Nobbies Bridal Show 2011

With the wedding season upon us, Nobbies is excited to help you plan your once in a lifetime experience. Planning your wedding can be very time consuming and overwhelming, let us help you through this planning process.

Please join us on Sunday, March 6^th from 11-3 for Nobbies Annual Wedding Show. We will have a $500 treasure chest giveaway and other wedding prize drawings throughout the day. Other vendors will be available to discuss their services for your special day.

We offer invitations, which are 25% off everyday, and accessories including flower girl baskets, ring bearer pillows, guest books, garters, imprinted napkins, and banners. We also have an exquisite selection of glassware, candles and centerpiece items to complete your reception tables. Our full line of tableware would compliment your bridal shower or reception.

We hope to see you on Sunday, March 6^th. If your are unable to attend our Wedding Show, please feel free to call us at 402-333-6300 in Omaha or 515-457-7100 in Clive with any questions you may have about your wedding or to set up a consultation appointment.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $500 PRIZE!

The first 100 brides to arrive will receive a key to Nobbies Bridal Treasure Chest. Your key could be the winner.

Local Vendors Attending in Omaha:

Party Zone
BeautiControl - Shelly Keene - Independent BeautiControl Consultant
Captain Video and the Johnny O' Show

Celebrate Catering

Durham Museum Hall

Enchanted Honeymoon

Lesley Knox Photography
Nebraska Party Bus

Pampered Chef

Say Cheez Photo Booth
Showtime Music

Silpada Jewelry

Simply Elegant Cakes
Scott Papek Photography 
Tip Top Tux

Wellness Pointe Chiropractic

Local Vendors Attending in Clive:

Adventureland Inn

A Special Event -  DJ and Photo booth
Bridal Connection
Cake me I’m Yours

Contemporary Catering

Gardens of the Heart & Scentsy Candles

Italian Villages Catering

Pampered Chef

Plaza Florist

PR Party Lines

Stam Chocolaterie
Stella and Dot Jewelry
Todd Hugen Photography

Travel and Transport

Urbandale Hy-Vee
Vision of Beauty

Nobbies online:

NobbiesParties.com

NobbiesWeddings.com

Facebook.com/Nobbies

Twitter.com/NobbiesParties (@NobbiesParties)

Intimate Valentine’s Surprise

Want to do something extra sweet for that someone special? How about a surprise romantic dinner for two?
You’ll have to be sneaky if you want it to be a surprise, so get everything going while they are at work or do something nice for them to get them out of the house for a few hours the day of your surprise. (ie: Buy them a massage, send her to get her nails or hair done, let them sleep in and make a surprise breakfast.)

1-2 Days before:

• Plan out the menu and purchase groceries.
• If there is any food you can prep ahead of time, you should. You want to allow the most amount of time together that day as possible.
• Shop at Nobbies for all of your Valentine’s decorations! Don’t forget to check out all the great Love themed balloon bouquets we sell.

The Day of:

• Start food right away, try to plan so that dinner is ready just as they are getting home.
• Set a table with 2 place settings. If you are using flowers or a centerpiece, think about sitting next to one other so your view of each other isn’t obstructed.
• Starting where they will be coming in, place luminaries, Hershey’s kisses, or flower petals leading to your romantic table set for two. Place a few around the table like confetti or spell something out to tie it all together. If you got them a gift, wrap it nicely and use that as your center piece or write a sweet letter and have that folded and waiting on the table for them.
• Have something special to play during dinner, like the song you danced together for your wedding, or the movie you saw on your first date.

Decoration ideas:

• Red table cloth with a different colored runner.
• Balloon bouquets! (All in town deliveries on Valentine’s Day are free if you order by February 12th, 2011)
• Pictures of the two of you for a nice personal touch.
• Use candles around the room, try to avoid scented candles on the dinner table though.
• Rose petals, real or fake add a romantic touch to your setting.

Food Ideas:

• Go with a picnic theme to keep things simple! You may even skip on the table and set a blanket on the floor in the living room instead.
• Sugar cookies cut into cute shapes with sweet sayings or nicknames written on them.

Stay tuned: Recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberries coming soon!

New Year's Eve Party Planning Guide

Nobbies can guide you in planning your next New Year's Eve Party. Just follow our unique guide to have an exciting adventure. Fun for all ages. 


Invitations
Invitations are a great way to reflect the spirit and theme of your party. NobbiesParties.com offers many different approaches to invitations. Store bought or hand-made. Choose from a variety of pre-made invitations to coordinate with your theme. 


Hand-Made Invitation Suggestions:
Create your own invites on card stock and put a clip art picture of a clock, father time, or baby new year on them. Type all your important information and then fill the envelope with confetti, so they will start to get exited about the party. 


