How to Throw a Train Your Dragon Birthday Party

Kids' Parties with Flair is on hiatus. Today's post is a selection of the best of the blog - How to Throw a Train Your Dragon Birthday Party. The full party plan is here. This party features games like Pin the Tail on the Dragon, Dragon Freeze Dance, Viking Says; kid-friendly treats like Viking Chicken Fingers and Dragonberry Salad; and a selection of sweets like Dragon Cake and Rainbow Cupcakes. You will find complete directions for all party details and recipes here.

I thank you for being one of over 600 visitors from 29 countries who have visited my blog since my first post on March 1, 2010.

How to Throw a Luau Birthday Party

Kids' Parties with Flair is on hiatus. Today's post is a selection of the best of the blog - How to Throw a Luau Birthday Party. Please go to Holidash.com and check out my recently published e-article.

I thank you for being one of over 600 visitors from 29 countries who have visited my blog since my first post on March 1, 2010.

How to Throw a Firefighter Birthday Party

Kids' Parties with Flair is on hiatus. Today's post is a selection of the best of the blog - How to Throw a Firefighter Birthday Party. The full party plan is here. This party features games like Rescue Relay, Pin the Tail on the Dalmatian and Fire Chief Says; kid-friendly treats like Chili Mac and Firehouse Munchies; and, a selection of sweets like a Fire Engine Cake and Doggone Good Dalmatian Cupcakes. You will find complete directions for all party details and recipes here.

I thank you for being one of over 600 visitors from 29 countries who have visited my blog since my first post on March 1, 2010.

How to Throw an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party

Kids' Parties with Flair is on hiatus. Today's post is a selection of the best of the blog - How to Throw an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party. The full party plan is here. This party features games like a Caucus Race, Croquet and Old Maid; kid-friendly treats like Mini Chocolate Chip Scones, Pink Lemonade, and Strawberry and Cream Cupcakes. You will find complete directions for all party details and recipes here.

I thank you for being one of over 600 visitors from 29 countries who have visited my blog since my first post on March 1, 2010.

How to Throw a Rock Star Party

Kids' Parties with Flair is on hiatus. Today's post is a selection of the best of the blog - How to Throw a Rock Star Party. The full party plan is here. This party features games like Dance Freeze and Rock Star Trivia; kid-friendly treats like Cheesy Pigs in the Blanket and Cran-Raspberry Punch; and, a selection of sweets like a Rock Star Cake, a Guitar Cake and Psychedelic Cupcakes. You will find complete directions for all party details and recipes here.

I thank you for being one of over 600 visitors from 29 countries who have visited my blog since my first post on March 1, 2010.

How to Throw a Polka Dot Birthday Party

Who doesn't have a soft spot for polka dots! A Polka Dot Party is perfect for girls of all ages. Colorful polka dots are so much fun they will easily make any party a success. Using dots as inspiration is inexpensive and easy to do. This party plan details some incredibly cool ideas to get you going. If you have a birthday party coming up, this theme is definitely one to consider.

Invitations: For polka dot party invitations several options exist. One, buy polka dot note cards. Write party information on the inside. Ask your guests to wear polka dot clothing.

Two, buy personalized invites in the Bright Dots Party Pack available from Birthday in a Box.

Three, use the free polka dot birthday invite template from Microsoft. Click here to see it.

Decorations: Polka dot patterns are definitely in order for this celebration. Many color combinations are available, choose your favorite and use it throughout your party space. A quick and easy way to fill your party area with polka dots is to cover the walls with colorful dots. One way to do this is to tape round paper plates in different sizes and colors to the walls. Using double-sided poster tape will allow you to decorate for the party and avoid doing any lasting harm to your home. Another way to go is to use removable wall decals. Wall Candy Arts offers a multi-dot design. These peel-and-stick wall decorations include 80 multi-colored dots in varying sizes. After the party, your child can decorate her bedroom or playroom with these fun decals.

Don't forget to fill the party room with polka dot balloons. A good way to do this is to hang balloons from the ceiling using clear fishing line, so the dots can dangle down into the party space.

Cover your party table with a polka dot cloth. Fill small souffle cups with round candy coated chocolates in colors to match your color scheme. The My M&Ms dispenser at your local grocery store is the perfect spot to buy your candy in the colors to coordinate with your party. You can use polka dot napkins, paper plates, cups and so forth. Or if you fear your decorations will seem too busy with all these dots, mix in some solid colors. After all round plates are really giant polka dots.

Activities: If any guests arrive without polka dot clothes, with their permission stick dot stickers on them. Avery sells multi-colored packs of 1,000 for $8.94 at most office supply stores.

Start the party by holding a guessing game. Fill a clear jar with candy-coated chocolate candies. As the guests arrive, have them guess how many M&Ms are in the jar. At the end of the party the kid who guesses the closest to the amount, gets to take the jar full of candy home.

Be sure to take pictures of each guest in his or her polka dot clothes. Have one of your adult helpers print the pictures off during the party, so the kids can take them home as favors. Family Fun Magazine has a free polka dot printable frame that would be great to use for these party pictures. Before the party print the frames on card stock, so they will be good to go on party day to frame your pictures.

Games: There are plenty of games with round or circular themes. Organize a Pom Pom Hunt. Before the party, hide small colorful pom poms around the party area. (You can buy small pom poms at most craft stores.) See who can find the most.

Play Pin the Dots on the Dalmatian. Put up an outline of a dalmatian on the wall. Cut round dots out of construction paper for all the guests. Your dalmatian can be a traditional black and white one or any color you choose. Blindfold the kids one at a time, spin them around, then instruct them to pin their dots on the dalmatian.

Have the kids play Twister, Twister Moves (the dance version) or Twister Scram. The Scram version has 20 colorful round mats and a spinner. The game come with instructions for a modified tag as well as a musical chairs-like contest.

