AboutAidan Heritage Expertise Questions related to childrens birthday parties are my speciality - but I'm happy to do my best with any question - I'm in the UK, so if your question is specific to another country I'm unlikely to be able to help
Experience I've organised parties on a professional basis since 1978!
Organizations IBM, Magic Circle
Education/Credentials Member of Magic Circle and International Brotherhood of Magicians
Question Hello and happy summer!
My reason for a party is that its my birthday so my mom is letting me through a party as my birthday present. I want it to be able to get friends together before we all go our separate ways and summer ends. I have a very limited budget (saving money for culinary school in the fall ) . This is ok because i don't want anything very extravagant anyways. I’m thinking that I’m going to have in my yard at night (6:30 to 11:30- is this too long of a party?) The back up plan would be to bring it inside. Also it is planned to be on July 18th , so my time is starting to be limited as far as figuring out how this will work.
I was thinking that I could do chicken, pasta and salad and serve it buffet style. I have a great recipe for pan seared chicken with rose merry, onion and mushrooms. I would really like to do that. There will be a few vegetarians there which is why I was thinking that some type of pasta would work well with the chicken and if beefed up enough could serve as a main dish for the vegetarian, but there are veggies in the chicken already, so if you have any ideas at all about the dinner menu that would be great especially because its hard trying to please finicky eaters with out having boring bland food.
Another food option I was thinking about is just having a barbeque type thing. That way I could make veggie burgers, hamburgers and hot dogs. Have a salad, plus other veggies done on the grill. I also have a great baked bean recipe. That could work, but it is also kind of boring.
I also would like to have a bon fire, but my mom doesn’t want me to ruin her lawn which is very understandable. I was thinking that I could buy an outdoor fire place type thing, but do you know if there are any other options because they are looking kind of expensive.
Also, any suggestions on how to keep the bugs away with out drowning every one and thing in bug spray?
If there is anything else you could recommend that would be great.
Best wishes and many thanks
April :D
Answer Another expert put this in the question pool, which often means the question gets overlooked - but I'll do my best! You seem to have most aspects of this covered - you are fine on the food - you know what you are doing, and if you like desserts, go with it - it's your party after all! The food is just a part of the party, but as it's your party try to make sure you have it planned so that you aren't at the grill all the time (so maybe the pre-prepared things you talked about would be better than the barbeque idea). Regards to the bugs, you can get tall garden candles that have anti-bug properties (no experience of any of these as I'm in the UK in an area not really plagued with bugs - a quick google search gave http://www.herbalayur.com/product_NF273_COLIBRI_Anti_Insect_Candle_-_Natural_Fra... as an example) - I also found a neat article suggesting using herbs (Keep bugs at bay
"The best way to keep bugs away is with herbs, Place small decorative pots or tied sprigs of parsley, tansy or rue on tables to deter ants. After the party, give the pots as gifts to your guests. Create centerpieces of lavender or mint to discourage flies from joining the party." (this came from http://lifestyle.msn.com/FoodandEntertaining/TheWineLife/Article.aspx?cp-documen...)
The timing sounds fine to me - you all have plenty in common, and plenty to eat and do from reading both your posts!
With regards to the fire, I'd personally steer away from it as it's a potential source of accidents - but maybe go with the garden candles which would give you a fire effect, but at a height?
