NW Kids September 2011 Birthday Issue

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NW Kids Magazine | 3

Publisher / Advertising Director Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editorial Beth Friesenhahn beth@nwkidsmagazine.com Kelley Schaefer-Levi kelley@nwkidsmagazine.com Editor at Large Jessica Davis Jessica@nwkidsmagazine.com Account Managers Laurel Ackerman laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Tracy Rains tracy@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Services Coordinator Karel Chan karel@nwkidsmagazine.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Design Robyn Barbon robyn@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Ad Design Dana Harrington dana@nwkidsmagazine.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com Staff Photographer Emma Easley Darden emma@rlportraits.com ON THE COVER, ABOVE AND INSIDE: Original illustrations by DK Harrington. dkharrington@gmail.com NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies.

Printed locally; Please recycle.

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Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Twitter: @nwkids

contents

INSIDE: 8 Portland Scoop Shop Parties 9 More Sweets, Cakes and Bakeries 10 Celebrating Milestones With Family Birthday Traditions 12 DIY Pop Art Cupcake Boxes

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14 Goody Bag Ideas

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16 Goody Bags and Party Supplies 18 Best Birthday Reads 20 Places To Party 26 Fancy This: Custom Birthday Party Packages 28 Entertainers 30 Gluten Free Birthday Cake www.nwkidsmagazine.com

online

Capturing the Birthday Party by Posy Quarterman of Posy Quaterman Photography The Art of Folding Paper: An Interview with Origami Artist Yuki Martin

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listings A Mother’s Love................................. 7 Barre3................................................. 2 Bennett Suzuki . ................................ 7 Black Wagon....................................16 Café Sip N Play.................................19 Chinook Book..................................... 7 Chocolate Craft Studio.....................29 Clever Cycle........................................ 2 College Nannies...............................27 Culture Club Kids..............................27 Do Jump!..........................................11 Dollhouse Tea Room........................19 EcoBabyGear....................................31 EcoMaids..........................................27 Foster Burger....................................29 Game Truck.......................................19 Green Sprouts.................................... 3 Growing Seeds.................................27 Haggis McBaggis.............................31 Kids’ Backyard Store.........................32 Little Fruit Farm Montessori............... 7 Little Pixels.......................................17 Mad Science.....................................25 Meringue..........................................11 Merry Kitchen..................................11 Mimosa Studios...............................17 My Bundle of Joy.............................31 My Kids to Your Kids........................27 My Masterpiece Art Studio..............13 Naydenov Gymnastics.....................11 Oaks Park..........................................29 Oregon Gymnastics Academy.........13 Oregon Hope Chinese School............ 7 Out of this World Pizza and Play......13 Pass It On Sale..................................24 Penny’s Puppet Productions............31 Play Boutique...................................17 Playground Gym..............................19 Plue..................................................29 Plumper Pumpkin Patch..................17 Portland Children’s Museum...........15 Portland Trampoline........................32 Posy Quarterman.............................11 Pottery Fun.......................................16 Scuola Italiana.................................31 Shalakids..........................................15 Sit Still .............................................16 Sound Roots School of Music..........24 Spanky’s............................................. 3 Spielwerk Toys..................................29 Sue Wiebe Piano Lessons.................31 Superkids Resale..............................31 Sweet Peas Kidzone.........................13 Think Pink........................................11 Tualatin Hills Parks & Rec.................15 WeVillage.........................................24 World of Smiles.................................. 7 6 | NW Kids Magazine

editor’s

corner

Welcome to the 2011-2012 NW Kids Birthday Party Guide. With a few years of kiddo parties under our belts we’ve begun to understand the inner workings of what makes a great party. Most of our kids’ parties have been hosted in our homes, low-key affairs with family, a few friends and homemade cakes. But recently we’ve started to see the appeal of having parties outside of the house. The professionals are out there for a reason. They’re great at creating fun parties that kids will remember, and having the party with a built-in activity is the best way to keep party goers engaged and these mamas less frazzled. And of course, you really can’t beat leaving the cleanup to someone else!

