I've been seeing so many cute party ideas around the Web this week, I couldn't resist linking up to them. Enjoy!
What has been inspiring you this week?
I have to admit, I'm about 100 steps behind on the whole royal wedding thing. I remember watching Princess Diana marry Prince Charles when I was a little girl, but my own daughters (who are about the same age I was back then) have no clue who Will and Kate are.
A quick phone call with my sister tonight reminded me of tomorrow's wedding. She and her girls were at the grocery store buying ingredients to make scones--the perfect British accompaniment to a wedding viewing party, don't you think?
I thought it was a cute idea and it got me wondering if anyone else was doing something fun with their kids for the royal wedding. So ... are you?
My oldest daughter is famous for planning her birthday parties nine months in advance and changing the party theme 100 times before the big day arrives. Her sixth birthday actually is getting closer, though, so it's time to get serious.
The kid has gone through more theme ideas than I can count this year. We'll be driving in the car and she'll see a cardboard box blowing in the wind and say, "How about a box birthday, Mommy, where we decorate with boxes and everyone wears boxes on their head ...?" The following are the more, ahem, serious contenders:
- Karate.
- Talent show.
- Justin Bieber.
- Rock star.
- Bunnies.
- Star Wars.
- Hannah Montana.
- Hannah Montana joins the Star Wars crew (seriously. This is the same child who had a Sleeping Beauty Goes Camping party last year).
- And Super Mario Bros., even though she has never even seen a Super Mario Bros. game being played.
Today she came up with an idea that I hope sticks:
Peter Pan.
We're talking about the Disney 1953 animated Peter Pan here. My girls have brought up this theme before, so my imagination has already gone to Neverland and back.
I'm picturing green felt-covered party hats with feathers for the guests to wear and party favors that include fairy wings, gummy crocodiles and pixie dust (i.e., Fun Dip candy, if the other parents will forgive me). My daughter's idea for invitations is to make them look like treasure maps, where our house is the treasure and her guests' homes are drawn with dashed lines connecting them to the party destination.
What ideas do you have for a classic Peter Pan or Tinker Bell birthday party? This charming Peter Pan party from Merrilee, of the blog Mer Mag, is sure to inspire.
With Easter just a few days away, it's time to get serious about shopping for Easter basket gifts. If you're struggling to come up with ideas, check out my list of Easter basket gift suggestions, as well as the Easter basket ideas from other About.com Parenting Channel Guides. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Baseball cards or tickets to see a baseball game.
- Finger puppets.
- Palm-leaf crosses and other palm crafts.
- Children's books about Easter, my favorite of which is The Country Bunny and the Golden Shoes (compare prices).
- A jumprope.
- Doll clothes.
- A pass to go bowling or play miniature golf.
- iTunes gift cards for older kids.
- Seashells.
- Coloring books.
I recently came across another idea worth sharing: Papier mache Easter eggs from Not Martha. So cute!
What do you put in your kids' Easter baskets?
