For many of us, throwing a kids birthday party can be time consuming, stressful and expensive.

But . . .

What if you could choose a custom theme for your child’s birthday party and everything would be delivered to your door . . .

• Invitations
• Thank you cards
• Cupcakes
• Suggested schedule
• Supplies for activities
• Balloons
• Decorations
• Goody bags

Would it save you time?

What if you had a certified teacher to plan the themed activities so the kids were (shhh!) learning while they were having fun . . .

Would it save you stress?

What if the cost were reasonable . . .

Would it save you money?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to know about Life+Kids’ newest sponsor, Happy Birthdays Delivered.

Happy Birthdays Delivered is a new Northwest Arkansas birthday party planning business. Owner Gwen Olmstead is a certified teacher and mother of three who has plenty of experience planning parties. She also knows how to make learning fun from her days at the Cincinnati Children’s Museum. Now, Gwen is offering her talents to you through Happy Birthdays Delivered.

Here’s how it works. You pick a theme for the party. Gwen has several party ideas listed on her website, but any theme will do. She’ll work with you to plan and provide every detail of the party and deliver it all. This is not a birthday-in-a-box type service. The party is custom and planned specifically for your child.

The package options and prices are listed on the Happy Birthdays Delivered website, but feel free to request a quote if none of the packages fit your needs.

BONUS TO LIFE+KIDS READERS: Get a free filled piñata ($20 value) with your Happy Birthdays Delivered party if you mention Life+Kids when booking your party.

Join me in welcoming Happy Birthdays Delivered to NWA!

From Life+Kids Reader Lisa:

I didn’t remember if you had posted about this or not, but this place is awesome!  It’s located on Main St., just south of the Square, in a cute, remodeled house.  They offer not only things for kiddos (birthday parties (you can make pottery, tie-dyed t-shirts, paint, etc.), but they also offer classes for kids and adults alike.  The owners name is Gigi Crow and she is wonderful.  Their website is:  www.craftycottage.net.  My girls went to a birthday party there today and had a blast.  Just wanted to pass this along!

Do you have any recommendations to pass on to Life+Kids readers?  Leave them in the comments or email me at terri@lifepluskids.com.

Locally owned Art Ink gifts & paper will soon be launching a website featuring the entire line of Inviting Company products (as well as adorable Art Ink tags, cards, stickers and notes).

I know many of you are planning summer birthday parties, so I convinced founders Camilla Williamson and Jennifer Enlow to give Life+Kids readers a sneak peak at a few of their kids party invitations.

If you would like to order any of the invitations below, call Jennifer Enlow at 479.200.9785. Or, call Jennifer and tell her your party theme. She will email you her picks of invitations perfect for your theme. Pricing ranges from $29 for 10 printed invitations, $48 for 20, and $66 for 30. You can also purchase the invitations blank. Ask Jennifer for details when you call.

Be sure to tell Jennifer you saw the invites on Life+Kids. If you do, you will receive a FREE bag tag!

We are proud to have Art Ink as a sponsor of Life+Kids!

Have you heard about Cake Party? It’s the adorable new party place in Springdale!

Here’s why we like it:

1. Convenience – Cake Party provides everything: cakes, cupcakes or cookies for each kid to decorate; delicious frosting in easy to use pastry bags and yummy sprinkles; soft drinks; and your own party host to make life easy for you. And best of all, no mess to clean up!
2. Reasonable Prices – $125 covers a party for 20 (if decorating cupcakes) or 10 (if decorating 6″ cakes) with all the supplies and soft drinks included.
3. Tons of Fun – Where else do kids get to decorate their cakes and eat them too?

To find out more about Cake Party, check out their newly launched web page – www.nwacakeparty.com. You will see confectionary masterpieces in the making!

No birthday party to plan in the near future? No problem! Cake Party offers summer cake decorating classes for kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3pm starting June 9, 2009. The classes are $20 a day for kids ages 5 and up. For more information, contact Cake Party at 756-0444 or go to www.nwacakeparty.com.

