Pirate Panda Or Princess - You Decide By Neil Jontas

If you are planning a kid's party for the first time, you may be feeling a little nervous about what to expect! After all, kids today are so different from when you were young aren't they? Don't bank on it! Children of all generations simply enjoy dashing about with their friends, enjoying tasty food and playing games. So don't feel put off by the thought of having a gang of noisy primary school children dashing around your home!

Firstly when planning your party, think about venues - if the age group is under ten you could hold it in your home for a small group - or head to the garden for a summer party - or you could hire a venue such as a hall, specialist games warehouse, or maybe at a local restaurant or fast food place where party options are included. If you choose to save money and go for your home, or a local hall, then it's time to think about decorations and food. If you go for a party package with a professional party organisation such as a bowling venue, fast food restaurant or adventure games warehouse, chances are they'll do all the organising for you - for a fee of course!

When looking at decorations, consider if there will be a theme. Perhaps you want to hold a pirate theme party for young boys- or a princess party for girls. If so, think about the invites you'll send out - customise them to follow the theme and suggest whether there's a fancy dress code attached. Also look at decorations such as balloons, banners, coloured confetti and sparking ribbons - all to create the party atmosphere! If there is a fancy theme you could offer face painting as one of the main attractions! Pick a theme such as jungle animals, butterflies or space aliens and your young guests can arrive in fancy dress - with you and some other willing adults on hand to use face paints to create their full looks and get the party into full swing!

Face Paints may strike fear into your heart as you remember the thick waxy crayon varieties of old that stuck to faces, clothes and soft furnishings forever, but don't fear - the latest generation of face paints are water based for easy removal! They don't clog young skin or irritate them as they are now hypo- allergenic. They are also non toxic and come in a wide range of colours and textures - including sparkly glitters, iridescent powders and a huge range of tints and block colours for professional finishes. You can also get special face paints kits for your parties, to make your theme even easier to create - for example:

Pirate Theme Pack

This is the perfect pack for a pirate party - and will paint up to ten dastardly pirate faces with beards and black eye patches! All of the face paints are easy to remove - luckily - and will definitely crank up the noise level as a group of small boys are transformed into menacing pirates!

For prettier looks! The Butterfly Theme Face Paints Pack

Equally for girls you could try the Butterfly Theme Face Paints Pack, which contains everything needed to transform guests into beautiful colourful butterflies, with enough for ten images.

These face paints will really go down a storm and get everyone excited. You can then round everyone up to play some party games - try to find twists on old favourites that link into your chosen theme - you can find great party game ideas on the internet for use! Then think about food and drink - you'll need a buffet of small and easy to eat small things which won't get all over the carpet or damage the face paints masterpieces! Think of things such as small sandwiches, fruit pieces with a chocolate dip, cakes, crisps and drinks in small plastic cups that aren't easy to tip over in case small people get overexcited! You might want to designate an area outside on blanket for eating, and play themed music during the party too - pirate themed for a pirate face paints party, or more gentle if it's a butterfly theme!

You could also pick a celebration cake that linked into your chosen theme too - for example pirate or butterflies, or a wide range of other themes such as jungle, super heroes, Disney characters or monsters!

These ideas should hopefully spark off some creative thoughts for your next party, so have fun planning and remember that to relax and enjoy it too - rope in other family members to help so you can relax and have fun at the same time. Happy partying!

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Bachelorette Party 101 By Selene Brophy and Kelly W

At one point or another you'll find yourself in the position of having to plan your best friend's bachelorette party or at the very least attend one.

And if you haven't cottoned on to the trend that hen parties have moved way past the kitchen then it's a good thing you found this article!

Fortunately for us girls we never plan these sorts of events with the intention of getting our BFF totally motherless and embarrassing them on street corners - what is it with bachelor boys and cross dressing anyway?

But let's not pretend we're angels - well maybe we are but that's our Victoria secret - meaning that a bachelorette celebration needn't necessarily be boring.

Bachelorette party - Scene One:

Recently I headed out with a pack of females to the Breede River in South Africa to celebrate one of the many milestones in the journey of womanhood.

The benefit of going away for an extended, weekend long bachelorette extravaganze is that you all get to car pool or club together with the car hire, keeping travelling expenses to a minimum. Also, on the night of the main party there will be no need to have designated drivers if anybody is over-indulging - those Pongracz bubbles have a way of going straight to the head, don't they?

The Winelands region in the Western Cape is only one stunning location in and around South Africa you could choose from. Choose a location that is suitable and convenient for everybody.

Additionally, doing a group booking may allow you to secure a reduced rate. Self-catering accommodation also takes a load off the budget - but remember somebody is going to have to do the cooking and cleaning. Time is money after all.

