Pass the Sand
Ingredients
Containers
Sand
To Play
Divide the group into two teams and line them up.
Have the person in each line grab a handful of sand from a container. They must pass the sand to the next player, who passes it to the next, and so on down the line.
When the sand reaches the last player, he/she pours what is left of it on a plate. The team with the most sand wins the game. (You may have to weigh the sand on a food scale if it's close.)
Tug of Water
Ingredients
Sprinkler
Garden Hose or rope
To Play
Set up the sprinkler in the middle of the lawn and turn it on.
Divide the group into two teams and have each team hold an end of the garden hose or a rope.
On the word "Go!" have the teams try to pull their opponents into the sprinkler.
Pop the Piranha
Ingredients
Balloons
Felt-Tip Permanent Markers
Kiddy Pools
To Play
Inflate balloons and tie them off.
Using black felt-tip permanent markers, draw fish faces on the balloons.
Toss balloons into the kiddy pool, one for each child.
On the word "Go!" have the kids jump into the pool and try to grab/pop a wet and slippery balloon.
Go Fishing
Ingredients
Plastic toys
Magnetic Tape
Kiddy Pool
Sticks and String
To Play
Buy some plastic toys and attach a piece of magnetic tape to each one.
Make fishing poles out of sticks and string with magnets tied to the bottom of the string.
Drop the toys into the bottom of the pool. Give the kids the fishing poles.
Let the kids fish for their "prize" in the kiddy pool.
Toss n' Soak
Ingredients
Plastic Pool
Water
Rubber Ball
To Play
Fill up a plastic pool with water and have kids stand around the outside of the pool.
They must toss the ball back and forth to one another and try to catch it.
If the ball hits the water, the child who failed to catch the ball is "out." Whomever is left standing last wins.
Poison
This is a game where there is one lucky person who is "it."
Ingredients
2 Bases
Dodge Ball
To Play
Someone stands between two bases. In our backyard we made the "bases" a fence at one end of the yard and a brick wall at the other end of the yard. The player is allowed to move anywhere between those 2 bases.
He is given a ball, and his goal is to try to hit at least one of the people while they are running from base to base.
Obviously, once people are on the base they are "safe." Once he hits someone else with the ball, that person becomes "it." There is no actual winner of this game, but it is action packed and it can go on for hours until the players get tired.
What Time is it Mr. Fox?
Ingredients
Base
To Play
There is one person who is "Mr. Fox", and everyone else is trying to stay away from him or her. We used to play this from the top to the bottom of a driveway, but it can be played anywhere as long as there is enough room to run. Mr. Fox usually stands at the part of the driveway closest to the house.
Everyone else stands on the designated base and asks in unison, "What time is it Mr. Fox?" As Mr. Fox responds with the time, it can be any time that Mr. Fox would like it to be.
Each person needs to take the number of steps that correspond with the time toward Mr. Fox. For example, if Mr. Fox says it's 4 o'clock, everyone takes 4 steps toward him. It is up to the individual how large they make each step.
The group continues to ask the same question, while Mr. Fox replies with different answers as to "what time it is." Before the players reach Mr. Fox he or she answers the question "What time is it Mr. Fox," he turns around and answers, "It's time to eat you!"
He chases everyone until he catches someone, or everyone makes it back to the base safely. If anyone is caught, then they become "Mr. Fox." (There is no winner to this game either.)
Scavenger Hunt
This is a game that is usually relatively inexpensive and time-consuming, good for both kids and parents.
Ingredients
Index Cards
To Play
Write out clues on index cards.
Give the partygoers clues that take them from place to place. Perhaps this game could begin at the house of the party host/hostess, and the final clue could lead to the party destination.
The team that arrives at the final destination first wins! Or instead of a Scavenger Hunt have kids solve a Detective's Case. Set out clues all over the yard and have kids collect them. Then the kids have to figure out what the clues mean. You might have them find clues to making a pizza, building a scarecrow, or solving a puzzle.
Keep it Dry
A fun swimming pool game!
