One of the most available, inexpensive and underrated centerpieces is the rose or ivy bowl. It's a small "fish bowl" with a scalloped lip. It's the perfect size for a round or oblong table, used in groups or by itself.

You can come up with some really creative ideas for using rose bowls at your next party–whatever the occasion.

Here are some ideas:

1. Fill the bowl with blue colored water, about halfway up. Set a yellow rubber duck in the water and nest the bowl in a blue or yellow hand towel for a cute baby shower centerpiece.

2. Fill the bowl with water and add half or whole slices of lemons, limes and oranges and one brightly colored Gerbera daisy for a festive, summer party, wedding shower or birthday party.

3. Add iridescent marbles and a pink rubber duck and swirl pink satin ribbon around the base for a baby shower or little girls' birthday party.

4. Use sand or dirt and toy trucks for a boys' birthday party.

5. Add a simple votive candle, then tie a small part of a decorative hula skirt around the base  for a luau party.

6. Fill with cotton balls, a bottle or two of nail polish, emery board, clippers, etc. for older girls' slumber or spa party.

7. For a practical centerpiece, gather eating utensils, roll up with a napkin and tie with ribbon for a picnic or backyard barbeque.

8. The classic use: fill halfway with water and add a single-bloomed rose for a tea or garden party.

9. Add aromatic coffee beans and a white votive candle for a casual dinner party.

10. Fill with several princess wands and swirl a feather boa at the base for a princess birthday party.

If you are hosting a back-to-school party for your kids, follow these easy do's and dont's for a successful fun-filled party.

Party Do's & Don'ts

• Do not assume that your child's friends from last school year will be the same one this year. Over the summer and during the first week of school kids develop new friendships.  Be sure to involve your child. Ask them who they want to invite and go from there.



• Do plan on entertainment that is age appropriate. Choose a type of entertainment that your  kids and their peers will enjoy.  Nothing is worse then hiring a magician or a clown and hearing your tween complain about how lame and uncool the entertainment was and how they really wanted karaoke.  To avoid this situation, ask your child what type of entertainment they want.
• Don't think you have to spend a lot of money. You can throw a cool dance party by using your home stereo system and your teens ipod.
• DO get other parents involved.
• Don't forget some type of party favor.  I suggest cool school supplies, notebooks, pen, erasers, add some candy and stickers tuck them all into sporty binder.

Easy To Do Party Ideas

It doesn't take a lot to throw a back to school party. You can throw a fun party at your home in the backyard. Hold the party at your local bowling alley or arcade. Or you can do like a few of my friends do — after their daughters have been in school for a few weeks, they hire a limo and take the girls and their friends shopping for more back-to-school clothes.  They started this when they girls were about eleven and now at fifteen the girls can't wait to have their back-to-school shopping party. Back to school parties are great fun for kids. A new school years bring new friends and new parents together. These back to school parties are a great way for parents to get to know one another.

Remember the days of childhood when summertime brought catching fireflies in a Mason jar, playing outside 'til it was dark and eating homemade ice cream? I sure do and I think it's time we bring back the old ice cream sundae social.

There are several wonderful summer events in which an ice-cream sundae social would be perfect: family reunions, after a church picnic, at a friend's pool party and even summer birthday bashes.

Nothing says "summer" like ice cream, and nothing tends to bring smiles to people's faces and brings on the laughter like ice cream. So, for your next summer get-together, consider these ideas:

The Ice Cream Sundae Buffet – Set up a "buffet" of different flavored ice creams – both store bought and homemade – with fresh, summer fruits like strawberries, peaches, blueberries and raspberries.

Serve with homemade chocolate, caramel and strawberry sauces, or the bottled ones are just fine too. Provide other favorite toppings, such as jimmies, sprinkles, chopped peanuts and pecans, marachino cherries and whipped cream.

BYOT (Bring Your Own Toppings) Party –  You provide the ice cream, your guests provide the toppings. This is a cost-effective way to have an ice cream sundae social and your guests feel like they did something  to help.

Build-Your-Own Banana Split Party – Just a variation on the buffet, but make sure you have the yummy toppings for the classic banana split, including freshly-whipped cream.

Soda Fountain Social – Serve a variety of soda fountain classics. Recipes are readily available, as are the ingredients for root beer floats, Coke floats, old-fashioned sodas and lime rickeys. Let your guests "order" their favorite and you whip them up like a pro.

So cool down your next party with a ice cream and be the soical event of the year.

Publish Date: 9-22-10

The Do's & Don'ts of Kids Parties!

