ML Interest Tag: circus

Yankee Candle’s Halloween Collection Has Arrived for Scent-sational Holiday Fun

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Nothing says Halloween quite like flickering candlelight and now, thanks to the return of Yankee Candle’s Halloween collection, you can make your candles even more spooktacular.

Featuring 40 new Halloween-themed accessories, the five collections include Boney Bunch, Halloween Friends, Bedazzled Skull, Spiderweb and Gold Ombré and have something for everyone. Here are a few of our favorite picks from the 2019 Yankee Candle Halloween collection.

Halloween Friends Collection Multi

These adorable Halloween pals are lined up and ready for some spooky fun.

$30

Halloween Friends Petey Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern

This mini jack o'lantern candle holder will light up your house all season long.

$22

Boney Bunch Circus Jar Candle Holder

This adorably creepy big top tent doubles as a holder for your favorite jar candle scent.

$35

Boney Bunch Ringmaster

This skeletal ringmaster will help your house smell cozy by doubling as an electric wax melt warmer.

$30

Bedazzled Skull Jar Candle Holder

Jazz up your jar candle with this sparkling skull.

$12

Bedazzled Skull Collection Hands

These bony fingers are happy to hold up your favorite scented candles.

$18

Spiderweb Jar Candle Holder

Accent your favorite candle jar with some spooky webbing.

$25

Gold Ombré Votive

This festive tea light holder is the perfect accent to take you from September all the way through Thanksgiving. 

$8

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Yankee Candle

 

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7 Tricks to Stay Focused When Working from Home

By Lauren Rothlisberger

Photo: iStock

 

Our current work culture where “everyone is available all the time” is causing exhaustion across the workforce. But there is an added layer of difficulty for parents that are, on top of work requirements, always feeling the pull of the biggest job of all, parenting. One “solution” that people turn to is working from home. And it is true, there are some very real and good advantages to that, but anyone that works from home will also tell you, it is kind of a circus.

Remember the Margo and James incident? A lot of people working at home are seeking more balance, but let’s get something straight, this is not the magic solution. I have been a work at home parent for over 12 years and some days I just wish I went to an office. After experiencing weaving work into my day with babies, toddlers, and teens, I can confirm one of the biggest challenges is that your landscape is constantly changing. You have to reassess your work structure all the time. What happens when that toddler gives up their second nap? Or how do you restructure your day to help with homework after school and still take work calls?

It is important to acknowledge that there are different types of work at home jobs there are people that are working their job remotely but still with a very typical daily structure. These tips are most relevant for people who have full control over their work schedules and weave their work and home timelines together a bit more.