In this guide you’ll find everything there is to know about where to go and what to do to make a great party.

With so many types of parties out there, it really all comes down to what your kids are into. For those who prefer to celebrate at home, we’ve included a list of entertainers who will bring the party to you. Origami, balloon blowing, stilt-walking, you name it. Our fair city is practically overflowing with great places to party, it can be hard to pick the perfect spot. Trampolines, horses, rock-climbing, cooking; how about a truck full of video games that pulls up to your house? Kiddos who love pirates and mini golf ? We’ve got you covered. Yes, there is a place that combines both. Oh, and please don’t forget the ice cream. Check out our feature on some the best scoop-shops in town, great places for smaller gatherings.

Birthday traditions are also a wonderful way to create memories that will last a lifetime. In this issue it is our hope that we’ll help inspire you to create some of your own.

And don’t forget to check out nwkidsmagazine.com for local families’ favorite traditions, plus a few other special online-only articles. As always we’d love to hear from you, and welcome stories about your special birthday traditions on our facebook page, so please drop us a line. Party on friends!

— Kelley and Beth

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Salt & Straw photos by: Dina Avila Photography www.dinaavila.com

Portland Scoop Shop Parties Some kids like cake, some kids like ice cream, some kids like both. In Portland, we have so many choices for sweet treats, but nothing screams birthday like an ice cream party, sundaes and all. Here are a few of our favorite scoop shops, some on four wheels, and great places for a party of only a few kids. Each shop offers fantastic flavors to take home and hold your own ice cream, banana boat extravaganza.

Ben & Jerry’s

Ice cream has really never been the same since the births of Ben and Jerry, two of Vermont’s most upstanding citizens. Kids love all the crazy ingredients thrown into a batch of Ben & Jerry’s and the names are pretty hard to beat. Who knew they now make Cake Batter ice cream?

Run to your nearest Ben & Jerry’s to try it. www.benjerry.com

Cool Moon

Does your kid have a summer birthday?

Consider the Jamison Square fountain as a great spot to cool off, and check out Cool Moon Ice Cream’s galaxy of flavors afterward.

Or try one of their specialty ice cream birthday cakes. Yum! www.coolmoonicecream.com

Fifty Licks

Take home a pint of Caramel Apple Ice Cream or Lemon Saffron Sorbet from the Fifty Licks Ice Cream truck. Irresistibly good flavors and creamy texture makes Fifty Licks a great hangout for the entire summer or on any birthday. www.fifty-licks.com

Ruby Jewel

To die for ice cream sandwiches and waffle cones in the heart of the Mississippi neighborhood. We’ve loved Ruby Jewel ice cream for years and are so glad they now have a scoop shop to take the kids to. www.rubyjewel.net 8 | NW Kids Magazine

Salt & Straw (NEW!)

Farm fresh ingredients on a cone! Adorable ice cream cart and brand new scoop shop on Alberta Street. All natural and handmade in small batches with flavors like Double Folded Singing Dog Vanilla for the kid in all, and a few for sophisticated palates like the Pear with Blue Cheese. Young gastronomes may love the ice cream flights or for the sundae lover, there’s the Thai Sweet Sticky Rice with Pink Peppercorn.

And don’t forget to try the floats. www.saltandstraw.com

Scoop

Organic Salted Caramel ice cream anyone?

How about Organic Oatmeal and Brown Sugar? Scoop’s super cute ice cream truck located in the North Station Food Cart Pod is just what the birthday doctor ordered.

