Prom Dresses 2007 - Hot Looks For Your Special Prom Night

The 2007 prom season is just around the corner, let the shopping begin. Judging by the latest collections from the major prom dress designers, the 2007 prom dresses are every bit as glamorous and breath-taking as you might expect. The unbelievable range of styles, fabrics, designs, and colors translates to more choices for everyone. From flirty short looks to long, slinky, body-hugging Hollywood glam, the hardest part is deciding which look to go for.

Given the special occasion that a prom represents for most teenagers, selecting the ultimate, perfect prom dress can be a stressful task. With the 2007 prom dresses, you shouldn't lack for any choices in styles that are both flattering and affordable. Pick up any prom magazine and you’ll see hundreds of prom designs and styles. It’ll be easy for everyone at your prom to be wearing something totally different and unique!

With the new 2007 prom dresses, leading designers like Jovani, Faviana, Tony Bowls, Mori Lee, Alyce, etc. give sensuous sophistication a new look with daring lines, elegant fabrics and bold colors. Definitely not for the shy, retiring type, these prom styles will raise the temperature wherever you go. You'll need to check your school's dress code for one of these 2007 prom dresses! Less well-known, smaller designers are also coming into the market with fabulous designs for 2007 prom dresses. Generally more affordable than the trend setting designers, there is plenty of style and elegance by these talented new designers.

If you're not into the ultra-sexy look, more demure looks are also widely available and every bit as in demand and hot as daring, barely there outfits. Vintage looks, Cinderella ball gowns, short prom dresses and simple and elegant looks are always in style. The best prom dress is the one that makes you feel special and flatters your body.

Look around popular department stores like JCPenney and Dillard’s and you’ll see entire sections devoted to prom dresses in all price ranges. However, not every store or shopping mall will have every style and size available. If you're looking for a special dress, you can ask your local store to order it for you, but chances are pretty high that you’ll pay a higher price than ordering directly from the source or buying it online.

That's where it pays to shop online. The internet is now one of the most popular and convenient ways to shop for and buy your dream prom dress. Whether you opt to look through eBay (an excellent source for real, vintage prom dresses) or to shop online at any of the designer houses, you'll find the range of styles and sizes is better at online prom dress stores.

By shopping online for your prom dress, you can find great prices, get the best selection and enjoy prompt delivery straight to your door. Think of how nice it would be to not have to drag yourself from store to store or mall to mall looking at the same dresses that everyone else is looking at. You can browse through online catalogs containing hundreds of different styles and even get ideas as to hair styles and coordinating accessories.

The key to successfully shopping online for your 2007 prom dress is to start early. Don't wait until the last possible moment. Even online stores can be all sold out of your dream prom dress. Give yourself ample time to browse, but once you see the prom dress of your dreams, snatch it up before someone else does.

Home Birthday Party Ideas For Kids: 8 Tips For Stress-Free Children's Celebrations

So, you're planning to host your child's birthday party at home. But how to make it fun without spending a fortune and driving yourself crazy?

The trick is to keep things simple. Here are some home birthday party ideas to make your celebration a success.

*Keep it short. I learned the hard way that three hours is too long for a party. Schedule two and a half hours instead. Many children will arrive late resulting in a two-hour party, which is perfect.

*Invite only girls or boys. This limits party size and makes it easier to plan activities that engage everyone.

*Encourage drop-offs. Entertaining kids and parents divides your attention and makes it hard to host if your space is small. Note a "pick up" time on invitations. By grade school, most children can handle parties on their own.

*Mix and match. Nothing limits options more or makes the bill add up faster than organizing a party around a theme. Let your child pick a special cake and mix and match decorations and activities.

*Create the goodies. If the kids do a craft, like beading, as an activity, the necklaces they make can serve as the treat to take home.

*Give the sibling a job. Our "birthday sister" sticks the candles in the cake and announces activities. She's been completely co-opted.

