Kids Related

1 month before the birthday party

Set a realistic budget – a small budget doesn’t mean a dull party. It just means you have to be more creative.

Pick your party date – avoid party dates on holidays and vacation dates because some of the invited friends may be out of town

Select a party theme – popular party themes are beach, Hawaii, popular movies

Make your guest list – the size of your guest list should be limited by your budget and the location of the party. If your house can only accommodate 30 people don’t invite a 100 people.

Purchase party supplies, party favors, and decorations.

2-3 weeks before your party

Purchase your party invitations and mail them. – If your guests have e-mail, you may be able to save a tree and go digital. Just e-mail your invitations to your guests.

Collect party game ideas – keep in mind your guests. If you are inviting kids to your party, your games should be different than games for grown ups. Have a selection of games available not just one. Some games may work better with some than others.

Plan what kind of food will you be serving. – If you have a limited budget, you could have a potluck party. A potluck party gives your guests a chance to shine by bringing their own special food creations.

If you need help with preparation ask friends and family.

1 week before the party

Order the birthday party cake – if you bake your own cake, you don’t need to worry about this.

You can save time by cooking food in advance and keeping it in the freezer until the day of the party.

2-3 days before the party

Make sure you have film in the camera or that you have enough batteries for the digital camera

Try to get an exact guest count – contact key people and confirm that they will be able to make it to the party.

Get decorations ready and make sure you have everything you need.

1 day before the party

Get a good night’s sleep – parties are fun but they require a lot of work and you have to be strong

Decorate and prepare the food.

Make sure the party area is safe for all – keep children and people with disabilities in mind.

The Big Day – Party Time!

Get the balloons ready

Prepare foods ready

Make sure you take pictures – if you are busy put a friend in charge of taking pictures and making the video.

Enjoy, relax and have fun! You have worked hard to create a special time for you and your guests.

Holidays,it’s so much fun but it can also be a stressful time of the year, with all the different parties. Parties for kids, office parties and parties for your friends, it can really take up your time! The idea behind Firefly Glow & Novelty is to make it easy for you to plan your party by putting together products that will make you a GLOWING success!

We have added new products specifically for the Holiday Party Season. Halloween for instance, is a perfect occasion for Glow and Light up Products! We have Glow Kits (limited quanities) Halloween Party Paper, Decorations, Glow and more. What to do something different? We also have 50’s theme, Hollywood, Casino, Disco and Pirate themed party products.

Our Fall and Thanksgiving catagory have items for any type of party, from casual to formal, we carry specific products to make your planning stress free. We also have new Fall Scented Flameless Candles, which will add ambience to your table and wonderful scents to fill you home! You can also start a new tradition with LED Stemware and Platters, they create a real WOW effect!

Our Christmas catagory has lots of fun Christmas Themed Party Paper, Decorations and Flameless Candles to decorate your home with or give as gifts. Glow and Light Up Products make great stocking stuffers and we carry a wide variety of Webkinz Products if you are looking to add to someone’s collection. NOW AVAILABLE New Years party kits, paper and decorations along with Glow and Light up Party Supplies. Shop early, because all of these products are seasonal and subject to availability.

If you ever need any help planning or have questions about our products, shipping or other questions, give us a call during our regular business hours, Mon- Fri 9-6CST at (214)226-6590 or email us at info@fireflygn.com we love helping people!

Visit us online at www.fireflygn.com and save 10% off your purchase of $30.00 or more with PARTY code at checkout.

50th Birthday Invitations for Special 50th Party Celebration

One of the biggest milestones in a person’s life is the 50th birthday. That’s why it merits an impressive celebration. Depending on the birthday person, however, you might choose to do an “Over the Hill” theme or a similar casual theme or perhaps something more formal for your personalized Party Invitations. The printable 50th Birthday Invitations sent out for the occasion will let guests know which to expect.

50th Birthday Party Invites & Casual Themes

Because celebrating this important birthday can sometimes be a stark reminder of old age and our own mortality, many people prefer to keep the celebration light-hearted and fun. That’s where the popular Over the Hill theme stems from. Most party stores have a great supply of these darkly funny party supplies that are always in black and white and sometimes designed in the shape of gravestones. Although they don’t have to be used with one specific birthday, the 50th birthday is a good choice. You might also be able to find matching or similar 50th birthday card for the party.

Of course, you can also choose other casual and fun themes. A tropical theme, for example, could be a good choice. In the summer, you can send Luau Party Invitations Cards and celebrate around a pool with frozen mixed drinks and refreshments provided courtesy of a backyard grill. Decorations can include Chinese lanterns, plastic palm trees, and lots of bright colors. In winter, you could keep the same theme indoors with many of the same decorations. However, you might want pictures of beaches and palm trees on the walls to distract guests from the falling snow or chilly temperatures outdoors. For the free 50th birthday invitations, choose anything that matches your theme. You’ll find plenty of tropical-themed birthday cards to choose from.