From Life+Kids reader, Christy:

Wondering if you or any one in NW Arkansas knows of a place where I can give my little 6 yr. old a TEA PARTY birthday in April.  

I remember when my oldest (21 now) had a tea party birthday.  We reserved a place in Fayetteville that hosted the party for the girls.  They got to dress up in their pretty dresses, eat petite cakes and drink tea with their friends.  Then they played games and so forth.  

Is there any place around like that now?

Terri, here — I know Teatro Scarpino in Fayetteville offers tea parties and even supplies a dress up trunk. 

Readers, do you know of other options?  Add your suggestions in the comments (if you get these posts by email, click here and scroll down to get to the comments) or email your ideas to me at terri@lifepluskids.com.

Calling all NWA Parents, a Fayetteville mom is desperately seeking help!

Every year, my daughter’s birthday is the week of Thanksgiving – last year it fell ON Thanksgiving – and this makes it difficult to decide when to have the party, and the dreary November weather makes it hard to find a great (and super cheap) location.

We had the first three at home, but now that there are about 15 kids+their parents invited, we’d rather do it someplace with a little more open space. Last year I booked a gazebo at Wilson Park, and cancelled due to weather.  Being in Fayetteville and most of the invitees being here, we’d of course prefer Fayetteville, but Springdale-Rogers isn’t too far of a drive to ask if the party is good!

Any suggestions out there? I have precisely 10 TEN days to decide and get out invites!!!

Desperately Yours,

RhoRho

So, please recommend your favorites! Here are the initial categories:

1. venues
2. entertainment (inflatables, face painters, ponies, magicians)
3. shops for supplies and decorations
4. bakeries
5. shops for gifts

Email me at terri@lifepluskids.com with your recommendations or add them to the comments.  As always, thanks for your help!

I recently learned that Gymboree Play & Music is coming to Park Place Plaza in Bentonville.  Classes begin November, but you can get a sneak peak of the classes this Saturday, Oct 6th from 10-11 am at the Bentonville square. 

They will also be offering discounts on memberships and other giveaways at this preview event.  Go to gymboreeclasses.com for information on the program.

Gymboree Play and Music of Northwest Arkansas,
1401 SE Walton Blvd, Suite 209,
Bentonville, AR
72712 US
Phone: (479) 224-6311

I’m on the Board of YouthCAN!, a local nonprofit that recently moved its Community Imagination Studio to the old senior center on Sang Avenue in Fayetteville. 

The Studio is open to the public every Saturday from 10am-4pm.  During public hours, community members of all ages can go to the Studio and create art projects using the studio space and art supplies.  The Studio provides all kinds of supplies including clay, pastels, paints etc., and an art instructor is on hand to help guide you. The cost is $5 per participant.

• What:  Public Hours at the Community Imagination Studio
• When:  Saturdays, 10a.m.-4p.m.
• Where:  818 N. Sang Ave. in Fayetteville, Arkansas (map) (close to the UofA campus, just off of Wedington Dr. with easy access to I-540)
• Cost:  $5 per person

Try Viviana from Gift of Art.  She painted faces at the Washington County Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social last month and did a great job.  I also like her because she reads All Sides of Life (but I would recommend her even if she didn’t!)

Viviana can be reached by email or phone 479.426.1700.  Contact her for a price quote.

Does anyone in your family love trains?  The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad provides a passenger service with excursions in refurbished passenger or parlor cars.  The Spring schedule resumes on Friday, April 6, 2007 and the excursion trains run on Fridays and Saturdays.  Here are the timetable and schedule.  You board the train in Springdale and travel to Van Buren.  After a 3 hour stay to eat and shop in Van Buren, the train returns to Springdale.  If that trip is too long for your little ones, don’t worry.  The railroad offers several shorter special excursions throughout the year.

Choosing the birthday cake is one of my favorite parts of planning birthday parties.  I know that many people would never consider anything less than homemade.  I, on the other hand, am a sucker for the bakery-made cakes. 

