Let's Go To The Movies-NOW SHOWING: Kate's 12th Birthday Celebration

I've been looking back at some of the great birthday parties we've had.  This was a particularly great one with just a bit of drama and stress involved.  We had planned on holding the big shin-dig at a friend's home theater complete with a concession stand, bistro tables and a soda fountain.  A couple of days before the party there was an emergency that would not allow us to be there.  AAHHH!

With quick thinking and a little creative help we were able to pull off a pretty great Movie Theater Birthday Party. 

We draped the front door with black, sparkly material and gold ropes.  Used a rod iron floor easel to present the directional cinema sign and added balloons and twinkling lights as pathway lighting.  

Now for a little inside theater ambiance.  A concession table, big plush pillows and a big screen tv.  Not bad for last minute.

As the party guests arrived they were invited to perform certain tasks to earn concession tickets.

Of course everyone wanted as many tickets as they could possibly earn for these fun movie snacks!

Our photo booth idea was a giant gilded frame that groups of girls would stick their cute faces through for a photo shot.  One shot actually fit 10 faces in the frame!

After a couple of hours of movies, games, presents and lots of fun the birthday girl thanked each of her guests and sent them home with a little parting gift, complete with REAL movie tickets.  That way they could all get together again for another great evening at the movies.

The party was a success!  For a last minute, throw-together event our birthday girl loved it!  Thank goodness!

Don't Kiss the Frog game

Movie Night printables

Box of tickets and popcorn containers were found at a local party store.

A Very Happy Birthday To YOU!

Rootbeer Floats and a Cute One Year Old!

Last week my daughter invited lots of adoring friends and family (including ME) to her sweet little ONE YEAR OLD's birthday party. 

Kendall was adorable.  The decorations were fun and fabulous.  The birthday treats were delicious.  And the cake...another beautiful creation from our favorite cake lady. 

Party dress and a book.  Just waiting for the big event!

IBC Rootbeer, ice cream and the SMASH Cake.

Simple is Sweet.

Welcome to the Hive

My daughter turned 12 over the holidays and entered a new phase of life.  Part of her birthday celebration included this Beehive cake.  It was awesome!  Katherine created this cake from a picture I gave her.  It looks exactly like the picture.  

It was deliciously BEEutiful!

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

I'm so excited to share with you an amazing party a friend of mine did for her adorable little girl. From start to finish Janay went all out on this Fancy Nancy party! I have to admit, I really didn't have a clue about how popular Fancy Nancy books are. I have a daughter but don't remember hearing much about it.

This is the darling invitation that she sent to the party guests.

It happened to be raining that day, so as the girls arrived she had her adorable son, Alika walk to their cars with his umbrella and escort them into the house. What a chivalrous young man!

Look at this fancy ensemble!

Once the girls came inside they were invited to add to their already fancy attire!

The girls were served crepes to go with the French theme on this adorable table setting 

 

The dessert table had all the goodies you could ask for!

and more!

Oreo's A La Chocolate (That's fancy for chocolate covered oreo's) 

Truffles (That's fancy for bite sized chocolate!)

Petit Cakes (That's fancy for cupcakes) served in these cute tea cups

The girls were also treated to some Fancy Nancy books by Janay

It turned out to be a wonderful and fancy day!

Thanks Kanani for sharing your special day with us!!

 

Here are the printable tags and banners from the party for you to use at your own Fancy Nancy party or if you would like them in pdf form leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send them over.

 

 

 

Night Owl Slumber Party

It's SUMMER and in my house that means BIRTHDAY TIME! Two of my kids birthday's are in the summer (June and July) and the other is in May so to that I say- Thank goodness we have a pool because summertime in Sacramento is

HOT HOT HOT!

 For my daughter's 10th birthday we decided it was time to have her first slumber party. Now lets get things straight here. I am NOT A FAN of Slumber Parties. Sure they are fun and you make memories that last a lifetime and all that but all I can focus on as a mom with kids and slumber parties are:

• giggling ALL NIGHT LONG
• Taking homesick kids home in the middle of the night
• GIRL drama
• Grumpy tired kids the next day

Other then that they are a BLAST! HA!

I was browsing Pinterest one afternoon and saw an amazing owl face mask pattern. As soon as I saw it I just knew, even against my dread of slumber parties, that we had to do a Night Owl themed Slumber Party and so it began!

Kellie and her daughter Kate were even in town and were tons of help getting everything ready!

These face masks were quick and simple to make. Just cut out and hand stitch!

To go along with the Owl themed party I made these fun and very easy Owl Cupcakes.

To make owl cupcakes just whip up or buy whatever flavor of cupcakes you like and frost. I hear you can even ask for unfrosted cupcakes at your supermarket bakery.

My favorite Frosting is by far the Buttercream Frosting found on the C&H Powdered Sugar package. In case you don't buy C&H here is the recipe:

Buttercream Frosting:

1 1 lb. box (approx. 3 3/4 cups) C& H Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

In large bowl with electric mixer at low speed, combine sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. Beat at medium speed 1 to 2 minutes until creamy. If desired, add more milk until frosting is spreading consistency.

 

I make the frosting into owl "ears" by just using a knife and shaping them.

Next, take the Oreo's apart and place a brown Reeses Pieces for the eye and an orange one for the nose.

We also served a few other yummies:

Veggies and Dip & Tortilla Pinwheels

 Meringues in pretty cupcake wrappers

Night Owl Food - I wanted the girls to have some snacks later that night while they were watching a movie- so we put together a little mix of fun treats. we garnished the bags with these cute pom poms that I had originally made for a baby shower as cupcake toppers! 

  To decorate the table I used the same fabric as was on the masks as a table runner and then some things from around the house like this birdcage and owl

And of course a picture of the birthday girl

I wanted to give the girls some "slumber party favors" so we gave them these pedicure kits and some foam glow sticks to play with in the pool when it got dark.

 When they went home the next day they left with these tubes filled with bubble gum:

It turned out to be a wonderful party! Hardly any girl drama and only one midnight trip home!