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Birthday Party: 2011 Strawberry Shortcake Itinerary

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Last week I shared my system of keeping event notes, and how I took my daughter shopping for Strawberry Shortcake items for her party.

Having the guest of honor included in the decision-making process made planning the party simple.

Knowing my daughter’s personality and those of her friends, I enjoyed my daughter’s help in coordinating a fun event for her birthday party.

After weighing the cost, I allowed my daughter to choose the order of the party. Of course, I gave her options:

              • Which game to play first?
              • Which game gets the sunglasses for a prize?
              • When serving the food, where would you like your friends to sit?

With her help, we planned this 2-hour afternoon Strawberry Shortcake birthday party:

Greet each guest as she arrives and bring to toy area to play until we begin the games.

Games

1. Pass the Orange (In honor of Orange Blossom, a friend of Strawberry Shortcake):  A version of Hot Potato, but instead of passing a potato, the players pass an orange. The children sit in a circle, and hand the orange to the person on their right while the music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the orange leaves the game to receive a prize (Strawberry Shortcake hat). Continue play until only one child remains.

2. Strawberry Spoon Race: Relay race consisting of two teams where each team has a spoon and a plastic fruit (strawberry and lemon). One team represented Strawberry Shortcake and the other Lemon Meringue (another friend of Strawberry Shortcake). Teams race down and around a designated item and come back to their team. The player then passes the fruit onto the next teammate’s spoon. If they drop the fruit, they must stop, pick it up, and then continue. The first team to have all players cross their line is the winner. All girls will receive a Strawberry Shortcake bracelet for participation.

3. Strawberry Strawberry Shortcake: The game Duck Duck Goose with Strawberry’s name. The players sit in a circle with one player being “it.” The “it” player goes around the circle patting each girl saying “Strawberry.” Then she chooses one person by saying, “Shortcake.” The player tapped, then chases the patter back to the tapped one’s spot. Then the tapped player becomes “it” or the new patter. 🙂 Each player then receives a pair of Strawberry Shortcake sunglasses.

4. Musical Strawberries: The girls walk around on colored strawberries cut from paper. (The colors represent Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Apple Dumpling, Blueberry Muffin, Plum Pudding, Raspberry Torte, and Angel Food.) When the music stops, a color is drawn from a basket. The child on that circle is the winner and proceeds to the dining room to get her cupcake and ice cream.

Food

Strawberry Shortcake cupcakes, strawberries ‘n cream (white with strawberries) or strawberry (pink with strawberries) ice cream, and water or pink lemonade.

Open gifts

Allow each girl to bring her present to my daughter. While sitting with her friend, my daughter opens that gift. This arrangement offers great photo opportunities.

Thank you

Thank each friend for attending her party and for all her gifts.

Goody bags

Give my daughter the goody bags to deliver to each of her friends. Each goody bag contains:

  • Pink, purple, or clear nail polish
  • Pink, purple, or clear lip gloss
  • Strawberry Shortcake fun sheet
  • Strawberry Shortcake stickers
  • Strawberry Shortcake top
  • Pink kaleidoscope
  • Pink ring

Play until friends’ parents arrive to pick up their children.

With our itinerary set, my daughter and I (with additional help) gathered the materials, decorated the space, prepared the food, and waited for our guests. Our plan included time for play, games, food, gifts, gratefulness, and goody bags. Next week, I will conclude this event’s activities with a post on our execution of our planned itinerary.

Question: What is your favorite childhood birthday party game? Please add your answer by clicking on the Leave your Comment button.

Keeping Event Notes

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Photograph Credit: Ashley Conner

My summer has been a whirlwind of activity. When one activity has concluded, there seems to be two or three right behind. In staying a step ahead (which sometimes is just hours) and using time wisely, I research ideas and refer to my calendar often. As an event draws near, I review my notes and schedule the event.

Researching

In preparing for my oldest daughter’s 4-year-old birthday party, I was relieved to find my notes from planning in advance. Months ago when my daughter chose a Strawberry Shortcake theme, I had popped online and found party ideas. I created a document in WORD, copy and pasted the ideas, and saved it.

Reviewing

In late spring when our party store advertised a sale on birthday themed items, I reviewed my notes for game ideas and scheduled a trip with my daughter. Having her present to decide on color (pink vs. red), favors (hats vs. blowouts), and decorations (cupcake inserts vs. cake pan) helped me consider my guest of honor’s preferences.

By including my daughter in the planning, I not only learned what she likes about Strawberry Shortcake, but she is learning how to organize a birthday party. She was already thinking of games and streamer ideas before we bought any items or brought out the birthday tote with all the supplies. Since we have hosted a number of birthday parties at our house, my daughter, at the age of (almost) 4, was already planning and thinking through her options weeks before her birthday event.