There is an ongoing debate in Fayetteville over who makes the best cakes — Chuck’s Cake Shoppe or Rick’s Bakery.  Both bakeries have been around for years, and are located on College Avenue.  They both make great cakes, and I would not hesitate to recommend either one. 

Any other great birthday cake bakers in Northwest Arkansas?  Recommend them in the comments.

I think this no sew tutu is just adorable, and looks so easy to make.  You basically knot strips of tulle around an elastic band.  All you need is tulle, an elastic band, and scissors.  This would be perfect favor for a princess birthday party or Halloween costume.  Thanks, Kiddley!

Did you know that Northwest Arkansas has its very own pair of Bead Queens?  They bring the beads to you for a jewelry making party.  Beading is great for birthday parties, of course, but what about church or scout groups, or maybe a girl’s night in?  The prices range from $8-$10 per child, depending upon age, and the adult parties are priced based upon the jewelry the guest chooses to make.

The Nelson Family Blog has a recent post on Different Strokes, the paint your own pottery place in Fayetteville that has recently opened in Nelson’s Crossing (Joyce St. and College Ave., behind Starbucks).  I agree that Different Strokes is a great place for an outing with little ones, and the resulting creations are always adorable.  Different Strokes is also a great birthday party venue.

When the weather is dreary, parents are always looking for indoor kids activities. Making beaded jewelry is a great way for younger kids (over 3 years old) to practice counting and recognizing patterns, while improving their fine motor skills. Older kids love the creativity of jewelry making, too. So why not try one of the beading stores in the area?

DSV Boutique (next to Arsagas on Block Street) is a very funky shop with an enormous back room of beads and jewelry making supplies. Another excellent option is Bead It! (in the Fiesta Square shopping center). Bead It! has classes and parties for scout troops, children, and teens.

Hours: DSV Boutique: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; Beat It!: 10am-7pm Mon-Sat.

The Donald W. Reynolds Boys and Girls Club in Fayetteville is a great place for kids and families.  Most people’s first exposure to the facility is through a sporting event (basketball, football, volleyball or golf) or a birthday party at the indoor swimming pool.  But, there is much more going on at the Club.  The club has several instructional programs like pottery, swimming lessons, gymnastics and rock climbing (on the cool rock climbing wall).  They also have a great fitness center for adults and a learning center with computers for kids.  Sunday is a great day to explore the facility with your family and see if you would like to join.  Sundays are family day (no kids under 12 admitted without an adult). 

More information:  Schedule, Directions, Membership Fees

For those of you who have not been to Fun City in a while, you will notice some big changes.  They have replaced the former play area with a completely new 40,00 cubic foot maze of “sky tubes” and slides with a large ball pit.  They now have over 50 arcade games that provide tickets your child can redeem for prizes.  The food is nothing to write home about, but Osegueras Mexican restaurant is right across I-540, and Jose’s is in the same shopping center (Ozark Center Pointe Place), so you can top off the night with some excellent Mexican food for the whole family.

Fun City Location:  NW corner of I-540/Hwy 412 intersection (Exit 72) in Springdale.  (next to Cracker Barrel)

Ozark Lanes is Fayetteville’s lone bowling alley.  You will feel as if you have returned to the bowling alley of your childhood, but the city’s smoking ban has made the place very kid friendly.  Be sure to set up the bumpers for the little bowlers to avoid a game of gutterballs. 

Location:  2300 N. College Avenue.  Map it.

Rick’s Bakery on College Avenue in Fayetteville is heaven for those with a sweet tooth.  It is also a local favorite for families on Saturday morning.  Kids can watch the cake decorators work their magic and dream of their next birthday cake while munching on a breakfast of donuts, muffins or bagels.

Rick’s soup and sandwich bar is a good place for a light lunch, and a cake from Ricks is a must have for any special occasion. 

Open Mon.-Sat.
5:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Rick’s Bakery
1220 N. College Avenue
Fayetteville, AR 72703
479.442.2166
Fax 479.442.2231