Silver 25th Anniversary Party

Does someone you know have a silver Anniversary coming up? If so, a theme party is the perfect way to celebrate their big day. You can stick to a silver theme, or use any theme the couple likes such as a luau or a costume party.

Every store with party supplies will have 25th Anniversary supplies. Plates, tablecloths, cups, napkins and decorations all come in silver colors. Wedding bells and hearts also coordinate to celebrate the wedding Anniversary. Invitations can have bells, hearts or other wedding related themes to send out.

Have guests bring in their favorite memory from the wedding (if they attended!) If they were not acquainted with the couple then, write down their favorite current memory. Put these memories into a silver guest book or scrapbook for a gift to the couple. Sharing the memories during the party depends on how much time you have and how many guests are present. If it is an Open House style party, sharing at one time would be difficult with people coming and going.

Games to play during an Anniversary game are limited if it is a formal event. Many times dinner parties to celebrate don’t include many children, if any at all. If it is a looser theme party, pick games to coordinate with your theme.

Personalized gifts can be given to the honorary couple. Picture frames, picture albums and silver bowls or trays can all be engraved to mark the special occasion. Party supply stores and gift stores will direct you to a personalization place if they can’t provide it.

Take pictures of every guest with the couple celebrating their Anniversary. Send them out in thank you cards after the party and let them know how much you enjoyed them celebrating your day. The pictures can also be used in scrapbooks later.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. More ideas, games, favors, decorations and Anniversary Party Supplies at the Party Supplies Hut for a roaring good time.

Adults Love Strategy Games

Many young kids and teenagers have developed deep passions for those hugely popular computer games that offer non-stop action and adventure, fantasy and magic, and the chance to assume different personalities and travel to diverse imaginary worlds. On the other hand, adults have developed their own fascination with computer games as well, mostly involving the so-called strategy games.

Unlike action and adventure games that usually require fast reflexes and a quick trigger finger, strategy games call for a cool hand and good analytical or decision-making skills. The best strategy game players know how to maximize their time and manage their resources as well as how to apply these resources and when to attack.

Perhaps the first great strategy game was Hammurabi (or Kingdom) which made a big splash in the 1970s. The objective was to seize the throne of a feudal lord and plan out economic and agricultural strategies for the continued survival of his kingdom. Success was measured in terms of positive growth in population and food supply as well as in vanquishing all security threats against your kingdom..

These days, strategy games generally fall into two categories: turn-based games and real-time strategy games. Hammurabi was a turn-based strategy game where competing players take turns making a move and with breaks in between. In real time strategy games, all players were in motion at the same time. Throughout the seventies and eighties, turn-based games were the dominant strategy game, particularly war games and its hybrids.

In 1987, the sophisticated action sequences and character-oriented narrative that were introduced in Defender of the Crown (Cinemaware) brought the genre to an entirely new level. It spawned a slew of similar games, including the hugely popular Pirates (Microprose) in 1988. With the introduction of Populous (Bullfrog) in 1989, the genre took another step further. Populous was the first game that allowed continuous play since it did not pause between turns. It also allowed players to virtually take on the role of gods, wielding total power and control over warring nations.

Today’s most popular strategy games still follow the Populous mold but are vastly improved in terms of graphics, sound effects and characterizations.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Games, Recreation, and Golf

5 Lessons your Kids will Learn by Starting a Business

Kids need to be kids and enjoy their time as children. But, at the same time, as they
get older, they also need to learn to make money and function in our society as
responsible adults.

Oftentimes, they get a job at a Burger Joint, where they learn how to listen to a boss,
and how to work with others, but then they may also have to give up some
extracurricular activities, study time and time with family. Not terrible things, but
enough of a challenge that many families are helping their kids start their own
businesses.

Why? Let’s compare the lessons your kid is learning working at a burger joint verses
starting a business.

1. Responsibility.

Burger Joint: Yes, it teaches responsibility. You need to show up for work and do a
good job or your boss and co-workers will get mad at you.

Entrepreneur: Teaches you responsibility as well. You need to work hard or you
won’t get paid.

2. The Value of a Dollar

Burger Joint: You learn that time is money.

Entrepreneur: You learn that creativity, ownership of responsibility and hard work is
money.

3. How to Market Yourself

Burger Joint: Teaches you how to fill out an application and go on an interview to
market yourself. You do this once and then you’re done.