Outstanding flavors, waffle cones, sundaes with homemade hot fudge, and a ton of toppings. www.facebook.com/scoopicecream

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more Sweets, Cakes and bakeries Allotto Gelato www.alottogelato.biz Alma Chocolates www.almachocolate.com Artisan Cake Company www.artisancakecompany.com Bakery Bar www.bakerybar.com

Pie Spot www.pie-spot.com Piece of Cake www.pieceofcakebakery.net Pix Patisserie www.pixpatisserie.com Saint Cupcake www.saintcupcake.com

Beaverton Bakery www.beavertonbakery.com

Staccato Gelato www.staccatogelato.com

Bliss Bake Shop www.blisscupcakeshop.com

Sweetpea Baking Company (Vegan) www.sweetpeabaking.com

Cupcake Jones www.cupcakejones.net Cupcake Mama www.cupcakemama.com Helen Bernhard Bakery www.helenbernhardbakery.com JaCiva’s www.jacivas.com La Couronne Chocolate www.lacouronnechocolate.com Mio Gelato 503-226-8002 New Cascadia Traditional www.newcascadiatraditional.com

Sweet Cakes www.sweetcakesweb.com Sweet Factory www.sweetfactory.com Sweets, etc. www.sweetsetc.com The Cake Goddess www.portlandcakegoddess.com The Decorette Shop www.thedecoretteshop.com The Dessert Tray www.thedesserttray.com Voodoo Doughnut www.voodoodoughnut.com

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Celebrating Milestones With Family Birthday Traditions By jana wingate The first children’s birthday parties were celebrated in Germany and were called Kinderfeste. As time went by traditions were adopted in many parts of the world to celebrate children’s birthdays; candles, invitations, games, pinches or pulling of the ears, and even rubbing the nose with butter.

Here in the US, we’ve adopted many of these traditions and tweaked them to represent not only our families, but our culture. You may add a piñata to your birthday party like the celebrations of Latin America. Or as the tradition in Israel and Lithuania goes, the birthday person is placed in a chair and is lifted up and down for each year they are turning.

Regardless of your cultural tradition, adding these touches to your yearly celebration creates a new family story.

Create Your Own: What is so great about family traditions is that we can mix the old with the new. On the birthday morning, attach a piece of yarn to the end of your child’s bed and wind it throughout several rooms in your home, and at the end attach a birthday surprise.

How exciting would that be as a child, knowing every year you get to go on a mini treasure hunt. Or let the birthday kid have their own special meal that they 10 | NW Kids Magazine

normally wouldn’t be served, crown them king or queen for the day and allow them to sit at the head of the table.

Create a memory maker each birthday to help celebrate your family’s story. Beside the usual family photos, take a picture of the birthday child standing back to back with Mommy or Daddy and compare growth from year to year. Another great way to keep the memories alive is to create a memory box using a photo-storage container. Every year on your child’s birthday add special keepsakes to the box to recall memories for that specific age.

The most important aspect about birthday traditions is that you and your family make them special. Whether you celebrate with bouncy houses, magicians or a band; or you make a yearly trip to the local pizza parlor; it doesn’t matter, just as long as your family is creating those memories together on a yearly basis.

Incorporating ideas from your culture, family history and creating new memories is what birthdays are all about, a celebration of family and the future together.

Jana Wingate is the Mother of 3 year old Rowyn, and lives with her Husband and Daughter in North Portland; she graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BA Degree in Journalism.

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craft

DIY Pop Art Cupcake Boxes Paint cupcakes at your party as an activity or pre-paint, fill with treats and send them home with your guests as a party favor. Pop artist Wayne Theibaud inspired these artful treats for party goers to enjoy.

Put dry ingredients in mixing bowl.

Add water mix until moist but not sticking to your fingers. Knead into a smooth ball.

Materials: Baker’s dough Recipe Paint (acrylic or watercolor)

To make a cupcake: Roll small amount of clay into a ball, create a “pinch pot”and press into simple cupcake or tart baking tins (paper liners may be used for added texture). To make the cupcake frosting, form another ball and flatten out “pizza style”.

Slump clay over baking tin turned upside down – this will give it the arched shape. Add embellishments such as a cherry or sprinkles by simply molding your bakers clay like play dough, then stick on prior to baking.

Bake at 300 for 1 hour 15 minutes. Check to see if it is firm (a little browning is fine). It may need a bit longer depending on thickness.

Let cool. Paint with acrylic paint or watercolor.