  1. Establish “Do Not Disturb” Time: At the beginning of every week take the time to build out your week. This establishes “do not disturb” time or hours that are protected (by you) for work. What you will find when you work at home and have kids, is that almost no two weeks are the same. There is always some wild card item (doc appt., meeting, school event) that changes the landscape of your week. If you know you need to work 20 hours this week then look at the next 5 days, mark off the time you know you can NOT work, now schedule in your working blocks. And most important of all, protect them.
  2. Frame Your Week: If there are items in your work that are repeated often or consistent habits you want to build, then create a framework for that in the week. For example, I send out a weekly newsletter with three interesting items (articles, podcasts, videos, etc) and a couple of my own comments on each. I send it out every Thursday. In order to do this, I keep an excel spreadsheet that I use to track all the content I have read, listened to, or watched. I put a few notes in there and it becomes my brain dump. Then when Thursday rolls around I just compile this info, edit it and push it out. I have a personal challenge to not miss a week unless it is scheduled in advance. The longer I go with this “no week off” the more momentum I feel behind it.
  3. Determine the Best Time for Tasks: Not all work is created equal. There is certain work you do that is more impactful while other items are just tasks that need to be accomplished, but don’t hold as much weight. There is work you will do that will pull on your mind and focus more than other work. Depending on your personal bio-rhythm and your current parenting circumstances you need to determine when you are at your best. This is one of the advantages of working from home. You can design your day to take advantage of your strongest times. Personally, I have trained myself to become an early riser. Anything that requires focus and thought (writing, designing) I tackle early in the day. As the day goes on I grow more tired and more easily distracted. I try and schedule phone calls for the afternoon when I hit a lull in the day. I am an extrovert with a strong introvert streak, I do gain energy from others, so when I need energy it is good for me to connect with other people.
  4. Do Not Multitask But Layer Appropriately: One of the biggest lies we are told is that women are better multitaskers. I think this label came from our seemingly inherent ability to hear a baby crying in the other room, while on the phone, and making dinner. In fact, to me, this “feature” can be more overwhelming. I have trouble shutting out the world around me because my brain seems to engage in everything regardless of whether I want to or not. When you sit down to accomplish focused work do NOT try and multitask. Focus on one thing at a time. It is hard, you sit down to write and all the sudden you need to check or email or pay your cell phone bill. Those are distractions. While I don’t like multi-tasking, I am a fan layering time. Use the time that you are spending doing mindless work (dishes, folding, driving) to study. There is certainly always room for continuing education, use this time to try and feed your mind with things like audiobooks or podcasts.
  5. Get Help: If you have young kids at home you might feel guilty asking someone to come into your house to help with the kids. Especially if you are not financially contributing a lot, you may feel like it is not fair to spend money having someone else help with the kids. Don’t fight this, if it is at all possible schedule some time when you can fully focus on your work. You will get 10 times more done when you are working within these constraints. Work tends to expand to the amount of time we give it. Hiring someone to help you with enforcing some time-blocking. It will also allow you to shift your attention fully to your kids after those hours.
  6. Turn Off Notifications: There are many, many articles written about how distracted we have become. If you are on a limited timeline working from home, you can not afford to react to every notification you get. You can turn on “do not disturb” mode on your computer and devices. If you are like me and worried you will miss an important call from your kid’s school or your spouse you can set it up where those are the only numbers that get through. In addition, turn off all the notifications that pop up on your phone from Facebook, Instagram, and email.
  7. Leave the Dishes: Do not underestimate this piece of advice. This is one of the biggest issues with working from home. There are always chores that need to be done. It is true that working at your house allows you to do a few things that you couldn’t do during the day (like throw in that load of laundry), but if you need to have your house in a perfect state you are never going to get anything done. The thing is, those dishes will still be there when your tasks for the day are complete.

These seven points of advice are much easier said than done. I constantly fight hard to follow these rules. As soon as I wrote the work laundry I remembered I need to put a load in and almost got up to do so. Fight against the distraction, if you are really focused for a short period of time, you will accomplish just as much (if not more) then spending three times as long but jumping between tasks.

Lauren Rothlisberger
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Hi, I am Lauren Rothlisberger from the dailycurator.co.  I work at home with four kids and I am a military spouse. I am determined to integrate family, work into a well thought out day. I don’t believe in the validation of being busy, but instead the fulfillment in spending time purposefully and usefully. 
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Visiting Wacky & Wild Venice Beach with Kids

by Jenifer Scott

Venice Beach may not have a reputation for being exceptionally family-friendly, but if you’re up for an adventure, it actually packs quite the playful punch and is one of the best beaches in Los Angeles. From out-of-the-box street performers to skateparks set against a backdrop of the shimmering Pacific Ocean, Venice Beach has more than enough eccentric entertainment to make for a fun outing with your bohemian babes. Keep reading for a list of our favorite things to do in Venice with kids in tow!

Photo: Tomas Del Coro via Flickr

Ocean Front Walk: The Venice boardwalk is truly a circus for the senses and what kid doesn’t love a circus? You and your tiny tourists-for-a-day will have more than enough visual (and fair warning: nasal) stimulation simply strolling past the one and a half miles of shops selling anything from sunglasses to life-sized Transformers.

