What to Celebrate this Week: National Wear Red Day!

by Stefanie on February 3, 2010

Stand up and speak out against heart disease in women by wearing red on Friday, Feb. 5th!

casual group formatted.jpgGo Red For Women is a movement passionately dedicated to helping women fight back against heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women in America.
Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the country, the color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives.

Inspire your friends, family and coworkers to wear red this Feb. 5th and speak up about heart disease — on National Wear Red Day!

Make it fun by passing out funny red wearable items from PartyLand! Red bead necklaces, silly red sunglasses, wigs, hats, ties, clown noses! Just come in to PartyLand and let your imagination go!12_red_hearts-h_m_2_515756ared bead necklacesred wig and clown nose

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What to Celebrate this Week: Groundhog’s Day!

by Stefanie on January 27, 2010

groundhog phil

When: Tuesday, February 2nd
What: Legend decrees that if Phil sees his shadow on February 2nd, six more weeks of winter weather will befall the world. But if no shadow is apparent we’re in for the delights of an early spring!

Groundhog Day comes once a year and its arrival is eagerly awaited by thousands of famous Phil’s faithful followers. Nowhere in the world is Phil’s prediction more anxiously awaited than in Punxsutawney, PA, the HOME OF THE GROUNDHOG!

But even if you won’t be in Punxsutawney this Feb.2nd you can still celebrate the great American tradition!

Top Hats & Mustaches What to Wear:

A top hat and a mustache!

What to Do:

Send an Ecard:
Don’t let your friends forget to celebrate!

Trace a friend’s shadow!

Make shadow puppets!

What to Sing:

Groundhog’s Day, I looked around,
Saw my shadow on the ground
Yes I saw my shadow, when I took a peek
That means winter 6 more weeks!

I’m a little groundhog round and plump
Here is my shadow here is my rump
Oh I’m a little groundhog short and plump
I see my shadow I see my rump.

Little groundhog down below,
Underneath the wintry snow.
Come on out and tell us true…
Is Spring coming? Is Winter through?

I’m A Little Groundhog (sung to I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little groundhog, furry and brown,
See me pop while I look around,
If I see my shadow, down I’ll go
Six more weeks of winter, oh no!

Mr. Groundhog (sung to Frere Jacques)

Mr. Groundhog, Mr. Groundhog.
Are you there? Are you there?
Will you see your shadow?
We all want to know
On this day, Groundhog Day.

What to Play:

Groundhog Day Trivia:

  • All groundhogs have 22 teeth.
  • Groundhogs hibernate one to a burrow, with at least two doorways.
  • Males emerge earlier than females each spring.
  • Groundhogs can lose 50% of their body weight in hibernation.
  • They can swim and climb trees.
  • Groundhog Day was once celebrated by ancient Celts. It’s halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox.

Hot Hog

This game is Punxsutawney’s version of “Hot Potato.” Arrange participants in a circle. Give one a stuffed groundhog, or a picture of a groundhog taped to a ball. As the music plays everyone passes the groundhog around the circle. When the music stops the person holding the groundhog is OUT. Play continues until there is only one Groundhog King or Queen left.

Toss the Hog

How do you get that groundhog back in it’s hole? Well, you “TOSS THE ‘HOG!”

You will need one ball decorated as a groundhog (use a coonskin cap from PartyLand pulled over a small playground ball or tape on groundhog features or draw them), a trashcan (decorated as a burrow black or brown construction paper from PartyLand), and a masking tape line on the floor. racoon hat
Have the contestants line up at the indicated spot. Each contestant gets three chances to send the ‘hog home! Sort players into categories according to their success (0, 1, 2, or 3 ‘hogs in the can). Have students with the highest numbers of successful throws continue competing until there is a winner. Vary the distance, number of throws, etc. to make the game more or less difficult. The prize could be a groundhog cookie, a pencil, or they can keep the “hog” ball and hat.

More Fun Groundhog  Activities:

Color Phil, Phil’s Wordsearch, Phil’s Maze

And don’t let February 2nd pass by without watching Groundhog Daygroundhog-day-movie-poster the movie!

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30 Rock Theme Party Ideas

by Stefanie on January 13, 2010

Dear Stefanie @ PartyLand,
My BFF’s birthday is coming up and I want to kick it old school and throw her a theme party based on her favorite TV show. Only trouble is, party supplies for this TV show don’t exist! Can you help us come up with creative ideas for food, drinks and decorations for the rockinest 30 Rock party ever!?
Thanks a bunch, Peachy

Dear Peachy,

Tina pics everywhere!

Making the party all about your BFF and her interests is a good start to a successful bday party. Luckily I’m also a 30 Rock fan and can help you plan the best party since Prince Gerhardt Messerschmit Ramenstein Von Hap’s 25th!

INVITES
Take a page from Kenneth’s party book and pass out paper pink cupcake cards to all the guests. Or find a cupcake evite. Tell your friends to “Get in touch with your inner Liz Lemon and come wolf down a teamster sub with the most vaguely ethnic swan in the city!”

FOOD!
Sylvia's Cornbread. So good you'll want to take it behind...Food is what Liz Lemon loves most, so make it count!
Hot Dogs served in a cardboard box. “I’m buying ALL the hot dogs!”
Dunkin Donuts and skim milk. “I’ll have a dozen donuts to stay and a skim milk.”
Sabor De Soledad (make your own by printing the logo and taping it onto generic cheese puffs!)
Diet Sabor De Soledad (carrots)
Cornbread so good you’ll want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant.
Teamster Subs
Mozzarella Sticks “I already have a drink, do you think he’d buy me mozzarella sticks?”
Grapes “What else, what else is on my mindgrapes?”
Cornbread so good you’ll want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant.
A giant shrimp made out of shrimp diving into a bowl of shrimp.
Lemon Head candy
Oxygen hors d’œuvres “I ate way too much oxygen.”
General Rule: Anything bad for you would be Liz approved.