*Stock up on silly string. Kids love to spray the stuff. And they also love to pick it up, packing it into little balls. Like magic, the mess disappears. Plan on one can per kid.

*Skip the party. Offer to take your child and a few friends on a special birthday outing instead. The zoo or a movie followed by ice cream - almost any outing is easier than throwing a party. And the kids have just as much fun.

Birthday Party Planning Tips for Practical Parents

Every birthday celebration is special for your child, whether it’s an extravagant gala with pony rides or a traditional party. Following are tips for organizing a fun-filled party for your child without incurring a huge expense.

Make Your Own Invitations
Let your child design his or her own invitations. If you’re planning a party with a lot of attendees, have your child design a flyer with the party details, make copies of the flyer and mail them out. Or, make the invitations together on your computer in a word document or via the Internet. Visit the following sites for information on creating your own birthday invitations for free: Blue Mountain, American Greetings, EZ Cards, and Hewlett-Packard (conduct a search for “birthday cards”).

Mix Generic and Themed Party Decorations
Your child probably won’t realize or care whether you’re using plain-colored napkins or Barbie cups. Consider letting your child select one themed-decoration, such as splurging on the cake plates, then select solid-colored cups, napkins, etc. that match the party theme. Find inexpensive birthday party decorations at party supply stores, such as Party City.

Make the Cake Yourself
This is another area kids aren’t too particular. It’s a party as long as there is cake. Your child won’t care if the cake is your own homemade version or was purchased from a fancy bakery. In fact, it is less expensive and more fun to have your child help bake their cake. Let them have fun mixing, spreading the frosting and even decorating the cake. Also, find inexpensive, do-it-yourself cake decorating kits online at The Party Works, Birthday Direct, or Birthday Express.

Make a Piñata
This is another fun birthday item your child can help create using the following materials you probably already have around the house:

Large balloon or beach ball
Newspaper strips
Paste (mix 1/2 cup of flour with 1/2 cup of cold water, stir into 2 cups of boiling water, simmer for about 3 minutes, then cool)

Drag newspaper strips through the paste; wipe off excess and place strip diagonally over the balloon. Repeat, layering the strips slightly until the entire surface is covered except for a small area where you can deflate the balloon and fill the piñata with goodies (cover this area with tape after filling it with treats). Let the piñata dry for at least 24 hours then add your own decorations, such as paint, streamers, or make an animal face using construction paper and other items.

Or, make a less messy version out of a paper bag. Fill a large paper bag halfway with treats, roll the top down and staple it closed. Decorate the sides of the bag with colored paper, streamers, add funny eyes, etc.

Host the Party Off-site
Compare the cost and effort involved with hosting the party at your house versus somewhere else. Fun birthday settings include:

Children’s Museums
Zoos
Aquariums
Fire Station or Police Station Tours
Paint Your Own Pottery Studios
Public Playgrounds
Bouncy Houses
Swimming Pools
Roller Rink
Ice Rinks
Bowling Alleys

Organize a Treasure Hunt
If you opt to host the party at your place, keep the kids busy with some art activities, have them decorate their own cookie or cupcake, go on a treasure hunt, or play some fun party games such as:

Pin the Tail on the Donkey (or an animal of choice)
Bean Bag Toss
Duck, Duck, Goose
Simon Says
Red Rover
Water Balloon Volleyball
Freeze Dancing
Musical Chairs

Ask for Help
Ask family members to help set up and clean up, make a dish to bring, or bring the balloons as part of their gift.

Use What You Have
Sort through leftover decorations from previous parties to create a fun party theme. For instance, maybe you have enough materials to host a luau by decorating with beach gear, having the children dress in beachwear and giving them an inexpensive beach ball as a party favor. Or, consider a girl’s dance party where the girls could wear their favorite dance outfit or princess costume, play some freeze dancing, etc. Or, consider a boy’s super hero party where boys wear a super hero costume from last Halloween or create a cape to be Batman. Hire someone for an hour to make super hero muscles out of balloons and paint the boys faces with spider webs, etc.