Photo credit: Sparkle My Party (original photo credit: unknown)
So anybody who ever said that planning a birthday party while running a new business and preparing for our summer activities was a good idea, well they should be scolded immediately! The entire month of May was insane! The school year ended for both Coach and Lil Hatt as our little business keeps growing and now, somehow, my little guy’s birthday has snuck up on us leaving me less than a handful of days to make this the extra special day he’s been excited about for months.
Can anyone else relate?
As with any party I throw, I typically start off with my handy-dandy check list that I pull out with notes from the previous year’s successes and failures and suggestions for new things to implement. Except… Gulp… I couldn’t find the notes from his party last year or the year before. Apparently, several files were corrupted and erased on my flash drive. After a few tears, a glass of wine (alright, maybe two) and several words I cannot repeat here, I decided to build anew.
As I mentioned in my first blog post about Lil Hatt’s birthday, I start off with a theme. This year it was easy as I had wanted to do a farm theme last year. I always start with the invitation. Call me old-fashioned, but I still love to send a paper invite. I found this adorable invitation at Sweet Cotton Paperie on Etsy. Mia was so easy to work with and she customized some of the wording for me. I mean seriously, how cute did this turn out???
Next on the list is THE LIST. I break down the menu, the snack table, the beverages, the cutesy names for the games and food, the activities, the decorations, the party favors, the house needs and most importantly – the schedule. This is what keeps me sane and on track throughout the process. (Can you tell I like lists and checking them off?)
I found this adorable shirt at Pixie Stitch LLC on Etsy. I have purchased several shirts from this shop and they are very well made, good quality thick cotton shirts that withstand washing, drying and Lil Hatt. There are so many styles, colors, and themes to choose! I had a custom shirt made last year for the 4th to go along with his birthday shirt and it still fits him!
In addition to what I purchased at Nebraska Furniture Mart, here are a few more decorations and the start of the party favors. The animal figures and animal stickers came from Oriental Trading Company. I purchased the “Farm Animals Action Figures” and the “Vinyl Farm Animals” from OTC. I wouldn’t get the vinyl farm animals again as they are teeny tiny and they don’t stand on their own very well. However, the farm animals action figures are awesome and I received 23 animals for only $13.99! I plan on using them on the tables for decoration and then the kids can take them home, as well. I just loved the cute “Simple Face Farm Animal” stickers which were only $2.55 for a roll of 100. They will be on the tables and in the favors as well. The “3-piece Garden Tool Set” ($7.80 for prime members when purchased as an ad-on) and the planters ($12.49 for 8 planters) I found on Amazon. Each favor will include one tool, a planter, strawberry seeds (the kids will get to plant these during the party), a custom activity sheet (more on these in the next post) and a few other goodies I’m still pulling together.
The adorable banner at the top of this post came from Sparkle My Party on Etsy as well and it will hang on my mantle with the party favors lined out below.
I can’t wait to share with you all how it all comes together in the next post! Wish me luck and sleep this week. I think I’m going to need it!
Love,
