Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Infographic 10 Reasons To Cater A Birthday Party

Please share with family, friends, caterers, and party planners.




Tuesday, November 12, 2013

All you need to know about the birthday cake and the mess it makes



Well let me just say that anything you serve is going to be messy.   Of course, it is going to be messy. 

You are letting a 1 year old loose on a cake that has frosting and chocolate and fruit.  It is going to be sticky and no one is going to want to handle the birthday child afterwards, not even you, except we are the mothers and it is mom’s job to do the dirty work.

Here are a couple of suggestions to help with the big mess.

  1. Cupcakes are a good alternative to a smash cake.  They are smaller and they get a taste of frosting before it gets in their hair. (In addition, any other crevice that you can imagine).
  2. I recommend NOT, I repeat NOT holding the child as they are eating their cake.  A friend of mine decided to hold her 1 year old while she was eating her smash cake.  Not a wise idea.  Not only did the child have frosting everywhere but also so did my friend.  We were at a restaurant and she did not think to bring a change of clothes for herself, so she was just as sticky as her daughter.
  3. Put the child in a high chair, while eating cake.  You want the birthday child to get the spotlight. Everyone will gather to watch him or her get messy.  I suggest putting them in the middle of the room , allowing pictures and video to be focused on the child and their first  birthday mess. 
  4. Have a change of clothes.  I know, “But this outfit is so cute”.  After the frosting has had a chance to harden and all the pictures have been taken, you are going to want to hose the birthday child down.  Bring 1 cute outfit to change into afterwards.  Please I beg you.  Bring an extra change of clothes. 
  5. If you are having the party at home, you have the advantage of throwing the happy baby in the tub.  We did this with our second child.  We had the party at home and it was great.  I just stripped him down and gave him a bath.  He smelled fresh and had that baby smell.
  6. Having the party at a restaurant, bring lots of wipes and a washcloth.   You will still have to strip the baby down and wipe them down.  However, if you happen to bring a washcloth and some soap you can give a quick bath in the bathroom at the restaurant.  My husband and I did not think of this until it was too late for the first child.  We were stuck using just water and the wipes and he smelled like frosting until we arrived home.  Oh well, we learn as we go I guess.
  7. Buy a cheap plastic table covering.  Doesn’t matter if you are at a banquet facility, restaurant, or at home, cover the floor.   The child can get as messy as they want, simply roll up the plastic tarp and discard.  The banquet and restaurant will greatly appreciate your efforts to keep their facility clean, and at home, you will have enough mess to clean up after the birthday party. You do not want to be washing  floors after the guest leave.
Hope these words of advice find their way to you.  Take it from a mom that learned from our families mistakes.  Do not get caught with frosting in your hair.

Have a frosting free day.

About the Author


Michelle Obrochta is a mother of two boys, a wife to a entertainer, and runs an balloon business. Planning is a passion of Michelle's, and is always quick to volunteer to help in planing an event, participate in a school function, or help make the event special. 

Friday, November 1, 2013

10 Reasons Why You Should Cater a Birthday Party

To cater or not to cater, that is the question? 


I was asked to give my reasons why I would cater a 1st birthday party?

Here's why I think catering is a good idea and why you should be giving it some serious consideration.

  1.  It is less time consuming then making all of that food.  I spend at least 2 days cooking different things for a party.  I am usually sick of the smell of the food and do not really eat that day because I have been picking for 2 days and am sick of the food. 
  2. No messes. After making all of the food then you have to clean up.  I have enough to clean up around the house itself.  I do not have time to clean up the kitchen 16 times a day after making all of that food.
  3. Where are you going to keep all of that food?  OK, so after you make all of this food for the party where are you going to keep it?  I only have one fridge and freezer so making a lot of food is a little tricky.   I do not have the room.
  4. You know it is going to taste good.  I got some cheesy potatoes one year from a catering company and I have loved them ever since.  Everyone loved them.  Usually if you are ordering from a catering company, they will let you taste the stuff you are going to order.  In addition, if you like it you know your company will like it too.  If you make it, it might not taste the same as you think it should.
  5. You get to spend more time with your guests.  Spending time in the kitchen is not fun.   The 1st birthday is more for the parent to show that they made it through that first year of life with a new person keeping them up and messing up their lives.  You want to actually talk to adults and maybe have a drink or two. 
  6. It gives you more time to do other things.  If you are like me, you are going to want to get specific decorations for the 1st birthday party theme.  I looked around and got a crown for my son’s first birthday party.  He was the prince and we were the king and queen.  I got to do the decorating for the party and not have to worry about if the food was going to burn on the stove or in the oven.
  7. It is more affordable then you think.  If you take a look at home much food you buy to make the food and then add in your valuable time and effort, it is cheaper.  You time is a valuable asset these days.  You have a 1 year old (and maybe more kids) running around getting into trouble.  You want to make sure you are spending time with them instead of making food for several days before the party. 
  8. You will not have to worry about not having enough or having too much left over.  Caters know how to make enough food for a certain amount of people.  I am not sure how they do it but I know they always make enough and we have maybe enough for 1 meal for the family.  Love not having so much food left over.
  9. They can help you with all utensils.  Have you ever forgotten plates or napkins or even forks for your party.  Well usually, when you cater in food they will ask you if you want the utensils and forks, napkins, plates and whatever else you can think of.  It helps when you are in the throes of everyday activities.
  10. It is just easier.  Not worrying about any of the things in the list above gives you the peace of mind that you are going to have a good party that people will be talking about for a long time.
About the Author

Michelle Obrochta is a mother of two boys, a wife to a balloon entertainer, and runs an online business. Planning is a passion of her's, and is always quick to volunteer to help plan an event, participate in a school function, or help make the event special.