Home Birthday Parties

If we're not careful, birthday parties can cost a small fortune. Case in point: my youngest daughter's recent party at a party venue ran me $250 for the venue, $40 for the cake, $60 for the present, and $30 for the goodie bags. And it was a pretty simple party as far as parties go.

My oldest daughter is turning 12 and wants a simple sleepover party. You can imagine my inner joy when she said that. Home parties can cost so much less. Note, I say CAN, not DO, because it's easy to go overboard with a home party.

I thought I'd share with you my plans for our home birthday party.

Bayberry is having a slumber party. We took into consideration her age and interests in planning her party. We did not have the most frugal party possible. There are places we could have cut corners and costs. I'll talk about that later. We did manage to save a lot of money anyway!

Here's our plan and what it's costing us:

Entertainment

• Twilight series movies -- already owned Cost = $0
• facials and nail painting -- homemade facials and we already own the nail polish Cost = $0
• Disney Sing It --already owned Cost = $0

Food

• popcorn, oil, salt -- Cost = $3.00
• 2 bags of chips -- Cost = $3.00
• bag of m&m candies -- Cost = $1.50
• Ice cream cake -- Cost = $12.00

• Homemade cupcakes -- Cost = $4.00
• Hawaiian Punch, 2 bottles -- Cost = $4.00
• Tombstone Pizzas (3) -- Cost = $6.00

• Breakfast (Pancakes, Bacon, Sausage, Syrup, Orange Juice, Breakfast Casserole) -- Cost = $15.00

Goodie Bags

• heart-shaped white boxes (6) -- Cost = $6.00

• bath poufs (6) -- Cost = $1.16
• Shower Gel (6) -- Cost = $10.00
• Nail Polish (6) -- Cost = $6.00
• Lip Gloss (12) -- Cost = $2.40
• Rose Petal soaps (12) -- Cost = $1.33

Invitations

• 6 invitations -- Cost = $3.37

Presents

• wallet with cash inside -- Cost = $55.00
• zhu zhu pet with accessories -- Cost = $20.00 est.

TOTAL PARTY COST = $153.76

Previous Venue Party Cost = $380.00

Home Party Savings = $226.24 --In other words, my family's large cell phone bill for a month. WOW.

We could have saved more. Here's how:

1. Ditch the chips. They already have access to pretty much unlimited popcorn. Savings = $3.00
2. Make a cake. Skip Carvel and cupcakes. Savings = about $12.00
3. Go with store-brand soda/iced tea/KoolAid for drinks. Savings = $2.00
4. Make pizzas from scratch. Savings = about $3.00
5. Smaller breakfast. Ditch the bacon and casserole. Savings = about $6.00
6. Skip the goodie bags altogether. Savings = $26.89
7. Print our own invitations. Savings = $3.00
8. Less cash in the wallet. $50 is standard present cost for us, but we could have halved it to save. $25.00

Cost of this party with the reductions = $72.87

More ways to save on home parties:

• Use what you have for decorating. Chances are good that you already have streamers, balloons, and confetti hanging around from years prior. Mix and match for a new look.
• Negotiate prices. Or barter. Maybe Jo Jo the clown would be willing to take hedge trimming or gutter cleaning in exchange for an hour with the kids.
• Use your dishes rather than buying paper/plastic disposables.
• Shop sales for party food. Publix had my chips buy one, get one free last week.
• For entertainment, choose a movie you own, or set out a bunch of craft supplies you have on hand and let the kids create what they want to create.
• Another entertainment option that also cuts food costs: Have the kids prepare their own food. Whether they make individual pizzas, tacos, or cupcakes, making it at home costs less than buying premade. And letting the kids create their own provides food and entertainment. A double whammy.

BUTTERFLIES IN MY TUMMY

My baby turns seven this week. She is the most amazing little human I've ever known: compassionate, helpful, caring, kind, conscientious, loyal, devoted, loving, smart, talented, beautiful, friendly, approachable, and loved by all. She has no foes, rivals, or enemies. She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

She is a joy to parent. She has thrown one tantrum in her entire life. She's had to be scolded fewer times than I have fingers. She genuinely cares about everyone she meets, and always looks for ways to help. She has super self-esteem but is never boastful of herself. I am so honored to call her my daughter.

And she turns seven years old this week.

Birthdays are a bittersweet marking of time with my Little One. She professes that she's never moving out -- she always wants to stay with her parents. We struck a deal and offered to build a house on the back side of our property when we are ready to retire from the Army. She likes this idea. Such a sweet daughter.

Anyway, I'm daydreaming. On with this post.

Birthdays -- yes, they're bittersweet. Before I can blink my eyes, she'll be sixteen and asking for the keys to Daddy's car. And I'll be welling up with tears just as real as I am this week, as my sweet daughter, who has four wiggly teeth and has recently discovered modesty, turns seven years old.

There will be much celebration to mark this event. Aside from our intimate family acknowledgement of her actual birthday, there's her class party and a birthday party with friends to look forward to. We had a small party with Grandma Kathy yesterday. She was in town and we wanted to celebrate together, so I threw together this simply ice cream cake. It's not wholesome and pure. But it's a hit with all who taste it, so I'm going off the beaten path and sharing this simple recipe with you. Pull it out of your hat for your next cookout, church potluck, or friendly get-together.

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
makes a 10" square cake

What You Need:

• 18 or so ice cream sandwiches, unwrapped
• 1 to 2 cups whipped topping
• hot fudge sauce (or caramel, or whatever you prefer)
• sprinkles, nuts, crushed cookies, or candy

How it's Done:

1. Lay the ice cream sandwiches side-by-side in one layer of a 10" square baking dish. You'll have to cut one or two of them up to fit in the remaining spots.
2. Cover with a thin layer of whipped cream.
3. Repeat another layer of ice cream sandwiches, and over with whipped cream again.
4. Drizzle sauce over whipped cream. Sprinkle with desired toppings.
5. Return to the freezer and let it freeze two hours. Remove from freezer and let the cake stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.