Tag: birthday

Fintastic Birthday Party at Goldfish Swim School

Featured ~ conlimonplease ~ 1 Comment

Robbie turned 6 years old! We wanted to celebrate with his friends at an indoor spot this year. We couldn’t have found a better venue for his party. It was a blast!

Goldfish Swim Schools are the perfect spot to experience a tropical environment. Their locations are colorful, spacious, and welcoming. Their swimming pool area is heated to 90° and their shiver-free pool is the perfect spot to swim with friends.

We had his party at Goldfish Swim School in Evanston, IL. We chose the smallest party package since it was perfect for us. You get to have 1 to 24 little ones as guests. Adults don’t count against the attendee number, which is amazing! You don’t have to worry about how many parents will join. Grandma and grandpa can enjoy the fun, too!

Robbie was so excited to know we’d do an ocean theme for his party. He really wanted to focus on manatees, but it’s really hard to find anything manatee. We had so much fun gathering the few things we needed to bring for decor. Robbie was so excited to work on choosing the names for all the snacks we had for our guests.

What’s included?

When you book a birthday party at Goldfish Swim School you get:

– Two hours of private access
– Certified lifeguards & party coordinator
– Invitations and envelopes
– Table coverings, plates, cups, napkins, and forks
– Balloons, tropical decorations, and centerpieces
– Cupcakes & beverages for children
– Goodie bags
– T-shirt for the guest of honor

We booked the venue 6 weeks before the party. It was so easy! If you’re a Goldfish member you can do it through the Goldfish app, or the member portal on their website. Goldfish Evanston offers two different party times, either from 2-4pm or 4:30-6:30 on Saturdays. Check with your local Goldfish on what times they offer their birthday parties as times and days vary by location.

The allotted time for the party was perfect! Once you’re signed in with the front desk, you and your little ones will have a brief water safety demonstration, and you proceed to spend the first hour in the pool. There’s comfy changing rooms and showers for your guests. Shampoo is available, as well as hair dryers. When everyone moves to dry land, everyone gathers and shares food. We opted for an additional coffee package for a small fee. It was a hit with the adults!

One of our guests is getting a certified life vest after having received safety procedure from certified lifeguard

I loved having all the help from Goldfish staff. It’s definitely a plus to arrive at a birthday venue where everything is already beautiful! The staff work on setting up the tables, plates, and décor! The staff served our guests pizza, and the cupcakes. Also, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up! As a parent this is definitely a win! Not having to worry about setting up and cleaning up is awesome!

One of our guests, Ben, receives a cupcake from Goldfish Staff

This is the first birthday party I host that I’m actually the most relaxed! All the help we received from the staff was awesome! 

I definitely recommend hosting birthday parties at Goldfish Swim School. You get a lot of value, there’s parking for your guests, and all your guests will get a free family swim pass in the goodie bags! Some of our guests booked free trials after the party was over! Having a birthday party at Goldfish Swim School is not just about fun, but it’s also about learning water safety with friends!

If you’re not ready to book a party yet, start with a FREE trial at any Goldfish Swim School. Click here for Chicago locations!

Thank you Goldfish Swim School for sponsoring this post!

♡ Michelle | con limón, please

Cómo hacer una piñata en 5 pasos

~ conlimonplease ~ 1 Comment

¡Las fiestas están completas cuando hay una piñata! Soy de México, y crecí yendo a fiestas o alguna otra celebración donde había piñatas. Durante una celebración de cumpleaños después de que todos cantan feliz cumpleaños, todos nos juntamos para quebrar la piñata. Tradicionalmente se llena de dulces, pero le puedes poner lo que sea que pueda sobrevivir la caída cuando la piñata se quiebre y caigan volando.

Piñata de Antonio número 2. El tema era verano.

Mi familia y yo vivimos en Chicago. Trato de enseñar a mis hijos mi cultura en nuestra vida diaria. Cuando he sido anfitriona de sus fiestas de cumpleaños, me gusta hacerles piñatas para ellos y sus amigos. Las piñatas son parte de nuestra cultura y herencia mexicana, y ¡puedes hacer una piñata de lo que sea que a tus peques les guste, y lo que tu creatividad te diga!