Bingo is another perfect game to play at a Polka Dot Party. Several on-line vendors sell bingo sets or you can make your own using instructions from the Martha Stewart website.

Dominoes would also make a fun dotty game. Kids can play the game of dominoes or have the party guests set up the dominoes to create domino knock downs.

Balloon Scramble is always a party favorite. Blow up twice as many balloons as guests using two colors. (If you have six guests, blow up six balloons of color one and six of color two.) Divide your guests into two teams and assign each team a color. The object of the game is to have each team keep their balloons in the air while trying to knock all of the other team's balloons to the ground. Once a balloon hits the ground it is out of play. The team that runs out of balloon first is out.

If weather permits, kids can Chase Bubbles outdoors. Using bottled bubbles and wands have an adult blow bubbles for them. The party-goers then can run around trying to catch the floating bubbles.

Crafts: Have the kids make their own bracelets. Buy a selection of round, doughnut shaped beads from a craft store. Give the kids lengths of thin elastic cording a little bigger than their wrists. Tie a bead to the end of the elastic to make beading easier. The kids can then string as many beads as they need and adult helpers can tie the bracelet off to fit each child.

A great activity for your guests when you get ready to serve the food, is to give them some connect the dot pictures. Family Fun Magazine has two appropriate choices for this party: Beary Special Surprise and Sailboat Fun.

Food: Dots are the inspiration for this menu. Circular foods are the focus of this feast. Cut PB&J sandwiches with round cookie cutters or serve Smucker's Uncrustables. Pepperoni pizza and Polka Dot Macaroni and Cheese also can carry out the theme. Or make quick and easy Mini-Calzone Polka Dot Puffs. Add grapes, melon balls and/or puffed cheese balls to round out your menu.

Serve a special polka dot concoction to quench your guests' thirst. Make polka dot ice cubes. Fill round cube ice trays with raspberry lemonade. Freeze overnight. Place the round ice cubes in cups filled with lemon lime soda - regular or sugar-free.

Cakes: A Polka Dot Cake is easy to make. Bake your favorite two layer cake. Funfetti mix adds polka dots on the inside. Ice cake with white fluffy frosting. Add polka dots by apply Wilton candy melts on top and sides. Candy melts come in 16 colors. If they are not available, use M&Ms.

If you prefer the ease of serving individual cupcakes, try making Polka Dot Cupcakes. Ice your favorite cupcake with brightly colored pastels. Stick white baking chips, flat side up, into frosting on each cupcake to look like polka dots. Add more dots with Dazzling Dots Cupcake Liners from Wilton.

For a non-traditional cake, try a Polka Dot Popcorn Cake. Plain popcorn, miniature marshmallow and candy-coated milk chocolate candies combine to make sweet treats.

Favors: Party pictures and the craft bracelets will make excellent favors. If you want to do more, there are many fun party trinkets that will complement the polka dot theme. Consider polka dot socks, yo-yos, polka dot rubber duckies, Dots candy, gumballs, super bounce balls, round pots of lip gloss, paint sets, bath beads, life savers or round hair accessories.

Once you decide on your party favors, you can choose the right Polka Dot container. There are a number of choices available from on-line vendors. Or place dot stickers on plain favor boxes or bags. Finish off your party favors by embellishing them with polka dot ribbon.

Mini-Calzone Polka Dot Puffs

Your guests will love these delicious mini bites filled with turkey meatballs, a tasty pasta sauce and shredded mozzarella. They are quick and easy to make.

32 turkey meatballs, if previously frozen, thawed in refrigerator
1 cup of your favorite pasta sauce
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
2 cans of refrigerated crescent rounds (16 rounds)

Step One: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove crescent rounds from package. Do not separate into rounds. Using serrated knife, cut each roll evenly into 16 rounds, carefully separate rounds. Press each round into a circle 3 inches in diameter. Place a tablespoon of sauce into the center of each round. Cover with a tablespoon of shredded cheese. Place a meatball into the center on top of sauce and cheese. Shape dough around ball to cover completely. Place puffs on a large ungreased cookie sheet about two inches apart. (Puffs can be made ahead of time up to this point. Cover loosely with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate.)

Step Two: Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. (May need to cook a little longer, if you refrigerated puffs before baking.) Cool 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Polka Dot Cupcakes

These simple cupcakes sport polka dots and include a secret ingredient hidden in the batter. The secret ingredient is gelatin. You can choose the flavor of your cupcakes by selecting from orange, lemon, lime, strawberry, raspberry, watermelon or seasonal favorite gelatin products.

Step One: Make your cake batter according to package directions. Add one four-ounce box of gelatin with the water. Divide the batter evenly among regular-sized paper muffin cups in a standard muffin tin.

Step Two: Bake according to package directions or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step Three: Meanwhile, make frosting. Tint with paste food colors to coordinate with your party color scheme.

Step Four: Frost cupcakes. Place 7 white baking chips, flat side up, into frosting on each cupcake to look like polka dots.

Betty Crocker features Spring Polka Dot Cupcakes on its website. A picture and complete directions can be found here.

Polka Dot Cake

This polka dot cake will be a big hit with your guests at your Polka Dot Birthday Party. It is easy to make and decorate. Simply bake your favorite two-layer cake and ice it with a white fluffy frosting. To add an extra helping of polka dots, consider using a funfetti cake mix. Then decorate the sides and top of your cake with 1/2 cup of candy melts. These colorful candies are perfect to extend the polka dot theme of your party. You can buy them from Wilton. They come in 16 different colors, so it should be easy to find some to complement almost any color scheme. Due to the summer temperatures candy melts may melt in transit. It does not impact the taste of the product. But to preserve their polka dot qualities, you may need to purchase them from a brick and mortar business during periods of excessive heat, such as Michaels or Joann's or any other place that sells Wilton candy making products.

