Planning the Perfect Playdate Party

I love to host parties.  Something about opening your home to friends and family brings me lots of joy.  I had taken a break from hosting parties because there is so much that goes into throwing a party.  Preparing for the party can be so overwhelming.  Trust me, I have been in tears the night before a party.  Hosting and greeting everyone, now that is the fun stuff.  Through trial and error I have learned how to do things better and more efficient, it's kinda my cheat sheet to planning a party.

Disclosure - I was selected to host a #NowMoreThanEver Disney Playdate Party.  Thanks to the sponsors of our #NowMoreThanEver party kit which included Disney, Jakks Pacific, Michael Angelo's, Popped Passion Popcorn, and Pillow Pets.  All opinions stated are own based on my personal experience.

Planning the perfect playdate party can be as easy as 1, 2, 3....

1)  Theme - A theme can drive the party.  So picking the right one could be key to your success.  Go with a theme that makes sense to you.  If you are throwing a party for a family member, pick something is true to them, something that makes them happy, and brings them joy.  Themed parties are so much more fun.  The theme will bring the decorations together. 

Personal Tips-Once you pick a theme, look around your house and see if you have any items that will go great with your theme.  We had plenty of Mickey Mouse items that we used as decor. 

You can also DIY items for your party, like creating a curtain with streamers.  This can transform a room and add a pop of color.  It can also be used as a good place for pictures.  Everyone loves balloons.  Take them to the next level by creating a balloon garland.  At the end of the party, you can hand out all the balloons to each of the kids.  What kid does not love balloons?

2)  Food - I love to feed my guests.  Any party I host, is a buffet of goodness.  If you are not hosting a charity gala or sit-down, bring out the good China dinner, then simple foods are my go-to.  Like I said, I have learned that less is more.  This way you spend more time with the guests and less time in the kitchen.  The menu should not stress you out or break your bank. 

Food that is convenient and affordable is always on my first choice.  Michael Angelo's makes it so easy with their frozen meals and party trays.  Cook in the oven or microwave.  Ready to serve. 

Personal Tips - Fruit trays are great for both adults and kids.  Sometimes kids do not like the food served at parties but they will munch on the fruit.  Save some money by creating your own fruit tray with some of your favorites, and don't forget to add some cheese squares.  Save time, take the stress out, and grab one from the store that is ready to serve.   

Another favorite is popcorn.  This can be fun.  Make bracelets or necklaces with popcorn.  All you need is a needle, string, and popcorn. 

Here is an easy to make Pixie Dust Popcorn:

Ingredients

• Microwave Popcorn
• Vanilla Candy Melts
• Sprinkles

Directions

1.  Pop the popcorn according to instructions on package.

2.  Microwave candy melts in microwave-safe bowl, pausing every 20-30 secs to stir.  Repeat until melted.

3.  Drizzle the melted vanilla over popcorn and stir in sprinkles.

4.  Place in the fridge for 5-10 mins to allow the candy to harden prior to serving.

If you don't have time, I know that you will be a winner with a Popped Passion Popcorn Cake.  You can order a customize popcorn cake and have it shipped directly to your door ready to enjoy!

3)  Entertainment - You do not have to have a strict itinerary to have fun.  Games can keep a party going, make your guests have so much fun, and it keeps everyone entertained.  Find games that are appropriate for your guests.  You can make small game areas so that everyone can rotate and enjoy.

Personal tips - Plan ahead and try out the games yourself.  Troubleshoot things before the party.  If you have crafts that need extra supplies, you can prepare small kits for each guess with all the pieces already included.  These can also be taken home, if guests are too busy having fun at the party.    

Assign helpers to game zones.  My daughter tried out all the games and was a handy helper to all the smaller kiddos.  You can shoot the parents emails with instructions for the games ahead of time.  This way they can participate along with their kids.   

Communicate with parents to see what are some of their kiddos favorite games to play.  I have hosted game nights before and we ask each person to bring a new game for us to play.  This keep guests from getting bored and they get to share one of their family favorites.

Play it by ear, let loose, and enjoy your party.  Being a host should not be scary.  The next time a mommy asks for you to host the next play date, you will be ready. 

