There are many ways to plan a great birthday party, depending on the interests and preferences of the guest of honor. Some prefer low-key celebrations with a few close friends, while others enjoy larger gatherings with games, activities, and lots of food. Whatever the style of celebration, it's important to ensure that everyone has a good time and feels included. One way to make a birthday party extra special is to personalize it to the guest of honor's interests and hobbies. Incorporating personal touches and thoughtful details will help create a memorable celebration that everyone will treasure for years to come.
The author received compensation for this article. All thoughts and opinions expressed are their own.
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Right now, Liam is really into race cars and monster trucks, so deciding on a theme for his birthday took little to no effort. However, he threw me for a loop when he requested to invite his friends from school, which automatically added the potential for and additional 24 party guests. My plan for a small backyard party was foiled initially, but thankfully the clubhouse in our neighborhood was available to rent.
I’m equally as grateful for having a fabulous team of local vendors and friends who helped bring my vision to life. I quickly made our invitations and signs using Canva, after purchasing paper goods and banners from Meri Meri. Meri Meri is a well-known brand that offers a wide range of party supplies such as plates, napkins, cups, and decorations. Their high-quality materials and stylish designs can add a touch of elegance and fun to your event, whether you're hosting a baby shower, bridal party, or birthday party.
I then reached out to Hannah at Yard deSIGNS Gardner. Since the party wasn't going to be at our house, I wanted to have some yard signs outside so people who weren't familiar with our neighborhood would know where to go. Yard deSIGNS Gardner is a fantastic family-owned yard sign rental business that offers a personalized touch to your special occasion. They specialize in designing custom greetings to meet your specifications and delivering them with care. Their easy online ordering system makes it effortless to design your yard sign, pay online, and have it set up and removed for you.
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Due to the time of the event, I wanted our menu options to consist of a variety of sweet and savory breakfast items. I knew without hesitation that Julie from Squishy Buns and Biscuits would be perfect for the job. Offering a wide variety of baked goods that are sure to satisfy any craving - it’s no wonder Julie comes highly recommended by locals! We got an assortment of mini muffins and cinnamon rolls. (I don’t think I’ve ever seen my child eat so many muffins in one sitting!)
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Another fan favorite? The buttercream decorated custom cookies and cupcakes from The Sweet Shack in Gardner. Jackie matched not only our color palette and the shape/style of the race car when making our cookies, but also used the cupcake toppers from Meri Meri that matched the rest of our decor.
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As far as entertainment goes ... we got lucky with the weather, it was so nice out! For those who wanted to enjoy the sunshine, kids could play at our neighborhood playground or on, what we call, “the blob”. For those who wanted to stay inside, I had one table set up as “The Paint Shop” where kids could use quick-drying tempura paint sticks to paint wooden cars I had ordered off Amazon.
There is also no shortage of cars and trunks in our home, so we also made sure to take a basket of vehicles with us and one of our most favorite toys - our flexible toy road from WayToPlay. The flexible road allows children to create their own roads and highways. Made of high-quality rubber, the pieces are durable and can be easily assembled in various configurations.
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I also knew I would need to reach out to Valerie at Creative Play KC. Her sensory kits are always such a big hit when we see her out at community events, and I can't tell you the number of times we've ordered her adorable dough sets. Working with her to create custom party favors is one of my most favorite pieces of party planning. Most parents prefer a high-quality party favor that they'll actually be able to use again and again, over toys that fall apart after one or two uses and clutter home their home.
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Celebrating special occasions with family and friends is a wonderful way to create lasting memories and strengthen bonds. Liam had a blast, and again - I have to give a huge shoutout to the small businesses and local vendors that came together to help me make his fourth birthday such a success!
Outdoor signage: Yard deSIGNS Gardner
Cookies and cupcakes: The Sweet Shack
Muffins and cinnamon rolls: Squishy Buns & Biscuits
Custom dough kits: Creative Play KC
Party planning: Macaroni KID Gardner-Spring Hill-Paola
Planning your own birthday party or event and need some inspiration? Check out:
 3 Ways Canva Makes Mom Life Easier |
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