Birthday Bakers Clay: 3 1/2 cup flour 1 cup salt 1/4 to 1 cup of warm water

Makes 6 cupcake boxes.

My Masterpiece Art Studio is located at 7905 SW Cirrus Drive, Beaverton. They offer classes and camps to a range of ages and host special events like Arty Parties for kids and adults. www.mymasterpieceartstudio.com 12 | NW Kids Magazine

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Party goody bag ideas

by cleeo & bea

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1. Bamboo Pick Up Sticks at SpeilWerk Toys $3 • 2. Dover Mini Tattoo Books at Kids At Heart $1 • 3. Floating Ball Game at Finnegan’s $3 • 4. Ice Cream Scented Bubbles at New Seasons Markets $2 • 5. Little Lark Buttons www.littlelark.com $1 • 6. Warbling Bird Whistle at Finnegan’s $1 • 7.

Skateboard Tops www.boardgames.etsy.com $4 • 8. Kitty Baby Love Crayons www.kittybabylove. com $3 • 9. Annie’s Bunny Fruit Snacks $4 • 10. Play Doh Case of Colors at Fred Meyer $5 • 11. Plan Fish Castanet at Plue $5 cleeo & bea is a Portland mama-owned blog featuring hip kid product reviews.

Our goal is to provide useful information and honest reviews of kids’ products that our families and friends have used. We find high-quality, eco- and kid-safe, cool products—things you might not see everyday—and enjoy passing them on to you. www.cleeoandbea.com 14 | NW Kids Magazine

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goody bags and party supplies Balloons in Flight www.balloonsinflight.com Balloons on Broadway www.balloonsonbroadway.com Fancy That www.shop-fancythat.com Final Touch Balloons www.finaltouchballoons.com Finnegan’s Toys New Location: 820 SW Washington www.finneganstoys.com Chic Eye Designs www.chiceyedesigns.com Green Ink www.shopgreenink.com Little Lark www.alittlelark.com Lippman Company www.lippmancompany.com Paper Source www.paper-source.com

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Paper Zone www.paperzone.com Party City www.partycity.com Party Depot www.partydepot.com Presents of Mind www.presentsofmind.tv

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books

best Birthday Reads Reviews by Elizabeth Pusack of Green Bean Books Princess and Fairy

by Anna Pignataro (HC $14.99) Readers hop in to spot sapphire shoes, tap dancing turtles, rainbow cake, moonshadow shells, and a jar of honey from Potter Bee’s, all for the Queen’s birthday bash.

This book rhymes, rollicks and sparkles! For birthday bunnies with sweet teeth and passions for pink!

A Birthday Cake Is No Ordinary Cake

by Debra Frasier (HC $16.00) This recipe story celebrates growing with Mother Nature in mind. “Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Sun, the first necessary ingredient in any birthday cake. No Sun. No cake.” Tulips, crocuses, summer winds, snowflakes, and migrating birds comprise a marvelous year of love and learning.

It’s My Birthday

by Helen Oxenbury (BB $18.99) A little boy has big plans for his birthday cake. Sadly his pantry is empty. Luckily he has a menagerie of generous friends! Bear donates some flour, chicken lays eggs, cat chips in some milk and butter, and monkey proffers cherries for the top. Oxenbury’s pastel illustrations are “awww” inspiring as usual.

Jenny’s Birthday Book

by Esther Averill (HC $15.95) Help shy black kitty Jenny Linsky celebrate her big day with a feline-filled 18 | NW Kids Magazine

picnic in Central Park. Romulus and Remus bring Jenny a bluefish tied up in a pink ribbon, Pickles the firecat comes along, and Florio the orange tabby wears a feather for the occasion. An old-fashioned birthday favorite.

11 Birthdays

by Wendy Mass (PB $6.99) Sometimes birthdays bring nothing but drama. Amanda has shared her birthday with her best friend Leo every year for a whole decade, but now that they are ex best friends Amanda is forced to suffer through her solo Hollywood-themed party in a detestable Dorothy outfit while everyone celebrates elsewhere!

