A Nautical Theme First Birthday

Our dearest friends (and Godparents to our wedding) have the most adorable baby boy, Nicholas who just turned ONE! I was extremely excited to help plan his birthday party with his proud mommy... especially because I had never planned a boy's party before. My typical A-type personality ended up dictating the theme, decorations, and pretty much everything else. Poor Mirela  and her original "giraffe" theme didn't really stand a chance and the party turned nautical. Nautical says to me: elegant, masculine, and fun, especially FUN to decorate for!

The Decor:

• Invitation: Photoshop (inspired by another invitation I found on Google)
• "Happy Birthday" Banner, hats, plates, cups, and napkins were purchased at www.BirthdayExpress.com, "Anchor's Aweigh" theme
• Instructions for hand-made paper windmills, click here. Double sided scrapbook paper purchased at Michaels and brads can be found at any office supply store. We used chop-sticks for the stick. 
• Nautical Flags (1 set): 2 wooden dowels,  5 sheets of double sided decorative scrapbook paper, and rope. All items can be purchased at Michaels. 
• "AHOY" toothpicks (cut out and glue) template.
• Nautical clip art template 
• White frames: Ikea $.99  
• Nautical "I'm One!" hat: www.Diapers.com

  

 

The 'one' is reversed on accident by yours truly. oops!

The loveliest little family

The girls enjoying Nick's party

Elephant & Alphabet Theme Baby Shower Part 2

I am finally following up with photos from the Elephant & Alphabet Theme Baby Shower I helped decorate, mentioned in a previous post. It turned out so lovely!

Favors: Have a Ball Catering

With the Mother to be, Sandra

Favors: Notepads and bath fizz balls

A Birthday Dinner Soiree

A few weeks ago I threw a little Birthday Dinner Soiree for my dear friend, Christina. I wanted to do something cute and simple that gave an aura of *happy*...  and I think it ended up being just that. Some pointers on how to create your own birthday soiree:

How to: Printable Alphabet Bunting by Ruffled Blog

How to: Photo Birthday Party Hat by Martha Stewart

I got a little creative with Photoshop and added a little 'happy birthday' message. Also used tissue paper for the top, instead of a present bow.

How to: Mini Hamburger Sliders

I am no cook; have no love for it, and anyone who knows me can contest to that. However, since I love party planning and entertaining, it kinda comes with the territory. So like everything else, when I put my mind to it, I CAN do it! These sliders came out delicious by the way!!

 Recipe for Sliders (makes 24 sliders):

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef (or get 3 packs of 8 piece mini beef patties from Trader Joe's)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup horse radish sauce
• 1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
• 6-7 slices of Havarti Cheese
• 24 dinner rolls, split (or get 3 packs of 8 piece mini hamburger buns from Trader Joe's)
• 1/2 cup sliced pickles (optional)
• I bag of spinach (with a vinaigrette dressing)
• 24 olives and toothpicks (for garnish)

Directions

1) Set patties in frying pan on medium heat. Sprinkle lightly with pepper and salt.* Fry 3-5 minutes on each side (timing depends on cooked meat preferences). If you do not have mini slider patties, you can section the meat off and then use cupcake liners to make it round. Flatten so they are 1 inch thick. 

*You may add seasoning to patties, garlic, onions, cheese, etc..

2) Cut Havarti cheese slices into 4 mini squares.When patties are almost done, place a cheese square on top of the patty to melt.

3) You may toast the bun if desired.

4) To make special sauce: mix mayo, ketchup, mustard and horse radish sauce in a small bowl. Add a spoon of special sauce to one side of the bun.

5) Place patty with cheese on bun. Add a few spinach leaves to the top (the spinach with dressing is yummier).

6) After slider is set in place, add olive at the top with toothpick through the top bun. 

7) For sides: sea salt & pepper potato chips (Trader Joe's) and spinach salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

The *happy* birthday girl

The cakes: courtesy of Mirela & Camelia

How to: Table settings

I purchased 7 scrapbook 12x12 printed sheets to use 6 as place mats. You can laminate these to have permanently but I did not have the time. With the last sheet, I used it to cut 1" strips and then I cut the strip in 1/2 in the middle and rolled the strips around the napkins with forks. A cute matching table setting idea for cheap :)

A Tea Party Bridal Shower

My amazing mother, Livia, who organized the wonderful Tea Party Bridal Shower

When Alin and I got engaged, I was ecstatic at the thought of planning all of our wedding festivities- every single one of them. That's right, I was THAT bride that was in control of all of the details (I know what I want, and I make it happen!). Thanks to my mom, probably the only person I would entrust with such tasks, all of my event ideas came to life! My bridal shower was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! The Tea Party theme I envisioned was going to be elegant, feminine, and outdoors; an all 'round fancy afternoon tea time. Oh, and large sun hats and dresses were a must!

