DIY Sesame Street Birthday Party {on a budget}

Levi is 2!

I can hardly believe it!

And so far....2 has been absolutely terrific.

I LOVE this age!

We celebrated Levi's birthday with a Sesame Street birthday party.

With a very low budget, we were able to pull off a cute and fun party for Levi, family and friends!

Here's some pics with a few tips to keep costs low!

We used our church to hold the party.

Our home is small and we had about 25 people invited.

This cost us nothing to use (just had to clean up!)

and allowed us access to a full kitchen and gym for the kids to play in

No need to feed a full meal!

A few snacks that are toddler friendly, something sweet and a drink is plenty!

And we skipped the ice cream...just another mess and expense!

Check Dollar Tree and Target's Dollar Spot for favors!

{and favors are totally optional too!}

We included a Sesame Street cup and an Elmo book with included CD.

Each goody bag was $2 each!

 and a few extra pics of the day

Levi thoroughly enjoyed his party and our whole family just got to have fun and celebrate together.

It was a perfect way to celebrate our big 2 year old boy!

the truth in yoga pants

                       

"Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of your hair and the putting on of gold jewlery, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:3-4

My best friend and I have started a new ministry in our church. It is called WISE women (women in support of each other). It is based upon the passage of Titus 2 and is intended to encourage each woman wherever she is in life.

And let me tell you, we are a diverse group!

We have grandmothers, moms of preschoolers, new married women, single moms, single ladies. Large families, small families. We also have a group of homeless, pregnant teen moms who join us.

I love this group of women.

But today, as I was planning the detalls for our study tonight, I was convicted about something.

It starts with what I'm wearing.

Now, let me first start with me. Whenever I imagine a women in a ministry leadership role, I always imagine a suburban stay-at-home mom with a beautiful, organized home who looks like she walked out of a J. Crew catalog. She has a perfect walk with The Lord. She makes it all look easy.

So naturally, I have tried to be that.

But BOY am I not!!!

What is ironic is that my BIGGEST concern in our group is that we be real with one another.

I have long been intidimated by said "women in ministry". How does she have the perfect family, perfect outfit, perfect everything!

I can barely take a shower and pull my hair back and change out of yoga pants!

It hit me today. 

Women need to see each other in their yoga pants.

They need to see, that even women with a heart to minister others are REAL.

We struggle to keep cheerios off our floors.

We get flustered at bed time when little ones wont cooperate.

We feel like a glamorous move star if we happen to put eye shadow on for the day!

So as much as I'd love to be Mrs. J. Crew Mama...I'm not. And neither are you.

I'm Jenny. I love The Lord, my family and my home. My hair is always in a bun because I don't take the extra 5 minutes to blow dry it. I struggle with keeping up with laundry. I'd prefer to eat out then cook any day. I hate sticking to a budget, but I do it. My house is usually a disaster.

And tonight, to bible study, I'm wearing my yoga pants.