Do you have any tips that you have learned?

Cinderella Birthday Party

I am a little late with sharing my daughter's birthday day from December but I have to share.  I love how everything came together.  The day was magical and my daughter was so happy.  My daughter was not even one when I decided that her 5th birthday party theme would be Cinderella.  I want it to be magical.  Years ago when my son was five a mom was sharing her birthday party plans for her daughter with me.  She said in Mexican tradition they celebrate their daughter's at age 5 by throwing them a huge birthday party like a Quinceañera but it is called a Cincociera.  I was sold.  If I ever had a daughter, she was going to have one.  Years went by and I finally had my baby girl.  If you don't remember I call her my miracle baby because I almost lost her at 15 weeks when I was having a miscarriage.  Each year we celebrate this beautiful gift we received.

For the party decorations, I want to take everyone on a journey of her five years of life.  Flashback of some of our favorite memories we have had throughout the years with our Lil Bit.

Entrance-I had this sign cut out of corrugated.  We spray painted it silver.  We had blue birds cut out as well.  I added blue strips of ribbon for each year she has lived.

The main table had the cake, cake pops, and candy.  I had several candy stations throughout the house for everyone to enjoy.  I made candy centerpieces that everyone got to take home.  I did not even get a change to take a picture of those. 

I used paper flowers for the background, thanks to Joanna from Flores De Madame Mariposa. 

The birthday cake was made by my coworker.  Her cakes are delicious.  All the kids enjoyed the Cinderella cake pops.

We even had a photo booth section for all the guests to take pictures with Cinderella and Prince Charming.  The crown we had cut out and used for a previous birthday party.  We spray painted it gold for this party.  We also cut a carriage out and spray painted it with the theme colors.  It took many coats of glitter to get this affect but it was perfect.  Everyone enjoyed taking pictures with our Princess.

We set up a tent to keep the cold out.  The centerpieces were fabric pumpkins I found at the At Home Store right after Halloween.  They were the perfect color.  I had enough to give each Madrina/Padrino (sponsor).  I also printed pictures of the birthday girl that I put in silver and gold frames that we also gave to family members with thank you cards my daughter had personally signed.  I had big glitter blue bows on the columns of the tent that I got from the dollar store at Christmas time.

Even the piñata was a life-size Cinderella.  It was custom made for my daughter's birthday party.

Our princess loved every part of her birthday party.  She did not want to take her dress off even after the clock stroke midnight.  I think the best gift was daddy being her Prince Charming.

It was a lot of hard work to pull this off.  The vision I had in my head came to life.  And seeing how happy this made her was all the thank you I needed.  This was my gift to her. 

Snow White Birthday Party

So I decided to throw my daughter a Snow White themed 1st birthday party.  I did my research by looking online to see what I could find.  I had went to stores and looked but Disney does not make Snow White party items only for the Princess all-together.  And if I found Snow White, she was in the background.  So I had to get a little creative with my party.  Check out my daughter's 1st birthday pics:

I had the seven dwarfs made out as cut outs.  We attached them to stakes and put them in the entrance.  Also if you look way down, there is the entrance to the seven dwarf cottage including a mini door that all the guests had to come in through.

My friend made her this wreath that said Princess Gia!

A magic mirror at the entrance.  I also had a photo album with pictures of her in a Snow White costume.  I had a basket full of apple.

We had salad, veggies, mushrooms, candy apples, candy apple lolli pops, rice krispie apples, red velvet cupcakes, and a Snow White cake, and pinata.

The favor bags for the little girls were felt apple bags I found at Target.

It was alot of work but the party turned out great.  I used the red, blue, and yellow colors everywhere.  I also printed 8 X 10 pictures of her and used them as decorations, thanks to Walgreens free 8 X 10s.  I found cute little forks and spoons at Party City that come in multi colors.  The menu was simple: salad, chicken salad, chicken salad sandwiches, 7 layer dip serve in small cups for individual serving portion, and chips.  The desserts also were joined by rock candy, ring pops, pixie sticks, and chocolate covered pretzels.