, or hire, a chocolate fountain? We don't have one. I am a bit uncertain about it because one of DD's best friends has a dairy free diet, and it might be a bit mean to have something that she couldn't share in.

Have also found some alcohol free champagne on www.alcoholfree.co.uk. I've never bought anything from them before, but it looked like a great site for alcohol free drinks (and other products). Some of their fruit juices were in bottles that wouldn't look out of place in a night club (hence highly appealing to my DD!!).