Train Birthday Party for the Little Ones

Boys and girls of all ages have a deep and abiding love of trains. From Thomas the Tank to The Little Engine that Could, trains make an excellent theme for a birthday party for your favorite youngster. The great news is that there are plenty of great party favors and decorations on the market to make your train theme carry through all aspects of the birthday party.

You can purchase invitations that are shaped like a train and appropriate for the specific train theme you have in mind. Even old-fashioned steam engines make a fascinating setting and theme for little ones who are filled with imagination. You do not need to go overboard on the decorations for a train themed party in order to get the theme apart but there are some great goody bags that can be made in keeping with the theme.

A train piñata is a great way to get the kids in on the action and having a great time. You may also choose to have all the little ones dress up as a train engineer for a little interactive fun with your train birthday party idea. You can also choose to play a DVD of your favorite train story for the entertainment of the little ones and in hopes of a little bit of quiet time before the sugar induced highs of after cake time.

Speaking of cake, there are plenty of cake forms and cake themes that are ideal for train cakes and children's birthday parties. From the popular character cakes that are related to trains to other train themes such as The Polar Express there are plenty from which to choose when it comes to the perfect birthday cake for your train themed party. A little cake with a little ice cream and it will soon be time to take a whack at the train themed piñata mentioned earlier.

Most party supply stores should have an abundance of train themed party supplies. From hats to plates, cups, and napkins there should be plenty of wonderful party supplies to help you convey the train theme of the party with little additional efforts unless, of course, streamers and other party supplies are needed. Your little ones are very special after all and as parents we all want to do our very best to insure that each party is a special memory fit for a lifetime.

Goody bags are becoming a more and more important part of birthday parties in modern society. The train themed birthday party lends itself to plenty of train themed goody bag fillers. Among those wonderful items are coloring books, storybooks, puzzles, train whistles (their parents will love you and it is the perfect revenge for the air horn your child came home with), and stickers. This is a great way for your child to give back to those who have given him or her gifts while providing something appropriate to the theme for everyone to remember this particular party by.

If you are looking for a little something extra for your child's train themed birthday party you might want to talk to local train companies and see if there is a train museum near by or if you can possibly book a train car or a room at the train depot in which to host the party. This will create a very special memory for your little one and everyone that attended the party. Some trains actually run day trips that last a couple of hours. This will be a thrilling party experience for your little one's friends if you can manage this great escape of a train themed birthday party. You may also talk to those in charge at the train station for ideas and suggestions they may have to make your child's special day a little more thrilling. Just remember that after a party like this, next year will be a hard act to follow.

Throwing a Mardi Gras Birthday Bash

Mardi Gras is almost synonymous in many circles with fun and festivity. From the novelty of getting 'throws' from the parade routes to the revelry of the movie and exotic spices in the food and the great flavor of the drinks that flow freely Mardi Gras is known as a great time to be had by one and all. Though few around the world will ever experience the true debauchery of an earnest French Quarter Mardi Gras you can use the Mardi Gras theme and the "let the good times roll" attitude that has made the New Orleans spin on Mardi Gras a sight to behold around the world to your very own celebration of life. Life is, after all, what Mardi Gras revelers are celebrating first and foremost.

If you are wondering where to begin this is a toss up. I'm not certain which is more important when it comes to bringing the feeling of an honest to goodness Mardi Gras celebration worthy of the Crescent City. Would it be the food or the music? I guess that depends on the things that are most important to your celebratory needs and what kind of facilities and equipment you have available for most. The music for Mardi Gras should be fitting of the season and of celebrations, yes even if the one celebrating is a bit over the hill (be sure to include a genuine New Orleans funeral march in the mix if this is the case however). You can find excellent sources of Mardi Gras music in CD format online for your listening and birthday party pleasure.

The food of New Orleans is glorious indeed though many necessary ingredients may be a bit difficult to come by once the bayou has been left far behind. No matter where you are though it is quite possible to order many boxed mixes of New Orleans favorites that will work well with the Mardi Gras theme for your birthday party. If you want to hold true to the spirit of Mardi Gras you will opt for King Cake rather than a traditional birthday cake though a normal cake decorated in the purple, gold, and green of Mardi Gras will do in a pinch. Red beans and rice, jambalaya, bread pudding, gumbo, and oyster po-boys are excellent fits for a Mardi Gras theme if ingredients and the mood strikes.

Purple, gold, and green are the colors of Mardi Gras so be sure to use them well when decorating for your Mardi Gras themed birthday parties. Great party favors include items such as beads in the famous colors of Mardi Gras, doubloons, and feathered masks. The idea is to be fun and festive and you don't really need to spend a fortune in order to do this. Most party supply stores can get everything you would need for an unforgettable Mardi Gras birthday party no matter what time of year it is. Whatever you can't find locally it is more than likely you will be able to find online with minimal effort to suit your Mardi Gras Birthday party needs.

