What major events do you have coming up this year? Anything special? Well, a first birthday does sound like a big milestone for anyone! However, what will you do to make your child's first birthday special? There are many, many ideas out there that can make it special. However, you have to find one that fits their personality and stands out from the rest. Well, Wedding and Party Network has our top picks for 1st birthday party themes.

For The Boys…

Monkey Around - Boys are all over the place, especially at the age of one. Therefore, a monkey themed birthday party is perfect! Think all things monkeys. Create trees, place monkeys around and use bananas. Refer to all things monkey. Also, for the food, fix banana pudding, monkey bread and banana cupcakes. However, not everyone enjoys bananas. Therefore, create whatever you enjoy and just use printables that feature monkeys and cute names like monkeying around or monkey crunch.

Hole In One -An adorable theme is a hole in one party, which focuses on golf. Create a blue and green theme and use this color scheme throughout everything. Plant grass in a square vase or just use paper grass and place donut holes on a stick and place them in the vase for a unique food display. Place golf balls out as party decorations, have golf cart rides, golf inspired cupcakes, "club" sandwiches and the party favors can be those plastic golf clubs.

Rock Star -A rocking birthday bash is a great theme for the little ones. You can definitely get creative with this one, using guitars and the color schemed red and black. You can have the little one rock a biker jacket for attire. How cute does that sound? Just place little guitars, drumsticks or music notes on everything. A great party favor is a plastic microphone filled with candy. This is definitely a great 1st birthday party for the little guy.

Barnyard Bash -Who doesn't enjoy animals? There are tons of ideas for this cute birthday party theme. Think of all the barnyard animals and what you can find in or around the barn. Create a fun barnyard cake complete with all the animals.

For The Girls…

Butterfly Ball - A party full of butterflies, fairies and a vintage feel, what little girl wouldn't love looking back on this party? Your main focus should be butterflies. You can find them in various colors, patterns and designs almost in any store, even home accent stores. Just plan this party ahead so you have plenty of time to look for unique butterflies. Hang butterflies from fishing line throughout the party, attach wings to the chairs, decorate the tables with tulle and place butterflies throughout the food table.

Little Miss Sunshine - You know, the ever popular girly shirts that feature, Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Rain or Little Miss Naughty. Well, base the party around Little Miss Sunshine (you can replace the word sunshine with the birthday girl's name). Think all things yellow for this party. Mix and match fun pastels with the yellow, but keep that the main color of your party. You can create whatever appetizers you may like, feature a fun yellow cake and a candy bar. This 1st birthday party is ideal for the bright and cheery little girl.

Pink Lemonade - A fun little pink lemonade birthday party is great! Think all things pink. Keep this party pretty simple and serve adorable lemonade in bottles or mason jars and keep the food light, like tea sandwiches, miniature cupcakes, vegetable platters and fruit trays. For the decorations, think pink streamers, balloons and even a pink lemonade stand. This party is simple yet perfect for a first birthday party.

1 Upon A Time - Make once upon a time and turn it into a 1 upon a time party. How cute is that? Of course, dress her up in a little tutu with a crown and make the party all things princess themed. You can choose whatever color you like or center it around a certain Disney princess. Take ideas for your favorite princess movies and incorporate that into the decorations, food and party games.

Pinwheels & Pearls -Pinwheels and pearls is a cute little theme that looks great on the invitation and so adorable within the party decorations. Serve up cute little pinwheel food, like sausage pinwheels, turkey pinwheels or jelly rolls. Anything that is related to pinwheels. Even pinwheel cookies and place them on a stick. Think pastels, pinwheels and pearls to place out for party decorations. This party is too cute!

Whenever planning a 1st birthday party, keep the child in mind and try to match the party theme to their adorable personality. What do they love most or what do they remind you of most? This is a very special occasion that needs to be remembered and truly celebrated in fashion.

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Celebrate a birthday with butterflies!  Have a BUTTERFLY BIRTHDAY BASH releasing live butterflies.  When planning a butterfly themed birthday party, keep in mind that the temperatures need to be above 60-65 degrees for your butterflies to fly.

