September seaside party

So firstly I'd just like to say that anyone who manages to organise a party and take beautiful photos of all the details has my total admiration.  Despite months of forward planning I was still running round like a headless chicken the whole time during Bea's 4th birthday party.  So that's my disclaimer for the not so brilliant pictures, here they are!

We went through quite a lot of theme ideas from Bea before she decided (with persuasion - she had some pretty crazy ideas) on a seaside party.

I of course started looking for inspiration on Pinterest (my board is here) which is where I saw the idea for lolly invitations.

My husband made a lovely sprinkle number four to match the invitations and I sewed up some simple paper bunting.

Instead of lots of chaotic party games we set up a few activities for the kids.  We had Catch a sea creature (bath toys in a paddling pool to catch in a net) which was suprisingly popular, Get a glitter tattoo, and Make your own windmill.  We also had a colouring table with seaside themed pictures to colour in, and we did pass the parcel at Bea's special request!

After all the fun the food was served in yellow boxes with a lolly name sticker on each.  The food in there was pretty healthy, to make up for the jelly and ice cream and ice cream shaped cupcakes that came afterwards!

I was really pleased with how these looked, and apparently they didn't taste too bad either.

Loved these mini honeycomb decorations from Ikea.

While the kids were eating we served fish and chips (from a quick dash to the chip shop) for the adults in cones.  The birthday cake was another wonderful creation by my sister - a sandcastle of course!

The party bags were mini buckets and spades full of goodies including a stick of rock and real seashell.

All the photos I took of Bea at the party are literally a blur as she was whizzing around having such a good time.  This one was taken before the party and is of her 'excited' face.  Her dress went with the theme pretty well!

Phew, thats the birthday parties done until next summer.  On to Christmas then!

My little flower fairy turns one

It was Nell's first birthday last week (boo hoo!) so we celebrated with a little family party at the weekend.

  The theme was flower fairies and Nell looked lovely in her pretty dress and tiny wings.  She didn't keep them on for long but I managed to get a couple of photos!

I had fun finding fairy themed gifts for the party bags which I packaged up in pretty paper bags decorated with mini doilies, ribbon and a flower fairy tag with each child's initial.  Even the boys got one of these very girly bags but I did put boy stuff inside so hopefully they can forgive me.

My sister made some chocolate cupcakes and I made toadstools from fresh strawberries and mini marshmallows to go on top.

My sister also made the fantastic toadstool house cake.  It was a crime to cut it.  We did though.

Pretty fresh flowers on the food table.

Three days later I haven't taken down the honeycomb balls or bunting yet.  They look lovely with the green kitchen walls and its nice to feel festive while eating breakfast!

For the food I went tea party style with 6 kinds of sandwiches and finger food followed by scones, macaroons, cakes and biscuits and yummy fresh berry cones.

I think the birthday girl enjoyed herself - Its hard work turning one!

Over the rainbow

Bea has known virtually for the last year that she wanted a rainbow birthday party and we were happy to oblige!  There is a big trend for rainbow themed parties at the moment so I was able to find plenty of inspiration for my pinterest board!

This was the invite and we used the rainbow design elsewhere in the party too.

I made a balloon garland using this tutorial which looked great over the arch in our garden.

Bea wore a fantastic rainbow tutu from Strawberry Annies.  Here she is attempting to bash the pinata.  When asked what the best bit of her party is she says the hitting - I can assure you she is talking about the pinata!

Another game we played was stick the pot of gold on the end of the rainbow using the rainbow from the invitations.

I had lots of fun doing the party bags.  I used these striped paper bags

And filled with lots of rainbow themed goodies!

I can't take credit for the cake - my sister made it - right before flying to Singapore.

The striped layers inside got a few 'oohs' when the cake was cut.

The whole dessert table was rainbow themed - there were rainbow jellies, cupcakes, fruit kebabs, oreo pops and chocolate dipped marshmallows.  All inspired by the pins on my rainbow party board.

It might have been nice to have a real rainbow on the day but I was happy to settle for the last hot day of the summer!

Waiting...

Its not easy being 3 days over due - especially as Bea was 9 days early.  We didn't have to do this horrible trying to be patient thing last time!


We have been doing lots of home based activities this week as I don't feel like straying too far from home, including baking cakes.  Bea decorated these all by herself.  

A mile stone...

It may not seem like much, but the fact that I can even look at these photos is an indicator of how much better I feel now I have stopped throwing up.

I took them a couple of days before I ended up in hospital with hyperemesis and I was already feeling quite rough.  We were having our nephew and nieces round for tea before going to the panto so I forced myself to bake these cupcakes even though to me they looked absolutely revolting!

For some reason they often came to mind while I was being sick so for months I have avoided looking at these pictures.  Today, I think they actually look quite nice!  I must be nearly back to my normal self at last.