Subscribe
 

Posts Tagged ‘Tip Tuesday’

Tip Tuesday: Go on a family nature walk!

Posted by Birthday Cate on August 17, 2010 in General | Tip Tuesday

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.

Tip Tuesday: Toy Story Party!

Posted by Katie on July 20, 2010 in General

To celebrate the release of Toy Story 3 and its record-breaking box office success, our tip for this Tuesday is to throw a Toy Story-themed birthday bash!

We found some great party ideas on BirthdayinaBox.com. Take a look!

Decorating Ideas:

  • Hang paper airplanes from the ceiling with fishing line so the planes look like they’re flying.
  • Have Toy Story movies playing in the background at a low volume.
  • Place a cowboy hat at each place setting.
  • Decorate the party table with green plastic army men.
  • Use Toy Story action figures as balloon weights. You can give these out as prizes, too!
  • Use a Buzz Lightyear or Woody pillowcase as a chair cover for the birthday child.
  • Decorate in lime green, blue, white and red for a Buzz Lightyear party or red, gold, cow pattern, and denim for a Woody party.
  • Have the birthday child or adults dress as characters from the movie (Buzz, Woody, Jessie, army man, Ken, or Barbie).

Games:

  • There’s a Snake in My Boots! (Play freeze dance while playing cowboy music.)
  • Use an Etch A Sketch® to play Pictionary
  • Have a race with remote control RC cars

Tip Tuesday: Make Your Own Greeting Cards!

Posted by Katie on June 22, 2010 in General | Tip Tuesday

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.

Tip Tuesday: Throw an Inexpensive Kid’s Birthday Party!

Posted by Katie on May 25, 2010 in Tip Tuesday

children-birthday-partyThrowing 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!

Tip Tuesday: Build a Bird Feeder!

Posted by Katie on April 13, 2010 in Tip Tuesday

backyard-bird-feeder-spring-craft-photo-260-FF0507EFDA01Let’s face it, it rains a lot during the month of April! If you are throwing a birthday party for your little one this month, it’d be wise to have a few indoor activities ready — like the one I found below from familyfun.go.com! It’s easy and perfect for spring!

Materials:

  • Clean 1-liter soda bottle
  • Craft knife
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • small eye screw
  • Length of twine for hanging

Instructions:

  • Start by drawing a 1/2-inch asterisk on the side of a clean 1-liter soda bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom. Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another asterisk
  • 2 inches from the bottom. Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each asterisk, as shown.
  • Use a craft knife to slit the asterisk lines and cut out the circles (a parent’s job). Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole and then through the opposite asterisk, as shown.
  • Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into the top of it for hanging.
  • Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.

Tip Tuesday: So you want to rent an inflatable moon bounce

Posted by Katie on January 12, 2010 in Tip Tuesday

moon-bounceYou know how the story goes… your son or daughter gets back from their best friend’s birthday party in a state of euphoria (probably riding the last of the sugar high). The best friend’s parents must have decided to go all-out, because they practically re-located the circus to their back yard for the afternoon — complete with ponies, clowns, balloon animals… and a moon bounce. It’s this last one that happens to have your little tyke in a tizzy, and she pleads with you to order one for her party the following month. After weeks of relentless nagging you finally decide to entertain the possibility… now what?

Have you ever wondered about ordering your own moon bounce? Look no further, because today we have a number of tips for renting your own, from Associated Content:

Pros

Bounce Houses are fun: Children LOVE bounce houses! It’s great exercise and they’ll be in there for hours, working off all that pent-up energy. Bouncy castle parties are memorable — your child will remember the bounce house birthday party for his entire life.

Bounce Houses work for both genders: If there will be boys and girls at the birthday party, a bouncy castle will keep everyone happy and entertained. You won’t have to plan separate birthday party activities for boys and girls.

Bounce Houses make parties simple: The bounce house will be your party’s centerpiece. The rental company usually sets it up for you, giving you time to do the rest of the pre-party set up.

Clean up is easy too – just deflate. Often times, the rental company will come to your home and deflate the bounce house for you.

