Birthday Comments

21st Birthday Party Ideas - How to Host a Successful Party
By Kath Williams

Turning 21 is an exciting time in a young persons life. It celebrates becoming a legal adult and a 21st birthday party should be a time to remember forever. The type of 21st birthday party that is right for you depends on many different factors including, budget, the number of people attending and where it will be held. I have listed a few suggestions below:

Hollywood. Always a popular choice and not difficult for your guests to choose a character. It’s a great opportunity to take some photos with Marilyn Munroe, Elvis, The Blues Brothers, Jedi Knights and Crocodile Dundee.

Mardi Gras. A colorful and exciting theme that can be combined with great colorful decorations, music and entertainment. This is a fun, exciting theme.

Colors: Guest are to dress in a particular color or combination of colors. For example, guests are asked to dress in black and white, or red and blue. These can be the colors of your favorite football team or the colors of the rainbow.

Sci Fi: Aliens, robots, Star Wars, Star Trek and monsters can mingle together. You can make some great party food to complement this theme.

If you are having a themed 21st birthday party it is a good idea to have small gifts for the best (and the worst) dressed on the night. No matter which theme you choose you can enhance the overall effect of your event by decorating the venue, choose music to suit, and you can even have your catering fit the theme. There are some wonderful cakes you can buy in all sorts of amazing shapes.

During the evening you may wish to have a couple of speeches, usually just before the cake is cut. Having a slide show or video of your young persons life is great for laughs and bring back a lot of memories of the past 21 years.

You may, however, decide not to have a traditional party but instead celebrate with a family dinner at a restaurant. You can still theme the table and make your event special. Make sure you contact the restaurant to find out what they will allow. You may be able to have helium balloons, flowers or decorations and your own cake. Most restaurants are very helpful and go out of their way to assist you.

There are many different ways to celebrate and it is important that you do some investigating to choose the one that suits you most. Carefully pick you invitations. This is the first introduction that your guests will have to the party and will set the expectations of the event. Invitations can be hand made, computer generated, store bought or professionally printed. They can also be made in different shapes like a 21st birthday key or a movie ticket. This will depend largely on the type of party you will be having.

You also need to consider decorations, the type of music that will be played, catering, the cake, speeches, slide show and video content, gifts, security and the inevitable clean up. Instead of this being stressful it can, with a bit of planning, be a lot of fun and very satisfying.

Apart from the actual party, it is important to remember that your 21 year old will most likely want to also celebrate with friends in their own way. They may want to hit the night spots, or go for a trip together. If this is the case your birthday gift can be in line with helping this to come about, ie: cash for the trip and spending money, new clothes for their special night out or a limousine to the night spot.

A person’s 21st birthday party is a special time and, with planning, can be one for them to remember forever. Make sure you take plenty of photos and video.

Kathy Williams is interested in the planning, catering and theming of special events including 21st birthday parties to achieve a memorable and successful event for all. Choosing theming, decorations, invitations, catering, gifts and all the other areas needed can be very daunting. I hope to take the stress out of planning and put the fun back in.
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Creative Kid Birthday Cakes - Decorate With Candy
By Mike Dougherty

Do you want a fun, easy and very creative way to decorate your child’s birthday cake?

Here’s a terrific idea that’s a unique approach to decorating your kid birthday cakes.

My wife came across an article in the April 2007 edition of FamilyFun magazine that gives creative examples and instructions on how to use candy to make your child’s special cake come to life.

Get started by using your imagination.

Imagine a picture or a scene or something that represents your child’s party theme. Or think about what your child likes. A favorite animal, birds, fish, a rainbow, cars, dolls, pirates, a princess, a favorite movie, book or?

Now get a pencil and some paper and make a rough drawing of the picture you have in mind. By the way, you’ll be creating your picture flat against the frosting on your cake, so think about what color your frosting needs to be so that it will compliment your picture.

Now think about how you can put together your picture or scene using everyday candy. You know– licorice, colored jelly beans, fruit roll ups, candy sticks, Gummy Bears, Tootsie Rolls and even candy bars. Of course you’ll want to include some of your child’s favorite candies.

You can also use foods like raisins and nuts.

And you can add your own creative flare by using edible cake decorations like glitter, sprinkles or sprays.

All it takes is for you to think creatively.

To begin, you can either bake a cake and frost it, or you can pick up a ready made cake at your favorite bakery.

Think creatively for a moment.

Red licorice, Twizzlers or Tootsie Rolls become tree trunks. Green Fruit Roll Ups become leaves. Banana Runts are shaped like bananas. And a round Peppermint Patty becomes a wheel with a red jelly bean for a hub.

You can build the outline of a pirate or princess using jelly beans, licorice or any number of candy combinations.

Here’s a list of some candies that will help you create your masterpiece kid birthday cakes.

Jelly Bean in various colors

Cow Tails

Tootsie Rolls, small and large

Fruit Roll Ups

Fruit Streamers

Banana Runts

Milk Duds

Mini Marshmallows

Gummy Bears

Necco Waffers

Starburst Candies

Chocolate Chips

Candy Orange Slices

Pixi Sticks

Candy Sprinkles

Licorice

Twizzlers

Nerds

M&Ms

Candy Sticks

The idea is to create your picture using only candy, fruit and nuts.

And remember, you can also use sugar free candies and other colorful treats to create a healthier cake.

Your picture or scene doesn’t have to be perfect, because your child is really going to appreciate the fact that YOU made this cake just for them.

And if you really don’t think you can come up with picture or scene, try using jelly beans to form the words “happy birthday” or your child’s name.

You can also use a variety of jelly bean colors to outline your cake. Or place a few pieces of candy in each cake slice or beside each serving of cake. If your child and their guests are very young, be careful not to use small candies that can create a choking hazard.