Entrepreneur: You have to market yourself and your business on an ongoing basis if
you want to make any money.

4. Customer Service

Burger Joint: Service with a smile or your boss may reprimand you.

Entrepreneur: Service with a smile or you don’t get repeat business and your income
drops.

5. Banking Skills

Burger Joint: You learn how to collect a paycheck and how to deposit it into the bank.

Entrepreneur: You learn how to budget for advertising costs, taxes, and expenses
and weigh them against your profits. You learn to deposit your income into the bank
and write checks to cover expenses. You learn how business works.

As you can see, both options have benefits. As for which option you’ll choose?
That’s up to you and your child.

Joelle Davidson welcomes you to http://www.showkidsthemoney.com where you’ll find
plenty of free information to help your kids start their own businesses.

5 Communication Tips for Sports Parents

Talking with your child about their athletic performance comes with the territory of being a sports parent. However, do the words you choose enhance your child’s athletic experience? Or do they discourage and dishearten? It’s a mistake most of us sports parents make. At one point or another we’ll say something we shouldn’t have said. Afterwards, we feel bad, our child feels bad, their performance doesn’t improve and it’s a negative situation all the way around. Avoid this type of situation in the future by keeping these tips in mind when talking to your athlete.

Tip #1 ~ DO, not Don’t
When helping your child, tell them what they should do. Don’t tell them what they shouldn’t do. For example:

WRONG: Don’t take your eye off the ball
BETTER: Watch the ball all the way.

WRONG: I better not see you walking during practice.
BETTER: Always hustle in practices and games.

Tip #2 - Criticize the play, not the player
Take the focus off your child. Critic the play or the performance vs. the player themselves. Try to end with a positive statement.

WRONG: You made a bad pass.
BETTER: The pass wide to the left, but with this small adjustment it’ll be right on next time.

WRONG: You didn’t even come close to making that basket.
BETTER: Your shot was off, but using better footwork next time will help straighten it out.

Tip #3 - Don’t assume once is enough
When the coach goes over a new concept idea, try to go over it again at home. Youth sports teams usually don’t practice every day. At the high school level, team may practice every day, but coaches may cover a topic or skill during just one practice session, and then move on. Just because your child’s coach covered something in practice don’t assume that’s enough for your child. Ask them if they understood the new concept. See if you can help them grasp it by talking about it again at home. But remember the “Rule of 3″. If the coach explained something a few times and you go over it at home, but your child still doesn’t get it, maybe it’s time for a different approach. If the new concept has been explained to your child 3 times and it still isn’t sinking in, it’s time to change strategies and think of another way to get the message across. If you find yourself saying, “I’ve told you a hundred times.” take a step back. Maybe it’s not your child that’s the slow learner. How many times do you have to try something before you realize it’s not working? Obviously saying the same thing for the 101st time isn’t going to make a difference. Try something new.

Tip #4 - Remember, what you say counts
Yes, what you say to your child really does count. Perhaps more than what the coaches say. But what your child hears isn’t always what you said, or at least what you thought you said. When you share a constructive criticism of your child’s performance, have them repeat it back to you. You may be surprised at their take on your words. You won’t know if they truly understand your meaning unless you ask.

If there is a discrepancy between what you said and what they heard, try to clarify your message. This gets a bit tricky because, by trying to correct things, you may unintentionally give them the idea you don’t think they are smart enough to catch on to what you said the first time. Let them know that they aren’t at fault and that you are the one that needs get better at communicating your thoughts in a clear, understandable way.

Tip#5 - Be consistently and constantly Positive!
Talk with your child, watch your child, listen to your child, teach your child, listen again, and teach again, but keep it positive. We often demand the most of those we love. Since you as a parent love your child so much, you probably demand quite a bit of them. That’s okay. But remember; be positive, not only consistently, but constantly. Being positive once a month would be consistent, but not constant. With the hustle and bustle of sports life, time can fly by rather quickly. It’s easy to let a week or two slip by without saying anything positive to your child. Make it a point to encourage and praise them more often than that. Shoot for 3-4 times a week if not daily. When your child knows you believe in them, they can carry that into their performance believe in themselves. This confidence and belief has the potential to boost performance more than any drill could.