Another great theme is your guest of honor’s childhood. Bring in some items that will remind guests of the 1960’s that is when the guest of honor was growing up. Rent a jukebox or hire a DJ to play the top hits of that decade. Decorate the location with peace signs, headlines from the era, images of famous people from the period and any other symbols you can think of. You could even ask guests to come dressed up for the 1960’s. Make sure you choose 50th Birthday Invites that will reflect the theme and that provide clear instructions for guests.

Formal 50th Birthday Party Invitation

If your guest of honor would prefer something a little more serious, plan a dinner party. Send printed Dinner Party Invitations Cards to an intimate group of family members, friends and business associates. Arrange for a meal either at a private home or at a high-end restaurant. Decorations will not be necessary but be sure to have a bottle of champagne ready for a toast to the birthday person.

The dinner party won’t be for everyone but neither will the more casual parties. Always think of what your guest of honor would prefer before making plans and sending out affordable Birthday Party Invitations Cards.

There are many websites that sell these type invitations, but you should look for those shoppes that offer these advantages to buying online 50th Birthday Invitations and Birthday Party Announcements, Party Invitations Cards.

· Unique and Exclusive Designs Available · See Your Personalized 50th Birthday Invitations BEFORE You Buy with Special Instant Preview Features · Your Proof should be Emailed to You within ONE Hour during the Business Day, and You Can Make Unlimited Changes at No Additional Cost · Offer Some Free Party Invitations and Free Shipping with Minimum Quantity · They Will Print and Ship Your Order the SAME DAY if Approved by a certain Time in the Day · Ability to Add a Photo, Picture or Logo to Any Cards on Their Site · Able to Modify Any Card Design or Color on their Site · Ask for Special Design to Be Created Just for You

Birthday party supplies cover everything from decorations, food, party bags, fancy dress costumes and party goods and the selection of themes available are getting bigger and bigger.

The thoughtful parent planning the party will first choose a theme (for example: disco, 1950s, Mardi Gras, Hawaiian or Western). More recently children are opting for High School Musical or one of Disney’s blockbusters like Ratatouille.

Once you’ve chosen a theme, you’ll find everything else for the celebration easily falls into place — and the planning is actually fun!

You can purchase birthday party supplies locally but more recently online retailers like Novelties 4 Parties http://www.novelties4parties.co.uk offer thousands of party goods at a click of a button.

The best-kid-birthday-parties, which also offer clues about kids birthday and adult birthday themes. For instance, some popular kids themes include: Harry Potter, undersea, princesses, pirates, dinosaurs, fiesta, western, army and safari. Popular adult themes are: 1920s, 1950s, 1970s, mardi gras, Victorian ball, luau, western and casino.

For kids parties, your best bet is sheet pizza and munchies or a little home cooking that is simple to prepare and children appreciate. If you’re throwing a theme party, there are tons of themed food ideas for kids. For a superhero theme, you might serve “Superhero sandwiches”, “Green Goblin guacamole” and “Penguin Tuna Salad”.

Nothing beats a great celebration that’s carefully planned, from the invitations to the party bags. You’ll be happy to know that you’re not alone in your planning with companies like Novelties 4 Parties on hand to supply high quality, low priced party goods and tasking the stress away from the parents which is always a good thing!

http://www.novelties4parties.co.uk also offers hundreds of fancy dress costumes and outfits at low prices and the biggest range for speedy delivery.

Kids parties have become the latest craze, and coming up with unique and fun themes and activities for children’s birthday parties and other events can be daunting. More and more parents are faced with the need to find new and creative ways to entertain throngs of classmates, neighborhood friends, and siblings of various ages.

One simple, low-cost, and very popular way to entertain children at any kind of celebration or gathering, indoors or out, is with a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. A treasure hunt is the one party game that truly promotes interaction, naturally evokes squeals of excitement, and leaves your party guests with lasting memories of their adventurous day at your child’s party.

What if your child doesn’t want a pirate-themed party? No problem! Treasure hunts aren’t just for pirates. Tradition has dictated that pirates are the great treasure hunters, but the fact of the matter is treasure hunts are loved by boys, girls, and grown-ups alike, and make a great addition to any party theme. Treasure hunts can be simply adapted with a storyline and a variety of decorations to fit into any party theme. This is the one area of planning where your child might already have a very clear idea of what they would like, and it would be wise to involve them in this decision, as it makes the party their own.