Bachelorette party - Scene Two:

Right, so going away for a few days isn't exactly an option but you'd still like to treat your friend to a memorable experience. A spa pamper party ends up doubling as preparing your friend for her big day - the bride is often given extra attention and certain treatments can be thrown in as a bonus.

By making a group booking you minimise the stress of having to plan an entertaining itinerary, as these themed spa experiences take care of the day for you. Don't forget about all the additional facilities such as plunge pools, saunas and steam baths that will allow you to relax and enjoy some quality time with your friends, either before or after therapists takes care of everybody's grooming needs. Not only that they'll provide healthy snacks and treats for all of you to indulge into.

Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind, it's her big celebration of singledom:

- Don't do anything to embarrass her or make her feel uncomfortable.
- Now is not the time to see how much alcohol she can actually consume.
- The weekend of or the night before the wedding is not a good time to have this party.
- If a stripper will make her feel uncomfortable, enough said.
- Pole dancing lessons and other fun games are perhaps the better option.
- Spoiling her with sexy lingerie is always welcome but make sure she agrees to everybody snapping away at her modelling her new lacy wardrobe.

GoTravel24 is South Africa's most popular travel website. GoTravel24 offers good advice on everything from safety while travelling to the best bachelorette party locations. There are even incredibly affordable travel packages on offer.

How to Plan a Great Children's Party! By Andrew Roberts

If you are planning your child's birthday party, and want it to be an extra special party this year, why not follow these different tips, and ideas, which will help your child have the best birthday party ever.

The best way to get your child really interested and for them to have a great time is to theme the party round an idea, interest, or hobby. This will keep your child interested, and they will have loads of fun, and enjoy a party dedicated to their hobbies and interests. From these ideas it is great to involve your child throughout the organisation of the party, this will keep them even more interested, and excited about the upcoming of the party. Their involvement will help them want to create the best party ever, and they will not go off the idea, or become disinterested, meaning already you are a great success in creating your child's best party ever.

From your chosen themes, the first thing to do is send out themed invitations to the guests. For example if you're having a pirate themed party send out pirate party invitations. This will let them know that they are in for a lot of fun, at an exciting themed party, and make them eager about the approaching party. After this it's time to organise the party, and to think about what the party should involve. You should think about party games and activities, food and drink, venue decorations (to create a playful atmosphere), and the all important party bags, filled with party bag toys, which your child's friends can take home and enjoy, and remember the party for the rest of the day, week, and even month.

Party games and activities are important to your party. Tie this in with your themes, and you will be on to a winner. For example if your child would like a pirate party, why not have treasure hunts with maps, prizes and clues in different rooms. Also buying a few accessories which the children can wear throughout the treasure hunt such as eye patches, and a moustache, this will make them laugh, get excited, and get into character, as pirates. Buying children's party supplies is a great idea to help engage the children. Ask your child if they have any ideas for the party games and activities, they may come up with something completely original, fun, and entertaining.

After all you will be entertaining children of your own Child's age, so anything they choose will generally be the best way to keep everyone entertained, and interested. For decorations and accessories within your activities and party games, it's a great idea to buy these within the theme of your party and you can purchase these cheaply. It's a great idea to have games and party activities finish with a prize or something the children have made which they can take home. Children love to compete, and engage into something which they can complete and take home proudly to show their parents.

After the children have played, it's now a good idea for them to enjoy some food and drink. Again tying this in with the theme is a great way to keep the kids excited. For example if it's a princess and fairies theme, you can buy themed birthday party plates, cups, napkins, banners, party bags, table cloths, balloons, fairy and princess themed food, and sprinkle the table with fairy dust. Perfect. The children will enjoy sitting and eating at the fairy and princess themed table.

For the last part of the party, it's a great idea to finish of with a couple of party games, and of course your special ones birthday cake, and singing. This will engage the children one last time and they will be excited to play one last time. All children enjoy going to parties and singing happy birthday to their friends, and watching them blow out the candles, and have their special day. This is always best done at the end to wind down the children before they are collected by their parents.

Last but not least and of course every Child's favourite bit of the party, the party bags! Children love receiving party bags at the end of the party, because they feel like they are getting presents too. Again keeping within the theme of the party, and asking your child what they would like to give out to their friends. You can buy lots of cheap but great party bag fillers nowadays for the party bags, and you should be able to find a great party bag gift that they have never had in a party bag before. It is also a great idea to include a few sweets (as they love sweeties), and also a taste of the party cake. A party bag is a great way to say thank you for coming to my party. This will create the perfect end to the party, and everyone will be happy.

IF you follow these ideas and tips, and include your own original ideas you've almost certainly created the perfect party for your special one. Parts and lots of excited children are hard work, so it is not defiantly time for you to put your feet up and relax. Best to now get someone else to do the cleaning. Maybe your husband!

To have a successful themed kids birthday party, why not check out Net Price Direct for a range of childrens party supplies including a range of party bag fillers.