Pumpkin Princess Pudding Pie: Pirate Birthday Party

Themed birthday parties are all the rage on Pinterest these days. Homemade cakes, pinatas, party favors... it's all so creative and cute, but who has that kind of time? I love throwing a themed party as much as the next ~~crazy, over-extended~~ mom, but let's be realistic.

When throwing a themed birthday party, I keep the following factors in mind... cost, time, and the wow-factor.

Cost

I try to keep a birthday party budget under $100. That's for food and decorations. So, we have to get a bit creative and figure out what items will work in this budget. I can't do everything and that's okay. Set a budget that works for you. Remember, sometimes less is more.

Time

I have to remember that I'm a working mother of two (with a third on the way). I cannot spend my 40+ hour work week making party favors and decor. It's important to keep time in mind when choosing decorations. Yes, a hand-made pinata would be awesome, but I really have that kind of time and I'm not really sure who does. Prioritize what works for your schedule leading up to the party. Make a list of what needs to be done and pick away at those items while destroying your Netflix queue.

Wow-Factor

What is the one item that your child would freak out over? Is is a food item? A special decoration? A favorite food? Keep in mind that kids are pretty easy to please. My kids tend to love balloons and some sort of costume component, so I make sure to include one of these items in their party. Everything else is just frosting on the cake, so to speak.

Pirate Birthday Party

My son, Everett, wanted a pirate-themed party, so I got to work budgeting, planning, and putting it all together. I always start with a google or Pinterest search for ideas; make a list; narrow down my list; gather supplies; and execute.

Decor

Ahoy Matey! Banner. I found some burlap, felt, and jute in my fabric box, so this decoration did not cost a thing. (I'm selling my banner HERE.)
Striped Table Runner. I scoured the newspaper for a coupon and headed to the fabric store to snag a deal on a homemade runner.
Jolly Roger Flag. Borrowed from a family member.

Food

Fish and Chips. Goldfish crackers and potato chips. Creative, cute, and entertaining.
Catch of the Day. Swedish fish candy.
Crackers for Polly. That's easy enough, right?
Gold. Hershey's gold chocolate bars and chocolate coins.
Veggies. They are yummy, but I don't think pirate's ate many vegetables at sea.
Captain's Favorite. My son's favorite food is strawberries, so I filled a big bowl and labeled it "Captain's Favorite." He was so excited to see a giant bowl of strawberries. So excited.

Fun

Labels for Food. I used ripped up and crumpled paper bags to label all of the food. My husband burnt the edges to give the signs an old, authentic look.
Tattoos. Pirates are known for their tattoos, so we offered a special just for the day.
Pirate Hats. I bought some paper pirate hats online, because I didn't feel like making these from scratch.
Eye Patches. These just took a little bit of felt and some elastic. The kids really had fun wearing these.

As you can see, this is a pretty good combination of homemade, borrowed, and store-bought. The party really came together and everyone had a great time. Remember, birthday parties are for fun - not just another way to attempt and one up everyone online.