If it's a large gathering with people of varying ages you may want to use a punch bowl with non-alcoholic hurricanes to make it a little bit more authentic. If this is an adult only gathering be sure to include a little bit of the good stuff in the mix for that oh so potent kick. Hurricanes have taken on a bit of a new meaning in the aftermath of Katrina though it is still an important drink in the New Orleans tradition.

Let the party take you where it leads but remember that the real goal is to celebrate yet another year of living with as much zeal as possible. Regardless of anything else those who live, work, and play in the City that Care Forgot know how to throw a real good bash. Check out favorite Cajun recipes, order a boatload of good drinks, bring in great friends, and pipe in the music for an unforgettable event.

The Wild Wild West Birthday Bash

There is that little kid in all of us that wishes we could have been around in the days of the Wild West. Whether your interests were in blazing new trails into undiscovered country, riding the range, going on a cattle drive, homesteading, or panning for gold there is something romantic about the old west that so many of us find appealing whether male or female, old or young.

The Wild West lends itself to many wonderful and exciting birthday party themes for the brave host or hostess. Hopefully some of the ideas mentioned below will get your creative wheels turning and help you plan the perfect birthday party for the Wild West Wannabe in your life.

Wagon Trail. You can create a wagon trail of sorts of your own, in your own back yard. This is great for younger cowboys and trailblazers. All you really need is a covered wagon (feel free to use your imagination for this), an open fire (check with local regulations but open fires are great for cooking hot dogs, s'mores, and using a Dutch oven for stew as well as warmth and light at night (especially if this is an overnight party).

Gold Rush. This can be a blast, literally if you aren't careful with the TNT. Seriously make fake TNT for decoration as well as rocks that have been painted gold, frosted mugs for the root beer (especially if the crowd is under 21), and chicken nuggets and corn nuggets for lunch with a gold themed birthday cake to top things off. Have everyone dress up like prospectors and go out panning for gold if you have a creek nearby that would be safe for 'prospecting'. It's a great outing and a lot of fun for everyone. Even if you don't strike gold you might find an interesting rock or two that make excellent keepsakes.

Of course there are the cowboys of the old Wild West. You will want to wear cowboy boots, a hat, a bandana, and a six-shooter on your hip for added effect. Great food would be anything that can be made on a grill though hot dogs are a general favorite among a younger cowpoke audience. Barbecue is a good choice for adult Wild West parties and the cowboys need to be sure to have a good cowgirl by their sides. Square dancing is a great entertainment that can be fun even in birthday parties for little ones. Of course the birthday boy or girl should get a sheriff's badge to distinguish them from all the other guests at the rodeo. In fact, you might find that a trip to the rodeo is a perfect accompaniment to the Wild West Cowboy party theme.

The important thing when bringing a touch of the Wild West to your birthday bash is to remember to work to make it fun for everyone. If you are going to have guests of all ages, make sure that there are appropriate activities to keep them all entertained and happy rather than; isolating events to suit the target age group of the big event. This makes for happier parents, happier children, and guests that stick around longer and want to return next year to see what new and wonderful ideas you will come up with.

The Perfect Birthday Party for your Little Princess

A princess birthday party is what almost every little girl dreams of at some point in her childhood. Make your little princess' dream a reality by planning the perfect princess party for her. There are so many things you can do with the princess theme that will be both fun and incredibly memorable. Regardless of what you decide to do be sure that there are plenty of cameras on hands for lots of fantastic pictures.

There are all kinds of great party games that can be played at a princess party and the best place to look for inspiration is your favorite childhood fairy tales. Instead of pin the tail on the donkey how about a rousing game of kiss the frog? Instead of running around with a tail to pin in a donkey your little princess and all of her princess friends can run around trying to pin a pair of puckered lips on the frog. It's a fun variation on a traditional birthday party favorite.

For crafts you can have each party princess make her very own tiara to wear for the day's festivities. It's a lot of fun, it gets all the little girls together, quietly one hopes, in one spot and concentrating on a specific task. They will also have this great keepsake to bring home with them. You'll want to be sure to get a photo of each princess wearing her tiara as another souvenir. You can also opt to craft a photo frame in the princess theme for each princess to make to hold her tiara photo and take home with her. Crafts are often quite inexpensive and are a lot of fun for the little princesses and their moms to work on together.

