Today is a good day to celebrate the perfect end-of-summer holiday, Eat Outside Day! Here’s a great guide to picnicking 101 that we found on kids-outdoor-activities.suite101.com. These tips will help make sure everyone has fun and takes care of nature while celebrating in the great outdoors:

Planning a Picnic
No matter the weather or the food choices, the most important part of making your picnic a success is a thorough plan. Your plan should include choosing a date and time, including an alternate plan for foul weather. You should decide on picnic foods, have a method for protecting the food and keeping it hot or cold as needed, non-food supplies, location, seating, and extra activities.

Serving Food Outdoors
Carry something to sit on. A picnic table is nice but nicer if you provide a tablecloth. A plastic party cloth or even an old bed sheet will work. If there is no table, be certain to carry a blanket for sitting on and lawn chairs for seating guests.

For windy days try tablecloth catches, duck tape or weights like rocks to hold the cloth in place. A cooler is best for keeping beverages cold and fresh. Thermoses can keep things hot or cold. A roll of paper towels comes in handy and won’t blow off the table. Provide plastic utensils, cups, paper plates or bottled or canned drinks. Be sure to pick up the picnic area after you are finished.

Protecting Food Outdoors
Be sure to have someway of protecting the foods from flies and from heat spoilage. Plastic containers with lids can be used to serve from. Cover dishes with plastic wrap or foil. Keep foods tightly sealed and up out of melted ice in the ice chest or cooler. Keep things clean, covered and out of the sun. Remember that many foods like eggs or meats, and condiments like mayonnaise, can spoil easily and cause people to get food poisoning. Keep these refrigerated.

Never leave food out where birds, bears, raccoons or other animals will be attracted to it and refrain from feeding picnic foods to wild animals. This is unhealthy for them and dangerous for people.

Today is Davy Crocket’s birthday, and in the spirit of the intrepid explorer, we suggest you head out into the great outdoors for an adventure of your very own. Check out these nature walk tips we found on www.brighthub.com that are sure to entertain your family wherever you decide to go exploring!

What to Bring

When you go on a nature hunt with children, be prepared! Here are some things that are important to bring along:

a first aid kit

a cell phone

a plastic sandwich bag (collection bag) that stays closed easily – one for each child

crayons and paper for rubbings

a magnifying glass

books on local leaves, insects, birds, or other objects in nature

Nature Scavenger Hunts

Put together a scavenger hunt for your child to do as you walk. Included in the hunt can be descriptions like “something soft,” “something pink,” or “something bigger than a house.” Alternatively, you can encourage a younger child to find as many objects as possible in different colors.

Saving Your Finds

On the walk, encourage children to collect any non-living bits of nature that interest them, such as stones, pebbles, or fallen leaves. You may wish to make the rule that they can only take along objects that will fit in their collection bags, or that they must check with you to make sure that the objects they are taking along are safe. When you get home, suggest that they save their finds by placing them on one piece of contact paper and covering them with another.

You can read more nature walk tips here.

Our suggestion for today is to go out and spend some time with your family because August is family fun month!

To make the most of this month, here are some suggestions for activities you can do with your family that we found on Familieswithpurpose.com. Remember, the family that plays together, stays together!

Successful Family Activities

Planning fun and successful family activities shouldn’t be a chore for busy parents.  Most just require a little forethought and a little planning to be successful.  So don’t get bogged down in the details or overwhelmed with the planning.  The first thing to spoil family activities is a stressed parent, so go slow and ease into your routine.

Alternate between planned and unplanned family activities.  Not every family activity has to be an elaborate outing.  Sticking around home and just “hanging out” can be just as fun.  Just don’t let the TV, computer, and video games become a distraction.

Be flexible. Sometimes family activities don’t go as planned.  The baby is tired, the car had a flat tire, or it rained when it was supposed to be sunny and hot.

Make sure the family activity is something everyone will enjoy or at least tolerate.  Talk over the family activities ahead of time and get everyone’s input.  This will help prevent resistance later on.

Schedule your family activities on the family calendar.  Plan out for a month when the family will be together and schedule the family activities accordingly.

Make them a priority.  Kids know when parents don’t follow through with their promises and are often more hurt than they are willing to let us know.  Take the time for the family activities.  Your kids will thank you for those little things later.

Quick Family Activity Ideas

Family activities don’t have to be elaborate, expensive planned out ideas.  Sometimes, simple is better.  Kids are looking for your time and attention, so don’t forget the simple things in life.

