Birthday Party Favors

After my post on the Self-Budgeted Birthday Party, I asked Vivian of HipWriterMama what she used for the birthday party favors to which she alluded in the comments. With her permission, I shall share with you what she wrote:

Here are some party favor ideas--I start shopping for these a few months ahead of time, so I can catch sales and have time to make things, if needed.

Paint pens are awesome, because you can personalize anything--which goes a long way. Plastic containers, cosmetic bags, etc.

For the younger crowd:

-Plastic pencil boxes in different colors (from Target, Staples, etc.) - on sale, you can get them for around 50 cents to $1.

-Box of 24 count Crayola crayons - again, you can get these on sale for less than $1.
-Assorted Sticker Sheets

I assemble these little goodies in the box and then paint the child's name on the box with the paint pens. Once the paint is dry, gift wrap and you're good to go. This usually costs less than $3 per child.

Beauty goody bag:
-Nail polish
-Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker
-Special Playlist CD's (you can make cool CD labels with the birthday child's name and date, etc.)

Cosmetic Bag ($1 bin at Target)
-Paint name of child on it.
-Add something simple in it. Lip gloss, nail polish or something unusual a child can collect in it.

Journal goody bag:
-Cool pen
-Journal/Notebook/Diary
-Special Playlist CD

Rock Star goody bag for the younger crowd:
-There are these great plastic microphones over at Target about $2 each.
-Add special CD and you're good to go.

Books (Check for book sales, Amazon, Scholastic Book Club, etc.)

Use your imagination! You can find lots of great things for small $$, if you plan ahead.

What are your ideas? Please post them in the comments. As I told Vivian, other than the one year we handed out little harmonicas, party guests have always received seed packets.

The Self-Budgeted Birthday Party

The birthday budget: By letting her kids plan their own parties, this mom helps them learn the value of a dollar, by Pauline Childs:

[Emma] really wanted a store-bought Barbie cake (with a real doll in the middle!). It would cost $40 and serve just eight people. I tried to explain how extravagant this was when you really thought about it, especially since we'd need to buy another cake to have enough for everyone. She looked at me and said, "But it's my birthday. How come I don't get to decide what to spend money on?"

She had a point. Suddenly, an idea occurred to me: why not just set a party budget and let the birthday boy or girl decide how to use it?

Thanks to Lisa Kothari of Peppers and Pollywogs for the link.

So far, we've not had many issues with keeping Lucia's birthday parties small and simple. She's certainly had ideas for larger parties after attending other people's more elaborate shin-digs, but for the most part, has been fine with our simple affairs.

I haven't had a birthday party gig in quite awhile. While that's not great for my business, I do hope that it means families are discovering creative ways to celebrate birthdays that are both enjoyable and inexpensive.

Alkelda's Feast Day

This is just to say that Alkelda of Giggleswick's feast day is this month: March 28, to be exact. I just thought I'd mention that to you because it might be of interest to those of you who are in a scholarly mindset...

Oh, all right, it's also my 36th birthday. You know what I've always wanted for my birthday? A surprise party. Actually, I've already had one. Here's the story:

For my twentieth birthday, I wanted to go to the fantastic Indian restaurant in South Bend, Indiana. It was an hour's drive, and completely worth it. My college friends and I made dinner plans to eat there on my birthday, March 28. My former roommmate said she would handle all of the arrangements.

Then, some friends said there was a concert they wanted to see that night. I wanted those friends to join us, so I said, "Okay, let's make it March 27, then." Plans were set in place. Then, other friends said, "That guy's senior music recital is that night, and we want to go to it." They convinced me to move it to March 29. So, March 29 (the day after my birthday) rolled around, and I was all set to go to the fantastic Indian restaurant in South Bend, Indiana. As my friends picked me up, my former roommate said, "Guess what! The Indian restaurant is clsoed on Sundays! We're going to the Olive Garden."

I cannot tell you how much I wanted to behave badly. I wanted to throw a tantrum and say, "I'm not going to the confounded Olive Garden. I need curry, and I'm not getting it in Middle America." However, a friend of mine had come in from Chicago specifically for my birthday. So, I kept my demeanor pleasant, but I made sure I rode in the car that did not have my former roommate in it.

We went to the Olive Garden. While we were there, my former roommate kept looking at her watch. She said, "I don't think I'll get dessert," and looked pointedly at the rest of us.

I thought, "I didn't get to go to the fantastic Indian restaurant, but I am jolly well going to get dessert on MY birthday celebration," and ordered the cannoli. However, the whole meal was just awful. On the way home, my former roommate invited all of us over to her apartment, but we all said we were too tired. For some reason, my former roommate looked stressed out about this. She told me, "At least come inside and get your present."

I didn't feel like it, and I told her so, but then I relented. I thought, "I am more of a detailed person than my rooomate is. I shouldn't have let her organize my party, and it's not fair for me to blame her for what wasn't a good time for me. I'll go in, get my present, and pretend to be cheerful about the whole thing."