New Years Party Attire:

• Top Hats
• 2008 Glasses
• Mardi Gras Beads
• Tiaras
• Light up earrings
• Light up lampshade hat
• New years necklaces
• Glitter hairspray
• Glitter make-up/eyelashes
• Tinsel wigs

New Year's Eve Decorations
Cover the walls of the party area with scene setters. They will transform a whole room in seconds. Put black cloths on your tables and then spill silver confetti or hersey kisses candy around serving dishes. Tie the cloths to table legs with silver ribbon. Accent with metallic silver and gold plates, cups, napkins and silverware. Use plastic top hats as serving dishes and fill them with chips, pretzels and other snack foods. Fill large martini glasses with mixed nuts and m&ms. Take the obviously christmasy decorations off the Christmas tree, leaving only the lights and silver and gold tinsel. Take noisemakers and party hats and place them on the tree. The revelers will strip the tree as the party progresses. Use bottles of champagne as balloon bouquet weights. Place on a mirror tile and put champagne glasses around the bottle with battery operated tealights in them. This makes a great centerpiece and doubles as a party favor. The windows and walls could be draped with sheets of twinkle lights for a fabulous effect. As people enter, greet them with a photographer (might be you) who can take their picture under a custom designed banner from Nobbies. Make sure that your guests are all decked out with hats, beads, glasses, noisemakers and leis for the pictures. Fill balloons with air and place them all around the room on the floor to give it that party atmosphere. Hang a balloon drop from the ceiling, fill with balloons that are stuffed with coupons or fun sayings. As the balloons are dropped have each guest pop a balloon to find a prize. Place balloon bouquets in the corners of the room to help fill up the room and give it that party flare. Synchronize several clocks with the official time before the party starts, and make sure they are in plain view so that you have time to prepare for the big countdown. 


Food and Refreshments
Serve snack foods such as: popcorn, chips & dip, pretzels, cocktail wieners, veggies, pizza, fruit tray, cookies and cupcakes. Also have ice cream and tons of different toppings available At midnight, of course, do a major thing. How about a serving a dessert tray with sparklers?
Beverages: Champagne, purple and white sparkling cider, gingerale, orange juice. Put the drink umbrellas or the mylar spray picks in each drink to give it that little extra flare. 


Games/Crafts
Hang a pinata filled with candy and toys for all your guests to break open.
Play bingo using inexpensive gifts as prizes.
Create a time capsule: Have each guest write a letter to themselves. Put the letters in the time capsule. Bury it or hide it somewhere so that you can all open it at a designated time in the future. (great for kids)
Provide each guest with their own journal or diary that they can begin capturing their thoughts and memories of the New Year in. Suggest that everyone write a resolution in the beginning of their journal. 


Ideas for prizes/party favors

• Top hats
• Tieras
• Leis
• Beads
• Horns/noise makers
• 2008 glasses
• Hersey kisses
• Journals or diaries

Services that Nobbies offers:

• Custom made banners
• Custom made centerpieces
• Balloon Bouquets
• Balloon Delivery (Omaha, NE & Des Moines, IA metro areas only)
• Party and Event Planning
• Balloon Arches
• Napkin Imprinting
• Custom made bows

Call and talk to our Marketing Coordinator for details on these services - 1-866-851-6300 ext. 213 

Party Planning 101 - Stuffed Santa Suit Game

Stuffed Santa Suit Game

No matter what age, you’ll believe in the hilarity of the holiday with this fun filled game!

How to play:

Divide guest into two teams green and red. Then provide 1 sweat suit or oversized shirt and sweatpants and an equal number of balloons to each team. If possible, color coordinate the sweat suit and balloons so they are all green and all red.

Each team picks one person to get into the "Santa suit" (sweat suit) and when the time starts, they try to stuff as many balloons into the sweat suit as possible within the time limit.
The team that has the most balloons at the end of 3 minutes is the winner. The Stuffed Santa is quite a sight, so have your camera ready!

…If you’re feeling up to the spirit, use actual Santa suits!

Party Planning 101 - Thanksgiving Memory Game

While the turkey’s cooking, cook up some good old fashioned family fun by playing this test of memory, sure to get your tummy grumbling and your family laughing!

All players sit in a circle.The first player starts by saying, "At Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey." The next player must repeat this and add another dish, "At my Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey and cranberry." The third player must repeat it and add yet another dish, "At Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey, cranberry, and stuffing." The game continues with each player adding an item to the menu after first listing all the previous items in the exact order they were first said. If a player makes a mistake he drops out and the game continues until there is just one person left.

Simple, yet fun!

Party Planning 101 - Slime Time

Make any children’s party eewie, gooey and FUN!

