Shirley's party advice part 3 - in which Shirley may make a guest appearance

[stealthsquiggle]

We appear to have filled another thread

I love the marshmallow mushroom pops from that link DW, and the Mario hats. Brilliant idea!

Deffo be doing the marshmallow mushrooms

Hungry caterpillar food
Apples - slices
Pears - slices
Plums
Starwberrys
Oranges maybe orange jelly boats?
Cupcakes
Chocolate cake
Watermelon
Salami - and other cold meats
Cheese - maybe slices cut into butterfly shapes and served with butterfly crackers if I can find them over here and not us
Pickles - gherkins and cucumber pieces
Lollipop - make coloured bread and turn into spiral sarnies on a stick?
Sausage - cocktail
Cherry pie - mini cherry tarts

Also thought I could make the caterpillar sandwiches from funky lunch - done them before and very easy.

Of blathers you're good!

Oh blathers even!

I've just ordered the flowers for dd2's service. Doing them in pink and white polka dot buckets. Bootees are made as cake topper.

Tried the gown on her and it fits brill. I've booked my photographer friend to take some proper pics in it this weekend in case she pukes down it next weekend or something.

Readings are chosen and got one of the godparents to read a poem that dh loved as a surprise to him(think he'll cry). I'm getting excited other than I can't breast feed in my dress (details,details) and dd1 is likely to get over excited and play up on the day.

Just typed and lost a reply

Jojane the caterpillar menu sounds wonderful. I now want even more to do a caterpillar (or Gruffalo) party for DGodaughter's 2nd birthday. Inconsiderately, all 6 children who I regularly do cakes for (including my 2) have their birthdays within a 4 week period, and DGoddaughter's mother will be very pg by then. I think I need them to come and stay so that I can show her lots of stuff and talk her into it. Of the two, I think Gruffalo can wait until next year.

Blathers - face painting course is not a done deal yet as I can't get through to the college to book . It's not cheap, either...

Have just been looking at local go karting circuits

I think from looking at that party ideas page again, back and white chequered table cloths would be better. You could maybe make personalised Mario place mats if you've got a printer and a laminator. Those star biscuits are fab too. I'm sure you'll be able to find no end of Mario themed bits and piece for the party bags. Play have a full table set (tablecloth, plates, cups and napkins for 8) for £12.99 here

There are some people who will bring the go karts to a venue of your choice - like these people - would give more scope for personalising/theming the rest of the party (you could go really nuts and theme the track!)

Ddhas a hello kitty Id card laminator thing which I was thinking I could use to make driving licenses. Like the mario caps, would probably do a mix of mario, luigi and princess peach crowns.fake moustaches would be good.

We made ID cards for a secret agent party - each child got photographed (by my father) as they arrived, photos were printed and stuck onto pre-made ID cards, which they had added their fingerprint to, and then stuck in badge holders pinched from work. It worked really well, but does need extra adult helpers to get it sorted.

I just found Mario lanyards on ebay! Perfect for your party.

I'm more tempted these days to go all out on the party extras like hats and lanyards and just pop them all in a bag with a chunk of cake for your party bags. They get so much more fun out of the things that way rather than having a bag of plastic tat that goes in the bin or gets forgotten within 5 minutes of it getting home or packs of sweets that get put away "for later" after all the sugar they've had at the party. I did personalised aprons for DS's last party and I know for a fact that most of them are still being used :)

Just found the cutest birthday invites on a website that say "X is turning 3, come and celebrate under the sea" Perfect for DD's party! Not ones you can buy unfortunately but I can certainly copy

Actually, you can download them! What do you think? Here

Aargh! Just rechecked the bouncy castle/slide so I could get a better idea of colours etc and realised that the slide is Jungle themed not Under the sea!

I did Jungle for DS's 2nd birthday

Is there castle under sea themed, though?

the castle, not there

There is a sea themed castle but there is also a matching jungle one.

Jungle is fun, but not if you have already done it.

Could you hide the slide behind the castle? ( of the space, BTW - we couldn't fit one in our village hall, let alone both)

Considering ditching the theme and just going for bright colours. Cheapy IKEA plates and bowls in zingy colours, a rainbow of balloons and maybe a rainbow cake...?

The bouncy castles are bright so it just means ignoring the animals.

What does DD think? My DD railroaded me completely had very strong views about her 3rd birthday party.

She wants a bouncy castle. This seems to be the limit of her interest. She's a very easy going little thing really so would be happy whatever happens. She was talking about it today which made me smile.

DS is going to be a whole other kettle of fish this year. He's already planning his and it's not until March!

But themes are more fun [whinge]

You know that picture of the not-an-easter-dinosaur I tweeted to you? I had to delete it off my phone after DS found it and got all nosy. I resorted to a grumpy mummy 'none of your business'

So make it a rainbow theme!!! Im doing it for dd's first birthday i think. Im gonna have playdough in rainbow colours, rainbow cake, skittles/smarties, rainbow fruit kebabs, everyone dressed in a rainbow colour, maybe even rainbow tutus. Give away playdough/sweets or painting set. Need i go on? For three year oldmaybe consider the disco for all the coloured lights etc.

I asked her this morning. She said "I want a bouncy castle" when pushed she added "and ephants" - I love the way she says Elephants :)

It would fit with the Jungle castle at least.

Ahhhhhh how cute. It is ok to have jungle again you know. Its just the party fanatic in you wanting something new

and im def doing rainbow 1st birthday ive settled on that now. Dd1 still wants a rapunzel party so once this thanksgiving out the way i'll be starting on that.