Scheduling

In weighing the cost of her big day, I consulted the document with the gathered Strawberry Shortcake party ideas, the purchased decorations, and party items I had on hand. Since we had already purchased most of the items (on sale) and had paper goods in the colors my daughter chose, I only needed balloons, ice cream, and ingredients for the punch and cupcakes. With this list of small items (some of which I already had in my pantry), I was able to keep the cost under $100.

By keeping notes for party ideas, decorations, and games in one document, I can add, change, or delete items while researching, reviewing, and scheduling. These notes help me stay organized which saves me money, energy, and time.

Next week, I will share the itinerary my daughter and I planned for her birthday party. She is quite creative and definitely knows what she wants. 🙂

Question: How do you keep track of party ideas?

Event: Invitation Preference

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Tracy Hunter)

As I plan events, a key component is the invitation. For me, the invitation reveals more than just the announcement of the date, time, location, and event type. The invitation sets the stage for the event.

Invitation Types

1. Print. These invitations are cards delivered via mail or hand delivery. Some examples are:

    • professionally printed: formal wedding, business dinner, etc.
    • computer generated: concert tickets, ice cream social flyers, open house postcards
    • handwritten: preprinted cards with blanks for details for graduation, birthday, baby shower, etc.

2. E-mail. Whether directly sending an e-mail or using a free service, like Evite, these invitations are electronic announcements. Using a free service to create invitations, track those who are attending, and send reminders saves time and energy. The downside is a lack of originality.

3. Social Media. With the option of creating an event in Facebook, sending an invitation to many individuals at one time gets the word out quickly. For quick notice events or changes, this option might work. The standardized format for Facebook is easy to fill out; however, there is little to no personalization.

4. Phone call. These invitations are full of personality with the interaction between the parties. However, a few days later, the receiver, without having written down the information, will not have a record of the date, time, and location of the event.

5. Face-to-face contact. The face-to-face approach is another invitation full of personality. The receiver will gain the information for the event, but again, the record (hard copy of the details) may be forgotten, misunderstood, or confused.

With these types of invitations, there are pros and cons for each. The ones written can be lost or misplaced whereas the direct invitations may be forgotten, misunderstood, or distorted. So, how do you know what type of invitation to use? My answer is . . . whatever type works with your event. A dinner party with friends may work with an e-mail, social media, phone call, or face-to-face contact. Consider your event, your invitees, and using your time wisely.

Invitation Preferences

My preference is a print invitation. I like to see the invitation, refer to it, and take it with me to the event. A combination of invitations, e.g. a phone call with a Facebook chat or a face-to-face contact with a follow-up e-mail, will still provide the needed information without a formal print copy.

Now that I have shared my preference, it is your turn. What is your preference for receiving an invitation? Do you prefer print, e-mail, social media, phone call, face-to-face contact, another option, or a combination? Please share your preferences in the comments. I look forward to your response.

Event: Departure Etiquette

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Nate42)

Have you ever been to an event where you are not sure if you have stayed long enough or have over-stayed your welcome? Timing can be a tricky call. In dealing with arriving etiquette last week, we looked at four different events: wedding, dinner party, open house, and birthday party. Continuing with these four event types, let’s consider the etiquette associated with timing your departure.

Wedding

At the end of a wedding ceremony, guests remain seated. After the wedding party and the families of the bride and groom have made their exit, guests may rise and depart unless the bridal couple or ushers dismiss by rows.

Regarding the wedding reception, if the invitation required your response and you indicated that you would be attending the reception, please arrive at the reception. If your invitation required a response and you failed to accept or reject that request, please do not attend the reception. The reception seating and food arrangements are made based on the guests’ responses.

If you attend the wedding reception, be prepared to wait for the bridal party. Use your time wisely to interact with others as you graciously wait for the reception to begin. With some receptions lasting 3-4 hours, it is acceptable to make your departure after the cake has been served.

If you are having a great time, then plan to stay to see the happy couple’s parting. As you exit the reception hall for the couple’s getaway, be prepared to leave. Once the bride and groom are on their way, the reception has ended and you are expected to depart.

Dinner Party

Remember that your host or hostess has spent money, energy, and time to prepare for this event. Your presence is expected from the appetizer through the dessert. In kindness to your host, please plan to linger a bit before taking your departure.

If the event is going well and your hostess welcomes your company, then remain up to an hour after dessert. At that time, prepare to depart. If your hostess again wishes you to stay longer, then you can choose to depart or to remain. Just giving your hostess the option to ask you to stay is very polite. You do not want to over-extend your welcome.

Open House

When the invitation to an open house is extended, the time frame is stated, e.g. 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Please be considerate of your host and hostess and depart no later than the ending time, e.g. 4:00 p.m.