Betty Crocker highlights a white polka dot cake on its website. You can see the cake and complete directions here.

Coming Soon - A Polka Dot Birthday Party!

Who doesn't have a soft spot for polka dots! A Polka Dot Party would be perfect for girls of all ages. Colorful polka dots are so much fun they will easily make any party a success. Using dots as inspiration is inexpensive and easy to do. Check back here on Friday, June 25, 2010 to find some incredibly cool ideas to get you going on your party planning. In the meantime each day this week Kids' Parties with Flair will post some delicious polka dot recipes, including Polka Dot Popcorn Cake, Polka Dot Macaroni and Cheese, Polka Dot Cake and Polka Dot Cupcakes.

Polka Dot Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Sliced hot dogs put an extra dose of polka dots in this macaroni and cheese casserole made with round wagon wheel pasta.

7 ounces round wagon wheel pasta
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup green onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 package hot dogs, sliced
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Colby jack cheese, shredded

Cook and drain the pasta per package directions. Saute onion and green peppers until softened. Add garlic powder. Combine the pasta, onion mixture, hot dogs, cottage cheese, and sour cream in a large bowl. Mix well. Pour into a casserole dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

8 servings

Polka Dot Popcorn Cake

Get ready to sweeten up your next party with this delicious polka dot popcorn cake. It is a twist on the traditional crispy treats and a nice alternative, if your birthday boy or girl does not care for birthday cake. The polka dots come from candy-coated milk chocolate pieces. Use the standard array of colors or select a unique color combination to complement your party color scheme from the bulk M&M machine installed in many grocery stores.

1/2 cup un-popped plain popcorn
dash of salt
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup candy-coated milk chocolate pieces

Step One: Pop the popcorn according to the package directions. Add salt to the popped corn.

Step Two: In a medium pot, melt the marshmallows and margarine over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.

Step Three: Combine the candy-coated milk chocolate candies with the popcorn.

Step Four: Remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat, and pour over the popcorn and candies. Mix gently.

Step Five: Spoon the mixture into a 13x9x2-inch non-stick pan coated with non-stick cooking spray. Use spatula to smooth out top of cake.

Step Six: Refrigerate the mixture until it hardens, so it will be easier to cut. You can cut this treat into squares, just like a piece of cake.

12 - 16 servings

How to Throw a Fun Flip Flop Splash Birthday Party

This is a great outdoor party. A water-themed celebration is a natural for hot summer days. And it is sure to be a hit with your birthday boy or girl. Carefree food and activities make the party easy to prepare. Whether poolside, on a sunny beach or in your own backyard, this party will deliver a splashing good time.

Invitations: Make flip flop invitations by cutting card stock using an actual flip flop to make a template. On the back, write the date, time and place of the party, plus the suggestion to wear a swimsuit and bring sunscreen and a beach towel. Decorate the front to look like a flip flop with markers, stickers, puffy paints and paper flowers.

Several on-line vendors have flip flop party invites, including: Birthday in a Box, Oriental Trading Company and Fine Stationery.

Decorations: This party lends itself to pool or beach venues. But it also works well in your own backyard. Water activities are the heart of this party and so minimal decorations are in order. Create a backyard water park by setting up an inflatable wading pool, a sprinkler and/or other water-related activities. Fill buckets with water toys and water balloons and let the splashy fun begin. Play beach music to reinforce the flip flop splash party mood.

Several on-line vendors have flip flop themed party supplies, including: Birthday in a Box, Oriental Trading Company and Target.

You may want to purchase large colorful t-shirts ($2.05-3.33/each, depending on color selected) for the kids to wear as cover-ups at snack time. Be sure to have a garbage bag available for each guest to store wet towels etc. for the ride home. You may want to write the names in permanent marker in advance so there will be no mix-ups at parent pick-up time.

When swimming or doing pool activities with kids always make sure there is sufficient adult supervision or a lifeguard present. You may also want to clean out a party space in the garage or basement, just in case of unexpected rain.

Activities: Organize a guessing game as the guests arrive. Fill a large unbreakable jar with individually wrapped pieces of salt water taffy. Have each child write down his or her guess for the number of pieces in the jar along with his or her name. At the end of the party award the taffy to the child whose guess came the closest to the actual number.

Purchase several disposable waterproof cameras. Take photos of the kids in the pool, running through the sprinklers and playing games. Send copies to guests with the thank you notes.

Games: Play Water Balloon Catch. Pair guests off with each pair receiving a water balloon. One throws the balloon to the other. Those who catch the balloon without bursting move a step further from their partner. When the balloon bursts, the pair is eliminated. The game continues until a winning pair is left.

Play Cold Potato. Get an ice cube and form a circle with the party kids. Pass the ice cube around as fast as you can until it melts. The last person holding the ice cube before it melts is the winner.

Organize a Hula Hoop Contest under a sprinkler. Twirling a slippery hula hoop will be extra tough to do. Have someone time each kid's attempt. Winner will be the one who can hula the longest.

Play a Splash Party version of Bozo Buckets. Have kids throw three wet sponges into three buckets. The closest bucket earns one point. The second bucket gets two points. The third earns three points. Whoever has the most points after two turns wins.

Play Water Basketball. Shoot "baskets" in the pool. Float an inner tube in the pool. See how many "baskets" each kid can make by tossing a ball into the center of the tube. Give each child three tries. Kid with the most "baskets" wins. You may need to have several tie breakers with this game to determine the winner.

Play Limbo with a hose. While an adult tightly holds the hose, have kids limbo under the stream of water. If a kid gets hit with the water, he or she is out. If a kid falls or trips, he or she is out. After all guests have had a turn, have the adult holding the hose lower it. See how low the winner can go.