Supply List:

• White Glue
• Baby Powder
• Borax Powder
• Water
• Green Food Coloring
• Plastic Spoons
• Mixing Bowls
• Funnel
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• 2 – 1 Liter Plastic Bottles
• Zip-Top Plastic Bags

Advance Preparations:

With the funnel, pour the following ingredients into each plastic bottle:
Potion #1

• ½ cup baby powder
• 2 ½ cups white glue
• 2 cups water
• Green food coloring (add until it’s light green)

Potion #2

• 2 tablespoons borax powder
• 2 cups warm water

On The Day of The Party:

• Set up an area where the children will make the slime. If possible, set up near a sink.
• Cover the ‘slime area’ with newspaper or paper towels for easy clean up. Because the children will get their hands dirty, (that is the fun part!) have baby wipes available to clean their hands if a sink is not available.

How to Make It!

1. Divide the children into small groups.
2. At the ‘slime area’, the children will be given a mixing bowl and spoon.
3. Pour ¼ cup of Potion #1 into each bowl.
4. With their spoons, they will add 2-3 teaspoons of Potion #2 to Potion #1. Stir after each spoonful. By the time the third spoonful has been added, the liquid should change into a dough like substance.
5. Instruct the children to pick up the mixture and knead it with their hands until the liquid is absorbed and is no longer sticky. They can now play with it just like play dough.
6. Place the Slime in a zip-top plastic bag and have them wash up. Instruct the children to place the Slime in their bags after use. It will last longer.

Helpful Hints:

• Mixing the two potions together is not an exact science. The secret is to add Potion #2 slowly to Potion #1, making sure to stir them together as you are pouring. If the mixture becomes hard, not slimy, you have added too much of Potion #2. Throw it away and start over.
• When coloring your Slime, use only a few drops of food coloring. Too much food coloring will discolor the children’s hands.
• Tell the children to refrigerate their Slime to help keep it fresh. Slime usually lasts between 7 to 10 days, depending upon use.

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER: HAVE FUN!!!!

Party Planning 101 - 5 Tips for Halloween Decorating

Five Fast and Easy Ways to Decorate Your Halloween Party Table!

What’s a more cost effective way to decorate than to turn your tableware into your decorations?!

1. Mix & Match Colors & Patterns!

   Set the table and decorate at the same time! There’s nothing more boring than a one-color table setting. Why not mix & match with classic Halloween colors?! Orange, Black, Neon Green, and Purple! And, to add even more excitement, take advantage of 50% OFF select Halloween Paper Patterns?

2. Line Your Table with Spider Webbing!

   This trick can make an everyday table cloth come alive! Line the table with a fun colored tablecloth. Then stretch spider webbing, of any color, across the table, taping along the sides of the table. (Trick to hide the tape: hot glue gun Halloween garland along the outside of the table.)

3. Create Napkin Holders out of Spider Rings!

   Now that you have the colors on your table, class it up by using napkin rings. And not just ANY napkin rings… SPIDER RINGS! It’s affordable, fits the theme and looks GREAT! Plus it’s easy!

4. Turn Plain Toothpicks into a Crowd Pleaser!

   For this transformation, you’re going to need scissors, a glue gun and some of those left over spider rings from your Napkin Holders (#2). Cut off the ring portion of however many spider toothpicks you’re going to use. Dab the bottom of each spider with the hot glue and insert a toothpick. Hold until glue dries and “Voila”!

5. Add Body Parts!

   Nothing adds to the table like a fake, bloody limb! From arms to fingers to heads, you’re sure to impress your guests while letting them know people would DIE to try some of your food! 

And there you have it. Five EASY, FAST & FUN ways to spruce up your next Halloween Party!

Plan a 50's Sock Hop Party

Invitations

Invitations are a great way to reflect the spirit and theme of your party. Nobbies offers many different types of invitations.

Hand-made Invitation Suggestion:

• Create your own mini 45 records for invitations. Using a compass draw several (invitation size) circles on a piece of poster board and cut them out. Cut out some smaller circles on white paper (to resemble the center of a 45 record). Glue the smaller circles to the black circles. Write the party information: "Let's Twist At Wyatt's 30th Birthday Bash!" or "Let's Rock Around The Clock!" etc.

50's Party Attire

• Saddle Shoes
• Chiffon Scarves
• Bobby Socks
• Cuffed Blue Jeans
• Leather Jackets
• Pink Beehive Wigs
• Poodle Skirts
• 50's Flip Wigs
• Black Sunglasses
• Cat Glasses
• Elvis Wigs / Elvis Costume
• Car Hop Uniforms
• Pink Lady Jackets

Food and Refreshments

• Serve deluxe hamburgers and fries in a vintage style basket or in a cardboard 50's car.
• Milkshakes with whip cream and a cherry on top.
• Coca-Cola or root beer floats.
• Use plastic ketchup and mustard bottles on each table.
• Dress like a roller skating car hop to serve your guests.
• Use LP records as chargers under each guests plate.
• Drive in cake: bake a 9x13 cake. Remove from pan and place on a piece of foil-covered cardboard. Frost with light brown frosting. Scan a picture from the movie Grease and make it the size of a graham cracker. Turn the graham cracker on its side and frost one of the sides then place the picture on top of the frosting and place it in the cake. Take some toy Hot Wheels cars and line them up in front of the picture like they are at the drive in.