DRINKS
Mmm Sabor de Solodad & Lemonade!Anything Lemon flavored in honor of the leading lady: Lemonade, Lemon Drop Martinis, Lemon Sparkling Water, etc.
Rootbeer Floats “You look happy! Did someone just have a rootbeer float?”
Pinot Grigio (Liz’s wine of choice)


Setting the Mood:
Recreate a memorable set or take pieces from many sets and combine them. Put a
KAT
COUR
SUC

KAT COUR SUC

on the wall like the one Kenneth had to clean in Brian Williams’ dressing room.
Look thru magazines and cut out 30 Rock ads, any pictures or articles about the actors, even guest stars and hang them all over the party room. Don’t forget to stick a big portrait of Jack Donaghy on the front of your microwave!
Make quote posters for your favorite characters. Check mine out HERE.
Put papers around the room and write along the top, “What’s your favorite 30 Rock quote?”

Put the chicken near your mouth!

Have a rubber chicken floating around the party for guests to pose with. “Put the chicken closer to your mouth.” And of course, “Birth a chicken on the toilet.”

You may want to microwave a bowl of maple syrup for that suspicious maple syrup smell in your apartment building. Put up a sign that says, “Ignore the maple syrup smell. Our neighbors are not terrorists. They just like waffles!”

What should you do? WHAT SHOULD YOU DO-OOOO?
Besides the obvious of having 30 Rock playing at the party, you could also have some show-inspired activities:
Play poker
Have a “Page Off” with NBC trivia
A Teamster Sub Wolfing Contest
Play a round of Gold Case
30 Rock trivia would be fun, and probably an easy win for the birthday girl
A “Who Said That?” Quote Game
Karaoke is a favorite activity of Jenna’s and Liz’s (when she’s drunk). “When I’m here, you should be here. Not up here, here is embarrassing.”

What to Wear:
First of all, wear a bra. Now, there are so many options you’ll have to decide whether to have guests come dressed as their favorite 30 Rock character, or the most obscure 30 Rock character they can think of, or their favorite character in their favorite 30 Rock moment or have them wear tuxes because the party’s probably after 6 p.m., and you’re not farmers. Just don’t let anyone wear flip flops, ever, it’s gross.

Moonvest and Liz Lemon at Prince Gerheart's Birthday

A Black, Dot Com & Cerie

Jack & Elisa - JalisaLiz Lemler & Jerry Seinfeld

Have fun brushing up on your 30 Rock references and preparing yourself for a Whirl of Wind Birthday Extravaganza! And make sure the birthday girl thanks everyone… “Thank you! Thank you all dear friends. FOR COMING TO MY BIRTHDAY!”

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June 2009 “A Camping We Will Go” Cub Scout Ideas

by Stefanie on June 2, 2009

Scout CampThe Cub Scouts are going camping! In the backyard, in a tent or  under the stars. Camp at a nearby Scout camp, state park, or even spend the night in the local museum. Camping doesn’t always have to be overnight; day camp is fun too! Get everyone outdoors and discover what the ‘outing’ in Scouting is all about!

Décor Ideas for “A Camping We Will Go”:

  • Make a nature scene by decorating with all your potted plants and flowers!
  • Set-up tents in the backyard or living room. Have older kids set-up the tents themselves for a learning activity.
  • Make a large wooden sign at the entrance to the “Camp Site” and have other signs pointing the way to the toilets and showers, picnic area and wildlife trail.
  • Place tiki torches around the edges of the camp.
  • Use glow in the dark bugs and stars.
  • Use plastic tableware or tin plates and cups. Provide bug stickers for each Scout to personalize his own plate and mug so they don’t get mixed-up.
  • If you are ‘Camping’ inside, disperse natural objects around the room, such as rocks, sticks, leaves (real or silk), plants, pine cones, etc.

Camp Food Faves

  • Nuts, dried fruit and trail mix are the epitome of camp cuisine!
  • Bug Juice: Lemonade colored green with a plastic bug floating on the top.
  • Roasted Marshmallows: Place a marshmallow on the end of a wooden skewer (soak for one hour in water beforehand as it stops them burning) and hold a few inches about the campfire flame until the marshmallow starts to melt. Remove from the flame and allow cooling.s'mores
  • Campsite Cake: Use 1 cake mix to make a square or rectangular cake. Cover with green frosting to resemble grass and decorate with a small plastic camping set and trees or plastic bugs.
  • S’mores: Don’t go camping without them! Melted chocolate and marshmallows between gram crackers.

Indoor & Outdoor Camping Activities
Pack it Up:
Whether you go camping or just pretend to, ask your scouts to pack their backpack with everything they think they’ll need for an overnighter – and a few random things for fun.
Before the meeting, make a list of items you think they will bring – and some items you don’t think anyone would bring. (Compass, Toilet Paper, Chapstick, Licorice, Sunglasses, Flip Flops, Floss, Hand Sanitizer, Note from Parent, 2 Dimes, etc.)
Have everyone sit with their backpacks at an equal distance away from you. (More fun outdoors where the distance can be longer.) Then yell out an item from the list. Whoever has the item and brings it to you first wins that round. Keep going and adding up points for the win!

Nighttime Star Gazing:
Get away from the city lights where it’s easier to see planets and constellations.
Decorate your own Walking Hiking Stick
Personalized Walking Sticks:
Buy some cheap wooden dowels from a hardware store and provide the Scouts with paints, glue and stickers to personalize their own walking stick. Once they are dry try them out on a hike!

Campfire Sing-Along:
Warm up your vocal cords, get out the guitar (if you have one) and sing to your hearts content. If you have any portable musical instruments let the Scouts use them or make their own from tin cans and sticks.

