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Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Lifestyle

You’ve Been Ditched. Ding Dong Ditched.

9.02.2014

Ding Dong Ditch // Free Printable // Hostess Ding Dong TreatsWe’ve all been there. Ditched. At least once or twice (or too many times to count). Trust me, someday the right one will come along and sweep you off your feet! Or just buy you dinner. If you’re lucky maybe he’ll throw in dessert. You get the point.

Until then, just hope that when you’re ditched it’s a little more friendly. As in Ding Dong Ditched. Remember when you were an innocent little (bratty) child? Remember when you ding dong ditched the elderly neighbor lady who probably exerted her daily allowance of energy to open the door, only to find that there was no one there? What a brat you were.

Me, I was so much nicer than that. It probably had something to do with not being invited to play with all the cool kids who actually ding dong ditched people, but who’s story is this?

In tribute to my uncoolness youth, I have to prove to myself that I CAN be cool. What’s cooler than ding dong ditching as an adult? DING DONG ditching. Get it? With real Ding Dongs! (Am I the only person laughing out loud at the words Ding Dongs?)Ding Dong Ditch // Free Printable // Hostess Ding Dong TreatsI’m just going to throw together a quick little treat, and politely drop it off at my neighbors front door. You know, the ones that don’t use a walker to get around, who won’t be too put out by a knock on the door. The ones who are not diabetic, so they’ll be able to enjoy this ditch. I’ll just print out the free Ding Dong Ditch Printable, hole punch a few holes, and use curling ribbon to secure it to the Ding Dongs. I wouldn’t want those Ding Dongs to go anywhere would I?!Ding Dong Ditch // Free Printable // Hostess Ding Dong Treats

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Comments

  1. facebook.sercanbozkurt.com says

    9.06.2015 at 6:47 pm

    Yοս’re so cool! I do not supplse I ɦavе read a single thing like that before.

    So wonderful to find somebody ѡith genuine thoughts
    on this tоpic. Seriously.. thanks for starting this uρ. Thіs webѕite is something that is required on the inteгnet, soimeone with a bit of orіginality!

  2. เสื้อผ้าแฟชั่น says

    9.08.2015 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks very nice blog!

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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stayinghomesawyer

I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard t I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard the first part I immediately thought, “that’s the worst part too.” Then I heard the rest of the audio and just felt that. It’s so true. It’s the most bittersweet thing a human being goes through. Raising children.
We always see these crazy parties on social media, We always see these crazy parties on social media, but how much do they ACTUALLY cost? If you know me, then you know I’m the most frugal person on the planet, so my parties are destined to be inexpensive. I’m going to give you the real life breakdown, with all my money saving tips. Let’s go!

(Let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t cover)

This is one of my biggest tips, which is pretty obvious I suppose. Hand make EVERYTHING. Decorations, treats, food, etc. The only time I wouldn’t suggest making your own food is if you have a huge guest list, in which case ordering Costco pizza is your best bet.

For the paper chains, I’ll be honest, they’re not cheap. Finding paper that’s inexpensive is hard. So pro tip: you don’t NEED cardstock, regular paper will be cheaper (and easier to hang). I found these packs of red at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 each. The pictured chains was three packs of 50 pages. Also pro tip: use a generic stapler to staple them into the ceiling, tape doesn’t work.

Also, because I throw parties a few times a year, I have a general stash of party supplies. I try to use similar colors so that I don’t have to store every color. I happen to have a lot of pink (because, duh, two girls). So table runners and vases and such were things I already had. If you don’t, I suggest Temu. And if you’d like to start collecting a supply for future parties, get some nice ones in white because you can always use white! 

I made this box out of 9 pieces of foam board from the Dollar Tree, one roll of wrapping paper (back wall) from the Dollar Tree, and two cans of spray paint from Walmart. If you had more time, acrylic paint would be cheaper, as my spray paint cost $13 alone. My cost for the project could have been cut in half if I used acrylic from the Dollar Tree (they have extra large bottles for $1.25). I just didn’t have time to do a few coats of acrylic.

The backdrop was made from four sheets of poster board from the Dollar Tree ($2), and one roll of Dollar Tree wrapping paper ($1.25). 

My splurge. The larger scalloped plate is from American Girl and when we were at the store I couldn’t resist. That alone brought up my total by almost $10. Ha
She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And hones She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And honestly? I loved every second of it.

Because I know that at this age, some girls are already asking for Sephora trips and makeup tutorials, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But there is something so special about a little girl who still wants to play with dolls, have a themed birthday party, and lean into the magic of being a kid. 

I know I can’t keep her little forever, but I can stop rushing her into growing up. There’s no prize for growing up the fastest. The world will ask her to be older, cooler, and more mature soon enough. So if she still wants the dolls, the dress-up, the silly games, and the magic of childhood, I’m going to let her.

Because one day, I know I’ll miss these days more than I can imagine. And if I can give her a few more years of being little, I’m going to cherish every single one. 

Let them be little. There’s plenty of time to grow up. 

#americangirl #americangirldoll #diyparty #americangirlparty
Save for later. PS: This is my husbands rendition Save for later.

PS: This is my husbands rendition of a “Sexy Willy Wonka.” You know, because being Aladdin, Flynn Ryder, Prince Charming…he couldn’t just be a regular guy for one year. 🤣🤣
Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five things every night that you’re thankful for, and BE thankful for them. So much of our lives are spent waiting for the next best thing when in reality, it’s sitting right in front of us.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s to SLOW DOWN.

So much of life is spent going, going, going. Waiting for the next stage. Telling ourselves, “Once we get through this, things will be easier.” Once the kids are older. Once life settles down. Once we have more time. But what if we’re missing the whole point? Because the moments we’re so eager to get through ARE the moments.

Today is the important stuff. The ordinary days. The messy days. The little conversations, the giggles, the routines, the chaos, the moments that don’t feel significant while we’re living them. We spend so much time wishing for the next chapter that we forget we’re already living one we’ll someday wish we could go back to.

So slow down.

Be here.
Pay attention.
Let the moment take as long as it needs to.

Because someday, these will be the days we miss.

**And if you know us personally, you know why I had to jump on this social media trend**
This is your permission slip to let the crafts be This is your permission slip to let the crafts be messy. 

They don’t need to match your house. They don’t need to be Pinterest-worthy. They don’t need to be made with a neutral color palette and a Cricut. They just need to be theirs.

Because someday I’m probably going to miss the paper scraps, the glue everywhere, the questionable color combinations, and the little masterpieces I had no idea what to do with. Let them make the ugly craft. Let them make a mess. Let them create something that looks nothing like what you had in mind.

Childhood doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be beautiful.
When you stop to think about the fact that one day When you stop to think about the fact that one day all of her toys will be someone else’s toys, she’ll be heading off to college, and all I’ll be left with are these videos…
This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy the This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy their kids are going back to school. My neighbors and I commiserate all summer long about how long the days are, how frustrating the kids can be, how much they’re fighting, etc. 

But my days are always like that, and even though it’s exhausting and overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Even if I only have ONE moment like this a day, it’s one moment a day I could miss out on if they were in a traditional school. 

So here’s to whatever choice you are making in regards to your kids education. What’s best for YOU is most important. And what’s best for us is this.
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