How do I word the invitations?

[Naturallia]

Neva's already turning one! :shock: :speechless:

I want to do a simple low-maintenance green birthday get-together. I'll have cake, of course, and nibbles.

. Anyways... she has enough toys. No. More. Toys!!! Please!

For Ryan, I said "No Gifts Please" on the invitations, but he still got 10 new "made in china" junky toys.

So how do I word the invitation to make it clear that Neva does not need toys and it's fine to just come without any gifts- but if you must come with a gift, make it eco-friendly, such as gently used clothing, shoes, more wool covers to use in my rotation, new cute things to use in her hair, handmade wool toys and wooden toys are welcome, etc etc. The problem I see is that to have that in the invitation somewhere, I'd need to share what her current size is, which is rude... I don't know. Basically I just want a green birthday gathering for my daughter without the yucky plastic toys and other gifts I'd just freecycle.

Any ideas?

[crunchymomof3]

nak but i would say we r having a green b-day .. we want to reduce reuse recycle .. no new toys clothes etc , give green ideas :D i am now working my brain about doing this

[Naturallia]

but what green ideas would I give that seems accessible to the mainstream crowd?

Oh, and what ideas can i ask about the wrapping? What eco-friendly ways is there to wrap gifts for a birthday? I mean, for the baby shower, I had them wrap using receiving blankets, crib sheets, etc, but that won't work this time around...

:think:
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Andd that's why I think it's such an headache and I just say no gifts please, but the last two times I tried that... Bad idea. So I'm trying the different route of specifying what to give without seeming rude .

[crunchymomof3]

consginment shops -direct them to local ones .. i think gift bags are somewhat eco friendly .. you can reuse them or do no gifts bring a book?

[TwosCompany]

How about a donation party? Have everyone bring a bag of dog food for the local shelter, a bag of flour for the local food pantry, a blanket for the homeless shelter, a bear for the police Bears on Patrol program? We've done this in the past and it has worked out well. Good luck! We're also trying to stop the flow of plasticrap into our house....
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Could you make it a "theme" donation party? Such as puppy dog invitations to go along with the dog food request? Or maybe kitten invites to go along with asking for a bag of kitty litter? Hmmm...See, this is stuff I have to think of, too. Our kids have waaaaaaaaaaaay too many junky toys.

[mccullar]

Neva's already turning one! :shock: :speechless:

I want to do a simple low-maintenance green birthday get-together. I'll have cake, of course, and nibbles.

. Anyways... she has enough toys. No. More. Toys!!! Please!

For Ryan, I said "No Gifts Please" on the invitations, but he still got 10 new "made in china" junky toys.

So how do I word the invitation to make it clear that Neva does not need toys and it's fine to just come without any gifts- but if you must come with a gift, make it eco-friendly, such as gently used clothing, shoes, more wool covers to use in my rotation, new cute things to use in her hair, handmade wool toys and wooden toys are welcome, etc etc. The problem I see is that to have that in the invitation somewhere, I'd need to share what her current size is, which is rude... I don't know. Basically I just want a green birthday gathering for my daughter without the yucky plastic toys and other gifts I'd just freecycle.

Any ideas?
maybe ask instead of gifts please donate to her savings or make a wish or soemthing like that....
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How about a donation party? Have everyone bring a bag of dog food for the local shelter, a bag of flour for the local food pantry, a blanket for the homeless shelter, a bear for the police Bears on Patrol program? We've done this in the past and it has worked out well. Good luck! We're also trying to stop the flow of plasticrap into our house....
~~~~~~~
Could you make it a "theme" donation party? Such as puppy dog invitations to go along with the dog food request? Or maybe kitten invites to go along with asking for a bag of kitty litter? Hmmm...See, this is stuff I have to think of, too. Our kids have waaaaaaaaaaaay too many junky toys.
guess it helps if i read everything first hu?
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you could also say that this is an eco friendly home so please no gifts! or if you must bring a gift please be eco friendly!

[Naturallia]

Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming!

[~ Terri ~]

Maybe say "gifts are not necessary, you being here is the gift!"

and then maybe say "If you feel you MUST bring a gift, handmade, gently used, made in the USA only please" with a big smiley face!!!

[momof4]

I like the donation idea.

Maybe put something like "Since the best gift you can give us is the pleasure of your company, and we want to share our joy with those in need, all gifts will be passed along to _______ (charity/hospital/school of your choice).

[TwosCompany]

I like the donation idea.

Maybe put something like "Since the best gift you can give us is the pleasure of your company, and we want to share our joy with those in need, all gifts will be passed along to _______ (charity/hospital/school of your choice).

:loveshower:

[Katiebear]

My good friend got an invitation that asked for either a gently used toy, book or money (in the essence of being green) and she was kind of offended that the parents wanted to dictate what they brought. She's the type, though, that always brings thoughtful and useful gifts, not just plastic crap.

If you would search a "manners" type place, they would tell you that you can't specify what kind of gift to bring, or whether to bring one at all. However, as a parent, sometimes you need to put your foot down! :)

For us, it would depend on who's coming. If it was just family (immediate family that I'm comfortable telling things to) or really close friends, I think I would just be really honest.

I do like the idea of the puppy party, or whatever!
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I guess what I was trying to say about my friend is that don't be surprised if people are either grumpy about it, or ignore you. It's too bad that people don't respect each other enough to actually honour each other's wishes. And for the record, she bought Kitten a box of cereal that Kitten loved and a snack trap eating dish (whenever my friend watches Kitten, she eats out of house and home of this particular cereal, and LOVES to eat out of the snack trap).

[Naturallia]

talked to dh- we'll ask for donatiomns to battered womens shelter in lieu of gifts