Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Animal Ambassadors

The next kid's birthday party you host could be an unusual, fun and educational experience for your guests! Instead of a clown or bounce house, consider inviting friends and family to party with unusual animals and have some edu-tainment!

Look to see if your area has an animal rescue program - these facilities often offer tours or visits or will send out wildlife presenters who bring mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and bugs for an up close and personal look. These rescue facilities try to rehabilitate the animals to go back to the wild, but sometimes the animal cannot be released successfully. If so, they then become an animal ambassador - if they possess the right temperament to travel, be around people and so forth. Presenters often have degrees in biology or wildlife education and have a lot of experience talking about animals in an interactive and fun way. Kids (and adults) learn about where the animals are from, what they eat, their favorite things to do, and the special ways they live their lives. Through the animals, a new appreciation for the natural world is fostered.

Planning:

-- This is a great idea for kids ages 3 and up (depending on the maturity of the kids.)

-- Ask if the organization is fully permitted, licensed and liability insured. 

-- Plan to donate to the organization- some donations are 100% tax deductible. What other birthday items are?!

-- Provide arriving presenters a close parking or unloading space and let them know about any stairs or difficult access.

-- Ask them how many kids can be present and how much total space the presenters will need.

-- People wrangling is important: withhold snacks for the kids during the presentation, and make sure that kids know to have indoor voices and to “stay on their bottoms” during the presentation unless invited up to be with the presenter.

-- Ask the presenters what their ground rules are so that you are prepared to help the kids comply.

-- Ask presenters if they can bring at least one "touch" animal. The highlight of our party was when the kids got to touch an armadillo!!!  

-- Plenty of adults should accompany children guests for the supervision and safety of the children and the animals.

-- Afterwards, all the children (and adults) should clean their hands with antibacterial hand soap or wipes.

If you want something different and special... and definately memorable - you can emphasize having fun while learning at the same time by inviting animal ambassadors to your kid's party! It is a great way to go!

Nice Day for a Picnic, Dear

Photo: Jordan Ferney; Event Design: Stanlee Gatti

Everybody loves a good picnic. But on your wedding day? You betcha! The beauty of this carefree idea is that it can stay as stress-free and breezy as an every day picnic, turn into an elegant talk of the town, or anything in between, depending on your decor and menu choices.

And for those couples who aren't as jazzed about running your toes through the green, green grass, bring the picnic indoors. Forget the stuffy linens and replace with lots of low furniture, fluffy pillows and billowing fabrics.

Be sure to set up one or two regular tables and chairs for those who can't quite get as low as they once used to go. They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness and still be able to enjoy the scenery.

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Posted by the Paper-Peeps at Anna Bella Custom Stationery

Cool Drinks for a Hot Summer

Even here in beautiful Southern California, it can get hot in the summer. But yet, summer is the best time to be outside enjoying the beautiful sun and blue skies. One of the best ways to keep cool this time of year is to have one of these amazing drinks in-hand or close by.

ITALIAN LEMONADE:
2 cups lemon juice, about 12 to 15 lemons
2 cups Basil Simple Syrup, recipe follows
2 cups cold or sparkling water
Ice
Lemon twists, for garnish

Mix lemon juice, Basil Simple Syrup, and water together in a pitcher. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Pour over ice filled glasses and garnish with a lemon twist. Basil Simple Syrup:
1 bunch fresh basil, washed and stemmed
2 cups sugar
1 cup water

In a saucepan combine basil, sugar, and water and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 5 minutes. Cool, strain the simple syrup, and store in the refrigerator.

MINT ICED TEA:
1 quart water
4 family size tea bags (recommended: Luzzienne)
2 cups sugar
1 bunch mint leaves
1 lemon, slices for garnish

In a large pot bring the water to a boil. Remove pot from heat, add the tea bags, cover with a lid, and allow tea to steep in water for 20 minutes. Take a 1 gallon jug and pour the sugar into the jug and cover with some hot tap water. Stir the sugar around to dissolve while the tea is steeping. Once the tea has steeped, remove the lid and the tea bags. Pour the tea into the jug with the sugar, stir, and place the tea bags back into the jug. Stir the tea well, making sure the sugar dissolves. Fill the jug with cold water to yield 1 gallon.

To serve, pour each glass of tea and garnish with a slice of lemon and mint leaves.

ORANGE CREAMEZCAL (alcoholic):
4 small scoops vanilla ice cream, about 2/3 cup
1 ounce mezcal
6 ounces orange soda, chilled

Drop the ice cream scoop into a chilled soda glass. Pour the mescal over the ice cream, and then the orange soda. Serve.

SUMMER WATERMELON SITUATION (alcoholic):
8 cups diced watermelon (about 1/2 of a small watermelon), plus slices for garnish
8 ounces lemon vodka, chilled
7 ounces simple syrup, recipe follows
1 (17.5-ounce) can coconut juice
1 lemon

Chill watermelon in the freezer for 30 minutes. Put all the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve very cold in a chilled glass, and garnish with watermelon or lemon slices.

Simple Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave.) Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.


Thanks to The Food Network for these yummy drink recipes!

Challenges in Party World

I won't go into the full background on this - suffice it to say that:

1. A friend is having an outdoor event soon.

2. She would like flowers at her event.

3. There are no tables available for the event except the itsy-bitsy tables for serving appetizers and the trays will take up the full surface of the table - weird, but due to a situation too complex to mention this is the case and nothing can be done to ammend this.

She had resigned herself to not having flowers. I was so glad that she mentioned how much she wanted them- she really, really wanted some flower decorations.

Never say that you cannot do something, if you truly want it. Yes, the flowers will not appear as table centerpieces. But oh, you can still have flowers! I helped her to figure out several options:

GO DOWN! Use the flowers or petals as a path to guide people to where they are going. Make a labyrinth or pattern on the ground with the flowers or petals. This is not for brides only, folks! It can give a sense of anticipation about the destination!

G
O

DOWN!

GO UP! Go up into the trees! The trick is to really stablize the arrangement so that it will not tip, and to hang it high enough so that tall people won't bump into it. She really liked this idea, and I did too. Image from lowerdec.com. You can go up with an indoor event too if you are cramped for space. This is a solution for many situations. If you need to, GO UP!

GO ON - WALLS! The image from rhs.org.uk/. Mounting things on walls may work for you, depending on any restrictions... if you can drive nails or hooks, try this option. Or use table runners hung vertically and attach flowers like they were corsages - never say no to flowers! GO ON!

GO ON- FOOD! Most culinary herb blossoms are edible including - thyme, basil, sages, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, cilantro. Most of the allium family (which includes chives, leeks, onions, garlic) have edible blossoms. Check out zucchini flowers or chamomile flowers, pansies, Johnny-jump-ups, violets, or roses. Check your local farmers' market for edible flowers. With the widespread use of pesticides by commercial growers, it's important to select edible flowers from a supplier who grows them specifically for consumption. Do not eat flowers obtained from a florist. If you are choosing homegrown flowers to eat, be certain you know your flowers as not all flowers are edible. Some can cause serious stomach problems and some are quite poisonous. One of the most popular uses is candied or crystalized flowers, used to decorate cakes and fine candies. GO ON!

GO ON- PEOPLE! Decorate your guests! This also can be a party favor for people, so the idea is really fun. Leis are a great symbol of honor and love and are considered a precious gift. GO ON!

Never say no to flowers, just use them in unconventional ways to surprise and delight your guests!