Crafts: On a hot day the water games and play time might be enough fun for this party, but if you would like to make a craft - fancy flip flops would be an excellent choice. This craft is easy and inexpensive. To do this project you will need a pair of inexpensive flip flops for each guest, various colored buttons, beads or rhinestones and white craft glue.

Using white craft glue, start in the center of the flip flop strap and attach buttons, beads or rhinestones, one after another. Allow the glue to dry for an hour or two before wearing. Do not use hot glue for this project as it comes loose from the plastic too easily.

Food: Serve the party food in small sand pails. Cute, inexpensive ones are available from vendors like Oriental Trading Company and Toy Connection. Fill the pails with simple small sandwiches cut into the shape of starfish wrapped in waxed paper. Add some carrot and celery sticks also wrapped along with some napkins. Recycle plastic Easter eggs ($9.99 for 144) and fill them with a mixture of gold fish crackers, raisins and the new pretzel M&Ms.

Serve Island Punch with colorful paper beverage umbrellas and neon straws.

Cakes: A pair of flip flop cakes will be the perfect dessert for this party. Click here for easy bake and make directions. If you prefer cupcakes, serve flip flop cupcakes. Use Wilton Beach Sandal Candles to top cupcakes iced with bold pastel frosting.

If your birthday child does not care for cake, you may want to serve fruit pizza, summer sugar cookies or a variety of frozen pops, such as chocolate peanut butter pudding pops or frosty bites.

Favors: Each guest will have a sand pail set and t-shirt cover-up to take home. The decorated flip flops will also make great favors. If you want to do more, consider wrapping up a variety of items like small water toys, bubbles, beach balls, funky sunglasses, jump ropes, yo-yo's etc and let each child choose one mystery package as his or her favor.

Flip Flop Cake

Create the center piece of your party by baking a delicious pair of colorful sandals. These flip flop cakes are easy to make. Simply bake a 13x9-inch cake according to package directions. Any flavor will do. Once you remove the cake from the pan, cool it about one hour more. Then cut the cake in half lengthwise. Make a paper template from a pair of flip flops. Then using the template, cut one flip flop from each half. Freeze cut pieces uncovered about one hour for easier frosting. Use frosting and candies to decorate flip flops.

Want to see a completed cake and get full directions? Betty Crocker offers a template and how to video. Click here for the details.

Summer Sugar Cookies

Would you like to serve delicious sugar cookies shaped like flip flops, ice cream cones, sun, watermelon slices and beach balls at your summer party? The Reynolds Kitchens has all the directions. Click here for full details.

Island Punch

This refreshing non-alcoholic punch is the perfect drink to serve for a summer party.

60 ounces orange juice
40 ounces pineapple juice
5 ounces of lemon juice
3 ounces of grenadine
lemon slices
lime slices
maraschino cherries

Step One: Pour the juices and grenadine into a punchbowl filled with ice. Stir well.

Step Two: Float fruit slices on top.

Step Three: Serve in individual cups filled with ice.

20 one cup servings (with cups filled with ice)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Pops

Try this cool combo. Spread three thick stripes of peanut butter up the inside of a 3-ounce plastic cup. Fill cup with chocolate pudding. Insert a food-safe stick. Cover top of cup with foil, poking end of stick through foil. Freeze overnight, then remove from cup. Drizzle with chocolate Magic Shell topping and let harden.

Frosty Bites

This frozen treat is an ice cream float on a stick! Scoop vanilla ice cream into a 3-ounce plastic cup, filling cup about 1/3 full. Press ice cream firmly into bottom. Insert a food-safe stick into the ice cream. Slowly pour grape juice into cup until it is almost full. Cover top of cup with foil, poking end of stick through foil. Freeze overnight, then remove cup.

PS - Feel free to experiment with other liquids. For example: Orange soda - slightly flattened to reduce carbonation - would transform this treat into a "dream icicle".

Fruit Pizza

This sweet treat is made from cookie dough, cream cheese and fruit.

Step One: Press store-bought refrigerated sugar cookie dough into a pizza pan. To make this easier, first roll the dough into a ball and use a rolling pin to flatten it.

Step Two: Bake the cookie dough according to package directions. The cookie may need to bake five to ten minutes longer because of its size.

Step Three: While the cookie is cooling, mix 8 ounces of cream cheese, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a bowl.

Step Four: Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the cooled cookie with a rubber spatula. Top the pizza with sliced fruit. Good choices include pineapple, strawberries, blue berries, black berries, raspberries and kiwi.

Step Five: Cover lightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to serve this delicious pizza.

Coming Soon - Fun Flip Flop Splash Birthday Party - June 18, 2010

This is a great outdoor party for the warm summer weather. Whether poolside, on a sunny beach or in your own back yard, this party is sure to deliver a splashing good time. A water-themed celebration is a natural for hot summer days. Carefree food and activities make the party easy to prepare. The Fun Flip Flop Splash Party is sure to be a hit with your birthday boy or girl. Check back here on Friday, June 18, 2010 for full details.

World Cup Crunch

An excellent munchy for a World Cup Party is World Cup Crunch. Mix together 5 cups of cheese puff balls, 4 cups of Corn Chex cereal and 6 cups of lightly salted popcorn in a large bowl. This mix can be stored in a tin container with a light lid for several weeks.

Update for Lil' Slugger Birthday Bash

Here is an update to the Lil' Slugger Birthday Bash, originally posted on April 16, 2010. Take pictures of your lil' sluggers with your digital camera. Download free Baseball All-Star Photo Frames from the HP website. Click here to see the variety of sports frames available.

How to Throw a World Cup Soccer (Football) Party

With the beginning of the 2010 World Cup, soccer fans around the world will be in a party mood. No matter if you want to celebrate the World Cup matches, the end of your child's team season or the birthday of a young soccer fan, a World Cup Soccer Party is the way to go. Soccer is a great team sport for boys and girls - so this party should be enjoyed by all. The key to this party's success is action and high energy. Let the fun begin!