To adapt a treasure hunt for a princess-themed party, for example, you might announce that someone has stolen the princess’s jewels, and whoever finds them by following the clues will be rewarded with a share of the loot. You place a jewelry box overflowing with plastic beads, candy necklaces and rings, and other gem-like treats in the center of the party table, and have someone sneak the treasure away during the party before making the announcement. Other themes and decorations might revolve around the latest TV cartoon characters, superheroes, pop idols, a holiday, or your child might want to create their own theme.

That being said, be careful not to fall into the parent trap of spending a small fortune buying themed party goods. Consider purchasing just a few themed bright and colorful decorations and/or centerpieces, and then either complement them with less expensive coordinating party supplies and decorations, or make your own — there are plenty of great fun ways to put you and your child’s artistic talent to work to customize your party.

Some crafty ideas kids may love making or having at their party include authentic-looking weathered pirate treasure maps, princess crowns and jewelry, spyglasses made from paper towel rolls, pinatas (handmade or bought), cardboard hooks inserted into the bottom of styrofoam cups to wear on their hands like Captain Hook, paper or felt decorated pirate hats, and bejeweled and personalized loot bags, to name only a few.

Although it requires some time, creativity, and resources, you can make and stage your own treasure hunt game to play as a group or competitively in teams. Design and hide 10 clever clues that lead players step-by-step from one clue to the next, hidden amongst common objects, to ultimately discover the hidden treasure, which might be sacks of “loot” consisting of candy such as chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, or party favors, toys, and other items valuable to children.

Alternatively, if you’re short on time, money, and party ideas like many busy parents and party planners, online sites such as Treasure-Adventure.com offer affordable complete treasure hunts with pre-made custom clues full of rhymes and riddles that kids love to solve, the design of which can be the most time-consuming and difficult part of preparing a treasure hunt.

Use creativity to build your party further around the hunt for a truly fantastic and memorable party that your child and his or her guests will talk about long after the party is over. Although the treasure hunt will likely be the main attraction since it is the most action-packed and engaging, don’t necessarily limit other activities that might complement the hunt such as a cannonball toss using bean bags or water balloons, “Walk the Plank” using a shallow pool full of plastic alligators and snakes, pan for gold using gold spray-painted rock nuggets, dress in costumes, hold a peg-leg relay, make a castle or pirate ship out of an appliance box, play “Blackbeard says,” etc. — the sky is the limit!

Treasure hunts are also not just limited to children or birthday parties, but are perfect for family fun night, slumber parties, classroom parties, picnics, and other group events. Treasure hunts bring parties alive with hours of challenging and fun entertainment, with the thrill of the hunt along with the solving of puzzles often being the most enjoyable and memorable part of the day. And don’t think you can’t top your last party. By using a variety of themes, new treasure hunt clues and decorations, and a little creativity, you can throw many more successful and unique parties for years to come that never go out of style.

“If you’re up to the challenge, spyglass and compass in hand, yer prize is in sight, so let the adventure begin!”

To purchase inexpensive ready-to-play treasure hunt games online and find more valuable information on treasure hunt party planning, visit Treasure-Adventure.com online at http://www.treasure-adventure.com. Games come complete with hiding guides to help you coordinate and pull off the perfect hunt and bring your party to life, come in a variety of themes such as for outdoor and classroom events, and the Treasure-Adventure.com web site also offers party supplies, free downloadable kids activities and games, party and craft ideas such as how to make an authentic looking pirate map, treasure hunting tips, and legends of lost treasure.

Is it time to plan your kid’s birthday party again? Every year around that time you’re wondering – has it been a year already? What are we going to do THIS year? I don’t think I want 20 kids at my house again… so, what other options do we have?

If you’re that mom (or dad), here are some suggestions:

Build-A-Bear Workshop

For the kids who love Teddy Bears – this is the ultimate Teddy Bear birthday party. Kids get to choose a Teddy Bear (or any other animal within the price range selected) and give it a personality by stuffing it, fluffing it, giving it a voice, dressing it up, accessorizing it, and giving it a name. There is also a “Heart Ceremony” where each kid gets to choose a “heart” and make a wish, before placing it inside his animal.

Each kid gets a “Birth Certificate” with his Teddy Bear’s name, and a little cardboard house to take the Teddy Bear home as a goodie bag. Teddy bears, voices, clothes and accessories all vary in prices. You can designate a price range (starting at $10) for each one of the categories that suits your budget. Parties are for 6 kids or more and include a “party leader” who manages the party process and entertains the kids.

Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese is a chain of family entertainment centers and has been a kids’ favorite for many years. It offers indoor fun activities and games for kids of all ages. From play structures, tubes, slides and small rides to Air Hockey tables and arcade games.

Birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese are fun and affordable. Parties are scheduled throughout the day, every day, and combine playtime with party time. Party tables are decorated and set up by the Chuck E. Cheese staff (as well as clean up) and are reserved for 90 minuets.

Every party gets a birthday performance featuring “Chuck E. Cheese and his musical friends” who entertain the kids with a little song and dance show. In a typical party each kid gets Pizza, soft drink, cake and game tokens (number of tokens depends on the package you choose).

The birthday kid gets a collector’s cup, cotton candy, a crown, and a helium balloon. Additional party options such as extra cake, goodie bag, or collector’s cup are available for purchase. You can also bring your own cake and/or ice cream.

Golfland Entertainment Centers

There are currently 9 Golfland Entertainment Centers throughout California and Arizona. Each Golfland has a unique theme and many combine different kinds of attractions. Birthday party packages at Golfland and SunSplash entertainment centers vary for each location. Golfland Birthday Party package ranges between $8.50 – $12.99 per kid (depending on the location) and requires 10 kids minimum.

Basic package may include One round (18 holes) of miniature golf, pizza and soft drinks, arcade tokens, party supplies, and complimentary round of golf for the birthday kid.

The Sunsplash Birthday Party package is for kids 14 years old or younger, and require 10 kids minimum. Each package costs $23.00 per kid Monday – Thursday, and $24.00 per kid Friday – Sunday, and may include all day admission to Sunsplash Waterpark, Hamburger & fries or Pizza and a soft drink, party supplies, and complimentary Waterpark Pass for the Birthday Kid.

There are also add-ons and upgrades that can be purchased for each package (where available): Miniature Golf, Laser Tag, Race Cars, Bumper Boats, Golfland Waterslide, Golfland Arcade, Birthday cakes, Goodie bags, and Ice Cream.

LEGO

For kids 6 and older who love LEGO – this is a dream come true. This ultimate LEGO party offers 1 – 1.5 hours of creative play activity in the LEGO store. Each party is customized for the birthday kid and is led by LEGO party host.

There are different themes for boys and for girls to select from:

BIONICLE
LEGO Star Wars
Mosaics & Creator
LEGO Racers
LEGO CITY

Party package starts at $10 per child, and the minimum number of kids is 5. Each kid get to take home a goodie bag with a set of LEGO, and the birthday kid also gets a LEGO Birthday Brick.

My Gym Children’s Fitness Center

Each birthday party at My Gym is age appropriate and tailored to the birthday kid’s favorite activities and games. Birthday party packages vary from one location to another and may run for 1.5 – 2 hours.

Cost for each party also varies depending on the location and the number of kids, which can be from 15 – 25. Each package may include exclusive play in the gym and is facilitated by My Gym trained teachers.

Activities include games, gymnastics, Space Flight, puppets, rides, songs and other birthday festivities, where the birthday kid is at the heart of the celebration. All kids get to participate in all activities.

My Gym staff will setup and decorate the place, serve the refreshments and even clean up after the party. Party goodie bags can be added to the package at additional cost.

Pump It Up

Pump It Up offers indoor birthday party packages for kids ages 2 and up and features huge inflatable play structures in different shapes and sizes for climbing, sliding, jumping and playing. There are two birthday party packages to choose from:

”Classic party” is for up to 25 kids and “Mini-Classic Party” is for up to 14 kids. The kids get to spend some time in one play area, then move to another play area, and then at the party room.

Both Party packages include Color invitations, party supplies, supervision by trained staff during play time, and Party set up and clean up. Pump It Up goodie bags and inflated helium balloons can be added to each package for additional charge.

The Little Gym

Each birthday party at The Little Gym is tailored for the birthday kid and is facilitated by friendly staff. All parties feature fun activities with movement, and exclusive use of the gym for the duration of the party.

Birthday parties are 90 minutes long and can be scheduled for Saturday or Sunday. Birthday party packages vary for each location.

The cost for each party depends on the location and the number of kids, and may include Two staff members to facilitate the party, setup and cleanup, “The Little Gym” invitations, party supplies, and “The Little Gym” T-shirt for the birthday kid.

YMCA

The “YMCA” is a world-wide not-for-profit community service organization with a special emphasis on community development and
young people. The YMCA’s mission is building a healthy spirit, mind, and body and its motto is “We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities”.

Birthday party packages at the YMCA vary from one location to another. Depending on the facility, some parties may include swimming, games, and sports activities. Cost varies for each location.

For more details about each party place and photo gallery please visit the Birthday Party Places section of our website: http://www.cool-kids-places.com/birthday-party-places.html.