A Thrifty Birthday Party

My stepson’s birthday was last weekend so we had a little impromptu birthday party for him at the house.  We’re just ending ‘birthday season’ around here; every month from February-May there’s a birthday in my immediate family.  So by May, we’re tapped out {of funds}!  My stepson is very, very special, so we can’t let that get in the way of a great celebration.  We invited some friends, grilled up some burgers, and I took advantage of the Birthday Bundle going on at Safeway stores and made him some Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cupcakes.

From April 24th-May 21st when you use your club card to shop at Safeway, Vons, or Pavilions, in the baking aisle, you can get:

2 liters of 7UP brand sodas

1 box of Betty Crocker Cake Mix

Betty Crocker frosting

24 rainbow candles

…..For only $5!!!!!!!! Wha, what?

Yes, that is more than a 50% savings!  WOOT!  Sorry, I love a bargain, so this sweet deal got me all flustered!

 I chose Dr.Pepper cause that’s my fave, and Sunkist for the boys because what kid doesn’t like orange soda?!

I decided to make him cupcakes because I cannot frost a cake to save my life!  Seriously, it’s just disastrous.  There’s something about frosting a little cake, or a ‘cup’ cake that is just so much easier to me.

I don’t get it either..

If you want to make these Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cupcakes for your fam bam here’s what you’ll need:

Cupcake liners

Betty Crocker cake mix

Betty Crocker frosting

Mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Follow the instructions on the box to make the batter.  Add the liners to your cupcake pan; fill 2/3 full each of batter.

Bake, and let them cool.

With a butter knife add the frosting to the top of the cupcakes.

Pour mini chocolate chips into a small bowl and dip each cupcake in to cover the top with the chips.

I also made these with sprinkles.  Get creative and use different toppings!

I decorated on a budget too.  I had so many streamers left over from parties past, I just whipped out 3 rolls (red, white, baby blue), and did a little party decorating. Now, he’s turning 11, so he didn’t care so much about having anything fancy or elaborate at his party, so keeping that in mind, I kept the decor simple.

We had most of the festivities in our backyard gazeebo so I just lined up the streamers alternating colors along the back.  I used a chalkboard pennant banner I’d gotten at the Queen Bee market in Utah a couple of weeks ago to spell out his name and hang in front of the streamers.

It was an incredibly windy day!  I didn’t want to put traditional table cloths on the tables so for the dessert table, I used streamers as well!

I taped strips of the streamers down in an interweaving pattern for some texture.

Inside the house, I wrote out a fun message on the chalkboard in our kitchen.

Our ‘tween’ guests loved the Betty Crocker cupcakes, and because we can never have too many sweets, I added a candy bowl, and some brownies!

They left us adults just a handful of cupcakes, and those too were gone shortly afterwards!

He had a great time with friends and family!

He received lots of great gifts!  Now we have to write the ‘thank you’ cards!

Oh and if you’re wondering what his gift was from us…..

…a 10ft NBA basketball hoop, which may explain our low-funds issue!  Worth every cent, the kid’s had a blast!

I’m so happy to have found the Birthday Bundle from Safeway, it truly saved the day!  If you’re throwing party anytime this year, I suggest getting yourself a Birthday Bundle, use it now, or save it for later!

Remember, this is NOT just for birthdays, any celebration is made better with cake, frosting, and soda!

How do you plan a fun and thrifty party?

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and SAFEWAY  but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BirthdayBundle  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.