Party like it’s your birthday

You are invited. It’s a birthday party.

How do you make your child’s birthday special and stand out from all the others? First of all, pick a theme based on the child’s favorite things or places to go or do. Then, carry the theme throughout in the invitations, party decorations, favors, cake and location. And if possible, ask the guests to dress theme appropriate.

Princess and pirate themed parties top the list of the most popular. The other top birthday party themes, according to the Web site http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com, are sweet 16, tropical luau, scavenger hunt, sleep over, tea party, beach party, Star Wars and superhero.

In Hartsville, CJ’s Catering said the most popular themed cakes for children’s birthday parties are Elmo, SpongeBob, Dora and Hannah Montana.

Whether you are having a princess or a pirate party, making the day special is what counts. It doesn’t always have to cost a lot or have to be anywhere other than your home.

Having a pirate party for your son can be as simple as making eye patches for the guests out of black construction paper with white cross-bones and a pirate’s hat out of construction paper or old newspapers. Make and decorate the cake as a ship or pirate’s hat. Turn a room in your house into a pirate’s den or the deck of ship.

Have a tea party for your daughter. Ask the guests to dress in party dresses or borrow mom’s hat, gloves and costume jewelry. Serve dainty sandwiches, cookies and juice in tea cups. It’s that easy.

On Saturday, almost simultaneously, two unique birthday parties were going on across the street from each other in downtown Hartsville. One was a sports-themed party for 6-year-old Cameron Glover and the other a glamour party for 11-year-old Dannyelle Brown.

Cameron Glover, a 5-K kindergarten student at Thomas Hart Academy, took center stage at tip off on the basketball court at the YMCA.

Cameron’s parents invited Coker College basketball players and the Coker Dance Team to help out with the occasion. The boys learned some techniques from the “big boys,” and the girls learned cheers and dance moves.

“Cameron loves all types of sports; however, his favorite sport is basketball,” said his mom, Holly Glover. “We were all so thankful that they (the basketball players and dance team) took time out of their day to come and share it with Cameron and his friends.”

The basketball players also made a slam dunk with their gift to Cameron: a signature basketball signed by the coach and all of the players.

“We would like to say a big thanks to all of the people who came out and helped make this party a huge success,” Holly said. “But most of all the basketball team from Coker College and the dance team made it all possible.”

After the party, mothers were calling to tell her how much their children enjoyed the party Holly said.

Across the street at Artist Images, the birthday girl and her friends rocked to the songs of Miley Cyrus, taking turns on a makeshift stage impersonating rock stars and singing.
It was Dannyelle Brown’s 11th birthday, and she was having glamour party.

A fifth-grader at McBee Elementary School, Dannyelle had gone to Artistic Images to have her hair highlighted before the beginning of school and saw the staff preparing a room in the back of the salon for birthday parties. She liked the idea of having a glitz and glamour party and shared the idea with her mother, Laurie Brown. Brown booked a “Rock ’n’ Roll with a Rock Star” party where all the girls received hairstyles, make up and painted nails and toes along with a carry-home themed bag full of make up, fake colored hair, stick-on tattoos and a headset.

“This was the best birthday party ever,” Dannyelle said.

Laurie said she is a party person and really enjoys giving parties. “This is the best one I’ve given, and I’m a party girl,” she said.

They ended the day with pizza, presents for the birthday girl and guitar birthday cake. In unison, the girls invited to the party said it was the best.

Saturday’s party was the first one booked at Artistic Images, said Wanda Hill, one of the owners at the studio, who came up with the idea of “It’s A Girl’s World” birthday parties. They also have “Shine with a Princess” for ages 4 to 6, and “Design Your Own Hat” for ages 7 and 8. The younger girls receive a tiara and dress up like princesses. At the hat party each, girl designs her own baseball-style cap to take home. The parties can be books after-school hours and on Saturdays.