Do you want a fun, easy and very unique way to decorate your child’s kid birthday cakes? Try using candy to create a sort of “Willy Wonka” candy world right on the top of your cake.

You’ll have fun and your child will love the cake you’ve made just for them.

Have fun

Mike Dougherty “Grandpa Mike” has years of experience putting together successful birthday parties for his children and grandchildren. For more information visit http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/kid-birthday-cakes.html

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21st Birthday Gift Ideas - 5 Tips For Choosing the Right One
By Everett Maclachlan

A birthday is something to get excited about. It is the one time each year that a person gets to receive extra attention, maybe a celebration, and a gift or two - just for having been born on that day years ago!

If you know someone who is about to turn 21, you have the opportunity to help him or her celebrate one of those true milestone birthdays. Twenty one-year olds are officially adults, with all of the rights and responsibilities that entails. That deserves a celebration!

The “Big” 21

There are few birthdays accompanied by as much excitement, fanfare and anticipation as are 21st birthdays. There is just something very special about officially leaving that awkward stage between being a teenager and being an adult. Twenty one year-olds know deep down that they are embarking on a enviable part of their lives.

You are going to want to help him or her celebrate with just the right birthday gift. But, how do you know what do get them?

Great Gift Ideas Combine Fun with Purpose

The Golden Rule for buying the right gift is to combine two elements: a sense of fun and a sense of purpose. Now, the definition of “fun” and “purpose” is of course quite elastic, meaning different things to different people. And therein lies the challenge of finding the right 21st birthday gift ideas.

In general, think of fun as something that thrills a person, being enjoyable for its own sake. And, consider purpose to be something that relates to the person’s overall life path - something they can use that is in alignment with who they are and where they are going in life.

21st Birthday Gift Ideas - 5 Tips for Choosing the Right One

If you are stumped on just what type of gift to get the 21 year-old in your life, here are 5 tips that can help:

1. Put yourself in their shoes: Close your eyes for a moment and imagine his or her life. What is their daily life like? What type of gift might make their life even better? So often with gift-giving, it is easy to want to give a person what we personally want. Unless your tastes run parallel to this person in most every way, chances are you would appreciate very different gifts.

2. Think “celebration”: Remember, the 21 year-old you know is in the mood to celebrate. They are wanting to kick it up a notch on their birthday. Your gift should reflect this.

3. For a guy, think “fun” and “career”: These are the two guiding principles for a guy’s gift at this age. Men at this age are definitely into having a blast. But, at the same time, most of them have one eye on their young-but-developing career. Anything you can do to enhance either one in their lives will be much-appreciated.

4. For a gal, think “independence” and “excitement”: Young women these days are more independent that ever. And, at 21, the one you know likes excitement. Set your radar to fun, thrilling and adventure and start shopping!

5. Keep your budget in mind: Another important rule you should follow is to honor your own birthday gift budget. If you get carried away and spend too much, you will regret it later. The best way to feel good about a gift is to find them the right thing while staying within budget.

These 5 tips can help you choose the right birthday gift.

Find 21st birthday gifts for him or her at: 21st Birthday Gift Ideas.

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Choosing a Birthday Gift For A Crush - 3 Gift Ideas Each For Guy And Girl Crushes
By Susan Willis

We all have had a crush at one time or another in our lives. Sometimes, a crush is something that lives only within our hearts, bound never to see the light of day. Other times, having a crush on someone leads eventually to asking them out, dating, and even marriage.

The trickiest time in a crush situation is right when things are in that in-between stage. This is that awkward time when you have let the other person know (either directly or through lots of flirting) that you like them, but you are not yet sure where things are headed.

If your “in-between” crush has a birthday coming up, this could be a great time to show your feelings for him or her with a well-chosen gift. Of course, choosing the right gift for a crush is not always easy. You will want to give him or her something that is not over-the-top romantic, but at the same time that expresses that you care.

For someone choosing a birthday gift for a crush, here are 3 ideas for guy and girl crushes.

3 Birthday Gift Ideas For Guy Crushes

For when your crush is a guy, here are 3 birthday gift ideas:

1. Food gift basket:

There are two kinds of food gift baskets: gourmet and snack. For the majority of guys, go with a snack food gift basket. You can find them with themes like golf or football. They are a great to give to the guy who wants to hang out with his friends - or with you - in a social atmosphere.

2. Multi-tool:

There probably is not a guy on the planet who does not like multi-tools. As you will recall, these are the little tools that used to be more commonly known as pocket knives. Nowadays, you can get multi-tools that have an amazing array of functions he will love - all in a portable little tool he can take with him anywhere.

3. DVD of guy movie:

Men love movies. A safe bet is a DVD featuring a guy movie classic like Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, or Jet Li.

3 Birthday Gift Ideas For Girl Crushes

Here are 3 birthday gift ideas for the girl crush in your life:

1. Gardening kit:

Not every girl gardens, but for those who have an apartment or home with a yard, gardening is a wonderful hobby. If your girl crush has never even picked up a shovel or a spade, don’t worry: this kit will get her started.

2. Coffee and tea basket:

For career women, students and homemakers alike, coffee and tea are favorite beverages to pass the time. A coffee and tea gift basket usually comes with some cookies or other goodies to munch on, making your gift extra-special for them. Maybe you can even arrange to “drop by” sometime when they are having a cup of coffee from your basket.

3. Gift card:

Still not sure what to get her? Women love gift cards. You can either buy her the type that is dedicated to a particular website or brand, or you can get her one with a major credit card symbol like Visa or American Express that she can use for any type of goods or services.

Try any of these ideas when choosing just the right birthday gift for a guy or girl crush.

Find more unique romantic gift ideas at: Creative Romantic Gift Ideas.

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