honeylemon I do this too. I hate big parties, but I also hate boring parties. So for the last few years we've only invited family and 1-2 close friend to birthday parties. I design and print invites and decorations at home, come up with some themed food and games and done. Everybody gets super impressed but we spend like no money on it.
This year DD wanted a Harry Potter party so I emailed Hogwarts letters with an flying owl gif attached. We made pumpkin juice, string cheese broomsticks, ogre boogers (green colored popcorn), chocolate frogs, and wizard pizza (make your own pizza). DH made a golden snitch cake. We cut wands from the trees in our backyard, let the kids decorate them then had spell lessons and a quidditch match. It was super easy, super cheap and DD said it was the best birthday ever.
Kids like to have fun and imagination is free. But in reality, I love planning that crap. I get all, OOOOH STRING CHEESE BROOMSTICKS!!!
I wish that I had planning/creativity genes and I hope that having children will awaken something in me to get this way. The idea of a theme and decorations stresses me out, but I really want to be more into it.
That's what did it for me. I only started getting into it after DD started having opinions about her birthday. I think what makes it interesting for me is figuring out how to make what she wants come to life for the least amount of money/effort possible.
I wish that I had planning/creativity genes and I hope that having children will awaken something in me to get this way. The idea of a theme and decorations stresses me out, but I really want to be more into it.
That's what did it for me. I only started getting into it after DD started having opinions about her birthday. I think what makes it interesting for me is figuring out how to make what she wants come to life for the least amount of money/effort possible.
Also, I stalk Pintrest. That fucking website.
Pinterest is where I get most of my ideas. These are what I've done so far
#1 - 10/10 | #2 - lost but not forgotten 10/12 | #3 - 7/13 | #4 - 5/15 Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 12/19/16 Finished with chemo 4/27/17! Double mastectomy summer 17 Radiation fall 17
I am pretty sure there is an intergym romance going on between two married people. It's kind of a long story why I think that, but I told someone else from the gym. She said her husband thought the same thing months ago. It makes me feel better that I am not the only one that thinks it.
It happens more than you would care to know. I think it's disgusting.
honeylemon I took my goddaughter to see Big Hero 6 and I loved every second of it. I am sad that DS isn't old enough to get it. On the other hand, I am very grateful that DS isn't old enough to know Frozen! It's also cute looking at your girl vs boy themes. Now that DS is older and has real likes/dislikes I can see a fire truck or tractor themed family party/cake in his future.
Ha, yep! I pretty much only get to choose what theme to do the first two years. Once DS hit 3, he knew for sure that he wanted a pirate party.
#1 - 10/10 | #2 - lost but not forgotten 10/12 | #3 - 7/13 | #4 - 5/15 Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 12/19/16 Finished with chemo 4/27/17! Double mastectomy summer 17 Radiation fall 17
That's what did it for me. I only started getting into it after DD started having opinions about her birthday. I think what makes it interesting for me is figuring out how to make what she wants come to life for the least amount of money/effort possible.
Also, I stalk Pintrest. That fucking website.
Pinterest is where I get most of my ideas. These are what I've done so far
DS has already told me he wants a Big Hero 6 party this year. And I think I'm going to do a lemonade stand party for DD's 2nd birthday this summer.
Cute!! Love the summer lemonade stand idea!
All of DD's birthday themes have been at her request. She's always been scarily verbal.
DD 1st: Purple
DD 2nd: Tangled
DD 3rd: Brave
DS 1st: Heavy Metal Rock (DH's idea)
DD 4th: Harry Potter
Not sure what I'll be doing for DS's 2nd this year, probably Trains because that's the only thing he's super into at the moment. For her 5th, DD has already requested "All the Princesses," whatever that means. I feel like it's a meme waiting to be made.
honeylemon I took my goddaughter to see Big Hero 6 and I loved every second of it. I am sad that DS isn't old enough to get it. On the other hand, I am very grateful that DS isn't old enough to know Frozen! It's also cute looking at your girl vs boy themes. Now that DS is older and has real likes/dislikes I can see a fire truck or tractor themed family party/cake in his future.
I'm glad I'm having a girl after the whole frozen extravaganza. Don't get me wrong I like Frozen, but little girls are taking it to another extreme.
Post by honeylemon on Jan 30, 2015 15:27:13 GMT -5
I've had to bite my tongue (fingers?) to avoid responding to a lot of things over the past few days because I've been in a not so great mood and I'm pretty sure I would sound bitchy and argumentative instead of disagreeing.
