My youngest just celebrated her fourth birthday.  This was the first time she has expressed any interest in having a party… in fact, she was so excited that’s all she has talked about since Christmas.

I knew that the combination of a four year old and party chaos was a disaster in the making.  So we kept the party small and youngster friendly.

First, we sent out evites requesting the presence of a couple little friends and their Mommies (bringing Mommy along is vital at this age!). Using email invitations is much more environmentally friendly than cutesy paper ones, but if you opt for the paper route, be sure to use cardstock printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper.

Then I started scouring Goodwill for mix and match tea cups, saucers and linen.  We ended up with a great shabby chic combination.  I was able to find cups for $.49 each and saucers 6 for $1.99.  I also rounded up a solid white linen table cloth for $2.49 (on the color of the week half price sale) and a white lace topper cloth for the same price. (We save our finds for future parties, but you can always donate them back if you don’t need them after the party.)

I’ve been forcing some bulbs since Christmas day, so my lovely paper whites became the table centerpiece.  Kelsey and I scoured her room for all those princess toys her Grandparents are so fond of giving her and we added those to the table for deco and playtime fun.

We dug in closets and found the tulle canopy big sister received as a Christmas gift a couple years back and removed a crown shaped, Princess sign from the bedroom walls and finally took the cloth butterfly mobile out of the box (which has been lurking in my closet for nearly two years now).

Our craft project was decorating wooden “princess” wands (our goodies came from Stubby Pencil Studios) and each little lady took home a bag of goodies with a box of soy crayons, their wand, princess coloring sheets (printed at home on recycled paper) and a plan toys caterpillar key chain.

For refreshments, we mixed up some homemade hot cocoa and served it in a ceramic teapot along with apple juice served in a glass pitcher (also rounded up at Goodwill).  We enjoyed a gluten free/dairy free chocolate bundt cake and butterfly shape nut butter and jelly sandwiches.

We used NOTHING disposable at this party.  Since I purchased inexpensive china from Goodwill, I wasn’t concerned about them getting broken (or about spills on the linen).  We cut up some fabric with pinking shears for napkins and folded them inside of rings made from toilet paper tubes and artwork.

This party was inexpensive, kid friendly, eco friendly and fun! Now we can get some Color N’ Kids Thank You cards sent out and call it a wrap.  How do you green your entertaining?