Olympics Party Ideas

So, it's party time again.  This time, it's a London Olympics themed birthday party for yours truly.  My birthday is during the Olympics!!!!!  That's too fun to miss.  But you can have a London Olympics party at your house, whether it's your birthday or not.  Here are some ideas.

1.  English food - I'm thinking Cornish pasties (made ahead of time and frozen for easy party prep), Welsh rarebit (look it up - it's not rabbit, it's basically cheese fondue), and Pan Haggerty (potatoes, cheese, and onions - the perfect side dish!).  You could always serve some English cheese with chutney and table water crackers as an extra appetizer.  Add some scones or shortbread if you need something sweet!  English beer (Boddington's, Newcastle) would be a nice addition.  Or maybe go with an "around the world" approach to beer and get a six pack from imports of several different countries.

2.  The GAMES - Have your own mini Olympics.  Here are some event ideas to get you started:

Beerathalon – Contestants will drink a 12 oz beer and then run approximately 1/10 mile to the finish line.  First person to cross the finish line gets the gold.

Pistol – Competitors will use Super Soaker water guns to try to knock a ball off of a traffic cone from a distance.  To add a challenge, the competitors will simultaneously be shot with water guns from spectators as they try to hit their target.  First one to knock the ball off the cone wins.  May require several elimination rounds to determine the gold medalist.  (Competitors may want to bring an extra shirt to the party.)

Greco-Roman Arm Wrestling – Men and Women will have separate competitions.  Opponents will face off across a table at the ancient sport of arm-wrestling.  All competitors may be given a toga to wear during competition. May require several elimination rounds to determine the gold medalist.

Rhythmic gymnastics – Athletes will be given a ribbon on a stick and must make up and perform a short rhythmic gymnastics routine to music that may be chosen ahead of time by the competitor (or will be chosen by the host on the day of the party).  Routines may contain various gymnastic moves and ribbon tricks.  Points for creativity, form, choreography, and use of the ribbon. Points will be deducted for dropping the ribbon, cursing, and stepping out of bounds.  Highest score wins.  

3. Judges/Refs - Some people at the party need to be judges and referees.  Recruit people if they won't volunteer. 

4. The Awards - So, the winners have to get something, right?  Make gold medals or give out some other gold prize to the winners (Gold Tequila?)  You might choose a "national anthem" for each contestant and play it if they win.  My personal anthem would be "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News.  (Don't you dare judge me.)

5.  The Actual Olympics - You've gotta have the Games playing on a couple TVs.  NBC promises great coverage this year.  Maybe even get a projector to have them play on the side of your garage for some fabulous outdoor viewing. Leave out some rules for Olympic drinking games.  (Examples: every time they play the Olympic theme song you drink, every time a commentator makes a really obvious observation you drink, every time you pick the winner all the other people in the room have to drink.)

6. Decorations - Clearly, you've gotta have Olympics rings on everything.  Also, flags of other countries would be great decor.  I like DIY water bottle labels to bring your theme to the people.  And be sure to label the bar the "Official Bar of the 2012 Olympic Games"  and the bathroom "The Official Bathroom of the 2012 Olympic Games." 

Party like an Olympian!!

Advertising Slogans Game

My grandmother is turning 90 years old and we are celebrating this milestone with a big birthday bash. It's pretty amazing that a 90 year-old has presented us with a 70 person guest list! I hope I have that many friends when I'm 90. But my grandma is a very friendly, loving person and I'm not surprised so many people care about her.

My mom was worrying that there wouldn't be enough entertainment available. I mean, it's not like a water balloon toss or limbo contest are going to fly with the octogenarians and nonagenarians in attendance. This party will also be an open house format, so people will be coming and going all day - not really conducive to a structured game-time.

Of course we'll have the usual birthday party events like cutting the cake, singing "Happy Birthday," and opening presents - AND great food - which in my opinion is really entertainment enough. But, to engage people and spark conversation, I came up with the game below - "Match the Slogan with the Product". I will just have a stacks of the Matching Game on the various tables, and if people want to look at it, they can. No pressure, no organization. Just something to do and discuss while guests are chatting.

The good thing about a game like this is that it's multi-generational - older people will know answers that the younger crowd won't, and vice versa. Companies have done such a good job infiltrating our lives with these slogans, that most people will be able to do this game. I think this would be a fun activity or icebreaker for a 70th, 80th, 90th, or 100th birthday party.  Or even for a Mad Men theme cocktail party??

So, without further ado, here is the game I came up with. You should be able to click on the photos and get a google documents that you can print. The first photo is the front of the game and the answer key is the second photo below. (You should print the answer key on the back of the game.)

30 Kids Birthday Parties

So, as a parent, or aunt, uncle, grandparent, godparent, or best friend of someone with a kid, you might find yourself in a position of having to plan a child's birthday party. I mean, they have birthdays EVERY YEAR. Coming up with something new to do is often a challenge. The first thing to do, of course, is to ask the child what they would like to do for their special day. Although some children will know exactly what they want, other kids might need your help to brainstorm. And you might appreciate some help brainstorming! That's where this post comes in.