Ponte creativo si no encuentras un palo para piñata. Cualquier palo de escoba funciona, o como aquí que estamos usando la macana de mi suegro

He hecho piñatas formadas de números mayormente, pero estas instrucciones te pueden ayudar a hacer lo que sea que estes en tu mente, o cual sea el tema de la fiesta. Usualmente uso bandejas de cartón donde vienen los 24 de latas de LaCroix (o latas de lo que sea) cuando se acerca un cumpleaños. La mayoría del resto de los materiales los compro en el Dollar Tree.

Aquí está lo que necesitas:
2 o más bandejas de cartón (usualmente guardo las de 24 de LaCroix)
Pegamento en barra
Cinta gruesa para empacar (duct tape)
Tijeras filosas
Tiras de papel crepé en colores de tu elección

NOTA: la manera tradicional de hacer una piñata en México incluye la técnica de papier-mâché. Esta mezcla de hace con harina y agua tibia creando una pasta un poco líquida que se usa como pegamento. Aquí puedes encontrar un tutorial.

Las bandejas de cartón donde viene los 24 de latas hacen una piñata fácil. La altura de la caja de convierte en el grueso de la piñata.

1. Usa tachuelas para sostener el papel en el cartón. Traza el número o la forma que deseas.

2. Corta el diseño dejando el mayor número de solapas que puedas (orilla de la caja). Usa el mismo molde para el otro lado de la piñata, pero voltéalo. Traza y corta, o salta el trazado y corta la caja. Recuerda dejar tantas solapas como puedas ya que estás te ayudarán a conectar las dos piezas de tu piñata.

También puedes guardar los lados que te sobren de la caja para completar los lados de tu piñata

3. Utiliza cinta adhesiva para unir ambos lados. Usualmente no hago la técnica de papier-mâché cuando sé que quienes van a romper la piñata son peques. Cuando lxs niñxs se van haciendo más grandes, entonces sí no lo debes evitar. De lo contrario no todos van a alcanzar a golpear la piñata.

NOTA: no olvides dejar una abertura para poder rellenar la piñata

4. Cuando la piñata esté lista para decorar, corta las tiras de papel crepé como fleco casi llegando hasta el otro lado. Deja 1.5-2cm en la parte de arriba, ya que esta será la sección en donde se pone el pegamento y se pega a la piñata.

5. Comienza de la parte de abajo. Usa pegamento en barra para pegar el papel crepé. Repite cuántas veces sea necesario yendo alrededor de tu piñata siguiendo el patrón que deseas. Cuando hago números usualmente los hago de un solo color, aunque la última que hice le puse colores pastel de arcoíris.

Puedes agregar una capa de color a la piñata antes de agregar el papel crepé para evitar transparencias
Usé papel negro para agregar líneas a un lado de la piñata
Agregué recortes de camiones para decorar

Usualmente le pongo varios cinchos en la parte de arriba de la piñata para que sea por donde pases la cuerda para colgarla y que los peques la golpeen.

A esta le puse más cinchos después de asegurar el área con varias capas de cinta adhesiva

¡Puedes ir tan lejos como desees cuando hagas una piñata! Deja que tu imaginación, el tema de la fiesta, y el tiempo que tengas te guíen.

♡ Michelle | con limón, please

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Aquí puedes encontrar algunas de mis ideas para hacer que tu fiesta de cumpleaños sea especial. Puedes hacer tus propios cake pops, bolsitas de regalo inspiradas en piñatas, o una opción de piñata equitativa.

How do I do that? No-bake cake pops

~ conlimonplease ~ 15 Comments

I loved making the yummiest and cutest cake-pops! We celebrated Robbie’s birthday twice: once in school, and once more with friends. Robbie loves eating cake pops, but he never finishes a cupcake. This gave me the idea I needed to make them for his birthday celebrations!

It’s so easy to make these pops! You won’t need a mold, or one of those fancy special cake pop makers. However, you’ll need to have a cake. Bake your own cake from scratch, from a box, or you can buy a cake from your favourite bakery.