Invitations: A winning invite for this party is to design your invitation in the shape of a soccer ball. Cut circle soccer ball shapes out of white poster board. Use traditional black and white or your favorite team's colors to decorate in a soccer ball pattern. Include all soccer birthday party details on the back side of your invitations. Tell your party goers to come dressed to participate in active games in their favorite team colors.

Decorations: Base your decorating scheme for this party on your favorite team's colors. If you want to take your theme to another dimension, add pennants from various teams and posters of soccer players to the party room. Attach a bouquet of helium filled soccer ball balloons to a light post or mailbox outside, so there will be no mistaking where the fun will be on party day.

Cover the party table with a grass green tablecloth. Use white tape to mark the lines on the field. Arrange soccer-themed paper plates and cups. Use your soccer ball cake or cup cakes as the centerpiece. Several on-line vendors have soccer-themed supplies. Among them are Birthday in a Box, Birthday Direct, Oriental Trading Company and Kids Soccer World.

Activities: Have guests sign a new soccer ball for the birthday child to keep as a remembrance of the party.

Take pictures of each guest and print them off using All-Star Soccer frames from HP. While you are at it take a group picture as well.

Games: Soccer bowling is a version of lawn bowling that will score big with soccer fans. You will need ten clean empty tw0-liter plastic bottles and a soccer ball to play. You may want to partially fill the bottles with water to add sufficient stability to them. Set up the bottles on a level section of your yard. Each player get three kicks or attempts to knock down as many pins as possible by kicking the ball from 20 feet away. If all the "pins" fall before the third attempt, set them up again so the player has a chance to add to his or her score. The player with the most points wins.

Super-sized croquet is a great way for soccer players to show-off their skills. You will need to make nine wickets. Use pliers to untwist nine wire clothes hangers. Then bend each into a square wicket big enough for balls to fit through. Cover the wire with colored tape. Cut circles from card stock, use a marker to number them One to Nine, then tape them to the wickets. Set up the wickets in the formation of your choice, spacing them at least six feet apart. You will need two soccer balls for this game.

To play divide the kids into two teams. Teams will alternate play. First player of Team A will get one kick to try to send the ball through the first wicket. If he or she gets it through a wicket, he or she will get a bonus kick. Then the first player of Team B will get one kick, etc. Teams will alternate play until one team gets their ball through all nine wickets. The first team to get their ball through all nine wickets wins.

To play air ball give each player a deflated balloon. The first challenge is to see who can blow up and tie off their balloon first. When everyone has a balloon, the second challenge is for all to stand in a circle and try to keep their balloon in the air using their feet, head and other parts of the body (except arms and hands). If a balloon hits the ground, that player is out. The last kid remaining in the competition wins. If your kids are too good at this and the game seems to be going on too long, up the challenge. Have the remaining players control two balloons at once increasing the degree of difficulty.

Crafts: A wonderful way to wind down before you begin your food service is to trace each child on a large sheet of craft paper. Then let the kids color or paint their outlines as soccer players. This activity requires a lot of space - perhaps in a basement or outside on a sidewalk. If space is limited, as an alternative provide your party guests with coloring pages. Then give them crayons or markers so they can color. Download free soccer coloring pages here.

Food: If you are having a meal, a logical way to go is to serve a typical sports stadium concession stand food - hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels, pizza, chips, popcorn and snow cones. Or consider serving a sample of foods from World Cup teams. According to Wikipedia, fans in the United Kingdom love meat pies; in Brazil a popular meal after a match is sanduiche de calabresa (pepperoni sandwich); in Germany fans prefer bratwurst; and in Argentina, common football fare includes chorpan (a sandwich with grilled chorizo with crusty bread) and grilled hamburgers. The Guardian (a British national daily newspaper) relates that South African football fans will eat beef sausages on a bread roll, meat pies and donuts during the World Cup. Try these recipes to mimic favorite football fare from the highlighted international teams: Soccer Sliders, Mini Sausage Rolls, Football Foldovers, and Cinnamon Kicks.

An excellent munchy for this party is World Cup Crunch. Mix together 5 cups of cheese puff balls, 4 cups of Corn Chex cereal and 6 cups of lightly salted popcorn in a large bowl. This mix can be stored in a tin container with a tight lid for several weeks. Add some sliced apples and grapes to round out the menu. Serve your guests Power Soccer Punch to wash it all down.

Cake: There are several options for this party's dessert. You will score big with a Soccer Ball Cake made easy with Wilton's Sports Ball Pan set.

Soccer Goal Mini Cakes can be made with mini loaf pans and mint-flavored soccer ball decorating icing.

A soccer-inspired cupcake can be crafted with a generous amount of green icing and nonpareil sprinkles topped with mint-flavored soccer ball icing decorations.

With a Wilton Soccer Set (2113-9002) a decorated sheet cake is just minutes away. Simply ice your sheet cake in green, apply white frosting to make field lines and place cake topper in place. Each set comes with seven players and two nets.

Another way to go is to have party goers decorate cupcakes iced in white frosting as soccer balls. Supply black decorating frosting tubes for the traditional look or frosting colors to match your team's favorite colors.

Favors: Have white party bags, black markers and soccer stickers available for guests as they arrive. Get the kids to write their names on the bags and decorate them with available materials. Children can fill their bags with treats and prizes throughout the party.

Party favors that score with soccer fans include bouncy balls, whistles, stickers, key chains, pencils and miniature stuffed soccer balls (like hacky sacks).

The All Star Soccer photo cards can be sent home as favors or mailed as thank you notes after the party.

What South African fans eat during a football/soccer match

According to the Guardian (A British national daily newspaper) South African Football fans enjoy beef sausages on a bread roll, meat pies and donuts during a match. Below are easy recipes for Football Foldovers (meat pies) and Cinnamon Kicks (donuts).