These ideas involve varying costs and some might be better for older kids. A night out to see a play might seem like it costs much more than a trip to Chuck E Cheese, but if your child only gets to invite one or two special friends, it will probably cost about the same. (And you won't have to go to Chuck E Cheese.)

The best thing about all of these ideas??? THEY AREN'T HELD AT YOUR HOUSE. You're welcome.

Here are some birthday party venues/outings in no particular order:

1. Night out to see a musical or play. Birthday guests get dressed in their finest attire and attend a local theater production. Look for kid friendly shows such as "Annie," "The Lion King," or "Cats" Depending on the professionalism of the company, you might be able to meet some performers if you hang out by a stage door. Ask an usher or call a stage manager ahead of time to see if that's possible.
   
2. Cupcake shop. Many bakeries host parties for kids. They might let the guests design their own cupcakes with colored frosting or give you a tour of the bakery.
   
3. Go Carts. Check out your local listings to see where this may be offered in your community. This would be perfect for a co-ed party.
   
4. Bowling. Go old school and have a bowling birthday. Most places have significant discounts for parties and will do bumper bowling. The adult chaperones can even get their own lane, so it's fun for everybody. For an added fun factor, see if your local alley offers evening "cosmic bowling" with music and neon paint.
5. Putt-Putt. It's a classic. For something different, go to a driving range and have a pro teach all the kids how to hit the ball really far.
   
6. Sledding party. Sledding at the local big hill, followed up by hot chocolate and cozy fireplace. Obviously contingent on the season and where you live! (Sorry, Miami.)
   
7. Indoor or outdoor water park.
   
8. Zoo.
   
9. Camping trip.
10. Fancy restaurant. Got a kid who's an aspiring chef? See if you can reserve the chef's table at the best place in town. Clearly this will be expensive, but think of how little work this would be for you as the host. Basically the only thing you would have to do would be to make reservations. And what chef wouldn't like to share his craft with an adoring future foodie?
    
11. Karate. Hit the dojo (that's what it's called, right?) for an active birthday party for your favorite aspiring ninja. See if they'll show you how to do those nunchaku. Perfect for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan?
    
12. Candy store. See if your local shop would help you plan a party. I bet they will. Then get all the kids sugared up and send them home to their parents. Mwahaha.
    
13. McDonald's with a Playland. As relevant now as it was when I was 8.
    
14. Pizza parlor. I know Pizza Hut has parties. Or check and see if your local place would let the kids come in at a not-too-busy time and let them play with the dough or make their own pizza.
    
15. Concert. I still recall the New Kids on the Block concert I attended in fourth grade with a friend for her birthday. Talk about the best night of my childhood! It was so exciting and we felt soooo grown-up!
    
16. Ice-skating rink.
    
17. Gymnasium. Some gyms offer parties. They let your guests jump on the trampolines and practice somersaults on the mats.
    
18. YMCA or Community Rec Center. Check for craft parties or open gym parties they might offer.
19. Indoor pool. Nothing is better when you are a kid than getting to go swimming in the middle of winter.
    
20. Local playground. There's usually a shelter house you can reserve. Choose the park with the best playground and let the kids run wild for awhile. When they tire out, offer cake and open presents. Then let them run amok again until their parents arrive. Easy as pie. Although transporting all the food from the car to the shelter house can be a chore, so bring help.
21. Horse farm. Take you child and their best friend out for riding lessons at a horse farm. They will usually get to ride a horse (slowly, while wearing a helmet) and then brush the horse or feed it a carrot. (Hmmm - the experience doesn't sound that thrilling when I write it out.)
    
22. Working farm. Take your city kid out to the country and let them see all those animals they've read about in picture books. If you don't know of any farms, ask around. I know there is a Metropark near Columbus, Ohio that has a farm that runs just like it did back in the 1800's. They have lots of kids programs.
    
23. History day. If your child is a history buff, make his or her birthday one for the history books! Around here we have Underground Railroad sites, American Indian Mounds (such as the Serpent Mound in Adams County, Ohio), and Glacial Grooves. Do a little research to see what your area has to offer. You all might learn something! Follow up your expedition with a visit to grab some ice cream.
    
24. Boating. Rent a speed boat. Take a dinner cruise. Take a sightseeing tour. Go whale-watching. Make the whole excursion pirate-themed if you have to.
25. Art studio. See if they offer a class for parties that really appeals to your child. There might be pottery, painting, sculpture, or mixed media. Get all the party guests some French-artist-looking berets for some tres magnifique pictures.
    
26. Museum. Go with Air and Space for your future astronaut or fighter pilot. Or choose the Natural History Museum for your favorite budding geologist or paleontologist. Check out the Art Museum mummy exhibit for a creepy thrill. The Hands-On Science Museum is great for all ages. Try the Planetarium for an "out of this world" birthday. (See what I did there?!)
    
