Birthday parties

Mikey is turning 4 on Thanksgiving Day, which means it's time for another birthday party. My budget is pretty small, and I am hoping that this year is the year that I don't make a big deal out of it and actually sit and have fun!

I made invitations using pictures I took of him and the online photo editing website picnik, which is *freaking awesome* and totally free. I use it all the time. Then I bought some cardstock in the scrapbooking section and found 4x6 invitation envelopes in the mailing section of Walmart. I had to buy printer ink, which was FIFTY SEVEN FREAKING DOLLARS but at least I can print coupons now, too. It's been months since I had printer ink and I have to say, it's nice. Lame frugal luxuries.

I emailed some of the invitations, to save paper and stamps but mostly because they look a lot better online than printed. Hey, I tried. Usually I order Shutterfly invites for way too much, or buy store bought ones and then people complain that they didn't get a picture. Hopefully they won't complain too much about this!

Next up, the menu. I'm planning on making some trays of food- baked mac and cheese, lasagna, chicken parmigiana. It's a lunch party so we won't be starving, and there will be appetizers and cake. Speaking of the cake, after the monster truck cake I'm going to have a hard time living up to that standard, but I'll try.