Strollerderby : party planning

Fun Birthdays Despite Recession

Madeline Holler — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:36:00 GMT

In all this talk about economic downturns and recessions or "recessions" and whatnot, politicians are overlooking one very important thing when calculating rebates and tax cuts and interest rates freezes and economic stimulation: what the hell is a parent to do about birthday parties?

Listen, party-planning expert Lisa Kothari, author of Dear Peppers and Pollywogs...What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties knows your pain and she wants to help out with her three-part series on recession-proof children's birthday parties. Thank God, because I was worried we'd have to leave it up to our kids this year to create their own fun.

For Part 1, she counsels to "think outside the box," but goes on to give some cool ideas, so stick with me. The first is a Messy Party, with these sugggestions.

Invitations stamped with handprints.
Make a mess out of balloons and streamers; hang them all over the place in no set pattern.
Have the kids paint pictures with chocolate.
Let the kids decorate premade sugar cookies.
Set out paint, roller brushes, and butcher paper for the kids to make fantastic creations.
Have a bunch of stamps and water-soluble ink out and have the kids stamp their arms and legs all over and stamp one another!
Place a pile of dirt in one area of the yard and have the kids make dirt creations using twigs, rocks, and other natural elements.
Make a traditional round cake, ice with vanilla frosting and then drizzle different colors of icing into your own messy masterpiece. Add candy toppings as an added bonus.

Outrageous Cookie Party

Make plain cookie dough and then set out these ingredients for kids to get creative with. Bag them up to take home. Be sure to warn parents in case the kids decide to share.

Ketchup
Mustard
Chocolate Syrup
Ranch Dressing
Steak Sauce
Cherries
Yogurt
Cheese
Peanut Butter
Balsamic Vinegar
Jam
Pesto Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Relish

Don't forget to request all birthday gifts in cash. (Who's going to pay for all that wasted pesto? We're in a recession!)

So what are you doing for a cheap birthday party this year (or any year)? Canceling the tiger cub rental? Yeah, me too. Me too.

Photo: Once Upon a Bash

In Defense of the Over-the-Top Party

Kelly Mills — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:16:00 GMT

On Saturday we had a birthday party for my now-six-year-old. As a result I feel like I've been beaten about the head and neck with a club, and I could probably sleep ten hours every night for the next three months. But I wouldn't change a thing. We've written a ton about the over-the-top party here, and I will gladly admit that measured against our lifestyle, our parties really push excess. We invite a million kids, hire a professional to dress up like a mermaid and do face painting and magic, give out bulging party favor bags, and serve enough cake and pizza to feed a small nation. And I'm all for it. Here's why:

1. While I love the idea of inviting one kid for every year of your kid's age, there's a problem with that one for us. See, my kid is a total extrovert. At our progress report meetings with her teachers they always say, "she plays with everyone." She also holds friendships well, and now has friends from preschool, kindergarten, her camp, the park, and our social circle. This means narrowing a guest list for her shindig causes more angst than our wedding guest list did. I like her super-shmoozy nature, and I'm willing to pay the price in stress and noise to keep encouraging that sociability.

2. The big soiree totally fits her personality. While some kids melt in chaos and wilt as the center of attention, she just gets more gracious and happy. The big blow-out party is her element.

3. She likes people, but they scare me a little. I get hives at the thought of entertaining more than two children at a time. Therefore the expense of getting a professional to mesmerize the children for two hours is a very small price to pay for my sanity.

4. It's a family tradition to do birthdays big-time. When I was a kid, we were pretty poor, so one year my mom (bless her heart) dressed up as a clown and painted the kids' faces herself. She'd make party favors and bake a giant cake. My birthday was special. Now I'm all about carrying that one on, in a way that means less work for me (I'm not so noble, you know.)

I'd never expect other people to do up their parties in the same way unless they wanted to, and there's no keeping up with the whoevers here. We've attended all kinds of parties, from the modest to the major, and had a blast. But this is just what works for us. And as long as I can, I'll be giving Tinker Bell the big fat tip for the great balloon animals and suffering a serious cake hangover. And every year my kid looks up at me and says, "This was the best birthday yet."

Martini Playdate Resource Guide: The Bar

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:01:00 GMT

Let me preface this by saying that if Cookie magazine can blog this as a parenting-related topic, then so can I!

When my parenting friends and I get together for brunches and dinners, our gatherings are marked by two things: 1) Kids playing and trashing the house , and 2) Parents relaxing and enjoying a frosty alcoholic libation because we are ADULTS.

For brunch we might offer mimosas or Bloody Marys along with non-alcoholic choices, for dinner it's usually wine or beer with the occasional margarita or mojito thrown in for good measure. P.S. Our kids' birthday parties at home always include beer and wine among the wide variety of beverage choices. Just because kids are drinking juice why should the adults have to? For chrissakes, if I have to endure a kid party, at least hand me a wine juice box.

What if you party-planning parents would like to branch out beyond the usual "go-to" drinks at your next martini playdate? That's where The Bar comes in handy. Not only is it a resource guide for every kind of drink you can imagine, but it has the cleverest homepage I've seen in a long. A foxy bartender stands ready and waiting to assist, but you have to watch what happens when you don't sign in. I've had him waiting on me for a good five minutes now...check it out!