Busy Bee Lifestyle » Parties

Spa Themed Birthday Party

Host Bee — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:59:05 +0000

Celebrate Your Daughter’s Birthday with a Spa Themed Soiree!

A spa themed birthday party is a wonderful choice for young girls and especially for tweens! It is also a terrific theme to turn a typical sleepover into something special – one that I used for my own daughter’s ninth birthday this past year! Here are some easy plans to turn your home into a luxury spa!

Spa Party Invitations

From Blue Whale Invitations – I just love this spa party invitation that’s die cut just like a spa mask! The mask is composed of 2 paper layers, hot pink on top and pink and white polka dotted on the bottom. It’s finished off with a satin ribbon “elastic band” and satin bows! (pictured top)
From Tiny Prints – this is a charming invitation that features the faces of three spa party girls on a watermelon colored background! (pictured right)
Print Your Own - this option is a cute card that you can buy blank and print at home! The card’s printing surface is a towel wrapped turban style on a “cucumbered” girl!
From Birthday in a Box – Spa Day personalized invitations, offered at a terrific price and combines both girls in sleeping bags and spa treatments! (pictured right)

Spa Party Decorations

Set the stage for your spa party with some zen-like instrumental music, just like the real thing! (Try Source to the Sea)
Next you’ll need to make your home take on the unique scent noticeable the minute that you enter a spa by using a reed diffuser or scented candle. (I’d recommend a reed diffuser, especially if younger girls will be at the party!
Dimmed lights and a tabletop fountain will complete the spa look!

Spa Party Paper Goods

From Plates and Napkins – Some very cute slumber party paper goods can be found at Plates and Napkins, including pink and green polka dotted items, as well as plates featuring beauty accessories and a cute bunch of girls having sleep over fun!
Not Paper Goods – I love having an excuse to add to my dish collection and sometimes it’s nice to have party dishes that can be used again and again! Two perfectly girly choices include: a set of four plates decorated with desserts and another set of four cupcake plates, cleverly packaged in a cupcake box!

Spa Party Supplies

When I had my daughter’s party, I enlisted the help of a “mobile spa” and so many of the supplies were provided, including eight white terry robes that were borrowed just for that night! Depending on how carried away you’d like to get, here are some resources for spa essentials!

Terry Robes
Pink Terry Slippers
Foam Spa Masks – these masks will add a touch of whimsy to your party! Crafted from foam and imprinted with a cucumber over each eye, these masks will have the girls laughing and make for a great photo op!

Headbands – to pull the girls’ hair back off their faces, I made their party favor do double duty! I ordered spa party favor packs that included, among other things, a pink stretchy headband. I took the head bands out of the package and had the girls use them at the party!

Spa Party Activities

You can incorporate as many or as few of these ideas as you’d like!

Plan to have lots of fresh towels and washcloths on hand, as well as nail polish remover and basins of warm water if you’re short on bathroom space! This is definitely the time to call for back up help, whether you appeal to your own friends or enlist a few teenaged girls!

Spa Party Menu

Your guests will feel like real grown ups if you serve a menu that’s similar to a true spa!

Fill a glass pitcher with ice water and garnish with lemons, limes or oranges
Tea sandwiches or wraps
Smoothies
Fresh fruit kabobs
Tiny cupcakes or petit fours

Spa Party Favors

This is one party where the supplies that you’ll need for the event, like robes and slippers, as well as what the girls create at the party, like bath salts or lip balm, will be terrific take aways!

I suggest purchasing a solid colored gift bag for each guest and encouraging them to collect their spa supplies and creations in their own bag! For some added personalization, consider adding to the bags:

A custom sticker, depicting a girl with a green facial mask in a sleeping bag, thanking guests for coming to the party!
A laminated bag tag that can be personalized for each guest!

These suggestions should be able to get you sailing smoothly through a night of pampering and dining! But, definitely plan to have movies, board games and video games on hand to fill any lulls in the action!