There is more eclectic flair packed into a one and a half mile stretch of sidewalk than anywhere else around! If you’re looking for polished and pretty, you might want to hit up the Third Street Promenade in neighboring Santa Monica but if everyone wants to shake up the norm a bit (and have a blast doing so), then Ocean Front Walk does this in spades. And the best part? It’s free to see!

Good to Know: Street parking can get tricky around these parts but there are plenty of paid lots in the area for your parking pleasure. There are city parking lots right on the sand at the end of Venice Blvd. and along Pacific Ave. or private lots near Winward Ave, Venice Blvd. and Rose Ave. City parking lots range from $4-$15 depending on the day of the week and/or time of year. Private lots are a little pricier and can run around $25 for the day. As most prefer beach parking, those spots will fill up early, especially on weekends, so plan accordingly. On weekends, swing by the Westminster Elementary School lot (enter on Main St.) as they sometimes offer additional parking for only $5! 

Hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Insider Tip: To really get the full experience of Venice, start at the end of Washington Blvd. near the Venice Fishing Pier (technically Marina del Rey) and walk north along the Venice Beach boardwalk. There is an expansive city parking lot right on the sand that rarely fills up (as well as a couple of coffee shops here to keep you caffeinated for your trek into Venice)!

Online: venicebeach.com

Photo: Herbert E. via Yelp

What to See:

Muscle Beach: The site of the original Gold’s Gym, this outdoor exercise space is sure to pump everyone up in the family. There are usually at least one or two bodybuilders lifting weights on-site while bystanders gawk and marvel at their superhuman strength.

Insider Tip: The indoor gym is still frequented by Arnold Schwarzenegger and, if you are lucky, you might catch him entering or leaving on a Sat. morning!

Hours: Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. noon -4 p.m.

1800 Ocean Front Walk
Venice
Online: musclebeach.com

Photo: Marc Cooper via Flickr

Street Performers: The Venice boardwalk is probably most famous for its vast array of performers. This is not a fancy stage show by any means. The sometimes hundreds of folks dotting the sidewalks are working hard to get your tips. From walking on broken shards of glass and break dancers to unicyclists wearing sequined shorts playing guitar, there is truly a wide variety of spectacle (and talent for that matter). It’s truly a down and dirty circus that is a sure bet to entertain all ages!

Good to Know: Entertainers are sprinkled throughout the boardwalk with a heavier concentration of the beachside entertainment at Winward Ave. Expect to see more performers on the weekends.

Photo: Sharat Ganapati via Flickr

Venice Skatepark: Undoubtedly one of the best stops on the boardwalk, the Venice Skate Park draws people of every age and skill level. Your small shredders will wish they had their own boards on hand as they take in the talented tricks set against an ocean backdrop. There is always a crowd cheering on the skaters (sometimes the pros even show up here to break out some moves) which makes for a fun sense of community that energizes everyone around! 

Hours: Daily; Dawn until dusk

800 Ocean Front Walk
Venice
Online: veniceskatepark.com

Photo: John M. via Yelp

Venice Canals: Viva L’Italia! After enjoying the bohemian buzz of the boardwalk, take your brood inland a couple of blocks to soak up a slice of Italy (without boarding a plane). Nestled in an upscale residential area of Venice Beach, these charming canals are a small part of what used to make up most of the surrounding area. The gondoliers may not be there anymore but (lucky for us!) some of the canals survived and now it’s a perfect place to take your tadpoles for a stroll. Picturesque arched bridges connect the canals in a maze-like layout while ducks float serenely along the paths making this Venice hotspot truly fun for the entire family!

Carroll Ct. and Eastern Canal Ct.
Venice

Photo: Hege M. via Yelp

Venice Beach Bike Path: If you want to zoom your way down the boardwalk and still take in some pretty great people watching, take your bikes to the boardwalk and ride along the bike path. If your little ones’ legs are up for the challenge, take it all the way into Santa Monica. Or if you’ve got tiny tykes in tow, stop along Ocean Front Walk to check out some shops or sidewalk performers.