Children's parties can be a bit tough, even for a well-seasoned party host. This month, we are going to explore the do's and don'ts of children's parties.

Do Plan Some Type Of Entertainment Or Play Activity

One thing I cannot stress enough is have an activity planned for the children. Even a simple game of pin the tail on the donkey is a good planned activity for a kids party.  You may choose to hire cartoon characters or a magician as a way to entertain the children. You may even rent a big screen tv, so the children can play video games. Whatever you choose, the key is having some type of activity or type of entertainment for the kids.

Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

You will need to have a few adults on the party scene to watch the kids.  Don't be afraid to ask other parents to help watch over them.  Most parents will be glad to help out.  You can reciprocate when they throw the next kids party.

Do Expect A Few Messes And Some Tears

Kids will be kids, and the younger ones will spill and make messes.  Be prepared ahead of time to handle these situations. Here's a hint:  If you have the party at your home and you have lightly-colored carpet, don't serve red punch (the tears shed may be your own). Plan your party so that any mess or spilled punch won't matter.  You can always do an outdoor party or rent the local…

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When you give a party at your own home, it is best to follow a few do's and don'ts.  That way you don 't end up resenting your party guest, and they don't go off grumbling about your bad party hosting.

Do put away any item or items you don't want broken.  For instance, great-grandma's irreplaceable Ming vase.  Accidents happen, and the worst thing you can do as a host is to spend your time hoping no one breaks your prized possessions or heirloom pieces.

Don't leave rooms unlocked or doors open to rooms or areas you don't want guests to be in or see . Humans are well, a bit nosey and curious.  So you must help those who are curious and take away temptation to peek by locking doors.

Do put away pets. Some people don't like pets or may even have allergies.  As a good host, you need to consider your guests.  If you're unable to lock your pet in a room away from the party, then I suggest lodging them at a kennel for the day of the party.

Don't forget to remove your prescription drugs from any of the bathrooms or the kitchen. This is especially important if your party will include children or teenagers.

Do make sure you have enough food and drink. If you're hosting a hors d'oeuvre party, you'll need 10-15 appetizers per person. For a dinner party make sure you have plenty of servings to go around and add about 3-4 extra servings.  You never know who might bring a guest or if someone has a big appetite. You want enough drinks to keep people happy.  You can ask a local wine and spirit store to make suggestions on types and quantities. Don't forget some soft drinks and water.

Don't forget you're the host not the waitperson. For informal parties, it is acceptable to place the food buffet style, and fix the party-goers one drink then tell them to help themselves.  If you're doing a more formal party, you may need to hire bar-staff and wait-staff.

This post is sponsored by Newark, Delaware, caterers.

Roller skating is making a comeback, and so are skate parties.  I have fond memories of going to a skate party way back in the day.  Why not make some great memories for your child's birthday party by throwing them a Roller Skating Party. I find roller skating parties work well for pre-teens.

Skating Rink: The Host Or Just The Facility

Call your local skating rink and to see if they host children's parties.  Often skating rinks have set prices for parties, and they also take care of many of the parties needs for you.  Some skate rinks will provide food, drinks and even a cake. Some even have the party favors and birthday decorations.  Be sure to ask them what they will provide and the cost per child for these services before you book the party.

If the rink does not "host" the party for you, ask if you can decorate and bring in food and drinks (and this includes the cake).  If they say no outside  food, don't be discouraged.  You can have the cake and ice cream before going to the rink.  Keep in mind that children will want something to drink as they skate around, so you will need to purchase the drinks and snacks for them at the skating rink.  Some skating rinks also have video games kids can play. You will want parents to know this as well, so they can decide if they want to send extra money for their child play games.  Be sure to include all of this information on the party invitation.

Party Transportation Service Or Just The Planner

You  need to decide if you're going to transport all the kids to the skating rink or have the kids meet you there.  If you're going to  transport them, I suggest inviting only a small amount of your child's friends. Choose a number you can easily transport.

Home Skating Rink

If you don't have access to a roller rink, you can create one. Decorate your basement or your drive-way to look like a roller rink. Maybe you have a community building that you can rent.  Hire a disc jockey, rent a mirrored ball (disco ball) and some lighting to make it sparkle.

Whether hosting a birthday party at home or somewhere else, your pre-teen will love a roller skating party theme. Remember, creating a great roller skating party is as easy as skating itself!

Need A Party Theme Or Idea For A Kid's Birthday Party? Think Clowns!

