With her new line of crafts hitting the Home Shopping Network on March 13 and the April 3 release of her first party-planning book, CelebraTORI: Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to Entertain Friends and Family, Spelling shared her secrets for turning a ho-hum shindig into an event everyone will remember.
1. Make It a Family Affair
Spelling's top party planning tip is to let the children help out. "Stuff I can get [my kids] involved with always pays off more, because they take pride in it," she says. While young children may not be able to book a venue or plan a menu, they can help you choose the colors and theme of the party, arrange tables, and help with invites.
2. Listen to Your Kid
Enlisting your child for help also means paying attention to what they really want. When Spelling and hubby Dean McDermott tried to plan an elaborate SpongeBob SquarePants party for their son Liam's fifth birthday, little Liam spoke up.
"In my head I'm like, 'SpongeBob SquarePants, what can I get?' and I'm thinking of a million things," Spelling says. "Then Liam says, 'Listen, I just want a piñata.'" In response, Spelling scaled the party back and planned to incorporate a piñata instead. "Take a lesson from your kid," she adds. "It's like when you buy all those presents, and the kid plays with the box."
3. Too Many Presents Are Overkill
Guests are bound to bring a ton of gifts to birthday parties, which means parents don't have to go nuts in that department. Spelling says she used to get Liam many presents for his birthday, but in the end he was overwhelmed with all the gifts he was given. Then her husband, McDermott, suggested they just get Liam one great present to open at the end of the party: "He was like, 'Let him open all his friends' presents first, because by the time he gets to our present, he won't care anyway," Spelling says. Turns out McDermott's theory was right - and it saved them money!
4. Replace Pricey Desserts with Candy
Instead of blowing your bank on high-priced desserts, Spelling suggests offering candy, which goes over just as well for the underage crowd and keeps costs down. "You don't need to have an elaborate dessert if you have little candies out in different jars that you can collect from your house," Spelling says. Plus, candy jars can double as budget-friendly take-home gifts for tykes to enjoy later.
5. Craft It Up
A little glitter, some Elmer's glue, and a great project idea that matches the party theme can go a long way when it comes to keeping kids entertained. "Kids love it," says Spelling, whose new craft line includes kits stocked with crafting materials and tools. "If it's a pirate party, they can make their own eye patches and swords. If it's a princess party, they can make their own tiaras."
Having an adult-supervised craft station also provides a break for kids who may not be social butterflies, a quiet spot for parents, and a focused activity where everyone can funnel their creativity and energy.
By: Christina Couch
No comments:
Post a Comment