Good to Know: The bike path can get pretty crowded on weekends (and super sandy) so take your adventures there during the week for a more serene experience.

Need to rent bikes? We recommend Ride! Venice which can run you anywhere from $5 per hour for kid options or $7-$12 per hour for adult bikes. This place has everything on wheels from strollers and baby trailers to tandem and mountain bikes. Rent by the hour or pay a day rate (more cost effective if you plan on enjoying the bike for longer than a few hours).

1915 Ocean Front Walk
Venice Beach
Online: southerncaliforniabeaches.org/venicebeach_bikepath

Photo: Paolo Gamba via Flickr

The Beach: Perhaps the biggest draw of all for your baby sharks is the actual beach at Venice Beach. Three miles of sand manicured daily is a huge draw for anyone whether you’re a local or a tourist. With Los Angeles Lifeguard headquarters stationed here on this beach, parents can rest assured their minnows are being well watched. Parents will love the views while kids will love meeting tons of other kids playing in the sand. Win/win!

Good to Know: There are some great public parking lots right around here that tend to fill up quickly on weekends so best to arrive as early as possible.

South City Parking Lot (near Venice Canals, Venice Recreation and Parks/Muscle Beach Gym/Skate Park/courts)
2100 Ocean Front Walk
Venice

North City Parking Lot:
300 Ocean Front Walk
Venice

Washington Blvd. Lot (Near Venice Pier and Washington Square)
3100 Washington Blvd.
Venice

Beach Hours: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

End of Winward Ave.
Venice
Online: www.venicebeach.com

Photo: Humphry Slocombe via Instagram

Sweet Treats

Humphry Slocombe: Pop into this store that is celebrating its 10th Birthday on Dec. 28th where their Venice outpost will be offering free scoops all day (donations will be accepted and given to Homeboy Industries—an organization that provides free services and job training to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women.

Good to Know: As part of their month-long celebration, they are bringing back fan-favorites like Government Cheez-It and Jesus Juice.

Hours: Noon-12 p.m.

1653B Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice
Online: humphryslocombe.com

It Sugar: As the name not-so-subtly implies, this super colorful store is chock full of all kinds of candy, including the nostalgic and hard to find variety. The selection here is pretty amazing and you can find confectionary delights that you won’t be able to find many other places. But wait, there’s more! Along with sugar, kids will also go nutty for the toys, plush items, and other funky gadgets that this place has to offer.

Good to Know: There are also mature trinkets and merchandise scattered throughout the store that’s tailored specifically to adult shoppers but unless you have an older child, the younger set will be too distracted by the rest to notice.

Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m; Fri.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
2017 Ocean Front Walk
Venice Beach
Online: itsugar.com

photo: Burro Kids via Yelp

SHOPPING

Abbot Kinney Blvd.: After a long day at the beach, head over to trendy Abbot Kinney Blvd. to feed your hungry hippos at one of the many restaurants, cafes and food trucks dotting the street. Known as the hipster capital of Venice, this popular thoroughfare also boasts funky shops, eclectic salons and street art you won’t see anywhere else in the world. If a restaurant meal isn’t in the cards, grab a cup of coffee, get the kids a donut, sit back and take in the laid-back Venice vibe.

Online: abbotkinneyblvd.com

To see what Red Tricycle Editors are up to this month, follow us on Instagram!

—Jenifer Scott

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Why Our Family Embraces All Holiday Traditions, Both New & Old

By Eva Amurri Martino

For me, the magic of the holiday season has so much to do with tradition—keeping the old ones alive and creating new traditions. Ever since I became a mom, the magic of Christmas has felt fresh to me again, and I love experiencing everything through my kids’ eyes. Christmas memories still remain some of my favorite from my own childhood, and there are a few traditions we’re replicating this year and a couple of new ones we’re adding, too!

Classic Holiday Traditions We’ll Always Celebrate

Going to the Big Apple Circus

One of my favorite traditions growing up was going to the Big Apple Circus during Christmas time as a family. This year I went on StubHub’s holiday site and found tickets to the Big Apple Circus for Christmas Day. I’m going to surprise my kids on Christmas morning and take them into the city later that day.

