This…
…is Sara. (Me…)
Sara was invited to a birthday shindig and then procrastinated until the very last minute to buy a gift for said shindig, and then went to Target 20 minutes before the shindig was supposed to start shindigging, was too rushed, under-caffeinated, and had 2.5 year old toddlers in tow, so Sara bought a $35 Millennium Falcon marker set out of haste and sheer panic at being late (again) to give to a 5 year old who is probably going to wipe a booger on it and lose 80% of the markers. But not before losing her mind that a card in the shape of a number 5 could possibly cost $5 which is more than a Starbucks latte, which Sara obviously so desperately needed because yep…. she bought that too. And was still late to the shindig.
Don’t be like Sara. Sara was a hot mess.
Be like New Sara. Who is going to battle birthdays like a boss.
Cause let’s be real – this is not the first time a birthday has “snuck” up on me and I’ve rushed through Target buying anything and everything I could fit into a gift bag.
Wanna be a birthday boss too? Then let’s talk about a few ways we can do this together.
- Keep a Stock of Fun Gifts. For adults, I don’t like to do the one size fits all type thing, but for kids – they all love art supplies and fun little gadgets. So when you spot a good deal, or a cool new little toy – grab it! I designated a drawer in my office to toss these things into so I always have something on hand. Home Goods, Jo-Ann/Michael’s, and World Market always have fun little inexpensive things that are perfect for kid-gifting.
2. Put it on your calendar…twice. Put it on your calendar so you know when the actual birthday is. Then set a reminder for a week or two before. That way, you aren’t blindsided… and you have some time to gather what needs gathering before the big day. And time to mail it if you need to.
3. Organize your wrapping supplies. Fun fact – it’s easier to wrap gifts if you can actually find the wrapping paper. There are several different ways to organize wrapping paper, and any will do. Just find a system and put everything on place so it’s harder to procrastinate.
4. Buy cards when they’re on sale. Believe it or not, greeting cards do go on sale! If you find a coupon or see a Cartwheel deal, buy a couple cute ones. I love pretty ones with simple messages so I can write my own meaningful words inside. Pro-tip (you know, the pro who drove the Hot Mess Express here…), keep the cards with the wrapping paper so it’s all easy to throw together.
5. When in doubt, get a gift card. And I don’t mean just a plain ol’ Starbucks gift card (though let’s be honest… I always love me a Starbucks gift card…), I mean get your friend a facial or a mani/pedi. A gift card to Nordstrom and say it has to be used on her only. These things can easily be emailed, so you don’t have another errand to make. And what girl doesn’t love shopping or a fun pampering session? **hint hint wink wink nudge nudge, husband**
So there you have it, folks. Five ways to stop being a sweaty mess running through Target 15 minutes before a 5 year old’s birthday party. Now you can use those 15 minutes to run through the coffee drive thru… and spend that $5 card money on a latte instead. As it should be.
Leave a Reply