Cute, fun, and twenty one!

I know I've talked about the fact that I have three sisters before. I've probably talked about the fact that they are my three best friends in the whole world. I probably have even mentioned that there is a bit of an age spread between me and the youngest (12 years, to be exact).

I think that's what makes it so fun...Rach and I are the "big girls" and Kara and Kasey are the "little girls." My mom has always referred to us that way...but it doesn't quite seem right when the older of the "little girls" just turned 21! So hard to believe...

Kara is nothing short of adorable. She is funny, dramatic, and a complete social butterfly. To surprise her at midnight on her birthday {we were all home at my parent's farm} we hung and banner and got her a cake. She was delightfully surprised...

We are so excited to have BOTH our "little sisters" living in Shakopee this summer. Kara is living with Rachel and Kasey with us. It is the first time since I was 19 we have all lived in the same town. One more reason to LOVE this summer!

A delayed thank you...

Can we just pretend this is a month ago as planned? Okay...that's my first thank you. Thank you for pretending. =)

Many thanks to everyone who helped made Tracie's shower so lovely. Most of the decor {banner, cupcake toppers, sign, you know, the usual} I made myself, but there a couple other thank yous to send as well...here is the linked list in case you want to get a hold of any of the goods for your own party!

{bib, onesie, and blanket} *golden*
{poms} PomLove
{mini nests, tree tag holders on the food table} beaucoup
{custom birdie stickers} Sticker You
{paper products} Plates & Napkins
{Are You My Mother? used a guest book} Barnes & Noble

I have had two emails about how to make the canvas I made that matched the decor...leave a comment if you want me to do a DIY tutorial on the blog. They can be used for any party theme or even just in your child's room. Tracie saved hers for the baby's room.

Speaking of that baby...

Aubrey Grace Groshens
Born 5/30/10

They are all adjusting wonderfully and are such a cute little fam.
Mom is already back in her skinny clothes. Puke me.

Excuse me...what I meant to say is that I am so happy for her! =)

And in other news, school's finally out here, which means I am free to roam about the country and blog as I wish!

Consider her feathered...

Tracie and I have been friends since Kindergarten.

I used to stay at her house and we'd use an Easy Bake oven.
Fast forward 25 years and she has graduated to being the cupcake QUEEN.
She is responsible for all my kids birthday cakes and cupcakes & all my PDP photo shoots.
They aren't only cute, they're delicious.

We dream of one day quitting our jobs and opening our own store.
So now that she has finally decided she'd like my kiddos to have a playmate
I couldn't wait to start planning her baby shower to pay her back for all her delicious cake art.
She kind of thought I was crazy since she was only about 8 weeks pregnant at the time.
Sorry Trac, that's how I roll...

As I said in previous posts, Tracie decided she'd like to announce the sex of the baby with the invitations and therefore loved the little birdie "feather her nest" party that I suggested. {invitations here}

After lots of planning with Tracie's sister Lisa, we decided to get together Friday night to decorate Tracie's house.

We talked out the majority of where things would go & decided to finish the rest in the morning.
When I came back the next morning, the decorating was finished.

Tracie, Lisa, and their mom Kathy had finished decorating themselves.
Normally, this would be cause for an extreme stress on my part.
I admit it. Sometimes I can be a party control freak.

There, I said it. Happy now? =)

But the girls took everything I had brought and put it in places I never would have thought of.
It was fabulous. They have wonderful taste, so I should have expected nothing less.
Tired of my jibber jabber? I thought so. So, the details...

As usual, I missed a lot of pictures I wish I would have had.
I forgot pictures of the napkin rings, but I'm sure you can imagine.
I also forgot to take a picture of the guest book...one of my sisters' and my favorites from childhood {which just happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!} The Best Nest.
There were other things, too, but you'll just have to imagine them all.
There were 40 ladies in attendance...getting around to get pictures was not as easy, both because of space and because I talk too much!

All the vendor details later this week...lots of thank yous to pass around!



Love you, Trac! It was such a fun day. Can't wait to meet her!

{Winner} : Sticker You

After a wonderful but crazy weekend of baby shower, family staying at our house, and traveling half way across the state for a confirmation, we have a winner!

According to Random.org, our winner is comment #27!

Congrats, Katie! Email me for details!

{Get the Goods Giveaway} : Sticker You

A few weeks ago Erica contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing a giveaway for her company on my blog. She works for Sticker You, a company that allows you to create and purchase your own stickers. "High-quality, removable, vinyl stickers - the really good ones. Get started with our artwork, or upload your own – it’s easy. Your stickers will be printed, die-cut, and shipped to your door in about a week."

As I looked more into her product I was beyond interested. I told her I didn't want to promote any product I hadn't tried first, so I ordered some birdies for Tracie's shower. The process was VERY easy, even with my own custom art work. They came last week and adorable!

Ready to try your own?

WIN 10 FREE SHEETS!

Can I win my own giveaway? I can't remember. =)

Okay, but for reals...here's how to win:

There are several ways to enter...leave a comment for each to get multiple entries! Please leave all extra entries in the comments here on the blog, not on Facebook or Twitter so I can keep track of them!

1) Simply leave a comment telling me that you visited the "Sticker You-niverse" (stole that from Erica) and what you think.

2) Become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates on Facebook. Already a fan? Leave a comment!

3) Become a fan of Sticker You on Facebook. Leave a comment!

4) Follow pdotsandpirates on Twitter.

5) Blog, tweet, or facebook (or all three!) this giveaway!

U P D A T E D : Deadline to enter is Monday, May 3rd at 5:00. Winner will be randomly chosen and posted on Monday night. Good luck!

Feather her nest...

I am in full swing preparing for my high school BFF's baby shower next weekend. After discussions about many different themes, she ultimately decided she liked the little birdie motif the best. Tracie found out she was having a girl at her ultrasound, but wanted to keep it a secret until the invitations went out. Lord knows I LOVE being in on a secret! =) The theme worked perfectly for this..."a little birdie says Tracie's having a girl!!"

I have done a birdie theme for birthday parties before, but was excited to make the bird a little more adult and sophisticated for this party. I drew a new bird based on some fun paper that I found.

As for envelopes, I've been wanting to try wrap around labels ever since my friend Bridgett of Perideau Designs did it for her daughter Kendall. Remember this project?? I don't think I ever linked to Bridgett's pictures of that party, either...they really are adorable...you should check them out! Anyway, thanks Bridgett for the inspiration on the labels...

They are one long strip of label with the guest's address and your return address all in one (I added a pattern that matched my theme in between) and you just wrap the around the invitation. I found that they were actually super simple and had great design impact. Remember that the label is the first inkling to your guests about what you have up your party sleeve!

Lots more of this party in coming weeks!

Seaside Sand Dollars

If you've been following this blog a long time, you may remember these welcome cards I did for my sister's friend Darcy for her destination wedding to lay on everyone's bed for when they arrived. Another of my sister and Darcy's friends, Alyssa, wanted to get some for her best friend's wedding along with a banner and door sign for the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

Here is the inspiration that Alyssa sent me. Her friend Caitlyn chose "flame" (halfway between red and hot pink) and gold as her colors and sand dollars as her theme for her ocean wedding...

After being worried I wouldn't be able to find any paper that would be "flame" I found the perfect match...

Congrats, Caitlyn!