Works For Me: Birthday Tips

I have birthdays on the brain this week--we're celebrating Joseph's 6th birthday at a rockin' Spiderman shin-dig on Sunday afternoon.  One very simple little trick has helped me streamline the kid birthday party business over the years:

A laundry basket.

Yep, a laundry basket.  In the days leading up to the party, I get my biggest, sturdiest laundry basket and begin loading it with every imaginable accessory I'll need for the party: candles, a lighter, plates, cups, party favors.  And include lots of incidentals, like paper, a pen, and bandaids (because we all know that wherever two or more little boys are gathered, there also shall be the letting of blood).

When party day arrives, we tote the full basket to the party.  Most of the items are used up and emptied out at the party, so we use the empty basket to bring home all the gifts and empty gift sacks which, yes ma'am, I'm maniacally stingy cleverly frugal enough to save.

It's very simple, but it's very helpful.  Works for me!

Have a tip you'd like to share with all of Bloggityville? Please, share the links to your tips below.  (WFMW guidelines can be found here.) 

Oh, and while you're out strolling around the Blogosphere today, please remember the important business going on at BooMama's place today.  Go spread a little love.

Comments

[Amberly]

Great idea! And my son would be so jealous of that Spiderman party! :)

[Overwhelmed!]

Hmm...I would've never thought of using a laundry basket for a birthday party. Clever!

Thanks for sharing!

[Myfriendconnie]

Thank you, Shannon!

At one of our birthday parties, I forgot the big #7 candle! It was kind of anti-climactic after the song to just stare at the cake. Wish I'd thought of that basket then!

[Susanne]

Now that is just clever!

[Brandy]

Excellent idea. I love that you also have something to bring home gifts in. I'll have to remember that.

Brandy of The Building Brows

[Jen]

I LOVE this tip! We just had my son's bday party at a pool and this would have really come in handy. Thanks for great suggestion!!

[Jessica Snell]

Okay, this may sound weird, but my husband (who, of course, has heard me talking about your blog) insists that the acronym "WFMW" ought to be pronounced "Oof-Moo." And tonight, after I mentioned posting a WFMW tip, he was cracking jokes about it. Like, "What's the sound a cow makes when it runs into something? 'Oof. Mooooooo." So, see, this carnival is providing fun for folks who don't even read it. :D

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica

[Joyful Days]

Great idea--I've used a laundry basket to take items to a women's ministry meeting too. Just maybe the contents were a little different.

Blessings

[Michelle at Scribbit]

Hey I remembered this week to put my tip in the link. I must be improving.

Happy Birthday to Joseph, hope he has a great birthday.

[lammyann]

I'm like Joyful Days and use laundry baskets for everything from Women's groups I'm in charge of to major Activities for our church, to return items that we've borrowed from people. I never even thought of this idea for Birthday bashes! yay Shannon!
Great one.
Happy Wednesday!

[Military Mommy]

I just messed up #30 - I'm sorry. This is the first one I posted and even though I had just read the rules, I posted my main blog website. Please delete #30 and keep #31, which is correct. Like you don't have enough to do, I know. ;)

Loved the laundry basket idea. Never thought of that - very helpful, thanks.

Michelle

[In Light of the Truth]

I love using a laundry baskets for things! In college I'd use it to help haul stuff to the car when I was going home for a weekend. Now I use a $1 laundry basket to for baby toys.

Have a blessed day!

[stephanie]

This is a great idea...laundry baskets are awesome on so many levels. :)

I love this WFMW. Thank you for keeping an archive...now I know where to look for that really good idea that I just can't quite remember. :)

[Barbara H.]

Great idea for both taking all the paraphernalia and then bringing home the gifts. Have fun at the party -- sounds like fun!

[Beth]

Thanks for the tip! My son's first birthday is next month and we're having his party at my mother-in-law's, so this is especially timely for me. As always, thanks for hosting!

[Eva]

I love using laundry baskets for lots of stuff. But the birthday party prep is one I hadn't thought of. Great idea!

[Carol]

The laundry basket birthdays. Yet another tip I wish I'd had when mine were younger. Good one!

[Catherine]

GREAT GREAT GREAT idea!!! Thanks!

Catherine
http://angelfoodcakeisntacandle.blogspot.com

[Tara]

I am a fanatic about using laundry baskets for EVERYTHING! I will haul one out to the van and tell the kids to put anything that isn't a car seat in it. Makes cleaning out the van easier for me! No bending over trying to dig sticky sucker sticks out from under the seats. I guess this is my works for me Wednesday post! ;)

[OneCoolMama]

That's a GREAT idea! All of our "birthday stuff" usually ends up in several walmart bags. The basket sure would keep it a little more organized!
Sorry my link is on there twice. I'm not really sure what happened. :)

[Laura]

I love laundry baskets - essential element of a home. Thanks for the great tip and hosting this helpful carnival.

[Tami]

First time to linky up with you! Great ideas! Thanks.

[Mrs. Pear]

This is a great idea!

I know about taking laundry baskets to haul away the loot, but this is much better than just taking an empty basket!

[J. Fergie]

Those laundry baskets come in handy for so many things, don't they? Now if I could only find an EMPTY one in my house, I'd be all set ;)

[ThoughtfulMom]

Great idea! I love using laundry baskets to tote things around. Actually, when we go to my ILs lakehouse for the weekend in the summer, we skip the suitcases. We just toss everything into two laundry baskets and take them to the lake. Then we unload them into closets and dressers and use the baskets for dirty clothes, and before we come home, we wash the clothes and come home and put the laundry away.