Clowns are great for birthday parties.  They are fun and make little ones giggle. So throw a clown town kids birthday party. How? Hire a few professional clowns. When you hire the clowns find out which special skills they have, such as balloon animals, face painting or magic tricks.  It is important to know what the clowns will be doing to entertain the children.

In Clown Town Everyone Has A Job (Skill)

Hire several clowns with different skills and set up little towns (performance areas) for the children to visit. Use cardboard, paint and markers to create the backdrop for each town. For instance, you've hired 3 clowns: one who does juggling and magic, one who does balloon animals, and one who paints faces. Create a "stage with curtains" for the magic-juggling clown. Now the magic-juggling clown has the perfect place to perform his magic for the kids.

You can do the same thing with the balloon animal clown.  Draw a circus tent or zoo setting on a piece of cardboard.  Be sure to sue bright colors when you paint the cardboard.

The face painting clown will need more than a backdrop. This clown will need  a chair or stool for the kids to sit on while she paints faces. Paint animals, balloons, butterflies and superheros on the cardboard.  This backdrop will contain all the images the clown will paint on your kiddos faces.

Not An Artist? Easy Tips For Creating Party Backdrops

If your not good at free hand drawing, use coloring books. Grab a page out of a coloring book and have it blown up at a copy store. Using the enlarged page as a pattern, you can now trace the pattern on to the cardboard.  Another decorating option can be found at your local party supply store – decals and stickers.

Making A Sturdy Clown Town

To set up your clown town, use more cardboard to brace the cardboard towns. You will angle the cardboard in similar fashion as a desk top picture frame. If the party is outside or in a garage attach the card board to the walls or fence with packing tape.

Decorating The Party Food Table

Decorate your food and gift tables with balloons and streamers. Use colored craft paper as tablecloths and place your snacks, clown party cake and punch on the tables and call it the snack town.

The kids will love the clown town. The clown town layout is great for managing large groups of kids. Each clown town can handle a different set of kids. For example, send one group to the magic clown and another group to the face painter. By rotating the smaller groups, each child will have a better opportunity to see the clowns perform.

WeddingandPartyNetwork.com is happy to bring you this party planning idea.

Planning a party for your tween or teen? Is a country music an everyday necessity for them?  Well then it looks like you need a to throw a Country Music Awards party.

Setting The Party Stage

Set up the front walk way of your party event location with a red carpet. Do this by buying inexpensive red craft paper in rolls.  This will help you create the "red carpet" for an awesome kid’s party.

Every awards event has a red carpet photo op including paparazzi.  You can hire a  photographer or play the part of the paparazzi yourself.  As kids arrive at the party make sure they walk the red carpet.  If you hire a professional photographer make sure the teens shot for the country music star interview and photo experience.

This country music bash doesn't end with the red carpet.  Tweens and teens will need the whole country music award atmosphere. Party decorations must include glitter stars, balloons, fan banners and a glitzy food table with floral sheeting.  Add a country music band or DJ emcee with country music karaoke and you have the makings of a fine country music hall.  Take it to the next level by renting a dance floor. A the band plays or even during karaoke the kids will want to dance.  So, checking into renting dance flooring.

Award Them With A Country Feast

This party is more about dressing up and walking the red carpet. A fun night partying requires a fair amount of fuel.  Grab and run is the food of choice -  chips and dips, granola bars, sodas and bottled water.  To add a little WOW factor to the party get a country music theme cake and it the focal point of the food table.

Since the food and beverages are simple and relatively inexpensive, you'll have more money and time to invest in the party decorations. Be sure to make this party just as glitzy and great as the awards show.

And The Winner IS

All who attend this party! Give every person who attends an award – their own party favor or favors.  Create a goody bag for each tween or teen with an inexpensive cowboy hat, sunglasses and tiny chocolate cowboy boots.  To really make it memorable have some party glasses engraved with the date ad theme of the party.

With a little planning your tweens/teens next party will be a winner!

This party theme planning idea was brought to you by www.weddingandpartynetwork.com.

Dad's do you feel left out when it comes to planning a party for your child?

You are not alone. Many times, Dads feel left out when it comes to planning kids parties. What they don't realize is moms are tired of planning every party for their child. This year try reversing the roles. Dads let the moms sit back and watch as you do it all.

Dads don't panic you can plan it. Yes you can.  For dads looking for children's party ideas, I've got four easy steps to building a great party.  Use the following steps as the building blocks in constructing a great kids  party.

STEP 1 – Party Theme

Start with a theme (a concept for the party – pirates, star wars etc.) which help focus the other basics steps and guide us in planning the party.  For our example, the party will have a construction theme.

