The $2.50 Birthday Party

Kami doesn't turn 12 until July, but we threw her an early birthday party with Lizzie... they celebrated their birthdays together just like another time. And OK, it didn't exactly cost $2.50.


Hang with me though; there is a $2.50 twist that went over very well.The birthday girls invited about 30 of their friends to a skating rink that we rented out for a couple of hours. They all had a blast! They aren't little girls anymore, but growing up and amazingly so. Kami and her old buddy Nicole....Kami and her new buddy Katie...all the girls singing Happy Birthday to Kami and Lizzie... and now for the $2.50 cent part. Since we had invited 30 girls and it was a double birthday party, we wanted to handle the giving of presents in a creative way. We thought about saying "no presents" or "bring a donation to Special Olympics in lieu of a gift."

However, after thinking and thinking, we decided to add this note to the invitation: "Gifts: If you'd like to bring a gift, spend no more than $2.50 per present. That's right, no more than $2.50 per gift. Be creative and see what you can come up with!!!"

We loved the results. Instead of having loads of decadent presents, most of which the girls didn't really need or want, they got a load of fun and special items, many of them handmade.

I wish I would have gotten pictures of all their fun gifts, but here are some I remember....
*fingernail polish
*fun, colorful socks
*handmade jewelry
*handmade headband
*handmade bows
*zany bands
*candy
*big bouncy ball (you wouldn't believe how much they've played with this... an item I always had around when they were little)
*headphones
*notepad
*pen with duck tape rose
*handmade fleece pillow
*collage of words from magazines
*friendship bracelets

I would really like to try this idea for other birthday parties; it was really cool how well everyone responded and how much money was saved and how much waste was avoided and how much the girls loved their $2.50 presents!