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Post by Starbuck128 on Jan 30, 2015 15:30:06 GMT -5
I don't understand the Frozen hate. I guess that's my confession. I've been a slightly obsessed Idina Menzel fan since Rent. Let It Go has been blasting in this house since the first spoiler performance.
Eta because I accidentally posted too soon. It was DS's first full length movie and I encourage him to be obsessed with it. I wish he liked it more.
Post by Starbuck128 on Jan 30, 2015 15:47:00 GMT -5
No, I got a better one that's definitely flame worthy.
My mom was in a very minor fender bender and her head hurts a little. She keeps sending me updates. I'm clearly supposed to be fawning over her and worrying, and it's making me really, really angry.
This is a woman who hardly ever got me medical treatment as a child. When I broke my wrist she grabbed my cast and tried to twist it whenever she was angry with me. I'm lactose intolerant, and she made me drink a glass of milk with every meal, not caring it made me sick. We had extra cheese pizza every Tuesday, and if I didn't want to eat it, I didn't get dinner. When I asked her to take me to someone to talk about my depression, she literally laughed in my face and refused. And now she wants me to coo over her little boo boo?? I don't think so. I want her to stop insulting me by pretending we have some sort of normal relationship, and I want her to stop trying to guilt me into faking a relationship with her. Every update just brings up more and more resentful feelings.
Post by seventythree on Jan 30, 2015 16:05:08 GMT -5
Still on page 1 but just wanted to chime in about birthday parties. I don't get the deal with these huge blow-outs for small children, and I ALSO don't get grown-ups being invited to kids' parties. I'm not talking a family party with grandparents and whatnot, I'm talking non-related friends of the parents. Someone recently told me they were invited to a 9-year-old's birthday party where it was basically kids in one half of the room and grown-ups (not necessarily parents of said kids) in the other. I don't understand this at all!!!
When I was a kid, it was pretty standard to have a family party and a party with friends from school. For the family party, it would just be dinner and a cake (from the grocery store bakery, nothing fancy or custom) with the immediate family and one set of grandparents and our uncle, who all lived 5 minutes away. So 8 people total. Cake and presents. Quick and dirty, often on a weeknight.
For the school friends party, there were no rules about inviting the whole class or anything like that so there was usually a limit on how many people we could invite. 8ish kids seems about right. Both the parties we had and the parties we attended were fairly standard: it was almost invariably at the birthday kid's house, we'd eat something like pizza or hot dogs, if there were any decorations it would just be balloons and maybe some themed paper plates (I remember being VERY excited to have Garfield plates on my 8th birthday), there would be a standard grocery store cake. I think every kid had ONE party where their parents hired a clown, aside from that we'd either watch a video or just have unstructured play time. Oh, and parents would absolutely not stay for this! I mean obviously the parents of the birthday kid were around, but everyone just got dropped off and picked up 2-3 hours later.
I pretty much plan to follow this template for our kids.
No, I got a better one that's definitely flame worthy.
My mom was in a very minor fender bender and her head hurts a little. She keeps sending me updates. I'm clearly supposed to be fawning over her and worrying, and it's making me really, really angry.
This is a woman who hardly ever got me medical treatment as a child. When I broke my wrist she grabbed my cast and tried to twist it whenever she was angry with me. I'm lactose intolerant, and she made me drink a glass of milk with every meal, not caring it made me sick. We had extra cheese pizza every Tuesday, and if I didn't want to eat it, I didn't get dinner. When I asked her to take me to someone to talk about my depression, she literally laughed in my face and refused. And now she wants me to coo over her little boo boo?? I don't think so. I want her to stop insulting me by pretending we have some sort of normal relationship, and I want her to stop trying to guilt me into faking a relationship with her. Every update just brings up more and more resentful feelings.
No, I got a better one that's definitely flame worthy.
My mom was in a very minor fender bender and her head hurts a little. She keeps sending me updates. I'm clearly supposed to be fawning over her and worrying, and it's making me really, really angry.
This is a woman who hardly ever got me medical treatment as a child. When I broke my wrist she grabbed my cast and tried to twist it whenever she was angry with me. I'm lactose intolerant, and she made me drink a glass of milk with every meal, not caring it made me sick. We had extra cheese pizza every Tuesday, and if I didn't want to eat it, I didn't get dinner. When I asked her to take me to someone to talk about my depression, she literally laughed in my face and refused. And now she wants me to coo over her little boo boo?? I don't think so. I want her to stop insulting me by pretending we have some sort of normal relationship, and I want her to stop trying to guilt me into faking a relationship with her. Every update just brings up more and more resentful feelings.
