I recently wrote up some ideas for hosting a butterfly birthday party, and in that piece I mention making edible butterflies out of twisty pretzels.

My daughters and I decided to bring that idea to life today, so here is a quick recipe for making the super-easy butterfly pretzels pictured here.

Let me know if you end up making them or if you have other ideas for food that fits the butterfly theme.

A couple months ago, my daughter's birthday landed in the middle of our family's move across the state. We were knee deep in boxes and packing tape, so when she suggested having a bowling birthday party instead of our regular backyard bash, we jumped on the idea.

Just because you're hosting a party in a bowling alley doesn't mean you can't add some creative touches to the day, though. A reader e-mailed me this week looking for bowling party ideas, so I came up with some suggestions for a bowling party that you could throw ... even if you're buried under moving boxes.

P.S. Check out these adorable bowling party invitations from Honeyprint Etsy Shop (pictured here). Cute, cute!

Are you hosting a party but you're stumped for ideas? Drop me a line! I love coming up with decorations, food, cakes, activities and more that fit kids' party themes.

I noticed a couple of new comments this week on my original post about the TV show "Outrageous Kid Parties". That can only mean one thing:

Season 2 has begun.

Just to recap ... the reality show, which launched last winter, follows families as they plan and host over-the-top birthday and holiday parties for their children. In some episodes, families spend tens of thousands of dollars for the events (and stress out a wee bit in the process).

My first post about Outrageous Kid Parties back in February sparked some lively comments, and it looks like viewers (and nonviewers) still have strong opinions about the show.

What's your take? Complete the survey below and then leave a comment sharing the most outrageous detail you've ever seen at a kid's party.

Over-the-top kids' parties not your style? Check out my tips for throwing a budget birthday party and my article on hosting simple, meaningful parties for kids.

Sign up for the About.com Kids' Parties newsletter. | 'Like' Kids' Parties on Facebook.

With it being back-to-school season, I keep getting e-mails and seeing magazine articles with tips on what to pack in kids' school lunches. I'm especially drawn to the suggestions to make bento, which is a Japanese word that refers to boxed lunches.

The food in a bento box can be quite simple--some sort of protein, vegetables and rice, for example. But there are some awesome parents out there who are turning common food into adorable animal faces and other objects for their kids' bento boxes. Seriously! What kindergartner wouldn't squeal with delight if he opened this lunch box on the day his class performed a Three Little Pigs play?

If your school-day mornings are anything like mine, though, sending the kids out the door with an apple, some cheese slices and a PB&J; sandwich is a shining moment of parental accomplishment. Unless I set the alarm for 3 a.m., there isn't time to get the children and the panda bears out the door.

But, why not serve bento at birthday parties? Between the blogs and the books available on the subject today, you could probably find instructions to make just about anything that fits your child's party theme. Here are some bento ideas to get you started:

• Dora the Explorer.
• Finding Nemo.
• Music.
• Monsters.
• Another panda bear.
• Pirates.
• Ninjas.
• Winter or Christmas.
• Tinker Bell.
• Lion, zoo or jungle theme.
• Bunnies
• Trains.
• Birds.
• Cats.

Amazing, huh? Learn more about bento from About.com's Guide to Japanese Food, or check out the book Yum Yum Bento Box by Crystal Watanabe and Maki Ogawa.