Kids Birthday Party Ideas & Themes

Along with back to school time comes birthday parties, school functions and holiday events calling for home baked cupcakes. I've already made one batch for the new families picnic at my daughter's preschool. One thing I've learned from my first cupcake experience is that you need the right tools to make cupcake baking and decorating an efficient and fun experience. Of course you can pay $3 a pop for the bakery made cupcakes, but you can also buy the pre-made mixes from LA's Sprinkles Bakery. They are famous for their red velvet cupcakes and the cupcake mix is sold at Williams Sonoma. I've found that using the correct tip for icing and decorating can save time and frustration. For perfectly swirled frosting that is peaked at the top use a Wilton tip #1M. Wilton has instructions for everything you wanted to know about cupcake decorating here. Another essential for icing cupcakes is an offset spatula. It has a small bend that gives you the correct angle for applying the frosting. It has made my cupcake experiences so much more enjoyable. Once you've decorated your fabulous cupcakes you'll want to transport them safely. A quality cupcake carrier will keep your cupcakes from getting smashed or falling over. Get 15% off purchases at Williams Sonoma with coupon codes here.

Diego started tugging at kids hearts when he first appeared on tv, saving all the little animals from harm and reuniting them with their parents.  Who wouldn't love Diego!  He's a great role model for kids and he teaches them to be kind to animals, something we all try to impart to our children.

We have compiled a bunch of fun links to all things Diego to help in your search for items and printables for your kids.  And go, Diego, go!

Diego Website

Diego Printables

Diego Games

Diego DVDs

Go Diego Toys & Games

Dora ...  Dora ...  Dora ... that's all some kids can think about.  They just love Dora and for good reason.  Dora is a great little role model who enjoys taking adventures and likes to help her friends.  So, we think Dora is a good friend for kids to have.  If your child is "gaga" over this little character, we have compiled a great list of links for you to quickly find everything you might want for Dora.

Dora Website

Dora Printables

Dora Coloring Pages

Dora Coloring

Dora the Explorer DVDs

Dora the Explorer Toys & Games