<b><span style="font-size: large;">Half Birthday Party </span></b><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How to celebrate a half birthday
</span></i></b>As if motherhood weren't complicated enough, someone had the gall to introduce to your child his or her half birthday and now you're stuck planning a half birthday party.
Take heart, it's only half the work and a fraction of the expense.
A half birthday is all about the appearance of HALF of everything. This day is especially important for kids who may feel shafted by a birthday that gets largely ignored, such as a birthday that hits in summer months when everyone is on vacation
and not in school, hence no classroom celebration. Or for the birthday child whose
special day is around the holidays when everyone is too busy, or worse yet combines
the birthday gift with the holiday occasion. Even if the birthday isn't out of the range,
you can't blame a kid for wanting two special days, can you?
So let the half celebration begin! Get out your scissors and start cutting. Oh, but first,
be sure to set the date. Confirm the half birthday using the Half Birthday Calculator.
Here are some quick and easy ideas for cutting things in half:
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Come half-dressed. Give the birthday kid a half costume to wear. The Half </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Angel
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Half Devil Kids Costume, right is under twenty dollars.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Invite only half the amount of guests you'd normally invite (this keeps things </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">to
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">the closest of friends, so you may choose to make it a slumber party).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Start the party on the half hour (11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 a.m., etc.)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Cut a birthday banner in half so that it hangs on one side of the room as
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">"Happy" and on the other side "Birthday."</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Table setting: Dress just half the table (half a table cloth, half a bouquet of
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">flowers, one candle stick or candle sticks half used, etc.). Cut tall cups short, </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">so
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">it's just half a cup, slice a napkin diagonally, so that its just half, and </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">finally, cut
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">large dinner paper plates in half. If you don't like the idea of half a </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">birthday
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">plate, then choose two solid color plates, cut them in half and tape </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">them
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">together in the back. This will drive home your "half" theme.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Make it a 50-50 theme party. </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Combine two party ideas.</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> Set half the party </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">to </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">be
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">princess (for lunch), and the second half of the party to be Knights for </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">dessert.
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Or whatever the theme, you can cut the plates in half and tape them </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">together
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">so both themes appear throughout the party.</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Half the food </b>Since you're inviting half the amount of friends and family, you'll have half the
expenses for food. Here are some half-baked ideas for this unique party theme:
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Bake a full birthday cake, cut it in half, stack it high so it looks like only half a
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">cake and ice it. Try half devils food cake and half angel food cake. When it's </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">time
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">to blow out the candles light only half of them. Then ask your child to </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">wish </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">for
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">double the wishes because at a half-birthday you get only half your </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">wishes.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Bake half chocolate chip cookie (allow your child to cut the cookies in half). </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">For
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">the cake, be sure to serve adults coffee and highlight the half-and-half!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Half-witted attempt at making appetizers. Look for items that will look great </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">cut
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">in </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">half, such as donuts, mini bagels, bananas.</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Hey, it's half the calories! </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Sure you
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">can serve low-calories foods, but if you serve </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">half portions it's just </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">as much fun.
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Just be sure to give hungry party goers </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">enough. Serve food </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">that's obviously
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">half, such as pizza's. Buy small or personal </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">pizzas and give </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">each child a half and
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">allow them seconds. Or serve half a </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">hamburger with half </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">a hot dog. For lunch a
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">half a bagel with half banana and a </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">bag of personal </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">chips cut in half should
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">suffice for younger kids who are </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">probably too excited </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">to eat anyway</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Other fun food ideas for a half birthday: Serve 50-50 bars (it's half orange </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">and
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">half creme). Cut licorice twists in half. Make an arrangement of candy </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">bars on a
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">tray that are cut in half. And serve only the best half of an Oreo </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">cookie!</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Half Birthday Invitations </b>Design your own half birthday card.
Ideas for December birthdays:
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Another birthday is drawing near, Michelle is halfway through the year</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We'll celebrate on the 15th of June (and not December),</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We know it may be difficult for you all to remember</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">But since the holidays are such a craze, we simply mixed up the days.</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It's okay to bring a present, or half-wrapped gift,</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">But it's truly your presence that will give her the biggest lift!</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">So come to 123 main street on the half birthday,</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Or give us regrets: </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">RSVP: Barbie (or her other half) Ken at 876.5309</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Half time activities </b>
<ul type="circle">
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Have half a magic show or a puppet show. The idea is to have half the show
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">before lunch or cake and the other half after. It just makes for more fun. </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Invite
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">your entertainer in on the fun. Entertainers always appreciate the </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">food. For
</span><a href="http://www.cutepartyideas.com/themes/Magic-party.html"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">ideas on a magic party</span></a><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">, see our other party pages.</span></li>
	<li><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">H</span></i><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">alf a manicure:</span></i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> paint half of finger nails one color and the other half another
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">color.</span></li>
	<li><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Half time show:</span></i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> Dad</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> or brother</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> can play </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">a </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Magician and joke about only
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">performing half the </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">normal show. </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Or you can hire a magician and ask that </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">kids
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">help with half the act. See our </span><a href="http://www.cutepartyideas.com/themes/Magic-party.html"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">magic party pages</span></a><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> for more ideas.</span></li>
	<li><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Have a h</span></i><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">alf</span></i><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">-</span></i><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">time quiz</span></i><i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">.</span></i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> Half of zero is what?</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> Where does the other half the </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">moon
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">go? Is the glass half-empty or half-full? What's a half dozen?</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">You're Half-way ther</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">e!</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> H</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">ere are m</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">ore activities that will take you to the half-</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">way
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">point</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">"</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Paint faces, but only one-half</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">!</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Read half a story!</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> Read </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Oscar's half birthday if the kids are young </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">enough
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">is a winner with reviewers on Amazon! Half way through the </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">story, close
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">the book and tell kids that's it. Wait for the giggles then </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">continue reading.</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Half Birthday Favors: </b>You can always give half the kids one thing and the other half of the kids another.
Here are some other ideas:
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Half dollar</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> coin</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">s</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">C</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">a</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">ndy </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">cut </span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">in half (such as a half a roll of Lifesavers)</span></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.jumpingbeansrus.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=15" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Jumping beans</span></a><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> (they appear to be cut in half and they're excited about a half
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">birthday).</span></li>
	<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Chocolate dipped fortune cookies: because you have to break them in half to
</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">read them.</span></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.cutepartyideas.com/themes/Half-birthday.html">http://www.cutepartyideas.com/themes/Half-birthday.html</a>