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Sweet 16 Party Planning: The Ice Princess

Sweet 16 party planning is a big business and for many a big frustration. Unique Sweet 16 parties are difficult to plan and often difficult to afford.

Sweet 16 party planning all starts with a theme. Coming up with a unique theme for a Sweet 16 can be quite difficult, therefore, many parents and their daughters have turned to creating unique variations of popular themes.

One unique Sweet 16 party idea recently created by Pocket-Poet is called The Ice Princess. The Sweet 16 theme is a variation on the popular princess theme.

The announcement of the party was a creative flash presentation e-mailed to family and friends that caught their attention and set the tone for the entire evening.

Scroll invitations were hand-delivered to nearby guests, delivered on a silk pillow.

The decor idea was simple and unique. Silver tablecloths are sprinkled with white and silver glitter and then covered by a clear tablecloth (to prevent your guests being covered in sparkles).

White votive candles are displayed on the table. Green ivy is sprayed with artificial snow. Whole fruits are dipped in syrup and then rolled in granulated sugar to create edible, frozen fruit. The fruit and ivy become a unique and inexpensive centerpiece for your Sweet 16 party.

White twinkle lights can be used to decorate the trees and surrounding foliage and canned snow can be used to add to the frozen effect.

White balloons with wireless iridescent blue lights inside can cover a pool and give the effect of ice, or can be placed around the venue to add to the theme.

An ice sculpture or an ice bar can be a unique touch to your Sweet 16 party theme and can be a focal point for your party as guests are naturally drawn to ice sculptures and bars.

Frozen drinks are in order for a Sweet 16 - virgin drinks for minors, of course. As each guest arrives you can consider handing them a great frozen drink and welcoming them to the Ice Princess' court. Ice cube lights (wireless cubes that light up in liquid)can add a nice touch of elegance to a drink.

Ask a bartender to create a unique signature drink that you name after the guest of honor so people remember the wonderful party and the name of that great drink they had.

Sweet 16 parties need a favor, consider customized poems rolled up as scrolls, candles that fit a regal theme, perhaps tiaras for the ladies and crowns for the men upon arrival.

Speaking of arrivals. For your Sweet 16 birthday party with the Ice Princess theme, do not forget either a red or white carpet runner for the grand entrance. A white carpet runner with more "frozen ivy" and "frozen roses" can be a wonderful touch.

There is plastic dinnerware that looks like expensive china, and plastic utensils that look like real silverware that is becoming easier to find. Using these great looking and inexpensive dinnerware and utensils can help save your budget while also setting your Sweet 16 apart.

Bite-sized foods go well with a princess theme. Snowball cookies or cupcakes can fit the theme, snow cones, shaved ices and Italian ices are all great dessert choices to go along with the cake.

The highlight of any Sweet 16 birthday party is the guest of honor, of course, and you want to make sure she truly shines on her special night.

Many young ladies celebrating their Sweet 16 have found that they can rent a beautiful gown from a costume rental store, especially those that cater to the movie, television and theater industries. Your entrance into your party can be regal with the right sparkle make-up on your face and a gorgeous rented gown.

For a little tongue-in-cheek moment your prince can arrive to entertain the crowd - a real-life Prince impersonator (the artist formally known as Prince that is).

The key to a successful Sweet 16 party is to have fun and do not feel you need to bust the budget to do so. A variation on a popular Sweet 16 theme can be just the thing to set apart your Sweet 16 from all the other Sweet 16 birthdays.

posted by xtrx @ 11:25 PM 0 comments

Gift Ideas for the Sports Enthusiast

Within your circle of family and friends, there's bound to be at least one sports enthusiast. Whether he or she is an avid player or a dedicated spectator, the thrill of the game ignites passion and gets the adrenaline pumping. And, when it comes to gift giving occasions - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and the holidays - there is an abundance of gift ideas, any of which is certain to bring smiles to their faces.

If your sports fan is also a gamer, there are a number of highly rated video games for the Xbox 360 that make great gifts. The basketball fan will enjoy the NBA 2K6, the hockey enthusiast will love the NHL 2K6, and someone who can never get enough football will go for the Madden NFL 06. The golfer who is also into electronics will have fun with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, while the soccer player will get into FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup. There is always any number of racing games available for the Xbox 360, and there's even a game, Bankshot Billiards 2, for those who love to shoot pool.

The Xbox 360 isn't the only platform that offers games for sports enthusiasts. If your fan is into portable gaming, many of the same sports-related games are available for the PSP. Plus, there's the highly rated World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 and Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee.

If your recipient is more interested in the real deal, there are a number of gift ideas that will thrill him or her. Tickets to watch their favorite team play are always appropriate, as are exhibition matches scheduled for their area. Many of the world's best tennis players are turning up for matches in cities across the United States, for example, and any tennis enthusiast would be delighted to watch a favorite player hit the court.

Big occasions sometimes call for big gift ideas. Recently, the children of a couple celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary pooled their money and arranged for the couple to take a trip to Arizona to watch their favorite major league baseball team during spring training. The memories of that trip will definitely last a lifetime.

There are a number of sports-related toys and games that will delight kids who are players or fans. For the collector, that elusive player card or other sports memorabilia is always a great gift idea.

Virtually every professional team offers an abundance of apparel, leather goods, sports bags, handbags, hats, mugs, and other items that carry the team's logo. Whether it's a minor league team or a World Series winner, it's a safe bet that you can find great gift ideas and shopping opportunities on their website.

posted by xtrx @ 5:54 PM 0 comments