Super Mario Bros. Birthday Party

As a parent, it's so much fun watching my kids get into things that I used to love as a kid.  I remember spending endless hours playing Nintendo when I was the age my boys are now.  Duck Hunt.  Super Mario.  Zelda.  The list goes on.  I still prefer the throwback version of the games even though today's graphics are, as my boys would say, so much "cooler".  Bless.

My boys love all things Mario.  The games...the figurines...the books...the plushies...so it was no surprise to me when my oldest said he wanted a Mario party.  He was so excited just thinking about it.  What was a surprise, however, was his insistence on having the party on the 20th.  9 days before his birthday and about 10 days after he told me he wanted to have a party.  So I quick whipped up an invitation and texted it to some of our friends because my planning...sad to say...was so last minute.   #storyofmylife.  I love how the invitation has absolutely NOTHING to do with the theme :)   

I started scouring Pinterest for ideas about 5 days before the party.  I needed simple and easy because I knew I'd wait 'til the last minute to throw it all together.  I put the PRO in procrastination.  For real.  

On Wednesday I ordered a few party supplies off of Amazon...tablecloth, napkins, and party favors...and on Friday I headed out to pick up some snacks, streamers, balloons, and a few extras.  Since the kids would be swimming and eating pizza I didn't have to do too much, but I did want to make it special since this was the first "friend" party he's had since we moved here 3 years ago (we're always in Indiana on his birthday).  When he woke up Saturday morning, he was ecastatic and that made everything SO worth it!

Happy birthday banner - Hobby Lobby (8 years ago)

Mario Tablecloth - Amazon

The set-up was super simple.  Streamers, balloons, and lots of snacks!!!  The boys were gifted those brick looking blocks for Christmas years ago.  I had them in the attic and knew they'd be perfect for this theme!  Do you see why it's so hard for me to get rid of stuff?!?!  I feel like I might always need it!  Even if it is only once a year ;)

There were so many great ideas on Pinterest, but since I waited until the day before the party to start putting it altogether, I knew I couldn't incorporate everything.  And really, there was no need to!   I found the polka dotted party cups at Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple dozen for people to use to store their snacks.  They went perfectly with our little theme.

The snacks couldn't have been easier....and cheap, too.  Cheese puffs, marshmallows, peach rings, jellybeans, malted milk balls, and cotton candy.  I got the candy at the Dollar Tree and was able to keep the cost to a minimum.  I made all the labels in power point and I had tons of leftover ribbon from different projects I used for an extra touch of fun.  When Landon saw all the snacks and the labels he said, "Mom!!!  This is SO clever!!!"  Thank you, Pinterest, for making me seem a lot more creative than I really am.

The "toadstool marshmallows" were super easy to make.  I used a bag of Wilton red candy melts and mini powdered marshmallows for the spots.  How easy is that?!  

These "star power" rice krispie treats were probably the most time consuming, but dangit...they were good!   I made the rice krispie treats following the original recipe, but when  I was melting the marshmallows I added yellow gel food coloring. After I cut them all out, I put little mini chocolate chips on each of them for their eyes.  

I made the cupcakes and then topped them with these cheesy rings I bought on Amazon.  Landon thought these were amazing.   Bless him.   I mean, he seriously couldn't have been more excited....

I also set out these little pirahna plants and some Super MarioKart fruit snacks. (#walmartforthewin)

I just used cardstock to make the pirahna plants and then glued a skewer on the back to make them stand upright.  I stuffed them in a little pot I found at the Dollar Tree (pack of 3 for $1) and then filled it with the scrunchy gift bag filler I found there, too.  These were really easy to make and made for really cute and inexpensive table decor.

The party favors sat right next to the snack table because I didn't want anyone to forget them on their way out.  I taped mini yellow paper plates (Wal Mart) to the wall as gold coins and then scattered a few more of those brick blocks on the shelves.  

The party favors were SO simple.  I mean, let's get real.  They all get thrown in the trash anyway, so I didn't want to go too crazy with them.  A little Mario figurine,  Mario mustache whistle, Mario tattoo, and MarioKart fruit snacks.   All in all, I think the party favors averaged out to about $1.32 per bag.  

 I had the lollipops leftover from a different occasion and just slapped a label on them and put those out for fun.  I wanted them out of my house and this was the perfect occasion to get rid of them :)  I made the labels in power point and bought the figurines,whistles, and tattoos on Amazon.  The little gift bags are from Hobby Lobby (12 for $3)

The kids spent the day swimming and playing on the water slide.  I also had a little bucket full of cheapie water guns they could play with as well.  I wasn't sure they'd get touched, but they LOVED them!!!  It was too cute! 

Obligatory family pic :)  I thought it would be fun to dress the part, too!  I found my shirt in the boy's section at Target for $9 :)  Landon has already requested that I give it to him because I don't need to wear Mario stuff....and really, it was probably too small for me anyway.  Ha!

It was a great day celebrating with our friends and seeing Landon so happy...and so very, very grateful...made everything so worth it.