Ingredients
Stone
Cotton Ball
Marshmallow
Pool
To Play
Give each player a small object that changes when it gets wet, such as a stone, cotton ball, or a marshmallow.
Players must try to swim from one end of the pool to the other without getting their object wet. The swimmer with the driest object wins.
Butterfingers Ball
Ingredients
Ball
Pool
To Play
As one player jumps off the diving board or platform, another player stands in the shallow end (or on the side) and throws the ball to the jumper, who tries to catch the ball and hold it until he/she hits the water.
Prizes
Inflatable Pool Toys
Water Guns
Summer Fun Gift Basket: Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Beach Towel
Gold Fish
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Grilled Shrimp
One way to get your guests in a party mood is to serve shrimp. When prepared properly, shrimp are succulent and tasty and usually the first thing you will run out of at a party. Since you will have the grill going for your burgers, dogs and wings you might as well toss a few shrimp on the grill and get the party started. When buying your shrimp look for U/10 or U/12 sized shrimp. The “U” part means that there are less than (under) 10 or 12 shrimp per pound. So two pounds of U/12 shrimp would give you about 24 hearty shrimp.
Ingredients
2 pounds of the largest shrimp you can find, cleaned and de-veined.
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of crushed garlic
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of fresh ground pepper
Dipping Sauce
1 bottle (12 ounces) of your favorite hot sauce
2 tablespoons of fresh mayonnaise
2 teaspoons of horseradish
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Add the shrimp and toss to coat.
Let the shrimp marinate in the mixture for at least one hour.
While the shrimp are marinating, mix together the hot sauce, mayonnaise, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and the salt.
Cover the sauce with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
Once the shrimp have marinated, grill them on the hottest part of your grill about two minutes per side until done. Don’t overcook the shrimp or they will be rubbery rather than tender.
Ingredients
2 pounds of the largest shrimp you can find, cleaned and de-veined.
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of crushed garlic
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of fresh ground pepper
Dipping Sauce
1 bottle (12 ounces) of your favorite hot sauce
2 tablespoons of fresh mayonnaise
2 teaspoons of horseradish
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Add the shrimp and toss to coat.
Let the shrimp marinate in the mixture for at least one hour.
While the shrimp are marinating, mix together the hot sauce, mayonnaise, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and the salt.
Cover the sauce with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
Once the shrimp have marinated, grill them on the hottest part of your grill about two minutes per side until done. Don’t overcook the shrimp or they will be rubbery rather than tender.
Deviled Eggs
Appetizers that can be made ahead of time and served cold can be a relief to both the guests and the host. Your guests will naturally appreciate a cool snack on a hot day and as a host anything that can be made the day before is just one less thing to worry about on the day of the party. This is where the good-old picnic and barbeque stand-by deviled eggs comes into play. These tasty treats can be made by the dozens and since the recipe mainly consists of mixing the yolks and filling the whites you can even get the kids to help out.
Ingredients
12 hard boiled eggs
½ cup of crème fraiche or sour cream
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons of parsley flakes
4 strips of bacon, fried crisp and chopped
Paprika to garnish
Instructions
Chill the eggs and then peel them.
Slice the eggs in half lengthwise.
Remove the yolks and save the whites.
Mix the yolks with the crème fraiche or sour cream, salt, pepper, parsley flakes, and bacon.
Carefully spoon or pipe the yolk mixture back into the egg whites.
Dust the yolk mixture with a pinch of paprika.
Refrigerate until time to serve.
Ingredients
12 hard boiled eggs
½ cup of crème fraiche or sour cream
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons of parsley flakes
4 strips of bacon, fried crisp and chopped
Paprika to garnish
Instructions
Chill the eggs and then peel them.
Slice the eggs in half lengthwise.
Remove the yolks and save the whites.
Mix the yolks with the crème fraiche or sour cream, salt, pepper, parsley flakes, and bacon.
Carefully spoon or pipe the yolk mixture back into the egg whites.
Dust the yolk mixture with a pinch of paprika.
