The Margaritaville Birthday Theme Party

For pirates of all ages, shapes, and sizes there is little better than a Jimmy Buffett themed birthday party for fun and play. Much more than good music Jimmy Buffett has created a lifestyle all his own through his music and with the enthusiastic support of his fans. His music isn’t limited to one genre and doesn’t appeal to one specific culture, instead the appeal is nearly limitless, which makes this a great theme for a birthday party that is open to an audience of all ages though a firm favorite for celebrating the big 4-0 as the result of “A Pirate Looks at 40.”

To pull off an excellent Margaritaville party blenders and ice are a must. The next thing you need to worry about is food. Some great food ideas for a Margaritaville themed party would be boiled shrimp, build your own cheeseburgers’ (in paradise of course), complimentary finger foods and fixings, and a little bit of sponge cake and/or fruitcake probably wouldn’t hurt things at all. They would definitely work wonders to the Jimmy Buffett approved theme of the party. If you are in serious need of inspiration for menu ideas check out the menu at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Café.

If you are in the right climate and the weather is cooperative a patio or backyard party is definitely the way to go. Decorate with tiki lights, shark fins, flowers, coconuts, and any other tropical themes that capture your attention and imagination. Be sure to put grass skirts on the tables you set up with the fabulous foods and place a nice tiki bar for serving the required margaritas. You can also choose to serve non-alcoholic margaritas to the little ones if there will be children in attendance and have them available for adults that are driving or do not wish to partake. Have fun with the food and keep it appropriate for a tropical or Jimmy Buffett theme.

Music is a must for this particular birthday party theme. You simply can’t recreate Margaritaville without the sounds of the town blaring out across your speakers. You do not need to limit the music of the evening to Jimmy Buffett though he should play a prominent role in the entertainment for the evening. Other great sounds that will compliment the theme of the evening include the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, and Bobby McFerrin. Of course use your imagination and go with your taste. My personal preference would be a showcase of all things Jimmy Buffett for the evening but that doesn’t work for everyone.

Be sure to take measures to ensure that everyone makes it home safely if you are serving alcohol and work to make sure that everyone has a fun and memorable evening in Margaritaville. You might want to include contests such as the loudest “Hawaiian shirt” for extra fun or the most memorable flip-flops. Remember the goal is to have fun and make sure that everyone attending has fun also. If you have the equipment Jimmy Buffet karaoke is a must and video recordings for future black mail and a recording of the revelry are also highly recommended. All in all, Margaritaville is a place that many of us dream of going to escape the every day. Wouldn’t it be a great theme for a birthday party that makes that day a little more special than the rest for everyone invited and not just the one celebrating?

The next time you are lost for a great theme to add to your birthday party theme inventory, consider the benefit to one and all of adding an evening under the stars and on the sand to your plans. Margaritaville is the perfect setting for a truly festive celebration no matter how old the pirate in your life may be. Just remember to keep the saltshaker in sight at all times and the party should go off without a hitch.

Throwing a Mardi Gras Birthday Bash

Mardi Gras is almost synonymous in many circles with fun and festivity. From the novelty of getting ‘throws’ from the parade routes to the revelry of the movie and exotic spices in the food and the great flavor of the drinks that flow freely Mardi Gras is known as a great time to be had by one and all. Though few around the world will ever experience the true debauchery of an earnest French Quarter Mardi Gras you can use the Mardi Gras theme and the “let the good times roll” attitude that has made the New Orleans spin on Mardi Gras a sight to behold around the world to your very own celebration of life. Life is, after all, what Mardi Gras revelers are celebrating first and foremost.

If you are wondering where to begin this is a toss-up. I’m not certain which is more important when it comes to bringing the feeling of an honest to goodness Mardi Gras celebration worthy of the Crescent City. Would it be the food or the music? I guess that depends on the things that are most important to your celebratory needs and what kind of facilities and equipment you have available for most. The music for Mardi Gras should be fitting of the season and of celebrations, yes even if the one celebrating is a bit over the hill (be sure to include a genuine New Orleans funeral march in the mix if this is the case however). You can find excellent sources of Mardi Gras music in CD format online for your listening and birthday party pleasure.

