[HelloHolly]

Friend of mine called and wanted to come over to visit today with me and the kids. I said sure, of course! It dawned on me about 30 before she was due to arrive at my house that today is her birthday!!! Oh no!
So... Made a mad dash to my pantry stockpile and I have about 12 boxes of cake mix, but no time for cake to cool and ice! So, I found some candy sprinkles, chocolate chips and mini m&m's - perfect for cakebox cookies!
Made half the batch with colored sprinkles , stacked five of them like a mini cake and put a candle in the middle! Had tons of extra all occasion napkins for "happy birthday" so made a cute little display!

image-351531471.jpg

Then took the rest of the cookie mix and made some chocolate chip and m&m cookies! Put them all on a platter and then worked on a gift. Went through my stockpile and found : daisy razors, skintimate shavegel, babylips lipbalm, Vaseline lotion, and extra Godiva truffles from valentines day sale! All cost me almost nothing! Put it in a cute pink bag from my giftbag closet (I save alllll my giftbags!).
Here is the end result...


image-1722002264.jpg

So...having a stockpile really pays off!
Whew!

[Kimberlin]

Very nice, and thoughtful.

[HelloHolly]

Originally Posted by Kimberlin

Very nice, and thoughtful.

Thanks!

[bethaliz6894]

i would have been proud to get this kind of birthday party. i think you did a good job.

[agrossmaa]

How sweet!!

[Dianasaves$$]

That was just the sweetest thing ever!

[XtremeXtina]

that's so awesome!! great work!!!

[jaspere]

Love it!!

[Moggy]

I'm sure she loved it. Very cute.

[debbiepeter]

That was so thoughtful of you and thrifty as well

[bnorris10]

Wow have I totally done the same thing last minute birthday party so children received free to really cheap school supplies I had saved up markers, crayons, all kinds of goodies

Also same thing went thru and made a gift bag for a friend for her bday with all kinds of goodies and yummies of course doing the same as the OP and using a bag from my holiday closet because we save all bags as well

Not only is it cheap but they actually get really good stuff

1 year this lady I know gave me a comb for christmas and man tell you what i was so offended and so the next year she gives me pot holders and its like what the heck why is she giving me stuff like this and it turned out she came to our house once and we did not have any pot holders (or at least we could not find them) so she got me something i would actually use ... over the years she has given me many very practical gifts including rolls of papertowels because she came over once and we were out of papertowels .... Anyways it gave me a lesson of not only being thankful about what I got because tell you what the year she gave me the comb i fumed and was so upset (I was young and stupid) but anyways it also taught me how great it was to give things to people that are practical i mean if i give someone some yummy body wash its giving them something they will DEFINANTLY USE ...

[HelloHolly]

Originally Posted by bnorris10

Wow have I totally done the same thing last minute birthday party so children received free to really cheap school supplies I had saved up markers, crayons, all kinds of goodies

Also same thing went thru and made a gift bag for a friend for her bday with all kinds of goodies and yummies of course doing the same as the OP and using a bag from my holiday closet because we save all bags as well

Not only is it cheap but they actually get really good stuff

1 year this lady I know gave me a comb for christmas and man tell you what i was so offended and so the next year she gives me pot holders and its like what the heck why is she giving me stuff like this and it turned out she came to our house once and we did not have any pot holders (or at least we could not find them) so she got me something i would actually use ... over the years she has given me many very practical gifts including rolls of papertowels because she came over once and we were out of papertowels .... Anyways it gave me a lesson of not only being thankful about what I got because tell you what the year she gave me the comb i fumed and was so upset (I was young and stupid) but anyways it also taught me how great it was to give things to people that are practical i mean if i give someone some yummy body wash its giving them something they will DEFINANTLY USE ...

Yes! I think giving practical gifts is something you appreciate more as you mature. I probably would have been "weirded" out if someone gave me razors and shave gel as a gift 10 years ago, but now, I am thankful no matter WHAT I receive!

[bnorris10]

I figure giving me practical gift like razor or soap or shampoo is as good as giving me cash because that is money I don't have to spend on stuff LOL

[redraider25]

Awesome last minute planning and use of stuff you already have .

[Arecibo]

oh my goodness. you did fabulous... take that Martha Stewart!!!!!! LOL

[Dottielee]

I did the same thing this week for my dad's Birthday. I had bought some marked down shirts & shorts at the end of the season last year. He also got a Gillette gift box I got marked down after Christmas. He seemed to like them! I love it when I don't have to shop at last minute.

You did a great job with the cake & cookies too!!! MaDE your friend feel special. Nice.

[kmfruits87]

Thats so nice! I would love to get useful items for my BD. WTG

[eluper]

That is awesome!!!!!!!! What a great friend you are!!! I know that is the kind of gift I would have been thrilled to get! Gotta love stockpiles!

[Parrothead]

I just did something similar at Christmas for a friend's teenage daughter. She got laid off right before Christmas (mind you this was 2 months after a disaster non wedding..fiance left mom at the alter after a decade+ together). I ran around scooping up things out of my stockpile I knew a teenager would enjoy that mom might not be able to afford (nicer razors, body wash, lip gloss, make up, nail polish, etc) and topped the box off with a $25 gift card to Walmart (given to me at work for Christmas, but I don't shop there, plus it wasn't an expected thing it was extra to us).

She texted me pictures she was so happy with her 'gifts' that cost me pennies.

I've done this more times than I can count! 2 years ago I picked up tons of clearance gift pj sets (had a set of pjs, slipper, and a couple other little doodads in a mesh bag for teen girls) added in nail polish, files, etc. instant sleepover gifts for DDs friends!

[love_virus]

great save!!!

[c5dcc]

i havent paid for my son's pencils in awhile even helped friend who moved from 1 school dist to anoth with school suppilies boy it pays to get stuff free.

[loretta12974]

I love the pictures, you did a great job on short time fame.