Refrigerate until time to serve.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hiring a Party Planning Professional
If the party you are planning is very large or you are just lacking the time to plan a party at this point in your life, you might want to consider hiring a professional party planning business for help. These skilled experts know how to handle all facets of your upcoming party and can take the burden off your shoulders.
Here are some tips for hiring a party planning professional:
Ask for referrals from friends, colleagues, caterers and local businesses. Set up appointments for consultations.
Scope out the Better Business Bureau before hiring a party planning business to see if any complaints have been made against that business.
Interview prospects. Ask how many events like yours the planner has done in the past. Ask for her creative ideas. Ask how she troubleshoots and handles mishaps.
Consider his or her track record. Every event planner worth his or her weight has a portfolio.
List the tasks you want taken off your shoulders.
Discuss whether you will be billed by the event, by the hour or as a percentage of the total cost of the party. Talk about how willing you are to go over budget.
If it would make you more comfortable, call references or drop by an event the professional you are considering is conducting in the near future to scope out the scene.
Jot down your ideas, theme, color considerations, entertainment preferences, and anything you feel you want personalized for your professional.
Once you hire someone, let go. If you micromanage that person, you might as well have saved the money and done it all yourself. Keep in mind that the purpose of your hired professional is to ease the burden on yourself.
Here are some tips for hiring a party planning professional:
Ask for referrals from friends, colleagues, caterers and local businesses. Set up appointments for consultations.
Scope out the Better Business Bureau before hiring a party planning business to see if any complaints have been made against that business.
Interview prospects. Ask how many events like yours the planner has done in the past. Ask for her creative ideas. Ask how she troubleshoots and handles mishaps.
Consider his or her track record. Every event planner worth his or her weight has a portfolio.
List the tasks you want taken off your shoulders.
Discuss whether you will be billed by the event, by the hour or as a percentage of the total cost of the party. Talk about how willing you are to go over budget.
If it would make you more comfortable, call references or drop by an event the professional you are considering is conducting in the near future to scope out the scene.
Jot down your ideas, theme, color considerations, entertainment preferences, and anything you feel you want personalized for your professional.
Once you hire someone, let go. If you micromanage that person, you might as well have saved the money and done it all yourself. Keep in mind that the purpose of your hired professional is to ease the burden on yourself.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Easter Party
Celebrate Easter with an egg hunt in your yard or nearby park, Easter crafts, and special treats.
Younger children will enjoy a Peter Rabbit themed tea party.
Fun Invitation ideas for an Easter Party include:
paper egg shape decorated with markers and glitter
in shape of easter bunny
note folded inside a plastic egg with some jelly beans
written on the outside of real hardboiled egg
Fun Decorations for an Easter Party include:
plastic eggs or real dyed hard boiled eggs
stuffed toy bunnies
pastel colored balloons
Fun Games & Activities for an Easter Party include:
guess how many jelly beans in jar
egg hunt (plastic filled with small favors) or decorated hard boiled eggs
pin the tail on the bunny
relay races with easter eggs
More Games & Activities!
Fun Arts & Crafts for an Easter Party include:
easter egg decorating
easter basket decorating
modeling clay or pipe cleaner bunnies
spring collage (construction paper, magazine photos, old cards, etc.)
bunny masks or hats
Fun Foods for an Easter Party include:
bunny shaped mac & cheese (Annie's brand available in health food stores)
baby carrots with dip and black olives
fruit salad
easter basket cupcakes (green shredded coconut and jelly beans)
Easter Bunny cake
Easter Basket cake
Fun Party Favors for an Easter Party include:
coloring books
stickers
blowing bubbles
sidewalk chalk
fruit leathers
jump rope
Younger children will enjoy a Peter Rabbit themed tea party.
Fun Invitation ideas for an Easter Party include:
paper egg shape decorated with markers and glitter
in shape of easter bunny
note folded inside a plastic egg with some jelly beans
written on the outside of real hardboiled egg
Fun Decorations for an Easter Party include:
plastic eggs or real dyed hard boiled eggs
stuffed toy bunnies
pastel colored balloons
Fun Games & Activities for an Easter Party include:
guess how many jelly beans in jar
egg hunt (plastic filled with small favors) or decorated hard boiled eggs
pin the tail on the bunny
relay races with easter eggs
More Games & Activities!