• Read a book together
• Fly a kite
• Go fishing
• Plant flowers
• Build a tent and eat lunch inside
• Go for a walk
• Shoot hoops or play catch
• Play hide and seek
• Catch fireflies

Did you know that June 29th is Camera Day ? So for this week’s Tip Tuesday, bust out your camera and check out these suggestions on how to take your best birthday pictures!

The website Best-family-photography-tips.com has a fantastic article that lays out some tips for taking great birthday photos. Here are a few that we found particularly helpful:

• Know The Location: Whether the party takes place at home, a party room, or an amusement park, realize that each location has its own photographic “blueprint.”
• Are there obstacles that will get in the way of any birthday party pictures (columns, fixed objects, plants, etc.)? If so, plan your seating or your shooting location accordingly.
• Equipment: Have fully-charged batteries, memory cards, chargers, external flash, lens accessories, and a tripod ready.
• The Birthday Party Pictures List: Jot down the “Must Have” pictures, as well as the ones you would like to capture, if possible.
• Capture Some Shots Before the Party: Calmly take some birthday party pictures before any guests arrive. Identify your most gloriously decorated areas and snap some “before” photos.
• Use Color: Take advantage of the one thing you have plenty of at the birthday party… COLOR!

The site also offers these suggestions for photo-ops that are sure to be keepsakes in your family picture album:

• The birthday star surrounded by all the presents.
• Mom and dad collapsed with all the torn wrapping paper and ribbons placed (or dumped) on top of them.
• A few party hats and/or decorations on the family pet.

We hope that these tips will help you capture your best birthday photos yet!

Tired of the same old birthday cards you keep seeing at greeting card stores? We certainly were!

Our tip for this Tuesday is to make your own cards instead. They’re a lot more personal (not to mention often a lot less expensive) and we bet that you already have most of the supplies you need at home. Plus, most of them are so easy that you can turn birthday card making into a fun project with your little one.

We found some great ideas on Martha Stewart’s website. Take a look at this gallery of adorable homemade birthday cards:

The Cupcake Card

Digital Snapshot Cards

Flaunt Cards

Wallpaper Cards

Paper Cutout Cards

Yarn Cards

Family-Tree Photo Cards

Pressed Pansy Cards

Floral-Cutout Cards

Potato-Stamped Cards

Find more of Martha’s ideas here.

If your child celebrates their birthday during the cold, winter months, why not give him/her a taste of a summer birthday? Throw a “half birthday” party and let your little one experience a party like they never have before.

Peppers and Pollywogs has all the tips you need to throw a great party in honor of your child’s half birthday.

Here are some tips for celebrating a half birthday:

1. Send out a half invitation using one side of a card. Name it a “Half Birthday Party!”

2. The party theme has to be something that goes well outdoors: swimming, camping, a Luau, beach, etc.

3. Serve half foods, i.e. half sandwiches, half a birthday cake.

4. Break popular party foods in half: brownies, cupcakes, fruits, veggies, etc.

5. If swimming, make the kids wait a half hour before going into the pool. Play games during this time.

6. Hold a half treasure hunt, hide one half of plastic Easter eggs with half-sized candy bars.

7. Play one-legged and one armed relay races.

8. If girls are attending (or it’s an all-girl party) paint half of their nails.

9. Ask guests to bring half a birthday present, and half wrap them.

10. Fill goody cups half-full.

For many of us, public speaking is pretty scary. All those eyes on you. People waiting on your every word.

But when hosting a birthday party for a friend, there is nothing more special than giving a meaningful birthday toast. So I went looking for some tips on how to face my fear and give the perfect birthday toast.

Thanks to ehow.com for the help.

Instructions:

Step 1

Keep it simple. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Simple toasts are fine. Everyone would much rather hear a short, general toast than a long rambling one that lacks a point. Think of it as a tactical mission: do what you need to do and get out. For instance, no one has ever been punished for a birthday toast consisting of little more than the person’s name.

Step 2

Be kind. Sure, roasting a person is great. Everyone loves a funny toast that makes fun of the guest of honor. Those toasts are great, if you can pull them off. Often, they simply end up sounding mean, even petty. Remember, everyone listening to you likes the person being toasted. If you think there is even a chance what you say will veer away from funny-don’t say it.

Step 3

Be personal. Don’t spill out state secrets, but there is a reason that you are saying something. Whether you volunteered to give a toast, it was foisted upon you or anywhere in between; you probably have some sort of relationship with the person you are toasting. Use it. You don’t have to say much, but even mentioning the nature of your connection will improve the toast.

