1st birthday party questions

I've been so sick, DD's b-day party is next weekend and I've done NOTHING.

First question, I need a good bakery for a sheet cake in western Nassau. Any suggestions for the cake such as fillings we should avoid for little kids/1 year old?

Second: goody bags, I'm only doing these for kids under 5 (most of the kids are, but then the next age group coming is like 12 and I figure they can just take the general party favor which will hopefully be a chocolate lolipop that I am hoping to be able to make or order). I don't want food/candy... what types of things are go over well with kids and mom's? Kids are basically 1-5 years old. I can get different items based on their ages and just label the goody bags with each invited kid's name so that they are more age appropriate... but there are sibblings and I didn't want kids fighting with eachother b/c their brother or sister got something different.

Third - catering... again, there aren't a ton of litte one's but what are good options to add for the little one's? We are thinking Italian restaurant. I don't want fried garbage food, but things that again - kids will enjoy and mom's won't be repulsed.

Finally, I'm having one of her daycare teachers do arts/crafts with the little one's - what may be some good ideas for again the 1-5 age range?

Hope this all makes sense... between what I have not done for the party, what I have not done to prepare for baby #2 (coming in 11 weeks), and everything else in my life I have not done.... I'm a little stressed.

Re: 1st birthday party questions

1- Cake - I have no idea where. I think any filling would be good. You could always do half chocolate pudding and the other strawberry this way they can choose.


2- Goody Bags - I would try to make them all the same if you can. Star Track in Farmingdale is awesome. They are also a vendor on here. They have things in bulk so it will make it a lot easier. You can do any of the following for spring/summer. bubbles, beach balls, sunglasses, stickers, balls. They have so much to choose from.

I think chocolate lollipops is a great idea. If they don't want their kids to have them, they don't have to give it to them. You could always do cookies.

3- Italian is always safe. If you are doing dishes, meatballs are good for the younger ones and maybe penne with sauce.

4- Star Track also sells crafts. You can do a cute sun visor with the foam stickers on it. This way all the kids can do it. Maybe some washable markers too if you want.

If you need anything FM me.

Re: 1st birthday party questions

I know this is going to sound CRAZY.. but we always use cosco for our cakes at work... or stop and shop... Cosco is better I think... they are yummy...

If you want a more "elegant" cake... there is a bakery in Port Washington called "baked to perfection" on main street, and that is a great bakery...

Or.... a really designer bakery is dianes in Roslyn... but they are very expensive!

Re: 1st birthday party questions

As for bakeries, we used Malverne Pastry Shop. The sheet cake they did for DS's birthday was absolutely delicious and they did a great job drawing the Baby Einstein caterpillar on the cake for us! (I brought a picture of it in for them). We went with a vanilla cake with chocolate pudding filling since DS is a huge fan of pudding. I highly recommend that bakery!

Message edited 5/14/2009 4:03:38 PM.

Re: 1st birthday party questions

I'm not sure of any bakeries in nassau but if you can't find anything you can always go with a good ol' Carvel ice cream cake or Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. They make all sorts of sizes and I find that kids like ice cream cake much more than cake with filling. Not sure about Carvel but I do know that Baskin Robbins makes 1/2 cake and 1/2 ice cream sheet cakes too.

As far as goody bags for that age group you can get those $5 beach shovel & pail sets at target or go to a dollar store and you will find tons there. You can fill each pail with a shovel, maybe some other beach related toys... a bottle of bubbles (kids that age love bubbles)...I would also keep each good bag the same too.

As far as food for little ones I find that chicken fingers and french fries are a hit but I see you don't want fried stuff so go with meatballs, raviolis, chicken cutlets and maybe get pizzas delivered for just the kids (my 18 month old loves these kinds of foods)...These kids will be playing a lot more than eating so don't stress to much over the kinds of foods for them As far desserts I would make sure I have cut up watermelon, strawberries and minature cupcakes.

I hear you about the stress. I'm due the end of July with #2 and it looks like I will be planning a christening and a 2nd birthday part in the same month! I'm actually trying to do whatever I can ahead of time.

Good Luck!

Re: 1st birthday party questions

Thank you all so much for these fabulous ideas. I don't know why I didn't think of a "beach" theme or something spring/summery. Although my new baby's b-day will be in July so I don't want to be too repetitive next year. But I love the bubbles, and some of the other goody bag ideas.

Food was a big help too. I know a lot of kids eat and like the fried stuff I actually have not introduced DD to chocolate or pudding at all, but she's had milk and cheese and a taste of ice cream so I'm not too worried about giving her first taste of chocolate pudding on her party day.

I'm going to check out Star Track, it's a little far from where I live, but maybe we'll have one decent day this weekend that I can get out that way. I'm closer to the Garden City area. I know the Chocolate Duck in Farmingdale is good for the lolipops too. I've eaten at Diane's in Roslyn, delicious but yes expensive too. I was also considering a place called Butter Cooky in Floral Park or Pt Wash, but I think they can get pricey too. I like the Costco or Stop N Shop idea... Does Costco "write" on the cakes?

Re: 1st birthday party questions

Lots of for you!!!

Don't stress it will all come together!!!