Fun Arts & Crafts for an Easter Party include:
easter egg decorating
easter basket decorating
modeling clay or pipe cleaner bunnies
spring collage (construction paper, magazine photos, old cards, etc.)
bunny masks or hats
Fun Foods for an Easter Party include:
bunny shaped mac & cheese (Annie's brand available in health food stores)
baby carrots with dip and black olives
fruit salad
easter basket cupcakes (green shredded coconut and jelly beans)
Easter Bunny cake
Easter Basket cake
Fun Party Favors for an Easter Party include:
coloring books
stickers
blowing bubbles
sidewalk chalk
fruit leathers
jump rope
Saturday, April 4, 2009
4th of July Party for Pennies
Forth of July is right around the corner and it’s a great time to celebrate our freedom. A celebration for this holiday does not need to cost a lot.
Invitations- Call your friends, use Evite to send electronic invitations, or purchase some inexpensive flags and tie a homemade invitation to the flag. Then place the flag in the recipients yard. Keep in mind that some people may have vacation plans. So don’t take it personally if there are not as many people able to attend as you expected.
Food- Ask everyone to bring a dish or beverage. Don’t forget about drinks, condiments, dessert, and plates.
Activities- Watch the fireworks, have relay races with balloons between the legs, eggs on a spoon, and wheel barrel races. Consider card games or a game that you have sitting in the garage such as boccie ball, bad mitten, basketball, etc.
Decorations- Of course you’ll want to decorate in red, white, and blue. Purchase red, white, and blue balloons, streamers, plates, napkins, and straws.
I hope you have fun!
Cost- (Ten People)
Invitations- $0-$1.50 per invite
Activities- $0 or include a prize
Food- $30
Decorations- $20
Total- $50
*This party idea is part of a series called Party for Pennies which started since talk of a recession. BestPartyEver.com’s goal is to bring people together through celebration.
Invitations- Call your friends, use Evite to send electronic invitations, or purchase some inexpensive flags and tie a homemade invitation to the flag. Then place the flag in the recipients yard. Keep in mind that some people may have vacation plans. So don’t take it personally if there are not as many people able to attend as you expected.
Food- Ask everyone to bring a dish or beverage. Don’t forget about drinks, condiments, dessert, and plates.
Activities- Watch the fireworks, have relay races with balloons between the legs, eggs on a spoon, and wheel barrel races. Consider card games or a game that you have sitting in the garage such as boccie ball, bad mitten, basketball, etc.
Decorations- Of course you’ll want to decorate in red, white, and blue. Purchase red, white, and blue balloons, streamers, plates, napkins, and straws.
I hope you have fun!
Cost- (Ten People)
Invitations- $0-$1.50 per invite
Activities- $0 or include a prize
Food- $30
Decorations- $20
Total- $50
*This party idea is part of a series called Party for Pennies which started since talk of a recession. BestPartyEver.com’s goal is to bring people together through celebration.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pool Party
Just had a lovely pool installed in your backyard? The best way to celebrate this new feature of your house – and to brag about the new pool to friends, family and neighbors – is to host a pool party.
Pool parties are often held during the summer, which is not surprising because most people are looking for excuses to cool down from the heat on that season. Since your guests will be looking for something to drive the heat away, you have to make sure that your pool party will be a cool place to be, at least for that designated time. You do not have to worry, though. With a little preparation, your pool party can become the talk of the neighborhood for the next few weeks.
Pool Party Invitations
No one is going to show up at your party if you do not invite people. Calling people or sending them emails to invite them may not be enough and your invites may forget. Thus, you have to be creative about your invitations – make them so your potential guests will not forget about your party.
One idea would be to print out your invitations on small blue sheets of paper. Do not forget to include the time and date of your party in your invitation, and always ask for an RSVP. Roll these sheets of paper and then insert them in small bottles. For an added measure of fun, put in some confetti or sand inside the bottle as well.
