Second Birthday Party Project #5 ~ Gift

Here is the fifth and final project for The Boss' Second Birthday Party! (Thought I better post it before she turns three...jk).

One of my biggest pet peeves are houses that look like Toys R Us threw up in their living room.  There are a few reasons for this but the biggest is that the space no longer belongs to the family but the children and linked to this are all knids of other issues such as greed, entitlement ect.  Since The Boss is spoiled by family and friends Mr. D and I try to focus on one main gift rather than buying her everything in sight.  Don't get me wrong, we spoil her all the time (she loves Starbucks as much as her Mommy) but we are trying to teach her to enjoy what she has.

Last year it was her kitchen seen here, she LOVED it.  This year I really wanted to add a table for her to server her "guests".  While it took a little convincing Mr. D eventually saw the benefit in it and since then we have enjoyed many "romantic dinners" of coffee and soup served by an all too eager two year old waitress!

I purchased this table on Kijiji for $25.  We sanded and painted it to co-ordinate with The Boss' room.

We sanded and primed it first since it had a varnish on it.

I took The Boss to her room to get dressed and Mr. D brought out her table...she instantly knew what to do.  I think it was love at first sight.    She wasted no time at all.

We then took the table to her bedroom where she hosted her first tea party...and Mr. D again found himself wrapped right around her finger.  He swore he would NEVER sit at a little table drinking tea...

Looks pretty comfortable here to me.  Dad of the year, and the happiest two year old in town!

Linking up here:

Sugar and Dots
Domestically Speaking

Second Birthday Party Project #3- Cupcakes

The cake is a huge part of any birthday party, and I must admit I lack creativity when it comes to this detail.  Last year my sister iced my cake for me because the idea of icing it stressed me out.  This year I saw some cute cupcakes online and decided to try them.  Cute Minnie Mouse Cupcakes, yes please!

This was a super easy project.  Our family loves chocolate cake so I used chocolate cupcakes and iced them with cream cheese icing turned pink with food colouring.  I used white chocolate chips to mimic Minnie's dress.

Next, I made bows to top the cupcakes, and used the tops of oreo's as ears.  I wanted just the tops so I brought in a specialist...my husband!  When watching tv we often share an oreo (or two or three).  I eat the tops and he eats the bottoms with the icing.  So he is a pro at carefully separating the tops from the bottom.

Icing on, chocolate chip dots placed, ears in, and bow topping it off!  Simple yet adorable!

Second Birthday Party

Yesterday we were able to celebrate The Boss. 
It was wonderful!
Here are some of the highlights! 
Many tutorials to follow.

Second Birthday Party Project #1- Invitations

The party is right around the corner...again.  Fingers crossed everything will go as planned so I thought I would begin the series of posts on crazy party planning for a two year old.  Let's start with invitations!  I saw these adorable invitations and knew I had to have them.

Since we are just having a small family party I only needed about 4 and could make them myself.  I saw a few similar versions then set to work.  This might not be the very best way to make them but it is definitely the easiest.

Supplies:

• black scrapbook paper (I got five sheets for a dollar at Michael's during a sale...3 black and 2 other colours for other party decor)
• white computer paper
• computer and printer
• glue 
• scissors
• ribbon (on sale 50% off + 25% off at Michael's and I will use the rest for another project)
• lighter (this is to melt the ribbon and prevent fraying...you can use any warming tool)

First, I found a picture of Mickey that I liked on google images and cut and pasted it into a word document.  I played with the size until it was right.  I then printed it, cut it out and traced it onto the black paper to make the basic Mickey shape and use for a background.

Next, I downloaded a free font call Walt Disney from Urban Fonts .  I opened this in photoshop and typed my text.  Since I didn't know exactly what size I needed I saved it as a jpeg and inserted it as an image in a word document to play with the size until it was the size I wanted.  (*If you know how to do this properly please email me and I will gladly update these directions for others.*)  I then printed the number I needed and cut them into circles.