Keep your guest list small (eight was two too many at my daughter’s party!), your helper list big and enjoy a memorable birthday!

Host a Winter Olympics Party

Host Bee — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:51:59 +0000

Host a Winter Olympics Themed Party!

Opening Ceremony

The 2010 Winter Olympics will begin in Vancouver on February 12th with the Opening Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. PST on the NBC network!

Check the Schedule of Events and Plan Your Celebration

It’s time to get excited about this event that only comes around every four years and promises fabulous family entertainment! The Olympics are also a wonderful excuse to have a party, whether you choose to celebrate while watching the opening or closing ceremonies or a specific sporting event! You can check the Olympic television schedule to find the events that you enjoy most and then take a look at Busy Bee’s ideas for celebrating with both kids and adults!

Choose Your Color Scheme First – Patriotic or International!

One quick note, before you get ready to start planning your party, I think it’s easiest to choose between a red, white and blue patriotic color scheme or an international theme, incorporating the five colors of the Olympic circles! Once you make your decision, invitations and decorations will be a breeze!

Olympics Party Invitations

Gold Medals - Make or purchase gold medals, attaching the party details on a small card. (Medals may be purchased at Oriental Trading for $3.99/dozen: Torch Award Medals)
Patriotic Personalized Invitations -
order personalized patriotic invitations like these cute and reasonably priced die-cut stars and stripes invitations from Polka Dot Design. (pictured)
Olympic Ring Clip Art – Print your own on card stock using Olympic ring clip art .

Unique Personalized Invitations – order personalized invitations from Party 411, a fun site that offers invitations including a back stage pass (pictured) and a “ticket!”

Great Wording – Great wording includes: “Let the Party Begin!” and “Official Party of the Winter Olympics!”

Olympics Party Decorations

For a Patriotic Color Theme

Red, White and Blue – If you’ve decided to take the patriotic route, red white and blue decorations are in order!
Patriotic Decorations – Balloons, American flags and paper goods are all easy ways to set a festive mood! (Oriental Trading Patriotic Decorations)

For an International Color Theme

Fabric Flag Centerpiece – For an international theme, create a centerpiece with small fabric flags from countries around the world. At the United States Flag Store, you can select the countries of your choice at a terrific price!
Balloons – Pick up balloons in the five colors of the Olympic rings (red, black, yellow, green and white – each color representing one of the world’s five continents!)
Candy Decoration/Party Favor – Gather five clear glass serving containers and fill each with a candy in the Olympic colors for a decoration and party favor in one!

Olympics Party Menu – All American or Around the World!

All American

Red, white and blue decorations demand an All American menu!
Serve hamburgers and hotdogs, chips and pretzels and end with apple pie and ice cream!

Around the World

Alternately, take your guests on an around the world tour, incorporating foods from as many countries as you’d like! Here are some suggestions:

France: mini quiches
Switzerland: cheese fondue
Canada: fish and chips
Italy: pizza or pasta
China: egg rolls
Japan: sushi
Greece: spanakopita or feta cheese with olives
United States: hamburgers or sliders

Olympics Party Activities

Olympics Party Games

If children are invited to your celebration, you might like to set up your own Olympic games for them to compete in!
Consider relay races, obstacle courses and party games like charades with Olympic themed clues or a gold medal treasure hunt!

Olympics Party Crafts

There are also some terrific crafts for kids including the DIY versions and some from kits!

From Kaboose! (A fabulous resource for families!)

Craft Kits

Olympics Party Favors

Adults enjoy a party favor just as much as children and there’s no need to disappoint at your Olympic viewing party!

Color Themed Candy – If you create the candy buffet in the colors of the Olympic rings as mentioned above, cellophane bags with ribbon ties will be a perfect favor!

Other ideas include:

Olympic Themed CD – A CD burned with Olympic theme songs through the years! An amazing assortment of Olympic CD’s are available through Amazon and here are just a few!

