Shirley's party advice part 6 - don't be afraid to interrupt us!

[Tinkerisdead]

Okay, this is shirley's party advice part 6. Shirley ducked out a while ago and you'll notice us chatting about all kinds of stuff whilst we wait for party planners to barge in.

So, don't lurk, jump in and chat. We'll give you any advice on parties from costumes to cakes....

Oh good luck jetstar sorry you feel poorly. Dont panic kuds can just run circuits round a room n still have fun! Put some pics up when you can!

What have I missed?

Good luck today Jetstar.

I can't believe school has started already DW, but hooray for non-wailing DD1 - well done her, and you.

Yes very very proud if her except wait for it...

"I was scared of the dinner hall so Mrs Teacher let me eat with her in the classroom. So we were chatter chatter chatter. And i told Mrs Teacher we better not drop crumbs or mice will come. I said yes, all the mice will come out of our house and up the hill into school!"

Argghhhh. She said dont worry mum i told her i think they're gone now!

Oops . Reception teachers are generally pretty good at pretending they don't know every detail of your home life, IME.

How do i fight the urge not to rush up to her in the morning and say we absolutely are not overrun with mice!!!!

Just bite your tongue - I am sure she heard equivalent gems from about half the class.

Hello, hope you do not mind me interrupting?

After a bit of advice as am throwing the first little bday party for my DD in Oct, think I've just about got a hall sorted & an entertainer my dd saw at her cousins party who sang songs with the kids & had a little mini dance at end.

Just got a few questions about timing- Dont know whether to go for morning as in 10.30/11 start for a couple of hours or afternoon? My dd still just about has a nap & some of the others might too so an afternoon one might not get going until 3 but is 1030 too early?
Also food- was thinking of doing little boxes of food but then also wondering whether some kind of buffet would be better. Bearing in mind not kids are 3/ just turning 3.

Also if you could direct me to any party decorations good for a 3 year old girl who likes dinosaurs I would be most grateful!

You're not interupting, we just sit here keeping the thread alive til party planners come along.

I've got a hairdresser coming in a min to sort me and two friends in my house(plus six kids) so i'll cone back with more later. But you'll find that parents if 3 year olds appreciate an early party. Ive been to loads, most of us are up from about 6 and a 10.30 party means you're not killing time, calming an excited guest, and lunch is taken care of! Trust me, it'll suit most. In fact any mum friends i meet up with we always meet at 10.00ish.

I'll come back latee with a ton of dinosaur ideas for you.

And i'll always always always say lunch boxes for little kids. They just cant sit still long enough for a buffet i dont think. It also has the benefit of being able to box the remains up for your child, i find it a nightmare trying to cajoule my kids into eating up at a party! Boxes are my saviour!

Baker Ross appear to have put a load of their dinosaur stuff in the sale - but most of it is now out of stock as a result - but TBH a lot of it was too old for 3yos anyway.

There are some fun stickers, though - and I like the mugs, which could double as party presents, but they are quite expensive.. range here

Hi Lizard,
A morning party would be better, but be warned, it won't leave you loads of time before hand to prepare. So, if you've hired a hall, and your the first person to hirer the hall that day, maybe they could let you go in the night before to set up. If not, just get some family members or close friends to help you in the morning....that prep time flies!!!
Food boxes are brilliant. They LOVE them. Just text Mums with a choice of sandwich, I only offered cheese or ham or jam. Then, name the boxes, with a sticky label, and pop in cheddars or plain Pom bears, squeezy yogurt, cheese string or baby bel, food bag with crudités maybe, mini bag of party biscuits or something similar, maybe some strawberries in a food bag. And pouch or bottle of squash or mini water bottles.

These food bags are great

www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=261846515

These yogurts are fun

www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=268270021

These water bottles are just the right size to go in the cardboard par boxes, being only 250ml.

www.waitrose.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView-10317-10001-14331-Buxton+mineral+still+water+(8x250ml).html?storeId=10317

Here's a link for party food boxes on ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=Dinosaur+party+box&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.X+Food+Dinosaur+party+box&_nkw=+Food+Dinosaur+party+box&_sacat=0

Here's a link for lovely personalised invites on ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=Food+Dinosaur+party+box&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.XPersonalised+dinosaur+invitation&_nkw=Personalised+dinosaur+invitation&_sacat=0

Dinosaur bunting (not cheap, I know, but it's 5 metres long)

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boys-Style-Theme-Party-Flags-Buntings-/140814438563?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Make_up_Cosmetics_Concealer_PP&var=&hash=item20c931d0a3

Ooh, just found the same person who does the bunting does invites, party bag fillers and food boxes too!

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_odkw=&item=140814438563&pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Make_up_Cosmetics_Concealer_PP&_osacat=0&hash=item20c931d0a3&_ssn=shap-uk&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC0.A0.XDinosaur&_nkw=Dinosaur&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Oh thank you thank you! (Claps hands together like a mad seal!)

