Partly Lazy, Mostly Brilliant.

Our daughter Abby just recently turned 9...well, about 3 weeks ago she did. Recent enough, eh?
Thing have been pretty crazy at our house since January and trying to find time to plan a birthday party for a bunch of crazy hyper little girls was requiring much more momentum than muscle and therefore, invitations weren't even made. I ALWAYS make the invitations.
And the thank you cards.
And the favors.
Anyhow, with little time and even less energy to spare in planning this shindig I came up with the most brilliant idea ever known to the world of mothers...
A Do-It-Yourself Party!
It's beyond brilliant! It's ingenious, (*ahem* if I do say so myself), and this is why:

YOU don't do any of the work. The kids do! I didn't even have to buy a cake! The only things I put myself in charge of were the presents and buying all the supplies. That. was. it! And at the end of the day I still had energy and sanity to spare.
Here's the rundown and budget summary. You're gonna love it!

11 a.m.: Kids arrive and make their own sandwiches with choices of breads, meats, peanut butter, jams, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, chips, kool-aids, juices, etc., all of which I had in stock. (Thank goodness for a large family with diverse tastes in the culinary world of sandwiches and potato chips).
Out-of-pocket expense: $0

11:30 a.m.: Girls begin making their own hair accessories and necklaces and most adorable hand puppets, courtesy of Martha Stewart crafts.
Out-of-pocket expense - $15
*note: this could be done with little to no out-of-pocket expense by Google-ing 'easy crafts for kids' and using your own leftover craft supplies that are just taking up space in your house.

12 p.m.: I gave each girl 2 cupcakes and lined the dining room table with individual icing packets and sprinkles and sugared glitters. They made individualized cupcakes, then we put them on a silver platter in the shape of a nine and had Abby blow out the candles.


Out-of-pocket expense: $10 for the icing and cake mix. You could make your own icings and cupcakes from scratch and save even more!

12:30 p.m.: Opening gifts.
12:45 p.m.: Make your own trail mix! I had some things in the pantry that needed to be used (simply because if they hadn't been used soon I would've devoured them all!). I laid out small bowls and filled them with things like raisins, mini chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, dried fruit, sesame crackers, and sunflower seeds. Each girl got a clear cellophane bag and a twist tie and was allowed to make her own individual trail mix to go!
Out-of-pocket expense: $3 (for the cellophane bags).

1 p.m.: End of party and clean-up! I have never had less to do and clean up after a party because I was able to clean as the party progressed while the girls were busy with the activities.
So....whadaya think??