Super Hero Party

A few weeks ago, we threw CheezWaster a Super Hero themed birthday party in the hall of our church.  He is a huge fan of X-men, Spiderman and Iron Man.  Since we invited his entire nursery school class, I wanted to do a really fun party.

First, I made invitations using the Create Your Own Comic feature on Marvelkids.com.  I made a three panel comic strip.  The first panel read: Are You Ready to HERO UP! and save the day for CheezWaster’s 4th Birthday?  The second panel listed the time and location of the party.  The third panel listed the RSVP details.  In each panel, I inserted a background and 2 Super Hero Squad characters.  These turned out really great and were all but free.  I only needed to purchase a pack of Card Stock on which to print them.

Next, came the decorations.  It was near impossible to find Super Hero Squad stuff, so I used a mix of various super heroes.  I managed to find some Super Hero Squad tables cloths and paper goods on Ebay (Hallmark’s Party Express makes them, but you need to find a place that carries this stuff.  You can not order directly from Party Express unless you have a wholesalers number).  The rest of the decorations and paper goods came from Party City (Wolverine) and Oriental Trading (Spiderman, Silver Surfer).

Super Hero Party Decorations

I ordered some decorations online - these are available from various party sellers online - as well as some posters which I found at PosterRevolution.com.  I also used the mini posters that come in the packages of the Super Hero Squad toys.

Posters and Decorations

For the activites of the party, we had each table set up with super hero balloons and printed Marvel maze/puzzle dittos which I photocopied from a Marvel Activity Coloring Book.  I also found Iron Man, Spiderman and Hulk crayons at my local Dollar Tree store.  I included these on the table in case one of the kids did not want to or could not participate in the obstacle course - or if the parents got bored.

Table Set Up

Upon their arrival, the first activity we had the kids do was to make their own Super Hero Cape.  I found an inexpensive lot of 24 black capes on Amazon from a company called Making Believe.  I purchased sticky back felt from which I cut shapes like stars, hearts, flowers, lightning bolts, shields and circles.  I also found online sticky back felt letters and numbers.

Making a Super Hero Cape

 After each child was outfitted with their very own Super Hero Cape, we had them run through an obstacle course which included 1) crawling through the Camo Tunnel, 2) running through the rings of fire, 3) finding a fractal, and 4) stringing up a villain.

Obstacle Course - Camo Tunnel and Rings of Fire

I purchased the Camo Tunnel online at Overstock.com.  I made the rings of fire using hula hoops to which I binder clipped flame material purchased from Walmart.  I also bought hoop stands online, but the kids were so excited to run the course, the hoop stands were not as effective as I had hoped.  My mom wound up holding the rings up while the kids went through them (as shown above).  For the find a fractal portion (If you don’t know what a fractal is, it probably means you’ve never seen Super Hero Squad), I bought green glow sticks at Party City and each kid had to find one in a slightly darkened room.  The pack I bought came with chord to make the glow sticks into necklaces and the kids flipped over this!  We also hid 2 large Kryptonite glow sticks which I purchased on clearance after Halloween.  The kids that found them got a special prize - a Spiderman and Friends Super Hero puzzle I found at the Dollar Tree store.  The posters in the decoration picture above have 1 side of good guys and 1 side of villains.  For the last part of the obstacle course, we gave each kid a can of silly string and had them shoot it at the villains - another big hit (and surprisingly not as big of a mess as I thought it would be).  I also had a Super Hero Squad bop bag out for decoration, which the kids demolished - literally.  The thing was leaking water from the internal bladder that weights it down.  Needless to say after the party, that went into the garbage - but the kids had fun beating the hell out of it.

My husband and I each wore shirts that said Super Hero Academy.  I printed this logo found online onto iron-on transfer paper and ironed it onto plain blue t-shirts.

Super Hero Academy Staff Shirts

For the food, in the beginning of the party we had out snacks of a Pretzel Tray from a local pretzel shop, cheezdoodles, a veggie tray and a fruit tray.  For lunch, we served pizza, pb&j and turkey/ham/cheese sandwiches.  I had soda, juice and iced tea for drinks.  We ordered CheezWaster an Iron Man Cake from Wegmans.  The Iron Man on this lit up and spun.

