Holiday Party: Family and Budget Friendly Ideas

*This post was not sponsored, however, I did receive free product to facilitate this post. All of the opinions are my own.

Holiday Party Time

The holidays are filled with friends, family, and fun. Sometimes, they also bring some not so fun stuff. Spending extra money, and trying to fit in a bunch of different activities can be stressful. A holiday party shouldn’t be stressful, though. I’m sharing ways that you can still have fun without spending a ton of money. I’m also sharing ways that you can incorporate the entire family, with something for everyone.

With these tips, your holiday party will be something everyone can look forward to…even the party planner!

The Planning

Time is a precious commodity during the holidays. If you’ve read any of my previous party planning posts, you know that I usually spend a ton of time planning out my parties. During the holiday season, this just isn’t possible. Yet, I still want it to be an awesome party, with decorations everyone will remember.

That’s where Oriental Trading Company comes in!

I was recently contacted by them to try out their site and products. I was super excited. I’ve ordered from them before, and have had a wonderful experience. This time was no different.

Instead of running around to a ton of different stores, all I had to do was go to my computer. In my pajamas yoga pants, of course.

I had an idea of the kind of decorations that I was looking for, but if you’re stuck, no need to worry. They have a TON of stuff. From cute stocking stuffers to table decorations to gift bags, they’ve got you covered for every kind of party.

The Timing

As I mentioned, time is precious during the holidays, and we simply don’t have time to throw a party before Christmas. So, I’ve decided we would do a “holiday party” after the Holidays.

It gives everyone something to look forward to after the novelty of all the new toys have worn off, and the excitement of trying to stay up to midnight on NYE has worn off. Here in WI, all we usually have to look forward to is snow…and MORE snow. A holiday party in the middle of January is the perfect excuse to wear all the new clothes you got for Christmas, and see all the friends you didn’t get a chance to spend time with while you were over at Aunt Gertrude’s house.

The Theme

Again, if you know me, I love a good themed party. I wanted this holiday party to be something that reflected the seasons, yet would still be fun for the kids.

So, I decided to go with a little Christmas color, a little New Year’s color, and a little fun kid element. The Minecraft Holiday Party was born!

I’m all about recycling my party decorations, so you know I will be using most of these things for Mr. B’s next birthday party too.

The Preparation

After deciding on my theme, all I had to do was hop online and search for my decorations. Oriental Trading Company’s website is extremely easy to use. I used the search feature to find Minecraft inspired, green (for Christmas,) and gold (for New Year’s,) table decorations and favors.

Shipping is free after $49, which is awesome, since I hate to pay for shipping.

Then, all I had to do was wait for my box to arrive…which it did in record time!

Here’s a sneak peek at the set-up I’m going to use:

The Products

In addition to trying these products from Oriental Trading Company, I’ve also become an affiliate. In simple terms, if you would like to purchase any of these products, I’d be super happy if you would just click-through any of my links or the pictures below. It will take you directly to their website. I will receive a small commission to keep my site running…and maybe buy a few more of those adorable plush pixel guys.

Shop party supplies and decorations at Oriental Trading Company!

Here’s what I used:

I’m always afraid to use balloons around small children, as they can easily choke if they pop. Paper lanterns are the perfect alternative. They are colorful, plus they are re-usable. Awesome!

I decided to use this cupcake tower to hold drinks and decorations. With the cut-out squares, I thought it looked perfect for our theme combining elegance and Minecraft. I also decided to order plastic glasses, so the kids could have fun drinking out of them without parents worrying they would break them or the danger of glass.

Speaking of tableware, I always use colors instead of themed plates/napkins. They are much cheaper than paying for the licensed stuff, and they still look great. The square green ones I used especially fit in with both of my theme ideas!

I also have to have some kind of favor and treat bag for the kids. These plush Pixal Pals were perfect! They were actually bigger than I thought they would be, and my kids LOVED them. I will probably make some of my own “swag” bags when it comes to Mr. B’s party, but these Pixel treat bags saved me so much time for this party.

The Tips

So, in summary, here’s what you need to have a stress-free, budget and kid-friendly holiday party:

• Don’t try to squeeze a party in. Wait until after the holidays to give everyone something to look forward to.
• Have your party early enough that the entire family can enjoy it.
• Have your party after meal time, so you can save money by serving appetizers, desserts, and drinks.
• We are going with 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
• Try to combine some elegant items with kid-friendly items.  Our main table had some sparkle and some fun!
• Do your shopping at Oriental Trading to save yourself time and money. You only have to visit one store, don’t have to leave your house, and get free shipping!
• Have fun, enjoy yourself, and don’t stress out!

I hope these tips are helpful!

Do you have any holiday party plans?