See I knew that the boxes would be a better idea- at my nephews party the kids just looked a bit bewildered with all the platters of food & parents were then waitressing to make sure little johnnie didn't miss out on sausage rolls!

Out & about at the moment but will check out all the links later- thought that the lunch boxes could also tie in with the dino theme!

What do u do with the little boxes when you are finished? Let kids take them home? Reuse for party bags?

I'd let them take food with them home, you'll find that they wont eat it all straight away and i'm always grateful when hosts let me take the box because otherwise you've got a kid who ate nothing at the party due to distractions and you hadnt planned for lunch.

Dont feel that you have to buy dinosaur themed party supplies, obviously there is stuff out there as linked but we can readily help you theme a party without having to order numerous themed stuff. Plain coloured stuff is often cheaper so if your in anyway crafty you can mock up giant dinosaur footprints, bunting from green paper etc and we can help you theme games, party bag fillers etc.

Ebay will provide you with a ready made party no problem but if you want your own version of dinosaurs shout and we'll help you. The last dinosaur party we helped we got the host to make a big t rex head from a watermelon!

You could get plain boxes and some of these (or similar) - might work out cheaper than themed - and if you wanted specific colours then a lot of ebay sellers will do that for you.

Also - bear in mind that for 3yos the "theming" is more for parents than for the DC - so a little goes a long way. A few dinosaur things, with matching plain colours in everything else, is cool.

We did monsters for DS's 3rd birthday - I cut out big monster footprints which we stuck to the floor between the car park and the hall - everyone loved it except one imaginative small girl who had to be convinced to come in as she thought there must be lots of big monsters in there already

Fab tips! Thank you all very much :) Do you all do this for a living? Fab job!

Yes think you are right about the boxes- I've settled that in my mind now & will put on a few dips/ picky bits/ cake & coffee for parents.

Ha ha! Love the tip about the footprints- a great idea. Entertainment wise we are having an entertainer who brings his guitar & sings songs with the kids wheels on the bus etc but he also ties in some little fun games with soft cuddly dinos so this is perfect for DD's party. Then they have 30 mins for lunch before finishing off with a mini disco. So thankfully I don't think I will have to organise any games.

Think we have about 16 kids coming- a couple from DD's nursery, others are little ones we have seen regularly since dd was born at groups etc. we have a huge antenatal group & some of those are doing an invite the whole antenatal group parties (I suppose along with nursery friends) but this would already run to 10 children without other kids so I've chosen to invite those who we see regularly rather than the whole group.

Just been having a lot a links and doing some googling! Quite like This party tableware etc as its not too boyish. DD is a a bit of a tomboy but some of the dino stuff looks quite dark/ bit ofr older kids. This looks colourful and should be able to match in with other bits of decoration etc.

Those are very cute and age appropriate dinosaurs.

at do we do this for a living. I wish someone would pay me to do parties. Way more fun than my real job.

I could do great parties for a living!!

Ive got the pizza invites in progress, stealth you'll be proud. Little cd pizza style mailer boxes with a dd pizzeria style frontage, open it up to the invite insude the lid and a jelly pizza in the box!

Party bags, an apron, some pizza stickers and a little playmobil pizza man complete with pizza paddle, box and pizza. Im toying with mini choc pizzas too but depends how cheaply i can make them. I bought a mould for 4.00 so if i can knock 12 out cheaply i'll do them in a thankyou for coming stylie pizza box. This new school wont know who their dealing with!

Sounds fab, DW. I need photos .

Must must get started on DD's invitations soon.

Thanks for all your good wishes, I think it went quite well and I'm starting to feel better now thank goodness! Have put photo of cake on profile, I made it up as I went along in the end and my girl definately thought is was very special! She really enjoyed her party.

Thanks to you all for the support and ideas - now I'm all partied out until the next one which needs to have lanterns

The cake looks gorgeous, jetstar. I think we all need some time "out" from parties immediately after. I am entering silly season - 2 DC with birthdays within a month, plus DGoddaughters' christening (cake), SIL's 50th, and work going nuts.

I feel the need to go and crawl back under my duvet and pretend it's not happening now.

Hi Sorry haven't managed to get on to thank you doctorswife- great ideas thanks - i am in the middle of doing paper bunting! I am going to do generic Dr Who bunting rather than birthday so my DS can use it in his room after.

Thanks for the suggestions about the cups but I think I'll just get water bottles again and label. I am looking forward to doing jelly shots!

Jetstarlovely cake!

Lizard dinosaur party looks good, I had one last year. Loads of stuff out there for it. Do shop around to get the cheapest stuff as even the generic tableware does vary in price hugely. If you do need a pin the tail on the dinosaur - PM me as I have a PDF of one!