:: Kids Parties :: Blending Frugal, Eco-friendly, Easy and Fun! ::

OK, so anyone not interested in hearing me talk about kids birthday parties should come back in a couple of months time, after this is over. I get the feeling this is going to be the main thing I will be blogging about for a while, LOL! And this particular post about it is rather looonnngggg!

The Plans


I love to plan, write lists, get creative, organise, find bargains and clever things, as well as make things easy with good preparation, and have alot of fun with my kids too. I have a tendency to get overinvolved in things like this (ie. my wedding!) and the more organised and prepared I am, with time to spare, only means I then find more things to do! However, over the years, I have learnt my limitations, and also made the mistakes of taking on too much at times (ie. my wedding!), so have written the plans and will stick to them.


The Details


It's a 4th birthday party, with about 10 - 12 girls/ kids (and parent) having an inside party (it's cold here!) with the chosen theme of 'rainbow' (as I explained before, not traditional rainbow, but more funky, girly rainbow colours). It will be a morning/ lunch affair, with food & drinks for adults and kids. I have limited the amount of games Little Miss M is having to 3. I will explain here, and no doubt bore you with intricate details over the coming weeks!

Invites

I did like the idea of making up my own design, using photos too, on Photoshop, and printing them out, BUT in the mean time, we found a stand at a local cheap store with some gorgeous invites/ stationary on them, so had a look. So many to chose from, but Little Miss M chose a pad of funky butterflies in the same colours as our theme, so thought that could save me alot of time and effort for something that will only get squashed in daycare bags on the way home, and thrown out after the event.

Frugal : cheap, $2.50 for pack of 25

Eco: emailed invites (we don't know anyone's email addresses), or those made using recycled or seed paper would have been better options, but they are an Australian company and made in Indonesia, so could have been worse! The paper can be recycled & I won't use envelopes.

Easy: def. very easy, fill them out, attach map to back and deliver!

Fun: fun in choosing, fun design, always fun to get an invite

Decorations

Simple and easy (we hope!) DIY latex, helium filled balloons in theme colours, with rainbow ribbon attached, floating on the lounge room roof, and a couple secured to the mailbox, of course! These balloons will also double as part of the 'take home gift'.

Frugal: Sparty's helium bottle (for 50 balloons), $48. Latex coloured individual standard balloons, 29c each. (Or get the bottle & 50 balloons for $58). Roll of thin rainbow cord, $2.

Eco: Latex is a better option than nylon for balloons, for it's biodegradability, though I am not sure about how sustainable the 'farming' of latex is. Helium is a naturally found gas, though I am not sure how sustainable the mining of it is. The rainbow cord can be reused for craft if desired. Better than disposable helium bottles and using lots of different decorations.

Easy: Well, we've never done it before, but it was easy enough if you want to order the bottle, pick it up the day before, have it for 5 days then return. Guess we'll have a trial run on a few the night before, and hope we can get them all done in the AM in time!!

Fun: My kids love balloons! They are colourful, and provided the cord is not too long (or removed if babies/ toddlers are around) and they are not overfilled, they are loads of fun, often for days, in our house!

Tableware

Ah, the dilemma of what to do in regards to having enough easy, safe, affordable crockery & cutlery, that is not horribly bad for the environment! Using our own crockery is not suitable, we don't have enough 'picnic-ware' and cannot afford to indulge in buying eco-disposables, or find anything suitable... so I bought plastic (don't cringe) plates and bowls, BUT they were purchased whilst on a good special, and also, we will wash and reuse them again. I also bought paper napkins, as again, this was the only suitable option. They all suit the theme colours perfectly. I will use a nice white light floral design plastic tablecloth or two, that I have in our BBQ/ picnic gear, real cutlery, buy some white melamine serving platters (which will get used again and again) and have some nice plastic cups, and our own coffee mugs for adults. Kids will be given mini pop top juices, though I dislike plastic bottles, this is safer and can easily be labelled, as well as reused again, if they like! On the small, square table that I will have with the take home gifts, and also a place to put any presents Little Miss M receives, I have a nice white tablecloth, and a glittery sheer cloth to go on it. I will also use a tiered cake stand for the cupcakes, which is from my wedding.

Frugal: Yes, Woolworths Select brand (used it before, sturdy & good quality/ long lasting), saved money buying it on sale.

Eco: Ah, not really, but trying to reduce impact by washing & using the plastic bowls/ plates again, and again! Also using other items I already have, or buying classic white, rectangle platters that I will def. use again.

Easy: Yes!

Fun: I like bringing together a theme, and having the coloured napkins, plates & bowls on white will look good, and is easy to do, so fun for me!

Music

We are having mixed music from Little Miss M's favourites, such as Justine Clark, Bindi the Jungle Girl, Hi 5, Wiggles and funky Disney songs too! The 'Dance Off' game will use specific songs (see below).

Frugal: No outlay at all.

Eco: Yes.

Easy: Yes.

Fun: Def., and fun for us to put them together too.

Food & Drinks

This is the fun part for me, thinking of tasty, fun, but easy, food to serve! I like to have as much prepare in advance food as possible, because I will be busy cleaning and sorting, and then on the day, being the hostess! We are serving nibbles, hot food & sweets for both the kids & their parents.

Cold

Cheeses and crackers platter
Dips and crudites
Mexican layer dip & corn chips
Lollies & Fruit platter

Chips and kids crackers

Hot

Pizza (squares of homemade pizza on Bazaar bases, a couple of bacon & cheese, and a couple of chargrilled mixed capsicum & cheese)
Cheesy bean nacho chips
Mini quiches (turkey, camembert & cranberry, pine nut & pesto)
Mini cheese, corn & zuchini muffins

Sweets

GF Chocolate Mudcake Cupcakes with frosting & rainbow choc chip sprinkles
Rainbow birthday cake

Drinks

Mini pop top juices & Mini water bottles
Non-alcoholic punch for adults
Tea & coffee (self serve out near kettle)

Frugal: Yes, as we are spending money a little more on prizes, and balloons, and are serving up to max. 15 kids, and about 20 adults, I chose foods that are inexpensive to make, with beans, veges & fruit, some no meat foods, and though gourmet, the mini quiches don't need much of their fillings.

Eco: I made sure there are no meat snacks/ foods, will be using local or organic produce, and catering in a way to minimise waste!

Easy: I will be prepping as much in advance as possible, including topping the pizzas and freezing, then defrost to cook in the morning. Make the mini quiches & mini muffins, freeze them, then reheat in the oven on the day. The nacho chips are very easy to assemble and also go into the oven to melt. The layer dip can mostly be made the night before, then chopping fruit, cheese and vege sticks, and arrange the platters on the morning of the party. We have a second smaller fridge, that we will clean up & turn on for a couple of days beforehand, to have the drinks ready, make an easy non-alco punch for the adults (I thought seen as I was meeting some of Little Miss M's daycare friends parents for the first time, maybe having champers in the punch at a kids party might not be a good idea!!)

Fun: The birthday girl loves pizza and cheesy bean nachos! I want a mix of healthy, tasty foods, and fun, treat food too! I am also looking forward to doing some cooking in my new kitchen, and having fun bringing it all together!

Cake


Well, I usually don't make my own cakes, as I am not much of an experienced baker and am usually too slap dash fo my own perfectionist visions! I like to make cupcakes & let Little Miss M decorate them for her birthday, BUT, this year, I wanted to have a go! So, I'll do another blog post on the cake making trials, about the "Rainbow Cake"!





Party Hats


For more, see the Make Your Own Party Hats post.
I thought it would be fun for the kids to decorate their own Party Hat, but needed to keep it simple and cost effective. Each kid gets a base hat on arrival (metallic cardboard cut into shape of tiara or crown, left flat) and a small ziplock bag of stick on jewels, stickers, and mini pompoms to decorate it. As I am just getting to know some of the kids from daycare, I also thought it a good idea to have the parent write child's name on white label on front. Then their parent can fit it to their child's head, using the double sided tape already in place on one end.
Frugal: Cardboard was $1.80 (plain, coloured) to $2.50 (metallic gold or silver) which will give 4 'crown/ tiara' shaped bases each. The decorations also work out inexpensive, using a few jewels and pom poms, and more of the cheaper stickers. Only a small amount of double sided tape is needed.

Eco: Sort of. I could have tried to source recycled cardboard, and more natural decorations, as well as using bowls for the deco's, or paper bags for each kid. I am hoping they will take their hats home and continue to play with them too.
Easy: Very easy to set up, and for the kids to do, with help from their parent.


Fun: I hope so. Little Miss M always thinks you have to have party hats at a party, and loves doing craft, so she loved the idea of 'making your own hat'. Let's hope it works out like I hope... better make sure I don't scrimp too much on how much double sided tape I use!



Games & Prizes


The Dance Off


Kids will dance to music, but have to dance like a certain thing (I will tell them) such as a dinosaur, ballerina, surfer etc. to the music I play. The kid who dances the best at that style, wins that round... they get a 'prize'! They can then go back to dancing again if they like, but one prize per child.
Prizes: Choose a small chocolate from a bowl!





Pass the Parcel


See the Pass the Parcel post.


An oldie but a goodie, which we call "Pasta parcel" in our house! Here's hoping the kids are old enough to understand the brief instructions I will give, but at least I am the host, so can happily help the kids keep it moving and keep a bag handy to recycle the paper. In between each layer, there will be one sheet of nice, funky stickers, and a lollipop. The last prize, in the middle, will be a nice tiara, plus stickers & lollipop.


Pin the Wand on the Fairy


For more, see the Pin the Wand on the Fairy post.

Each kid will get a small cardboard 'wand' with piece double sided tape (or blue tac?) in their small ' DIY Party Hat' bag. They go to the Funky Fairy picture (see above, which we will secure on the wall) & their parent helps them to close their eyes, turn twice, and stick! The closest to stick their wand to the Fairy's Hand, win's the prize!

Prize: A fairy wand!

Frugal: Yes, we have and will make things ourselves, using items we have on hand, where possible. Sure, you can get cheaper, pre-made things, but this is fun, and it's great doing craft projects with Little Miss M with a purpose behind them.

Eco: As much as possible.

Easy: Yes, though it seems like we've gone to alot of trouble, or will, it is fun and not hard work. We all enjoy thinking of these ideas and making them come to fruition!

Fun: Yes, definately! Little Miss M would have liked lots of games, but this way will be as easy and controlled as possible.





Take Home Gift


See the Make Your Own Party Gift Bags post.
Each kid can choose a helium balloon (or two) from the decorations on the loungeroom ceiling, & take a small paper bag (with a funky 'Thank you' label) with some Natural lollies, ribbon, hair band & hair clips, and perhaps another small coloured gel pen.

Frugal: Yes, combining the decorations as a take home gift will save money. The party bags are inexpensive.

Eco: Yes and no. The balloons are not the best thing, nor is using plastic cookie bags, but we will do our own baking, and again, the balloons are doing double duty.

Easy: Yes.

Fun: Yes, fun to make, fun to decorate, fun to play with!

So, that's the plans! As always, things change, but I'll no doubt be on here, keeping you updated!!! LOL


Update:
Final Party Plans
Photos of the party