The food of New Orleans is glorious indeed though many necessary ingredients may be a bit difficult to come by once the bayou has been left far behind. No matter where you are though it is quite possible to order many boxed mixes of New Orleans favorites that will work well with the Mardi Gras theme for your birthday party. If you want to hold true to the spirit of Mardi Gras you will opt for King Cake rather than a traditional birthday cake though a normal cake decorated in the purple, gold, and green of Mardi Gras will do in a pinch. Red beans and rice, jambalaya, bread pudding, gumbo, and oyster po-boys are excellent fits for a Mardi Gras theme if ingredients and the mood strikes.

Purple, gold, and green are the colors of Mardi Gras so be sure to use them well when decorating for your Mardi Gras themed birthday parties. Great party favors include items such as beads in the famous colors of Mardi Gras, doubloons, and feathered masks. The idea is to be fun and festive and you don’t really need to spend a fortune in order to do this. Most party supply stores can get everything you would need for an unforgettable Mardi Gras birthday party no matter what time of year it is. Whatever you can’t find locally it is more than likely you will be able to find online with minimal effort to suit your Mardi Gras Birthday party needs.

If it’s a large gathering with people of varying ages, you may want to use a punch bowl with non-alcoholic hurricanes to make it a little bit more authentic. If this is an adult only gathering be sure to include a little bit of the good stuff in the mix for that oh so potent kick. Hurricanes have taken on a bit of a new meaning in the aftermath of Katrina though it is still an important drink in the New Orleans tradition.

Let the party take you where it leads but remember that the real goal is to celebrate yet another year of living with as much zeal as possible. Regardless of anything else those who live, work, and play in the City that Care Forgot knowing how to throw a real good bash. Check out favorite Cajun recipes, order a boatload of good drinks, bring in great friends, and pipe in the music for an unforgettable event.

Train Birthday Party for the Little Ones

Boys and girls of all ages have a deep and abiding love of trains. From Thomas the Tank to The Little Engine that Could, trains make an excellent theme for a birthday party for your favorite youngster. The great news is that there are plenty of great party favors and decorations on the market to make your train theme carry through all aspects of the birthday party.

You can purchase invitations that are shaped like a train and appropriate for the specific train theme you have in mind. Even old-fashioned steam engines make a fascinating setting and theme for little ones who are filled with imagination. You do not need to go overboard on the decorations for a train themed party in order to get the theme apart but there are some great goody bags that can be made in keeping with the theme.

A train piñata is a great way to get the kids in on the action and having a great time. You may also choose to have all the little ones dress up as a train engineer for a little interactive fun with your train birthday party idea. You can also choose to play a DVD of your favorite train story for the entertainment of the little ones and in hopes of a little bit of quiet time before the sugar induced highs of after cake time.

Speaking of cake, there are plenty of cake forms and cake themes that are ideal for train cakes and children’s birthday parties. From the popular character cakes that are related to trains to other train themes such as The Polar Express there are plenty from which to choose when it comes to the perfect birthday cake for your train themed party. A little cake with a little ice cream and it will soon be time to take a whack at the train themed piñata mentioned earlier.

Most party supply stores should have an abundance of train themed party supplies. From hats to plates, cups, and napkins there should be plenty of wonderful party supplies to help you convey the train theme of the party with little additional efforts unless, of course, streamers and other party supplies are needed. Your little ones are very special after all and as parents we all want to do our very best to insure that each party is a special memory fit for a lifetime.

Goody bags are becoming a more and more important part of birthday parties in modern society. The train themed birthday party lends itself to plenty of train themed goody bag fillers. Among those wonderful items are coloring books, storybooks, puzzles, train whistles (their parents will love you and it is the perfect revenge for the air horn your child came home with), and stickers. This is a great way for your child to give back to those who have given him or her gifts while providing something appropriate to the theme for everyone to remember this particular party by.

If you are looking for a little something extra for your child’s train themed birthday party, you might want to talk to local train companies and see if there is a train museum near by or if you can possibly book a train car or a room at the train depot in which to host the party. This will create a very special memory for your little one and everyone that attended the party.

Some trains actually run day trips that last a couple of hours. This will be a thrilling party experience for your little one’s friends if you can manage this great escape of a train themed birthday party. You may also talk to those in charge at the train station for ideas and suggestions they may have to make your child’s special day a little more thrilling. Just remember that after a party like this, next year will be a hard act to follow.

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