Our theme parties have had many settings. This time we intend to create an undersea world. Your world can be dreamlike and mythological or a realistic representation or even a combination of both.

The setting will gain its atmosphere from a collection of possible props. How you decorate will set the mood and give the party either a scientific or romantic feeling. Props and decorations could include seashells, fishnets, starfish, other fish cut outs or real, pirates' treasure chest, mermaids, under water castles, divers in gear, seascapes, lighthouses, waves, ships, octopus, lobsters, Little Mermaid items, or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea items. The list is extensive; you just need to decide on the theme that you wish to portray. Many of these items can be found at party supply stores.

With such a variety of ideas, making an invitation will only be a challenge in deciding what kind to create. It could take the form of a treasure chest, or maybe a diver. What about a starfish, or maybe a nice seascape? The choice is yours. Fit it to the type of party you wish to have and to the age group.

Costumes possibilities are just as wide open from mermaids to Neptune and everything in between. Use soft greens and blues in your costumes to keep in your color scheme, which should reflect the sea. Taking crepe paper streamers and 'scalloping' them along a wall or surface will add to the effect and remind folks where they really are-under the sea. Fishnets with fish and shells add an element of fun for a background for activities or dining.

The menu is well, what else? Fish or seafood, sophisticated dishes for adults, and simple foods for kids. Lots of kids like fish sticks, shrimp, tuna, but if too many of the guests do not, pick regular party foods and call them something else to fit into the theme. Ex-There is an under the sea Jell-O salad. Make cookies into starfish shapes, or decorate a cake with a castle for mermaids. Hard cooked eggs could become eggs from sea turtles when dyed green using food coloring and without the shells. Think about the foods such a magical kingdom might provide and find something to represent your theme ideas. Don't forget the blue Kool Aid for kids.

Games and activities are based of course on things we might do if we could visit the undersea world. Diving games would be fun, but not too possible, so we enter our pretend world and come up with the next best thing. A game such as Diving for Pearls could be geared to adults or kids. Fill a good-sized aquarium (with no fish in it of course) or a wading pool with water. Place a large quantity of beads the size of marbles or you can use marbles. For adults, the game can be done as a relay pitting one team against the other. With one hand behind their back, each team member is given a spoon, and needs to fish out a marble and take it to the end of their line without dropping it. There they place it in another bowl and give the next team member the spoon. For kids, if there is enough room, sit them around the wading pool, and on a signal, have them start to pick up marbles with a small sand shovel, the one who gets the most marbles first wins.

For little kids, why not have your own fishpond. Put up a drape or tablecloth that they can reach over without seeing the prizes. Have someone put a prize on the end of his or her fishing line. You can use a real fishing rod or fashion one from a stick with string and a hook or for smaller children a closed diaper pin. Use the pin or tie on the prize.

Adults might play guessing games about the movies that feature underwater or sea faring themes. The trivia style questions could be used for elimination with the last person declared the winner. Prizes could be fishing lures, a video of Jaws, or Mutiny on the Bounty, pretty shells or starfish or a dolphin knickknack.

Many more games could be designed with an underwater theme. Use you imagination and you will be surprised how clever you can be. Keep your theme in mind, safety and fun. Don't be afraid to be a bit silly. That is part of the relaxing at parties.

Have a good time and don't forget to wait an hour after eating before you dive back into the sea.

Credits: Jo Ann Wentzel