Amanda goes to bed glad to be rid of her “special” day, only to wake up at the beginning again, and again, and again.

Junonia

by Kevin Henkes (HC $15.99) Alice is hoping for the perfect birthday, and to finally find the rare Junonia shell she has been seeking for years.

But, as often happens with hoping, things aren’t going as planned. A new girl shows up, demanding a lot of attention, and the Junonia is nowhere to be found. Will Alice be able to find the wonder in her world, despite many disappointments?

1600 NE Alberta Street 503-954-2354 www.greenbeanbookspdx.com

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Art

CeramiCafe Art-Lounge NW www.ceramicafenw.com CHAP Children’s Healing Art Project New Location: 1703 NW 16th www.chap.name Chocolate Craft Studio www.chocolatecraftstudio.com Dipinto A Mano www.dipintoamano.com MiMosa Studios www.mimosa-studios.com My Masterpiece Art Studio www.mymasterpieceartstudio.com Pottery Fun www.potteryfunpdx.com Scrap www.scrapaction.org

Bounce

Jump Sky High www.por.jumpskyhigh.com Inflatable Kingdom www.inflatablekingdom.com JJ Jump Multiple locations www.jjjump.com Pump It Up Multiple locations www.pumpitupparty.com Pump It Up - Junior www.pumpitupparty.com 20 | NW Kids Magazine

places toparty Bowl

20th Century Lanes www.amf.com/20thcenturylanes Allen’s Crosley Lanes www.crosleylanes.com Grand Central Bowl www.thegrandcentralbowl.com Hollywood Bowl www.hollywoodbowlpdx.com Milwaukie Bowl www.milwaukiebowl.com Park Lanes Family Entertainment Center www.parklanes.net Pro 300 Lanes www.amf.com/pro300lanes Sunset Lanes www.sunsetlanes.com Tigard Bowl www.tigardbowl.com Valley Lanes www.valleylanes.com

Climb

Circuit Bouldering Gym New Location: 410 NE 17th Ave www.thecircuitgym.com Portland Rock Gym www.portlandrockgym.com Stoneworks Climbing Gym www.belay.com

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Cooking & Food

places toparty

Kids Central Kitchen www.kidscentralkitchen.com In Good Taste www.ingoodtastestore.com Little Scoops www.littlescoops.com Merry Kitchen www.themerrykitchen.com Papa’s Pizza www.papaspizza.net The Kids Cooking Corner - NEW www.thekidscookingcorner.com Southwest Community Center www.southwestcommunitycenter.com

Dance & Gymnastics Body Vox www.bodyvox.com

Children’s Gym www.childrensgym.com Do Jump www.dojump.org Gym Nest www.thegym-nest.com Gymstars www.gymstarkids.com Metro Gymnastics Center www.metrogymnastics.com

Oregon Gymnastics academy www.ogagym.org Rose City Gymnastics www.rosecitygym.com Tumble Bus www.tumblebuspdx.com Westside Gymnastics & Dance www.westsideacademy.com

Equestrian

Once Upon A Horse www.onceuponahorse.com Quarry Ridge Farm www.quarryridgefarm.com Renaissance Farms Pony Parties www.renaissancefarms.com

Fairy & Tea Party

Dollhouse Tearoom www.dollhousetearoom.com Fairest Of Them All Princess Parties www.fairestprincess.com Lavendar Teahouse www.lavenderteahouse.com

Naydenov Gymnastics www.ngymnastics.com NW Kids Magazine | 21

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places toparty Farm

Fir Point Farms www.firpointfarms.com Krugers Farm Market www.krugersfarmmarket.com Lee’s Farm www.leefarmsoregon.com Rainbow Trout Farm www.rainbowtroutfarm.com

Firehouse

Belmont Firehouse - NEW 503.823.3700

Fun Center

Big Al’s multiple locations www.ilovebigals.com Chuck E Cheese Multiple locations www.chuckecheese.com Family Fun Center www.fun-center.com Oaks Park www.oakspark.com Safari Sam’s www.jungleoffun.com Wunderland Multiple locations www.wunderlandgames.com