To make the gift as exciting to unwrap as it is to attend, I will pair the tickets with a beautiful glass ornament of a circus animal, red clown noses and circus peanuts.

Letting the Kids Pick Toys to Donate to Children in Need

There was always a huge emphasis on giving back when I was growing up, and the holiday season was no different. Each year around Christmas, my mom would have us go through our clothes and toys and choose some to donate to less fortunate children. They always had to be in tip-top shape as well—nothing broken or worn out.

This was a great way to place focus on the true meaning of Christmas, while also clearing out room for the gifts that Santa would bring. I love this tradition, and now each year I have my kids select five toys each to give away.

New Holiday Traditions We’re Adding This Year

Elf on the Shelf

We never had one growing up, but I can’t help but love this adorable Christmas tradition—and my kids do too! It’s fun to come up with creative ways for our kids to find Berry (our Elf) in the morning, and I gotta say I ADORE having a little bit of a Positive Christmas Behavior reinforcer who sits on my mantle every day “threatening” my kids, LOL. Berry has only been with us a few weeks and already she has stopped multiple tantrums mid-scream. If that’s not a Christmas miracle, I don’t know what is!

Giving Experience Gifts

Sometimes getting inspired to buy something special for your loved ones during the holiday season can be overwhelming: how do you pick something that will truly stand out and not gather dust in the corner after a couple of months? The past few years I’ve been giving experiences for Christmas, and this year I’m giving live events to some of my nearest and dearest.

I went on StubHub and I’m giving my husband tickets to see Hamilton, which is finally going on a U.S. tour! Along with the tickets, I am going to give him a copy of one of my favorite books, Howard Zinn’s A People’s History Of The United States, a journal, pen and a copy of the Hamilton soundtrack so we can memorize all the songs before we go!

We live just outside NYC and there is nothing more chic or bucket list than the New York Philharmonic! I am gifting my in-laws and parents four tickets (so we can go to), packaged in an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne, two glasses and some thematic ornaments for extra sparkle.

Happy Holidays all, I hope you enjoy some old and new traditions this year.

Featured Photo Courtesy: erin walker via Unsplash
Eva Amurri Martino
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Eva is a mama to two kids and wife to a former Major League Soccer player. She's also the founder of Happily Eva After, a comedic and honest approach to everything parenting, lifest‌yle, fashion and DIY, as well as creator of the custom t-shirt app, The Happily App.

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12 Funny Baby Costumes You’ll Love

by rtfrankiekatafias

Babies in mustaches and glasses are cute any time of the year, but for Halloween, infant attire takes on a whole new level of sweet meets hilarious. From snuggy little skunks (because you know…) to your favorite board game guy, read on for our picks for some of the funniest costumes for babies and toddlers.

1. Baby Skunk: A cozy and supercute costume for your little stinker. 

photo: Pottery Barn Kids

2. Circus Strong Man: Pay homage to your new-mommy biceps.

photo: youaremyfave.com

3. Thanksgiving Turkey: Who needs tryptophan when you have a newborn?

photo: marthastewart.com

4. Monopoly Man: The mustache, top hat and bow tie combo make this costume a winner. 

photo: costumeworks.com

5. Taco Supreme: It’s nacho average Halloween costume. 

photo: costume pop

6. Bag of Popcorn: A clever (and not corny) way to work a baby carrier into a costume. 

Photo Courtesy: thisplaceisnowahome

7. Young Dalai Lama: The short hair is a handy accessory for this costume. 

photo: imgur

8. Little Devil: If your child is teething or going through a developmental leap, this costume may seem appropriate.  

photo: amazon

9. Baby Einstein: Imagination will take you everywhere. 

photo: imgur

10. Chipotle Burrito: On Halloween, we call this a boo-rito. 

photo: collegehumor.com

11. Prince, Purple Rain Edition: Works until they are 5 ft. 3.

photo: imgur

12. Harry Potter: “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

photo: loveandlion.com

What will your Jack or Jill-o-lantern wear for Halloween this year? Tell us in the comments!

