May 22

May 22 Simple Soccer Party

They can't all be winners.

I tried so hard to convince P to let me plan some kind of amazing 7th birthday party, but he wasn't having it. He wanted a simple soccer party with just the boys in his first grade class. Fine, fine... I guess it's YOUR birthday. Whatever.

There are positives and negatives about having a party at one of "those" birthday places. I understand the allure for a lot of parents, but it's a little too "wham bam, thank you m'am" for me. You are in and out. Super easy. But there also isn't a ton of room to put your personal stamp on it. Here is a simple soccer party that I got ready at home, packed up in plastic tubs and quickly assembled at the local sports training facility.

It was a quick hour of soccer (and football too), then a half hour of pizza, cake and a lot of loud whistle blowing (hind sight is 20/20!)

I saw these referee water bottles on a super bowl party post and had to recreate them for our party. I ordered the green whistles from Amazon and then printed a black and white stripe on my laser printer to wrap the water bottles with.

I had tons of left over paper grass from our Bennett in Wonderland party so I used it at the soccer party as a base on the table. Some simple soccer ball paper plates and yellow (penalty flag) napkins (that I actually had left over from our Lego Birthday Party.)

I made some easy center pieces with black and white lollipops and Easter grass in a simple plastic container. Party city has a big selection of cheap candy containers that work well! ...and then some neon bouncy soccer balls in a plastic container as well... Also for the kids to take home afterwards. I love a party where none of it comes home with me at the end!

I got these little soccer bounce balls from Party City and nestled them in some green icing on a chocolate cupcake. It wasn't until midnight—the night before the party—that I realized what was REALLY missing from my life was a grass piping tip, but they still turned out great!

I got these adorable soccer ball with net sugar cookies from Creative Cookie Corner.

For some practical favors, I filled green 25 oz Camelbak water bottles with foil covered chocolate soccer balls from (as always!) nuts.com, and then added a little tag.