Bohemian Party Ideas

We just added a new theme: Bohemian Party Ideas

Random Springtime Beauty

Campout party

With the warm weather here (for the moment), I know that summer is coming... All of these fun summertime party ideas are just swirling in my head. I think this year, we will host a camping party! Here are some ideas.

• provide your campers with the right equipment! A tent is essential, and make sure that you have enough tent space for each guest.


• provide guests with a "Knap sack" (a bandana tied to a stick), filled with a bag of trail mix; Trail Mix: Fill a large bowl with raisins, peanuts, m&m's, sunflower seeds, small pretzels, and chocolate chips. Mix all together and divide into small ziploc bags.


• Serve campers Campfire Hotdogs, Ants on a Log, Cheddary Potatoes, and Bug Juice (green Kool-Aid).


• Activities could include, making shadow creatures with your hands and a flashlight, stargazing, singing around the campfire, singing 'campfire' songs of yesterday, telling ghost stories, roasting marshmallows, plan a treasure hunt that they can use their compass', teach them how to whistle with a blade of grass.


• top the evening off with S'Mores!
  

Easter Portraits are in!

I actually got them in before Easter, but neglected to post them until now, mybad :P
Aren't they CUTE? My li'l man :)

Baked Italian Ziti

Yum! I found this recipe in one of my Woman's Day magazines and attempted it last Thursday. I changed it a little by using the ground sweet Italian sausage instead of the links.



INGREDIENTS
8 oz uncooked ziti rigati pasta
2 tsp oil
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
2 cubanelle peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
12 oz spicy or sweet Italian sausage (4 links)
1 cup part-skim ricotta
11⁄2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan
1⁄4 cup chopped parsley
2 cups marinara sauce (from a 24- or 26-oz jar)
PREPARATION
1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Cook pasta in a large pot of lightly salted water as package directs for al dente or firm texture.2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add peppers, onion and sausage; cook 6 minutes or until sausage is browned. Remove from heat; cut sausage into 1⁄4-in. slices.3. Mix ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 3 Tbsp Parmesan and the parsley in large bowl. Drain pasta; toss with cheese mixture, sausage mixture and 1 cup marinara sauce.4. Pour pasta mixture into a 2-qt shallow baking dish. Spoon remaining sauce on top; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes or until bubbly.

Throw a kid's party on a budget

Elmo

In these trying times we must sometimes do without. How sad to have to do without a childhood memory, such as a birthday party. However, there are ways to still have a great kid's birthday party without breaking the bank. Birthday in a Box wants to help and has some great suggestions:

6 Ways to Cut Costs Without Cutting Value:

1. Hold the party at home.
2. Avoid traditional meal times by holding the party between 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and only serve dessert.
3. Bake your own cake (or cupcakes) instead of purchasing premade treats.
4. Make and hand deliver your own invitations, or send electronic invites.
5. Ask a favorite babysitter or family member to help with games and activities instead of hiring an entertainer.
6. Combine your child's party with a friend who has a birthday in the same month.

More ideas from Birthday in a Box...

Decorated Wooden Letters for Wall Art

Create an interesting and comfortable spot for reading. Here is a cute idea and directions for creating wall decor for a reading area...

You will need:

• wooden letters (R, E, A, & D) (I found these at Walmart for $2.26 each) or you can find them online here.
• craft paint
• craft adhesive
• small foam brush
• scrapbook paper
• stamp pad
• scissors
• pencil

1. Start with unfinished wood letters R E A & D.


2. Paint all edges using a small foam brush.


3. Once dried, lay letter side up on chosen scrapbook paper or wall paper.


4. Trace letter unto side up of paper.


5. Cut around inside of your pencil marks approx 1/10th inch (just inside)


6. Apply adhesive to wood letter (face up side)


7. Gently adhere paper to wood letter.


8. Once dry, use ink stamp pad to "distress" each edge.


9. Viola! Now hang your piece of art!

I used paper from the K & Co. Rough and Tumble collection. I just love it!

K and Company - Rough and Tumble Collection - 12x12 Patterned Cardstock Double Sided Paper Pad - Rough and Tumble

Safari Baby Shower

How cute is this? Here are some great Safari baby shower ideas:

Resources:
Cute Giraffe baby shower invitations: Unique Baby Shower Invitations
Brownie Pop Party Favors: Beau Coup
Animal Mobile baby shower party supplies: Birthday in a Box
Giraffe Cake: http://www.cakecentral.com/

Beautiful Eggs

Easter Fun

Easter morning we had an Easter Egg Hunt! The kids had so much fun finding eggs with candy and "winner" eggs! The winner eggs allowed them to choose a prize from the basket of goodies where they found toys, bubbles, jumpropes, Hot Wheel cars, sidewalk chalk and more!

Josh made quite the haul this Easter! With a new Webkinz, Wii game, a Pinecar kit, Bug Identifier, Ben 10 toys, and lots more!

Trip to the children's museum

Over Easter break, we went to the children's museum. What fun we had! Here are some highlights:

Ben 10 Party Ideas

Just added to It's A Party-ful Life!: Ben 10 Party Ideas
Here is a sample of what you will find:

• Decorate in lime green, blue, and black balloons, streamers, and solid
  partyware.
  Make their own alien masks! Provide posterboard,
  construction paper and/or colored foam, markers, glue sticks, scissors, elastic
  cording... allow kids to create an alien mask of their own... when decorated,
  help them by making a small slit on each side and attaching elastic cord to size
  of child's head.
• Download the Ben 10 theme song here. Play hot potato or musical chairs to this.
• Serve baked chicken nuggets, cheese chunks, and alien juice.

Here is a sample of Ben 10 & Ben 10 Alien Force Party supplies available: