Birthday Party!

I'm planning a fifth birthday party for B. We have never really had a "friend" party for him before. I feel bad because we had a few big parties for his older brother H, but none for B. We sort of down sized birthday parties in recent years - sort of to save money, and sort of because they become so over the top! I admit I want everything just so, and lose track of what I'm spending, and tend to go a little overboard. My hubby thinks parties should be simple, and about family. I want people to walk away from a party I've planned and think: "Wow, why didn't I think of that?".

So, I'm planning a party for B's 5th birthday, and I'm so excited because it's been a while since I've planned a party. I'm going to try to stick to a budget AND have people walk away and say "Wow, why didn't I think of that?"

We are doing a bowling party, so I'm hoping that will be the biggest expense, but it will be worth it to not have the mess at our house, and to not have to worry about the weather or planning activities. Im going to save money by making my own cake. I'm going to use Wiltons sports ball cake pan to make a bowling ball, and a regular cake to carve out a bowling pin. They'll be placed on a wooden cutting board (which will look like the bowling lane, hopefully). I also want to make cupcakes frosted with red frosting and each will have a fondant bowling ball and pin. We'll see...I'm going to try a practice run later this week! Each guest will get a mini bowling set, and a personalized t-shirt (which I'm also going to make) for a party favor.

The party is July 16 - I've already sent out the invites (homemade!) and got some RSVP's. I hope I can stay on top of this, and really have everything come out the way I plan. I'll have some pictures coming soon of the practice run cakes, and hopefully the t-shirts, and the cute invitation - it came out nice if I do say so myself!

Couponing!!

Have you seen that show on TLC about extreme couponing? I want to do that!!! With a family of six and almost as many day care children to feed, I spend a small large fortune on groceries, cleaning products, and other consumables. I really want to learn how to extreme coupon. I don't think I'd really stockpile like on those shows, or be able to spend 60 or even 30 hours a week preparing, but right now I average about $6 dollars in savings with coupons on my grocery shopping trip, and I would like to do better than that.

If I were able to stockpile, I would donate all of the excess to our local food bank. Many people start couponing when they have to, but why wait? If I can save money I want to!! I'm taking an extremem couponing class at my local library this week. I'm so excited. I can't wait to learn the secrets and share then with all of you - I mean, I don't have any blog followers, but someday I might, so I'll just say "all of you".