Birthday Party Planning

So let’s just call a spade a spade. Birthday parties have gone above and beyond within the realm of keeping up with the Jones’s. Living in the world of getting ideas from Pinterest, we have been consumed with DIY parties, dessert buffets and over the top themes that we forgot how basic and fun kids birthday parties used to be.

What happened to Chuck E. Cheese? What about the parties at the McDonald’s playplace? Not these parties where we’re spending thousands of dollars for something even we will barely remember.

My goal for Aiden’s upcoming 2nd birthday was to have a low key, dollar store birthday party in my apartment with a cake and/or cupcakes from shop rite and ice cream on the side. Pizza for kids and the common go to party food for the adults–you know, fried chicken, ziti and salad. That was it. However, considering my current dilemma with parking that particular low key plan isn’t working out as I originally thought it would.

Then I turned to look into CatchAir Party. Seems perfect since it’s an indoor playground and great for his age; however, it’s costly! They provide EVERYTHING there even down to the goody bags, but we’re looking at a minimum of $800. I DON’T WANT TO DO IT.

Our family is in PA and his friends and other kids his age are in Jersey. So I started my quick search after seeing a post in the mommy grind Facebook group and have pretty much made a decision to have his party at the Y to let them run the show. I’ll get to continue with my plan. Have a low key theme of his favorite show, he’ll get his face painted, run around and act a fool and then I don’t have to do any clean up thereafter. Family will come together. I’ll see friends I haven’t seen in a while and their kids and that’s it!

Be on the lookout good people. I’m bringing us back to the basics. It’s cost effective and time efficient and we’re going to be maxing at 2.5 hours. Food, family, friends and fun! My shoprite cake, ice cream and goody bags.

Bring back kids parties! If you’re thinking about going big, which I did for his 1st birthday, keep in mind that your little one isn’t going to remember and it could very well stress you out. I was so overwhelmed, it wasn’t even funny. So many people came out and it was amazing, but it was also too much. Let’s get back to operating within our means and focusing on the relationship, fellowship and experiences.