Staffer #3 and I have been going to the park. We take a walk and then go to the playground. Seriously, I am living the dream.

So, I just want to give Camps a shout out and reminisce about my camp love from last year…

A Lesson in KISS: Camp Book Mark Craft

Camp Party Theme

S’more Foolishness

I am currently on high alert for my favorite movie “Meatballs” which I missed last year on TV. If anyone know when it’s on — LET ME KNOW!

The last post had me thinking about our Elmo party and I just wanted to revisit what a worthwhile adventure renting a costume was. I had found this place online (I wish I remembered which one exactly) for $150, they rented you a “Little Red Monster” costume, a music cd and a small gift for the Birthday child (it was a plastic Elmo mug). The costume arrived in a big box the Thursday before the party.

Yours truly had the honor of being an Elmo. We had made several trips to Sesame Place before this Birthday and we knew that our little one loved seeing the characters in person. She was absolutley amazed to see Elmo walk out into the backyard. I had purchased one of those oversized crayon banks to give to her from Elmo. Elmo-afficiandos out there know Elmo loves to doodle.

We had so much fun with it that we even had Elmo visit again Sunday night before we had to ship him back on Monday. Now, you may think $150 is a bit steep. But, this would be a great present for family members to give or go in for. Toys come and go, but Staffer #1 is now on her way to 8 and still talks about how Elmo came to her party.

Important note: Not all kids love these big characters. One of the attendees at the party was very disturbed by Elmo’s presence. Later, I had to tell her it was me. She looked at me aghast and said, “Why would you do that?”

Why am I being so cryptic? Well, I don’t want to step on any toes. I don’t need a multi-billion dollar company squashing me like a bug. (I mean I did have 10 views yesterday).

Staffer #1 loved Sesame Street when she was a little. We had a Elmo party for her — including renting a costume online.  This would be the “Little Red Monster” costume — so, I too, will play it safe.

But, I digress (as I often do), the Pooper Bario Mothers Turtle/Dragon Party Blower was a huge success. It gave 9 six-year-olds a break from tearing my house apart at a recent party. They were able to color it in any way they wanted and then assemble the blower (noiseless, of course).

There’s your covert party blower idea. I feel like a radical today — flying low under the radar (very low, because no one reads this blog). Got any sneaky Party Blower ideas send them in code….The Truth is Out There.

I’m a bit of a surviliast — you want to know how to do things in a pinch. 

So, if you are in need of messaging your own candy converstaion hearts, here you go…. 

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/02/how_to_stamp_your_own_val.html

And if, shudder to think, you can’t get your hands on candy conversation hearts at all, make your own…

http://candy.about.com/od/valentinesdaycandy/ss/convoheart_sbs.htm

Brilliant! The last time I found a gem like this is was Mug O’ Cake Recipe.

“Be Prepared” is my motto. It is this kind of thinking that has me stocked with 6000 mailing labels, 1000 paper clips and 500 twisty balloons. Got a tip, let me add it to my bunker.

I checked out Kaboose.com and found this Valentine Bingo idea:  http://holidays.kaboose.com/val-party.html  I liked the idea of using the names of the classmates as the items to be called.  They suggested using a blank card with boxes and have the kids fill in their names.  But,  I thought that may be a little challenging for 22 1st graders — so we made name stickers.

Name stickers? Intrigued well, a year and half ago I bought mailing address labels at my local warehouse club — 6000 to be exact.  I have been justifing this purchase ever since.  Using these mailing address label sheets on my computer, I’m able to fit 2 names per label.  Nine label sheets later, I cut them into strips with my paper cutter and wah-lah – 22 name stickers for each of the 22 kids.

I made a blank card of 5 by 5 boxes a total of 25 squares. Now there are only 22 students so I filled in three random spaces on the cards with a free space, a tiger because it happened to be Chinese New Year as well and the Chinese symbol for “Love”. (Yes, it was a Valentine’s/Chinese New Year Party).  I gave each student a blank card with their name on it, 22 name stickers and conversation heart candies to use as markers.  I then had them pass their cards around and fill in other’s Bingo Cards with their name stickers.

This proved a bit chaotic.  I would definitely not do this part again.  I think it would have been easier (saner) to give each students name stickers for all their classmates and just fill in their own card.  That aside, the kids loved hearing there names called out.  We gave a heart-shaped lollipop when someone got bingo and then continued till all the cards were filled — so everyone got their name called. As always everybody wins a PartyMOMster game.

OK, that’s it and regarding my promise of shorter and more frequent posts — I have done neither. So, with “progress not perfection”, I press on still a little wordy and tardy.

In my absence, I realized there were things I did enjoy. Writing and creating — the staff and I had a great time making things for the blog. So, we are getting back to basics. Short and sweet — I’m striving to keep posts under 250 words and keep ‘em coming.