50's Decorations

• Cover the walls of the party area with 50's scene setters. They will transform a whole room in seconds.
• Cover the tables with black and white check table clothes. Place a plastic record in the middle of the table and then create a balloon arrangement with pink and mint green balloons. Attach the balloons to a napkin weight and place in the center of the record. Use individually wrapped pieces of Bazooka bubble gum as confetti on each table.
• Hang music notes and instruments on the walls.
• Cut out silhouettes of sock hop dancers, classic cars and music notes out of black poster board and hang around the room.
• Place an inflatable juke box in the corner of the room and place a CD player behind it playing 50's music or Grease soundtrack.
• Hang plastic records from the ceiling.
• Hang 50's light sets(records & juke box set) around the room.
• Get a life-size cut-out of Elvis, Marlyin Monroe, James Dean or Danny Zuko to have your guests take pictures with.
• Hang strings of rock and roll records (sold as a premade set) in the doorway as a curtain.
• Hang large cut-outs of old fashion pink Cadillacs and other cars around the room.
• Make a pink Cadillac cut-out for your guests to sit behind and take Polaroid pictures of each one. Then give them the photo as a party favor.
• Order a balloon arch from Nobbies and hang "45" records from the center of the arch. (Use pink, white & mint green balloons)

Games/Crafts

• Hula hoop contest: See who can keep a hula hoop moving the longest or spin the most hula hoops at once.
• Dance contest for the following dances: Twist, Limbo or the Stroll
• Bubble gum blowing contest: you will need lots of Bazooka bubblegum for this.
• Straw cover blowing contest-See how far they can blow the covers on the straws using the straws to blow them with.
• Create a quiz for them to take from the movie Grease. Then have them watch the movie and then take the quiz.
• Lip Sync to the songs from the album Grease
• For a girls sleepover, have the girls put their hair up in old fashion 50's styles. Try to find some old hairstyle books at the library or thrift stores.
• Drag Race: Give each guest a toy matchbox car and line them up on a table. Assign one person to start the race by waving a scarf. Then each guest is to blow their cars across the finish line. The first one across the finish line wins.
• Fill a juke box pinata or record shaped pinata with candy and toys. Have each guest wear a blind fold and try to break open the pinata.
• See who can do the best yo-yo tricks and keep it spinning the longest.

Prizes/Party Favors

• Fuzzy Dice
• Black Plastic Sunglasses
• Cat Glasses
• Inflatable Guitars
• Hula Hoops
• Bazooka Bubble Gum
• Mary Jane Candies
• Boston Baked Beans
• Necco Wafers
• Yo-yos
• Bowling Pin Bead Necklaces
• Guitar Bubble Necklaces
• Inflatable Microphones

Shop our Sock Hop 1950s Costumes and Accessoriesand Sock Hop/Retro Party Supplies!

Plan a Fiesta

A Mexican fiesta party is a great way to explore Mexican history and culture. Celebrate at your home, nearby park or local Mexican Restaurant.

Fiesta Invitations

Invitations are a great way to reflect the spirit and theme of your party. Nobbies offers many different approaches to invitations. Choose from a variety of pre-made invitations to coordinate with your theme, or make your own.

Hand-Made Invitation Suggestions:

• Incorporate the Mexican Flag onto your invitation.
• Use your computer to find clip art of a Sombrero. Print the Sombrero the size that you would like the invite to be. Cut the sombrero out so you have an invitation in that shape. Print off your party information on white or colored paper and glue it onto the sombrero.
• Use pictures of a Chihuahua to put on your invitation.
• Print your party information on recipe cards and write "Mexican Salsa" at the top of recipe cards and weave the date and time of the party into the recipe.

Fiesta Apparel

• Ponchos
• Sombreros
• Cowboy boots
• Bandanas
• Leather or Suede Vests
• Western-type clothing
• Chaps
• Sheriff costumes
• Senorita Costumes & lace fans
• Fake Mustaches
• Zorro Costumes
• False Blankets
• Spurs
• String Ties

Fiesta Decorations

Create your own ice sculpture display for the centerpiece of the main food table. Take large cardboard milk cartons and cut off the tops. Place a couple of inches of water in each. Drop Mexican themed items into the water such as red and green chili peppers, maracas, etc and then freeze.

Continue to fill with 2-3 inches of water and decorative items and repeat the process till you get to the top of the container. Right before the party begins, remove the containers from the freezer and peel off the carton to expose the ice creation.