Keep the food down to finger food that is low mess and princess approved. Cake and ice cream are almost required but if the party is going to last for any length of time you might want to include ham and cheese rollups, finger sandwiches, a fruit and veggie tray, and a few cookies for a light lunch and a little nourishment for the parents that brave the onslaught of pink to come along. Don't forget to have princess punch with your favorite red powdered drink, ginger ale (or lemon lime soda), and vanilla ice cream.

Of course no princess party is really complete with a bard telling tales. Have readings of favorite princess fairy tales and perhaps a viewing of a beloved fairy tale movie (such as Disney's Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, or Snow White). This provides a little more quiet time in which the princesses can settle down and the craft table can be cleaned up to prepare for the cake, ice cream, and presents later on.

Don't forget to get great goodie bags for all the little princess guests. One of the best ideas I've found is a princess purse filled with little brushes, lip-gloss, and plastic jewelry make a great haul for the guests and are a lot of fun to put together.

Decorations should be rather simple, pink and lavender or green streamers are great for the theme and confetti followed with plates, cups, and napkins in a color that is appropriate for the party theme (if there is a specific princess being honored) are a great beginning and younger children really do not need much more decoration than that unless of course you have a princess that has a soft spot for balloons. In that case enough cannot be said about the importance of balloons.

All in all, creating a spectacular princess party for your little princess isn't as difficult as one might think and can be done quite nicely even on a budget. The important thing is to have plenty of food and plenty of fun items and activities to keep your little princess and all of her princess friends busy from the beginning to the end of the party.

The Margaritaville Birthday Theme Party

For pirates of all ages, shapes, and sizes there is little better than a Jimmy Buffett themed birthday party for fun and play. Much more than good music Jimmy Buffett has created a lifestyle all his own through his music and with the enthusiastic support of his fans. His music isn't limited to one genre and doesn't appeal to one specific culture, instead the appeal is nearly limitless, which makes this a great theme for a birthday party that is open to an audience of all ages though a firm favorite for celebrating the big 4-0 as the result of "A Pirate Looks at 40."

To pull off an excellent Margaritaville party blenders and ice are a must. The next thing you need to worry about is food. Some great food ideas for a Margaritaville themed party would be boiled shrimp, build your own cheeseburgers' (in paradise of course), complimentary finger foods and fixings, and a little bit of sponge cake and/or fruitcake probably wouldn't hurt things at all. They would definitely work wonders to the Jimmy Buffett approved theme of the party. If you are in serious need of inspiration for menu ideas check out the menu at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Café.

If you are in the right climate and the weather is cooperative a patio or backyard party is definitely the way to go. Decorate with tikki lights, shark fins, flowers, coconuts, and any other tropical themes that capture your attention and imagination. Be sure to put grass skirts on the tables you set up with the fabulous foods, and place a nice tikki bar for serving the required margaritas. You can also choose to serve non-alcoholic margaritas to the little ones if there will be children in attendance and have them available for adults that are driving or do not wish to partake. Have fun with the food and keep it appropriate for a tropical or Jimmy Buffett theme.

Music is a must for this particular birthday party theme. You simply can't recreate Margaritaville without the sounds of the town blaring out across your speakers. You do not need to limit the music of the evening to Jimmy Buffett though he should play a prominent role in the entertainment for the evening. Other great sounds that will compliment the theme of the evening include the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, and Bobby McFerrin. Of course use your imagination and go with your taste. My personal preference would be a showcase of all things Jimmy Buffett for the evening but that doesn't work for everyone.

Be sure to take measures to insure that everyone makes it home safely if you are serving alcohol and work to make sure that everyone has a fun and memorable evening in Margaritaville. You might want to include contests such as the loudest "Hawaiian shirt" for extra fun or the most memorable flip-flops. Remember the goal is to have fun and make sure that everyone attending has fun also. If you have the equipment Jimmy Buffet karaoke is a must and video recordings for future black mail and a recording of the revelry are also highly recommended. All in all, Margaritaville is a place that many of us dream of going to escape the every day. Wouldn't it be a great theme for a birthday party that makes that day a little more special than the rest for everyone invited and not just the one celebrating?

The next time you are lost for a great theme to add to your birthday party theme inventory, consider the benefit to one and all of adding an evening under the stars and on the sand to your plans. Margaritaville is the perfect setting for a truly festive celebration no matter how old the pirate in your life may be. Just remember to keep the saltshaker in sight at all times and the party should go off without a hitch.

Teddy Bear Birthday Party Theme

What little girl doesn't have a special spot in her heart for her favorite teddy bear? I know our little angel calls her teddy bear her best friend and loves this bear more than life itself. It has been her constant companion since she was the ripe old age of six weeks old and has calmed her through hurt feelings, nightmares, and new houses, as well as fights with her brother and scolds from mom and dad. Her teddy bear is her friend, protector, defender, and confident. For this reason it should come as no surprise that a favorite birthday party idea for our little girl was a birthday in which bears reigned supreme.