A construction party consists of the parents helping the party attendees to build an item.  You can choose to build any number of things.  For children ages 3-5, build a truck or a car with construction paper. Using pre-cut paper trucks and cars have the children color and draw in wheels or special features. You can cut cars and trucks from your old car magazines and let the kids glue them to old milk cartons as a way to build their own car.  For kids 6-10, build bird houses out of Popsicle sticks. All you need are popsicle sticks, glue and some craft paint.  You can buy bulk popsicle sticks at most craft stores. These are just a couple of theme suggestions. When choosing a theme draw from your own and your child's interest.

STEP 2 – Party Invitations

Invitations should include a minimum of four things: Who, What, Where, When.

Begin by setting the date and the place. Once you've got that you can decide about whom to invite. Most experts say for children 3-5 invite their age plus 1. So, if your child is 3 invite four, 4 invite 5, 5 invite 6.  With children 6 and over you can use the rules given or invite the amount of kids you feel comfortable entertaining.

Invitations should be personally delivered or mailed at least 2 weeks prior to the event.  I also suggest picking an invitation that displays the theme. For our example it needs to be something that represents a construction theme.  Hanny Manny invitations would be a good example of a construction theme or even ones that have Tonka Toy backhoes or dirt movers on them. You should be able to find kids theme invitations at party or stationary supply stores.

STEP 3 Party Decorations:

When choosing decorations work from your theme. You'll notice that when you were choosing your invitations the party store carried theme decoration as well. You will find that items like napkins, posters, plates, cups and other theme party decorations will compliment the Hanny Manny or Bob the Builder invitations you have already selected.  If you can't find character or decorations based on your theme, use colorful streamers or balloons to dress up your party area. Although not necessarily a decoration, party favors are a must.  Now is the time you will want to pick up the party favors. The best kids party favor is a small gift bag containing candy, toys or fun items for each child.

Step 4 Party Food:

A little food goes a long way with kids since most kids 3 to 10 years old would rather play than eat. I recommend with younger kids in this age group you serve cake and ice cream only.  But the cake should be specially designed around the theme. As for drinks, I suggest bottle of soda and water or juice boxes.  Be sure to contact your bakery one week ahead, so they can create your party theme cake.

So there you have it dads. A blueprint for building the perfect kids party. Go out and build one today!

These tips for planning a kids party were brought to you by the wonderful local party vendors in the United States and Canada.

Halloween theme parties are one of my favorites. When throwing a Halloween party, you’ll need to invest in few scary surprises for your party guest.

Tip #1 – DRY ICE

The most important surprise begin with dry ice.  It creates the ultimate spooky party feeling. You can use it in your punch and with your decorations. Not sure about dry ice but still want the creepy affect of an eerie fog rolling in? Rent a fog machine.

Tip #2 – Get Into Character

Create the ultimate Halloween party atmosphere by hiring some scary characters to mingle with the crowd. There performers can liven up the party with ghoulish activities and spooky skits.  Be part of the fun by renting a character costume for yourself or make it a Halloween costume party. Transform your party area into a Halloween mecca. Decorate with fake spider webs, mini caskets to hold the food, orange and black streamers and black candles placed in a fake skull. Cardboard cut out tombstones for your outdoors and well as indoors.

Tip #3 – Ghoulish Food Equals Good Time

Once you’ve got your dry ice punch, other food and drink ideas are simple.  Serve a blood drink for Vampires (7up™ or Sprite™ colored with red food coloring). Serve your ghoulish dip served in carved pumpkin. (Ghoulish dip can be made from anything but dips with chunks of pimentos, mushrooms, etc. give a creepier effect.) Don't forget the spooky sweets.  If you’re not good at making creepy cakes and spooky cookies have your bakery make them for you. Serve super spicy bat wings. Okay, you can’t really buy spicy bat wings but you can chicken wings and call them bat wings.

Tip #4 – Treat Them To Entertainment

Although entertainment will vary by age, a Halloween party lends itself to many options. A unique kids entertainment ideas is pumpkin bowling.  All you need for this low-cost form of entertainment is some empty water bottles and a few pumpkins.  Everyone loves to bowl, but teens and adults might prefer a more refined type of entertainment.  Try a murder mystery game.  Halloween entertainment options are endless.

These are basic tips you can use for any type of Halloween party. These same principles for a kids Halloween party or for adult parties.  Just remember with the help of these tips, your local bakery, and a  party supply store, you can throw a wickedly fun Halloween party!

As always Wedding and Party Network, is a great place for ideas when planning your party.