Arrange the creation decoratively in a large shallow tray (to catch the ice as it melts). The tray can then be covered with bunches of tinsel, curling ribbons, fruit and veggies, or other items to hide the base that is catching the melting water. This activity is a fun way to include the children in the planning. They have a great time coming up with items to display in the ice molds, and the creations turn out beautiful.

For an authentic touch, visit your local travel agent and try to get posters of Mexico, such as scenes from the city beach or historic ruins. You can mount these on foam core and hang them on the walls.

Hang Chili pepper lights around the room and buffet table.

Display Mexican themed cut-outs on the walls, with bright colored streamers. Have Mexican music playing in the background.

Hand-make luminary lights out of bright colored paper sacks, fill with 1 cup of sand and place a luminary candle in the center. Use these to line the walkway to the party.

Place a Sombrero in the middle of the food table, attach balloons (Mylar cactus, sombrero and colorful latex) in the center of the hat and fill the brim with tortilla chips.

Hang a pinata in the middle of the room, and remember to fill with candy/party favors.

Display a map of Mexico above the food table.

Use Mexican flags, sombreros and green, white, and red balloons around the room to add extra flare.

Fiesta Food and Refreshments

Create a Taco Bar:
Line a table with taco shells, meat and all the fixings. Include other Mexican foods such as nachos, refried beans, rice, and burritos.

For Dessert:
Serve sopapillas or fried ice cream in terra cotta pots or brightly colored dishes to give your table a southwestern feel.

For Refreshments:
Serve margaritas, Mexican beer, sangria or frozen daiquiris. Remember to also have some non-alcoholic beverages such as soda pop or tea.

Fiesta Games

Break a pinata

Have everyone do the Macarena line dance

Spanish Word game

Play musical chairs with Mariachi music

Jumping Bean:
Like freeze dancing, play Mexican music and tell the kids to jump like jumping beans. Stop the music. The kids must freeze. If they move or fall, they are out. Keep going until there is a winner or they get tired of jumping.

Pin the flower on the cactus:
Use a large cut-out of a cactus and place it on the wall. Make an outline for a flower on the tip of one branch. Cut out colorful paper flowers with the same design. Number them or write each child's name on a flower. Play the game like Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Use a Nobbies pinata mask if you want to blindfold the player.

Fiesta Party Favors

• Brightly colored Maracas
• Candy
• CDs with Mexican music
• Spanish word book
• Finger cuffs
• Jump ropes
• Marbles
• Paddleballs
• Hot Tamales Candy

Plan a Pirate Party

NobbiesParties.com can guide you in planning your next Pirate Party. Just follow our unique guide to have an exciting adventure. Fun for all ages.

Invitations
Invitations are a great way to reflect the spirit and theme of your party. NobbiesParties.com offers many different approaches to invitations. Store bought or hand-made. Choose from a variety of pre-made invitations to coordinate with your theme.

Hand-Made Invitation Suggestions:
* Create your own treasure map on a crumbled up piece of a brown paper sack. Type up the party information on the computer using an Old English font, cut out and layover top of the treasure map. Roll the map up and tie with raffia ribbon. Place in a mailing tube and send off. You could put seashells and sand inside the tube to give it that extra touch.
* Use Scroll paper or parchment paper and type up your party information and then roll up the invite and put it in a root beer bottle. Make labels with each guests name on it and place on the front of bottle. Drop it off on guest doorstep.

Pirate Party Attire

• Bandanas
• Pirate Hats
• Pirate Costumes
• Pirate Vest
• Pirate Sash
• Hoop Earring
• Fake Mustaches
• Stuffed Parrot
• Face Paint

Food and Refreshments
* Pirate ship hotdogs: Make a pirate sail out of paper and put a skewer through the middle. Insert the sail into the hotdogs and surround with gold fish crackers.
* Fish and chips: Fish sticks and French fries surrounded with goldfish crackers served in plastic baskets.
* Make blue jello and sink gummy octopus and gummy fish in the middle. Makes it look like the ocean.
* Crocodile Blood Punch: Serve red punch and place plastic alligators around the outside of the punch bowl for effect.
* Serve a fruit and veggie tray-tell the kids that if they eat their fruit and veggies they won't get scurvy! This is one way to guarantee they'll eat them.

Pirate Decorations
Cover your front door with black wrapping paper, draw a skull and crossbones in the middle of the paper with white paint or chalk. Above the crossbones write Ahoy Mates, and below write your child's name (Jaxson's) Pirate Adventure.

Line the walk way to your front door with small pirate flags. Take coffee cans or clay pots and paint them black. Fill them with sand and place the flags in the middle. Flags can either be bought at Nobbies or made out of Black felt and glued to small wooden dowels. Hang fish nets with plastic fish and seashells in them on the walls. Hang pictures of pirates, swords and a treasure map on the walls as well. Use bamboo scence setters to cover any empty walls to help create that pirate atmosphere.

