Birthday on a Budget

Planning a birthday party for your child can be a very stressful time for a Mama. You don't want to (or can't) go overboard, but you still want to make it special for your precious little one. Below are some tips to create an intimate and memorable birthday party on a small budget.

Location: Host the party somewhere that does not cost any $ (i.e. your house/backyard, park, parents' house, etc.)

Invitation: Take advantage of Evite! Or if you prefer to send cards, no need to spend a lot of $. They end up getting tossed away anyway!

Food: Make your own. If you can find some friends and/or family that can help you, it's easy and less costly to prepare food for the party. Especially, if you get the ingredients from stores like Costco, you can easily feed a ton of people (you can serve sandwiches, salads, fruits, vegetables, etc).

Decoration: You can decorate by using simple decorations like balloons (from PartyCity), streamers, flowers, etc. The decor can look great just by keeping it simple and throwing something personal in the mix (maybe something that was handmade by you, or something that is personal to your child).

Cake: If you enjoy baking, this is where you can add your personal touch. You can get really creative with the cake and make something unique and yummy for your child. If you don't/can't bake, don't worry, there are many bakeries that offer delicious cakes at a reasonable price.

Supplies: Again, take advantage of stores like Costco & PartyCity where you can save $ on plates, napkins, utensils, tablecloths, serving bins & utensils.

Party Favors: It's true. Kids get excited about anything that's new to them.. so don't invest too much $ on favors. Stickers, crayons, toy necklaces and rubber balls, are some of the things that are inexpensive and entertaining for the little ones (Target has a great selection of little toys/favors in their "party supply" section)!

Just remember, that a birthday party is a celebration of another year of your child's life...so don't stress about the details and don't feel like you need to impress. Instead, enjoy this special day with your friends and family that are important to you and your child(ren)!!

Jana Alayra

Have you heard of Jana Alayra?

My neighbors brought over a "Jana Alayra: Live in Concert" VHS when my 2 year old was sick last month... and ever since then, my daughter has not stopped singing her songs!

Jana Alayra is a wife, a mom, an artist... She is an amazing singer that adores children and has been using her gifts to minister to them and to glorify God. In this particular video (right) she sings to a huge audience of children.. and you can tell just how much she cares for them... and the chidlren LOVE her too!




It's a blessing for a mama when you hear your child singing:

"The greatest thing I could ever do,
Is spend my life loving you,
With all of my heart,
With all of my mind,
With all of my strength Lord,
I give you all my life!"
(All My Life)

Or.. she asks me to sing this song when she is not feeling well:

"Whether it rains,
Whether it pours,
Wherever I go,
I will trust you Lord!
In the light of day,
Or in the of dark of night,
I will trust you Lord with all my life! "
(Rain or Pour)

I wanted to tell you about her, if you don't know about her already... because she has been a blessing to my little one and to me too! It's amazing how God can use children's songs to draw us (parents) closer to Him!

Here's a clip of her on YouTube singing at a church in Pasadena.

Homemade Playdoh

My neighbor gave me a recipe for homemade playdoh from teachnet.com and I made it with my daughter yesterday. Homemade playdoh is GREAT for various reasons:

-it is safe and edible (especially good for little ones that put everything in their mouth)
-it's a fun activity to do with your children... you can even teach math while you're making it!
-you can get really creative with the colors (like using one of these neon food coloring- pic below)
-the texture of homemade playdoh is very amusing and entertaining... even you'll get hooked!
-it's great to give as gifts for other kids and families
-it gets a little messy but it's SO easy to make!

Below are the simple recipe and instructions.. Hope you have fun!!

RECIPE

1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup salt
food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled.
Will last for a long time.

Good Guy vs. Bad Guy

Be wise and mindful about showing your little ones movies and TV shows with good guys and bad guys. They often can not distinguish who the good guys and bad guys are.. and even if they can, they do not know not to copy what the bad guys say or do.