Sparklers:
Always popular at a campsite, especially when it is dark!

Trash Scavenger Hunt:
A great camping that helps the environment too! Have the Scouts collect various items and whoever gets the most from the list wins.

Camping Favors and Prizes:
Glow in the Dark Bugs

Paper Lanterns
Anything that glows in the dark
Compass Clips
Bug NetsMini Flashlight FavorsBug Net FavorsCompass Clip Favors
Large Beam Flashlight Key Chains Water Canteen
Mini sparklers
Mini Battery-Powered Fans
Bug Stickers and Temperary Tattoos

Extra Things to Work on:
The Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award
Map and Compass Belt Loop and Pin
Astronomy Belt Loop and Pin

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May 2009 “Leave Nothing but Footprints” Cub Scout Ideas

by Stefanie on April 29, 2009

Leave Nothing But Footprints

Hurray! Warm weather is the perfect time for outdoor adventures! This month take your troop on a walk through the neighborhood, park or on a hike through local trails. Teach them to enjoy the outdoor world, to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.

This May everyone will be learning about the “Leave No Trace” frontcountry guidelines and the ways we can all minimize our impact on the environment. (Frontcountry is composed of outdoor areas that are easily accessible by vehicle and the most visited.)

Décor Ideas for Leave No Footsteps Behind:

  • latex balloonBring out all your potted plants and flowers to decorate around the room.
  • Latex balloons are actually biodegradable and fairly earth-friendly. So you can have your balloon bouquet and still be green!

Eco-Friendly Food:

  • Nuts, fruit, veggies, and real fruit juice are healthy and natural.feet lollipops
  • Tasty natural foods can also double as a cool centerpiece! Thread fresh fruit onto wooden skewers, and then stab skewers into artificial plant foam to look like flowers!
  • For a quick and easy treat grab some suckers in the shape of a foot from PartyLand!

Activities that Won’t Leave a Trace:

Our Natural World — Quick Activityscout hiking
Take your Scouts on a Nature Scavenger Hunt, but rather than collecting objects, have them list ideas on paper.
The hunt will help them discover how much they have in common with the natural world and how the natural world influences their survival. This activity sets the stage for learning and embracing Leave No Trace principles.
The Activity
Give each participant a piece of paper and a pencil. Have them make three columns with the titles, Things in Nature, Things We Have in Common, How It Helps Me. They must find objects in nature and tell how they are like that object. Make sure they consider less noticeable things such as air, soil, sun. For example:

Things in Nature, Things We Have in Common, How It Helps Me
* Tree: We both have an outer layer to protect us (bark/skin). A tree gives me oxygen.
* Soil: We both contain minerals. Soil helps grow my food.
* Ant: We both need shelter. They are fun to watch.

*PartyLand sells small, themed pencils and notepads by the dozen. Pick some up for your troop and go exploring!

Plan Ahead & Prepare — Quick Activityscout backpack
Note: Tell your pack you are going to take an imaginary hiking trip and ask each person to pack a small backpack for your meeting. Don’t tell the participants their imaginary destination or what to bring. Before your meeting, find pictures or posters depicting a local or regional environment (high alpine, desert, river). You will use these pictures to serve as your imaginary destination. Break participants into small groups of three to five when they arrive. Build suspense by asking them to guess the destination of their imaginary trip.

The Activity
Show the destination pictures and describe the location you have selected (weather, terrain, etc.). Explain the goal of the trip: wildlife viewing or fishing. Ask the Scouts to unpack their packs and discuss their answers to the following questions (the leader must read the back ground information in order to facilitate discussion).

Note: Because participants packed their packs without proper information, it is unlikely they will be adequately prepared for their destination. This activity demonstrates the importance of planning before packing.
* Do the contents of your pack properly prepare you for this trip?
* Do the contents of your pack ensure your safety?
* Do the contents of your pack ensure you will Leave No Trace that you will not damage natural or cultural resources?
* Do the contents of your pack ensure your trip will meet your goal for example, wildlife viewing or fish safely and enjoyably?

The Discussion
Facilitate a discussion with all participants about the results of the activity. Ask groups to briefly share their answers to the above questions and add:
* How would the contents of your pack differ with different destinations?
* What other information do you need to pack properly for a trip?
* What is the value of knowing these pieces of information before packing?

Litter On the Side of the Highway

Pack It In & Pack It Out — Quick Activity
Note: Arrangements for this activity must be made a week or two in advance. Find a location that is littered with garbage. For example, a roadside, a park, or a high school parking lot right after school. This activity can also be conducted during organized cleanup projects sponsored by groups that have “adopted” road segments or recreation sites. If you can not find a littered area near you, simulate one at or near your meeting site.
Travel to the site. Have the Scouts observe the littered site and discuss what they think of this situation and how it makes them feel. Present each member of the group with a garbage bag and with the challenge to make the area look more pleasant.

The Activity
Instruct the group to use care when picking up sharp, rusty, or unsanitary waste. You may wish to have participants bring light gloves for this activity.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces — Quick Activity
Gather the Scouts outside a home or in a park. Ask them why we construct sidewalks. Focus the resulting discussion on the need to provide durable surfaces for travel by many people. Explain that concentrating activity on one durable surface can protect the surviving land. Define the concept of durability for the group.

A garden in Panama

Take Nothing But Pictures — Quick Activity
Take a hike or a walk with cameras. Have the Scouts take pictures of flowers, trees, wildlife. Print off the pictures and display them at your next meeting then let the photographers take their pictures home.
Do your Good Turn and leave these areas cleaner then you found them.

Water Balloon Fight!
Latex Water Balloons are composed of natural rubber sap and small amounts of non-toxic coagulants and pigments. They are 100% bio-degradable! When exposed to outdoor elements they are completely consumed by soil or water micro-organisms at a rate quicker than that experienced by an oak leaf under identical conditions. In much the same way maple syrup is harvested from the maple tree, the production of latex balloons contributes positively to the preservation of tropical rain forests.

