Beckett and Jack's Monster Bash

Today is my son Beckett's 3rd birthday. We actually celebrated over a month ago with his cousin Jackson. Jack's birthday is at the beginning of August and Beckett's at the end of September, but since all our family comes to town we thought we'd save them an extra trip and celebrate together somewhere in the middle. It worked great that I could get the celebration done before school started, too.

But then school started and I never got it on the blog! So in honor of his real birthday today, I figured I better get it done!

My sister Rach and I decided on a theme around Christmas last year when Beckett and Jack really started playing well together...and together they can be little monsters. I also love Ugly Dolls, which Beckett calls "his little monster", and one of our favorite books also features monsters, so monsters it was!

I found the perfect paper and drew some similar images on my computer to match and created the invitations from there.

Of course I enlisted the help of my friend Rachel at *golden* to make the boys some shirts, which NEVER once disappoint. Ever.

We had the party at my sister and B-I-L's house. Of course guests were greeted with a door sign, but this year thanks to my sister Kara, we kicked it up a notch...now I don't know if we'll be able to go without sidewalk chalk greetings as well!

We found the perfect place to set up the party goods at R & B's house as well. We just cleared off their buffet, covered the large picture that hung above it with coordinating fabric, and set our goods out on display!

Two of those inspirations I mentioned were on out on diplay...the Ugly Dolls, and copies of the book Tickle Monster, which also doubled as guests books.

While we were waiting for people to get there, I snapped this pic of my brother in law Brad trying to keep the kids calm while Rach and I finished up the details...love it!

To keep the kiddos occupied during the party, I also had two activity buckets ready to go. One was "Doodle Monsters" where kids could use monster stickers, markers, etc to draw a monster picture. The other was "Monster on a Stick" where kids made monster puppets with various art supplies. Their favorites were of course googly eyes. Who doesn't love a nice pair of those babies {or three?!}?

For afternoon snacking we had some candy and these PERFECTO cookies with fondant toppers from Two Sugar Babies, who are all the rage in the party world these days. Beckett carried a set of 4 of these fondant toppers around in wax paper for days ahead of time, showing everyone who came to our house. I was glad they didn't come earlier or they would have all been a little more "looked at" than I would have liked!

Everyone had a good time both eating AND playing with the monster cookies!

After a crazy round of gift opening {having two kids opening at the same time is WACKO! Good thing we had our two sisters taking notes for us as the paper was flying in every direction!} it was time to eat.

My favorite thing we did as far as dinner was concerned is that we made a "kids table" by keeping the real table legs locked on our folding table and instead using some sturdy totes as legs. It made it the perfect height for the kids to be able to sit right on the floor...I just put down some round placemats as "chairs" and voila! I will definitely do this again...saves on the amount of folding chairs you have to find!

Then it was time for cake. I usually have my BFF make my cakes, but she had a two month old {remember that "tweet" baby Aubrey?} and had foot surgery 10 days prior, so I thought I better give her a break. I asked a friend who has taken cake classes with Tracie to make me a cake...I almost died when I saw it! Beckett could NOT get over it!

We couldn't eat those monsters. They looked too real. Rach kept them on her counter for a week and half just admiring them. Nina, you're the best!

Instead of regular hats I made monster hats just for fun. They were also a hit. A sister pic with hats on has become tradition as well...

I love this one...

All in all, a great day. The kids were worn out by the end, so the birthday boys decided to put their new pajamas on that they received as a gift that day...

Don't my older kids do a great job of picking out gifts that fit the theme of the party?! Ha. My favorite part is Beckett's dirty feet!

Happy 3rd birthday, Beckett James! Your family loves you!

A summer of running...

Hello there, you patient friends and fans. I know its been a while.

I've been...let's say...RUNNING. On so many levels.

Last year was rough...pretty hectic. I was trying to work full time, run a side business, not to mention trying to be a good mom. I realized once I had 211 people on my waiting list that I was taking on too much and I stopped taking names. I started 2010 just taking orders for friends and family.

By June, I was happy to just have a steady stream of projects to work on without having to stay up until 4 am to get them finished. I had finally emerged from what we call here at the Newman household as my "Etsy Coma".

After I wrote my last post on June 21st, I decided that this summer I was going to only be the best mom I could be. I needed to give my kids back some time. Don't get me wrong...even during the Etsy Coma I still feel like my kids and I did a lot, but not as much as we could have if I had been more awake and present. So I decided to give up blogging here for the summer.

We "ran" somewhere pretty much every day...to the beach, to grandma's, to the pool, to the cabin, to the fountain park, to the library, etc, etc. I also started running again {literally} and am feeling so strong mentally and physically. So now that we're here, I decided I can blog again! My posts will be further in between than they were in the past, but I'll be around.

Thanks so much for all your kind Facebook and Email inquiries as to where the heck I've been. I'm still here...just slowing it down a bit for now. Don't count me out just yet...we've still got big plans for this biz for SOMEDAY. A whole DIY store that's been sitting ready to go for well over year, but that I am too scared will turn into a monster when I do. Dreams of a real space to work in. Dreams of a book. Dreams of employees. But that will have to be saved until my kids are in school full time. For now I'm happy that they are happy and healthy. It is the job I've looked forward to the most for my whole life and I don't want to look back with regrets.

If you even still reading and want to keep up to speed with the Newmans on a personal level, you can check out the friday five, our family bloggity blog. Otherwise I will be back with a post or two here sometime soon...Beckett's monster party, the annual ice cream party, DIY canvasses, etc, etc, etc!

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!