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

[stealthsquiggle]

We appear to have filled another thread

Turns out my oven is that smart

Good job DD got me up at 5.45 so I could turn it back on!

That bag looks fab Stealth.

Is the pulled pork recipe linked to further up the thread? I have no use for it just now, but it sounds like it should definitely be noted for future use.

Is the birthday lunch today Blathers?

It wasn't linked to but it is now :)

I did this one except to cheated and added 5 spice podwer instead of grinding up the individual spices and I added a bit of cayenne pepper and some paprika. It was very yummy. Possibly a bit dryer than I'd have liked but it was hard to scale the cooking times down for my smaller bit of meat so I'd say that was mostly my fault - plus my magical, self switching off oven of course.

Yes, DH is 35 today. Pulled pork and trifle lunch done - spaghetti, meatballs and syrup sponge dinner to go. What with me collapsing in a heap and demanding pizza last night after DDs random sleep patterns this week, it's going to be a bad weekend for the diet!

And now the meat is done, my smart oven is actually being useful and cleaning itself while I MN.

It's a hard life

LOL at underestimating your oven's intelligence, Blathers.

Turns out party is tomorrow - just as well I checked the invitation before I sent DD to get changed (just).

Evening all. Ive been up since 4am. Dd2 woke for a feed then dd2 came bounding in wide awake.

Glad the recipe was nice blathers. Im not mad on pork except bacon/gammon etc. but even im tempted to try it.

Dd1 says she wants a play doh party when she's 4 in nov!! Shes getting in early. I'd mentioned wanting one to dh and she's jumped on it. So i've been sat breastfeeding planning it in my head.

Aint that the best bit, planning it all. Play doh actually have great ideas on their website like make a play doh donkey and tails and take turns to pin the tail on it. And google images even has reasonable cake ideas.

I'm not a big pork fan either and much prefer bacon/gammon too. I likes this though as the salt in the marinade made it taste very gammon-y.

The trifle was amazing. I tweeted pictures as I was going along just in case Stealth was around.

Yesterday would have been even better if DD hadn't been poorly. Her sleep has been all over the place for a week and then she had that random nap on Friday. Yesterday, she woke up early again and was really, really hot and obviously feeling rotten. My brother arriving cheered her up and she raced round the house with him for a while before falling asleep on the kitchen floor just before lunch. She woke up from her nap even hotter and even grumpier! Everyone had gone by then so we just had a quiet afternoon but last night, she ended up in with us so everyone had a broken night and I think she's given the bug to DH and I as we both feel rotten today too

DH's birthday spaghetti and meatballs didn't get done yesterday as we were all too full of lunch still and too busy with DD so I'll do those today hopefully. I've been watching saturday kitchen and want to make Foccacia now too - I can't be that ill if I still fancy baking right?

Playdoh party sounds good DW. Party bags will be easy too

Sorry, blathers - I wasn't on Twitter (or online at all, really) yesterday. I shall attempt to catch up today.

We managed to move monster table without killing anyone, though!

I have found the perfect craft activity for DD's dragon party (she better not change her mind now ) - look at these

Oooh brill. I saw on pinterest a cake decorating party. Thats one i'm adding to the wish list.

Stealth wait for it... I've had the sewing machine out. Its actually really simple...and addictive. I've made two drawstring bags from fat quarters that i've had for a year to do for dd1's bedroom. One for laundry which is lined! Yes lined! And the other for her pj's. I gave it to her and she threw it at me saying 'but i wanted a pillow pet!' ungrateful little bugger!

I'm gonna do my bunting later whilst the machine is out and attempt the cot quilt.

I've also been asked to do a christening cake. Thank god dd2 is such a placid baby.

DrsW - I always line bags - because it is a damn sight easier than finishing the edges [lazy]. DD seems to have hit party season so I have one (car themed) to do for next weekend and one (bug and butterfly themed) for the week after .

I am just trying to sort out a way to get my old machine to another MNer. It is indeed addictive, DrsW - just wait - you too will be wanting a super dooper sewing machine for your 40th...

I've only ever made two things (sewing wise) a blue kangaroo and an egg cosy! Im so chuffed with these they are by no means great but they look decent enough for adding nice touch to dd's room. Only prob is reverse stitch doesnt seem to work? I keep having to turn the work and stitch back over it.

Hmm. reverse stitch a puzzle. Alternative is to leave it and just thread the ends through to the wrong side and knot them (might be easier?)

How did you do Blue Kangaroo? I DD would love a Blue Kangaroo (I was thrilled to find a stripy horse last year - DD was nowhere near as impressed as I was, though )

Pm me your email address and i'll send you my private blog so you can see it. But pattern is here

www.sewingpatterns.org.uk/kangaroo-sewing-pattern.htm

presumably since Blue Kangeroo is a boy you made it without the pouch and Joey?

Ive pm'd you the blog. Thick as mince no need for email is there? Not now pm is free!

I love the dragons! Brilliant.

I need to get my sewing machine back out and finish these Octonauts outfits. Got to get DD well again first though. She's been poorly since Friday which made for a fun bank holiday weekend!

What do you think is wrong with her blathers? Virus?

I had the night from hell. Dd2 screamed til 3am, keeping dd1 awake too. She then got up at 5. I've got the vicar coming so i sent her an email this morning saying could we please reschedule. Dropped dd1 at playschool and came home for a kip on the sofa except got woken by postman etc.

Checked my sent items and i havent emailed the vicar at all!!!! Its sat in my draft items. She's due here at half 1 and the house is a tip and i'm like the living dead! Sob.

Hi Ladies, is butting in with a question OK??
Trying to plan a party for eight 5 year old girls, don't want to do loads of games as such. It will be after school to finish at 5.30 (I think, does that sound OK?) Intending to do bag decorating on arrival, this will be their party bag, I thought this might be a good thing to do to cope with arrivals which may vary a bit. We have a treasure hunt, a pin-the-other-thing-on-not-a-donkey, and was wondering about some cake and shaped biscuit decorating. Don't mind doing a few games too of course. Not sure how to timetable these things. Need to fit in tea as well of course.

Course you can but in!!

Have you got a theme in mind? We always say if you have a theme its far easier to hang it all together with themed games etc. and when is it?

am beginning to flap like a headless chicken as its on Saturday and only have a couple of things sorted.

I hate it when you do a party at home and you use up all your games and craft and realise youve got ages to go argh.

DisBoCo according to my DC it's not a party without pass the parcel. Other than that, small girls seem to enjoy prancing about, so a few rounds of musical bumps/statues would burn some time. If they get fidgety at the table try teaching them to play Chinese whispers - good for plenty of girly giggling.

YouBrokeMySmoulder - IME you have to teach 4yos to play games . Pass the parcel also good, and musical bumps - just don't count on anyone staying out when they are out, and when you they get bored declare everyone left to be winners and give them a round of applause / stickers all round. If desperate, Sleeping Lions will give you some respite.

For both, if you can get outside, then some sort of relay race to match theme would go down well too.