— Francesca Katafias

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Play & Celebrate! Sporty Birthday Party Venues

by Jen Peterson

Have a kid that likes to get in on the action, rather than jockey the sidelines? Invite your star and their biggest cheerleaders to do everything from rock climbing to circus acrobatics to indoor skydiving. Flip through our album for all the places you can burn big energy — and then come home to a calm (and clean) house.

So New It Shines: Naperville Yard (and Westmont Yard, too!)

Last year we welcomed a new party space in town - Naperville Yard (joining their sister location, Westmont Yard) - and we have two words for you that make this venue unique. Nerf Wars. What kid wouldn’t love a Nerf War party, right? While Nerf mischief between siblings happens on the regular, Naperville Yard takes the battle (and wartime cleanup) out of your house for the day with this $25-$50 party add-on. Besides providing the opportunity to launch an attack on friends, a party here includes access to a 5-level play structure, inflatables, field games, invitations, a party coordinator, goodie bags and more!

1607 Legacy Cir., Naperville
630-245-1100
Online: napervilleyard.com

233 W. 63rd St., Westmont
630-737-1000
Online: westmontyard.com

What’s your favorite place for a birthday party? Let us know in the Comments!

— Maria Chambers & Jen Peterson

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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Will Close After Nearly 150 Years of Operation

by Red Tricycle

Photo: ringlingbros via Instagram

If your family was hoping to visit the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus anytime soon, this is your last chance. Feld Entertainment announced the circus will hold its last Ringling Bros. performance May 2017. In a statement, CEO Kenneth Feld says “Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop. This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company.”

The change to remove the elephants, which was one of Ringling Bros. spotlight performances, came after activists argued there was poor treatment of the animals. The social shift caused ticket sales to drop.

After 146 years of performances, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will finish its tours, Circus XTREME and Out Of This World, by the end of May this year.

Are you glad they are closing or were you hoping to see one last performance? Tell us in the comments!

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Cute Photo Alert! Neil Patrick Harris & Fam Celebrate the Twins’ Sixth Birthday

by Red Tricycle

Photo: Club Med Punta Cana

One of our favorite actors, Neil Patrick Harris, and husband Chef David Burtka, couldn’t be prouder of their twins Gideon and Harper. Neil took to Instagram to share the celebratory fun they had at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, celebrating their twins’ sixth birthday.

 

The family had loads of circus fun at Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil and on the beautiful sands of this Caribbean beach.

 

Photo: Club Med Punta Cana

Looks legend…dary! Maybe next year we can all tag along.

Are you a fan of NPH? Let us know in the comments below!

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Step Right Up: How to Throw a Circus Themed Party

by Jacqui Boland

Traveling circuses don’t travel much these days. In fact we’re sure our kids have seen more of a circus from bed-time stories than in real life. If your kiddos dream of the Big Top and her very own circus themed birthday party we’ve uncovered a bunch of tips and tricks to make her dream come true. While your circus party may not include a real life petting zoo, caravan of tigers and display of elephants, there’s no reason to skimp on the details when planning your tot’s very own circus themed party. From “Come one, come all” invitations to rainbow cakes and prizes, we’ve round up a list of inspirations to turn your home into a circus of its own.

Invitations 

Vintage Circus Tickets
If you want to go the vintage route, Caroline Armelle of Armelle Blog created these adorable and stunning “circus ticket” invitations for her tot’s birthday. Included in the envelope was a photo of the birthday boy, a ticket and a balloon with a secret password! What a way to get your guests excited before the big day.

 

Come One, Come All Invite
If classic is more your style, check out these circus party invitations by anders-ruff. The striped design is eye-catching, but it’s the mini animals that’ll entice the little ones to attend. We love how the ticket is detachable by a perforated line. It’s just like going to a real circus! ($18 for printable files; + $37 for 25 printed cards)

Decor 

Veiled Doorway
These hanging circles will add dazzle to any door way, and will certainly add an air of mystery as to what’s on the other side. Rebecca of The Crafted Sparrow was extra resourceful by using free paint chip samples from Home Depot and hot-glueing them to a ribbon. Pin up circus posters on the wall for extra decoration points!

Banner/Foyer Design
This banner designs, along with the vintage cut-outs of a circus troupe add a delicate flair to the party. This mom decorated her party using TomKat Studio’s Circus Candy Collection. And yes, having a monkey (or a even clown) does make everything even more spectacular – we’re sure these kids had a blast at this amazing party.

Patterned Backdrop
If you’re up for something more unique, check out Melissa‘s gorgeous backdrop for her Nacho Bar table. We love how the umbrellas and ruffles are beautiful to look at; they aren’t your typical circus design either. They’re fun, creative and make for a great background for taking photos.

Prop Rentals
Did you start considering animals, a clown or magician for your party? Check out prop rental companies or event planners in your area who may have just the goods to make your party perfect. Chakoda Rentals (based in Southern California) had a plethora of props to make this birthday tot a ringmaster!

What to Eat

 

Healthy Appetites
The show will go on… but not on your tot’s empty stomach! While we all secretly dread (and love) the oily carnival food, making your own healthy snacks is definitely one way to avoid food induced coma. Start with a fresh appetizer of carrot and celery in ranch dip, or some fun fruit pops that the kids will love chomping on. The decorative cards by Annie-Eats do make the food look yummier.

Popcorn Machine
Suzanne of BeBeh was extra resourceful and found a $10 popcorn machine from Craigslist — what a steal! Kids will love munching on popcorn while waiting for their turn at the games. And the popcorn machine will also add to the circus decor, especially if dad is willing to push it around.

Dessert Table
Amy Atlas featured a great circus themed dessert table with items from Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you’re tired of red and white patterns, these designs are such a sight for sore eyes. With deep blues and rich red tones, this dessert table has a wide range of caramel popcorn to cherry swirls and is definitely the way to go for parents who are worried about sugaring up their (and everyone else’s) kids.

Cotton Candy Buckets
Of course, the kiddos might be satisfied with their own bucket of cotton candy, just like the kids at Tallie’s party were. Buckets of cotton candy may be bought at your local super store like Target or Walmart. Whether you rent a machine or decorate your own buckets, these will be the winning sweets of the day. The labels are Vintage Circus printables by TomKat Studio.

Dumbo-Inspired Cake
This amazing birthday cake comes all the way from Brazil! We love how this party strayed-away from bright reds and blues, clowns and circus tents, and instead, kept the vintage, nostalgic feel of the elephants in cute hats, doing tricks (Dumbo, anyone?).

Three Tiered Cupcake Cake
But that doesn’t mean a classic circus tent cake can’t do the trick either.  This three-tiered cake has all the fixings a party-planning mom would love — from the edible top layer to shareable cupcakes and the fantastic striped design, there’ll be no mistake that this party is a circus party.

Rainbow Cake
Have a surprise for your tot (if you’re feeling extra cheeky, bring out a white cake) when you let them cut the first slice! This rainbow tiered cake is worth effort when your little one bursts into smiles. Besides, there’s nothing more vibrant and happy than a rainbow cake, right?

Games

Raffle Tickets
Remember to buy a roll of raffle tickets to pass out to the winners of the games, or as tokens to play games. It’ll get the kids excited, competitive (in a good way) and absolutely proud when they have enough tickets for the prize of their choice. ($4 on Amazon)

Face Painting Booth
You could hire a face painter… or go with DIY, it’s simple and much cheaper. One Charming Party has figured out an easy trick: Use rubber stamps and non-toxic ink to stamp designs on your kiddo’s check! Pick up paints and stamps at Michaels, or buy a kit online.