Decor and Props
While the main attraction that your party shall have is none other than your pool, doing a little decorating helps too. You can set up a few tiki lamps around the pool, especially when your party is going to last through the night. You can also arrange small tables covered each with a tablecloth with a summery pattern and topped with a flower arrangement of sunflowers, yellow daisies or yellow roses.
Make sure that there are enough chairs for your guests to sit in. You may have to designate a specific room in your house to be used as a changing room. Floats, beach balls and water guns may also be handy to have around during the party.
Music
Parties must have music. You do not have to hire a DJ for your pool party. You can just burn two or three CDs with summery tracks, like the songs of the Beach Boys. If you think the Beach Boys is a little overused already, you can go for reggae or any other current dance hits. Be careful to match your music with the average age of your guests, though. Your music should be something that everyone will enjoy listening to and put them in a partying mood.
Food and Drinks
What is a party without food and drinks? The worst thing that can happen to a party is for guests to go hungry and thirsty. Since your party is going to be a pool party, it would not require a sit-down meal. So, finger foods and cocktail dishes would do. Kebabs, tortillas with salsa, small sandwiches, salads, shrimp cocktails, chicken and beef wraps, and fruit tarts would do well for your menu.
As for drinks, you would not go wrong with serving daiquiris, piña coladas, margaritas and beer. Keep some sodas and fruit juices as well for those who do not want to drink alcohol.
Party Favors
So your guests would remember your party for weeks to come, you have to give out party favors as parting gifts. Your party favors can be anything that can fit with a beach theme, such as little bottles of cologne or sunscreen lotion, shell paperweights, shell jewelry or accessories for women, and other such items.
Pool parties are often held during the summer, which is not surprising because most people are looking for excuses to cool down from the heat on that season. Since your guests will be looking for something to drive the heat away, you have to make sure that your pool party will be a cool place to be, at least for that designated time. You do not have to worry, though. With a little preparation, your pool party can become the talk of the neighborhood for the next few weeks.
Pool Party Invitations
No one is going to show up at your party if you do not invite people. Calling people or sending them emails to invite them may not be enough and your invites may forget. Thus, you have to be creative about your invitations – make them so your potential guests will not forget about your party.
One idea would be to print out your invitations on small blue sheets of paper. Do not forget to include the time and date of your party in your invitation, and always ask for an RSVP. Roll these sheets of paper and then insert them in small bottles. For an added measure of fun, put in some confetti or sand inside the bottle as well.
Decor and Props
While the main attraction that your party shall have is none other than your pool, doing a little decorating helps too. You can set up a few tiki lamps around the pool, especially when your party is going to last through the night. You can also arrange small tables covered each with a tablecloth with a summery pattern and topped with a flower arrangement of sunflowers, yellow daisies or yellow roses.
Make sure that there are enough chairs for your guests to sit in. You may have to designate a specific room in your house to be used as a changing room. Floats, beach balls and water guns may also be handy to have around during the party.
Music
Parties must have music. You do not have to hire a DJ for your pool party. You can just burn two or three CDs with summery tracks, like the songs of the Beach Boys. If you think the Beach Boys is a little overused already, you can go for reggae or any other current dance hits. Be careful to match your music with the average age of your guests, though. Your music should be something that everyone will enjoy listening to and put them in a partying mood.
Food and Drinks
What is a party without food and drinks? The worst thing that can happen to a party is for guests to go hungry and thirsty. Since your party is going to be a pool party, it would not require a sit-down meal. So, finger foods and cocktail dishes would do. Kebabs, tortillas with salsa, small sandwiches, salads, shrimp cocktails, chicken and beef wraps, and fruit tarts would do well for your menu.
As for drinks, you would not go wrong with serving daiquiris, piña coladas, margaritas and beer. Keep some sodas and fruit juices as well for those who do not want to drink alcohol.
Party Favors
So your guests would remember your party for weeks to come, you have to give out party favors as parting gifts. Your party favors can be anything that can fit with a beach theme, such as little bottles of cologne or sunscreen lotion, shell paperweights, shell jewelry or accessories for women, and other such items.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)