Iron Man Cake

For goodie bags, I used Super Hero Squad treat bags purchased off of Ebay.   I filled them with a bunch of Marvel Super Hero Candy (taffy, lollipops and gum tape) that I found at the Dollar Tree store (also available at online candy shops).  I also included Super Hero Squad tattoos found online at Amazon, Marvel grow a washcloths found at the Dollar Tree Store, and little Marvel figures found at the Christmas Tree Shoppes.  With the goodie bags, we gave each child a certificate stating they had completed Super Hero Training Academy and were officially Heroes.  I used the FREE certificate maker (Fantastic option) here. 

All in all, I think the kids had a great time.  We received many compliments from the parents of CheezWaster’s classmates.  Despite a lot of time, effort and research, I really had a TON of fun putting this party together!

A side note - If you don’t want to buy a professional cake, my mom made this VERY SIMPLE X-men Cake for CheezWaster’s birthday night at my parents’ house.

X-Men Cake

  • Bookmark on Facebook
  • Digg This
  • Bookmark with Yahoo
  • Bookmark with Google
  • Email to a Friend
  • Print

The Best Girl Gift

We’ve been on the mad hunt for the new Superhero Squad figures and as a result, we are visiting every Target in the state of NJ…ok - not every Target in NJ - just the ones in Union County.  Last night, we hit up another Target where unfortunately there were no new Superhero Squad figures, but there were Valentine’s to be purchased!  CheezWaster has been quite eager to pick out his Valentine’s Day gift for “his best girl” at nursery school.  Below is what he picked out: a stuffed hippo that says “I’m Hip On You” on the box of heart candies, a Princess Chocolate box that says, “Valentine, You’re Enchanting”, and the Cupcake Sweet Bag.  I suggested a plain red bag with hearts, but CheezWaster just loved this one with the cupcakes!  I also picked out the Sandra Boynton card.  It was one of the least sappy kids cards I could find.  Doesn’t anyone make cute crush cards for the nursery school set?  Hallmark - you need to get on that ASAP!  You are totally missing out on major market share here!

V-day Gift for his Best Girl

  • Bookmark on Facebook
  • Digg This
  • Bookmark with Yahoo
  • Bookmark with Google
  • Email to a Friend
  • Print

His Best Girl

Last week, CheezWaster was at the store with my mom when he suddenly put a pillow into the cart.  The pillow had lots of hearts on it and said I love you.  My mom asked what he was doing and he said he wanted to get it for mommy.  SO CUTE!  Of course, my mom let him and he couldn’t even wait until Valentine’s Day to give it to me.  He gave it to me right that night.

Yesterday, while making out his Valentine cards for nursery school, CheezWaster told me that he wanted to give something special to one girl in his class.  He said she was “his best girl”.  My little boy has a BEST GIRL!  My heart all but melted.  It was so cute how he said it with such a big smile!

  • Bookmark on Facebook
  • Digg This
  • Bookmark with Yahoo
  • Bookmark with Google
  • Email to a Friend
  • Print

A Healthy Chili Alternative

This past weekend, I gifted my sister-in-law and brother-in-law with a meal since they just brought home their new baby boy.  I wanted to give them something that would microwave well, freeze well, be healthy and taste good.  Then my power went out (for 4+ hours!).  So, I headed over to my parents’ house to borrow their kitchen where I made 2 pots (one for us and one for them) of Pumpkin Chicken Chowder.  While I don’t have any pictures, I did want to share this recipe, as 1) it is a sneaky way to get your kids to eat vegetables (yeah pumpkin!) and 2) it is a nice alternative or addition to Chili (superbowl is coming!) and 3) it is quick and you can make it all in one pot.  I’ve taken some liberties in altering the recipe slightly and have listed my changed in parentheses below.

