Parties

Practical First Birthday Party Ideas for Moms of Twins

2011-03-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

As busy moms, we are always looking for birthday party ideas that are creative and fun yet easy to plan and prepare. While all birthdays are important, few are as monumental as your child's first, so of course you want to honor this achievement with a party. Organizing a gathering for a one year old can be overwhelming, and this stress doubles if you are the parent of twins.

Most people will agree that twins can be challenging, especially in the first year, so celebrating their first birthday is a like recognizing a milestone - you survived, and the party should be for you as well as for your babies. So, make it easy on yourself and keep it simple. You do not need to spend the day running around attending to countless details when you will be busy enough trying to keep up with your two excited little ones. As you have probably learned over the past twelve months, simplicity is bliss, so host the party at home, keep the food and decorations uncomplicated, visit with family and friends, and take the time to enjoy the celebration.

Keeping the Individuality

Moms of twins often face the dilemma of trying to plan a joint party while still recognizing the individual personalities of each child. Since they won't remember their first birthday party, it is not necessary to have separate celebrations; but, there are ways to make each twin feel special while making it easier and less stressful for you. Make them their own little cake or cupcake. You can let them choose the flavor or design, or keep it theme related, but it is important that there is a cake for each highchair tray and their own candle to blow out. You may even want to sing Happy Birthday to each twin separately so they feel extra special and individual photos can be taken.

If you are choosing a theme for your party, it is easy to allow each twin to express their personality and preferences without creating a lot of extra work for yourself. You can transform your party room into a Sesame Street scene and allow each child to choose a character that you can build into the basic decorations. Adding a few Elmo and Big Bird accessories will personalize the party for each twin while still keeping with a single theme. Host a Noah's Ark party and include each baby's favorite animal, or create a bug conservatory and allow your children to choose their favorite insects such as a ladybug, butterfly, or bumble bee.

Remember to create separate stations for gift opening and cake eating. It only takes a few extra minutes to decorate two highchairs or make two birthday banners, but it will go a long way in helping you host a single party without sacrificing the individuality of your twins.

Invitations

Yes, you can buy some great invitations that will work just fine, but for very little work, you can create invites that will be appreciated by family and friends. After all, the only thing cuter than one baby is two babies. Twins are adorable, and with a camera and some simple software, you can design priceless invitations that are unique and memorable. If you are hosting a ballerina themed party, snap a picture of your little darlings dressed in pink tutus, or welcome guests to a tea party by creating a postcard featuring your daughters dressed in vintage clothing.

Wrap your sons in superhero capes, or sit them in giant tool boxes. Surround them with their favorite toys, capture them kissing the family pet, or simply take a candid photo and dress it up with some fancy clipart. And, if you are concerned about the individuality or are working with contrasting themes, create a two-sided invitation, dress your twins in different colors, or design a scene where the prince is rescuing the princess or the Bob the Builder is making repairs on Dora's house. Whether or not you choose to have your invitations follow a theme, why purchase generic options when you can show off the stars of the show?

Popular Twin Party Themes

There are so many great birthday party ideas that work for twins. If you want something quick and easy, simply go with a pink or blue theme, or both if your twins are not the same gender. Babies love bright colors and you really don't need to spend a lot of time and money on fancy decorations when a few balloons and streamers will work just fine. For extra effect, make sure everything, from the food to the clothing to the tableware, fits your color scheme.

Host a Two Peas in a Pod party with simple decorations in various shades of green, mini cupcakes with green icing and happy faces, and polka dot accessories. Dress your babies in green, serve green jello cut into circles, or construct a large pod from cardboard so guests can use green foam balls to play a game of Toss the Pea in the Pod. You can even make great invitations by cutting half moon shapes out of green paper, using a lighter shade to make peas, and then inserting them into little slits on the pod. As an extra touch, attach photos of your twins faces to each pea.

Are your twins a boy and a girl? Why not have a Mickey and Minnie party? Send out mouse ear shaped invitations, decorate with red, yellow, and black streamers and balloons, hang pictures of Disney characters, and use face paint to transform your little guest into adorable mice. You can even have separate Mickey and Minnie stations with different activities in each, or give the girls bows for their mouse ear hats. Try a Raggedy Ann and Andy party or go for a contrasting theme such as pirate and princess or Beauty and the Beast.
Twin boys will love a superhero theme, especially if they each get to dress like their favorite hero. Or how about the popular Thomas the Tank Engine, allowing each child to choose a favorite engine? Little girls will look precious dressed for a ballerina theme party, or watch their eyes twinkle with delight as they enter their own magical fairy tale where they get to play the parts of Cinderella and Snow White.

Moms of twins know that the best first birthday party ideas are easy, uncomplicated, and can be prepared ahead of time. A camera, a few simple decorations, two cakes, and maybe some creative costumes are all that is needed to plan a spectacular, stress free party for your twins.

Suzanne Daykin is an event manager and mum of two little ones who shares a variety of first birthday party ideas and tips. Celebrate your child's first birthday with help from www.1st-birthday-party-ideas.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Daykin

The Best Stag Do in London Ever

2011-03-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

I was so happy when my best mate asked me to be his best man at his wedding. We grew up together, shared so many memorable experiences together through the years and it was truly an honour being asked to be chief commander of the boys for the stag do. His only condition was that the stag do was in London and that it had to be unique, stylish and a lot of fun. So obviously that ruled out Flares, Infernos and Tiger Tiger!