Cons

Bounce houses require constant adult supervision: You need to have at least one adult dedicated to watching the bounce house. If the only adults around are you and your spouse, getting a bounce house might not be a good idea. Check with family members, neighbors, or ask the other parents if they would be willing to volunteer.

Bounce houses are expensive: While it depends on your area, bouncy castle size, and the time of year/time of week for which you’re reserving it, bounce houses generally cost $100-$500 to rent for the day.

Kids can get hurt in the bounce house: Even with the best party planning tactics and adult supervision, kids can still get hurt in a bounce house. Remember, you’re dealing with other people’s children – you won’t know how they’ll behave, especially if you’ve never met the child before.

Click here for more tips on moon bounces

Tip Tuesday: Throwing a Sleepover Birthday Party!

Posted by Katie on January 05, 2010 in Tip Tuesday

sleepover-friends-dare-400a081407Remember your first sleepover party? The sleeping bags, bad movies and way too much caffeinated soda?

We all know that when kids get to a certain age, it’s all about slumber parties. So in an effort to make your lives a little easier, I went searching for some tips on how to throw a great sleepover birthday party.

Check out Kaboose to learn more!

Tips:

Pick a number.

As a general rule, sleepovers should be limited to eight or fewer guests. Keep in mind how much space you have for sleeping bags. Use our printable guest list to start your planning. You can fill out the name, of course, but have parents fill out the rest. One way to make sure this is covered is to include the blank sheet in the invitation. It’ll make parents feel better, too, knowing you’ll have all the information you’ll need.

Keep it short.

Have kids arrive right before or after the evening meal, and arrange for them to be picked up before noon the following day. Keeping hours short will help to maintain your sanity. Use our printable party schedule to help plan your party timing.

Get the vitals.

Before the party, get a list of food allergies, medications, dietary restrictions, bedtime routines, and a home and cell phone number of each guest’s parents. At the same time, let other parents know that you’ll be keeping a close eye on all the kids to ensure safety. Use our printable guest list to help keep track of everyone’s information.

Know the basics.

Kids will need: a sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, p.j.’s (and a spare), clothes for the next day, toothbrush/toothpaste, hairbrush, favorite stuffed animal (for younger kids), and a favorite CD to add to the mix being played throughout the party. You can add our printable what-to-bring list to your party invitations or keep it on hand for when your children go to sleepover parties.

Lay down the law.

As soon as all kids are present, explain the rules: No leaving the house. No crank calls. No unsupervised cooking. No “ganging up” on anyone. And make sure all the kids know that fights will not be tolerated. If they get out of hand, parents will be called. Note: To ensure this step is taken care of, you may want to schedule it in your printable party schedule.

Reduce anxiety.

Let the kids know you’re available to talk if they get homesick, experience bedwetting, or have trouble falling asleep. If a child asks to go home, try to address their fears before calling the parents. It may be a simple matter of plugging in a nightlight or fetching a glass of water. If they still seem anxious or if the child is sick, don’t hesitate to call the parents.

Create a sleeping space.

To thwart any “I wanna sleep next to Billy!” fights, arrange the sleeping bags in a starburst pattern, with everyone’s head in the middle. So that you don’t forget in the chaos of the party, you may want to schedule this in your printable party schedule.
Calm ‘em down.

Initiate “dim lights” at a specified time (10:30 p.m. is good), then “lights out” a half-hour later. That gives the kids time to wind down, talk quietly, and decompress before they go to sleep. Playing a non-scary movie right before bedtime also helps kids to wind down. You may want to schedule the movie, “dim lights,” and “lights out” in your printable party schedule.

Don’t stress over night owls.

Staying up late is half the fun! They’ll drift off eventually, and maybe they’ll even sleep later the next morning. You can only hope.

Tip Tuesday: Winter Birthday Parties

Posted by Katie on December 22, 2009 in Tip Tuesday

kids_playing_in_snowMost of the country is blanketed with snow this week, which got me thinking — how do you throw a great birthday party during the cold, dreary months of winter?

I went to Celebrations.com and found some great ideas for both indoor AND outdoor activities! Check it out!