Let your Scouts cool off and have fun with water balloons! Then teach the importance of picking up each and every little piece of balloon shrapnel. Give a prize to the Scout who picks up the most!Plastic Toy Bugs

Need prizes for all these fun activities? PartyLand has hundreds of insect and animal favors. Even magnifying glasses and compasses!

Things to Work on:
Earn the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Awareness Award.

The end of the month has all dens moving up the Cub Scout trail. You might want to consider working on the Wildlife Conservation belt loop and pin this month.

Another Type of Footprint
Carbon Calculator

Tips for Reducing Your Footprint at Home

  • Recycle your water bottles and, better yet, choose to re-use a refillable water bottle made of a refill-safe material.
  • “Phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
  • How many phone books do you need? Stop getting those bulky throwbacks by contacting the manufacturer (their contact information is usually listed on the phone book’s inside cover) and asking to be taken off their mailing list.Use online phonebooks or search the web to find what you need instead.
  • Eating meat costs a lot of energy - a 6 oz steak requires 24 times as much fossil fuel based energy to produce as an equivalent amount of vegetables and rice. Eating vegetarian just once a week can make a big difference.

LEAVE NO TRACE® Guidelines:
Leave No Trace is a plan that helps people to be more concerned about their environment and to help them protect it for future generations. Leave No Trace applies in a backyard or local park (frontcountry) as much as it does in the wilderness (backcountry).

Six Leave No Trace Guidelines for Cub Scouts
1.    Plan Ahead
Watch for hazards and follow all the rules of the park or outdoor facility. Remember proper clothing, sunscreen, hats, first aid kits, and plenty of drinking water. Use the
buddy system. Make sure you carry your family’s name, phone number, and address.

2.    Stick to Trails
Stay on marked trails whenever possible. Short-cutting trails causes the soil to wear away or to be packed, which eventually kills trees and other vegetation. Trampled wildflowers and vegetation take years to recover. Stick to trails!

3.    Manage your pet
Managing your pet will keep people, dogs, livestock, and wildlife from feeling threatened. Make sure your pet is on a leash or controlled at all times. Do not let your pet approach or chase wildlife. When animals are chased or disturbed, they change eating patterns and use more energy that may result in poor health or death.
Take care of your pet’s waste. Take a small shovel or scoop and a pick-up bag to pick up your pet’s waste— wherever it’s left. Place the waste bags in a trash can for disposal.

4.    Leave what you find
When visiting any outdoor area, try to leave it the same as you find it. The less impact we each make, the longer we will enjoy what we have. Even picking flowers denies others the opportunity to see them and reduces seeds, which means fewer plants next year.
Use established restrooms. Graffiti and vandalism have no place anywhere, and they spoil the experience for others. Leave your mark by doing an approved conservation project.

5.    Respect other visitors
Expect to meet other visitors. Be courteous and make room for others. Control your speed when biking or running. Pass with care and let others know before you pass. Avoid disturbing others by making noise or playing loud music.
Respect “No Trespassing” signs. If property boundaries are unclear, do not enter the area.

6.    Trash Your Trash
Make sure all trash is put in a bag or trash receptacle. Trash is unsightly and ruins everyone’s outdoor experience. Your trash can kill wildlife. Even materials, such as orange peels, apple cores and food scraps, take years to break down and may attract unwanted pests that could become a problem.

Pack Leaders, don’t forget to pick up a Smokey the Bear hat for yourself from PartyLand! :)

Find More Easy Ways to Get Active, Get Inspired and Get Connected here!

Extra Tip:
Helpful videos on how to dispose of food waste, how to choose a campsite and more!

It’s finally summer! Enjoy the outdoors, but remember - leave nothing behind but footprints.

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Heaven & Hell Party Ideas

by Stefanie on April 2, 2009

Our reader Norma is throwing a fundraiser with a Heaven & Hell theme and asked us for some great ideas.
Well, oh my heavens and great balls of fire we came up with tons more than just some!

heaven and hell dinnerware

What I love about this theme is the ability to play with contrast: Angels vs. Devils, White vs. Red, Cool vs. Hot, Soft vs. Hard, Sugary vs. Spicy, Sweet vs. Sinister, etc.

Decorations:
Try splitting your location into two different rooms or areas of the room – one Heaven and one Hell. If the party is in your home make your living room a light, peaceful Heaven and your kitchen a dark, dynamic Hell.

HEAVENLY DECOR:
When guests enter this room you want them to feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven!

white decoro    Use white balloons clustered together in clouds with silver foil stars.
o    Put white sheets over the furniture and cushions.
o    Give the room a vibrant glow by using white candles.
o    Make the table angelic with a white table cover and mounds of fluffy white pillow stuffing!
o    Drape white tulle around the room with white lights behind the tulle for a twinkling effect.
o    Fill white, silver and clear balloons with air and throw them all over the floor and you’re guests will feel like they’re walking on clouds!
o    Dig out your Christmas decorations or find post-holiday sales at stores and use all the angels and stars.
o    Buy or rent a fog machine for a cloudy effect.

DEVILISH DECOR:
This room needs a completely different vibe than your Heaven room. You can either go dark and sinister, or red-hot and cutsie – it all depends on your guest list.
o    Put red balloon bouquets around the room; in corners and on tables.
o    Dim the lighting.
o    Decorate the walls with paper skulls and skeletons.
o    Use plastic pitchforks and scythes as table décor or hang them on the walls.
o    Use red light bulbs or cover lamps or recessed lighting with red cellophane.
o    Make spooky signs and gravestones from cardboard or foam.
o    Cut red and yellow cellophane rolls into flames and hang them as a border where the wall and ceiling meet, around light fixtures, tables and windows.
o    Drape red tulle and red Christmas lights on the food table.

