Birthday Party? Uh-Oh

“Mom, I want a birthday party!"

We all know just how stressful it can be when we hear this question? First thing comes to mind is Ching$ Ching$ although that doesn’t always have to be the case. Below I’ve listed some awesome, ideas that you may consider for your next birthday bash,……don’t forget to invite me!

Think Outside the Bag

Start planning six weeks before the big day, and schedule your party to-do's week by week

* Paper or colored-plastic compact-disc envelopes make great holders for extra-large cookies or mini pen-and-pad sets.

Rather than purchasing pre-made, impersonal party invitations by the pack, personalize the invite by sending invitations created by your child. 
* For an active sports party, hand out treat-filled personalized water bottles with a coach's whistle.
* Staple individually wrapped candies together to make a necklace and decorate with a name tag.
* Kids love crafts, so package fabrics and papers, kid-friendly scissors, markers, and a mini squeeze bottle of glue in a small pail as a take-home art kit.
Log on to kidscraftweekly.com for hundreds of affordable (and adorable) craft projects

* Ask parents about kids' food allergies; it pays to be safe.

* Serve the sweets in the last half hour of the party. Have adult-friendly food on hand for parents and party helpers.

* Let parents stay if they want, but don't make it a requirement. Create a list of parents' cell phone numbers.

*Save money -- and the planet -- by investing in reusable party goods. Here's a starter kit.

*No need to rent a photo booth -- create your own studio with a homemade backdrop, digital camera, and a color printer.

*Create your own at-home movie theater. Give each child an admission ticket and invite the kids to visit the concession stand for popcorn, gummy candies, and juice

*Create a unique birthday seat. Buy an inexpensive children's chair, and every year on your child's birthday, family members and friends can decorate it with notes, drawings, and stickers

*Forget the amusement park. Take the party to the neighborhood park and give each child an admission armband. Serve amusement-park food and lemonade, and set up a "tattoo" booth and a face-painting station.