Football Foldovers

Your football/soccer fans will love these pizza-flavored meat pies. They are similar to empanadas, meat-filled pastries popular in Latin America.

6 ounces bulk pork sausage
1/4 cup of pizza sauce out of 15 ounce jar (keep remaining sauce for dipping)
2 single pie crusts or one box of refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
1 egg, beaten

Step One: Heat oven to 425 degrees F. In 8-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pork is no longer pink; drain well. Stir in pizza sauce.

Step Two: On work surface, roll one crust into 13-inch round. With 3-inch round cutter, cut 11 rounds. Repeat with second crust.

Step Three: Spoon about 1 teaspoon sausage mixture onto each round. Fold each in half; seal edges with fork. Cut small slit in top of each with sharp knife. Place on ungreased large cookie sheet. Brush each foldover with beaten egg.

Step Four: Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat remaining pizza sauce until hot. Serve warm appetizers with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

22 appetizers

Cinnamon Kicks Chips

You will think you are eating warm cinnamon sugar donuts, but they are really biscuits, and they are baked, not fried!

2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits with flaky layers

Step One: Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheets.

Step Two: In small shallow bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon; mix well. Separate dough in 10 biscuits. Separate each biscuit into 3 to 4 layers. Dip each layer in melted butter; coat both sides with cinnamon sugar mixture. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheets.

Step Three: Bake at 400 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Soccer All-Star Photo Frames

Take pictures of your little soccer players with your digital camera. Download free Soccer All-Star Photo Frames from the HP website. Click here to see the sport frames available from HP.

Soccer Sliders

In Argentina, soccer/football fans love to eat grilled burgers at the stadium. This easy recipe will produce a mini version in under 30 minutes.

1 1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Step One: In large bowl, mix beef, egg, shredded cheese, Panko bread crumbs and ketchup. Shape mixture into 8 patties, 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

Step Two: Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add vegetable oil to cover the bottom of skillet. Add patties; cook about 5 minutes on each side or until meat thermometer inserted in center reads 160 degrees F.

Step Three: Serve sliders on biscuits. Carefully split biscuits. Spread desired condiments on split sides of each biscuit. Top bottoms of biscuits with patties and biscuit tops.

8 slider sandwiches

Mini Sausage Rolls

Sausage rolls are favorites of soccer fans / football fans around the world. This quick and easy recipe will allow you to make a mini version in under 30 minutes.

2 cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
48 cocktail-sized smoked link sausages

Step One: Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Unroll both cans of the dough; separate into 16 triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise into 3 narrow triangles.

Step Two: Place sausage on shortest side of each triangle. Roll up each, starting at shortest side of triangle and rolling to opposite point; place point side down on 2 ungreased cookie sheets.

Step Three: Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, switching position of cookie sheets halfway through baking. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

48 mini sausage rolls

How to Make a World Cup Soccer Ball/Football Cake

Planning a World Cup Party? Here are four choices for your sweet tooth.

One, Wilton has directions to make a ball cake on-line. It is very easy to bake with the Wilton Sports Ball Pan Set. You can even customize your creation with the colors of your favorite team. This dessert will score big with your World Cup fans.

Two, you can serve individual soccer goal mini cakes. They are made with mini loaf pans and decorated with pre-made mint-flavored soccer ball icing decorations ($2.29 for a pack of nine).

Three, you can serve soccer team cupcakes. These creations will easily capture the Most Valuable Dessert Award at your party. They are easily decorated with green butter cream icing, jumbo rainbow nonpareils sprinkles, and mint-flavored soccer ball icing decorations.

Four, you can make a sheet cake and decorate the top to look like a soccer field. Ice cake with a base of green icing. Use white decorator's icing to pipe the appropriate field lines. Finish off the field with a soccer set (Item # 2113-9002 - $3.19/set) Each set has seven players and two nets. The items are 1 3/4 to 2-inches high.

Power Soccer Punch

Serve this refreshing power punch at your World Cup soccer party.

Combine 3 cups of orange juice, 4 cups of ginger ale and 5 cups of Gatorade in a large pitcher. Chill until ready to serve.

12 cups

Watermelon Fizz

This refreshing drink is perfect for a summer party.

5 cups diced watermelon, divided
8 tablespoons lime juice, divided
1 1/3 cups ginger ale, divided
Lime wedges for garnish

Freeze 1 cup watermelon for garnish. Puree the remaining 4 cups watermelon. Strain, divide the juice among 4 ice-filled glasses.

Top each with 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1/3 cup ginger ale. Garnish with the frozen watermelon and lime wedges.

4 servings

Cupcake Cones with a Twist

These easy-to-make ice cream cone look-alikes contain a reservoir of hidden candy treasures. For some extra pizzazz, top each creation with a maraschino cherry. For the complete recipe and how-to video courtesy of Betty Crocker click here.

How to Throw a Karate Kid (Kung Fu) Movie Marathon Sleepover Party

With the US opening of the Karate Kid (will be released in other countries as the Kung Fu Kid) on June 11, 2010, this party will be in high demand. Since most sleepovers are same sex events, this theme with the Karate Kid cast as a young man (Jaden Smith's character) will more likely appeal to a birthday boy. Interested in a slumber party that will appeal to a birthday girl not into martial arts? Then check out the party plan - How to Throw a Movie Marathon Slumber Party that was posted on this blog on Friday, May 28, 2010.

Invitations: You can send pre-printed theme-related invitations to guests. Several reliable on-line sources exist, such as the Karate Party from Birthday in a Box, Black Belt Birthday Party from Oriental Trading Company or Karate Kid Party at Martial Arts Party Store.

If you prefer the creative DIY approach, make your invites into Martial Arts Jackets. Each 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece of white card stock will make two invitations.

