Fun Stuff: Invitations, Goodie Bags & Party Games Buy paper goods and favors online and have them directly shipped to you. Invitations: It is important that your guests know that they will be attending a cooking party so they may dress appropriately, so state this clearly on the invitation. You might even ask guests to bring an apron or old shirt to use as a cover up. If you are in a hurry, there are several Pizza Party themed pre-printed invitations and stationary choices available online and in major retail party stores. If you are inclined to make invitations, either by computer or hand, there are several food-related stickers and embellishments available at craft stores. Several of my creative clients have incorporated actual cooking tools or aprons or chef hats into their invitations. Whatever invitations you send, be sure to include the following line: Please let us know in advance of any food allergies, sensitivities or preferences. You might find that guests may be lactose intolerant or kosher or vegetarian, and knowing in advance will allow you to plan. Download and print these Picky Eaters invitations and thank you cards for your party. Goodie Bags: Many parents spend a great deal of money on toys and sweets. A cooking party theme invites usable, practical goodie bags. Over the years I've seen my clever clients create amazing take-homes for their guests: an oven-mitt stuffed with a dry cookie mix pack and spatula; a measuring cup filled with silver-foil kisses; personalized aprons and chef hats; even pizza dough to make a pizza at home. Party Games: Having a pizza party? Play Pin the Toppings on the Pizza. Using poster board or construction paper, create a "crust" and toppings. Place an X in the center of your pizza "crust." Use masking tape on "toppings" as blindfolded kids "pin" the toppings on the crust. The child's closest to the X wins. What Does it Do? Gather 10-15 gizmos and gadgets from your kitchen drawers (timer, rolling pin, egg slicer, sifter, spatula) Place a number on each gadget so kids can tell them apart. Have them write down on a piece of paper what they believe each object does. The child who answers the most correct wins. I Spy a Chef is a memory game that also tests children's knowledge of cooking utensils and ingredients. Take a large tray and pile on as many cooking or food related items as you can (banana, whisk, mixing bowl, salt shaker, mixing spoon, dry spaghetti, and so on). Allow the children to study the tray for one minute, then cover up the tray or remove it, and have children list as many items as they can remember. ABC Grocery Store is a memory game which has children think of foods corresponding to alphabet letters. Taking turns round-robin style, each child will name the foods already named in alphabetical order and add a new one. (Example: apple, banana, cinnamon, ...) Players are eliminated if they cannot remember the string of foods.