My mom and I went scouting for locations that had a beautiful garden/outdoor area. After visiting several places such as the Sherman Library (Corona Del Mar) and Newport Beach Hyatt, which were terribly expensive, we were able to book the best (and cheapest) venue, the Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine.  

Since my favorite color is GREEN and any shade thereof, naturally, my main color was: lime green. I am also a  fan of damask print and thought it was very suitable for my tea party.  I made most everything myself from invites to favors...

 Hand-Made Invitations 

  Supplies (quantities vary by the number of invites):

• 5x7 blank invitations from Michael's 
• Green Ribbon 
• 8.5 x 11 ivory card stock
• Color printer 
• Name Labels (download here) Damask-Circle-Labels-Blank 

Steps:

1. I'm pretty good at Publisher, but you could create the template on Photoshop as well, and even word. Make sure to leave space for the name and ribbon.
2. Download the Damask Name Labels, use Photoshop to add your name into the ovals.
3. Print the Damask Name Labels onto the ivory card stock and cut out ovals.
4. Wrap the ribbon around the top of the invite, gluing with any form of glue to the back of the invite.
5. Glue the ovals in the center of the ribbon.

Centerpieces: Flower Arrangements and Table Cards

My flower arrangements were beautifully created by my mom with help from my dear friend, Kristin. It had some of my favorite flowers in bloom at the time: white hydrangea, lime green mums, white roses, and a few bright pink flowers. The vase was 2" short and cylindrical. Wet floral foam was cut almost the diameter of the vase to allow for a 1/2" space between the glass and foam. Limes were sliced and placed around the vase. Super cute!

My table cards were vintage pictures of shoes, purses, and hats I found online, cut out, and glued together.

Favors: Tea Bags & Jam

Tea Bag Supplies

1. Purchase a few boxes of teas for assortment
2.  8.5 x 11 Avery full sheet label paper (5165)
3. Download Blank Tea Labels

Directions: Upload your label PDF to Photoshop and add your design. Print onto the Avery full sheet label paper and cut out. Peel the back and stick the label onto the back side of the tea bag (so you can still see the front with the flavor). 

Jam Supplies:

1. Purchase small jars of assorted jams, or you can make your own jam and bottle them in wholesale bottles.
2. Purchase your choice of 1/2" ribbon
3. 8.5 x 11 Avery full sheet label paper (5165)
4. Download Jar Cap Labels and Thank You Labels. Or download my Lime Green Thank You Labels.
   
5. Hole Puncher

Directions: Upload your label PDFs to Photoshop and add your design. Print the Jar Cap Labels onto the Avery full sheet label paper and cut out. Peel the back and stick the label onto the cap. Cut out the Thank you labels and hole punch the corners. Tie the ribbon around the neck of the jar and add the Thank you card. 

Bridal Shower Games

The Stylish Bride: This one is clearly more fun for the guests, at the expense of the bride. Give the bride thick mittens, blind fold her and give her several strange articles of clothing to try to feel and guess how they are supposed to be put on. This was the result...

  Most Fabulous Hat Contest: all the hats are stunning of course, but it's at the discretion of the bride to select the most fabulous one!

 Stick in the Hole (if you know what I mean ;)

You will need a few brooms and toilet paper. Make even teams with one person from the team holding a broom at one end. All members must put their toilette paper roll onto the stick only using their knees. The first team to finish, wins. This one is a crack up! 

Swing your Ding-A-Ling! 
For this 'interesting' game, you'll need some panty hose, oranges, and chalk. A set of 4-5 is sufficient. Everyone begins at a starting line and must knock their orange with the dangling orange as far as possible. It's not as easy as you think!!

Design the Bridal Dress 

This is a team game so each table is a team. Each table gets a styrofoam cone of the "bride" (a pic of her head will be attached) and a bag full of different fabrics, lace, pins, etc.  The teams get 15 -20 minutes to design a dress on the styrofoam cone.  The bride judges and decides which she likes the best and the whole table will get a prize.  

 

I hope to have inspired a future bridal shower with such a beautiful and fun theme!(Photo Credits: my sister, Selina)

My beautiful friends!