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Laser Tag

Laserport www.laserportofbeaverton.com Ultrazone Laser Tag www.ultrazoneportland.com

Martial Arts

One With Heart Multiple Locations www.onewithheart.com Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen www.tulencenter.com

Movies

Academy Theater www.academytheaterpdx.com

Museum

A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village www.acgilbert.org Evergreen Aviation Museum www.evergreenmuseum.org OMSI www.omsi.edu Portland Children’s Museum www.portlandcm.org World Forestry Center www.worldforestry.org

Pampering

Pigtails & Crewcuts www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com Sit Still www.sitstillkids.com

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Unique FX Salon www.sunnycarr.com Whipper Snippers www.whipper-snippers.com

Party Planning Gala Goose www.galagoose.com

Little Lamb Events www.littlelambevents.com Strawberry Fields Party Planning www.strawberryfieldspartyplanning.com Top Hat Productions www.tophatproductions.com

Performance

Comedy Sports 4 Children www.portlandcomedy.com Sound Roots www.soundrootsmusic.com

Photography

Little Pixels Photo Parties www.littlepixels.net

Pirate

Captain Henry’s Pirate Store www.captainhenryspiratestore.com Glowing Greens Miniature Golf www.glowinggreens.com

places toparty Play

Cafe Sip N Play www.cafesipnplay.com Club Sport www.clubsports.com Gymboree www.gymboreeclasses.com Jantzen Beach Carousel www.jantzenbeachpdx.com Kids Club Fun & Fitness www.kidsclubfunandfitness.com Little Gym www.thelittlegym.com Munchkin Playland www.munchkinplayland.com Out of This World Pizza www.outofthisworld.net Portland Parks and Recreation Various Locations www.portlandonline.com/parks/index. cfm?c=52647 John’s Incredible Pizza – NEW www.johnspizza.com Play Boutique www.playboutique.com Rainbow Play Systems www.123playground.com Sweet Peas Kidzone www.sweetpeaskidzone.com The Playground Gym www.theplaygroundgym.com NW Kids Magazine | 23

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places toparty Skating

Lloyd Center Ice Rink www.lloydcenterice.com Mountain View Ice Arena www.mtviewice.com Mt. Scott Community Center www.portlandonline.com/parks Sherwood Ice Arena www.sherwoodicearena.com Valley Ice Arena www.valleyicearena.com

Sports

Archers Afield www.archersafield.com Children Of The Sea www.childrenofthesea.com Indoor Goals www.indoorgoals.com Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Ski Bowl www.skibowl.com North Clackamas Aquatic Park www.ncprd.com/aquatic-park Oregon Fencing Alliance www.oregonfencing.org Portland Lil’Kickers www.pdxlilkickers.com Portland Park and Recreation Pool Parties/Rock Climbing Various Locations www.portlandonline.com Portland Futsal www.portlandfutsal.com Portland Indoor Soccer www.pdxindoorsoccer.com SoccerPlex www.soccerplex.com Tualatin Indoor Soccer www.tualatinindoor.com

Video Games

Game Truck www.gametrckparty8.reachlocal.com NW Kids Magazine | 25

profile

Fancy This:

Custom Birthday Party Packages

Photos by Tori Ava Photography www.toriavaphotography.com

When Lisa Komer opened Fancy That inside of Bliss Bake Shop last year, it was a match made in birthday party heaven. Both Komer and Bliss knew they wanted to offer party packages to their patrons. And so far their parties have been a great success. Packages are all inclusive including set up and clean up (thank you). And the party décor, Komer’s custom designed printable invitations, personalized banners, greeting signs, and themed decorations are a fantastic way to attend to every detail of each theme, and make the birthday kid

feel really special. Themes, of which Komer’s already covered an array of including Football, Paris, Robots, Carnival, Fairy and Dinosaurs, are chosen by the birthday kiddos, and Komer takes care of the rest.