So with that in mind, we have had four birthday parties since I’ve last plugged in and here are my top five goodie bag picks:

1. Stickers: These are easy to tie into your theme and all kids love stickers.  They offer them at the Doctor’s after shots — don’t underestimate the power of the sticker
2. Glow sticks: an unexpected treat, gender neutral — there is something otherworldly about them (very trippy)
3. Mini oreo snack bags: Oreos get the OK from our peanut free list from school  I haven’t met a kid that doesn’t love Oreos. Nice size — good bang for the buck.
4. Bracelet/Sweat Band: My daughter is in the Crazy Band phase (It’s like smelly sticker and garbage pail kid cards, anyone with me?) We gave out these sweatband I got at Target a few weeks ago and I saw one of my son’s classmates wearing his for the third day in a row today.
5. Balloon Punch Bags: It’s old school, but fun.  Maybe a little annoying for others at home. Hey, it’s not a whistle — I would not do that to anyone.

 Do me a favor and give your picks!

Wow, this is a really long song — I’m not that fiesty.

But, why not take a look back at all the great Let’s Party Mondays we’ve had. (I actually can’t believe we had more than one.) But, I figure Hillary Duff has 3 “Best of” albums — so I can indulge as well. Here were the summer’s greatest hits…

• Dinosaur Party
• Circus Party
• School Party
• Camp
• Car Party
• Luau
• Beach Party

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the wonder of Let’s Party Mondays, click here. Have a favorite? Let me know.

I enjoyed the Luau. It was a real compilation of my blogging friend’s talents. To continue my music metaphor, a kind of “We are the World” of party creation. Maybe that’s a bit grand. How about the Traveling Willburys? I’m Jeff Lynne — mellow and in need of a haircut.

Wow, good tune — it’s goovin‘ my reflective, contemplative mood. Thanks to all my blogging friends , who have made this a great place to party. Happy 4 Month Birthday http://partymomster.blogspot.com/ ….Party On!

Now painting my pregnant belly is not something I would do. I’m not being judgemental — it is more of a public service — it just wouldn’t be pretty. I never had that cute pregnancy belly — I was big all over, just big. I treated myself to a pedicure and the manicurist said, “Congratulations, what are you 5 months along?” — uh, no try 3.

But, I just love the spirit of this and it inspired me to create my own award. The “That’s the Spirit” award for Moms that are fun and goofy. So, here’s to the participants of 2009 Painted Belly Contest you are off to a great start.

They’ve got spirit, yes they do, they’ve got spirit, how bout you?

If you have someone you would like to nominate, let me know. Party MOMster — champion of the goofy, crazy, daffy, dippy, ditzy, dotty, kooky, nutty, screwy and wacky. Party on!

A BEACH PARTY

Decorations

Get ready to get your MacGyver on (and join me as I unpack the mini-van after vacation). Take everything you take with you to the beach and throw it all over the place: beach towels, shovels, beach chairs, plastic buckets, sandcastle forms, and inflatable whatever. What about stringing a clothes line and hanging swimsuits? (Maybe not my big granny-suit, but the staffer’s suits are fun and colorful)

You may be thinking — ugh, that sounds like a big mess. Well, check out this classy pic from the May issue of House Beautiful where they put those Beach towels to work as a great (and absorbent) tablecloth.

You can also purchase shells at a craft store to sprinkle around. And depending on how brave you are, get a little sand from the craft store or playsand at the hardware store.

In college, I went to a party at a Frat House with beach volleyball on the third floor – that’s right a couple of inches of sand covering the entire third floor. Those boys knew how to throw a party. I don’t know how they cleaned it up, but those aren’t the concerns of a college party-goer.

A more practical solution would be spreading the sand in a couple cookie sheets with some shells to create a zen garden/mini-seascape for the table. (That seems so lame compared to full scale beach volleyball indoors. Is a Frat House really the standard I’m striving for? I’m really struggling with this one.)

Activity

This activity came to me as I was preparing for our trip to the seashore and saw two days with rain clouds assigned to them. I ended up not having to break out the crafts (YEAH!), but it was great to do post va-ca and perfect for this week’s theme.

Take a frame cut out of cardboard and paint one side with Mod Podge.(You could probably use white glue, I’m just digging Mod Podge lately.) Then take the sticky side and drag it though some sand – maybe take advantage of your mini-seascape decoration. Then have party guests arrange shells on the now sandy frame. While they take part in another activity, hot glue the shells to the frame.

The weight of the shells and the amount of white glue necessary to hold them will take forever to dry. Hot glue will ensure your guest can take their handiwork home, instead of standing by your door weeping with gooey shells lying on the floor before them. (Trust me on this.)

Game

Leaving the beach is always a feat of endurance and now it’s a party game! Create a “Packing It Up” obstacle course by spreading out all types of beach gear: blankets, sand toys, beach ball, hat, sunglasses, boogie board. The contestant has to collect and carry all the gear across the finish line. Think John Candy in Summer Rental.

At the finish line, you can take a picture and if you have the A-team of party helpers, that picture can then be printed and put into the beachy frame created earlier. I love it when a plan comes together!

There you have it a Beach party to squeeze in before the end of the summer, but could also be a real stunner in the winter – so unexpected!

I’d love to sea your beachy ideas in the comments – they’re great I’m shore!

(That last line was desperate, but did you get my A-team reference and quote? Anyone? Come on that was gold, baby! Someone is fresh from vacation.)