Free Time

A happy non-birthday to you? To me?

We all have a birthday every year. And only one a year, alas, there is. Ah, but there are three hundred and seventy-four non-birthdays. And these we prefer to celebrate. But then today is also my non-birthday. Really? How small the world is. In that case… a happy non-birthday to me? To you? (Alice in Wonderland)

Celebrating your birthday for both children and adults is a magical moment ! Since I was a little girl I have always loved thinking about preparations! Streamers, colored balloons, cakes, candles… but that’s not all! We also needed a magical touch : the perfect dress and “makeup”: a fairy, a super hero, a fairytale character! This enthusiasm has not passed over the years, on the contrary, since I have a daughter, it has doubled.

Organizing his party is truly one of the best moments of the year. But why do it just one day a year? Didn’t Alice teach us that every day is right to celebrate?

The rules for a perfect birthday

To create a festive atmosphere,  paper decorations cannot be missing: they create color and joy and can be chosen according to the preferences of the birthday boy. Festoons, garlands, lanterns, balls of crepe paper, cardboard or tissue paper, the important thing is that they are as colorful as possible. Those with good manual skills can make them at home,  involving the children.

Required:

  • paper strips of 3 different colors (8 of 12×2.5cm, 8 of 16×2.5cm, 8 of 20×2.5cm)
  • cotton or wool thread
  • necklace

Take the three strips of different sizes and glue the top end to the bottom end to form three drops one inside the other. Create 8 different ones and then glue them in pairs to form hearts. Next, glue two hearts and then glue the two hearts themselves to the other pair of hearts to form a garland. Let them dry, then glue a string to the top and hang them from the ceiling.

For a festive and fun table, however, the following are indispensable: plates, glasses and napkins, paper straws , colored balloons to scatter around the table, sartorial flags,  or paper flags to put on the buffet. Every detail will make the difference , even the smallest…. I like to invent new themes every time in order to create always different mise en place .

Home made disguises and body painting

With body painting it is possible to paint the face and body of adults and children, giving free rein to the imagination. Animals, stars, flowers, floral motifs… the important thing is to use a natural dye, easy to remove and, above all, safe for leather.

Ingredients:

  • cornstarch
  • zinc oxide paste: a nourishing paste , usually used to nourish and moisturize the buttocks of babies who are in diapers. Its skin tolerability therefore, except for allergies, is very high
  • food coloring to taste
  • small containers with lids

In a disposable container, put three or four teaspoons of pasta all’acqua, then incorporate well a teaspoon of cornstarch. The doses are very relative and vary according to the general density you want to achieve. Stir until the pasta and cornstarch are perfectly combined into a smooth and homogeneous mixture. The right consistency is soft and easy to work with , but at the same time with a structure capable of not letting it drip once applied to the face or body. If it was still too liquid, add more cornstarch.

Take the food coloring and, little by little, incorporate it into the resulting paste. It’s always better to start with very few drops , to avoid getting a pigmentation that is too high and difficult to change. Once you’re satisfied with the color, your dye is ready to be safely applied to your or your children’s face. Apply with a brush, giving free rein to the imagination. The paint thus obtained can be shaded or used on top of other colors for a truly extraordinary result. The color dries out, but remains bright and pleasing to the eye. To then remove everything, just a little liquid soap or a delicate make-up remover cleanser (for darker colors).

If you don’t want to practice body painting with younger children, you can create fun masks with their help. Just take a blank sheet of paper, draw their favorite animal or character, have them color it and then cut it out (including the eyes). Then take a straw and staple it to the shape obtained, using a stapler. The mask is ready to be worn.

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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