Step 4

Act confident. It doesn’t matter if your legs are jelly and your insides are squirming. Act as though you own the room. Stand up straight. Speak slowly and clearly. Make eye contact as you look around the room. Often, how you say something matters more than what you say.

Step 5

Steal. If you want to make an impression rather than just escape, borrow from those who have come before. Go back to greats and borrow a line or two that fits the occasion. Nothing makes you sound as impressive and erudite as a well chosen line.

Step 6

Remember, as Shakespeare once wrote, “brevity is the soul of wit.” Keep it short.

Throwing an amazing birthday party can be expensive – but it doesn’t have to be!

You can throw a great party without spending a fortune (and let’s be honest, we could all use a little extra cash these days)!

Check out stretcher.com for all the useful advice!

Inexpensive Kid’s Birthday Party: Guest List

Begin by counting the number of kids that are likely to attend. Many of your expenses will be priced ‘per child’ so you’ll need an idea of how many kids will be celebrating with Susie. When you’re counting noses, don’t forget to include ‘paybacks’ (where your child has attended their party). You may need to check your child’s school. Some have rules that say if you invite one girl from your child’s class you must invite all the girls from the class. There may also be neighbors and relatives that you’ll want to invite.

Plan for the highest number that could reasonably attend. That way all your estimates for expenses will be on the high side. You don’t need to be ridiculous, but just guess a little high. If there are three kids that are 50/50, put two in your count. That type of thing.

You’ll probably feel a little pressure to downscale the party. That’s good. It’s far better to simplify now than have the bill come in 25% higher than you planned. If you don’t like the total now you have options you can pursue. If you don’t like the bill later your choices are very limited!

Inexpensive Kid’s Birthday Party: Location

Next you’ll want to start thinking of where to hold the party. Think of places that kids like to go. Are your children interested in bowling, baseball, museums, karate or gymnastics? All these are possible sites for a party. Of course, all of them aren’t frugal. But you won’t know until you pick up the phone and ask.

When you call you’ll want to know what the charge per child is. Some places will have a minimum charge, too. Find out what’s included in the price. Are they including party favors, cake or other food and drink?

Find out if you have the option of bringing in your own food and drink. It’s a pretty sure bet that you can make a birthday cake cheaper than the price you’ll pay if it’s included in the package. In many cases is cheaper to bring the cake even if you have to buy it at the local grocery store.

For many of you the temptation will be to hold the party at your home. In some cases this WILL be the cheapest place to hold the party. But, make sure you compare costs first. Sometimes, when you add up food, drinks, cake, party favors and entertainment you could end up spending more to have it at home.

Inexpensive Kid’s Birthday Party: Entertainment

If you’re having an at home party, live entertainment may not be as expensive as you might think. By asking around you may find a stay-at-home Mom who moonlights as a clown, magician or puppeteer. Many of these part-timers are very affordable and will provide a lot of smiles per dollar spent.

Perfect entertainment for your party may be as close as your friends or family. If your brother-in-law is a fireman find out if they allow public tours. A FREE trip to the firehouse could precede a pizza party at your home and provide a unique theme party for your child.

When you have your party is also important. If you can, plan to have the party during the week after school. Most places that host kids parties are busiest on weekends. Naturally, they charge more then. You’ll get a much better rate if you can schedule your party during the week.

Inexpensive Kid’s Birthday Party: Get Creative

Try to think creatively. Last fall our daughter was heading for her eighth birthday. We didn’t want to try to compete with some of the expensive parties that she had been attending. To further complicate matters, we were remodeling our house, so an at home party wasn’t very practical.

My wife discovered a ceramics studio that gave classes. Better than that, they also held kid’s parties. For a very reasonable amount they hosted the party. Each child had their choice of unpainted ceramic items. They all selected one and painted it at the party. The ceramic became their party favor.

We were allowed to provide our own cake and drinks. The studio had an arrangement at a local pizza place for pizzas at $5 each.

The party was a hit! No one had ever had this type of party before in her crowd. The kids loved it! And the modest cost of the party was a hit with my wife and I!

Don’t let the high cost of kid’s birthday parties get you down. Worse yet, don’t let it turn you into a Scrooge. Sure there are parents who are busy playing ‘can you top this’. But like most things, a frugal mindset can solve the problem. A little planning mixed with a little research and creativity will have you singing “Happy Birthday” without leaving you frowning in the pictures you’ll take at the party!

Today is the 40th birthday of one of my favorite Hollywood stars, actress and comedian Tina Fey!

So, in honor of Ms. Fey’s big day — and for all my 39-year old friends out there — here are some great tips for throwing a 40th birthday party, compliments of birthday.lifetips.com!