Hang a treasure chest pinata:
Make a pirate ship for the party by going to a local appliance store and getting a cardboard refrigerator box. Put the box on it's side and cut one side off. Then cut the sides into a ship shape. Use the tops of the box to make a pointed bow and draw planks on the side to resemble wood. Create a pirate sail out of an old white sheet. Use a wooden dowel to suspend your sail. Use blue art paper or poster board to cut out waves and place on either sides of the ship. Fill 5" black balloons with air and place in a box to resemble cannons and place on your pirate ship. Place an inflatable shark and or inflatable alligator around the ship as well to make them feel like they are in the middle of the ocean.

Hang plastic or cardboard skeletons in the corners of the room. Place bandanas and eye patches on them to give them more character. Create paper chain links out of construction paper and place around their arms and legs.

Cover the food and cake tables with black tablecloths and lay fish nets the top. Use gold coins, gems, candy necklaces, beads, and jewels to sprinkle on the tables as confetti.

Games and Crafts
Walk the Plank: secure a board across a kiddie pool with duct tape. Set toy alligators in the pool for ambience, then have each child walk across. Upon reaching the other side, award each pirate with a hook hand. To make your own, cut a slit in the bottom of a plastic cup. Cut a hook shape out of cardboard, wrap with foil, and slip it through the slit in the cup.

Treasure Hunt: Create a treasure map and cover it with dust (pinch of flour) to make it look old. Have the birthday child be the captain. Inside the map write a message about a stash of treasure hidden somewhere in your yard or house. Give each guest a chance to answer one of the clues, and as a group, the guests can run to wherever the clue leads and find another one. If the children are to small to read use a Polaroid camera to take pictures of their clues. At the end have a plastic treasure chest filled with chocolate gold coins, beads, ring pops, candy necklaces, and other toys and trinkets for them to all enjoy.

Treasure Chest Craft: Have each pirate paint a treasure chest, then decorate with coins, and jewels. These can then be filled and used for their party favors.

Musical Islands: Set as many hula hoops on the floor as you have guests, and play music. Pirates must walk around the hoops until you turn off the tunes, at which point they must be standing inside of one of the "Islands" or they are out. Every few minutes, take away a hoop, until only one seafarer remains.

Ideas for prizes/party favors

• Plastic alligators and sharks
• Gold bead necklaces
• Inflatable pirate beach balls
• Chocolate gold coins
• Candy necklaces/bracelets
• Swedish gummy fish
• Cardboard treasure chests
• Hula Hoops
• Toy compasses
• Jewel rings
• Pirate bubbles
• Pirate pencils
• Pirate tattoos
• Treasure chests
• Pirate kickballs
• Pirate telescopes

Party Recipes - Reindeer Droppings

Also known as Oreo Balls, these bite-size treats are sure to sweeten any holiday dessert spread.

Ingredients

• 8 oz softened cream cheese or whipped cream cheese
• 18 oz package of Oreo cookies, crushed
• 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon shortening

Directions

Mix cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. Add the crushed Oreos and beat on high until well mixed. Chill for at least 2 hours in the freezer. Then roll Oreo cookie mix into one inch Oreo Balls.

Next, melt the chocolate chips and shortening with a double boiler or in the microwave.

Dip the Oreo balls completely into the melted chocolate using tongs or a toothpick.

Put on wax paper. After the Oreo Balls harden, keep them in the refrigerator.

Makes about 3 or 4 dozen Oreo Balls, depending on the size.

Tips and Variations

- Use melted almond bark or white chocolate chips instead of chocolate chips to dip the Oreo Balls.

- Try different versions of sandwich cookies to make Oreo Balls – Oreo mint cookies, peanut butter sandwich cookies, or vanilla sandwich cookies are some delicious choices.

- Don’t use double stuffed Oreos for Oreo Balls. Be sure to use regular Oreo cookies.

- To make the Oreo Balls a little less unhealthy, substitute low-fat Oreo cookies and low-fat cream cheese.

- Don’t skip the shortening. It makes the chocolate slightly thinner and smoother. It is MUCH easier to use with the added shortening.

Party Recipes - Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 10 large russet baking potatoes (about 7 pounds total)
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
• 1/2 pound sharp white Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3/4 pound mild Cheddar, grated (3 cups)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Scrub the potatoes well and rinse under cool running water. Pat dry with paper towels and prick the potatoes in several places with a fork. Place the potatoes in the oven and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from the oven and set aside on a wire rack until cool enough to handle.

When the potatoes have cooled, cut each potato in half and, using a spoon or a melon baller, scoop the flesh out of the skins, leaving as little flesh as possible. Place the potato flesh in a large bowl and add 1 stick of the butter, the sour cream, heavy cream, salt, and pepper and mash until chunky-smooth. Add the bacon, cubed white Cheddar, half of the grated Cheddar, the green onions, and eggs and mix thoroughly.

