Any parents with children of school going age are well aware of the cost of getting ready for the return to school. Coming so close to the Summer holidays can put a strain financially on families.
However you still need to organise uniforms, runners, shoes and school bags. In this post we will look at  ways you can save money.

We are party supply specialists and the information in this blog is only our opinion as parents. On a daily basis we deal with other parents looking for pre filled party bags and other party merchandise but at this time of year the conversation regularly turns to the cost of sending children back to school. If you have any tips for other parents that we have not covered below please feel free to post a response.

1. Car Sharing
Getting you child to school safely is any parents top priority but that does not mean that you must do the school runs yourself every single day. Look out for children living close to you and attending the same school and approach their parents with a view to sharing lifts to and from school. It can mean making minor changes to your routine but it will be well worth the effort.

2. Invest in a Bike
When attending school myself in the early 80′s nearly everyone cycled. There are dangers associated with cycling especially on dark Winter days. However it is well worth considering especially if you live within a five mile radius of the school. You will be amazed just how much you can save on petrol.

3. School Books
One of the biggest financial hits parents take is on school books. For secondary school the cost can soon mount up to £100′s. If  you are actively involved in the school community why not suggest a book rental scheme. Another option is for the school or parents association to run a second hand book fair. The curriculum changes very slowly and it is the publishers who drive the  process of introducing new texts.

4. Look for the Free Option
There is one great resource that we all have access to but which has been neglected over the past few years. I am talking about libraries. They are a fantastic resource and full of quality books, videos, DVD’s and magazines. Why buy new books when you can  borrow them for free. It also instills a sense of responsibility in children if they have to organise the return of books.

5. Teacher Gifts
I know it is only the start of term but start thinking seriously about what you intend to give the teachers.  Small tokens of appreciation are perfectly acceptable but don’t go overboard.

6. Lunch Boxes
have a look at what you put into the kids lunch boxes. I am not suggesting that you cut down on the volume of food but have a look at the cost of each item. Pre prepared sugary treats can be expensive. Why not try some home baking and better still involve the  children.  It is a trade off between time and money but saving can be made.

In today’s busy world it can be very difficult to change habits and try something new. With the new term starting it is a perfect opportunity to look at transport options and how you acquire books. Just think of what you could do with the money saved.  A weekend away or a better holiday. What more incentive do you require.

The new school term will be starting over the next few weeks. From a Summer of freedom and outdoor activities children and parents will have to settle into a new routine. So how should you prepare. Here are some suggestions that may help.

1. Phase in earlier bedtimes. Try to start at lease a week before the new term begins

2. Reintroduce regular mealtimes.

3. Let the children know what time they will be expected to get up at. Try to involve them in the process, for example get a novelty alarm clock to grab their attention and get them into the habit of setting each evening.

4. Sit down with the children and work out what time you will need to get up in the morning and
then set the alarm clock 10 minutes earlier. Having a few minutes of spare time to deal with unforseen accidents and problems will ensure there are no mad panics.

5. Set up a methodical bedtime routine. Get the children involved. For example laying out clothes,
locating shoes and preparing school bags are all tasks that can be done the evening before.

Getting eveyone ready for the new school term by introducing a routine in the days leading up to the  new term will pay huge dividends. The last thing you need as a parent is a mad dash in the first week of school It causes stress and is very unsettling for everyone.

If your child has a Summer birthday the chances are that a lot of friends were not around to celebrate. Why not make the return to school fun by sending your child into school with a bundle of party invitations. You will be able to get all the party supplies you require including pre filled party bags at partyproductsdirect.co.uk

Party Game Tips

What Games to Play
When deciding what games to play you should consider the type of party you are hosting and the personality of the guests. For example if you are hosting a Summer BBQ in a big garden or open space then there is plenty of scope for physical games. There can be plenty of running and jumping. Games involving physical activity are a perfect way of entertaining both children and adults.

On the other hand if your party is to be hosted indoors then the nature of the planned activities will change. Charades or a board game would probably be more appropriate.