Though the event hours may be over, there will still be cleaning operations that will commence shortly after the end of the event. If you extend your visit, then others will be inconvenienced. Please be considerate and leave at the designated time.

Birthday Party

For a birthday party where the departure time is listed, e.g. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., plan to leave within 5 minutes of that time, e.g. 11:25 – 11:30 a.m. For a child’s party, where you bring your child, leave, and return to pick up, please arrive between 11:15 – 11:25 a.m.

If you know you will be late, please inform your host or hostess as soon as possible. Activities have been planned for your child at the party, but a late arrival by you is inconvenient and inconsiderate to the host/hostess. In accepting the invitation to arrive on time, please also plan to depart on time. Your host will be most grateful.

For a birthday party where only the beginning time is indicated, plan to leave within 1-2 hours after the cake has been served unless you are requested to stay longer.

These are just four types of events where knowing how long to remain and when you are expected to depart assist the guests as well as the host and hostess in executing a successful event. May you be informed of departure etiquette for your next wedding, dinner party, open house, and birthday party. Happy partying!

Question: At events, do you prefer to leave early or stay late? Please add your answer to the comments.

Event: Arriving Etiquette

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Nate42)

Have you ever received an invitation with the time listed and wondered when to arrive at the event? Just because the time is listed does not necessarily mean that is the time to arrive. Let’s consider four different events:

Wedding

As you open a wedding invitation and read about the happy couple’s intention to marry on a predetermined day, you will find that the ceremony will be at said church at 5:00 p.m.  The time indicated is when the bride is scheduled to walk down the aisle. Since you will need to be seated prior to the bride’s descent, plan to arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the listed time. If you arrive at or after the listed time, you may not be granted entrance into the ceremony.

Remembering back to one ceremony Paul and I attended, we arrived 30 minutes early to find decorations still being placed and no attendees. At first, I thought I had misread the invitation. Locating the invitation in my purse, I consulted the time. The wedding was to begin in less than 30 minutes. So, Paul and I took a seat and waited. At the time listed on the invitation, the lights were dimmed and the preliminary elements began.

That event was the only wedding I have ever attended that truly began at the appointed hour. The bride made her entrance 30 minutes after the time listed on the invitation. Though it happens, this scenario is not the standard. My recommendation is to arrive between 15 – 30 minutes prior to the listed time.

Dinner Party

When you are invited to a dinner party at 6:00 p.m., plan to arrive between 6:00 – 6:05 p.m. Your host or hostess is preparing for your visit. If you have made arrangements to arrive earlier to help, then assist your hostess at the appointed time. If you have offered to help, but the hostess has not accepted your offer, then please do not arrive early.

Most hostesses have scheduled their time to have the meal prepared at the set time. If you arrive early, your hostess may not be ready and will feel the need to entertain you rather than complete her preparations. Please be considerate of your host by arriving at or a little after the time given.

Open House

Receiving an invitation to an open house event, you will notice the parameters for the time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Your host or hostess is offering this event where you are welcome to arrive between 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Give yourself a minimum of 30 minutes to interact with your host and hostess and enjoy the benefits of the event they planned.

Please do not arrive 5 minutes before the end of the event (without extenuating circumstances). Not only is this behavior rude, it is also disrespectful to your host and hostess. Since your host has taken the time to invite and prepare for your attendance, your lateness ignores the kindness extended to you. Please plan and arrive no later than 30 minutes before the end of the event.

I have attended many baby showers with an open house time frame and have found arriving too early means sitting around waiting for others. Usually I plan to arrive around the middle of the time frame. In this case, I would arrive around 3:00 p.m., allowing time to visit, participate, and exit within the framework of the event.

Birthday Party

In the invitation, the host usually sets a framework for the party. If so, then please arrive within 5-8 minutes of the scheduled time. If this party is for children, then the host or hostess probably has a planned schedule. Arriving late may cause the host or hostess to adjust the schedule to accommodate you. If you get lost or know you will be late, please inform the host or hostess of your situation.

If the invitation only lists the start time, then plan to arrive within 5-8 minutes of that time. Your host or hostess is expecting your arrival before commencing the activities.

These are just four types of events where knowing when to arrive will help the attendees as well as the host and hostess in executing a successful event. The window of time to arrive at these events is between 30 minutes prior to the appointed time and up to 8 minutes after the scheduled time. Taking note of the type of event and the etiquette associated with that event will keep you arriving within the allotted time to fully enjoy the planned activities.

For more information on party etiquette, you can visit Syndi Seid’s Advanced Etiquette. She even has an Etiquette Tip of the Month. Come back next week for etiquette on departing from these same four events.

Question:  What do you do when you arrive early to an event? To add your answer, please click on Leave your Comment at the end of this post.