The Party round-up...

We had a little celebration over the weekend to mark a very special girls first birthday. Rain was predicted all week for our party but thankfully it never arrived. The wind made a mess of my streamer backdrop but that's all that really went wrong so I couldn't complain. The husband and I decided back when Louise had her first birthday that we would go all out for our children's first party. We don't do religious events or the like, so we really wanted a chance to celebrate our child's first year and thank our loved ones for being apart of such a special time in our lives. 

I started planning (and saving) a couple months back - knowing that the guest list would probably tip the 100 mark, I wanted to be as organised as possible.

As overdone as it is .... I couldn't go past a rainbow theme for Evie, its perfect for her. Especially when I saw a custom printables range from Fairydust Stylist Stationary. I love her work and she sets up the most stunning party tables. Here's Evie's Invite:

The husband conveniently has an air compressor (to lovingly clean his beloved bike) so he had no excuse trouble getting 200 balloons blown up so I could try out Design Moms awesome Balloon Banner I found in Pinterest. It looked great in the morning but the wind certainly took its toll on it and became quite bare by the arvo.

 

  

I had a caterer do the food, so only had to take care of the fun stuff ...desserts and cake!! I have been itching to try out THE Rainbow cake - and turned out a lot better than I thought it would.

A week before the party I suddenly realised we would have about 35 kids with not much to do. The best decision I made was ask the Kindy mums if anyone knew a good entertainer - Benny Blitz had just done a session at the local hairdresser for a Shave for a cure fundraiser. He was fantastic - the kids loved his tricks and he had such a talent for making very cool balloon creations. Honestly if an entertainer is in your party budget I totally recommend getting one. It saves the time, stress and hair loss of planning games a million times over.

I did organise a photo booth area though. I wish we had had more time to use it because the photos I did get were awesome. I haven't had the heart to take it down yet. Maybe I can get visitors to pose to I have an excuse to keep it there?

I used the printables again to make up some different Thank you gifts. Chocolates, Cookies and Lolly Bags. A Big Thank you to Susie at Sweetie Darling for doing the cookies (and the gorgeous flower on top of the cake) for me.

 We had a wonderful day and our normally surly little munchkin, didn't give us a frown all day. 

She obviously enjoys being centre of attention.

 

You can see Louise 2nd, 3rd and 4th birthdays here

They're Here...

 

Peonies!Peonies!Peonies!

(Now I just have to get the hubby to see this)

A fairy party...

Well its taken me all week to start this post and a few bloggy friends have asked how Louise's party went so though I had better get moving. It ended up being quite an event and once again there never seems enough time to take any decent photos so this is the best of the lot.
I love entertaining and really at the moment the kids birthdays are the only excuse I really have. Louise and I made all the decorations and boy was it fun setting up her fairy princess kingdom.
I am still sweeping up rogue glitter 8 days later. She said it was her best day ever so it was probably all worth it.

~A FEW THANK YOUS~

Of course I didn't do it all by myself and wanted to take this opportunity to thank some amazing businesses out there in the handmade community.

First off the fabulosly tallented Cathie from Melbourne Epicure for making the beautiful fairy cake topper and cupcake fondant toppers. Thank you so much - Lou is in awe of her fairy and is most treasured. I'm so sorry I didn't do it justice by making a cake to match - Lou really really wanted icecream cake for the day so icecream cake it was.
Also, I got the scalloped circles I used in the decorating from A Scrap of Paper on Craftumi - Kerri was very helpful and I practically had my custom order the next next day.

I found Party Hire for Kids on facebook - Sue did an amazing job on the balloons she delivered and it was great to be able to have child sized table and chairs.

 

A friend of mine has recently started up a fantastic handmade sweets business with her friend and I was dying to have an excuse to order something. 

Susie made me a custom order of the MOST delicious pinwheel cookies ever. Seriously the hubby and I actually fought over the last one left. You must check out their facebook page. The cakes they have been making are stunning -  but you can order anything from a multi leveled ruffle cakes, cupcakes and gorgeous petit fours. I wish I had ordered more! 

 

You can find them on facebook here but be careful not to drool on your keyboard when you look at the photos...

Louise was lucky enough to have a very special visitor by the name of "Ms. Fairy Floss" all the way from Fairy land, attend her day ~ she really was remarkable. Lou got a beautiful letter in the mail from her a few days before the party and her facepainting skills were wonderful. Having an entertainer for the 20+ kids was the best idea ever and really took the pressure off. It was so nice to actually have a bit of time to enjoy the day.

Also thank you to Louise's lovely Aunties, Nonna and friends that helped her mum on the day too.

Four today...

Happy Birthday sweet one!!

I can't believe today you are 4...

Boy it has gone so quickly - you are turning into such a delightful young girl. 

At the moment craft is your thing - you spend all afternoon, cutting, sticking, pasting and drawing. Your creations surprise us - butterflies and presents and what ever else you can come up with.

 You have been writing your name perfectly for most of the year and have now moved onto practising the rest of the alphabet. We have watched your drawings go from lines and circles to perfect little people in dresses with fingers, eyelashes, and matching jewellery. You love your friends - such a little social bunny. Even when your home alone you call them on your "iphone" to see how they are or you play elaborate games with Lucy your imaginary friend.

You have a sensitive little heart and you hate when I'm mad at you... it hurts my feelings you say. 

You are a wonderful big sister and love to make Evie giggle. 

You have developed a love for dresses, parties, princesses and all things pink.

We love you Lulu ~ have a very special day!

She did it again..

Yes she did..... who you ask?

Why its Tania from Chicken Ink Creative....

and boy hasn't she pulled off another fantastic madeit re-opening. 

There are beautiful new cushions

gorgeous vintage inspired stationery

and of course her famously stunning patchwork notebooks

Drop by her shop here before everything is sold out

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Fab New App...

Have you seen the new Woolworths iphone app? Its quite clever and I'm mighty impressed - iphone apps dont usually excite me much. The truth is Louise has more of her game apps on there than I have. But I am really loving this one - It has the easiest recipes on it, and a shopping list option that will tell you which isle your food is in at your local woollys. It has all the weekly specials listed and you can scan your items at home so you dont even have to type them in.

This is the Apple & Cinnamon tea cake - I was hoping to have more of the actual cake in the photo but it seemed to disappear before I could. I might have better luck with the Choc hazelnut oat biscuits.

Hope your having a nice weekend!

*This was not a sponsored post - I just really like the App!

Do you Lovestamp?

I just had my favourite necklace updated with a new heart and birthstone gem.

Thank you Jo for your beautiful work!

Have you seen her website?