Butter a 9 by 13-inch casserole with the remaining tablespoon of butter and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.

Place the seasoned potato mixture in the prepared casserole and top with the remaining grated Cheddar. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges and heated through and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. Serve hot.

Party Recipes - Ghoul Fingers

Spooky, spicy and with ONLY three ingredients - VERY easy to make!

What You Need:

• Frozen Taquitos
• Red Pepper
• Refried Beans
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Baking Sheet
• Fun & Spooky Platter

How To Make Them:

1. Cut the red pepper into long skinny fingernail shapes.
2. On the backside of each fingernail, cut away excess meat until it is less than ½ inch thick. (The thinner you make them, the more they will curl when cooked.)
3. Using refried beans as a paste, ‘glue’ a fingernail to the end of each taquito.
4. Place on a baking sheet and cook according to the cooking instructions on the taquito box. For best results, use the conventional oven directions.
5. When done, transfer to a fun & spooky platter and serve.

Suggestions:

• These can easily be made ahead of time and stored for up to 4 hours in a refrigerator. Reduce the overall cooking time by 2-3 minutes if they are partially thawed.
• Serve with salsa, sour cream, chili con queso in festive serving dishes, and the Tangled Web Dip, also found in the 101 Spooktacular Halloween Party Ideas book.

Enjoy!

Party Recipes - Tangled Web Dip

Kill two flies with one web by serving this tasty appetizer. It looks great and tastes even BETTER! Supply List: Refried Beans Guacamole Shredded Lettuce Shredded Cheddar Cheese Tomatoes Black Olives Black Decorating Gel Tortilla Chips And a Knife, Spoon & Large Platter
How to Make It: Begin by spreading the refried beans over a large platter. Top with a layer of guacamole. With the black decorating gel, draw 4 or 5 circles, beginning with the smallest in the middle and getting larger as you go. Next, drag the knife through the black gel from the center out toward to make the spider web design. Garnish the outside edge of the platter with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and black olives. Serve with tortilla chips. Suggestions: Garnish the dip with black olive eyeballs. To make them, simply cut an olive in half, squirt some pasteurized cheddar spray cheese in the middle of it and add a dot of black decorating gel. Serve with a variety of tortilla chips. The dark blue corn variety is especially fun to serve at Halloween. Garnish with plastic spiders!

Plan a Tea Party

Invitations
Invitations are a great way to reflect the spirit and theme of your party. NobbiesParties.com offers many different approaches to invitations. Store bought, or handmade. Choose from a variety of pre-made invitations to coordinate with your theme.

Hand-Made Invitation Suggestions:
* Purchase china tea cups and saucers from local thrift or antique stores. Then purchase white boxes for them to fit into. Place pink shred into the bottom of each box, and set the tea cup and saucer on top of the shred. Print a picture of a tea pot from the computer on card stock paper with all the party information printed on the tea pot. Cut out the tea pot and place it inside the teacup. Tie the boxes closed with wide pink grosgrain ribbon and attach a card to each with the guest's name on it. Hand deliver the invitations to each of your guests.

Food and Refreshments:
* Serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the shape of tea pots and tea cups (Use cookie cutters to make the shapes)
* Sugar cookies cut into the same shapes as above, and served on a silver platter
* Fruit salad served in a crystal dish
* Nuts and mints
* Fruit Kabobs: use bite size pieces of apple, pineapple, grapes and strawberries alternated with minimarshmaIlows
* Ham and cheese cubes served on a silver platter with fancy decorated toothpicks
* Mini blueberry muffins served with crystal bowls of whipped topping to dollop on top
* Serve honey spiced fruit tea punch in clear plastic tea cups or pink lemonade
* Tea party cake: make a 13x9 layer, topped by a 6" round layer cake. Frost the cake with pink icing and use white icing to make a "lace overlay". Insert a doll pick on each side of the round cake and then place a miniature tea set (doll house size) in the middle of the round cake. When the cake is done it should look like two girls having a tea party.

Tea Party Decorations
* Cover the tables with pink floral table cloths
* In one corner of the room, set up a full length mirror, a trunk full of dress up clothes, and a dresser with a make-up mirror and jewelry displayed on it. Use this corner of the room for the guests to dress-up and put on their make-up and jewelry for the party.
* Use silk or real floral arrangements throughout the room
* At each place setting provide a tea cup and saucer with a paper doilies underneath for each guest. Fill the cup with a circle of tulle filled with candies and tied up with satin ribbon. Make tags out of card stock in the shape of tea bags and write each guest's name on them, and attach to each tulle of candy. These make great party favors for each guest to take home.
* Use sidewalk chalk to write "Welcome to Tatum's Tea Party" on the sidewalk leading up to the door for all your guests to see. Use pink and white 4" paper sacks and place one cup of sand in each one with a tea light. line the driveway and up the sidewalk to the front door. Decorate the outside of the bags with teapot stickers or stamps.
* Take greenery floral swags and attach high heels, old fashioned hats, white gloves, white tulle, and strands of pearls. Attach swag to fireplace mantel, stair railing or around the buffet table to create a fun atmosphere.
* Paint an unfinished serving tray shades of pink or colors to match your tea set and write the birthday person's name in the middle of the tray. Place a tea pot and tea cups and saucers on top and place either on the food table or on the main table for a centerpiece. Place feather boas and flowers on the table as well.