No matter where you are holding a party be aware that not all the guests will want to get involved in the games. As the host, it is up to you to guage how receptive the guests will be to different types of games.

When to Play Games
No matter how good a game is, the deciding factor in whether or not it succeeds comes down to timing. Unless you have a series of Ice Breaker games  then give your guests time to mingle, socialise and relax. Once all the guests are settled, try introducing the first activity. If nobody seems interested then drop the idea. There will be plenty of time. Always remember party games are not obligitory but having them well planned and prepared is essential.

Prizes
Whether it is a childs birthday party or a poker classic, prizes will have guests jumping into action. They do not have to be lavish or expensive just  well presented tokens. Pound shops are perfect for sourcing prizes and party bag presents. Items such as candles, wine , lottery tickets and gourmet coffee  are always popular.

The prizes themselves are not important it is the role they play in getting people interested and involved.

Summary
Hosting a party where the guests have a great time takes a lot of effort and planning. Attendtion to detail is essential. All arrangements should be focused on the requirements of the guests. Whether it is the food, decorations or party games there is no point in planning what you think is appropriate if the guests will not enjoy themselves. Think of waht they will enjoy. Party games for a hen celebration will be totally different than those for a first holy communion party

In the next few posts we will include advice on specific party games.

Have a think about the last party you really enjoyed. The one you were talking about weeks after the event. For me it was a 21st birthday party. A fancy dress affair with free beer. It was a complete laugh and I didn’t get home till about 5am the next morning. Woudn’t it be great to host a party that people remembered and talked about
for months.

Party Games

There are many elements that go into creating a memorable party, some of them planned, some of them pure chance, but the one overall factor you should remember when planning your party is the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. Once you get that right the fun is sure to follow.

In this series of posts I will be offereing some tips and advice on the party games you should consider and how to introduce them. This is a huge topic in itself but I will try to cover as much ground as possible. Please feel free to e-mail any suggestions you may have or if you want a specific party game discussed.

Any Excuse
Don’t wait for a special occasion before you throw a party. Make an excuse and send the invitations. In fact the sillier the excuse the better. How about celebrating
national cheese day or captain Kirk’s birthday !

Guests
The most important ingredient for any party  is the guest list. Try and mix it up a bit. By that I mean include people who will be a bit different and add to the party atmosphere. Having a guest list solely made up of work colleagues could be a bit stale. Why not include some friends from a sports club or society.

Location
Most parties are hosted in a house but if you are opting for a different location have consideration for your guests. For example if you are organising a hen party don’t assume people will be willing to take trains, planes and automobiles to reach the party venue. There may also be people with mobility constraints so before booking a venue have a think as to whether people will be able to access it easily. You will soon know by the number of people who decline the invitation offering lame excuses but by that time it will be too late.

Food & Drink
There can be a tendancy to skimp a bit when it comes to food and drink. Your guests will notice when you have put effort into the refreshments. Something as simple as using nice serving dishes can make all the difference. At one party I attended the host had hired a cocktail specialist to make a set menu of cocktails for the first hour of the party. It made a huge difference and the cost was limitied by only having him there for a limited time. If you are not interested in food and cannot find your way around the kitchen buy  preprepared meals or hire help. There will be enough to organise and your guests will appreciate the thought you put into the preparartions.

Party Games
Even when everyone at the party knows each other there is room for a few games. Whether it is a series of ice breakers or some board games the choice of  appropriate games are a super enhancement for any party. For example at an outdoor party such as a BBQ simple games such as an egg and spoon race are enthusiastically welcomed by all. The important point to remember is that your guests should feel confortable with the games. There is no point expecting elderly relatives at a christening party to play truth or dare, be realsitic with the party games!

That sets the scene for the next series of posts about party games. I will be looking at specific games and how they can be used and if necessary adapted.

