Simple Photo Tips

My family took tons of pictures at my last party and they are a wonderful collection of memories! Photos are so important and can help your children remember their best birthdays!
Here are some simple tips to try:
1. Designate a party photographer! If you are the one cutting the cake, it is hard to squeeze in time for taking pictures too. Maybe a relative or big brother/sister can help.
2. Child's perspective! Take pictures from your child's perspective. Take a knee and get down to their level for portraits of your little guests.   
3. Lots of Levels! Stand on a chair, sit on the floor. Take one of the entire party scene and then zoom in.
4. Details, details, details! Take close-ups of all your party elements: cake, decor, table and presents.
5. Candid camera! Sometimes the best photos are taken when no one is looking at the camera!
Say cheese...

Simple Party Punch

Instead of serving lemonade or soda, try punch instead! It makes any day feel like a special occasion. This is my go to recipe for a quick and easy punch:
Ingredients:
Cranberry-Raspberry Juice
Lemonade
Directions:
Mix equal parts cranberry-raspberry juice and lemonade. Serve on ice. My favorite alternatives are cran-grape-lemonade and cran-pomegranate-lemonade. The kids love this, so have extra to make a second batch!

Pirate Necklace

Ahoy! Beads fit for a pirate: a mix of glow-in-the-dark skulls, black pearls, jet black and gems! Fun idea for a party activity or even Halloween. Boys and girls alike will have a blast making their own necklace to look like a pirate. These beads are all the plastic "pony bead" variety. All you need is an assortment of beads for your guests to string on some cotton cord. You can find these supplies at your local craft store. Even Captain Jack Sparrow would love to wear one... Savvy?

"Glee" Teen Party

My daughter and I love watching Glee together, so when it came time to plan her 13th birthday party, Glee was her clear choice. Our first order of business was making plain invitations look party specific. We decided to splatter the front of some paper invitations with watercolors, so it looked like slushie splatter. Purple, Orange, and Red looked convincingly like Grape, Orange and Cherry slushie stains. So cute. These were a big hit and everyone came to the party!

Another big hit was the Glee inspired food... cafeteria style! Served in aluminum baking trays.
Rachel Berry Salad - berry/fruit cup
Tots - tater tots
Cheerios - Cheerio/marshmallow crispy treats
Grilled "Cheesus" - grilled cheese sandwiches
Bread Stix - garlic bread sticks
Veggies - we needed something healthy... carrot & celery sicks
Big Quench - grape slushies (Rachel's favorite) I made these in my ice cream maker using a mixture of grape Kool-aid, lemonade and Sierra Mist
Puck's Cupcakes - vanilla with red frosting

For decorations, we used the red & white WMHS school colors and decorated the dining room (a.k.a. the cafeteria) with streamers and poster board pennants. Party Activities were a Glee photo booth, Glee quiz and Wii karaoke. Red slushie party cups... perfect favors for the big Teen birthday! Complete with microphone, glow-in-the-dark stars, glee gum, sour patch kids, whistle, and chocolate favors.