Favorite Blog Posts

• Wizard of Oz Birthday Party
• Vintage Pink & Yellow Tea Party
• Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Party

Of all the parties you've thrown, which was your favorite?

I loved our Flower Fairy Party. The concept of the party was that if the girls believed in fairies, “magical” things would happen throughout the party. The girls got to hear a fairy story, search for pixie dust necklaces, make fairy houses, dress up and have their faces painted. We had a blast and the garden setting was perfect! The girls looked adorable in their tutus and wings, twirling around and blowing bubble -- or as we called them, "fairy wishes." You can purchase a $19 Flower Fairy Party Plan or a Party Kit in our shop (http://doublefunparties.com/shop/) to make your planning even easier! Take on as much, or as little, of the DIY projects as you like. Our party was purple and white, but we can customize your party with the colors of your choice. Here's a link to our party: http://doublefunparties.com/2012/05/31/our-parties-flower-fairy-birthday-party/

What's a great tip for keeping a party affordable?

To keep a party affordable, I think it's vital to have a concept. That will help you narrow down your choices, so you don't feel overwhelmed and begin overbuying. I'm a big believer in at-home parties, and this is a key way to keep your costs down. Your house doesn't have to be perfect or look like it's in a magazine. Remember, if you aren't paying for a rental space, you can put those funds towards games, decorations and treats -- and create a much more personalized event. Next, think about the time of day you want to hold your party. A mid-afternoon event means you can go easy on the food and desserts. Once you have those decisions down, decide on your budget. Be creative and you can stick to it! It's just a matter of deciding what you are willing to do yourself and what is worth paying for. Look around your home. You'll be amazed at what you can repurpose for your party. For the things you'll need to buy, try Goodwill, Dollar Tree and your local craft store for starters. I also love to support mom-based businesses, so check out Etsy (http://www.etsy.com). Finding party printables can be an inexpensive way to establish your theme and make your party special. Finally, involve your kids. I promise you they'll have some inspired ideas! (Like my daughter, who wanted to paint someone green at our Wizard of Oz party.) Remember, your party doesn't have to be over the top -- it just has to make your child happy. Have a great party!

What are some unique ideas for party favors?

Can we agree as moms that we're tired of little bags of trinkets, pencils and candy? I think your funds are better spent on one special favor. Here are some ideas I've used. Try a decorated cookie, like at our Christmas Card Writing Party: http://doublefunparties.com/2011/11/16/christmas-card-party-writing-party/. At our Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Party, we gave plush backpack clips of the Peanuts gang: http://doublefunparties.com/2011/09/29/charlie-brown-thanksgiving-party/. We gave violet seed paper at our Flower Fairy Party, so each girl could start her own garden: http://doublefunparties.com/2012/05/31/our-parties-flower-fairy-birthday-party/ For our Shabby Chic Easter Party, I gave each guest the book The Country Bunny: http://doublefunparties.com/2012/03/28/our-parties-shabby-chic-easter/ Felt cookies in a real tea tin were the take-home gift for our Vintage Tea Party: http://doublefunparties.com/2011/10/31/vintage-tea-party-part-1/ And for our Wizard of Oz Party, I broke my own rule and packed blue gingham tin lunch boxes with Glinda's bubbles, rainbow hair elastics, Wizard of Oz stickers, a heart necklace and a custom-made felt poppy bracelet: http://doublefunparties.com/2012/05/09/our-parties-wizard-of-oz-7th-birthday/