I was looking for stag do ideas all over London but was greeted with the usual tacky advertisers and standard stag do party organisers. I was thinking perhaps of an activity that we could all get involved with, perhaps laser quest, perhaps go-karting, or even a spot of Urban Golf which is a lot of fun but still none of the ideas seemed to the perfect night he was after.

I spent months researching on the internet, speaking to friends, chatting to companies I found online but nothing was really inspiring me for of those very special stag do events. Finally things started to fall into place and I was starting to piece together a monumental stag do in London.

First of all we all gathered at London Bridge for a welcoming pint at the classic London pub, The George, and sat out in the sunny beer garden. I then de-briefed the stag party of 20 enthusiastic and excited men. Our first port of call was the London Bridge Boxing Club, we were all our way for our Frank Bruno master class!

Courtesy of this fantastic boxing club, we had 4 dedicated Boxing coaches who put us through our paces, trained us up on the basic boxing moves and punches, with the idea that we would have our own boxing championship in the ring. It proved a huge success, with competition fierce and the banter flowing, the boys really got into the spirit of things, cheering on each other, and culminating in a huge winner takes all fight between the last men standing.

As you can imagine, we were all thirsty from our boxing endeavours so this led us onto the next part of our epic stag party in London. We jumped in a taxi and headed to Shoreditch, to Ninetyeight Bar. This is run by a wonderfully creative woman who also puts on fantastic cocktail making classes. What better way to get the boys bonding by shaking their stuff and coming up with some class Dark and Stormy's and Mother Mojitos!

This went down extremely well especially when they realised they could drink whatever they piece together in the cocktail class. It's a good alternative to just hitting a bar or pub on stag do as you actually get to learn a lot about your favourite cocktails and it's a fantastic atmosphere run by very knowledgeable staff.

By this point we were well on our way and the boys had their disco shoes on! We headed into central London and arrived at the stylish Piccadilly Institute which is like no other club I have experienced in London. It has some terrifically unique themed rooms, ranging from a medical clinic, all the way to a 90's pop bar. The best bar by far was the library overlooking Piccadilly Circus where we partied all night long! The stag had a great night and declared it was the best stag he could ever of wished for which was followed by hugs, kisses and a lot of loving!

Dylan Franks is a Londoner and an expert on his beloved city of London. For more London stag do ideas, check out his site http://www.designmynight.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dylan_Franks

Princess Costumes Tips and Ideas

2011-03-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

Princess costumes are popular with the young and old alike. What little girl doesn't dream of waiting in a tower for a handsome prince while wearing a beautiful dress? Even as adults, many women still enjoy dressing up in a totally impractical outfit with a tiara and masses of jewellery. Tiaras are becoming even more popular as wedding accessories, so that a bride can relive those days of dreaming as a little girl. One of the best things about princess costumes is that you can be whatever kind of princess you like. So, what are some ideas for princess costumes, both the classically recognisable and some more unusual approaches?

The Classic Princess

The most important part of this outfit is the dress. It has to be big, poufy and completely impractical. All ball gowns, when topped off with a tiara, make instant princess costumes.

The Zombie Princess

Take one of the classic princess costumes, add some rips and shreds to the dress and then go wild with makeup. Fake blood, a pale white or green pallor, and for the artistically inclined, fake scars turn your fairytale princess into something from a horror story. If last year's princess costume has become worse for wear, this is a great way to re use it.

The Warrior Princess

These princess costumes can be done in two ways - either take your classic princess costume and add in a sword or a battle-axe, or take your inspiration from Queen Boadicea of the Celts, and wear battle armour with war paint and a fierce expression. The crown lets everyone know that you're not just a warrior, but a royal warrior.

A Disney Princess

From Snow White to Aladdin's Jasmine, Disney princesses are iconic cultural icons. There's a princess for everyone, and with images and media of them everywhere, it's easy to let these princesses inspire your costume ideas. For group princess costumes, have everyone pick their favourite princess and you can go out as Disney's heroines. You'll be sure to make a splash.

Cinderella at the Stroke of Midnight

Take one ball gown and one simple servant's dress, cut them both up the middle and sew them together. Add a glass slipper to the gown side and a normal shoe to the other. Have half your hair beautifully coiffed and the other half in disarray. Cinderella at the stroke of midnight princess costumes are sure to have your friends in stitches.

The Egyptian Princess

Queen Cleopatra has been immortalised in film and on the stage, but before she was Queen, she was a princess. Take your black eye-liner and go wild, giving yourself those heavily outlined eyes. A snake-head tiara may be difficult to find, but you can easily make one out of tin-foil. Top off a tunic dress with a black wig and you are immediately recognisable.

Princess Leia

Sure, she's not your usual princess, but she was bona-fide royalty. Her iconic hair and but-kicking attitude won over Han Solo, and she's sure to impress your fellow party goers too.

Visit our site on princess costumes for the latest styles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Milane