Dim Sum Birthday Party Theme Around Chinese New Year

A dim sum birthday party is a great way to celebrate a birthday that falls around Chinese New Year (typically January/February).  Though a dim sum theme can be a blast any time of the year.  At a dim sum birthday party, you can enjoy a dizzying array of dishes, served tapas style.  Selections range from steamed dumplings and bbq pork buns, to fried shrimp balls, chicken wings, noodles and custard.    Dishes can be passed at the table or presented as a casual buffet.  If the number of dim sum dishes is daunting for you to prepare, you can easily cater a fabulous dim sum meal and spend more time enjoying yourself.  Remember to order personalized fortune cookies for dessert and offer party favors in fun, colorful Chinese takeout containers.

Flower decor is perfect for a dim sum birthday party as each type of flower has different symbolism in Chinese cultures.  For example, plum blossoms represent courage and hope, indicating rebirth and the beginning of a new spring.  Be sure to have stacks of tangerines, oranges and kumquats as they represent good luck.

Dim sum is most commonly served midday with tea, but an evening dim sum birthday party with the addition of cocktails or a nice lager would be delicious as well.

We tend to think of a dim sum birthday party as an event for adults, but the finger foods would be enjoyed by kids as well.

Twilight Fan’s 30th Birthday Party at Home: Fab TV Theme

From place settings to signage and cupcakes, this Twilight-themed birthday party was destined to be a hit.  She even gave personalized wine glasses as party favors.  This birthday party goes to show that you can host fabulous events in your own home.  It looks like a lot of work, but she clearly had fun doing it.  Birthday party planning is a great chance to exercise your creativity, and finding inventive budget-friendly solutions is part of the fun.  It helps when you are truly passionate about the birthday party theme, in this case, Twilight.

Here’s an excerpt:

“The wine glasses I made were each persons favor. I printed their name in the Twilight font and taped it to the inside of the $1 wine glasses I picked up at the local dollar store, to trace.

On the other side was either a paw print, an umbrella or the words “Be Safe” in Edwards handwriting. Also printed off and taped inside to trace. I used paint markers for this, as glass paint was too difficult to be exact with and this was much faster.”

Plenty of photos after the jump.

The Sweeneys: The Epic Twilight Birthday Party (Part One).

Paintball, Laser Tag Active Theme Birthday Parties

This is one of our favorite types of birthday parties for kids.  There are so many options to take the birthday party, and make it an active, creative and unforgettable experience.  (even educational!)  They often involve less preparation on your part, allowing you to enjoy the birthday experience as well.   You may think of something like a bowling party or mini-golf, but experience-theme birthday parties are now at another level, high in energy and fun.

My punchbowl says:

“Some of the more active parties include paintball, laser tag, indoor skydiving, indoor karting, and feed the sharks experience. For the kid who likes to learn, there is the mad science party, mission space party, and even the candy factory party. Then for the creative kids, there’s the design your own clothes party, junior theater experience, and the rock & roll experience. “

Penelope Plans at MyPunchbowl–Sept04 – MyPunchbowl.

Eco-Friendly Birthday Parties: Quick Ecofriendly Food, Party Favors, Invitations, Birthday Ideas

We are always looking for new ways to make birthday parties more eco-friendly.  Here are some ways to get started with planning an eco friendly birthday party.
1. Keep it small. Less travel and a smaller space will give you more quality time with friends and family.
2. Provide delicious homemade food. Since you’re cooking and baking for a smaller group, the menu wont be too overwhelming if you plan in advance.   Plus you’ll get to enjoy better quality food without all of the packaging.
3. No single-use serveware. You can find durable, inexpensive serveware with any color or theme. With reusable plates, bowls and flatware, you can use this set again and again while minimizing waste.
4. Use the Web. Take advantage of invitation software such as Evite that will help you manage guest responses, rather than mailing paper invitations.  Having a gift registry online is also a great way to leverage the Internet for your party.
5. Give meaningful favors. We love craft or cooking parties because there is always something to take home. Rather than distributing something your guests won’t really use, give them a meaningful memento of the special day’s experience.

Happy 40th Birthday Party: Charity Birthday Ideas Growing In Popularity

In an inspiring article from the Modesto Bee, an affluent 40-year old who was going to treat himself to a highly indulgent celebration, gathered his friends  for  a 40th birthday fundraiser.  The goal was to raise $40,000 to help build wells in Ethiopia.

“Something just kind of hit me. I mean, we live the most amazing lifestyle,” he said. “In order for us to make it better, we had to think of some of the most expensive and exorbitant things in the world. That told me something, so I decided to offer a different idea.

Brian and his friends decided to host a 40th birthday golf tournament with the goal of raising $40,000 to build water wells in Ethiopia.

The tournament ended up being a huge hit. Eighty golfers, tons of fun, lasting memories, and they raised over $65,000 — enough to build 13 fresh water wells. What started as five different birthday parties, costing each of them high five figures, turned into one joint birthday party that raised high five figures for a great cause. It was truly a party with a purpose. “