Here’s what you’ll need:
– cake
– cream cheese
– lollipop sticks
– almond bark for melting (or your choice of chocolate)
– sprinkles (I used nonpareils)

First of all, you have to remove the crust of the cake. Then, put the cake in a big bowl. Mash it with your hands. Add softened cream cheese to the cake and mix it. Mix it well, and make a small ball to make sure it’s sticking. If needed, add more cream cheese.

Once your little pops are done, melt some chocolate in the microwave in 15sec intervals (or instructions for that particular brand you got). Dip each stick in it, and stick it in the cake pop. Once you’re done, refrigerate them for at least 20min before covering them.

Melt more chocolate, enough to dip the cake pops. Dip each cake pop and roll the stick in between your fingers to help with dripping the excess of chocolate. Add sprinkles immediately after. Place the pops in a pop stand for a cleaner look. I bought a few at Walmart, but if crafty, you can try making your own. When done, place them in the fridge. If you don’t mind or it’s hot where you are, start putting them in the fridge as you go.

They’re ready to eat as soon as the cover sets! Enjoy!

NOTES:
– don’t skip removing the crust of the cake, as it will be easier to have a more homogeneous mix
– add more cream cheese if needed
– keep the chocolate or bark runny for better and easier coverage
– make a bread pudding with the scraps!

I hope you make them!

♡ Michelle | con limón, please

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For more yummy recipes, who check out what my friends are doing:

Leftover chicken recipes by Stephanie

Homemade Spaghetti-O’s by Danielle

“MOM! The Meatloaf!” Sandwich by Alexis

Cooking with toddlers! by Annika

Comfort Foods by Kimberly

Planning The Perfect Spring Picnic by Cameron

4 Delicious Fresh Juice Recipes by Nicole

How to make a punch piñata

~ conlimonplease ~ 9 Comments

Piñatas are so much fun! In Mexico all the little ones get excited about breaking a piñata and of course getting goodies that come out flying to the ground! It’s all fun and joy until there’s a little one who didn’t get anything, right? I have this DIY so that you make a piñata with a more fair fun!

I was looking for ideas for my son’s birthday celebration at school. I got so excited to know piñatas were allowed in his school! I was browsing on Pinterest for ideas when I saw a post about how to make a punch piñata by Gray House Harbor, and it hit me! I’d seen them already, but I couldn’t remember much about them.

I decided to make my own in order to ease Robbie’s teacher’s mind as she wouldn’t have to deal with children crying or being sad because they didn’t get anything from the piñata. With this piñata, each kid would get the same amount and type of goodies. Here is the list of things you’ll need and the instructions for you to make your own!

This is what you’ll need:

– a long rectangular cardboard box (I used two LaCroix boxes)

– poster paper

– sharp cutter

– tissue paper

– paper cups

– duct tape & masking tape

– small goodies for the cups

I went to my local Dollar Tree and got most of the materials, and even the goodies! Their sharp cutter is actually really good! So if you don’t have one, you know where to go.

First, if you don’t have a long enough box, put together cardboard boxes and paste them using duct tape. Draw as many circles as you’ll have guests. I used a lid of a mason jar to draw 19 circles. Cut out the circles using a sharp cutter. Don’t forget to add some cardboard on the bottom to avoid scratching surfaces.

Wrap the cardboard box using wrapping paper or poster paper. Then, score the paper in each of the circles like a pizza. The paper will work as flaps when we insert the cups.

I used paper cups with small goodies in them. I covered each of them with tissue paper and I used some masking tape to keep the paper in place. I used 3 layers of tissue paper, as it tends to be a bit translucent.

Here you can see how I stuffed items in cups, and covered each cup with tissue paper. The masking tape worked great to keep the cover in place!

The goodies I included in each of the cups were a small activity book, an eraser, a Lego like person, and some Pop Rocks candy. I found most of these items at the Dollar Tree store. The little activity books were a Facebook marketplace find we got for free!

Back of the piñata

TIP: you can reinforce the cardboard boxes using duct tape.

The kids had a lot of fun! Each of them got the same amount of goodies, and it was overall such a fun time for them! A win!

Robbie getting ready to punch his piñata

I hope you like this idea!

♡ Michelle | con limón, please

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