Vent and an awful confession in one.
Starbuck128 - The first thing that came to mind after reading this was "Mommy Dearest". Ever see that movie? You were neglected and abused, and this breaks my heart to no end. I don't blame you for not caring. She needs a taste of her own medicine.
No, I got a better one that's definitely flame worthy.
My mom was in a very minor fender bender and her head hurts a little. She keeps sending me updates. I'm clearly supposed to be fawning over her and worrying, and it's making me really, really angry.
This is a woman who hardly ever got me medical treatment as a child. When I broke my wrist she grabbed my cast and tried to twist it whenever she was angry with me. I'm lactose intolerant, and she made me drink a glass of milk with every meal, not caring it made me sick. We had extra cheese pizza every Tuesday, and if I didn't want to eat it, I didn't get dinner. When I asked her to take me to someone to talk about my depression, she literally laughed in my face and refused. And now she wants me to coo over her little boo boo?? I don't think so. I want her to stop insulting me by pretending we have some sort of normal relationship, and I want her to stop trying to guilt me into faking a relationship with her. Every update just brings up more and more resentful feelings.
Vent and an awful confession in one.
I'm so sorry that she treated you that way as a child. You are totally justified in not giving her any sympathy.
My confession is I'm SICK of DH's know-it-all attitude. He's really getting on my nerves! Some examples, Last night his tattoo was dry and itchy. He was like omg I've never had a tattoo do this in my life. This has never happened. Omg. So I brought him some Aquaphor and told him to stop scratching or it would get worse. He proceeded to tell me it itched and he has never had this happen before. Okay, cool don't listen to me then. bye. Also, the oven we have has the little pull out drawer on the bottom. He's like "when I was little we put meat in there to cook it" I was like well ours isn't fancy, that's just a drawer. And he's like "no if you turn it on broil it cooks down there" um no that's definitely not what broil does. That is not a broiler. That is a drawer. He WOULD NOT believe me. One more.. Correct me if I'm wrong.. But a glass cake pan, covered in greasy remains from BBQ steak. I was going to soak it with soap and water so it would be easier to clean, duh. DH was like "don't put water in that I'm soaking it" it was dry. He was like "I put soap in it" well to "soak" you need soap and hot water? He was like "fine whatever do what you want" Is soap even going to do anything except dry to the poopy pan?! Ugh. Sorry DH. You're great but you don't know EVERYTHING.
You should serve him some raw meat for dinner and tell him you broiled it in the oven drawer.
Post by Starbuck128 on Jan 30, 2015 17:04:10 GMT -5
Thanks, ladies. I was reading the board when she was spamming me with updates and so I vented here. I'm over it though.
alwayslastzz Um...that was funny. Thanks for the laugh. I think you are right on all accounts. If he's soaking the pan in just soap, he's going to be the one to clean it after it is done "soaking," right? Also, those drawers look nothing like the bottom broiler ovens. Can't he see there's no heating instrument in there and the drawer is too flimsy to hold heat?
No, I got a better one that's definitely flame worthy.
My mom was in a very minor fender bender and her head hurts a little. She keeps sending me updates. I'm clearly supposed to be fawning over her and worrying, and it's making me really, really angry.
This is a woman who hardly ever got me medical treatment as a child. When I broke my wrist she grabbed my cast and tried to twist it whenever she was angry with me. I'm lactose intolerant, and she made me drink a glass of milk with every meal, not caring it made me sick. We had extra cheese pizza every Tuesday, and if I didn't want to eat it, I didn't get dinner. When I asked her to take me to someone to talk about my depression, she literally laughed in my face and refused. And now she wants me to coo over her little boo boo?? I don't think so. I want her to stop insulting me by pretending we have some sort of normal relationship, and I want her to stop trying to guilt me into faking a relationship with her. Every update just brings up more and more resentful feelings.
Vent and an awful confession in one.
Reading this makes me so angry for you!!! No flames here, IMO you are absolutely justified in your feelings.
Post by katietopaz on Jan 30, 2015 17:20:09 GMT -5
I have a couple today. They're pretty tame, but I got my fill of reading the controversial goodies yesterday!
First - I get a weird satisfaction from popping zits. It drives me crazy when I have a clogged pore that won't pop. Sorry, I know that's a gross one.
The other - I didn't like the sound of Adam Levine's voice at all until I saw what he looked like. Just from listening to Maroon 5, I thought he sounded like an old guy. Derp.