Step One: Fold paper in half, then cut into two equal 5 1/2 x 8 1/2-inch pieces.

Step Two: Then fold each of these pieces again into 4 1/4 x 5 1/2-inches pieces.

Step Three: Cut a V in the middle top of each invitation for the neck hole. Then cut two more Vs in the middle of each side of the invitation. Side Vs will shape jacket to look like the real deal with arms etc.

Step Four: Add party details to inside. Remind guests to dress comfortably. Sweat pants and t-shirts are good choices.

Step Five: Tie a 1/4-inch black ribbon around the front of each card, looping through the v-hole on one side, and into the v-slit on the other side.

As a general rule, sleepovers should be limited to eight or fewer guests. Remember not to exceed the space you have for sleeping bags in your party space. Traditionally, kids arrive for a sleepover after the evening meal and are picked up about 10:00 am the following day - be sure to include a definite pick-up time on your invitation.

If your child and his friends are new to the sleepover scene, you may want to include a packing list to ensure each guest has all he needs: sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, PJ's, toothbrush, hairbrush and anything else you think is important.

In addition, before the party, get a list of food allergies, medications, dietary restrictions, and a home and cell phone number of each guest's parents. With younger kids, a child may ask to go home. With older kids, one may need to go home, because they have gotten out of hand. Kids of all ages can get sick. So be prepared for these emergencies and get the parents' contact information. You will be glad you did.

Decorations: This party requires a black, red and white color scheme. Buy or make enough garlands, streamers, balloons, large cutouts of inspirational Chinese words, movie posters and cutouts of Kung Fu masters to decorate the party room. No need to go overboard with this - remember a little can go a long way to enhance the celebratory mood of your home. Several on-line sources for martial arts party items are: Birthday in a Box, Oriental Trading Company and Martial Arts Party Store. Upon arrival give each guest a Karate Head Band ($35.00 for ten)and/or a Temporary Tattoo. Karate Head Bands can also be made easily out of fabric. Buy enough fabric in a solid or print of your choice. Cut six-inch strips across the width of the fabric. Roll strips to head band size and tie on your guests as they arrive. This will reduce the price of your head bands by at least half. Or consider going Apollo Ono style and use a vibrantly colored bandanna.

Activities: After a few games, an evening snack and birthday cake, start the movie marathon. There are four movies in the Karate Kid series (excluding the 2010 release) to choose from: Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid, Part II, The Karate Kid, Part III, and the The Next Karate Kid (1994).

Boys love to snack. Provide plenty of munchies throughout the night. Try things like popcorn, pretzels, Karate Kid Cookies, and Kung Fu Snack Mix. Drinks can include soda, water, and juices. Snacks don't have to be super unhealthy, but kids won't be too thrilled if you only provide veggies and fruit.

A good time to open the presents is after breakfast, before the parents are scheduled to arrive for pick-up.

Games: A good way for boys to burn off some energy is to play flashlight tag. This is a great outdoor game, if your neighborhood is suitable for this kind of activity after dark. The object of this game is for the "it" person to tag the others with the beam of his flashlight. Once everyone is tagged, the last person to be tagged becomes the next "it".

Although only skilled Martial artists can actually break boards, at your party kids can participate in a breaking board contest with very thin balsa wood boards or pieces of foam poster boards. One or two adults should hold the board that the children will break. Tell the kids to shout a loud Karate yell at the moment a strike is executed to add to the fun and authenticity of the task. Cut plenty of boards because your guests will want to take several turns at this.

Conduct a kicking contest, where the kids compete for the highest kick. Your adult helpers can hold a large tape measure to the wall and record the height of each kick.

Crafts: Your Kung Fu masters may enjoy a change of pace during the party and want to paint a souvenir rock. If it isn't possible to find enough rocks "in the wild", the stones can be purchased from garden or landscaping businesses. Acrylic paint is the ideal medium for rock painting, both for its durability and quick drying time. As rocks are tough on painting supplies synthetic paintbrushes are the best to use as they are both tough and cheap.

Before the party you will want to scrub the rocks thoroughly with detergent and water, so that any dirt is removed. You may want to do this several days ahead of the party, so the rock is completely dry and the paint won't interact with any residual water absorbed into the rock (some rocks are porous).

Depending on how much time you want to devote to this activity - you may want to base paint the rocks ahead of time with red acrylic paint. Red is a positive color in the Chinese culture. The red paint should be dried thoroughly before the next step. If you do not base paint the rocks ahead of the party, you can use a hair dryer during the party to speed the process up. Go on line and down load some Chinese characters and their meanings.

When the red paint is thoroughly dried, each guest can then paint an inspirational Chinese character on his rocks with black acrylic paint. Google "Chinese characters and meanings" for several lists of popular Chinese characters to use.

Once the stone is finished it should be left to cure before being sprayed with a clear varnish to protect the work. This varnish spraying task is best done by an adult in a well ventilated room. Once the varnish is dried, guests can take their rocks home. Humidity impacts the drying time of paints and varnish. In a worse case scenario, rocks can be delivered or sent after the party with the thank you notes.

Food: An excellent evening snack for this party is to serve Asian Food like fried rice and spring rolls. Your local Chinese restaurant can cater or you can make your own with these recipes for Chinese Fried Rice and Pacific Rim Egg Rolls. Don't forget the chop sticks and fortune cookies!

If your birthday child doesn't care for the Asian fare, try Crunchy Beijing Chicken Chunks with Peanut Sauce or Ninja Nugget Casserole with Tropical Fruit Kabobs. Or you can always fall back on perennial favorites like a Make Your Own Pizza Bar or Make Your Own Taco Bar. Have your little Kung Fu Masters wash the snacks down with Coke Floats.