Bean Bag Toss
Like any circus, this game will be a hit for kids and adults alike (and without the sneaky tricks that stop you from winning). Award points – or tickets – to certain holes, and your kids will definitely race to win. The Hill Family had the cutest circus party, be sure to check it out!

Ball Toss
A simple ball toss can be done with ping-pong balls and candle holders or jars from your own home. Make sure the jars have narrow openings, you don’t want it to be too easy!

Mystery Box
It’s a simple game that challenges a kid’s courage and will have them bursting into giggles. Put a hole in the side of the box and have the brave kiddos guess what’s inside – if it’s a prize, let them have it! Viv from Ish & Chi designed such a pretty box, we’re wondering what was inside.

Photo Booth
This will be the biggest attraction of the entire day — your very own photo booth! Set up a corner (or find a huge cardboard box) and decorate the walls using your party’s color theme. Tori of Thoughtfully Simple provided her guests with props like moustaches, hats, clown wigs and noses – you can even break out the old Halloween costumes!

Favors

Animal Crackers
What’s a circus without the classic Barnum’s Animal Crackers? These delicious snacks will find their way into all your guest’s pockets — plus we love how The Sweetest Occasion used decorated brown bags as a treat bag. What a nod to the old days of traveling circuses!

Pom-pom Party Hats
There’s no birthday party without a party hat – these special pom-pom hats with ruffles are really one of a kind. Andrea of Everyday Beauty bought plain party hats and decorated them with polka dots, pom-poms and festoning.

 

Prize Booth
We had to post this prize booth made by Viv from Ish & Chi. It’s a great way to get around packaging individual party bags (especially if you’re having a huge party), and a clever trick to tie your whole party together. Remember those raffle tickets from before? Let the kiddos trade them in for a prize of their choice – now each party favor will definitely be unique! 

Get ready for the circus show – your own party with the birthday tot as the main event! If you’ve ever thrown a circus party, share your pics, comments and tips with other Red Tri readers by leaving a comment below or sending an email to our editor, Erin (erin@tinybeans.go-vip.net).

— Christal Yuen

 

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Our National Editor’s January 2017 Picks for Best Kids’ Books

by Red Tricycle

Our National Editor went live on Facebook talking about her favorite kids’ books for January 2017. Like what you saw? Scroll down for more information on the books Gabby reviewed.

The Bear’s Surprise by Benjamin Chaud

The Bear’s Surprise on Amazon

A modern day Where’s Waldo for nature lovers! The latest volume in the Bear’s Series, take a journey with Little Bear as he searches far and wide for Papa Bear. From a forest to a mysterious cave and en route to a rollicking circus, The bright, modern illustrations invite hours of observation and take readers through a forest, down into a mysterious cave, through a rollicking circus, and up to the moon, where a surprise waits for Little Bear.

 

Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland by Sujean Rim

 

Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland on Amazon

You may recognize Sujean Rim as the author of the Birdie series (Birdie’s First Day of School, Birdie’s Big Girl Shoes, Birdie’s Happiest Halloween). In this brand-new book, the author touches on a personal subject that will resonate with millions of kids across the country. Inspired by her parent’s move from Korea to Brooklyn in the late 1960’s, Chee-Kee follows the Loo bear family, as they move across the sea to Bearland. Follow Mr. and Mrs. Loo and Chee-Kee Loo as they meet fellow Bearlandians, learn about Bearland culture, and show their new friends that different doesn’t mean weird or bad, just different. A must-read for kids learning about cultural differences in America.

NanoBots by Chris Gall

 

NanoBots on Amazon

From the author of DinoTrux comes a book about robots and the future of automation. Presented in a fun manner, with terrific illustrations, kids can learn about nanobots, which really exist! From micro medical examiner bots to fix-everything robots, there’s nothing these little guys can’t fix! Even kids who aren’t tech obsessed with get a kick out of the way these super-bots give up a big reward in order to do the right thing and help out a fellow robot. It’ll be your new bedside staple!

 

What are your favorite kids’ books right now? Tell us in the comments below!

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