FOOD:
Set food out on two tables, offering a choice between Heavenly food and Hellish delights.

HEAVENLY FARE:
In Heaven sweet and light foods reign!
merigues cookiesAngel food coconut cake
o    Load the table with white treats such as marshmallows, yogurt-covered nuts, white m&m’s, Macadamia nuts and white chocolate covered pretzels.
o    Set out a platter of cauliflower and jicama with Ranch Dressing.
o    Arrange a variety of white cheeses and crackers on a platter.
o    Meringue cookies look like little white clouds! Pick some up from the store or try this delicious recipe.
o    Cucumber Tea finger sandwiches made with white bread.
o    Serving dinner? How about Angel Hair Chicken Alfredo Pasta with garlic bread halos (Make the Pillsbury breadsticks round like Halos).
o    And of course an Angel Food Cake with Whip Cream and coconut topping!

HELLISH CUISINE:
For Hell, spicy and heavy foods are a must!
Fire DipDevils Food Cake
o    Spicy buffalo wings! Try this homemade recipe, or find them in the freezer section of your supermarket.
o    All sorts of red-hued candies: Twizzlers, Red Hots, Hot Tamales, Atomic Fire Balls, Sweedish Fish, Fruit Punch Frooties and black licorice.
o    Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, watermelon.
o    Dried cranberries.
o    Chips (red tortilla/corn chips or Doritos) and salsa.
o    Fresh red pepper slices.
o    Deviled Eggs
o    Cauldron Dip
o    Witches brew (has dry ice in plastic cauldron)
o    Great Balls Of Fire Meatballs Recipe
o    And of course a Devils Food Cake!

GAMES:
o    Good or Bad?
This game is easily played by varying games such as Spin the Bottle and Truth or Dare.

Simply decorate a bottle by painting one end of it in white and the other end red. You can also add feathers and glitter to the Heavenly side and thorns or flames on the Hell side.

Have the guests sit in a circle. Spin the bottle in the centre of the group and wait for it to stop.

Whomever the Heaven end points to must tell something they’ve done which is good. The person opposite, at the Hell end of the bottle, must admit to something bad.

This game is even more fun if you have a halo and a set of horns that guests have to wear during their confessions.

o    Hire a Fortune Teller or Palm Reader.
Find one in your area.

o    Two Truths And One Lie Game
Test your lie-detecting abilities with this challenge.
WHAT YOU NEED:
Nothing
HOW TO PLAY:
1. Taking turns, the first person tells the group three statements about him or herself. Two are true and one is a lie. Everyone tries to guess which one is the lie. For example, you could say, “I won a prize in spelling in second grade. My favorite food is sushi. I got lost at the zoo when I was little.” To be extra tricky, word the lie so it contains a truthful element.
2. Everybody then holds up one, two or three fingers to show which statement they think is the lie. The player sets the record straight, then the next person goes.

o    No Way Out Chase Game
Catch all the fun in this fast-moving, thrill-filled game of chase.
WHAT YOU NEED:
People!
HOW TO PLAY:
1. To begin, all players but two–one “it” and one runner–join hands in a circle.
2. They drop hands, and “it” chases the runner as they both weave in and out among the players in the circle.
3. Each time the runner passes between two players, those players immediately lock hands and yell “No way out!” This foils a slower-moving “it,” who cannot pass under, over, or through the locked hands.
4. If “it” tags the runner, the two must exchange roles and continue play until one or the other is captured inside the ring.

DRESSING-UP:

horns and halo

Take the stress out of costume dilemmas by having guests arrive in their normal attire, and then let them choose between horns or halos available to them at the door. You don’t have to stop at horns and halos though; cheap bead necklaces in red or silver, Hellish temporary tattoos, face glitter, white feather boas or mini pitchforks! (All available at PartyLand!)

MUSIC:
Set the mood by playing different styles of music throughout the house according to the Heaven or Hell theme in the room or just make a mix and play it throughout the entire party. TIP: Burn extra copies, a homemade CD is an inexpensive and memorable favor to give to your guests!

HEAVENLY HARMONIES:
madonna_angelAngel – by Madonna
Centerfold – by J.Giles Band
Heaven – by Bryan Adams
Heaven (Dance Mix) – by Dj Sammy
Heaven – by Los Lonely Boys
Fallen Angel – by Poison
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – by Belinda Carlisle
Earth Angel – by The Penguins
Angel – by Aerosmith
How Do You Talk to An Angel – by The Heights
Lips of an Angel – by Hinder
I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes) – by Steelheart

DEVILISH TUNES:
elvis-presley-youre-the-devil-i-321474Devil With a Blue Dress On – by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Lyrics
Friend of the Devil – by Grateful Dead
Devil Inside – by INXS
Devil Went Down to Georgia – by Charlie Daniels
Hot Hot Hot – by Buster Poindexter
Devil Woman – by Cliff Richard
Devil In Disguise – by Elvis Presley
Fire & Ice – by Pat Benatar

You’ll have a blast planning this party and your guests will be on cloud nine once they see your attention to detail!

Do you have any ideas to add? Please leave a comment below!

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Fun April Fools’ Day Prank & Party Ideas!

by Stefanie on March 31, 2009

April Fools Day Pranks

On April Fools’ Day you’re supposed to act completely silly, so there’s no better time to party!

WHY ME?
The history of April Fools’ Day isn’t totally clear. The most popular theory comes from 16th-century France, when the start of the new year was observed on April 1st.  In 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar, making the new year begin on January 1st. Some people didn’t know about the change, and others simply refused to change and continued to celebrate on April 1st. Those who supported the new calendar played tricks on those who didn’t and called them “April Fools.” This pestering evolved over time into a tradition of pranks on the first day of April!

whoopie cushionPartyLand Pranks: Go crazy with Fake Bullet Holes, Fake Parking Tickets, Whoopie Cushions, Fart Machines, Shocking Pens & Staplers, Itching Powder, 2-Headed Nickels, Spilled Nail Polish, Hot Gum, Blue Mouth Candy, Belching Powder and tons more!

