We recently celebrated my son’s 4th birthday. And since my boys have birthdays 5 days apart, I wanted to make sure that they feel celebrated and that their birthdays are different, and each special in their own way.
This year, I also wanted to spend as little on decorations so I could use most of my birthday budget for a “birthday experience”. (Best things I’ve done btw!)
If there’s anything I know about decorations and parties, its that balloons are fairly inexpensive and can easily look over-the-top. They are pretty easy to make, and my kids LOVE them.
My son wanted a Construction birthday party this year. We opted out of a traditional birthday party with foods and friends, as it would probably cost about $200. So I wanted the decorations for the birthday to be big and fun, but inexpensive.
And you know what? I think these decorations were his favorite!
For his birthday, I used simple yellow and orange plates, napkins, and cutlery from Walmart, all $1.00 each.
Then I purchased this balloon arch kit. It came with everything you need to make a balloon arch, minus a balloon inflator.
This birthday banner also was super easy, and was already strung so it took like 1 minute to cut and hang up.
For his birthday cake, I did a box cake, made some easy frosting, and then crushed up oreos, and Reeses mini peanut butter cups. The best part of the cake were these cute CAT excavators. They came in a set, and then he got to keep them to play with after I washed them off. It was such an easy cake and he loved it!
Overall, this year I a thoroughly enjoyed doing a birthday experience instead of a big birthday party, and a big, inexpensive balloon arch so that he felt special, with an easy cake.
A Little Word of Encouragement to Moms
I also just want to add… A few years ago, I was barely surviving on his first birthday. I think I blew up like 5 balloons for a little photo at like 8pm. I felt like the world’s worst mom. And you know what I’ve realized? It’s that there’s a time and a season.
Mama, if you’re in a time where you don’t have 2 hours for a balloon arch, that’s okay! Go to the Dollar Tree and grab a helium balloon, throw a bunch of balloons on the floor because kids love that too. You don’t need to make every birthday elaborate. If you don’t have it in your to go to the store and get balloons… I have been there myself.
If I could go back to that very postpartum time with my first, I’d give that girl a a new point of view. The most important thing is that our children feel loved. Everything else is just fluff.
Hugs mama!
Birthday Decor List for Easy Links:
