The Party People: Celebrating your Child's 1st birthday

The Party People: Celebrating your Child's 1st birthday: Whether you're planning an intimate gathering of friends and family or an all-out bash, your baby's first birthday celebration is bound to b...

Celebrating your Child's 1st birthday

Whether you're planning an intimate gathering of friends and family or an all-out bash, your baby's first birthday celebration is bound to be special — at least for you and the other adults and older kids in his/her life!

Yes, a first birthday party is really for parents and their guests. Your baby won't remember this party, and may even be overwhelmed by it. But that doesn't mean you can't all have fun. For party planning suggestions and tips on keeping your baby (and young visitors) comfortable, read on.

Who to invite:

Your 1-year-old may be fearful of strangers, and make strange in new places. Despite liking other babies, he/she might not understand how to play with them yet. He/she will enjoy individual attention and likes to make you laugh. These factors often convince parents to opt for an intimate, low-budget family party or small gathering of relatives, close friends, fellow parents, and neighbours.

But no matter how many guests you have, keep in mind that your 1-year-old will want a lot of your undiluted attention. This is especially true if he/she's feeling overstimulated by a large crowd of well-wishers.

How much to spend?

The amount you spend is up to you, and depends on what kind of party you want to have for your child. Keep in mind that food is the main thing that drives costs up, followed by decorations and the cake. Don't feel pressured to spend more than you can afford — small is beautiful at this age!

Choosing a time

Your baby will probably still be taking a morning and afternoon nap when his/her first birthday rolls around. If so, it's best to plan your party around nap times if possible. Once one child starts crying, they all might! You may want to keep the party brief — an hour or so is probably long enough at this age.

Choosing a place

Home is usually the easiest place to host a first birthday party, and it's where your baby will feel most secure. But if your home is too small for the number of guests you want to invite, consider a local community centre, a kids' museum, a restaurant (you may want to go with a kids'-themed place or a fast-food restaurant with a play space), a relative's house, or, if the weather is nice, a park or zoo.

Choosing a theme

Party themes aren't important to your 1-year-old or his/her baby guests. You might want to aim for a colour-coordinated look, or pick matching plates and napkins with a favourite cartoon character, but it's more for the benefit of the keepsake photos than your baby at this stage.  Check out www.thepartypeople.ie for fun 1st birthday balloons and decorations.  Below is an example of the lovely "Hugs & Stitches" 1st birthday balloons that we currently stock:

Food

Keep food simple — a lot of it will probably end up on the floor anyway!

Finger foods work well for both babies and adults, and eating them won't interrupt play or socializing. Some babies may have quite a few teeth and be able to bite into food; others may still be toothless, so cater to both extremes. Tiny sandwiches with cheese spread (you can cut them into shapes), cubes of mild cheese, cut-up fruit, pasta spirals, and mini yogurts are good options. You can also try animal crackers or graham crackers broken into small pieces.

Your small guests will probably eat very little, so aim for a variety of tastes, textures, and colours rather than quantity. (Get more finger food ideas here.) And avoid serving nuts, hard sweets, popcorn, raisins, marshmallows, and other foods that may present a choking hazard to little ones.

As for beverages, it's a good idea to have water, milk, and diluted fruit juices around for the kids and soft drinks for the adults.

Don't forget a wonderful birthday cake. Homemade treats are special, but supermarkets have a great variety available, or try a bakery. You may need to order the cake or cakes in advance. And don't let your baby get too close to the candle as he/she'll want to grab it, not blow on it.

 Games and activities

Loud bangs from party poppers and bursting balloons may frighten your baby, and discarded poppers and balloons are a serious choking hazard until age 3. Why not have some musical fun, such as dancing with your baby, or a nursery rhyme tape on in the background? He/she'll also enjoy peek-a-boo games and finding toys hidden in a box or under a cloth. And, of course, he/she'll enjoy helping you open presents (although the wrapping paper will be far more fun than the gift!).

Goody bags

Goody bags aren't really necessary at this age, and the usual treats like sweets and balloons can be dangerous for the babies at your party. If you want to give a going-away present to your little guests, opt for something safe to chew on.

Birthday presents

By now your baby will appreciate toys that make noise or light up, or both, so activity centres are a good choice. It's never too early to read, and textured board books are great fun for your tactile baby. A push-along toy to aid walking skills may be a hit, and new bath toys are always welcome. You may want to consider a big, lasting present, such as a baby swing for outdoors or a rocking horse. And if you already have loads of toys, your baby won't object if some people buy her clothes!

General tips

·         Have somewhere clean, handy, and well-equipped for nappy changing.

·         Breastfeeding mothers may appreciate somewhere quiet and private to feed their baby.

·         It's crawling, walking, and climbing time — safety gates and other childproofing devices are essential.

·         Hide away precious ornaments and breakables.

·         Keep pets well out of the way (for their own protection!).

·         Keep a watchful eye on the party area for hazards, such as forks and small swallowable objects, and clear them away quickly.

·         Babies will play alongside each other, so keep a variety of toys available within a large, safe floor space.

·         Relax — let your baby and her guests set the pace.

·         Make sure you have a willing volunteer to take plenty of photos and video. You may be too busy, and you don't want to miss those shots of your baby digging into her first birthday cake!

Fun Kid's Party Food - Part 4 of 8

Welcome to the fourth installment of our Fun Kid's Party Food blog.

This week we're going to look at how to make:

ANIMAL CUPCAKES:
Make these delicious cupcakes and decorate them to look like animals.  They're perfect for parties, or just if you feel like a treat!!

This all in one method of baking cupcakes never fails.  For best results, the butter and eggs should be at room temperature. 

What You'll Need:

Makes 10 Cupcakes

• 125g ( 4 1/2 oz) butter or margarine;
• 125g ( 4 1/2 oz) caster sugar;
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest;
• 2 Eggs;
• 125g ( 4 1/2 oz) self raising flour;
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.

Buttercream:

• 100g (3 1/2oz) soft unsalted butter;
• 200g (8oz) icing sugar, sifted;
• 1 tablespoon milk;
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence;

Decoration:

 Teddy Bear:

• Chocolate icing (bought);
• Chocolate buttons;
• Mini chocolate digestive biscuits;
• White and red jelly beans;
• Black writing icing.



 Frog:

• Green food colouring;
• White chocolate buttons (resting on cocktail sticks pushed into the cupcake;
• Green jelly beans;
• Green writing icing;
• Very thin pretzels (optional).

Pussy Cat:

• Yellow M&M's;
• Yellow jelly beans;
• Black writing icing;
• Liquorice allsorts.

Piggy:

• Pink Food Colouring;
• Pink marshmallows;
• Mini candy coated chocolate beans;
• Liquorice allsorts.

Tiger:

• Yellow food colouring;
•  Liquorice allsorts;
• Mini candy coated chocolate beans (for cake decorating);
• Jelly bean.

Bunny:

• Sponge fingers;
• Candy coated chocolate beans;
• Jelly beans;
• Writing icing;
• Very thin pretzels (optional).

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180degrees;
2. Line a muffin tin with 10 paper cases;
3. Put the butter, sugar , lemon zest, eggs, flour and baking powder into a bowl and beat by hand or electric mixer until smooth;
4. Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake in the over for approx 20 minutes.
5. Remove the tin from the oven and allow the cakes to cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely;
6. While the cupcakes are cooling you can prepare the icing; beat the butter in a large bowl until it is soft;
7. Add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth;
8. Add the remaining icing sugar, milk and a few drops of vanilla essence;
9. Divide the icing into a couple of different bowls and colour with food colouring;

When the cakes are cool, swirl some of the icing on top of them and decorate to look like the animals above.  Tip: For the frog and bunny, you can push very thin pretzels into the cupake and balance the ears on top. Tip #2: If you're planning a party you can make the cupcakes up to one month ahead of time and freeze them in a plastic box.  Defrost them at room temperature for about an hour before icing them.  

For great party accessories check out our website www.thepartypeople.ie

Fun Kid's Party Food - Part 3 of 8

Welcome to the third installment of our Fun Kid's Party Food blog.
You just about have time to make these with the kids before they go back to school!

This week we're going to look at how to make:

CHEESY BREAD ANIMALS:
It's great fun to make your own bread, a bit like playing around with playdough. 

What you'll need: (Makes 6 rolls or animals)
- 250g (9oz) strong plain flour;
- Generous pinch salt;
- 1/2 sachet (1/2 teaspoon) fast-action drying yeast;
- 1/2 teaspoon honey;
- Pinch cayenne pepper;
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard powder;
- 200ml warm water;
- 60g mature Cheddar cheese, grated; and
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated.

To decorate:
- 1 egg, beaten;
- Sesame seeds;
- Poppy seeds;
- Cheddar cheese, grated; and
- Currants.

Instructions:

1. Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
2. Stir in the yeast, honey, cayenne pepper, mustard and just enough of the water for form a soft dough.
3. Transfer to a floured surface and knead lightly for about 5 minutes to make a smooth, pliable dough.
4. Gradually knead the grated cheese into the dough (this will give a slightly streaky effect).
5. Shape the dough into balls or animal shapes and transfer them to a lined baking sheet.
6. Cover them loosely with a tea towel and leave them to rise in a warm place for about an hour.
7. Brush with beaten egg.
8. If you are making buns, sprinkle the tops with sesame seeds, poppy seeds or grated cheese.
9. Add currants for the eyes on the animal shapes.
10. Transfer them to an over pre-heated to 200C or 400F and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
11. The undersides should sound hollow when you tap them.
12. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
13. Watch your little ones enjoy these snacks :-)

Create a Harry Potter Themed Party

Harry Potter's all the rage, thanks to the wonderful fantasy series by J.K. Rowling.  The final installment, Deathly Hallows 2 will be released on 15th July 2011.  This is the perfect excuse to conjure up a Harry Potter party!!

Not only are kids reading more than ever, they want to share their love of wizards and witches with their Muggle friends.

Any fan of the Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its talented students will enjoy attending a party featuring these famous characters. There are many ways to decorate a room with different items that will turn any special event into a magical time for all. The good times will begin with proper invitations depicting the entire Hogwarts gang.

One of the easiest ways to use Harry Potter party supplies to make any event more enjoyable is to deck out the table with items featuring the different characters. Plates, cups and napkins sitting atop a special themed tablecloth are just for starters.  

Check out www.thepartypeople.ie for our range of Harry Potter supplies.

Turn your party room into Hogwarts Hall with a few waves of Harry's magic wand.

Plan the Party

Party Set-Up - A few hours before the party:

• Welcome the guests with a sign at the front door that reads "Platform 9 3/4."
• Decorate your party room like the Great Hall at Hogwarts School.
• Make "snitches" by spray painting Styrofoam or rubber balls gold, then glue feathers on each side, and hang them from the ceiling.
• Cover the walls and ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars, moons, and lightning bolts.
• Set out stuffed toy owls, broomsticks, magic wands, and potions.
• Cover the table with a paper cloth featuring stars, moons, and lightning bolts, and add matching paper products.
• Harry Potter party supplies can also consist of plastic banners that can be draped across the room.

• Colorful balloons are a must for any type of event for children. Even older kids will enjoy the colours and fun of having balloons around the area. The room can feature as many creative decorations as possible, adding to the magical atmosphere.

Party Time - Welcome the Wizards and Muggles:

• Ask the guests to come dressed as a Harry Potter character from the series, such as Harry, Dudley, Hermione, Ron, Draco Malfoy, or Nearly Headless Nick.
• Give everyone Harry glasses and "tattoo" a lightning bolt on their foreheads with felt pen.

Join Harry Potter in some Games and Activities:

·         The party will not be complete unless Harry Potter party games are played. Play a version of Quidditch, Harry's favorite game, by providing the kids with a ball, some broomsticks, and a large area to play in. Divide the group into two teams, set up two goal lines on either side of the yard, and have the kids try to brush the ball over their own goal line while straddling the broomstick.

·         If the youngsters are provided with various types of fruit punch, they might want to pretend that they are mixing up magic potions and see what concoctions they can come up with.

• Have a Harry Potter trivia Contest and ask questions based on the book - or a 'Who Said What?' game based on Harry Potter quotes. 

Serve Cauldrons of Snacks and Wash them down with Magic Potions:

• Buy a plastic cauldron or use a black pot for serving the food. Fill it with soup, pasta, or beef stew.
• Serve "magic potions" in plastic goblets. Offer multicolored drinks - red, blue, green, orange - for added fun. Called them Rum-Runners.
• Make Harry Potter cookies using a Harry Potter shaped cookie cutter.
• Provide Harry Potter desserts, such as apple pie, trifle, jam donuts

Say Good-Byes with Hogwarts Gift Bags:

• Give the kids magic wands, jellybeans, wizard caps and capes, copies of Harry Potter books or tapes, Harry glasses, and press-on tattoos.
• Place them in Harry Potter gift bags or small fabric bags tied with ribbon / velvet cords.