Party On!
If you’re brave enough to host a party loaded with people waiting to pull a wild stunt . . . go for it! Throw a “Fools Rush In Party” before April Fools’ Day. Print invitations sdrawkcab, upside down or in a mirror image! Give invitees a taste of what’s to come by placing invitations inside a “Snake in a Can!”

Devious Decor:
Go crazy with décor, place things and pictures upside down or sideways. Put up “Fresh Paint” gag signs and use decorations from all the different holidays!

Parade of Fools:
Encourage your guests to dress as foolish as the can. Backwards, inside out or just plain wacky!

meatloaf cake mashed potatoes frostingFoolish Food!
Serve silly cuisine like Beef Jerky and Ding Dongs! Use giant clown shoes or funny hats for snack trays. Having a dinner party? Serve dessert first, main course, salad and then the appetizer. Try baking a meatloaf cake, frost with colored mashed potatoes and top with candles for a dinner cake! Mix up the condiments on the table – salt in the sugar bowl and catsup in the mustard jar. Put a fake roach on one of the dishes. Freeze plastic bugs in to the ice cubes.

Fun 4 Fools!
The guests own jokes and pranks should keep everyone entertained throughout the party. You could also put on a Parade of Fools Fashion Show and demonstrate or teach card/magic tricks.

Favors 4 Fools!
Hand out jokes, gags, tricks or useless white-elephant type gifts. How about Post-its for making “Kick Me” signs!? Your guests will be amused and ready to get you back next year!

Fun 4 The FAM!
Make a silly school lunch, with an inside-out sandwich, an  apple with a gummy worm or a lunch box full of plastic snakes and spiders!

PARTYLAND PROVERB: Beware those offering gum or candy on April Fool’s Day!

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April 2009 “Jurassic Pack” Cub Scout Ideas

by Stefanie on March 12, 2009

Jurassic Pack!April’s theme “Jurassic Pack” will have Cub Scouts everywhere exploring the wonderful world of prehistoric dinosaurs! Here are some great ideas from PartyLand to get you started:

Décor Ideas for your Jurassic Pack Night:
➢    Cut out large dinosaur footprints from black trash bags and tape them in a path leading up to your house. These are waterproof, not slippery and easy to cut many at once!
➢    Trim your trees before the Jurassic Pack Meeting and use the cuttings for decorations.
➢    Tape brown poster paper on one wall or door of the room where the party will be taking place. Have the scouts mark their handprints and draw dinosaurs or fossils on the paper. This will help with the party decoration and add a prehistoric ambience to the room!
➢    Decorate the food table with large rocks, green plants and all sorts of other dinosaur paraphernalia.

Carnivore and Herbivore Cuisine:
➢    PB&J-Asaurus: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made into the shape of dinosaurs with cookie cutters
➢    Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets: Available at the frozen food section of many large supermarkets
➢    Dinosaur Bones: Pretzel sticks
➢    Chicken Wings: For the meat eaters
➢    Vegetable Tray: For the plant eaters
➢    Brontosaurus Burgers
➢    Dino Dogs
➢    Fossil Fries: Potato chips
➢    Dinosaur Animal Crackers
➢    Dino eggs: Hard-boil eggs. After they cool, gently crack the shell all over, but don’t remove the shell. Place the cracked eggs in a small bowl containing 3 cups of cool water and kool-aid mix (to give the egg color). Then cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight. On the day of the party, remove the eggshells and the egg will look like it has cracks all over it!
➢    TIP: Put small signs on each food item to make sure everyone knows that they are munching on real Jurassic foods!

Dino Drinks:
➢    Liquid Lava: Red punch with orange sherbet
➢    Swamp Slurp: Sprite with green food coloring
➢    TIP: Add pop-rocks to the “Swamp Slurp” just as you serve to create an awesome bubbling effect!

Dinosaur Delicacies:
➢    Lava Jell-O (red) or Swamp Water Jell-o (green)
➢    TIP: Place washed plastic dinosaurs into the Jell-o mix before letting it set. (Make sure it’s large enough not to be a choking hazard.)
➢    Ice Age Popsicles: Make your own using Popsicle molds or small paper cups. Pour in juice (something light colored like lemonade) and add dinosaur gummies or candies to each Popsicle. Cover with plastic wrap, poke craft wooden sticks through the plastic for Popsicle handles, and freeze overnight. When the popsicles are frozen peel off the paper.
➢    Dinosaur Shaped Cookies

Fun Fossil Favors:
PartyLand has many fun, inexpensive dinosaur items! Dinosaur gliders, candy bones, giant bones, mini dinosaurs, dinosaur pencils, neon dinosaurs, pith helmets, binoculars, build your own 3-D dinosaur puzzles, excavate your own dinosaur games and nearly every other imaginable dinosaur item! Find them in any of our stores or order them HERE!

Jurassic Pack Games:
Hot Dinosaur Egg (similar to hot potato)
Everyone stands in a circle. One scout is handed a dinosaur egg (a water balloon or a real egg). The music starts and the dinosaur egg is passed to the next player. When the music stops the person holding the egg is extinct. Continue playing until there is only one scout left.

Dinosaur Piñata
All you need is a caveman’s club and a prehistoric piñata for loads of fun! Piñatas are a great way to get everyone excited! Dinosaur piñatas and all the prehistoric goodies to fill them with can be found at PartyLand!

