Birthday parties are fun non? Yeah.Right.
Planning a kids b-day party is stressful, time consuming and expensive. That's before you get 20 5 year olds into your house. Calgon take me away...really far far away.
The stupid loot bags are the worst. You would think as parents (mothers mostly) we would band together and ban the damn things. All the crap and looney store stuff which will sit in the back of the mini van until eternity. Urrrghh.
I have a friend who once put in a $5 gift card to Dairy Queen in a loot bag instead of all the other crap. It was FANTASTIC!! I mean, when you add up all the other little bits and bobs you put into the loot bags, well...it sucks the life outta ya, and your wallet. Then when the occasion arose, we went to DQ got an ice cream and I was a star! Nothing makes kids happier (amongst other things: balloons, new toys) than an impromptu ice cream. All of the sudden I'm the worlds greatest mummy, and I didn't have to pay!
Another good idea came from the VERY VERY clever ladies at Mabels Labels. They've created a brilliant product. You can customise SIX invites Mabels Labels to put in their loot bags for $30. So if you do the math on that - it's cheap. Click on the link here or click on any of the Mabels Labels Buttons I've posted around the blog! There are a billion of places you can stick the Mabels Labels, cups, ice skates, your kid...the list goes on. And now the parents won't give you the side eye when you give their kid the loot bag. Usefullness! And, might I add very "green" (no more plastic cr@p).
So until we band together as a nation and unite in the stupid loot-baggery, lets put something in them that isn't really freaking annoying :)
Online Children's Store for all the little things you need for your Sprog! What's a "sprog"?? As defined by Wiki: Sprog can refer to: * a slang term for a child Now you know something new :)
I love Mabel's Labels.
ReplyDeleteMy kids also love gift cards.
I have been known to give out a boxed puzzle to each child. It has been a hit with both moms & kids.
I love this! When my oldest was little I gave out packs of crayons one year (one pack per kid), and fun pairs of socks (1 pair per kid) from the $1 section at Target another year. And of course, Mabels Labels (which I love and use every year for summer camp), are a great idea too.
ReplyDeleteBut, actually since those first two parties, I haven't given out goody bags at all. I just... stopped. And you know what? It was no big deal.
I just told my kids, "We don't do goody bags." And that was it. End of goody-bag story.
Now I'm just waiting for everyone else to catch on. Thanks to your post, maybe they will.
^Carol at Cozi