Celebrate a Kids’ Winter Birthday with a Snow Day!

For kids, one of the best things about winter is the possibility of a snow day – no school means plenty of opportunity for play!

Recreate this fun day for a cold-weather birthday. If the weather isn’t too frightful, take advantage of the free entertainment a yard full of snow brings.

Plan outdoor activities at the beginning of the party when kids will already be bundled up.

Snowball Fight: Make sure to establish ground rules about the force of throwing snowballs before the game begins.

Build-A-Snowman Contest: Provide old clothes and items for a face (buttons, bottle caps, small toys), divide kids into teams and watch as snowmen come to life.
In locations where no blanket of snow falls on the ground, you can still have a winter wonderland.

Rent a snow machine, which often goes on sale after the holidays.

Let kids make snow with a mini science experiment. Give each child their own cup of specialized powder, add water and watch their eyes light up.

Make Snow Globes at a Winter Birthday Party!

For a simple, yet amusing, wintertime birthday craft, let children create their own snow globes, which also double as party favors.

  • Small jars (one for each child)
  • Small waterproof items (plastic toys, ceramic figurines) for each child
  • Waterproof glue
  • Glitter
  • Clean and dry each jar.
  • Adhere an object to bottom of each jar with waterproof glue and let dry overnight.
  • During craft time, give each child a jar to work with.
  • Let kids sprinkle glitter into their jars and fill them with water.
  • Glue on lids and shake the snow globes!

    • Materials:
    Steps:

    Tip Tuesday: The perfect basketball birthday party

    Posted by Katie on December 15, 2009 in Tip Tuesday

    basketball csc imageToday, in honor of basketball’s 118th birthday, we’re going to give you some tips for throwing the perfect basketball-themed birthday party for your favorite little fan. eHow has the scoop:

    • Hold the party outdoors if possible to complement the active and energetic theme, providing the children a fun place for play. Outdoor options include your own backyard, a park or wherever kids can run around. If you have a small basketball hoop, bring it along so that the younger kids can play.
    • Use the basketball theme from start to finish. Local party stores and lots of online venues sell sports themed cups, napkins, plates, plastic utensils and much more to get your party off on the right foot. Paper tablecloths and balloons are another great addition.
    • Entertain the kids with basketball drills turned into competitions. Have an adult coach or referee wear a striped shirt and whistle to really get the kids excited. Fun drills try to see who can dribble the longest with his eyes closed, shoot the most free throws, dribble fastest to a cone and back and so on. Award the winners appropriately.
    • Play a game of “HORSE,” using “P-A-R-T-Y” instead. The player who goes first shoots the basketball from wherever he chooses. If he makes a basket, the next player has to copy the shot exactly. If she also makes it, the next player tries, and so on. Players collect the letters of the word “PARTY” by missing a shot or failing to copy the previous player’s shot just right. A player who gets all five letters is out. The last one left wins.

    Tip Tuesday: Doggy birthday cake recipe

    Posted by Katie on December 08, 2009 in Tip Tuesday

    PB_ delight_MaggieIf dogs are our best friends, we really should let them in on a little birthday spirit. I know lots of people who throw their dogs birthday parties by giving them a big bone or a new toy, but this year, I say “let them eat cake!” But as good as our official red velvet cake is, it’s probably not the best choice for your pooch (read: do NOT feed your dog human cake). Luckily, I’ve found the perfect solution from the Dog Treat Recipe Exchange, a wonderful (and easy) recipe called Peanut Butter Delight Dog Birthday Cake. Enjoy, and share your doggy birthday party stories in the comments!

    Ingredients:

    1 cup white or whole wheat flour
    1 tsp baking soda
    1/4 cup peanut butter
    1/4 cup vegetable oil
    1 cup shredded carrots
    1 tsp vanilla
    1/3 cup honey
    1 egg

    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)

    Mix together flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a ring mold sprayed with a nonstick spray for 40 minutes.

    Frost this cake with low fat cottage cheese and decorate with carrot pieces. Store in refrigerator.

    Next Page »