Dino Egg Stomp
In this dinosaur game, everyone has a dinosaur egg (balloon) tied around each ankle. The object of the game is to pop everyone else’s dinosaur eggs while keeping your own safe.

Brontosaurus, Brontosaurus, T-Rex (similar to Duck, Duck, Goose)
All players form a small circle and sit down on the floor. One person is it and he walks around the outside of the circle, touching the other’s heads saying “Brontosaurus”, “Brontosaurus”, “Brontosaurus”, until he comes to the person whom he wants to chase him, he calls “T-Rex”. The T-Rex chases the player around the circle and the one who reaches the space first sits down, the other one becomes “it”.

Dinosaur Eggs:
What You Need:
➢    2 and 1/2 cups flour
➢    2 and 1/2 cups of dirt
➢    1 cup sand
➢    1 and 1/2 cups of salt
➢    Water
➢    Small plastic toy dinosaurs (available at ParytLand stores or order HERE)
➢    Hammer

What You Do:
1. To make the dough, mix all the dry ingredients together (flour, dirt, salt and sand).
2. Gradually stir in enough water so that the mix holds together.
3. Shape handfuls of dough around small plastic dinosaurs in egg shapes.
4. Allow 4 days for eggs to dry.
5. When dry. Hide the eggs in the garden and have the scouts search for them.
6. Once all the eggs are gathered they can be opened with a hammer or rock.

Dino Egg Blow
Divide the Scouts into two teams. Place each team on one side of a table opposite of each other. Place a cotton ball on the table and pretend it is a dinosaur egg. The object of the game is to blow the egg off the opposing team’s side of the table. Players cannot use their hands in any way.

Dinosaur Egg Roll
Mark a starting point and a finishing point. Divide children into two teams. Gather one plastic egg for each team. The children must roll the egg using only their noses.

Dino Egg Toss
Line up partners in two rows facing each other. All those on one side in the first row toss a raw egg to everyone on the other side in the second row. After each successful catch, the players step backward, adding to the difficulty of the next catch. Repeat until all but one egg is broken. The pair with the last unbroken egg wins.

Archaic Activities:
Make your own Erupting Volcano!
Making a volcano should be part of everyone’s childhood!
TIP: Check out this video for easy step-by-step instructions!

Here are the few basic items you’ll need to make a volcano:
➢    A large plastic tub (baby bathtub or storage container)
➢    Dirt or sand
➢    A cylindrical container like a plastic bottle
➢    Baking soda
➢    Warm water
➢    Dishwashing liquid
➢    Vinegar
➢    Red and/or Yellow food coloring
Build the volcano around the bottle. Then pour about a cup of warm water into the bottle, add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, around 1/4 cup baking soda and a few drops of food coloring. To create the reaction, you pour vinegar inside the bottle and the fluid spews out.

Give each participant a plastic cup filled with baking soda. Let one pour the baking soda into the volcano and then add the red vinegar over the baking soda. This creates an awesome eruption with lava spewing all over!
TIP: Have extra baking soda and vinegar on hand – everyone will want to do it again and again!

Make your own Dino Soap!
What you need:
➢    3 tablespoons hot water
➢    Plastic dinosaurs from PartyLand
➢    3 tablespoons unflavored gelatin mix
➢    Small bowl
➢    Wooden spoon
➢    Cookie cutter
➢    15-20 drops food coloring (choose your favorite color)
➢    1/3 cup liquid bubble bath
➢    Large plastic margarine container
➢    Wax paper
Steps:
1. Combine the hot water with the gelatin in a bowl and stir until gelatin dissolves.
2. Add food coloring and bubble bath.
3. Pour the mix into a margarine container.
4. Drop the plastic dinosaurs in the mix.
5. Refrigerator for 1 hour.
6. When hardened, remove from container.
7. Use cookie cutters to make shapes around the dinosaurs.

Dino Word Search
Print off this fun Dino Word Search!

These dino-mite jokes will have your troop roaring with laughter!
What do you call a dinosaur that eats automobiles?
A car-nivore!

What do you call a dinosaur that spends all day contemplating the meaning of life?
A philoso-raptor.

Knock knock
Who’s there?
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus Rex who?
Tyrannasuruswrecks the house!
Have fun and please let us know if you have more great ideas by posting a comment below!

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How to Host a Stellar 70’s Party: Ideas on Decor, Games, Music, Food & Costumes!

by Stefanie on March 2, 2009

Disco Dancing!Recently a customer sent in a request for ideas on a 70’s themed party she’s throwing for her mom’s 50th birthday! Here’s what we came up with:

DÉCOR:
Let’s start at the top - the ceiling to be exact! As anyone who’s seen Saturday Night Fever can attest, no respectable disco party is complete without a Disco Ball hanging from the ceiling! Disco Balls or Mirror Balls are an easy way to set the mood and show your guests you mean business, 70’s style. Mirror Balls vary in size and can be rented or purchased from PartyLand in kits complete with spotlights! GROOVY!

Now, down to the walls, which will be covered in 70’s style posters! Right on! The Farrah poster (you know the one), black light posters, The Bee Gees, The Brady Bunch – go wild! Check eBay and order a couple of old Tiger Beat or 16 magazines. Take the teen idol pinup pictures out and hang them up. Set the magazines out on the coffee table and watch your guests giggle like schoolgirls!

MY FAVORITE IDEA:
Email your funkiest pictures of The Guest of Honor, or your family and friends in the 70’s to banners@partylandutah.com! PartyLand will blow up the pictures and make giant posters that say whatever you want! We can even make your favorite pictures into “Album Cover Art” posters in the style of your favorite 70’s bands! How about a custom life-sized cutout of the guest of honor the 70’s! Check out www.partylandutah.com and click on Custom Banners for pricing information!

Grab some DVD’s from the bargain bin or record 70’s TV shows from TV Land and play them during the party! Even with the sound down, a few episodes of The Partridge Family or What’s Happening will get your guests in a totally tubular temperament.