So, Mom, Dad, choose your words wisely. Use words that instill confidence instead of self doubt. Words that help your child improve next time instead of causing them to fear making another mistake. Let your words promote and enhance your child’s performance while contributing to their love of the game.

Article by Stacie Mahoe, owner of AllAboutFastpitch.com

Kids’ Parties Helpful Hints To Help You Enjoy Your Kids’ Parties

Many times kids’ parties can be a party for the children and a headache for you. Simplify things by creating a party theme to provide instant interest, preplan entertainment, and set some strict rules to make things easier on yourself.

Set a time for the party to begin and end. Choosing to have your kids’ parties after school on a Friday, insures the children will be tired enough to sleep at the end of the night instead of staying awake all night long. Having the children picked up by 10:00 the next morning, will give you plenty of time to clean up, and still have time to catch up on any rest you missed in afternoon.

Tents pitched in the back yard, are an adventure for your kids’ parties, and save your house a bit of wear and tear as well. Just be sure to have plenty of snacks and drinks handy, and lots of trash cans in your yard. Buy plenty of flashlights at an everything is a dollar store (the flashlights are good for playing flashlight tag as well as finding the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night) and let your little partiers take them home with them after the party.

Another helpful hint is to have extra movies and popcorn handy just in case of rain, or too many spooky stories sending the kids and their sleeping bags inside, so you will not be unprepared to entertain the children, if the festivities at your kids’ parties move inside.

Both for yourself, and the parents of the children attending your kids’ parties, set a time for lights out, and stick to it. Nobody enjoys picking up a cranky child who has been awake all night long, and, though it might not be popular with the kids, it will be appreciated by the parents.

Have plenty of handy breakfast foods set out the night before, so early risers will be able to serve themselves. Good choices are small boxes of cereal, fruits, muffins, bagels, and a variety of milk and juices. Planning ahead and using these helpful hints will guarantee your kids’ parties will be enjoyed by everyone!

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

Earning a Living Crafting at Home - Is It Possible

Making crafts at home can be both fun and rewarding, I know many stay at home moms that make a nice part-time income off the crafts that they make.

I think it’s possible and have succeeded in earning a full time income off crafting. When I was on bed rest while pregnant with my son, I had nothing more to do then craft. So I started of thinking of ideas to turn it into profit.

Keys to turning a profit are:

Performing Magic for Kids Part I - The Secret Most Magicians Don’t Know About Kid Shows

You have just discovered the wonderful world of magic. Trip after trip
to the magic shop has added to your ever growing arsenal of magic
tricks. Thirty-three days later the credit card bills arrive to remind
your wife that this IS an expensive hobby.

No problem! You will make back all of the money you’ve spent and more
by becoming a part-time professional magician. Looking around for places
to hone your craft, you suddenly remember that you niece has a seventh
birthday coming up. You call you sister and offer your services in lieu
of a gift.

Two weeks later the performance time arrives. You pack all of your ace
material into two large cardboard boxes. You start the show for sixteen
first graders and all of your relatives. The show goes well. Everybody
is laughing and having a good time. You take some theatrical pauses to
build suspense as you search your boxes for the next great trick.
Finally, your fifteen minute show concludes after fifty-three minutes.
You never realized you had that much great magic. The kids cheer and
applaud for your debut magic show. Even your sister, wiping the tears
from her eyes, says, “I have never had more fun than I did watching your
magic show. It was great. John got it all on tape.”

This is how many part-time professional magicians attempt to begin their
career. They look around and decided that doing kid shows is the best
way to start. Performing magic for kids is one of the most difficult
areas of magic to do well. This series of articles explore some of the challenges of performing children’s magic.

The next article explains the four most important things you must do when perfroming magic for children.

Copyright © 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has written extensively on many topics in magic. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks.

Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

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Decorating Outside Your Home For Halloween (A Spooky Theme)

For many people the best part of Halloween is being able to decorate the outside of their home. This doesn’t have to be limited to just the front yard. Decorating the backyard can create a very spooky atmosphere. You can even design a detour that will take each of your guests on a long walk that circles the backyard before leading them to the entrance. This way they get to enjoy the full benefits of your decorating efforts.