Tea Party Attire
* Beads
* Feather Boas
* White Gloves
* Tea Hats
* Bangle Bracelets
* Large Jewel Rings
* Jeweled Glasses
* Dresses
* Tiaras
* Dress Up Shoes
* Fake Fur Shawls
* Beaded Purses

Games/Crafts
Dress up: Have each guest dress up in tiaras, glasses, high heels, jewelry, hats, gloves etc. Once each guest has dressed up, take their picture with a Polaroid or digital camera. Create picture frames out of card stock. Purchase premade foam frames from Nobbies and let each guest decorate their own frame with jewels, beads, glitter, feathers and so on. These frames and pictures make great party favors.

Decorate plastic sunglasses: Purchase plastic sunglasses and have each guest decorate their own using jewels, rhinestones, beads, and paint. Manicures & Make-up: Ask some of the mothers of your guests to volunteer to help give your guests manicures and facials.

Game: Pin the butterfly on the flowers: draw a vase of colorful flowers on a piece of poster board and pin it on the wall. Use silk butterflies or draw butterflies on card stock and cut them out. Attach double sided tape to the back of each one. Blind fold one guest at a time and have them try to place the butterfly on a flower.

Prizes/Party Favors
Tea Bag favor bag- take a 4" white paper sack and fill with goodies listed below. Then fold each side of the bag down to create two 90 degree triangles. Then fold the top down to meet the bottom of the triangles. Punch a hole in the middle of the top of the bag. Create a tag with each guest's name on it and attach it to a piece of twine, and then tie it through the hole in the top of the bag.

Party favors:
* Nail Polish
* lip Gloss
* Stretch Bracelets
* Jewel rings
* Bubbles
* Strands of beads/pearls
* Sparkly rings
* Feather boas
* Candy
* Mints in little tin boxes

Plan a party!

3-4 weeks before your party

* Identify a theme for your party. If your planning a childs birthday party, ask them if they have a theme in mind. If not, make them feel special by going to NobbiesParties.com to shop for the perfect theme.

* Create a guest list including friends (daycare, school, sports teams, clubs) and close relatives.

* Check your calendar. Pick a date and time for your party. Childrens parties usually last 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours long, while adult parties can extend 2 to 4 hours longer depending upon the event and theme.

* Shop for party supplies. You can find the theme for you at NobbiesParties.com and find decorations, party favors, balloons, activities, pinatas, games and prizes.

* If you plan on using outside entertainers such as clowns, magicians, face painters, pony rides, etc, book them at least one month ahead of time.

* If you plan to use an outside photographer for special events, you should contact them at least one to two months ahead of time. Check with friends for reasonable, high quality photographers or browse the yellow pages.

2-3 weeks before your party

* Send out invitations to your guests. Include RSVP on the invites to help you plan with food and games. Simple ways to RSVP without being too formal is to have them call your home or e-mail you.

* Plan your activities, menu and games. Keep in mind the range of ages at the party and their interests. A rule of thumb is simple is always better. Always have more games in mind in the event the activities go quicker than you think. Depending upon age, pin the tail, limbo and bingo are good options.

* Order your cake and snack trays. If you are short on time, local grocery store deli can take a lot of work out of your party arrangements by creating snack trays.

* Ask close friends or relatives if they would help out on your party day.

1 week before your party

* Make calls to those guests who have not returned RSVPs. Simply ask if they received your invitation and if they would be able to make it to your party.

* Check your camera and video cameras to see that the batteries are fresh and that you have plenty of film.

* Prepare foods that can be made ahead of time. This will be one less thing you have to worry about on the party day.

* Confirm your orders for a cake, snack trays, balloons, entertainment, etc...

1-2 days before your party

* Remove previously prepared food from the freezer to thaw.

* Decorate indoors.

* Pick up the cake and snack trays. Pick up any last minute items at the grocery store.

* Make sure you have plenty of candles and matches for birthday parties.

PARTY DAY!

* Finish all food and beverage preparation.

* Decorate outside including signs, streamers, lights, etc.

* Take lots of pictures and videos to create great memories. You may want to have your friends or guests take pictures as well.

* Take time for yourself during the party to have fun as well. Your friends, guests and family will appreciate the time you spend with them.