Once the circles were cut, I glued them on the Mickey cut out.  I then made wholes in the top with my scissors and laced the pink ribbon through.  Remember to burn the ends for just a second to prevent the ribbon from fraying.  Finally, I tied the ribbon in a bow and cut them to the right length.

Done and done.  I would estimate with left over materials it cost me $1.00 for four invitations.  Unfortunately the party was delayed so that date is wrong but they are pretty none the less!

 

Linking Here:
Sugar and Dots
The 36th Avenue
The Foley Fam Unedited 

I'm Planning a Second Birthday Party

Yesterday I talk about how big The Boss is getting.  I cannot believe she will be two in just a few weeks.  Last year, I started planning The Boss' first birthday the day she was born (not exactly that soon, but I planned for a long time).  You can see my many tutorials for this huge event here.  This year I hadn't thought too much about her party until my niece turned two...she's eight weeks older so that means it's time to start thinking about it.  While my sister was starting her plans she stumbled across a few Minnie Mouse ideas and sent them too me.  Her email read "You should do this...she'll freak." Since my older sister throws awesome parties for her kids I decided to take her advice and start my planning.

I spent sometime Googling Minnie Mouse Parties and found a number of inspirational ideas.  Apparently my two year old isn't the only one obsessed with Minnie Mouse.

The first thing that caught my eye where invitations over at lil sugar.  Last year I used a photo invite, so these would be a new project, and a change from last year.

 
I found these over at Patty Cakes Bakery.  She made them for her daughters 2nd Birthday as well.  They are adorable but clearly way to difficult for my comfort level.

 I've seen this idea in a number of cute versions.  It seems a little easier and closer to my cake decorating ability.
 

And I saw cute thank you tags here.

I really want the decor to be simple and subtle but still fun and whymsical since it's a toddler party.  I plan on using balloons similar to these.  Maybe it's because I was born in the 80's and attended a number of showers from the mid 80's to early 90's but I really like helium balloons.

Since I was in the mood and feeling inspired I took a trip to Michaels to gather my supplies.  As always, I have more ideas than I have time for. Stay tuned.

 

April Fools Baby

This weekend my sweet niece turned two!
I remember when I heard my sister was in labour with her.
It was two weeks early, so Mr. D convinced me it was an April Fools joke.

No, joke...this sweet girl was on her way!

 

We love this sweet girl to absolute bits!

The Boss and her act like twins separated for years whenever they see each other...

even if it's only been a day.

 

 

My sister did a pink and red party for her sweet girl.

It was fun and Girly, just like Little A.

We had so much fun.
We ate great food and enjoyed sweet treats.
The Boss enjoyed eating the turret of the castle cake.
She really couldn't get enough of eating cake out of the cone.

Happy Birthday Little A!  We love you so so much!

This Man Knows How to Throw a Party...

A few weeks ago I mentioned that my older sister turned 30!  Yes, it took me this long to post about it but work has really been getting in the way of my free time lately.  Anyway, I wanted to post a few pictures of the amazing party my brother in law hosted.    Her definitely knows how to throw a party!

I really should've asked him to guest post about this party because he is going to kill me for the butcher job I do of this.  In the category of foodie or fatty, I am a total fatty.  I appreciate something that tastes good but definitely don't crave food....not even when I am prego!  None the less I appreciate a good party and artistic appearance so this is my best effort to explain this amazing meal.

We started with antipasto plates.  Guests were met at the door with a glass of champaign or wine and stood around mingling and nibbling on these meats, cheeses and olives.

My Brother-in-Law is big into the shock factor so he had taken all their furniture out of their dinning room, built a new table for the event and hung a white canopy over the table to all go with his Italian theme.

We then sat down and ate until we were sick.  Course after course Jared and his team brought out beautiful dishes.  They were amazing.  I accidentally missed a picture of the soup and the desserts...oops, I must have been busy eating.

Each course was better then the previous and a full meal if you were ever invited to my house.  No one went home hungry!  Jared spared no expense.