When I got married, I learned it was cheaper to buy some items than renting them. Even though I only needed them for one day, it was going to save me money. If you haven't realized, I'm all for saving my pennies because then I can use them on something else. Planning my kids' birthday parties showed me the same thing, sometimes I should just buy.
For my son's 2nd birthday we rented a cute little snow cone truck. It was perfect for our pandemic drive-by party. Guests could stop, drop off their gift and get a snow cone to enjoy in their car before heading home. My son, who rarely eats sweets, LOVED snow cones. The thought of renting a truck for all of his birthdays was daunting. That Christmas, I decided to make a new family tradition. I call it the Family Gift. It is something larger that we can all enjoy. One member may love it more, but everyone will get something out of it. It is also something we can enjoy with our guests at parties.
The first Family Christmas gift was an ice shaver aka snow cone machine. How much was it? $500? $300? Nope. It was around $50. Of course I had to pick up a sampler pack of snow cone syrup *yum*. It may have been a cool Christmas day, but we had snow cones that night. Even though the ice shaver isn't as fancy as the cute snow cone truck, it gets the job done. I am also able to reward my kids with snow cones throughout the year for good behavior. For the money minded mom, buying some items instead of renting them allows you to give your child the party you want, without going over your budget.
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A friend wanted to do a Minnie Mouse theme for her little girl. It was a small gathering of just a few kids. Her budget was $40. With a few leftover party supplies from previous parties, plus items from Walmart and Amazon, we made it happen.
It isn't about what you spend, it's how you spend it. The dramatic effect for her party were balloons. Amazon carries balloon garland kits. They come with garland tape (which hold the balloons), string, and most importantly, different size balloons. Small balloons make a huge impact on a garland. *See previous posts to learn how to make the items in the pictures*
Mermaid party:
My daughter recently started swim lessons. A mermaid themed party seemed fitting for the occasions. The pandemic ruined her first birthday party. I wasn't able to give her the gathering I wanted. This year we were able to do a small gathering with her little friends. Just about every aspect of the party was DIY-- Marquee lights, balloon garland, toddler height backdrop, desserts, large cupcake cake, and more.
DIY Marquee Letter Supplies:
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*Tips:
Target has white patio lights for CHEAP How to:
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DIY Balloon Garland:
When my son was a baby, I saw this cute balloon thingy. I researched balloons for party and learned it was called an organic balloon garland. At the time, these were made with string. There are various was of making them. The lady I saw used a needle and fishing line. She basically sewed her balloons together. This seemed easy enough. But how was I suppose to blow up all of those balloons? And exactly how was I supposed to tie them? By hand?? It would take forever ![]()
Research continued. I was a determined mother. NOTHING stops a mom on a mission. Amazon had an electric balloon pump. It came with a balloon tying tool. Then, I found something called garland tape! It was a wide 20 foot long piece of plastic. It had holes to hold the balloons. I purchased it all. Without having a clue how to use any of it, I prayed for the best.
It took a little getting use to, but after a few balloons, I understood how to inflate and tie balloons. The air pump is NOT helium; simply air. It saves your breath. The tying tool, it saves your fingers. The tape allows the balloons to be flexible. If you make quads, then add those to each other using poles, everything is stiff. When you sew the balloons or use garland tape, you can hang them anywhere. They have movement. Nowadays, you can find garland tape at Dollar Tree. There are even balloon kids that come with them as well as glue dots and string.
![]() My favorite way to hang balloons is off my staircase. It adds an inexpensive whimsical touch. Tips, just make sure you get a garland pack that comes with lots of small balloons. Make sure to vary sizes. Some people have boxes where they measure the balloons as the go. My measuring tip, use your eyes. Ensure the balloons are round like a basketball, not oval like a football. That means, do not over inflate. They will be smaller, but it will look nicer. Ironically, blowing them up smaller will not mean you need more balloons. *shrugs* Please visit Pinterest @MyMommyMade for in-depth how to videos. In daycares, kids overlap teachers. Our former age group teachers are still special to us. So, when I gift to one teacher for a holiday, I gift to all. I've found some inexpensive ways to show all of them our love. This year for Mother's Day and Teacher's Appreciation Day, we gifted flowers. I was able to make 11 arrangements from 4 bouquets for the kids' current and former teachers. Dollar store for candle holders that I used as vases.
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November 2023
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