Birthday Party Favor Ideas For 40
A fortieth birthday party favor can be sophisticated, fun, or humorous. If you’re planning a fortieth birthday fete and just need a few birthday party favor ideas for your guests, take a look at our great suggestions.

Personalized favors – Hand out favors inscribed with a personal message or quote. Pieces can be anything from key chains to chocolates.

Destination Favors – For a destination party, hand out collector’s coins or trinkets from the country of travel.

Edible favors – Have custom cakes made, inscribed with the birthday event. Bake gourmet cookies, wrap them in cellophane, and make labels for the fortieth birthday event.

40th Birthday Gifts
After 40 years, the birthday boy or girl has received just about every type of present imaginable, from last year’s gift of golf lessons from Uncle Al to the new coffeemaker from Aunt Sue. Now, you are desperate for ideas for 40th birthday gifts for that special someone. Luckily, there are still plenty of great 40th birthday ideas. Try one of these options for a fun gift:

• Create a blast from the past basket. Fill the basket with things that were popular during the high school years, from that hideous clothing trend that people are still shaking their heads over to a CD of tunes from that boy band that has thankfully faded into oblivion.
• Put together a dream fulfilling kit. For this one, you’ll need to do a bit of research. Find out about the things that the person you are shopping for wishes he or she has done. Then, fill a basket with things that can help fulfill one of those dreams. For example, you could put a travel book, CDs of language lessons and a piggy bank with some money in it in a basket for someone who wants to see the world. (Of course, if money is no object, you can exchange the piggy bank for a plane ticket.)

Unusual 40th Birthday Party Ideas
You’re in charge of planning the best 40th birthday party ever and you have no idea where to start. All those over the hill gags have been done so many times and 40 isn’t even very old anymore. What can you do to make the day special?

One great 40th birthday party idea is to simply do everything in 40s. Invite 40 guests, provide 40 different hoer de oeuvre choices and ask all the guests to bring 40 dollar bills as a gift.

If you aren’t into the numbers game, try a trip down memory lane. Find a special person from each year of the birthday honoree’s life and ask that person to come share a memory with him or her. Ask the speakers to write down the memories, too, so that you can bind them into a book to give as a special keepsake of the day.

A third idea is to create a party around something the birthday boy or girl wants to do. If he or she has expressed a desire to learn golf, create a golf green in a rental hall. Set up 18 umbrella tables minus the umbrellas. Cover them in green tablecloths, pushing the cloths in at the umbrella hole to form an indentation that looks like a golf course hole. For a finishing touch, give golf cart rides instead of pony rides.

There are a million great ways to add your personal touch to a party — and it all starts with the perfect invitation! I went to parentingtoddlers.com to pick up a few tips on how to create a truly unique birthday party invite!

Newspaper Headline Invitation:
Photocopy the front page of a newspaper and block off an article/news. Replace it with the party announcement and invitation. Make copies.

CD Invite:
Make color copies of your child’s photo, or use your computer to create an invitation that stars your birthday boy or girl. Slip it into a CD jewel case, and add party details.

Aeroplane Invitation:
Make a paper aeroplane and decorate. Tape a piece of colored paper behind the plane like a streamer, and write the party information on it.

Clown Invitation:
Draw or create a collage of a clown head on lightweight card stock; cut it out and cut a slit in its mouth. Unfurl a party blower and write all the information along it; insert the end into the mouth of the clown. Deliver by hand or mail them in padded envelopes.

Royal Tidings:
Draw up a proclamation: “Hear ye, hear ye! Come to Joseph’s Castle to celebrate his birthday” and include the party details. Photocopy on parchment-like paper, roll up into a scroll and tie with a royal blue ribbon.

Movie Ticket:
Make up something resembling a ticket on the computer. The front read: ADMIT 1 ONLY. Use wordings like “JOHNSON PRODUCTIONS IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE PREMIERE OF KELLY JOHNSON’S 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! Date: Time: Place: Please see reverse for details. Not redeemable anywhere except Kelly’s party! Please bring this ticket with you to enter.

Paper Doll Invitation:
Trace a paper doll’s body and then place a color copy of the birthday girl’s head on top. Write the party details on the body and enclose a cutout of a dress for kids to color and decorate. Invite guests to bring their creations to the party.

Balloon Invitation:
Roll up your paper invitations and place inside a balloon. Fill them up with helium (or just blow), and hand deliver to your guests. To read the invitation, the child has to sit on it and pop the balloon!