Avery's Par-TEA!

Hello peeps!  Did you miss me? I didn't think so. =)

I thought I'd pop on over here since we hosted a successful birthday for my daughter Avery yesterday. Here's how the year-in-the-making party evolved...

The thought of a tea party actually started when my mom and sister and I were in a little shop up north two summers ago and found little plates shaped like teapots.  My mom said, "That would be a cute theme some day when Ave is a little older!"  The planning for her party for last year was already well underway at that point. 

I loved Avery's birthday last year...the decorations were everything I love about parties.  Loved the flowers, loved the colors, loved everything.  So at that party my sister and I decided that she would use the same goods for my niece Finley's party.  I fixed everything up right away so that Finley could use it...but that only made me like it even more.

As I've said before, now that there are also 5 grandchildren on each side of our family, birthday parties seem to come so often so we've started to combine parties where we can.  At that party of Avery's last year I decided that Tate and Avery should probably have a family party together in January this next year instead of each having a separate one so my family could save on driving.  Long story short, I decided it would be perfect if I had a kids party for Aves right at her birthday time and then a family party later, which allowed me to REUSE her last year's decorations!!  Avery and I discussed a tea party theme {which turned into a par-TEA thanks to a great idea from my friend Heidi.  Thanks Heidi...love you!}.

I started collecting little things right away...in fact when I pulled it all out this past weekend my husband said "Haven't you had that for like a year?"  Well, yes, actually, I have.

Okay...talky, talky, yada, yada...onto the party.

First, the invitations...

We also decided somewhere along the line {probably about the time we decided to buy Ave an American Girl doll for her birthday} that we needed a twist, so we decided it would be a "dolly & me par-tea" instead, which could not have worked more perfectly.  Guests were asked to bring their favorite doll and to wear a dress or skirt.

The invitations were inspired by last year's flower theme and invitations so we could incorporate them, but also the biggest inspiration for the party:  this Michael Miller fabric which just so happened to coordinate with  the paper and fabric from last year perfectly.  Sometimes the stars just align.  Can you say that when you're talking about fabric?  Well, I just did.  So there.

Onto the actual party...we decided to have the party over lunch time so that we could incorporate a little lunch into the day.  The guests arrived at 11:00.  First the girls did a little running and playing in Avery's room.  This also allowed me 5 minutes to snap a few pics of the decor that I meant to take way earlier that morning, but you know how time flies and I was lucky I was dressed when the guests arrived!  I didn't even have time to put lipstick or jewelry on.  =)  I did manage to get Avery and her dolly Hadley into their dresses.

Most of the decor I put in our dining room for the tea party.  I also used a long table that I put on tubs on the floor so it would be the right height for the girls to sit by in our living room to do projects for the day.

When all guests had arrived, I settled them down by letting each girl color their own teapot coloring sheet {which I designed and printed with each girl's name on it...except for Avery's!  She said, "Mom, don't I get one?!"  Oops!!  A couple seconds of designing and pushing print and we were all good!"}

When they were all done coloring, they each had a chance to make their own necklace with my favorite beads...if you have a daughter I would seriously suggest going and buying these...HOURS of fun!

These are two of my favorite photos from the day:

Paige showing me her jewelry and Ava's reflection in the mirror as she checks herself out...

After all guests were well adorned with necklaces, bracelets, and rings, we decided we better use the opportunity to get a group photo before anyone ate and got dirty.  So we put a hat on everyone {including their dolls!} and got a few pics.

Since our littlest two guests wouldn't pose for a pic with Avery because they were too busy trying to retrieve the beads their moms told them they couldn't have, their little bums will have to do.

Then it was time for tea!  The menu consisted of deli sandwiches, fruit kabobs, macarons, and tea that strangely tasted something like apple fruit punch.  =)

The girls were so dainty and polite.  I loved every second of it!  While I cleaned up the table and got ready for cake my sister Kara painted the girls' faces.

Then is was time for the singing and cake,

After a quick round of gift opening, it was already time for the girls to go home.  They each brought home the teacup and saucer they used at the party, the necklace/bracelet/ring they made, and some candy.

I was disappointed that as the girls were leaving the mailman showed up with the box of crayons that I had ordered for the girls to color their teapots with.  =(  They are adorable and I am so sad to send them back.  

Overall it was such a great day.  We were tired and happy people when the girls left!

Happy 5th birthday, Avery Elaine!  Love you girl!

...................................

Vendor details...

Avery's dress:  *golden*

Doll dress:  Dressurdolly2

Teacup ring:  My Little Red Wagon

Macarons:  Sparkle's Kitchen 

Cake:  My BFF Tracie

Cake topper doll:  Lollipop Workshop

Poms:  PomLove

Teapot plates:  Plates and Napkins
 

Grass mats:  Heart to Heart

Name card holders:  beaucoup

Polka dotted tea sets:  Constructive Playthings

Teapot crayons:  Gaddy Nipper Crayons

All paper decorations and invitations were made my yours truly!

If you see anything else that I am forgetting, let me know...glad to give a shout out where one is due!

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!