OCD+Kid's Birthday = Big Bucks

I am a fan of Dave Ramsey and anybody who advocates spending less, saving more, and avoiding all debt. Dave is hard core, XXX, no hold's barred about tellin ya like it is. I appreciate honesty and he makes a lot of vaild points.

But.

Funny how there's always a "but" isn't it? He says you should be able to have a kid's birthday party for no more than $25. Really? I'm a coupon clippin queen but I can't get within spitting distance of that figure.

This year with Hubby off defending truth, justice, and the American way, I resorted to bribery. If my daughter would forgo a shin-dig I said when Daddy gets home we'd go to Disney.

Disclaimer--this wasn't about economics so much as sanity preservation.

Anyway, she didn't agree. But being her father's daughter she proposed a counter offer. Sea World (free admission for Military--Bless you Anheiser-Busch) and just cake and ice cream for a few friends in her school group. Done.

It sounded so simple. Then pizza was added. ($2.50 each, but I needed 4)
Punch- two bottles of sprite, strawberries, and 2 cans pink lemonade.
Oreo place cards (her idea and she made them but it required felt and puffy glue)
2 boxes Oreos to decorate her cake
1 LARGE tub white frosting
2 cake mixes (oil plus 6 eggs)
candles
ice cream
plastic/paper goods (admittedly not required but let's be real.)
fruit salad (probably won't be eaten but I had to do something to cut the sugar)

We blew right by $25 and that was before a gift. True we did not hold the line at cake and ice cream but it is hardly a lavish affair.

So.

I need help, either my OCD meds are wearing off or I am missing something. How do you throw a party for a pre-teen without breaking the bank?