I was super excited about my daughters first birthday. She had just learned to walk and we were still trying to get her off the bottle. She was still my sweet baby. Now, just twelve, quick months later, she is having another birthday. This time she is starting to potty train, sleeping in a toddler bed, and talking like she's been doing it for years. My sweet, tiny, baby is growing up. I was excited for this birthday, because it meant I, her mother, got her safely through another year of life. I was also pretty sad. A is not a baby anymore. I do look forward to not having to buy diapers, but I now realize just how quickly kids grow up. This is going way too fast!
I wanted this birthday party to be just as special as my daughter is to me. I wanted to throw a nice party, but without breaking the bank. I started planning months in advance. A's favorite character is currently Minnie Mouse, so it was a easy choice for a party theme. You can find Mickey And Minnie stuff everywhere! I even found a cake topper at the dollar store. I watched the clearance racks for months and stocked up on party supplies when they were cheap. There were lots of pink items on sale after Valentine's Day!
Pinterest is my best friend when it comes to party planning. I found great recipes, Diy party decor, and activity ideas.
I made these table decorations from items I found at the dollar store!
I chose to save some money by making the cake and cupcakes at home, with a little help from some family members. We thought it would be fun to give A her own smash cake again this year and then do cupcakes for the guests. I love cupcakes because there isn't any time lost on cutting a cake and it's easy to send leftovers home with your guests. I found several ideas on Pinterest and combined them to get our finished cake display.
The cake was a big hit at her party and it was delicious too!
I made sugar cookie bows and Minnie Mouse shaped cutters I found cheap on Amazon
I made Mickey Mouse ears for all my guests to wear at the party. I bought several sheets of black felt at Walmart for about 20 cents a piece. I found the head bands at the dollar store in packs of five. I used hot glue and cardboard cut from recycled boxes to put together and make the ears stand up. These were a lot of fun!
We really didn't spend a whole lot on the party, and it was a total success! Miss A had a blast with her cousins. We did a Hot Diggity Dog station so food was cheap. I asked a couple of the aunts to bring a side item. We used my parents pasture/campground for the event. I made most of the decorations myself and what I bought was cheap, or on sale. The best way to plan a party on the cheap is to start planning early so you can watch for sales! It's important to remember not to get caught up in the details and know that spending time with family and friends is the best part of any party. A isn't going to remember what gifts she got, how fancy the food is, or how many balloons she had at her 2nd birthday party. I hope she remembers that she had a great time with her family and know how loved she is.
