The fun newsletter that has me doing the running so you can enjoy the party.

It's Nicole the party mum here,

A big welcome to all my new subscribers and as usual a big welcome back to all those seasoned Kids Partygoers. For those of you who recently subscribed, let me introduce myself.

If a friend forwarded you this newsletter and you would like to keep on receiving it then please feel free to sign up here

What's in this issue :

1) Bored or board?
2) Create a Marble 'Monet' painting
3) Mad Scientist party theme
4) Your tips
5) Bag a bargain

I love feedback as that is what makes this newsletter so valuable. Tell me what you would like or what you don't like and send in your party tips, feedback and comments. Either fill out my contact form or just press the reply button to this email.

Some anonymous person recently sent me an email asking me to insert an article of theirs into this newsletter. That article was on adult (very adult!) board games.

However it prompted me to think about the cupboard we have that is just heaving with board games and games that we very rarely play. It's not that we don't like to play but it's just that we no longer have the time – homework, meals, after school activities, computer and so on just seem to eat away at the few hours of the day that we have together.

As a young child, I remember vividly Wednesday nights when I, my two older sisters and my parents would sit around a table with sandwiches in the early evening playing "Black Lady". I never used to win but to me it was the most precious and special day of the week – time with my parents doing something as a family.

Nowadays trying to schedule that time is like trying to run up a hill backwards – maybe you can do it! The kids often say to me "Mummy I’m bored" and it's one of those phrases that really make me cringe. Partly because it is so automatic and is their cryptic way of saying "Can I go on the computer?" and partly as I know it is my fault for not making more time for them.

Anyway to cut a long story short, Ellie (my 12 year old daughter) and Douglas (he's 9 years old) and I, cleared out the cupboard a couple of weekends ago and it felt just like Christmas as we rediscovered all those fun games. We have decided that Sunday evening is "Games Night" and we are each going to take it in turns to choose a game. The kids are just SO excited……….not sure that my husband is though!

If you haven't got many board games or are bored of the one's that you have, try grabbing some bargains at boot or yard sales. Do swaps with other families and with Christmas not so far away think about getting a family game for Christmas.

In my quest to get buy some games on line I discovered a couple of really good sites:

Farscape Games (UK site) Loads of choice and you can get a 10% discount - see under bargains below to get the discount code.

Toycentre (UK store) Cheaper than most high street stores. Not just games as lots of toys as well.

Board Games Super Store (US) - The largest selection of board games in the states. They carry 3,500+ Jigsaw puzzle titles from around the world and 1500+ popular and hard to find board games. Customers receive free shipping for orders over $99 and Reward Points for all purchases (loyalty program).

OK Monet, eat your heart out - A great craft for kids of all ages and it looks superb when framed.

Materials and tools :
Poster paint
Craft paper
Marbles
Muffin tin
Spoon
Box/container for placing paper in

STEP 1:
Put different colored paint into each individual muffin tin. Put in some marbles and give them a good swirl to coat them in the paint.
STEP 2:
Cut a piece of craft paper to the size of your container and place the paper flat on the bottom.
STEP 3:
Using a spoon, place a couple of marbles from one paint color into the container and let them roll about so they leave a nice trail of color. Repeat with other colored marbles.

Leave to dry and place in your gallery!

I was recently wondering about the next party theme to put up on www.kids-partycabin.com - clowns or cowboys? – But then I got an email from Cindy requesting some help for her 11 year olds next birthday. She had thought of the wonderful and exciting theme of the Mad Scientist and needed some ideas. So out of the window went my theme ideas and in zoomed this great idea of Cindy's. There are experiments, games and activities all set out for you so take a look if you are heading scratching of what to do for your next party. Mad Scientist Party

** Unless you have a small group of kids (less than 10), open any birthday gifts after the party is over. We were subjected to a real scramble once and I lost track of who had given what so thanking people was hard. Marnie, NH

** Don’t buy expensive invites. We always make our own on the computer and my daughter decorates plain white envelopes. Ash, Kent

** I never have the time to whiz out and buy gifts for my kids to take to birthdays so I keep a box of items of things that I have bought in the sales throughout the year. Britta, Sweden

Send me your tips and I'll print them here.

I only ever include here what I think are genuine bargains and also things that I think that you would find useful such as new items. I know that many of my subscribers are from around the world so I always include where the country is of anything that I recommend so as not to waste your time. We all know that time is precious.

Win a Trip to Hawaii -- Click here Now! Limoges jewelry (kids and adult jewelry) is offering this special prize and the closing date is 31/12/05 so get going as "You got to be in to win" as the saying goes.

Insert the password and ID from above onto your order form to get the 10% discount. Other people will only get the discount after signing up for their newsletter and after their first order but you can have it straight away.

Superheroes sale (US store) Got some superheroes around, then Birthday in a Box has a sale of Spiderman – Batman Begins – and various other themes including Scooby Doo – Robots – Lizzie McGuire.

Have fun and a spooky Halooween.

Nicole

www.kids-partycabin.com