Chloe's 8th Birthday (How to Throw a Budget-Friendly Kid's Party during Pandemic)
Hello! Happy TGIF ❤️
This post is going to be a long but comprehensive one but rest assured, I promise it'll bring a smile to your face once you get through the end of this post. So grab your coffee or teh bing (ice tea) or frappucino or boba milk tea before gluing your face on your electronic devices...
Many of you have known me or have been reading my blog since I moved to Portland, Oregon, many of you also have seen me being super preggie with my firstborn in Boulder, Colorado then being super swamped up yet lost during the first year of motherhood, then some of you followed me (virtually) when I moved to San Francisco, California 6 years ago and witnessed me inconsistently updating this blog and eventually, abandoning it because my priorities shifted 😩 I'm so sorry...
Then now, a few of you guys are still here and I finally decided to tend this "secret garden" again... You guys are gold. Thank you for just being here. Btw, how's your drink tasting?
Ok. Aging makes me long-winded. I mean, after all these years and all these stages of life that you guys have been with me, my firstborn is turning 8 now.
#1 Yup, Chloe is 8 now.
I still can't believe it... Where did the time go? Ok, I basically say this every year around this time, haha. Again, it's the age thing 😜 Global pandemic lightspeeds me age and speaking of the pandemic, I've come to realize that the most important and the most precious things in life are actually not things, not the stuff that you can possess or the material item that you can own. All the most precious things in life are already given to us from heaven even before we ask for them. I mean, I always know that theoretically but living in the U.S., a culture of consumerism makes it so hard to practice.
This time I made a conscious effort to translate that practice at Chloe's birthday party.
Guess what, I spend less than US$ 80 on everything!!!
#2 Mama Bev hard at work 😊
Chloe wants a fairy theme party; fairy design is all that she talks about lately. With the SpaceX Falcon launch, one of her fairies now comes with a spacesuit, sort of. One day my baby girl will no longer speak fairy; this dull world may trade her wild imagination with data and statistic, so why not savor her sparkles and embrace that with some fairy dust *twink* Everything for a magical childhood.
#3 A day before. It begins with a pre-birthday choco cookie treat that Summer bakes. Setting up an ambient that increases her anticipation.
#4 I stayed up until 2a.m. to work on the decoration hoping to surprise her on the next day. (I first shared this video on my
...)
It feels so blissful to be able to have some alone/quiet time to prepare something special for my loved one, I always love the process and find it fulfilling. This birthday party is extra meaningful because I'm orchestrating everything just for Chloe, the birthday gal, and Summer, the one and only VIP. From planning, ordering to executing, these two ladies are everything that I focus on. Don't get me wrong, I like throwing big parties too but I also have to admit, hosting a party for 20-50 guests is a different ballgame because there are so many things to take into consideration, guests' preferences, entertainment, food allergies and etc, all things factor in and at least 12 hours (at least) is out the window...
Hence this particular one, a birthday party for two, is pure joy to me. It revives me.
#5 The next day morning!!! She's elated.
#6 Look at Summer! Haha! She always steals the show!
#7 Summer: Can I eat the cake yet? Me: 😂
Chloe: How many pics do you have to take, mom? Me: 😆
Chean: I have a meeting in 15 mins. Me: 😒
#8 Finally! Good things come to those who wait... for like 2 mins, lol.
#9 They're discussing the taste, texture and presentation of the cake.
#10 This is my favorite part, nomming hard-boiled egg, a Chinese culture that symbolizes new life on the birthday.
#11 She wants...
#12 One of these... cute strawberries stuffed with apple that we make together~
The entertainment of the day, which turns out to be the highlight of the party, is actually the craft activities that I prepared for them. Chloe has zoom-schooling, Chean has work to do, but in between, we make fun and cute things together.
#13 Craft Idea 1: Design a card for someone special. Chloe makes a card for her classmate...
#14 while Summer just wanted to explore and play with the stamps...
#15 So cute!!! Both of them and the stamps set.
#16 I make this card for my sister; she's a June baby too 💕
#17
#18 Chloe spends about 30 mins decorating and designing her card~
#19 Unicorn drawing in the making~
#20 Craft Idea 2: Pasta Jewelry Making. I name it Enchanted Amulet; Summer enjoys it the most!
#21 And she finally manages to name her fingers, lol. It takes me weeks to help her memorize 😆
#22 Sweetie pie Summer ❤️❤️❤️
#23 Craft Idea 3: Air Dry Clay.
#24 Daddy Chean at work; he helps on this one. Chloe is sooooo focused.
#25 Summer at work. Making patterns on the clay~
So now you ask, how did you spend the US$ 80? You might not believe it, but I only buy T.H.R.E.E. items for the whole party set-up, craft materials and cake (Chloe picks the cake). Most of the decor items are already sitting in my home, either in Chloe's or my room so I literally just have to rearrange or move them around... and all the craft items are either unopened presents we received on other occasions or art supply that I bought a while ago...
Here:
Luscious lemon cake from
, $43
from Amazon.com, $18
from Amazon.com, $12
That's US$ 73 in total, hooray!!! Super affordable and budget-friendly.
You may ask, "How about the foods?" Well, Chloe does request a special birthday meal, Mac & Cheese and Apple Cider, haha. Oh my precious Chloe, thank you for making my life easier. So, I make her that with some finger foods... No extra purchases needed, we'd stocked up quite a bit amidst pandemic. The food and beverage portions are pretty simple and straightforward since there're only 4 of us.
We celebrate her birthday from the moment she wakes up till the evening falls... Right before she goes to bed, she kisses me and thanks me for all the wonderful set-up, lovely art projects, yummy Mac and Cheese, and most importantly, the fun family time we all spend together throughout the whole day, from dawn to dusk.
I guess that's the silver lining of this Covid-19 global pandemic; it helps us set the superficial "happiness" aside and focus on the priorities in life that bring us true joy. Health, love, gratitude, kindness, empathy, family, marriage, friendship and so many more to name... They are all equally precious; they are all money can't buy. To me, this is the most beautiful and meaningful birthday party to date.
Happy 8th Birthday, Chloe! A love letter to follow.
Love,
Mama Bev