Fun Birthdays Despite Recession

Madeline Holler — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:36:00 GMT

In all this talk about economic downturns and recessions or "recessions" and whatnot, politicians are overlooking one very important thing when calculating rebates and tax cuts and interest rates freezes and economic stimulation: what the hell is a parent to do about birthday parties?

Listen, party-planning expert Lisa Kothari, author of Dear Peppers and Pollywogs...What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties knows your pain and she wants to help out with her three-part series on recession-proof children's birthday parties. Thank God, because I was worried we'd have to leave it up to our kids this year to create their own fun.

For Part 1, she counsels to "think outside the box," but goes on to give some cool ideas, so stick with me. The first is a Messy Party, with these sugggestions.

Invitations stamped with handprints.
Make a mess out of balloons and streamers; hang them all over the place in no set pattern.
Have the kids paint pictures with chocolate.
Let the kids decorate premade sugar cookies.
Set out paint, roller brushes, and butcher paper for the kids to make fantastic creations.
Have a bunch of stamps and water-soluble ink out and have the kids stamp their arms and legs all over and stamp one another!
Place a pile of dirt in one area of the yard and have the kids make dirt creations using twigs, rocks, and other natural elements.
Make a traditional round cake, ice with vanilla frosting and then drizzle different colors of icing into your own messy masterpiece. Add candy toppings as an added bonus.

Outrageous Cookie Party

Make plain cookie dough and then set out these ingredients for kids to get creative with. Bag them up to take home. Be sure to warn parents in case the kids decide to share.

Ketchup
Mustard
Chocolate Syrup
Ranch Dressing
Steak Sauce
Cherries
Yogurt
Cheese
Peanut Butter
Balsamic Vinegar
Jam
Pesto Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Relish

Don't forget to request all birthday gifts in cash. (Who's going to pay for all that wasted pesto? We're in a recession!)

So what are you doing for a cheap birthday party this year (or any year)? Canceling the tiger cub rental? Yeah, me too. Me too.

Photo: Once Upon a Bash

Babble Talk: Birthday Parties Gone Wild

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:02:00 GMT

Baby tigers, stretch limos, a trip to the recording studio to cut a record. These are just some of the extravagant things that Asra Q. Nomani did for her son's birthday parties, all before the age of 5.

In a recent Babble essay, Nomani highlights the crazy, competitive world of birthday parties where parents get trapped in a cycle of trying to out-do the previous year's party. She discovers there is help for people like her in the form of an organization called Birthdays Without Pressure, a group of "recovering over-the-top party throwers and those disgusted by party excess."

Nomani's turning point was attending a party where the parents served grilled cheese sandwiches and everyone, including the parents, were relaxed and having a great time. Personally, I'm a fan of the low-key/low-cost party. In my experience nothing makes a birthday party more fun than hot dogs or pizza, a passel of kids in their own dress-up garb, and beer. Lots and lots of beer. (For the parents, that is.)

See glimpses of yourself in Nomani? Check out her article and know you aren't alone.

Strollerderby : Birththdays without Pressure

Fun Birthdays Despite Recession

Babble Talk: Birthday Parties Gone Wild