Use Google Images to look up “70’s Ads” and prepare to laugh! Print off the most far out ones you can find and hang them up.

The Finishing Touches:
Lava lamps, fog machines, strobe lights, beaded curtains, black lights and burning incense will really send your party guests back in time! And don’t forget the beanbag chairs or inflatable furniture!
Try adding a modern touch to your retro party by serving drinks in light-up glasses. Give out glow stick bracelets and necklaces. It fits the theme, and if these items were available back then, they’d certainly be welcome at all the disco parties. All these items can be purchased or ordered from PartyLand!

Set up your dining area with smiley faces and pictures of notable persons of the ’70’s. Add small snippets of ‘70’s trivia around the room to give guests something to talk about.

Need more room for party guests? Rent tables and chairs from PartyLand!
Remember, the 70’s were colorful! You can use as many different colors of streamers and balloons as there are in a Tie-Dye T-shirt!

A GUEST FAVORITE:
Rent our photo-booth for a true vintage flashback!

FOOD:
Do your guests a solid and serve snacks that remind them of their prime!
Jiffy Pop Popcorn
Tang
TAB
Fondu
Twinkies
Pigs in a Blanket
Yellow Smiley Face Sugar Cookies “Have a nice day!”
Melon Balls
Lipton Sour Cream n’ Onion Dip and Chips

TOP 5: Food Fads of the 70′S (according to The Food Network)
5. Carrot Cake
4. Harvey Wallbangers
3. Hamburger Helper
2. The “Scarsdale” Diet
1. Quiche

MUSIC:
The music from the disco-dancing era is a key element to the success of your ultimate disco party. Thankfully, music is easy, just pick up Drew’s Famous 70’s Party Music CD from PartyLand and you’re all set!

Some other favorites to get you started:
Donna Summer, Kool and the Gang, the Village People, K C and the Sunshine Band, the Commodores, Thelma Houston, Anita Ward, Chic, GQ, Larry Levan, Brothers Johnson, Cheryl Lynn, the Trammps, the Gap Band, Stephanie Mills “Put Your Body In It”… Appeggio, “Love and Desire” how will you ever get your guests off the dance floor when it’s time to go home!?

Having the right music will keep the party alive! Can you dig it?

GAMES:
Costume Contest. Overall Best Costume, or break it into themes: Best 70’s TV character, Best 70’s Rock Star, Best 70’s Couple, etc.
Name That 70’s Tune.
A Dance Contest. Individual competition or Men (”Macho Man”) vs. Women (”We are Family”)!
Learn the Hustle!
Have a “Pet Rock” table, where guests can make their own and take them home as favors!
Ouija Board.
Rubik’s Cube Contest.
Lip sync or Karaoke Contest.
Buy or rent “Saturday Night Fever” and watch the movie with your guests.
Play these 70’s Trivia games:
History
TV
Music
There’s always Twister!

FAVORS:
Anything with a Smiley Face, pop rocks, mood rings, toe socks, mini lava lamps, Tie-Dye T-shirts, disco-ball necklaces, 70’s CD’s, DVD’s, posters. Save money by ordering from PartyLand!

DRESS UP:
70's Dress-up Party70's Party Outfits If you’re making it a requirement that guests dress up 1970’s disco style for the party - which we highly recommend, make sure you send the invitations as early as possible!

Anyone showing up to the party in regular street clothes should be immediately adorned with giant sunglasses and a pair of mirror ball earrings or an afro wig!

Don’t forget to give prizes to the best-dressed guests or couples.

Take tons of pics during the party! Pull guests aside and get some staged shots against a funky backdrop. After the party, send them a photo of themselves with a note, or post the party pictures online and send everyone a link! Quadruple the picture taking fun with PartyLand’s photo booth!

May the 70’s force be with you in your rad planning and may your psychedelic guests be there or be square! Check out more funky 70’s slang and have a stellar party man!

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Accessories Make the Costume!

by Stefanie on October 20, 2008

See PartyLand’s New 2008 Costumes at http://www.partylandutah.com/costumes.htm
By Sharon Haddock
Deseret Morning News

SPRINGVILLE — The secret to being a really gross-looking executioner or just an average guy in a costume lies in the accessories, according to those who work in the costume industry.

“Anyone can buy a costume. What makes it special is what else you can do to it,” said Stefanie Grassley, a Partyland store manager in Springville.

Makeup, hair, hats, gloves, boots and capes are just the starter accessories.

A good ninja needs a good blade.

A soldier needs a plastic machine gun.

Cheerleaders need pompoms and tennis shoes.

Fairies need wings and wands and fairy dust.

Ghouls and goblins need the creepy touches like open wounds, dripping blood, bones, bugs and spiders.

“You can’t be a ninja without a sword. You look like you’re in your pajamas,” Grassley said.

Natalie White, the manager for the Orem Partyland store, said every year the Halloween season gets busier and every year the costumes get more elaborate. The choices expand.

This year at Partyland, that included dressing up as an air freshener, a bag of Sugar Babies, a whoopee cushion, a hot dog and an outhouse.

“We help all kinds,” White said. “Some come in and try on tons and never buy any of them. Others come in and buy the basic costume and then we help with the rest. We try to do one-on-one assistance.”

“You just use your imagination to bring out the costume’s full potential,” said Erin McBride, a store employee.

Some of the children outfitted at the store were dubious about the extra makeup and add-ons.

“I kind of liked being Uncle Sam last year,” said Jacob Buhler, a buccaneer dabbing at the spiders on his white painted face. “I don’t like spiders.”

“I like it all. It’s perfect,” said Jackson Averett, dolled up as an executioner, “but I don’t know if my mom will buy me the ($20) sword.”

Grassley said customers are welcome to come in and browse for ideas.

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