It is recommended that the birthday party participants be 5 years of age or older.  A few suggestions include making a butterfly-shaped birthday cake.  Instructions can be found on the internet or created by your local bakery.  Give the guests some packets of easy-to-plant butterfly garden seeds to take home. You can order child-sized or adult-sized butterfly wings from several companies.  A pair of bug glasses and some handmade antennae would complete the outfit.  The guests can make a butterfly craft during the party.  The grande finale would include an outdoor butterfly release.  Each participant can release one individually, or you may choose to release them all at one time from a decorative cage.  You may want to have someone else plan your butterfly party as your time may be limited.

Article written by Linda Marchman, owner of Social Butterflies. She has raised butterflies for seven years and is a director of the Association for Butterflies, a member of the International Butterfly Breeders Association, the Butterfly Society of Virginia and is a Certified Master Gardener.

This information about butterfly releases was brought to you by Wedding and Party Network, your leading resource for planning weddings and parties.

My little girl was singing "Rain, rain, go away…" the other day and it got me thinking. The next rainy day we have, we're having a "Let It Rain" party.  Here's how: We will call several of her close friends and tell them to dress in their best rainy day gear–raincoats, hats, umbrellas, boots, etc.

Of course, I will arrange it with their moms in advance so they won't be surprised. Then we'll go pick them up, bring them to the park and see just how many mud puddles we can find. Remember how fun it was to splash in mud puddles? I do, and a rainy day is the perfect opportunity to get wet. They're dressed for it so let them have all the fun they want splashing, jumping, dancing and playing.

When all are sufficiently tired, we pile back in the car and head home, where warm bubble baths and a fun spa time takes place. After baths, they can put on robes or comfy clothes and have a spa lunch. This could consist of a festive punch or hot cocoa, tea sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly, pimento cheese, etc.), petite cookies–anything ladylike that you can tailor for little girls.

After lunch it's  "salon" time drying and styling hair. Then we're on to pedicures and manicures. Line the girls up on the sofa and do an assembly line with foot baths, massages, and polish. They can talk, laugh and enjoy the process together.

When "spa day" is over, they can re-dress and mom's taxi can deliver them home. I think my daughter and her friends will look forward to rainy days–and have a great memory–after this rainy day party.

Need some help with this party theme?
Hire a limo to transport guests.
Have a bakery make special "rainy day" cookies.
Give the girls a professional manicure and pedicure from a manicurist.

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.

Chalk Theme Party

This party idea came to by way of my neighbor, an ever inventive father of two. His daughter’s birthday was soon approaching. Since he is a single father in need of party help, I suggested he choose a party theme related to one of his daughter's favorite activities. It seems Christina, 4 soon to be 5, was into drawing. In fact, her dad said he had works of art everywhere in his house.

So the party girl was into drawing and this lead to Chris (the father) to decide a party outside on his driveway would work. His plan was to get several tubs of sidewalk chalk for the entertainment part of the party. The little party Picassos could draw all over his driveway to their hearts content.

The day before the party Chris power washing his driveway and sets up some tables he rented. On the day of the party, I helped him by stringing some colorful streamers and balloons, as well as assembling the party favors bags. Each child received a bag of party favors containing coloring books with crayons, black craft paper with chalk (black works best for chalk) and some bubble gum and assorted candies. The cake was an airbrushed version of one of his daughter’s art pieces. The cake was so cool! Christiana squealed with delight when she saw her own drawing on her birthday cake. Between the cake, the party favors and sidewalk chalk entertainment, the kids had a blast. Chris could not have picked a better party theme for Christina's birthday party.

I suggest, if your going to have Chalk It Up Party, you do it in early spring or early fall. Driveways either cement or asphalt get extremely hot during the summer months and can burn bare feet and knees. You’ll find this theme is a minimal effort party that young kids can enjoy. As a parent you can pull it together in a short amount of time and clean up is a breeze.