Recipe: 13th Birthday Party Ideas

Hi, BG - That 13th bday is a tough one. Girls that age sometimes can't quite decide if the growing up thing is worth the trouble, but they're also tired of being just kids.

What I remember from my own 13th bday is that my mom made a Baked Alaska - it seemed to me like the most sophisticated thing in the world, and I was so impressed that she went to all that trouble.

For the party theme, is there a beauty consultant in your area who would do a "color" or "season" party for the girls without trying to coat them with makeup? I don't know if anyone pays attention to that "season" concept anymore - I don't get out much! - but you know what I'm talking about, someone to help the girls identify the colors that look best on them. Or maybe hairstyles.

One of my daughter's friends had a party where she mixed in all her favorite parts of the various holidays - they made Valentines for each other, had Christmas stockings for treat bags, did an Easter egg hunt, ate typical 4th of July cookout foods, made up Halloween costumes out of an assortment of odd clothes, all that sort of thing.

Good luck - let us know what you decide!