Mermaid Mania

I don’t know why I am calling this post mermaid mania, the only mermaid in this whole thing was on the invitation, but it sounded good. So pbbt, I can call it that if I want to.

The party was a complete success. Rapunzel was able to have one friend sleepover last night. They giggled and played Twister, opened presents, modeled for each other, watched a movie, and picked out what they wanted in their “goodie bags.”

I spent most of Friday preparing for today. There were many vegetables to cut up, bananas to slice, a fruit ring to freeze, chocolate to melt, juice to prepare, jello to cut up, and a cake to make.

All in all it wasn’t too expensive of a party. I’m sure SAJ will add it to the her party-planning website when it is up and running, but just for you here is a break down of what we did.

Rapunzel was allowed 12 kids, including SuperChic, BB, and herself. (We don’t count the adults because they don’t get “goodie bags.”) We buy enough goodie bag goodies for each child. If someone comes uninvited (aka siblings) they don’t get a goodie bag. I’m sorry, but I feel that if you weren’t invited I shouldn’t be expected to account for you. With the exception of someone RSVP-ing and asking of course.

Speaking of RSVP-ing. Not one person actually RSVP’d for the party. I included an email address and a phone number. Two of the kids lived across the street, so I just talked to their mom, the two girls who came just told Rapunzel that they could come. Which is acceptable to me. But the other five people, nope, nada, nothing, To me, this is very rude. It means that I have to be prepared for no one to show up, or people to call the night before and say they are coming. It makes things very difficult. So if you’re invited, please RSVP if asked, it really is a big stress relief.

Okay, I think I’m done ranting, but I reserve the right to rant some mare later if necessary.

Back to the party planning, because we know that is what you really want to hear about. I purchased better hot dogs for the adults, and cheapo’s for the kids. I don’t feel bad doing this, because the kids usually end up throwing it out anyways. To save on cost and waste, I cut the kids hot dogs in half. That way if the kid didn’t eat it, only half a hot dog was thrown out.

I served fresh veggies, olives, plain chips, and ranch dip. Chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate covered frozen bananas, (warning: the bananas turn to mush after a few hours, but they still taste really good), jello, and watermelon.

Keep in mind that this seems like a lot, but it is stuff we eat all week long. So having it cut up ahead of time is fine by me.

Rapunzel requested a tropical fruit ring in her punch. I used pineapple starfruit juice, crushed canned pineapple, and frozen whole strawberries. Pour into a jello mold and freeze. If you don’t have a jello mold a bundt pan would work too, or even just a shallow round bowl.

The punch was one can of pineapple starfruit juice, mixed according to directions, to one two liter of Sprite/Sierra Mist/7-up, pour into bowl mix a little, add fruit ring, frozen strawberries, and more crushed pineapple. I normally can’t stand punch, but this one wasn’t to bad. My grandma even liked it.

The cake was the same recipe that I used for SuperChic’s party. It is super simple and super tasty. So just for you here it is. I found it at allrecipes.com, but I changed it slightly, mostly I just mix it differently.

1 C. butter, softened
3 C. white sugar
7 eggs
2 Tablespoons Vanilla
3 C flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder AND baking soda
1 C sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 325 F (165 C). Grease 10″ bundt pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. (I don’t use a mixer, it is easy enough to do by hand). Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after adding each egg. (This is important, if you add them all at once it doesn’t want to mix in.) Stir in vanilla.
3. Add baking soda and powder, mix in. Mix in flour until well blended. (I pour it all in at once and stir slowly.)
4. Mix in sour cream, stir for 1-2 minutes or until there are little or no lumps.
5. Bake for 45-60 minutes. ( I have never had the cake bake in 60 minutes. It always takes at least 85. You might want to cover the edges for the last few minutes if it is taking longer, or the can burn).
6. Cool for ten minutes, invert onto platter.

Now for the absolute best part. The ganache.

8 oz Nestle Choclatier Dark Chocolate
1 Cup heavy whipping cream

Break chocolate into pieces and place in a glass bowl.
Heat cream to boiling. I use a non-stick pot bigger than I need, because I always boil it over if I don’t.
Pour boiling cream over chocolate.
Let sit for a few minutes. Stir. Let sit for a few more minutes. Stir some more.
Do this until it is smooth.

Drizzle over cake.

I also used this ganache to dip the strawberries in.

On to the goodie bags, which weren’t bags at all.
7 pails with shovels, $1 each
2 Playdough 4 packs, $1 each
1 8 packs of high bounce balls, $1 each
30 pack of thin markers, $1
1 15-count pack sidewalk chalk, $1 each
1 12 pack pencils, $1
2 5 pack sugar free gum, $1 each
2 6 packs squirt guns, $1.25 each
Foam Craft , 1000 pieces, $5
Pinata candy ($7, but it was actually left over from another party.)
Construction paper, printer paper, and staples (cut each into strips of three. I used four pieces of paper per book. So there were eight pages and a cover. Fold in half, and staple near edge.)
Raffia, bought after Easter for about .15 a bag.

We put two pieces of chalk in the bottom of the bucket, candy, 1 ball, a pack of gum, 1 play dough, 1 pencil, 3 markers, 1 squirt gun, 1 foam background and 4 pieces, one construction book, top with raffia. I also used the letters to put their names on their buckets.

All in all I didn’t spend too much on the goodie bags. My thing is that the kids each get a bucket, or bag, and not actual prizes when they play the games. That way everyone is a winner, and there are no hard feelings.

For decorations I bought 3 4-pack coasters at $1 each, and lantern lights for $10 at Target. The lights are going to be hung in Rapunzel’s bedroom tomorrow. So that was actually a pre-decided re-purposed item. We also used the raffia on the table. Other than the raffia that got food on it, it can all be used again.

It was a great party. Everyone had a great time. My Mom and Grandma came down, Rapunzel got a set of oil pastels, and everyone went home happy. For not doing a big party this year, it sure seemed big.

Now to start planning SuperChic’s 6th, in November, my 30th in December, and BB’s 3rd in January.

There are more photos here, and as soon as I get my photos uploaded I will add more. All photos that are on Flickr now and on this post were all taken by SAJ. She even made a movie too.