Party Mama, Suburbs Style?

My “baby” turns thirteen this week.  Thirteen.  I am so not ready to be the Mama of a teenager.  This thrusts us into a whole new era of well, everything!!  Including birthday parties?  I actually thought we might be done with parties.  I like a good birthday party, but I am not one of those crazed “Party Mamas”.  For one fleeting insane must have forgotten who my kid was moment I thought we could just grab one or two good friends and go to a movie and dinner?  Yah, I was way wrong.  Do you know how hard it is for an almost thirteen year old girl to pick just TWO friends to do something special with?  Do you know how many social pitfalls a pre-teen can encounter if she steps on toes, leaves someone out, picks the wrong friends???  Sigh, girl drama.  The solution?  Mama throws a big ole fashioned sleep over party.  Tally of screaming pre-teens.  Ten and counting.  I better start upping my caffeine intake now.  It’s going to be a very very long weekend.

One thing this Mama did decide to put her foot down on; Loot bags.  Teenagers don’t need loot bags….but they do need some sort of “thanks for coming to my paartee” parting gift right?  (I may not be a party Mama, but I do have a little bit of social grace.)

Here is what BlueEyes and I came up with!

Cookies….. in a jar!  I’m no Martha, but seriously, these are super cute.

Every dry ingredient you need to create delish oatmeal, smartie, chocolate chip cookies. 

Layer them up all pretty like in a mason jar, add some fun ribbon, attach a recipe card and voila! Super cuteness in a jar.  (I know, maybe too cute, but cut me some slack I’m trying to hang onto a little bit of cute for my baby’s 13th Birthday.  Sniff)

First problem of my dear daughters thirteenth year solved, just about ohh 356 more to go! 

I have a feeling 13 is going to be interesting!