Skip the Expensive Gift Bags for Your Guests! SERIOUSLY!

6 Ways to Have a FAB Summer Birthday Party That Won'tBreak the Piggy Bank

1. Party your socks off at YOUR home

I have 2 little guys & find that we go from party to party during the summer. Most of the parties are at bounce houses, water parks, gymnastic studios, or kid pizza places. Prices for these cool party spots range from $150 to $500 depending on the number of kiddos that attend and how many extras you want. Whatever happened to a good ole party at your house?

Throw a great party that everyone will love at your very own home & don’t go broke doing it! Save hundreds of dollars and get to entertain in your own backyard. Summer is great for the kids playing outdoors.  

2. Leave the invitations to the experts

Since you saved so much money by having the party at your house you can spend $25 to $30 on personalized invitations. There are so many companies competing for your orders right now that you can get some awesome deals from Shutterfly.com, Tiny Prints.com, SnapFish.com and many others. Don’t forget to order 1 or 2 extra for your birthday scrapbook cover!  Here is my recent invite for Jackson’s birthday party in June.

3. Shop for food, chips, cake & party supplies at a super-saver store

Shop at a local Sams Club or Costco and get just about everything you need for your party at a fraction of the cost.  Treat your guests (not just the kids but the parents too) to some favorite summer dishes like fruit platters, hamburgers, hot dogs, deviled eggs, watermelon, chips & dips and don’t forget to buy the cake there too. Half a sheet cake is only $20 & that’s a steal with free personalization!  Plus you can get your paper plates, napkins, cups & beverages there too for next to nothing! OH – here’s a great tip for you….if you have a “Dollar Store” in your area you can get Mylar balloons for $1.00 (yes, with the helium). No kidding. Save even more~make your own cake, cupcake, or cakepops!!!

4. Pull out the fun stuff you already own

There is no reason to buy a bunch of new games, hire a face painter/balloon artist, or bring in a big bounce house! Save your money & get creative!  Do you already own a slip-n-slide? How about a trampoline?  If you have a trampoline put about 50 balloons in it & your kids will go wild. Get a roll of art paper and tack it to your fence then let the kids either finger paint on it or give them brushes to create their own birthday art for your little one! All these ideas will make beautiful pictures for your birthday album and are very inexpensive. Bring the music outdoors. Pull out your portable CD player and play some fun tunes for the kids – turn it up. You can come up with some great ideas if you just think about what you already own!

5. Do not buy a bunch of gifts for your little one

Yes, I’m telling you not to buy a lot of presents for your own child. All of your guests’ gifts will be overwhelming your little one as it is.  There is no reason for you to buy more than 1 or 2 special presents for your prince or princess. Children typically get overwhelmed easily with all of the activity at a party and then opening all of their guests gifts in front of them may send them into overload or even a meltdown.  If you simply must buy several presents, try giving them to your birthday girl or boy before or after the party.

6. Boycott the expensive gift bags!

Yes, I know you probably think I’m crazy but I stand strong as I recommend that you either skip the gifts bags to your guests or find an alternative way of doing it. The cost of putting together elaborate gift bags for your child’s guests can be easily be $20 - $40 per child.  This is the biggest money waster at your child’s party that there is and you could definitely put that money into the actual party for food, games, crafts, etc.

If you simply must give a gift bag at your child’s party you can still do it for under $5.00 per child. Keep in mind that it is not about how cool or expensive the gift is to thank your guest for coming, but about your guest remembering how much fun they had at the party.  Forget the junky trinket items! Get creative ~ buy a hu-la-hoop and wrap a cute ribbon on it for personalization. Put your money into a great craft to do during the party & let each kid take their item home.

Let us know how your summer birthday party goes and if you implemented any of these radical money saving tips! We’d LIKE to know. Also, please join us on Facebook for daily fun & inspiration to moms just like YOU!

Lil Miss Couture Boutique http://www.lmcaccessories.com/

My daughters and I were very pleased when we were given the opportunity to review some hair accessories from Lil Miss Couture Boutique. We were given several headbands with matching flower hair clips and a package of two hair clips.

These hair accessories are so CUTE!!!!! I have dabbled in making some of these on my own for a while now, but the quality of Lil’ Miss Couture is outstanding!!!! They line the entire clip. For those you with little ones, you know how important that is. The flowers are absolutely adorable! They pay attention to the smallest details on their flower clips, as you can see in the pictures.

They look great with the head band or without the head band. My 3 year old can wear the head band, but it’s a little too small for my 10 year old. So, my oldest enjoyed matching her outfits to the flower clips.

 

 I really like when you order from their website at www.LMCaccessories.com you are given the option to order a complete set (headband and flower clip) or just the flower clip. They have several collections available for you to order from. Their Princess Collection is definitely appropriately named (for our princesses) and the Spring Collection is beautiful. They also have a Pinwheel and Vintage Collection. I couldn’t recommend just one collection though. They are all amazing and I would order all of them if I could.

These opinions are my own. I did receive products to review and will not get any compensation, other than the samples I received.

Amy

Side note: Lil Miss Couture is currently attending an invitation only press event in New York City. You will probably be seeing them soon in various children’s style magazines!  Please visit them socially & become the newest fan on Lil Miss Couture’s Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for the most up to date product information and promotions.

On Friday, April 22, the i like book will be hosting a give-away with Lil Miss Couture as our lucky sponsor! Join us on the i like book Facebook page early Friday morning for a fun 1 day give-away extravaganza!



Oh, Baby Organic Skincare

I was recently asked to try Oh, Baby Organic Skincare. I have to say I didn’t know what to expect, as I have never used organic skincare before. Something I liked right away was the soft light scent, and right now that is really important to me! I’m pregnant and get easily offended by the slightest smells.

The kids, of course, loved the Bubbly Bath. But, then again who doesn’t love a bubble bath? The Bathtime Baby body wash and shampoo combo did an excellent job. Neither product bothered the kid’s eyes. It seemed to be as gentle as water. The Bathtime Baby also rinsed out of their hair very quickly. Those of us with children KNOW they aren’t hanging around while we try and rinse their hair out! I also like how soft and tangle free their hair is. I was a little surprised, because it didn’t feel like it was going to be soft and fluffy when I was rinsing it out.

Next in line, we tried the Baby Butter right out of the bath. I LOVE that this very lightweight and absorbs so fast. There is no “greasy lotion” feel and a little goes a very long way.  I also liked that because it absorbed so quickly it was easy to dress the baby. You know, how when you put some of the other lotions on? Then you try and put a long sleeve shirt on and it keeps sticking to their arm because of the lotion? Well, we didn’t have that problem at all!!! The shirt just slipped right on like it should. Makes dressing a baby much faster and that equals a much happier baby and mommy.

I did try the Bottom Balm. It’s not like anything I have used before. I was expecting something a lot thicker. This is thin, almost like a lotion. I can’t give it a full review at this time due to time constrainsts.  I will continue to use it though. I have to say I prefer to put this on than the thicker stuff I was using and the fact that it is organic makes me feel really good!

On Friday, April 1st the i like book will be teaming up with Oh, Baby Organic Skincare for a fun promotion. We are super excited to work with such a cool company. When you order i like books on our website you will receive a sample of Oh, Baby Butter and a fantastic coupon with your purchase! *while supplies last*

Amy

I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to review BabyLegs. Included in the package were one pair of socks (boy), two pairs of leg warmers (1 boy and 1 girl), one pair of tights (girl), and then as a gift a pair of newborn legwarmers, because I’m pregnant (smiles). Something that impressed me right away was the hand written note. I really like it when a company takes the time to add that little bit of personal touch. 

            I am such a big fan of BabyLegs. They are so cute and the selection they offer is amazing. So many cute styles for girls AND boys! (Now, for my confession – I already had a few pairs and LOVE them) Also, if you “like” them on facebook one thing you’ll notice right away, they really pay attention to their fan base. The other benefit – you find out about sales and specials that aren’t necessarily advertised elsewhere.

I just wish they had them when my older ones were babies. My 10 year old daughter and 8 year old son like to wear them on their arms like “arm-warmers”. It’s perfect for Wednesday night church. They wear them in and then after they are all warmed up from running around they take them off, so they aren’t too hot. It’s the perfect “win” – they wear a “long sleeve” shirt outside (makes mom happy) and then they are wearing a short sleeve shirt inside (makes kiddos happy).

My 3 year old daughter and 1 year old son wear them as leg warmers. They have been a total life saver this winter, as it has been cold! I have the little ones wear them under their pants for added warmth. My daughter also likes that she gets to keep wearing her skirts and dresses. Babylegs have made my life so much easier with my son’s diaper changes. He doesn’t get chilled when I change him when we’re out because his legs are still covered. I have to say, they also came in pretty handy when he was having tummy troubles as well ;)  For all those moms out there saying, “They will never stay up on my daughter because she is too thin.” Think again. My daughter is very slender and they stay up on her skinny little legs pretty darn good. Every now and then she can get them to slip down, but it’s a quick fix.

Here are some pictures of my kiddos sporting their new BabyLegs.

Reveiws are an expression of my own thoughts and opions. I received BabyLegs sample products to review in my family and did not receive any monetary compensation.

Amy

The i like book will be having a BabyLegs give-away on March 25^th. Swing by the I like book page and enter the contest on March 25th. It’s super easy ~ lots of fun ~ and FREE!

the top 5 online shops

to register for

yourbabyshower



choices choices choices….where do i register? what do i register for? search no more…find the top 5 online stores to register for your most wanted and needed baby products.

these cool companies offer online assistance like evites for baby showers, baby room coordination, free shipping on orders over a certain level, games for your showers, discounts and customer reviews of products.

happy shopping

baby hip hugger

Over the course of the last year or so I have been introduced to some very cool baby & kid products because of different events I attend for the i like book. Often I wonder how I made it through the early stages of motherhood without this or that.  Recently, I met an amazing mom, Neojin, that created one of those “must haves” for a mom but not just because it is cute or trendy but because it is necessary for a mom’s sanity & physical integrity.  If you have a kid who likes to be picked up, put down, picked up, put down, Baby Nari /Baby Hip Hugger is the PERFECT SOLUTION!! It allows your kids to walk, get picked up and put down to walk again seemlessly!

Here is how it works…the Baby Hip Hugger (such a cute name) is designed for either infants or toddlers but the real magic is that it really helps mommy & daddy. As a mom myself I really hurt my back lifting & holding my little ones over & over. The Baby Hip Hugger allows your back relief because you don’t overextend your posture by carrying your kiddos on your hip.

These are one of those “can’t live without it” items that every mom & dad needs.  Plus they come in really trendy colors and the seat that your child sits on is a non-slip surface in the shape of a heart.  They have really thought of everything.  Thank you Baby Nari for introducing such a great product to the market! Visit their website & get yours today *they make great gifts too* http://www.babynari.com/ 

Here is a coupon just for you when to use at check-out: $20 off code ~ ohsosavvymom20

I met The Card Cache mom-preneur, Stephanie Navarro, at the Golden Globes Boom Boom Room in Beverly Hills recently.  I absolutely fell in love with her cool invention.  The Card Cache is a stylish was to stay organized & declutter your wallet & purse.  I use the “star” Card Cache and every single time I use it when shopping I get comments like – “that is so cool, what is it?” “where did you get that?” “I want one of those.”  This stylish little cable stores all of your reward cards, gift cards, gym membership cards, and gas cards in one organized place. I even accessorized mine with some cute bling bling – a little rhinestone purse.  Love it!

Recently, I bought 5 more of these at The Card Cache online store and received them superfast. I gave one to my friend, Karen, for her birthday last weekend. I am telling you~ this gift was the HIT of the entire party! Everyone wanted to know where I found it & how could they get one.  It made me so happy that I had such a fun gift that Karen would really love & use!

You simply must check out The Card Cache and get one for yourself & a few for your BFF’s.  The Card Cache wants to make sure you get a great deal when you shop at their online store. She has generously given YOU a coupon code to use & share. Enter code: 3BUCKSOFF  when you checkout.