Chocolate Gold Medals – purchase fun chocolate medals at Amazon.

Sugar Cookies - these adorable sugar cookies are shaped like snowflakes and ice skates! (pictured)

I hope that you’re inspired to host a party that celebrates the best of all of the countries of the world! Here’s to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games!

Valentine’s Party for Kids

Host Bee — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:03:28 +0000

Treat your Kids to the Sweetest Valentine’s Party!

A Planning Guide for the Perfect Candy Themed Celebration!

February is a great time of year to add a bit of warmth to those cold winter days and a Valentine’s Day party for your kids might be perfect to do just that. Whenever I think about Valentine’s Day, I inevitably end up picturing candy – candy of all sorts! From conversation hearts to chocolate truffles to red hots, it’s the candy that makes the holiday for me! Not only are the Valentine treats delicious, they also make a wonderful party theme that kids and adults will love!

Valentines Party Invitations

Conversation Heart Inspired – One of my favorite ways to invite Valentine guests is to attach a card, printed with the party details, to a box of conversation hearts!
Red Hots Inspired – Another DIY idea involving candy is to glue red hots in the shape of a heart onto a card, with the invitation inside. Attach a box of red hots to this invitation as well.
Personalized Candy Hearts – Adorable personalized invitations are also available and require no crafting! From Birthday In a Box* there’s a cute card (Conversation Hearts Personalized Invitation – pictured) with a candy heart border and another from Fine Stationery* which features a scattering of candy hearts! (Candy Hearts Invitation)

Heart Lollipops – And if you’re ready for an “over the top” candy invitation, you just have to consider the die cut version from Itty Bitty! (Heart Lollipop Invitation) This unique card is a heart shaped red and white lollipop, on a stick, sprinkled with glitter and wrapped in cellophane with ribbon ties!

Valentines Party Decorations

Of course, candy will take center stage at this party! Here are some different ways to incorporate candy into your tablescape!

Candy Heart Helium Balloons – balloons always add a festive touch and these are perfectly thematic! (Latex Conversation Heart Balloons)
A Candy Buffet – this idea will not only be decorative but will also provide a delicious party favor! Fill a variety of differently sized glass containers with all of the Valentine candy favorites: candy hearts, red licorice in a tall, thin container, lollipops, pink and red jelly beans and more! At the end of the party, let each guest fill a cellophane bag with their favorite treats!
Candy Flower Pots – this idea came from Dylan Lauren, the owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City! Using white ceramic pots, she filled each container with jelly beans, red hots and rock candy and then “planted” large and small lollipops in each pot. (Candy Flower Pots Centerpiece – pictured)

Candy Resources

Paper Goods

Candy Heart Themed – Birthday in a Box offers candy heart themed paper goods that coordinate with the invitation above in a deluxe party set!
Valentine’s Cupcake Themed – Another cute option from Plates and Napkins sports my favorite motif – a cupcake – decorated for Valentine’s Day and surrounded with a heart border! Plates, cups and napkins are available. (Valentines Day Cupcake Paper Goods)
Not Paper Goods! – If you prefer dishes that can be used again and again, Target has some really festive choices – there are heart shaped dishes in candy colors, coordinating serving bowls and adorable pink and white candy dishes in two sizes! (I might need these!)

Valentines Party Activities

Games

Candy Heart Charades – fill a bowl with candy hearts and take turns acting out the message on the candy!
Candy Heart Treasure Hunt – hide candy hearts around the house, give each guest a small bag and vie to see who can find the most hearts! Have a prize for the winner!
Find Your Heart Mate – cut out one red, paper heart for every two guests at the party. With scissors, cut each paper heart in half in a variety of patterns and angles. Give one half to each guest and play fun music while each one finds the “other half.”

Valentines Party Crafts

Here are some crafts with two levels of difficulty:

Super Easy Crafts

Conversation Heart Beads – Set out bowls of foam conversation hearts and varying lengths of cord and let the kids go to town making bracelets and necklaces! (Foam Conversation Heart Beads)
Valentine Sticker Scenes – Purchase 12 Design Your Own Giant Valentine Village Sticker Scenes! This set includes a background with a sweet village just waiting to be decorated with all sorts of candy stickers!

Slightly More Challenging Crafts

Valentine Candy Magnet Craft Kit - this set includes three different magnet designs including an ice cream cone, gum ball machine and a milk shake! (Valentine Treat Candy Magnet Craft Kit)
Sweetheart Candy Wreaths – for this cute craft you’ll need: a Styrofoam wreath (you can select the size), ribbon, candy conversation hearts and glue. Wrap the Styrofoam wreath with ribbon, securing each end with glue. Glue the candy hearts in overlapping layers around the wreath. Let dry and add a ribbon hanger. (Sweetheart Candy Wreaths and see Create for Less for styrofoam wreaths.)

Heart Shaped Pizza – If it’s pizza that’s demanded, go ahead and cut it into heart shapes!
Pasta with Red or Pink Sauce – If pasta fits the bill, red or pink sauce will turn it into a terrific Valentine’s dinner!
Heart Shaped Sandwiches - Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to turn any type of sandwich into a sweet snack!
More Fun Ideas – For some additional ideas, take a look at Valentine Treats for School!

Valentines Day Party Favors

Party Favors for Girls

If you create craft projects during the party, the finished products can easily be your party favor, as well as gift bags filled from a candy buffet. Some other cute favors that suit this sweet theme include:

Party Favors for Boys

I know that the favors mentioned above are totally for girls, and so if you are inviting some young gentlemen to your Valentine soiree, just plan to send them home with all sorts of candy!

Wrap Up

When the “sweetest” celebration is over, clean up a bit and then send your children to bed! Pour a glass of champagne for you and your sweetheart and toast to romance at any age!

Host an Oscars Party

Host Bee — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:44:51 +0000

How to Host a Fabulous Oscars Party!

The glamour and excitement of the Oscars is contagious, so consider inviting some friends to join you for an evening of star-gazing! The 82nd Academy Awards presentation will be held on Sunday, March 7, at 8 p.m., ET and calls for an Oscars party that is all sparkle and shine!

Getting in the Oscar Mood

Oscar nominations will be made on Tuesday, February 2 at 5:30 ET, so check out the official award website, oscars.org for the full listing along with history and trivia.
Go to the movies! Try to make sure that you’ve seen at least a few of the most commonly nominated films.

Decide on the Timeframe for Your Oscars Party

For a Preview Oscars Party

Begin your party at 5 or 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m., sending your guests home in time for the actual award ceremony. If you are an avid Oscar fan, this is probably the best plan for you. You’ll have had fun with your guests, but will be able to enjoy the show in peace and quiet!

For an Oscars Viewing Party

Begin your party at 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. and end the party when the award show is over, which can be late!
With this type of get-together, don’t forget that the TV may well be the focus of the party! Keep the area around the TV clear and if you are inviting a crowd, consider setting up multiple TVs! Arrange chairs and floor pillows around the TV. A menu of easy finger food will keep the party flowing.

Invitations

However you choose to invite your guests to your Oscars party, encourage them to glam it up! Gowns, glitter and boas for the women, and black tie suggested for the men! When else will you be able to dress up like this on a Sunday night!

“Reel” Movie Film Tins – from take1.com (pictured at top) you’ll find tins in 6 sizes with prices beginning at $3.99 each. Write your invitation on a circular piece of paper cut to lay flat inside the tin. Gold and silver metallic confetti would be a fun touch!
Clapboard Invitations – order an adorable die cut two piece invitation from Fine Stationery depicting a movie “clapboard” attached with a black and white checked ribbon. (Clapboard Invitation)

Oscar Cocktails

Cocktails are definitely in order on Oscar Night! InStyle magazine has done a great job in creating signature drinks for Oscar Night. Consider Oscar 79 Cocktails, The Winner and Liquid Legend. Champagne is also always appropriate!