We went inside her apartment, and I saw a number of lumps on the floor covered with blankets. These lumps rose up and said, "Uhhhhh--- SURPRISE!!!!!" They were my friends who couldn't join us for dinner but wanted to help celebrate my birthday. However, we had started dinner late and had gotten home so late that some of the celebrants had finally left while the few remaining faithful decided to take naps.

The rest of the evening was delightful and merry. Friends acted out my favorite skits, sang songs and played Truth or Dare. My former roommate explained to me that everyone who went to dinner with me was supposed to come to the surprise party too. Her pointed remarks about not eating dessert was to remind them that we were working on a time-limit (unbeknownst to me).

Needless to say, I forgave my former roommate for flubbing the organization of the fantastic Indian restaurant excursion. She had given me the surprise party I'd always wanted (after a fashion).

However, I did make sure I was in charge of all future restaurant reservations.

Seven Tips for Successful Storytelling at Parties

I had a good time telling stories and singing songs at my two birthday party gigs over the weekend. Both parties were outside. During one gig, a train went by as the birthday group was dancing in a circle to "Hop Up Ladies." Everyone could hear me play and sing over the train noise, but it was still one of those distractions that make outdoor celebrations such a challenge. As a side note for those planning to get married outside in one of Seattle, Washington's balmy gardens, I have just one word of caution for you: airplanes.

Anyway, I thought now would be a good time to outline some guidelines for people who are considering having a performer come to their child's birthday party. Here are seven tips to help make the experience a good one:

Here are seven tips for everyone to enjoy a storytime at your party:

1) Have a comfortable, specific place for the children to sit, preferably away from distractions like toys (especially the battery-powered ones), balloons, and media devices.

2) Grownups often only get a chance to talk to each other when their kids are occupied. Have a separate space for the grownups’ conversations so that the children can listen attentively to the stories and songs.

3) If the party takes place outside with an excess of background noise, have the storytelling program be in a place with the option to plug in a sound system.

4) Have the storyteller perform before the hosts bring out the cake. Even the most enthralling performer can’t compete with a group sugar-high!

5) Small children (ages 2-3) often need to be accompanied by attentive adults. Older children (4 and up) are fine on their own but it’s a good idea to have an adult check in on the group every now and then. Storytellers are good at crowd control, but sometimes an audience member needs to leave the circle for a few minutes. It’s best for another adult to spend calming time with that child until the child is ready to return to the group.

6) Before the storytelling performance, make sure the children know where the bathrooms are. If the program takes place outside on a warm day, it’s also a good idea to have drinking water nearby. Singing and dancing is thirsty work.

7) Young children (ages 2-3) have relatively short attention spans, while older children can go for longer periods of time listening to stories and songs. I pay close attention to the group dynamics and prepare more than I need for a single storytime in order to provide the most flexibility. If I notice children getting restless during the story, then the next item is almost always a song involving movement.

Still sick

Someone called me this morning to ask if I could do a last-minute birthday party gig (i.e. tomorrow morning). I would have done it had I not still felt so sick. I gave her some ideas for the party and she said she'd keep me in mind for when her other child had a birthday this year. Whenever I get sick, I wonder, "How will I be able to pull through when I actually have a gig?" I've done it, of course. I've done storytelling when I had laryngitis. Once, early in my career, I performed what might have been my scariest rendition of "The Gunniwolf" ever. With all of the various snifflies and coughs popping up, I have only ever once had to cancel a storytelling performance. I had a high fever, no voice, and I didn't know pantomime. My supervisor sent me home from the library and had someone read picturebooks to the audience.

I know how to prop myself up and get through performances when I feel absolutely terrible. But still, each time I get sick, I wonder, "How will I be able to pull through when I actually have a gig?" The answer: I just do.

Here are some coping mechanisms:
1) Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat Tea. Traditional Medicinals, this is free advertising for you. If I am going to shill for a product, this herbal infusion would be it. Hurrah for slippery elm bark!

2)Hot water, whisky and honey. Note: this is for after the gig, not before. At the very least, I can tell myself, "I can get through this and then I can have my hot toddy. Maybe two. Definitely two."

3) White rice or flax seed inside a tied-up/sewn up sock (or reasonable facsimile), heated in the microwave and then placed around my shoulders or lower back.

I avoid cold medicines, even the ones that claim to be non-drowsy. They all make me drowsy and I get hallucinogenic dreams as well. My hallucinogenic dreams usually involve returning to high school (even though I have a Master's Degree) and working at a mind-dulling government job. Any potential benefits of the cold-medicine are completely nullified by these dreams. Did I mention that I had to take gym class in these dreams?

Pictured: Lucia uses some of my props for her dollies' opera attendance. How does she know that, when I'm sick, I'm more likely to let her play with my toys?