SLEEPOVER PARTY IDEAS

Dear Jellybean,

I'm turning 14 here in about 2 weeks and my mom doesn't really know what to do for my b-day. I'm going to have two of my best friends stay the night and a new friend that just moved here. My friend that moved here hasn't stayed the night at my house before. I have lots of stuff like a Playstation and games but that stuff usually gets boring after a while and I really don't want her to get bored. I would really appreciate it if you could help me, please!

Dear Writer,

Sleepover parties can be really fun, but it's true that you have to plan things to do in advance so you don't end up just sitting around looking at each other! Here are some ideas for stuff you girls can do at your birthday slumber party:

If your family has a video camera, you can have lots of fun playing with it. Make your own talk show (one person acts as the host, the other two play "celebrity guests") and have fun imitating your favorite superstars. Or tape yourself singing along to CDs, or dancing to fun songs. It sounds goofy, but this can be hilarious... and it's even funnier when you play the tape back the next day.

Do makeovers. Ask your friends to bring their magazines and their hair and makeup stuff. Find pretty hair and makeup looks to copy from the magazines, and try them out on each other. If you have a digital camera, take before and after pictures of your transformations!

Rent videos, make popcorn and settle into the couch for some movie watching.

Make cookies. Keep it simple - buy an instant cookie mix, or one of those tubes where you just separate the dough and bake it.

Play games like "Truth or Dare" or just share secrets.

Take online quizzes together - CLICK HERE to check out quizzes on Myjellybean.com.

Do crafts. You could buy some beads and thread and create your own jewelery, design stationary together, or just draw.

Make T-shirts. Before the party, buy one white T-shirt for each guest, plus one for you. You can usually find these cheap in packs at discount and dollar stores. Also pick up fabric paint or fabric markers, and some glitter pens or loose glitter. Set up a table or area on the floor for T-shirt making, and cover it with an old sheet you don't mind getting all messy. Put the supplies in the middle and give everyone a T-shirt, and let them design their own. If they turn out great, you can wear them to school together!

Create a "Pass-It-On Romance Story." Sit in a circle, and you start the story by taking a piece of paper and writing a girl's name. Then fold the paper down (so what you wrote is hidden) and pass it on to the next person, asking her to write a description of the girl. (You can decide at the start whether the story is supposed to be serious, or funny and exaggerated). Then, the paper should be folded down and passed on to the next person. And so on. Continue writing the story around the circle, and folding down the paper, using these plot points (or make up your own) to keep it going:

-Where the story takes place
-How the boy and girl first met
-Their first words to each other
-How he asked her out the first time
-Where they went and what happened on the date
-How the date ended (did they kiss?)
-What their friends think about them as a couple
-What was the one big obstacle in their relationship
-What's the future of the relationship
When the group decides the story is done, you unfold the paper(s) and read the funny romance story aloud.