bee's party
On Thursday we had a few of Bee's friends come over to help celebrate her birthday. My advice to those of you throwing a party for a three year old: Keep the guest list on the short side. We had 6 kids (plus my own two) and we were plenty busy!
I fell in love with the idea of a felt birthday crown after reading SouleMama's amazing book. I had high hopes of embroidering this one, but it ended up being just glued together. Bee loved it anyway. We made paper versions for each of her friends to color and sticker and wear at the party.
We blew all kinds of bubbles and played all kinds of games (the most popular being where we hid balls all over the backyard and had the kids run and find them.. endlessly entertaining for the 2 year old set).
We ate fancy peanut butter and jelly, clementines, round jello jigglers (a request from the birthday girl herself), pretzel sticks, grapes, and juice boxes (of course).
And cupcakes. We used the leftover dots from our cake, and pressed them into freshly frosted cupcakes. Bee blew the candles out in one go.
Favors were round gumdrops and candy dots in yellows, oranges, pinks and reds. The tags are made from metal rimmed office supply tags with sticker letters (in the scrapbook section of any craft store).
All in all, one fun party.. One special little birthday girl.
(Before you make fun of me for spending time on details that no 2 or 3 year old would ever notice, please understand that I cannot control my party planning habits. After working at Martha Stewart for so many years, these things just happen.. they can't be stopped. Ask my husband, he's tried.)
02.3.2009
Reader Comments (80)
I love it. A perfect party is in the details so no judgment here!
What a cute and fun party! My son will be 15 in april. I doubt I'll get away with the polka dots but there's no way I'll skimp on detail. I never worked for Martha but I sure learned thing or two from reading her magazines :)
I just started reading your blog. I love your ideas and this party is just gorgeous. So inspiring!
No judgement it looks fantastic. I can just about remember my third birthday, it was at a hall filled with an indoor bouncy castle, a ball pit and loads of soft shapes being thrown around!!
I think it looks gorgeous, and its so not over the top, its just perfect!
Well done!
I think if you can do something well you should do it well. You'd lavish this much attention on your work so why not for your child. I completely love your blog, you use such a delightful colour palette and your posts are always beautifully presented and well edited. I look forward to reading what you have to say and usually have to stop by at least twice a week. Keep up the good work.
no fun shall be made, because you are planning (and showing) the parties i wish i were having. the ones i ooohed over in martha stewart.
and i'm so glad you took the photo of the table "before".
adorable! we had a dot-themed party for my daughter's second birthday (she's 6 now) and it was one of my favorites.
A dear friend has always said that "Love is in the details!" The party is perfect and so sweet. I personally have not recovered from Martha Kids going under and love that your blog reminds me of the wonderful things that were presented in the magazine. Thank you!
Everything about this party made me happy. Your daughter is so lucky because she will have so many great memories.
Well done, Brooke! I love these glimpses into your west coast life.
It's beautiful - truly beautiful!
did you ever reveal what your hubby ordered online?
Why should you stop? I think young children can appreciate the "good things" just as much as we do!
Anyway, at least she can look back at the pictures when she's older and and remember all the wonderful parties her mom threw for her!
And like Anna said...it's my little daily dose of Martha Kids when I read your blog. Love it!!!
Looks like a wonderful party...it may seem like a lot of planning for a three year old party but when she's older she'll look at those pictures and think, wow, mom is cool...or maybe in her teen years, wow, mom, you're crazy...either way, fun.
Happy birthday to Bee!
My son's first is coming up and I can't wait to plan a fun (and hopefully cute!) little party for him. The little details are part of the fun. Your projects are so inspirational and wonderfully photographed. Love!
Hi Tia..
I did reveal what my husband ordered.. a very fancy Italian band saw. (Because the ones made in America are just for amateurs.. or so he says.)
I cannot stop thinking about your polka dot cake, you did such a fantastic job. When your daughter is older and looks at pictures, she'll appreciate it.
I wanna be 3! That looks a fun party to go to. Do all the details you want... you may not have too much of a say in a few more years... and the pictures are so beautiful!
Oh dear - this is lovely. I feel so cheered up now!