PUMPKIN CHICKEN CHOWDER

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 1/2 cups warm water  (I substitute Chicken Broth for this and DO NOT add the boullion cubes)
1 can (15 ounces) LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1/2 cup whole-kernel corn (I use a mixed vegetable pack that includes corn, carrots, peas, green beans and lima beans)
1/4 cup long-grain white rice (I usually add a bit more as I like my chowder THICK - 1/2 cup)
4 MAGGI Vegetarian Vegetable Flavor Bouillon Cubes (DO NOT ADD)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

I also add about a 1/2 teaspoon of salt - though this is just my taste.

Directions

HEAT oil in large pot over medium heat. Add chicken, onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink.

STIR in chicken broth, pumpkin, corn, rice, basil and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

ENJOY!

  • Bookmark on Facebook
  • Digg This
  • Bookmark with Yahoo
  • Bookmark with Google
  • Email to a Friend
  • Print

Taking Care of Your Kids

I love my kids. Some folks in my life will probably say I love them a little too much. But, they are wrong. I love them just the right amount. I was raised in a home where my parents sacrificed so that they could be home to take care of me and my brothers. My dad worked multiple jobs when my mom was a young mother, so she didn’t have to leave the kids with a babysitter. My mom worked nights and went to school when I was in school, so that she could be home for me. I know in this day and age, it is sometimes impossible for a mother or a father to give up one income, but daycare and babysitters can also be costly. I just don’t feel comfortable with the idea of a stranger raising my children. I find it becoming more and more OK with folks for them to just drop off their kids somewhere to do whatever it is they have to do. Now, don’t get me wrong, a trip to any store without kids is a much easier, faster trip than with, however, this is not something that I prefer to do. About the only place I won’t bring my kids with me is the doctor and that is just because I don’t want them exposed to anything they don’t need to be exposed to. I spend time with my kids - quality time. We play, we craft, we bake, we take day trips. I may only be home with my kids 4 out of 7 days a week, but I make sure that time is quality time. And I know that my children are in good hands while I’m at work - hands that have been there before - and hands that provide the same quality time that was bestowed upon me. Each individual has their own parenting style, but if you are going to have children, then you have to be prepared to be a parent. And I choose to be a hands-on parent. There is going to come a time when my kids will want nothing to do with me. I see that in the teenage children of my friends.  So while they still want me around, I’m going to indulge myself and be the best hands-on parent I can be.

  • Bookmark on Facebook
  • Digg This
  • Bookmark with Yahoo
  • Bookmark with Google
  • Email to a Friend
  • Print

Artistic Honies

  • A picture is worth 365,000 words
  • Creative Party Place
  • Hostess With the Mostess
  • Kara's Party Ideas
  • Swanky Tables

Food Honies

  • Bakerella
  • Baking Bites
  • CandyBlog
  • Cookie Madness
  • Cookies and Cups
  • Our Best Bites
  • Sugarplum
  • The Cookbook Junkie

Gossip Honies

  • Perez Hilton
  • Pink Is the New Blog

Health Honies

  • Does This Blog Make Us Look Fat
  • Never Trade What You Want the Most for What You Want in the Moment
  • She Fit

Mama Honies

  • BabyCheapskate
  • Blissful Kids
  • Classy Mommy
  • Cool Mom Picks
  • Dad Gone Mad
  • GoodyBlog
  • Let's Explore
  • Make & Takes
  • Mom Advice
  • Plum Pudding
  • Sarah and the Goon Squad
  • Super Cool Baby
  • Super Mom Central
  • Today Is Fun
  • Totsy

Thrifty Honies

  • BTrendie
  • Freebies4Mom
  • Money Saving Mom
  • Money Wise Moms
  • The Freebie Blogger
  • Thrifty Geek
  • Thrifty Mommy
  • Want Not
  • Colorful Images
  • Current Catalog
  • justmysize.com
  • LEGO Brand Retail
  • Magic Cabin
  • On Sale at Amy Adele!
  • Label Daddy Special! 20 free labels!  50 labels total for $9.95.
  • FavorAffair.com (The Shops at 24Seven)
  • Tea Forte, Inc.
  • Play to Learn
  • 20% Off Popcornopolis Gourmet Popcorn and Popcorn Gifts
  • The Popcorn Factory
  • Buy.com
  • Promo Offer Homepage Banner
  • Brownies Make The Best Gift