I've had to bite my tongue (fingers?) to avoid responding to a lot of things over the past few days because I've been in a not so great mood and I'm pretty sure I would sound bitchy and argumentative instead of disagreeing.
But my face has been like,
I feel like this is me today! I've started to type out responses, realized I'm completely taking my crankiness out on people who have done nothing wrong, and decided to just not reply. I'm all for healthy debate and whatnot, but when I'm feeling pissy I can get really mean really fast.
No, I got a better one that's definitely flame worthy.
My mom was in a very minor fender bender and her head hurts a little. She keeps sending me updates. I'm clearly supposed to be fawning over her and worrying, and it's making me really, really angry.
This is a woman who hardly ever got me medical treatment as a child. When I broke my wrist she grabbed my cast and tried to twist it whenever she was angry with me. I'm lactose intolerant, and she made me drink a glass of milk with every meal, not caring it made me sick. We had extra cheese pizza every Tuesday, and if I didn't want to eat it, I didn't get dinner. When I asked her to take me to someone to talk about my depression, she literally laughed in my face and refused. And now she wants me to coo over her little boo boo?? I don't think so. I want her to stop insulting me by pretending we have some sort of normal relationship, and I want her to stop trying to guilt me into faking a relationship with her. Every update just brings up more and more resentful feelings.
Vent and an awful confession in one.
Wow. Sorry, but she sounds awful! I think you have every right to distance yourself and only take part in a relationship that is healthy and mutually beneficial rather than manipulative. I hope she wakes up and realizes what she's missing out on!!
Fatty confession: I bought a loaf of blueberry bread from a bakery today. It's just like a blueberry muffin but in bread form. I thought I'd eat some tomorrow for breakfast but I've already cut myself two slices (so far).
I hate my EDD. May 23rd. We were trying for a June baby but stupid me ovulated early.
Two reasons I hate it: 1) the terrible, horrible ex-friend of mine was born on May 27th. Her sister had a son 2 years ago who was due on her birthday and the bitch threw a hissy fit about her nephew possibly taking her day from her. I've cut ties with her and we have no mutual friends, so she doesn't know when I'm due and won't know when LO is born but as of right now I'm kinda UGH about the possibility of him being born on that day. 2) a very close friend of mine and DH's was killed in an accident almost 8 years ago on May 31st. It's not a day that I'm able to get through easily, no matter how much time has gone on.
Obviously I know that it doesn't matter in the long run, and it's not like I'll be crossing my legs to keep him in if I go into labor either of those days and that with little dude's birth I have the chance to "redeem" both days, but for right now it's just a little annoyance of mine.
Post by freddyisready on Jan 31, 2015 2:41:04 GMT -5
Im sliding in at the last minute (literally) with my FFFC.
I stuff all my u/s photos in a folder marked pregnancy. I think I have shown my family 2 photos. We def won't be putting any in frames. I just don't see the sentimentality of those pics. Not to be racist or anything, but they all look the same.
Starbuck128 I am so sorry you had to go through that. I wouldn't be giving my mom the time of day.
alwayslastzz Your DH is so wrong on all accounts, but did give me a good laugh tonight.
This is really close to an UO, but I won't be throwing real birthday parties for my kids most years. Cake with immediate family is fine. I have a cousin who is laid off and living at home with her mom asking about DJs for a 10 year old's party. She needs to get her life together instead of throwing an over the top party for a 10 year old!
When I was growing up it was just small family parties, my mom never invited our friends. The area I grew up in wasnt big on parties either, every once in a blue moon I would get an invite for a sleep over but again, not a huge thing.
For my kids I had settled on doing a big party at 1, 5, 10, and the rest would be family stuff or a friend or 2 for a day of activities.
Since we have moved to this neighborhood its like a freaking competition!! These kids ALL have massive parties for every birthday and invite everyone they have ever met. The moms go all out for decorations/food/theme/location/party favors. Its seriously a popularity contest. I am always the mom who sends a card with a GC in it because I refuse to buy from birthday registries (yes they do them). I already told my oldest HELL NO to this behaviour and he agreed.
I'm a FTM with this baby, but I feel like bdays will be handled just like you do. Seems reasonable and fun! I think it's utterly ridiculous that kid parties have become such a competitive sport, and I refuse to buy into that. SIL throws gargantuan parties every year, partly because MIL eggs her on to spoil, spoil, spoil! Meanwhile, her kids are too little to remember any of it. What a waste!
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