Having the party inside Bliss Bake Shop means your cakes and cookies or cupcakes are straight from the oven, or they have a wonderful ice cream selection, so party goers will be able to choose from several choices of ice cream flavors.

PACKAGES INCLUDE: Each party at Bliss includes a craft activity where each guest will make something theme related to take home as a keepsake for the party.

And the feasting table is decorated to reflect the theme from special details to coordinating, napkins, cups, and placemats. This is also the table where the party goers will eat and the craft activity will take place.

Each guest will receive their own custom party favors. For the Ice Cream theme party goers received a white take out style box and inside it they found custom labeled bottle of bubbles, a box of candy, and ice cream bubble bath.

Print your own 5x7 invitations. This is a single PDF file, customized with your party text and 26 | NW Kids Magazine

your chosen party colors. The file will allow you to print however many invitations you need.

Party packages are designed for up to 8 guests, however you may add additional guest for only $15 each. Packages are booked for 1.5 hours.

Optional add-ons: Additional treats such as ice cream sandwiches or cookie sandwiches for adults, a professional photographer, custom or themed thank you notes, coffee/tea service for adults, helium balloons, custom designed party invitations and color coordinated envelopes. All invitations are printed with high quality resolution ink on 80 lbs luxury paper. Packages start at $195.

For more information, visit their website, www.shop-fancythat.com.

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entertainers Balloon Artists Musicians

Portland Balloon Guy www.portlandballoonguy.com

Circus Act

Heather Pearl www.heatherpearl.org Motion Magic www.motionmagic.net

Clowns

Clowns Unlimited 503.381.4462

Jugglers

Pinky the Juggler www.pinkythejuggler.com




Magicians

Amazing Magician www.rabbitinahat.com Magic of Bob Eeaton 503-643-2700 Magic of Seth Productions www.magicofseth.com Tim Alexander, Master of Marvels www.parlorofwonders.com

Elizabeth Lavenue www.elizabethlavenue.com Green Grass Music www.greengrassmusic.net Mo Philips www.mophilips.com Music Together www.musictogether-pdx.com Nana Banana 503-622-4242 Professor Banjo www.squaredancepaul.com Rhythmic Opera www.rhythmicopera.com The Alphabeticians www.alphabeticians.com

The Singing Fairy www.joalexis.com The Toy Trains www.toytrainsband.com

Origami

yuki martin www.yukiorigami.com

Puppet Shows

David Freleng www.davidfreleng.com

Dragon Theater Puppets www.dragontheater.com Mudeye Puppet Company www.mudeyepuppets.org Penny’s Puppets www.pennypuppets.com Tears of Joy Theater www.tojt.com

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Gluten Free Birthday Cake

By Libby Gerling-Randles Celebrating birthdays may be a little tough if you can’t enjoy your birthday cake. Wheat gluten intolerance has doubled over the past 20 years due to our western diet, largely made up of processed foods. More and more children are diagnosed with wheat sensitivities each year because their little bodies have a hard time digesting wheat proteins. A child’s

Gluten Free Almond Flour Chocolate Cake:

Recipes

2 cups blanched almond flour 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup honey 2 large eggs 1 TB vanilla Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease two 9 inch cake pans and dust with almond flour. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine wet ingredients. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Pour into cake pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 1 hour.

Happy Birthday!

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reaction may include an upset stomach (and other digestive problems) eczema, irritability and impaired growth. No fun on a birthday.

Finding yummy, nutritious alternatives for wheat has been my passion for the last year. It’s important that wheat sensitive children don’t feel like they’re missing out, especially on their birthdays.

Gluten free Vanilla Frosting:

3 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 cup butter 1 tsp gluten free vanilla extract 1 to 2 TBS whipping cream Mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Libby Gerling-Randles is a busy stay-at-home mama, adventure seeker and baking guru.

When she’s not keeping up with her 3 yearold daughter, Samara, she can be found in the kitchen baking up delicious home-made gluten-free goodies. Check out Libby’s creations here: www.facebook.com/pages/MaraMooGluten-Free-Creations/200066553347872.

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