Bird Birthday Bash

I have a SIX year old. What?! And my 6 year old is obsessed with birds and nature. What's a party-designing-mama to do... Create an Audubon themed birthday party, that's what!

Every year Finley celebrates his birthday with his cousin, Grayson, for a family celebration. This year I was a little nervous asking my sister-in-law if she was "cool" with a bird theme! Are birds all the rave with boys... because Lora said Grayson loves him some birds too! ;) The bird theme was a GO!


The hunt for Bird and Nature themed ideas began! Green grass table runners, a tree trunk charger/platter, branches, rocks and pine cones helped decorate each table. I found small realistic birds and nests at the dollar store {score!} and we gifted Finley with a few plush birds that I used as decor for the party.

Each little Bird Watcher received a hand-made vest {made by my amazing mama, "grandma barbara" ... the grandma that made the jet packs, tutus and felt pizzas!} adorned with an owl patch and "official bird expert" sticker! Grandma Barbara spoiled the kiddos with plenty of outdoor necessities to top of each Bird Watching outfit... Mini flashlights, mini compasses, binoculars and safari hats! SO fun!

 We sent the kids out on a Nature Scavenger Hunt! They needed to collect elements from nature and look for certain Wisconsin Backyard Birds! Thank goodness for a beautiful autumn day in Wisconsin!

Each Bird Fanatic left with their own bird feeder, so they can continue to watch birds from home!

It was fun and MESSY making our home-made, pine cone bird feeders!

Each "Early Bird" got their own baggie of gummy worms to snack on after the scavenger hunt! Yum Yum!

I had fun making sweets for the outdoors theme with chocolate acorns {made from chocolate kisses, mini nutter butters and chocolate chips!} and dirt dessert!

We called out party location the "Leis Audubon Center", as it was transformed into a Bird Watchers dream!

Here's my favorite Bird Watcher, Finley, accommodating me with a pose in all his gear! He LOVES to draw birds, so we had to use his art as decoration throughout the party too...

Happy Birthday to these two cuties!

I had a blast creating a unique and specialized theme for two special and unique boys! When Fin said he wanted a "bird party", I admit, I was a little nervous. But once I got going, I couldn't stop and found this theme to be my favorite so far!

And, by gosh by golly, my shop is officially OPEN again for business! I have stretched my maternity leave as far as I could. This whole mama of three business is NO JOKE and has taken me longer than I expected to get back into the swing of things! Click HERE to peruse my shop and HERE to order the printable designs to create your own BIRD THEME party!

Rocket Birthday Party

3... 2... 1... Blast Off to Finley & Grayson's Birthday Party! Oh man, was this a FUN party to plan! My sweet Finley Jack is turning 5 on Sunday and his cousin turned 2 last week, so we joined their party together, for the second year in a row, to celebrate these out-of-this-world little guys! {Be warned... this post is photo overload!}

I started dreaming up this party theme when I saw these sweet jet packs on Pinterest! {I can admit when I copy am inspired!} I showed them to Finley and the rest was history! I asked my go-to DIYer and avid Diet-Coke-drinking mama to "whip up" 10 jet packs as party favors and away she went! She took her job very seriously and held fittings on Finley with different prototypes. Her final version had a walkie-talkie attached and everything! These were legit, people.

Lime green polka dots and Blue stripes/chevron were the back drop for the party designs and decorations. I thought they were the perfect colors for a boy themed party! A simple sketch of outer space on a chalkboard contrasted the busy pattern nicely.

A sugary green kool-aid and tasty blue lemonade looked matchy-matchy and fun on display at the drinks station, uh, I mean, Rocket Fueling station!

I worked with a friend to create this amazing cake and cupcakes. So yummy! The cupcakes were spruced up with printable toppers and wraps.

Rocket ships and stars cookies, in green and blue, were also on display on the sweets table... I made these with Finley, and I think I should stick to the computer designs, as I'm not as gifted in the kitchen! :)

I created a fun centerpiece at our dining room table using hanging inflatable planets, a globe and yummy space-themed-treats!

Jet packs, a rocket pinata, astronaut helmets and outer-space-character suckers all tied this rocket theme party together perfectly!

It was fun and easy to make space-themed food to go with the party. A bag of cheese puffs makes for great "asteroids", home-made puppy chow is perfect as "moon rocks" and fruit kabobs shaped like rockets were fun and healthy {why were those not gobbled up as quickly as the other treats?}!

I called the dining room "mission control"...

Simple items at the party were tied into the party by adding a matching printable tag, label or sign...

My friend creates these fantastic material banners, so I had to have one for each window in our main party room! You can order you own, in any color combo, to match your party too!

I found these fun planet party blowers at a local party store and the kids went right to town on choosing their planet and making some noise!

