Double Digits!

Hannah celebrated her 10th birthday recently. Here's the scoop on the party we threw for her:

Occasion: Our "Almost Sleepover" was a great compromise for Hannah, who wanted a sleepover for her 10th birthday, but didn't want narrow the guest list by excluding any of the girls in her class. It was also greatly appreciated by parents who prefer not to do "sleepovers."

Invitations: Cut pillow shapes out of white cardstock and insert them into little fabric pillow cases for delivery. Make sure to tell each girl to come wearing pajamas and to bring a blanket and pillow.


Cake: "10 in the Bed" cake. A 9 x 13 inch cake serves as a "bed" and twinkies or any small oblong-shaped cakes make up the bodies of the slumbering guests. Large marshmallows are used as pillows, where vanilla or chocolate wafer cookies rest, decorated as the sleeping guests.



Activities:
Make Your Own Slipper Socks-Colored socks and fabric paints are used to decorate the bottoms of the socks in a fancy no-skid design. Girls can take these home with them as a party favor. (*The same can be done for a Make Your Own Pillow Case and fabric stamps can be added).


Best Friends Forever Books-Each girl completes one page for all of the other girls' books. We divided the 8 1/2 x 11 inch papers into four quarters and used the following sentence starters in each:

• My favorite thing about you is...
• One song that makes me think of you is...
• The animal that most reminds me of you is...
• You are really talented at...

The answers can be illustrated as well. Then, all of the girls are given a cover made with cardstock showing a picture of them together at the party and the pages are attached to create the final book.

Spa Buddies-Stations are set up with glittery hand creams, child-friendly nail polishes and supplies for facial scrubs--including cucumbers--which can be kept chilling in the fridge (although after my husband bit into the irresistible slices at a previous party, you might want to label yours for safe-keeping!)



Menu: We made sure to let the girls know that dinner would be served, but since they weren't spending the night we decided to opt for breakfast foods served for dinner instead! My daughter chose cinnamon rolls, pancakes and sausages and fresh fruit, but any of your favorite breakfast foods would work. We also set up a Hot Chocolate Bar-toppings included crushed peppermints, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, mini-chocolate chips and cinnamon.


Location: At our house. We cleared the floor in the family room to make room for all the girls' blankets and pillows. Extra blankets and pillows were available--just in case someone forgot.

Party Favors: The Dollar Store was great for lotions, bath sponges, shower gels, etc...which the girls took home along with their homemade slippers.


If you've got a daughter in the house, from tot to 'tween, this party will leave both the birthday revelers and their parents sleeping peacefully when it's finished!