OK, mid Summer’s Day has just slipped by but the evenings are still long and the sun is shinning so over the next couple of weekend’s there is still an opportunity to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Forget about loud music and BBQs with burnt chicken and think of something more unusual and mystical.

Summer Solstice Party

The starting time for your Summer Solstice party should be a little later than usual. Ask your guests to arrive at about 10pm as you will be aiming to eat at midnight.  You should make all the details clear on the invitation just to ensure the guests know exactly what they can expect.  As for the dress code, why not ask guests to arrive in something “elegantly weird”. That should get them thinking!

Summer Solstice Party Lights

This party is particularly suited to an outdoor venue so if you have a large garden all the better. It is probably best to try another theme if you live in a small second floor apartment. Decorating the house and garden for a Mid Summer’s night party will take a little imagination but will make the evening special. Try to light your garden using lanterns and torches and if you can find them, white Christmas lights, hung around trees look great. If you have an archway make sure you put plenty of lights through it, the same goes for any other features in the garden. Floating candles in a pond, birdbath or fountain also add atmosphere to the evening.

The dining arrangements should be very informal. If possible try seating people at low tables surrounded by penty of cushions so they can recline back when eating. This can be done by setting large plywood sheets on blocks or low chairs and decorating them with disposable tablecovers. Look online for shops that sell table covers in rolls. They are perfect for covering not standard tables. Of course make sure the table is stable. You do not want it collapsing halfway through the evening.

The food you serve should be easy to eat. Cutting through a steak on a low table while reclining can be quite a task so simple finger food such as tasty chicken wings  would be best.  As for the drink , a tastly mulled wine made from an ancient recipe is much more appropriate than bottle of larger.

A Summer Solstice party is not for everyone. The guests will need to apply a little imagination and as the host you will need to put a lot of effort into creating a suitable atmosphere. Because it is not a “standard” party your guests will appreciate the effort you make so it will be well worth it.

There is nothing better than sitting down in front of your television with a few friends to look at the “footie”. You have you top,  youv’e settled into the couch and the ref is just about to start the game.

More than likely you have a tin of beer in one hand and a jumbo packed of crisps in the other. Hardly the “food of Champions” , having nibbles throughout the game is essential but make sure they are healthy treats and you do not score any “own goals”.

Instead of a packet of greasy jumbo crisps why not go for popcorn or toasted tortilla wraps. Raw carrot or celery with flavoured dips are also perfect snacking food. If you are going for peanuts or crackers make sure they are unsalted. Most importantly eat in moderation. Why not wait till half time to tuck in. Most imortant of all remember to enjoy the month long World Cup party and pace yourself

Self Grow Party Bag Presents

I think most of us are aware about the importance of eating the right food and
especially a few greens. After reading a couple of articles in the paper I decided to try a  window box. To start off I planted some pea shoots. It was simplicity itself. It didn’t even take up any space as I grew them on a windowsill.

All you need is a seed tray, potting compost, marrowfat peas and some water. Within a couple of days you will have something to show for your efforts and the harvest can begin. Perfect for adding to salad.

One unintended benefit was the interest  shown by the kids. They just loved the idea of growing their own plants. So much so that each shoot got a name. In fact they got so interested that the 8 year old wanted to put the shoots in pots to give  to his friends.

So I thought , why not use them as party bag presents. If you have a birthday party coming up a seed planted in a small pot with the guests name on it would be a fairly unique party bag present. You could even get the guests to paint the pots as part of the activities.

Of course there will always be kids who scoff at such unique gifts but it is well worth a try. Perhaps a few bags of sweets in reserve woudn’t be a bad idea as well !!!!

World Cup Decorations

Well tonight is the night the Wold Cup got interesting for England fans. No doubt there will be many more parties and get togethers as the tournament progresses. Not the result everyone wanted but that’s life. The team will just have to put the head down and get some results in the remainder of the
pool games.

if you are hosting a party in your home or indeed if you are the owner / manager of a  pub or other public venue don’t forget to stock up on England decorations and banners.

painting your house might be a step too far for some supporters but don’t worry there are loads of other options Just click through to our online shop for WORLD CUP PARTY DECORATIONS.