To view our range of Harry Potter partyware, log on to www.thepartypeople.ie

Fun Kid's Party Food - Part 2 of 8

Welcome to the second of our 8 part series on creating fun party food for or with your kids!

Last week's recipe was for cupcakes, so we thought we'd keep it healthy this week :-)

Here's how to make some fun sandwiches to fill your little ones up before they get to the cupcakes.

OINK OINK SANDWICH:
(A great addition to any Peppa Pig themed party - check out our Peppa Pig range on www.thepartypeople.ie for your next party).

What you'll need: (makes one portion)
- 1 slice of white bread;
- 1 cheese slice;
- 4 currants to garnish;
- 2 slices of ham;
- 1 spring onion; and
- 1 tbsp cheese spread e.g. from a tube for glue.

Instructions:

1. Cut out the pig's body from the bread using a 3 1/2 inch round cookie cutter and two circles using a 2 inch cutter.
2. Cut out eyes from the cheese using an icing nozzle.
3. Cut one small bread circle into two, then one half into quarters to make the ears.
4. Shape the remaining bread semi-circle into a shout and cut a piece of ham to fit it and the ears.
5. Assemble the pig by placing the little circle on top of the large one.
6. Add the ears, snout and eyes - you can use a small blob of cheese spread as glue.
7. Add currants to the eyes and snout.
8. Lastly, finely trim some of the green part of the spring onion to make a curly tail.
9. Watch your kids go crazy for this cool twist on a ham sandwich.....

Hungry for more???  Then try out the CLOWN SANDWICH

What you'll need: (makes 1 portion)
- Slice of orange cheese;
- 2 slices of brown bread, buttered;
- Cherry tomatoes and cucumber to decorate;
- 1 tablespoon cheese spread from a tub (for glue); and
- Carrots, grated with a lemon zestor.

Instructions:

1. Place a slice of cheese between the buttered pieces of bread.
2. Cut out eyes from the cheese using small round cookie cutters or the nozzle from a piping bag.
3. Using a vegetable peeler, take a slice of the green part of the cucumber. 
4. Make small irises (for the eyes) using a small cookie cutter.
5. Place the irises on the eyes and position them on the bread.
6. You can use a small glob of cheese spread as glue.
7. Arrange the grated strands of carrots on the top of the bread.
8. Add a cherry tomato nose.
9. Using a small knife, cut a chunk out of the top slice of bread to make a cheesy smile.

Fun Kid's Party Food - Part 1 of 8

Welcome to the first of our 8 part series on creating fun party food for or with your kids!

These recipes are great fun to make with your kids and a brilliant way to spend a rainy day....

GOLDFISH CUPCAKES:

What you'll need:

125g (4 1/2 oz) butter, at room temperature

125g (4 1/2 oz) golden caster sugar

110g (4oz) self raising flour

2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa poweder

1 teaspoon orange zest - grated

50g (2oz) plain chocolate chips

5 tablespoons of ready made buttercream icing.

For the goldfish (Some or all of the items below - it's up to you):

- Cheerios

- Chocolate buttons

- M&M's (chocolate)

- Tube white chocolate writing icing

- Jelly beans

- Giant chocolate buttons

- White chocolate buttons

- Marshmallows

- Hundreds & thousands

- Heart-shaped chocolates

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the over to 180C / 350F or gas mark 4.
2. Beat together the butter and sugar until the mixture is fluffy and smooth.
3. Sift together the flour and cocoa powder in a separate bowl.
4. Add the eggs to the creamed butter mixture, a little at a time, adding a tablespoon of the flour mixture with the second egg.
5. Mix in the orange zest and the remainin gflour and cocoa, until blended.
6. Finally stir in the chocolate pieces.
7. Line a large muffin tray with 10 paper cases and fill each one until two-thirds full.
8. Bake the muffins for 20-22 minutes.
9. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then remove the muffins and place on a wire cooling rack.
10. When the cupcakes are cool, spread a little of the buttercream over each of the cupcakes.
11. This is where you can get creative - decorate the cupcakes to look like goldfish.