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I have 2 kids that have summer birthdays. I love it because it’s more casual and fun. Everyone loves summer vacation and a party gives my kids an excuse to get together with their friends to hang out and celebrate.
In July we have my son’s birthday and in August we have my daughter’s birthday. Birthday parties can be fun and easy if you always have a plan! Here are my 6 tips to make party planning a breeze!
Cards for the birthday kid:
Cards are special to me. They can really make an impact that can make you feel extra special. My dad always gives us a card for our birthday, anniversary, and Christmas. I know he spends a long time in the card aisle reading every single card until he finds the perfect card that fits our relationship. I want my kids to know that cards are special and sentimental. I want the cards to be a big part of the special occasions in our lives.
When I was at Meijer, I picked up a fun birthday card for his party and a special one for his birthday. Since my daughter’s birthday is next month, I found the perfect card for her too.
Meijer has the perfect card for my child’s birthday and all my relatives and friends, they have general cards and cards with licensed characters so you can find the perfect card to fit the occasion!
Pro Tip – Next time you go shopping for a card for a loved one, take your kids with you. Let them know it is a great way to express your feelings.
You can’t forget the gift bags, tissue paper, roll wrap, and bows to present the perfect gift. You only get to celebrate this day once a year – so make it colorful, cheerful, and fun!
Pick a date and send out invitations:
We have a few kids in our neighborhood that we invite to our kids’ parties. Kids love to get mail so we always pick up some cheerful invitations to place in their mailbox. I love when all the decorations coordinate. I add something simple so you can combine patterns with solid colors. So find an invitation like these to invite your friends.
Pro Tip – before you fill out the invitations make sure you pick a time that works best for you. Do you want to serve snack or a full meal? How many hours can you keep the kids busy? If you are going to spend more time outside than inside, make sure you don’t decide to have the party from 2-5 when it’s the hottest part of the day.
Prepare your menu:
We like to have our parties around lunch time. It’s a good excuse to order pizza. Juice boxes and water bottles are the best drink options to have at a party. They are very easy to clean up. We also serve some chips and a fruit to balance it all out.
Pro Tip: Subscribe to emails from all the pizza place near your house. The past few times I have had to order a few pizzas for a party, I have had a coupon to save 50% off.
Easy Clean up:
Speaking of easy clean-up, paper plates, cups, spoons, and forks are a must! I love to get fun plates and cups that match the invitations and then solid color forks and spoons. Make sure you pick up plates for food and extra plates for cake and ice cream.
Keep the cake simple:
I love cake! I always make my kids’ cakes. They usually pick something simple that we can make together. It’s a time for us to hang out and make something delicious and reflects something they love about this year of their life.
Pro Tip – For every box of cake mix you use, add a small box of pudding that coordinates with the cake flavor. You can also switch out the water for milk and it will taste like you made it from scratch!
Gifts for the guests:
What do you give the kids in their gift bag? I found some small black paper bags by American Greetings at Meijer and they worked perfect for the decorations. We added some bouncy balls, candy, rubber bracelets, and a squirting canon to take home.
Pro Tip – We bought all the guests a squirting canon to play with during the party. It double as part of a game and part of the gift bag. Try to think of something that has a dual purpose for your party.
Meijer has a huge selection of American Greetings products to help you plan the perfect party this summer. Spend less time shopping and planning and more time hanging out with your family when you pick up everything you need at Meijer!
What’s your best tip for planning the perfect summer birthday party?