1. The focus of all activities should be on the Bride To Be
2. The Hen should never be embarrassed or humiliated. It is perfectly OK to have fun but do not cross the line

Once you keep these in mind the hen night should be a great success. There are many different aspects to a successful hen party and preparing presents
and party bags for the HEN and guests is only one part.  Choice of venue, guest list and dress code all have to be confirmed. There is also the small issue of  party games. So here are a few suggestions.

1. Either / Or
In this game you ask the HEN questions about the groom that have a simple either / or answer. In the weeks leading up to the hen party you should compile a list of questions and confirm the answers with the groom. If the HEN is finding it too easy you could always play around with the answers. It just means a bit more fun. Suggested questions include.

A. Soccer or Rugby
B. Flat or Busty.
C. Whiskey or Beer
D. Blonde or Brunette
E. Boxers or Briefs
F. ETC

2. Creative Minds
This game will certainly raise the temperature and noise level. Just when the coffee is been served (if appropriate) give all the ladies a piece of play dough and ask them to build a willy. Keep the alloted time short , 60 seconds will do. This is really an introduction to more “racy” games and is probably best kept till the older members of the  hen party retire. It is important that all the guests can enjoy the games so use your common sense when it comes to using or not using this game.

It is up to you whether or not you give prizes at the end of each game. At a hen party, prizes should be a bit of fun. In fact to call them prizes would be a stretch of the  imagination. Something as simple as a pair of bunny ears will do perfectly.

If you have any suggestions as to what hen party games have worked well for you why not let us know and post the details on our blog.

Like all parties, it is always a good idea to have a plan. Even if it is a spur of the moment decision to host  a BBQ party you should give yourself a couple of hours prep time. This time can be used to marinate the meat, arrange seats in the garden and give the house a quick tidy. Hopefully you will have a clean BBQ. If not you may need more than a few hours pre time.

TYPE OF BBQ

By this I mean gas or charcoal. This is not something you will decide in a couple of hours but something you should consider at the start of the Summer. Cooking by gas is quick and easy, but uninspiring.  Most people are perfectly happy with the gas option and the selection of gas BBQ’s you can purchase is vast.

I, on the other hand think that you cannot beat the taste of food cooked on a real charcoal BBQ. You can’t beat the “smoked in ” taste of genuine BBQ food, plus there is the whole ritual of lighting the coals, something that will keep the male guests occupied for hours. It is all part of the fun. Guests feel relaxed and involved when looking after a charcoal BBQ.

The secret to getting the most from a charcoal BBQ is to wait until the glowing red coals have dimmed and a grey ash has formed over the charcoal.

GUEST LIST AND FOOD

Because our weather is so unpredictable BBQ parties are usually pulled together on the spur of the moment. A few texts and hey presto the party
is arranged. You will however have to have an idea of the numbers so you can buy the correct amount of food. As a rule of thumb you should plan on two to three portions of meat per person or two of meat and one of fish.

SIDE DISHES

As well as the “main fare” you will also need to prepare salads, breads and side dishes. New potatoes are perfect as an accompainment and have the
advantage of been great either hot or cold.

When the BBQ is arranged at very short notice it is very hard to do anything but the basics, meat and burger buns with some BBQ sauce, however if the event is planned well in advance then you should put the same effort into planning the event as you would when organising any other type of party.

Some party ocassions around late Spring – early Summer are perfect candidates for the BBQ option, holy communion parties been one of them. If you do go for the BBQ option and are planning a large guest list then you need to make sure you have enough party tableware such as plates, cups and napkins. These can all be purchased from online party shops and are all disposable.  Don’t forget of course some pre filled party bags if you are
having children to the party. They are not essential but will go down a treat.

If you have any BBQ recipies that you think our blog readers would like please post then on our site. It’s always great to get a new finger licken’ treat.