Breakfast does not have to be complicated to be fun and tasty. Set up a Continental Breakfast Bar.

Cakes: The perfect cake for this party is a Martial Arts Jacket Cake. Click here for easy to follow instructions. If your birthday child does not like cake, set up an Ice Cream Sundae Bar. Or consider making S'Mores over an open fire, if your party goes outside to play Flashlight Tag. S'Mores can also be made inside in a microwave.

Favors: The painted rocks, karate head bands and temporary tattoos will make terrific favors. If you want to do more, consider Chinese-style take out boxes ($5.99 per dozen) for the containers. Fill them with ninja action figures, personalized bag tags ($1.99), stickers, temporary tattoos or fortune cookies.

10 fun things to do this summer

The Right at Home team at Johnson & Johnson have written a very useful article that highlights 10 fun things to do this summer. Read it here!

Continental Breakfast Bar

A user-friendly morning meal for a sleepover party is to set-up a continental breakfast bar. This is easy to do by purchasing danishes, muffins, bagels and individual boxes of cereals in advance of the party. The night before line up the needed glasses, bowls, spoons, plates, etc. When your sleepy heads awake in the morning, simply put out some cut up fruit, juices, and milk on the table. You can round out the menu with some jam or jelly and peanut butter. In a matter of minutes the kids are ready to chow down.

Martial Arts Jacket Cake

For your Karate Kid/ Kung Fu Kid Movie Marathon Party the logical choice for a cake is a Martial Arts Jacket Cake. Parenting.com has published an easy road map for you to make one. In addition, the Wilton company had a T-shirt pan that could be adapted for the martial arts jacket. The website site still has some pictures of cakes made with this pan to give your an idea of its potential. Some readers have had luck securing this retired Wilton pan at yard sales and on-line auction sites. Happy hunting!

Another option for you is to modify the Family Fun.com's Groovy T-Shirt Cake and transform the shape into a Martial Arts Jacket. You can find the easy to follow directions for the shirt here. And last but not least, the bloggers at hubpage.com have devoted an entire entry to Karate Birthday Cakes and Cupcakes. If all else fails, there has to be something there to please your birthday child. Check out the options at hubpage.com here.

Please post pictures of your successes below in the comment section. We would love to see your creative birthday cakes.

Karate Kid Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

A great bedtime snack for your Karate Kids are these classic cookies that satisfy two tastes. Chocolate lovers will love the chips, and oatmeal fans will appreciate the sweet, chewy goodness of whole grains.

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspooon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Step One: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until blended. Stir in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and salt; stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Step Two: Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2-inches apart.

Step Three: Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

3 1/2 dozen cookies

Kung Fu Snack Mix

Wasabi-coated peas, soy sauce, a special seasoning and chow mein noodles add an Asian flair to this snack mix. Your little Karate Kids and Kung Fu Masters will love this treat.

4 cups Corn Chex cereal
4 cups Fritos corn chips
2 cups chow mein noodles
1 cup pretzel nuggets
1 cup salted peanuts
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 package chow mein seasoning mix (1 ounce)
1 cup wasabi-coated peas
1 cup sesame sticks

Step One: Heat oven to 250 degrees F. In an ungreased large roasting pan, mix cereal, corn chips, chow mein noodles, pretzel nuggets and peanuts.

Step Two: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in soy sauce and chow mein seasoning mix with wire whisk until well mixed. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

Step Three: Bake uncovered 50 to 55 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until mixture looks dry and crisp. Spread on paper towels; cool 15 minutes. Place in serving bowl; stir in wasabi-coated peas and sesame sticks. Store in airtight container.

28 servings

Coming Soon - How to Throw a Karate Kid (Kung Fu Kid) Movie Marathon Sleepover Party

Check back here on Friday, June 4, 2010 for a new party plan - How to Throw a Karate Kid (Kung Fu Kid) Movie Marathon Sleepover Party. With the US opening of the Karate Kid (will be released in other countries as the Kung Fu Kid) on June 11, 2010, this party will be in high demand. Since most sleepovers are same sex events, this theme with the Karate Kid cast as a young man (Jaden Smith's character) will more likely appeal to a birthday boy. Interested in a slumber party that will appeal to the little starlets in your family? Then check out the party plan - How to Throw a Movie Marathon Slumber Party that was posted on this blog on Friday, May 28, 2010.

Make Your Own Pizza Bar

Party-goers will love to make their own pizzas. Make this easy by providing English muffin halves or small Naan breads (available at most grocery stores). Set out a variety of pizza ingredients and let the kids go at it. Consider including pepperoni, chopped onions, green pepper and mushrooms with shredded pizza cheese and a bowl of pizza sauce. Marinara spaghetti sauce makes a delicious pizza sauce.

Place completed pizzas on a cookie sheet - covered in parchment paper will ease clean-up later on. Bake in a 350 degree F oven until the cheese melts about 10 minutes. You may want to do a trial run in your oven ahead of time, as ovens vary. Also, pizzas with a lot of stuff on them may take longer to cook than pizzas constructed with a minimalist approach. So consider sorting pizzas and putting "heavy" ones on a sheet separate from "light" ones to ensure even cooking for both types. Another consideration is keeping track of the ownership of each pizza. Cooked pizzas do not always look like the uncooked version. To avoid controversy, make a quick note of each pizza's creator and its place on the cookie sheet on a notepad before putting the creations in the oven.

Make Your Own Taco Bar

Most kids love tacos and a taco bar is a great idea for a sleepover. Provide plenty of taco meat (cooked lean ground meat - beef, chicken or turkey - seasoned* with a taco blend of spices and tomato sauce), taco shells and/or small soft tortillas, and other fixings such as shredded Mexican cheese blend, salsa, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, taco sauce, sour cream, chopped olives, and anything else that is good on tacos.

* Several manufacturers make a prepared taco sauce for this purpose