The first thought that many have when it comes to Teddy Bears and a birthday party with Teddy, as its main theme is probably the Build a Bear Workshop or other similar businesses. While these are great for parties and give each girl attending a little something to take home with her, they are also quite expensive. If you want to spend a little less there are plenty of options. If you want to make all of her friends want you as parents, the Build a Bear party plan really is grand. Keep in mind though that if you think she's going to abandon her lifelong companion (unfluffed and coming unstuffed teddy bear numero uno) for the Build a Bear bear think again. She will just now have two bears sharing her nighttime cuddles trust me on this.

Another great thought for teddy bear parties is of a slumber or pajama party with teddy bears having a place of honor with each and every one of the very important guests. Teddy bears and other stuffed animals are often security blankets of sorts for young girls in stressful situations or that are away from home. They help smooth the transition and make the night go better despite the fact that some girls are ashamed of their need for their fluffy friends. By inviting your guests and their favorite teddy bear or sleepy time companion you are inviting them to bring their security and a touch of home along with them. This will help calm scared children and make a night away from home less frightening.

A Teddy Bear tea party is another great way to go. Teddy bears share everything with their human companions; it makes perfect sense that they will also share teatime. You should decorate this tea as any other tea with flowers, the tea set, and have a seat for teddy bear next to every little girl in attendence. If you want to be extremely fancy you can have place cards to assign seating for bears and girls along with gloves and hats for the girls to wear during the festivities. Food should be finger food such as teacakes and cookies, finger sandwiches, and punch in teacups of course. You will want to take photos of these girls in their Sunday best having tea with their best friends and send them home in keepsake frames. This will be a party to remember and a lot of fun for the kids and parents. Just remember to wipe the crumbs from Teddy's face so that he is ready for his close-up and have a world of fun.

Sweet 16 Birthday Party

The 16th Birthday for most young girls is a very special birthday. It is one that should be made memorable and there are many ways in which this can be accomplished. If you are like many moms and dads out there you might be a bit challenged is to exactly how to make that birthday stand out above and beyond the rest, especially in light of what seems to be competing and often escalating birthday celebrations. Keep reading for some excellent birthday party ideas to make your daughter's day shine.

While there are many friends that your daughter will have and many Sweet 16 parties she will attend you want to make her birthday party a little bit unique. For this reason there are several party ideas that will be mentioned below. You can elaborate on one theme or mix and match a few themes that capture your attention. Regardless any of these themes should be a little something special to make the day, or evening, a special event full of fond memories for your teen.

Throw a masquerade ball. This allows everyone to dress in costumes, dance, drink punch, and have a ball, figuratively of course. This can be a lot of fun and you can even have those in attendence make their own masks for the grand event even if you choose not to use costumes and go a little less formal. Use plenty of balloons to set the stage and make the evening quite an event.

You can have a spa event for an all girls sweet 16. This event would include having facials, pedicures, makeovers, and a great chick flick for the evening, followed, of course by copious amounts of Haagen-Dazs(r). A great way to do this is by approaching your favorite home party plan representative from a company such as Mary Kay or Beauty Control for the spa portion of the party (be sure to invite parents and have friends bring money to buy their favorite products). It's a great way to get a makeover inexpensively and learn about proper application of cosmetics and which colors suit your needs.

If these ideas aren't appealing, how about a Surf's Up Sweet 16? Even if you aren't near a beach you may discover that you can bring the feeling of the beach to your own back yard. Be sure to have surfboards to set the theme and plenty of tikki types of decorations and some excellent surfing music. You could take the event one step further and make it a luau. Use your imagination and make it an event to remember.

Make your Sweet 16 a Red Carpet Event. This is a great idea for a birthday party. It allows all your friends to make a grand entrance, that you can record with a video or digital camera in their beautiful dresses (you can go semiformal if finances are a concern), and can make great scrapbooks that everyone can take home if you have a computer, scanner, and printer at home. Don't forget to create Oscar worthy goodie bags with great little gifts from the local party supply store or Bath and Body works. It's a lot of fun as far as parties go and may be a little something new and different among friends.

There really is no one way that is right or wrong for celebrating your daughter's Sweet 16. The important thing is that you create a budget and plan your party theme to fit within the scope of your budget. Even with limited funds you can have an excellent birthday bash for your teen on her sixteenth. The ideas above are a great place to start. Hopefully you will take one of these ideas and make it your own or at the very least have jump-started a few new and different ideas to add to your growing list of hits, near hits, and misses. You may just have the one hit that will make your daughter's eyes light up.