Shirley's Party Advice Part 7 - how did they all get so big...

[stealthsquiggle]

Part 7 - link to previous one to follow!

I am not coming up with any better ideas on fox films, except that there is a fox in the Narnia films (maybe works if you extend the theme a little to Woodland creatures?)

Who was after a jungle cake? (or does it have to be a lion?)

Foxes is tricky!! I just googled films and there really usnt anything else all the crafts i would have steered to baker ross like stealth did!

Art boxes were originally from Morrisons at 5.00 according to the sticker but i got them from Yorkshire Trading Company as reduced stock.

Thank you for those links. I like the toy in the first link and had a google. Some reviews said it was a bit tricky, so I might order one and have a look. I could perhaps start them all off so there's not quite so much to do.
Still trying to think of films!

Ooh I've thought of one....had to google it as I had french film with a girl and a fox in it. The Fox and the Child. Never seen it, but couldn't be more perfect as it is about a 10 year old girl and she has ginger hair just like my dd!

That should say... French film with a girl and fox in my mind, but couldn't think of the title.

The Fox and the Child looks lovely.

alternative fox craft

I'm the one after a lion cake. The jungle one looks great but a little tricky. A lion's face would be easier I think.

That jungle cake was mine - not as hard as it might look, really. However, I do hear you. It's surprisingly hard to find photos of nice, simple lion face cakes. A colleague did one of the lion from cBeebies - it was the first cake he had ever decorated and it came out brilliantly, but I can't now find the photos he sent me.

I've just ordered some Lego horses with red saddles for Chinese New Year table gifts :)

Who's doing CNY this year?

We have to, I think - DS is a horse (IYSWIM) so it is his year. That said, I don't much like the look of my diary at the end of January - not really going to be in the country much although 31/1 itself looks OK and DS is not at school late that Friday .

Not me im in the midsts of messy play and its my mums 60th too... Is easter late this year because usually i get over the parties and easter hits..i need a nice break..with sunshine and daffodils.

Good Friday isn't until April (I should know, I'm running a half marathon that day!) so yes, it's late

Yesss!!! Cheers buddy! So i get a nice big stretch of stress free time.

Actually i wanted to pick ur brain, this running malarky...did you start with c25k? Dh and i are on a diet and he wants to do c25k and im tempted but ive hurt my back at the moment. I told him how you've been doing parkrun but he muttered something about "not wanting to go running with park weirdos" i dont think he grasped the concept

I didn't but if I were starting again now, I would.

What I did was close. I chose a route which I knew was a descent-ish length (about 2.5k) and then I ran as much of it as I could. When I was dying couldn't run any more, I walked as fast as I could until I felt like I could run again and carried on like that until I had done the whole of my route. Slowly, I was running more and walking less until I could do the whole thing - and then I did it twice etc. c25k is a lot better organised and has better defined targets to keep you pushing yourself. The NHS one is a good one and you'll probably find a local running club that will do something similar as a group, all 3 of the running clubs I go to have 0-5k beginners groups. 2/3 do parkrun as their graduation run. In fact, I need to message a friend and offer to buddy one of his current group when they do their first parkrun in a couple of weeks...

My DH refuses to parkrun too but I love it. The community there is lovely and I've made so many friends. DH is too antisocial to appreciate it.

Stealthsquiggle- you're right about trying to find a picture of a lion cake. I am looking for a simple friendly looking lion. If you do find the photograph of your friend's cake I'd love to see it.

I still can't find his, but if you Google "rara the lion cake" there are some similar ones.

I'm thinking of doing a Chinese New Year celebration at home, really just for my dd who is 4.5yrs. Think dh is going to make Peking duck but was wondering if you had any ideas for activities /fun things to do.
Thanks

I've been looking at CNY crafts today! :)

I love this Coin tree

Paper lanterns in red and gold obviously

Really easy cookies here

Toilet roll fish

These dragons look easy but you could easily make the bodies with paper chains as well to make them even more simple

There is loads to choose from on Pinterest.

great, thank you.

I'm sure I'll find some more. I'll let you know...

Thank you for all the advice for fox related theme....dd1 has now totally changed her mind! She is having a party for about 8/9 girls.

I decided on a fairground theme - going to do tin can alley, hook a duck, candy grabber machine, get the hook along the wire thingy. Veggie hot dogs & fries. Was wondering about a candy floss machine - a cheap £20 one and will re-use all the items for dd2's birthday in the summer. Can anyone recommend a candy floss machine? Some reviews say they are terrible, but others say ok.

Any other fairground theme games activities?

Do you have a basketball hoop, schilke? They could do that "shoot hoops to win cuddly toys" thing.

Chips have to be served in cones, like this. Popcorn would be good too.

Is it ok to just do Chinese NY as excuse to get Chinese food?!

Quick Q- having a party at a pub but unfortunately don't think we can afford to buy all the drinks... Is it ok to say 'the first drink is on us' and send them to the bar? I think this will work out about 300 pounds. Or should we see if we can scrape together more money and put enough for a few drinks each behind the bar? If we had enough I would prefer to pick up the whole tab!

This is our party in place of a traditional wedding so am aware we have drunk lots of free booze at others expense at their weddings... Albeit traditional weddings usually funded by rich parents.