Need Ideas for a 13Th Bday Party

One or 2 friends over for dinner and movie and doing nails, etc....that's all it needs to be. Sometimes the simpler things are more fun!

At 13 I would think it's okay for her to just invite one or two really close friends and you can do something special...maybe pedicures and/or manicures. You could also do them yourself if you're cutting costs...let your daughter pick out a few special nail colors and you can buy some cheap tubs at Wal Mart and do a foot soak and they can each paint eachothers nails, plus, the nail polish can be the party favors.

You could also do a mall scavenger hunt, although you may want to have at least one other responsible adult with you, but give them a list of things to retrieve, take pictures of, and record (they can do that with their cell phone). Then you could eat at the food court and get some ice cream or whatever. Party favors could be a small gift from Claire's or a gift card you buy in advance for $5-10 and let them shop while you're there.

My daughter's friend had a scavengar hunt that was a blast! The theme of the party was the red carpet. The girls came dressed "glamorous" and the mom put red carpet (but could be paper) down on the driveway for them to walk up. She also put "starring" and each girls name printed on paper and then taped on the ground leading up to the house. After they gathered, they broke into 2 teams. Mom went with one team and dad went with the other team and they did a digital scavengar hunt. The mom and big sister had scoped out Southlake Town Square earlier that weekend for things to find. They had to take a picture by a red door, fire hydrant, tall person, dog, and cow. You could do whatever! Then, they went back to the house and loaded up the pictures from the camera on their tv like a slide show and the girls watched the pictures and ate their after event snack (fruit kabobs with marshmallows and other simple snacks). My daughter talked about this party for days and really had a great time. I think the birthday girl switched groups 1/2 way though too so that she spent time with all of her friends. You wouldn't even have to split them up if there weren't too many kids either.

Another idea is to let her pick what she wants but within a budget. We've had a $100 budget for the last few years. My daughter usually chooses to have 4 friends, go to the movies and then have a sleepover. We find the movie, figure the cost of admission, I get 1 big popcorn and split it between the girls and I got cups of water for them. Then we came home and made our own pizzas, they played and ate.

We have also done crafts like make bottlecap necklaces, domino necklaces, and had a science party (that was for my son, but it was a ball and dirt cheap!) Check at familyfun.com for birthday ideas.

I love love love the spa suggestion. Do you have a kids salons around you? I know of one on the east coast called sweet and sassy, and they throw celebrations and such. I am not sure of their prices though. They may also be for younger girls. Maybe just a mani/pedi and a lunch with her best girl friends at the place she chooses. Good Luck!

You could also day a spa day at your house. For the cost of one manicure at a salon, you could buy nail polish for all the girls. They can do manicures and pedicures, make up, etc. I would order them pizza and have a sleepover.
Another idea..... do a surprise birthday breakfast. Invite your daughter's friends over for breakfast one morning, but don't tell her. You could always let the girls do manicures/pedicures after that.

We did a hotel suite once that wa a ton of fun for the girls. They enjoyed the pool, walking to at nice restauarant for dinner, dessert and then late night room service. They loved it. We were in Plano at the Shops of Legacy

C., what about a scrapbook party? Ask the girls to bring 10 photos each, and they can each make a small "paper" scrapbook, and take it home with them! They will love that, and they will enjoy the comraderie of sitting around a table doing it together. Good luck!

Here's a link to one:
http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/marycluley/catalog-index?ev...

WHat about Zero Gravity? Look it up-my daughter took drinks and snacks in a cooler to save money. Then they went back to her house for hot dogs, etc. and cake. The kids loved it.

My husband and I are professional Clowns. I know that you may think that Clowns for a 13 year old may be lame, but our magic shows are a lot of fun no matter the age and the older kids do love our facepainting and glitter art tattoos. We also offer balloon sculptures, friendship bracelets, along with fun interaction and games. We've entertained at birthday parties and large events like the Plano Balloon Festival.

Our prices are very reasonable (we have four great kids of our own so we know how expensive things can get)and we do our best to work within a person's budget.

Please feel free to take a look at our website at www.freewebs.com/bubblesandwowza for samples of our work along with video testimonials from satified customers regarding our performance.

Give us a call at ###-###-#### if you have any questions at all.

Hope you have a great party whatever you decide to do.

Hope to hear from you,
K. Schmidt
Bubbles the Clown
Bubbles and Wowza, LLC

Are she and her friends into the Twilight Saga? It seems like most girls that age are. You could have them do vampire make-overs- white powder and eyeliner basically. Then they could have a vampire movie marathon. Maybe make a few snacks that are vampire inspired. The whole party could be done for about $25.

Call you local Mary Kay consultant and see if she will do facials for all the kids...

My daughter-in-law created a "spa party" for one of my granddaughters birthdays. She made signs for the door, had a price list of services (all free, of course), spa water in the waiting area (living room), mother/grandmothers/aunts were the spa technicians (we all dressed in black). One did nails, one did hair, one did facials, etc. I have the cutest picture of my granddaughter with cucumbers on her eyes during her facial!! Afterwards they had a tea party....fancied up with a cute little purse d-i-l got from the dollar store with nail polish, etc. in it. She made a cake the shape of a fingernail polish bottle and called it "Alaina Pink". She really got creative and didn't cost her much at all and the girls enjoyed it tremendously....plus we had a ball doing it too!! The tea party consisted of finger sandwiches, chips, fresh veggies, cake for dessert, and something to drink. Good luck!

Maybe you can try "I'm a star theme". Kind of lie a hollywood star party where they girls can get dressed up in feather boas and beads, walk on a red carpet to the car for a night out to eat. A friend even invited parents to be the paparazzi (however you spell it) and they all took pictures as the girls got into the car (they had a limo but you could do without one if you wanted to keep the expenses low).

Here are a couple of ideas that come to mind first...a fun sleep over; a movie night at the house; a cooking party???

Here is my site for more ideas too and I have a giveaway right now for a free party inspiration board with party ideas.

http://divinepartyconcepts.com/

I know that this may not sound like fun, but I have seen it really work well. Find a nursing home or an assisted living home, where they will allow visitors to plan a small party. Have the girls make cards for the residents and let the girls give a "party" for the residents. Sometimes there is a director at the home who can assist with some ideas. The girls can share stories with the residents and have them share stories back.

It is a way to combine service project with a party. It's a good way to teach teens about community service and I have seen it happen where they really connect with the older folks. This is especially good in a metroplex like Dallas, where so many families do not have extended older family members nearby.