When serving cocktails, wine or champagne, it’s important to use the appropriate stemware. Don’t worry, this will not blow your party budget!

Linens ‘N Things offers a line of glassware called “Everyday Basics.” 12 wine goblets or 12 champagne flutes retail for $9.99! And of course, we all have those ever present 20% off coupons! Martini glasses are $14.99 for a dozen!
Remember, once these glasses are bought, you will always be able to share them with friends who are entertaining in the future!
Better yet, get together with two other friends and each buy one type of glass. Agree to always share!

Party Menu

For your Oscars party, focus on easily served and eaten hors d’oeuvres. Here are some great recipes to try:

For a more substantial offering, serve a spiral cut ham with tiny rolls and gourmet mustards, or a beef tenderloin, sliced and served at room temperature with baguette slices and horseradish sauce. A quick horseradish sauce can be made by blending a cup of light mayonnaise with fresh horseradish sauce to taste.

Oscars Fun and Games

Voting Ballots – Provide each guest with a ballot for voting for their choices for Oscar winners! Download an Oscar Party Pool Sheet from chiff.com.
Party Pool – If you’re the betting type, collect small amounts of money with each completed form. The pool goes to the guest with the greatest number of accurate predictions! Other fun prizes are movie gift certificates, BlockBuster gift cards, or bottles of champagne.
Take Snapshots of Your Guests – Pretend to be the Paparazzi and snap photos of each couple as they arrive! During the party, have a teenage helper print out the photos.

Oscars Hostess Gifts

Some nice ideas for your Oscar Party hostess include:

Cocktail Table Books – Lovely cocktail table books like The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History
or Four-Star Movies: The 101 Greatest Films of All Time.
DVDs – A DVD of a former Oscar winning film.
CDs – A CD such as 20 Years of Original Oscar Winning Songs
or the sound track to one of the nominated movies, see Amazon.com.

Oscars Party Favors

CDs – Burn CDs featuring your favorite award winning songs! At dancemetonight.com, you’ll find a complete listing of songs that will definitely bring back some great memories: “Let the River Run” from Working Girl, “Take My Breath Away” from Top Gun, and “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s to name just a few!
Framed Photos of Your Guests – If you do take photos as the couples arrive, frames will make a fun favor! An acrylic movie “clapboard” photo frame is perfect. (take1.com, $6.99)
Candy Filled Movie Tins – “Reel” Movie Film Tins, suggested above for invitations, can also be filled with gold and silver wrapped candies! (“Reel” Movie Tin Favors from Take 1)
Splits of Champagne – For a quick and easy favor, wrap splits of champagne in cellophane bags. Tie with metallic star trim.

Desserts

Some easy Oscars party dessert ideas include:

Champagne flutes filled with chocolate mousse
Star shaped cookies, decorated with icing and little silver candy beads
Bowls of chocolate truffles

You may also enjoy:

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Interesting Party Planning Tips

Host Bee — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:30:08 +0000

Tip of the Week – Throwing a Party is as Easy as One, Two, Three!

I read a terrific article about entertaining in a recent issue of Every Day with Rachel Ray magazine that was, to say the least, highly entertaining! Clever and experienced party givers compiled a list of the “must have” statistics when giving a party that are well worth sharing here!

Party Planning Tips

200 napkins are needed for a party of 15
30% is the number of guests who will RSVP
12 noon: is when brunch becomes lunch
3 is the number of bags of ice you should buy
50 degrees is the temperature when outdoor entertaining should be over for the season
60 minutes is the proper amount of time between the start of the party and the serving of dinner
20 minutes is how long hosts should wait after dinner before serving dessert
4 hours is how long food can sit out without refrigeration
67% is the average invitation acceptance rate
80% is the number of guests who will take you up on the offer of coffee or tea