The traditional pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns make great additions when you decorate the outside of your home for Halloween. The light that these decorations give off will help your guest to see their way around and add the perfect lighting to create scary shadows that surround the other decorations. Ghost and goblins are an old favorite that can still make your guest look over their shoulder twice. Don’t be afraid to get very creative with these items. Some of the newer designs are now being made inflatable to help give them an even more lifelike appearance.

The use of a fog machine can create an illusion that can make your yard the spookiest of all. This is especially true when you litter the lawn with fake body parts and fake blood splattered all about the area. The fog just intensifies the whole spooky theme. Don’t forget about a special door bell ring that alerts you of the incoming guest with screams, howling or some other unique Halloween greeting. You can even have a host that is decked out in one of the scariest costumes around to stand outside your door to personally welcome each and every one of you Halloween guest.

Add special sound effects that will begin whenever your guest walks past a certain area. You can also use props that are programmed on a timer to go off at specific intervals. Spider webs are also a great decorating idea that will help you to create a spooky outdoor theme. Make sure that you don’t forget the customary black cat and maybe a witch or two sitting in the trees watching the guest wondering by. It’s just not Halloween without a few traditional items.

Nicola always enjoys Halloween parties with her family. Visit her Halloween site for tips and information about Halloween Outdoor Decorations at http://Halloween-Decorations.Best-Halloween.com

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Best-Halloween.com

How To Buy Your Halloween Costume Online

Just as in the “real” world, there are many costume shops on the internet that all claim to be the best source for costumes and accessories. Obviously they can’t all the be the best, but how can you tell which ones will be the best to deal with? After all, it’s a little harder to judge them from a website than it is by walking into their store and actually looking around and speaking with someone.

When shopping for a costume online, you should follow the same principles you would when dealing with a traditional store.

Find out where they’re located. Any decent web-based store will have a physical address and contact information listed on their website, in an easy-to-find spot. If they don’t list this information, or it’s buried somewhere hard to find, they may not be the best choice.

What are their return policies? Buying over the internet means you can’t actually see and feel the costume before you get it home. If what you order turns out to not be what you expected, you should be able to return it with minimal hassle.

How do they ship your costume and how quickly will it arrive? If you’re ordering a costume with lots of accessories and detail you want to be sure that it is well protected in shipping, to avoid damage along the way. And the shipping time is important, especially as it gets closer to Halloween.

Do they allow special orders? Most online costume shops carry a wide range of accessories, as well as complete costume kits. If you want to order a kit but substitute a couple of items, will they work with you?

Is there a telephone number that you can call to speak to a representative? Even if you can find all the information you need on the website, it isn’t a bad idea to call them just to get a feel for how easy it is to deal with them in person. If you aren’t happy with the quality of their service before you buy, it probably isn’t going to be any better afterwards.

Shopping for a Halloween costume online can be a lot more convenient than visiting a bunch of stores in person. You’ll probably find a lot bigger selection, for almost any age. By using these tips, you’ll be a lot more likely to be happy with your costume, and more able to enjoy Halloween.

Phil Sikes writes about Halloween costumes and other related topics for the Get In Costume website. Visit the Costume Deals blog for some great costume ideas and other special offers.

Kids Party Games and Activities

There are literally hundreds of kids party games and activities that can be made use of when planning a children’s party in order to keep the kids occupied and happy. They are usually very flexible and can be altered easily to fit with any party theme. Take for example the game bobbing for apples. At Halloween it can become bobbing for mini pumpkins or during a pool party you can literally have the kids jump into the pool and try to bring up toys or treats with only their mouths.

Smashing the Pinata is a fun activity at any Mexican themed party such as a Cinco de Mayo celebration, but it can certainly be adapted to other types of celebrations. How about a Christmas tree Pinata to shower the kids in treats of candy canes and walnuts, pecans and pistachios? It can be a lot of fun before the actual holiday to get together with the children to create their very own theme Pinata. Typically balloons can be blown up and tied together to form the basic shape and strips of newspaper soaked in a flour and water mixture are applied and left to dry. Once dry the balloon inside can be popped via a hole cut out to fill the pinata with candy and the outside can be painted.

Speaking of balloons they can make create props for kid’s party games. Simply filling up a few water balloons having the kids toss them back and forth while trying to keep them from popping is tension building fun, at least until one pops on someone. If you don’t like the idea of water balloons you can set up a contest between some of the kids to see who can pop as many balloons with their bums as possible within say the frame of a couple of minutes.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.