Parenting has a fabulous list of 30 Amazing (and new) Birthday Cake Designs that are just fabulous!  From Hot Air Balloons to Owls and beyond, this is a great resource to find a thematic cake that is not only darling, but also provides clear instructions on how to make your own!

Bookmark this resource for your future parties.

The Oscars are soon approaching, and you may be having a few of your kid’s friends over to celebrate. It’s a big night and everyone loves to watch the glam and glitz. If you are looking for menu ideas to keep everyone in the “style they are accustomed to” on such an evening, check out the following suggestions:

1. Serve veggies with a variety of dips.
2. Make a salad look like a crown of jewels, with dried red cherries, cranberries, beautiful vegetables and crunchy croutons sprinkled on a bed of lettuce. Serve with a light dressing.
3. Serve popcorn and caramel corn in boxes for everyone’s viewing pleasure.
4. Make cheese fondue and serve with bread, apples, pears, and vegetables.
5. Make chocolate fondue and serve with pretzel rods, strawberries, marshmallows, and pound cake.
6. Make small appetizers, such as mini quiches, wontons filled with cream cheese and served with plum jam, and satay skewers with peanut dipping sauce.
7. Serve melon balls.
8. Serve a cheese platter with a variety of crackers.
9. Pour glasses of sparkling apple cider or fizzy lemonade.
10. Make a batch of star-shaped sugar cookies, and have the kids write their names on them like the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
11. Make a batch of cupcakes and use Red Hot candies to make a star pattern on each one.
12. For more ideas, check out AllRecipes.com’s excellent selection of Oscar party menus based on the movies up for Best Picture this year. It’s worth checking out, especially if adults are attending your party.

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At Home with Kim Vallee has showcased some adorable cupcakes that will match some wonderful and very popular party themes including train, fire , and car parties.

What a perfect complement to these parties.  Yum.

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Looking for some Valentine’s fun with your kids, without throwing a party? Perhaps your child could invite his best friend over for a wonderful afternoon or evening of cooking up some tasty morsels to celebrate. If the idea appeals, you could make:

• A batch of Pokey Brownies
• Heart-shaped cookies
• Real chocolate pudding
• A dozen or so decorative cupcakes (get the cupcake pan at Amazon.com)

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Yum!

Bakerella whipped up this beautiful Valentine Day treat made with butterscotch and bright colors and that perfect heart shape.  She calls it Big Love…and I couldn’t agree more.  I want to gobble this up too!

Planning an Academy Awards party this year with your children?  It’s always a fun night to enjoy the awards ceremony and celebrate.  Bakerella has put together a wonderful recipe and tutorial for Awards Night Sugar Cookies that are simply outstanding for your party this year.  The recipe is fabulous, and look at how she displays her Awards Cookies and the darling small signs next to each one to add authenticity to her Oscars.

This is an excellent sweet treat for your party…a true Awards Wow!