Your best birthday party ideas. . .

I just had dinner last night at the house where my daughter recently slept over for a birthday slumber party. That mom was so clever-she set the clocks two hours ahead so the kids would think they were staying up until 1 but really they stayed up until 11.

So it got me to thinking about other clever ideas that we moms have to help birthday parties go more smoothly, save our budgets, or anything else that you think is particularly brilliant on your part. (After all, we moms are smart cookies!)  So anyone have any great ideas that went well?

My daughters 4th birthday party turned out so good.  I decorated the dining room like a ballroom with all the walls covered with a cinderella ballroom and life sized princesses.  I then covered the ceiling with balloons that had rings, necklaces and bracelets inside of them.  The kids had to pop the balloons to get their prizes.  They all dressed us as princesses and came to the ball.  It was so much fun.

The one thing I’ve done at a birthday party that turned out really well (and other moms warned me they would start doing at birthday parties too) is this: Instead of handing out gift bags at the end of the party, I had a huge tub of silly hats I’d purchased at a party store. As the kids left, they all got to pick out one of the hats. I bought a wide variety of hats, and it was really fun to watch which kids picked which hats.

I’ve done different things with goodie bags… First, I don’t buy the bags and put junk in them because I despise getting those too!! for my son’s 3rd birthday, i just got $1 sand buckets, decorated them w/ the stickers and the child’s name and filled them with bubbles, sidewalk chalk and sunglasses. (i think I put a bag of goldfish crackers in each).. the kids LOVED THEM!!

One year for my daughter’s birthday, i had a basket at the front door filled w/ summer toys.. bubbles, sidewalk chalk, crayons, etc etc.. and each kid got to pick something on their way out.

We don’t do goodie bags either although we’ve done pinatas. . .not my favorite thing but we used to live in a ver Hispanic neighborhood.

We usually hand out something that had to do with the party. So for my kids mystery themed party (it was an art heist) we had a tub of arts and crafts and a logic puzzle book for each kid.

My daughter’s 6th birthday party is coming up in November.  There is a Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour opening up near us.  I am so excited.  Do you remember Farrell’s?  Have you every had a birthday party there?

I have no idea what Farrell’s is. That must be a regional thing. . .

I am tempted to do parties at places this year instead of hosting them. The Betty Crocker in me just can’t get over the idea that I do really love to bake and cook and prep. . .but with 5 kids in soccer, the Nutcracker and all else that’s going on, I just don’t know if I can swing it.

Oh, I remember Farrells! I think I had my fifth birthday party at one many many years ago. 

I didn’t realize they still have those around. That place was a lot of fun, if I remember right. Then again, when it’s your fifth birthday, probably any place is cool as long as there is ice cream involved.