GOOD LIFE

party in a box

And this time it really is! From the local grocery store I bought one of those pre-made cupcake mixes, and I am here to prove it is pretty much all you need to throw a party from beginning to end - with just a little bit more effort!

1) For a no cost invitation use some of the cupcake wrappers. Cut the wrapper in half, stick onto card, add a semi-circle for the “cupcake” part and a red dot for a “cherry”.

2) Make an event at the party of kids actually making the cupcakes. As everything is already measured, the kids can do the pouring and the stirring. Even my 3 year old was able to spoon the mixture into the paper cups quite well actually, so all that I had to do was crack the eggs.

3) While the cupcakes are baking, the box itself has colouring in sketches of the themed charcters. So the grown ups can do the cleaning up and the little ones can colour in the pictures. These can be cut out and when stuck to paper cups filled with some just picked flowers make sweet table centrepieces.

4) The box also includes stickers, so let the kids stick these to precut circle tags, attach to food picks and insert into the cupcakes as pretty toppers.

5) Once the cupcakes have cooled, set up a tray with allsorts of edible decorations and have the kids decorate the cupcakes.

6) And as for the menu, you have just made the cake, so add in a few little extras and some juice, and you have a real spread.

7) For favours, you are guaranteed to have cupcakes left over so send the guests home with some.

So really just about anyone can throw a party! And for as less than R50!