How cute is that sweet almost-5-year-old of mine! I found his astronaut suit online. He wore it for a solid 3 days before the party and was truly upset when I told him he couldn't wear it to school. I wasn't going to go "all out" for this party, but it is because of this boys precious innocence and wonder that makes it still fun for me to spoil him in this way! He told me he wants to be a party planner when he grows up.

Milky way candy bars were, by far, the simplest theme-matching treat, dressed up in a large mason jar and printable tag ...

This was our first year having a pinata at our party. I think it might have to be a new tradition. What a blast to watch these kids try to bust this thing open! It took one of the "big cousins' {uh hum, in his 20's} to finally smash it open!

I used large 8x10 signs in matching colors, with fun expressions on them, to decorate throughout...

My sis-in-law, who teaches kindergarten, borrowed us {lended us? I know all my grammar readers gasp at my horrible writing skills} this rocket ship tent, from her classroom, for the party! Perfection.

We had such a BLAST celebrating Finley & Grayson's birthdays. All of the little cousins sure got their sugar fix at this party!

When hosting a family party, you never know what cooks might show up! ...

It was such a gorgeous fall day, we couldn't pass up a photo-op moment on the green green grass with a pumpkin prop! And, whew, if you made it this far in the post, good for you! I'm sorry for photo overload, but this was too fun of a party and too special of a day, not to gush about!

Create your own out-of-this-world Rocket Party, using my printable invitations and decorations, from my etsy shop ...

Sailor Girl Party :: Navy's 1st Birthday!

Our BABY turned ONE last weekend. I knew I was going to have a nautical themed birthday party for her since she was in the womb. With a name like Navy, it was pretty much her destiny. {P.S... get ready for a photo overload...} Isn't my little sailor darling; Her dress was a vintage Etsy score!

To set the tone for the party, each guest received a simple, preppy invitation in the mail, inside of a 5x7 flat kraft paper bag. I wrapped a {printable} envelope address label around the outside of the kraft bag to personalize them, and secured the "envelope" closed with navy polka dot washi tape! The invites are double sided, with a fun navy polka dot pattern background.

Pink & navy tissue poms made a fun statement as the back drop for the kid's favor table. Each little sailor received their own personalized sailor hat and a box full of "life rings" {aka powdered donuts!}.

The sailor hats were personalized with a printable name tag, attached with staples. A darling, easy and non-permanent way to customize each hat.

Printable "sails" set up at each station let guest's know what was what. We wouldn't want the adults to think those donuts were for them...

The sweets table was filled with delicious treats...

Pink frosted cupcakes and a pink polka dot cake tasted great, as well as matched the theme of the party perfectly!

Mini fruit pizzas were the perfect size for a pop of sweetness!

Printable "sails" attached to masts {lollipop sticks} made for cute cupcake toppers...

Navy's catch of the day {pretzel fishies} spruced up a large wooden boat and made for a tasty take-home treat!

Printable banners, signs and "sails" tied in the decorations in each room... And, how fun is that watermelon boat! I assigned that "pinterest project" to my mama, who happily took on the challenge!

The drink station was a "printable party" dream... with everything labeled, from the water bottles, to juice boxes to flags on each navy striped straw...

Here, the mason jars were tied with a printable tag and life saver and the straws had a printable mini flag attached to each...

I loved the mini water bottles and juice boxes for all the little guest's at the party, and the other stuff for the big kids at the party...

Navy had a {hand-me-down from her brother} sailor hat that I knew she was going to wear for the party, but I wanted each little guest to have one for them self...

Pink tulips, a photo of Navy {from here 1 year photo shoot by the talented Alia Morgan Photography} and DIY paper boats made a charming centerpiece...

Rustic twine and kraft paper off set all the pink & navy sweetness wonderfully...

I had been planning on painting these large letters for Navy's room for, well, a year now, but never got around to it. I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to wrap them in navy polka dot washi tape! So easy, and so cute!

We spruced up Navy's highchair with a printable mini banner, and upgraded a white onesie with an iron-on pink polka dot anchor applique.

Time to blow out the candles! Thank goodness for an older brother and cousin to help...

This little one year old can EAT... she loved every second of her first, and second, piece of cake!

I captured a special moment with grandma and Navy right before the party started and here are some of the happy Crew Mates, sporting their personalized hats...

Navy was spoiled with many new cute outfits, shoes, toys and more... but her favorite part of gift opening was definitely the tissue paper!

We have been BLESSED with an amazing first year with the most chill, "easy", snuggly, quiet, funny, happy baby girl. Happy Birthday Navy Rose. We LOVE you!

Want to create your own Sailor Girl Birthday Party?  Start with these simple and sweet invitations...

Order the printable Sailor Girl Invitation & Envelope Wraps from my Etsy shop...

Make party planning a breeze with these printable Sailor Girl Party Decor designs. Work exclusively with me to customize each piece for YOUR little Sailor Girl!