27. Rent a limo and just drive around! Movie star sunglasses all around. Bring lots of their favorite CDs to play during the ride - full blast.
    
28. Historic train ride. We have several of companies that run recreational train tours in Ohio. Some even have murder mysteries (if yours is a child who loves to be scared or intrigued) or story time for the littler ones.
    
29. Tea Party. Find a local tea place that offers petit fours and little sandwiches for your little lady's special birthday. This is a party that her aunts and grandma would like to attend, too. Have fancy hats or white gloves for all attendees - cutest pictures ever!!!
30. Sporting event. Whether it's pro or amateur, the kids will get a kick out of attending a sporting event. Make sure to get the child's name on the JumboTron or scoreboard! See if you can get some autographs. That's more fun for most kids than actually watching the game.
    

Happy party planning!

Kids and Your Grown-up Party

If I were writing this post three years ago, it would be a different post. But I had a child two and a half years ago, and since then my views on this topic (and pretty much everything in my life) have changed.

Should you invite kids to your grown up party? It’s kind of a loaded question, isn’t it? So many feelings to consider. Will I offend childless people if there are kids running around the party? Will my friends with children skip the party entirely if they can’t bring their children? Do I really want a bunch of little hellions jumping on my sofa? Is it appropriate to have children around where the adults are consuming alcohol?

THE OPTIONS
1. Invite children. If your friends have little ones, the kids are a big part of their lives! Embrace it and make your party a family-friendly event.

2. Invite children, but segregate them from the rest of the guests. For example, have pizza and video games in the basement while the parents nosh fancy apps upstairs. Can’t completely prevent the little ones from trying to be right where there parents are, but an attractive enough distraction might help. Especially if a couple older kids are enlisted to watch the little ones. Or better yet, hire a couple teenage babysitters.
3. Don’t invite children and ensure that all your guests have a leisurely, grown-up time. If it’s a cool enough party, parents won’t mind hiring a babysitter for the night.

So, I will start with the parent perspective. If costs $6-$15 an hour for a babysitter. If I come to your party and hire a babysitter, it will cost me $40. Yikes. Sometimes, I’m willing to pay that kind of money to have a night out with my husband. But I can tell you, in this economy, we don’t splurge like that very often. Also, while I am at your party, I will be worried about what’s going on at home.

We had a couple options for New Year’s Eve this year. The one we said “yes” to stated in the invitation that “Children are invited and there are places for them to sleep upstairs when they tire out.” WOW. No babysitter to pay. I actually get to spend the holiday with my toddler. And I get to spend the holiday with my friends. I can stay as late as I want.

I figured my kiddo would wear an adorable New Year’s Eve hat, tucker out at 8:30, and my husband and I would be ready to rejoin the party before half of the guests even showed up. NO SUCH LUCK. We spent half the party trying to get her to stay in bed. Stories, begging, scolding… caving in and letting her come back to the party. The two-year old finally crashed at 11:45pm after dancing for thirty minutes straight. Arrghhh!!! And we were too tired after that trauma to stay at the party past 12:30.

Believe it or not, this toddler was being supervised by an adult at the time this photo was taken.

From the non-parent perspective (because I’m really not a fan of other people’s kids), I don’t mind seeing you child look cute for an hour or so, if they are well-behaved. If they are whining and crying though – please, just leave. I am at a party (and maybe even paid for a babysitter for my own kid) so that I could have a nice night out.

I really like the idea of the host accommodating the children, while keeping them separate from the adults. The kids get their own little party. This is especially true if guests are coming from out of town (Where the heck do you expect them to put their kids? Drop them off at McDonald’s Playland for five hours?), or if the event is a fundraiser (Don’t want guests to spend all their disposable income on a babysitter; you want them to spend money for the cause!)

SUGGESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH OPTION 2

1. If you don’t have kids, but have friends who are bringing children to your party, hit up Goodwill, Toys R Us, or a garage sale and purchase a couple age-appropriate toys or movies. Kids LOVE playing with someone else’s toys. Your friends with kids will be overcome with your thoughtfulness of providing entertainment for their offspring. Bonus for you, you will get to have more uninterrupted time with your friends!

2. If this is a BIG event, like a wedding or a fundraiser, it would be great to have a room, away from the main party, where the kids could hang out. Hire a couple teenage babysitters to watch the young‘uns while their moms and dads have a great time at the adult party. Find a couple crafts or activities that will keep the kids busy for awhile. Bring in a puppy or hamster they can play with. Provide fun food such as pizza, pop, and cookies – things they might not normally get at home. Make it a movie party with a big screen TV and lots of pillows and popcorn. By the way, if the food in the kids’ room isn’t good, they’ll just sneak out to the adult party and eat all the maraschino cherries at the bar.

3. Four words: FENCED IN BACK YARD. And stay out, you little hoodlums! Mommy’s drinking. (Just kidding.) (Kind of.)

Don't let kids drink the beer. That stuff's expensive!


What do you think, readers? Should children stay home?