Hey mamas. It's my step sons 6th birthday this Saturday! We don't have a lot of money this year but his father and I still want to give him an awesome party. Especially because he finally started kindergarten and its important to make those social connections and have your special day. This year Jr decided he wants to have a tiki theme party because of his favorite stuffed animal, tiki the toucan. The place we found is decently priced and will do the entire theme, decorations, favors, games all for $150 for 12 kids! Can't beat that. And it's $10 for each additional kid. Like I said, we really don't have a lot of money and were looking at about 6 or 7 extra kids and food isn't included. Nor are paper products but im just going to order the plates and napkins on amazon and buy hawaiian punch and capri sun apple juice boxes. So the woman in charge recommended we have the party from 2pm-4pm that way we don't have to worry about feeding lunch or dinner. As I've always been big on hosting his parties, this seems so odd to me, but we have to do what we have to do financially. His mom cant afford to chip in financially this year either so its all on us. I dont mind. Things happen and im no stranger to being broke. That being said, since I won't be doing pizza I still want to provide SOME sort of food for the kids and parents to munch on. I need ideas that won't break the bank that mom and I could make together and bring that go along with the luau/tiki theme. I want to make cute things, not just a simple fruit salad. I may do that too, but I need some creative ideas. Anyone have any suggestions?
**thank you so far. I do love the fruit skewer idea. I saw a kit at 5 below that helps you make the shapes like stars, hearts, and flowers. I was considering picking that up. I also have these two tiki face shaped plates from my graduation party from YEARS ago that I had at my moms house. Luau pool party :). I wanted to try to incorporate them as well but don't know what to put on them.
My daughter's last birthday party was from 2-4. We only had cake and juice. For an afternoon party I don't think people are expecting anything more than cake and maybe ice cream. Fruit wouldn't be a bad idea, but I don't think it is necessary. Especially if you are trying not to break the bank.
Edit to make it cheaper, make/bring the food in if they let you. Bring
mini hot dogs, chips, palm tree shaped sugar cookies you make & frost
yourself, surf board crackers & cheese, buy a shell to serve chips out of.
Hawaiian punch.
Grill some chicken breasts, cut them into big bite size pieces, stab them
w/a skewer & add a diced cube of grilled pineaplle. Stand them up on a plate, serve them w/teriyaki sauce/glaze & bbq sauce for dipping.
Pigs in a blanket served on a ring of grilled pineapple
palm shaped sugar cookies
Make ham, cheese & turkey, cheese sandwhiches w/flat bread then cut
them w/a tiki metal cookie cutter
Bowl of Hawaiian punch
Teriyaki meatballs
Mini egg rolls served on a mini surf board plate
Decorate each plate of food w/one of those edible flowers (in refrigerated veggie section of groc store)
Volcano cake
Surfboard or flip flop cookies
Put all the food out on a surfboard table (cut out a piece from plywood & paint)
Get mini iced donuts in colorful colors @ the donut shop & stick a drink
umbrella in each one
You could cut fruit in slices then use a star fish cookie cutter to punch out the shape from the slices
Put a grass skirt around the serving table
potatoe salad & lots of diff chips (not luau themed but good to have on hand)
My husband and I always get a Watermelon, and carve it up, and fill it with other fruits. We take a melon baller to carve it out on the inside, and we use, apples (both red and green) grapes, pears, strawberries, and the carved watermelon pieces and fill the watermelon back up.
It always gets lots of compliments, and people always request it at parties now.
There are many websites on Google that show you how to do these, and so many designs to choose from too.
Here's one link to a site: http://www.budget101.com/diy-decorating/watermelon-carvin...
ETA: You can also make a super easy fruit dip to go with it!
*For a group of 24-30*
3 cups of Sour Cream
6 tablespoons of Brown Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
Mix all together in a bowl, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours for flavors to combine.
I have never in my life been to any sort of birthday party that had anything but cake or cake and ice cream. I think you're going overboard and you don't have to. Just have cake and a single drink for each kiddo, buy a couple of different tropical colored paper plate packages from Walmart with some matching napkins and be done. No need to spend all this extra money.
You could cube pieces of cooked ham and skewer them too with pineapple chucks or cubed cheese. Use a whole pineapple to put the skewers I. To "serve" them.
Some really great ideas here for snacks, games, and decorations ...
http://www.bhg.com/party/birthday/themes/luau-theme-kids-...
The only idea I have is to make fruit skewers rather than just fruit salad. Be sure to add pineapple chunks to give it the luau feel.
I had a luau dance for my daughter when she was 13. For a game we had limbo, and pass the coconut. Also had a chocolate fountain with strawberries, pretzels, bananas, oreo's and marshmallows we used long skewers like for shish kabobs the kids loved it! you can get a lot of the luau décor pretty cheap at the dollar stores or party city. My mom made a palm tree out of a tall bamboo tube with leaves hanging out the top, we used white Christmas lights to decorate it. You can buy grass skirts for a $1 and get all different colored table clothes and use the skirts for the front of the buffet/cake table. And instead of a cake I made homemade bananas cupcakes and didn't have any left overs that was a first I always end up with a tone of cake when I get sheet cakes. Good luck and Happy Birthday to your little one!!!!!
Candy lei's for the children. You will need candy, saran wrap, and ribbon. Have fun!
Check out oriental trading. You should be able to do it for a lot less than $150. Especially since money is tight and have it at home. Just a thought.
