The most recent birthday party we hosted, was for my 4 year old. I'm not a big fan of creating themes for parties at this age, however, I am a very big fan of cakes. Growing up, my mom let us choose an original cake from the Australian Weekly's original cake book for each birthday. I have fantastic memories of my and my three sisters' elaborate (for that time) cakes; and I let my daughters choose their cakes from that book too.
In April, 4 year old Eliya chose the pink elephant for her birthday cake. It's probably my least favourite cake in the book, so I girled it up a bit when I did it, but it still resembles the picture in the book. The rest of the party kindof fell into place around the cake.
1. Pink-ish decor.
2. First activity: make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls. I stapled two rolls together, and punched holes before the kids' arrived in hope of being organised. I set out different crayons and pencils as well as stickers for decorating. The kids then chose a pair of binoculars, decorated as they wished and chose a piece of pre-cut ribbon to thread in the holes and tie around their neck.
If you're wondering how this fits into birthday theme:- binoculars - safari - elephant
3. Second activity: ice cookies. I bought paper cookie 'plates' and after my cookie baking failed, placed a store-bought cookie in each 'plate'. I then set out several bowls of different colored icing and bowls of decorative sprinkles and gave each child a plastic knife. The kids loved decorating and tasting. Please don't ask how this fits into birthday theme:- pink elephant - pink icing?
4. Pink Elephant Cake - see above.
5. Going Home Presents: plastic bags *wince* filled with binoculars, wrapped iced-cookies and a small plastic camera (if you look in the camera you see photos of animals -fits into theme:- pink elephant - safari - animal photos).
A happy birthday girl showing off her creations |
And now, to answer the title of this post...
How would I turn this pink elephant party green?
1. I would use far less disposables and try to use my real dishes, at least for the adults
2. If I wanted to be adventurous, I could make the cookie plates from old cardboard/paper
3. I would definitely not buy the goodie-bags, and either just hand out their gifts with no bags, or make an alternative. I'm planning a future party where I fill a home-made carton wallet with sweets and give that instead of a goodie-bag.
4. I think the cheap, plastic camera toy was unnecessary.
So hopefully, the next birthday party I plan and post will live up to my going green ideals.
Happy party-planning everyone
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