Cocoa Bar Roundup

Celebrations at home offers a creative twist with a candy cane cocoa bar.  Accompaniments include cookies, color coded m&ms, dark and white chocolate chip, red and pink sprinkles, mini marshmallows, and of course candy canes. 

Fete Fanatic takes a more adult themed approach with liquor including Baileys, Kahlua, Grand Marnier, Creme de Menthe and Amaretto.  To keep the party kid friendly just substitute flavored syrups for the liquor.

Brandy's crafts has a nightly cocoa bar she uses with her kids using homemade cocoa mix, chocolate chips, candy canes and marshmallows and chocolate covered spoons.

Bridgey widgey shares peppermint, marshmallow, and white chocolate stirrer sticks for her hot cocoa bar.

Jelly fish jelly shares her invention of cocoa spoons.  She dips spoons into chocolate and decorates them with cookies and candy.

Dukes and duchesses has an adorable hot cocoa party complete with peppermint candy rimmed cups, snowman marshmallow kabobs, and a hot chocolate mix take home favor.

Gingerbread Cookie Party

Hostess with the mostess shares a gingerbread cookie decorating party. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hwtm.com/index.cfm?page=albums/view_album&albumid=3537&photoid=44447

Paper scissors oragnes also has a gingerbread cookie party with lots of colorful sprinkles.

Get the instructions here:
http://paperscissorsoranges.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-cookie-workshops-2010.html

Gingerbread House Party

Houseography has a really great idea for a fun holiday party.  She recommends creating the house structure for all of the guests and providing the candy and icing for accessorizing.  She even includes a list of potential decorating snacks and a sample schedule.  She has adorable certificates to hand out too such as most beautiful house or most colorful. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
 http://www.houseography.net/2010/12/holidayography-gingerbread-magic.html

That mommy blog uses graham crackers and sugar cones for her party.

Get the instructions here:
http://thatmommyblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-fun-gingerbread-playdate.html

Balloon Birthday Present: Balloon Birthday Party

 Balloons make for a creative gift wrapping for a fun birthday present.

Choose craftiness has a really innovative idea for making balloons into a very special birthday gift.  She recommends placing dollars and special notes into blown up balloons and then tying and mailing them.  Kids will have so much fun receiving a box of balloons and even more fun popping them to find all of the gifts inside.

Get the instructions here:
http://choosecraftiness.blogspot.com/2012/01/birthday-balloons.html

Be different act normal has a similar idea adding confetti to the balloons as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2012/05/money-balloons-gift-wrap.html

 11 cupcakes shares how to make the balloon packaging really cute.

Get the instructions here:
http://11cupcakes.com/2011/07/25/gift-wrapping-balloon-pop-2/

Increasingly domestic hangs the balloons up to be popped in the air.

Get the instructions:
http://increasinglydomestic.blogspot.com/2011/04/very-extra-special-happy-birthday.html

Balloon Races - Balloon Birthday Party Activity

A little learning for two has a really great balloon game featuring a balloon, straw and piece of string for each participant.  Each child blows up their balloon and tapes it to the straw and they let go.

Get the instructions here:
http://alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com/2010/11/balloon-rockets.html

Parents.com has a cute game using balloons, pool noodles and a laundry basket.  Kids need to use only the noodles and see how many balloons they can get into the laundry basket in 5 minutes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.parents.com/fun/games/family/camp-mom-20-activities-to-make-summer-awesome-for-everyone/?page=9 

Science sparks shoots what she calls flying balloons into the air and watch them circle around.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/08/17/flying-balloons/

We made that uses straws to glide her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://we-made-that.com/balloon-rocket/

Balloon Doorway: Balloon Birthday Party Decor

Surprise the birthday boy or girl with this fun way to wake up in the morning.  

Trey and lucy have a cute idea for a doorway by adding balloons to the ends of streamers and hanging them down.  How long do you think until all of the balloons pop?

Side tracked mom created what she calls a balloon avalanche holding balloons in place against the door with crepe paper streamers.

Babble's version is a little simpler but still effective.