The Giving Tree Birthday Party (Jane's 2nd)

We just celebrated Jane's second birthday with a "Giving Tree Openhouse."
I knew being 8.5 months pregnant, I would have to keep it simple...but even that was a little bit of work!

THE INVITATION:
This was so fun.  It was so simple, but I loved the little boy turned into a little girl! 



DECORATIONS:
ok...so there weren't a lot of decorations! 
A big happy birthday banner, made of the pictures in the book, with big pink letters...

I sewed a ribbon across the top of the paper to hook them together...it worked really well!

I did fill a couple large jars with apples and branches...to go with the theme.

THE CAKE:

I actually ordered a plain cake white rectangle cake from the grocery store.  I just wanted a clean slate to work with.  The night before, Rob drew the little girl and the apple on some fondant, and then used drew the tree with melted chocolate on parchment paper.  I know it isnt the typical birthday cake, but I loved it!  I thought it looked kind of artsy...and being mostly black and white reminded me of a page of the book.

THE FOOD:

Since it was a later openhouse, we just had some munchies that went with our Leaves, Apples & Branches theme.

Branches: soft pretzels

apples: apple slices with a yummy dip (cream cheese, brown sugar and heath bar...YUM!)

Leaves: Lime sugar cookies (these usually are white with little specks of green from the lime zest, but I added food coloring to make really green.

Apples: apple juice & sprite

Leaves: Spinach Strawberry salad (with sugared almonds, feta cheese & poppyseed dressing)

Branches: Barefoot Contessa's cheese straws

 

ACTIVITY:

I knew most of the time the kids would be upstairs running around playing, but I did want a small activity just in case... Coloring pages of the book...how simple!

FAVORS:

I found these cute pillows at Pottery Barn Teen.  For every one purchased, a tree was planted!  Every family took one...most of them had at least one little girl that was excited about it!

Because I didnt make the caramel chocolate dipped pretzels for the Holidays, I thought I would make them for favors...and they went with the "branches" theme.

JANE'S SHIRT:

Of course at the last minute I decided to make Jane a shirt for her birthday party. 
I printed the little girl and the apple (with a 2 on it) onto iron-on paper, and ironed it on!  I love that stuff!

She was pretty proud of it...showing it to everyone!

Too Bad I couldnt get a perfect picture...thats how it goes I guess!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

 

The Cookie Exchange

I know it feels like a lot of work in the middle of December,
but this year's Christmas Cookie exchange saved me!

The idea (though it may never work like this)
12 friends
12 DOZEN cookies EACH, pre packaged for you to take home

You take home 144 cookies (12 different types) and make plates for your neighbors!

How fun is that!

This year I made

Orange Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
½ cup butter (1 cube)
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. grated orange rind
½ package semisweet chocolate chips
½ tsp soda
2/3 cup flour
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cup whole oats
½ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in order. Spoon into 1 inch dough balls onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes. *Remember these are not your normal cake-like cookie, they are a lacey looking cookie that will be pretty flat.

Makes around 2 dozen.

Elle was inspired by her party!

Elle can be found in her own mini beauty parlor doing her sisters hair and makeup!

Elle's Beauty Party (Makeup!!!)

We knew a Makeup party was in store for Elle at some point...who knew it would be at 4 years old! 
This was such a fun party for me to plan, but also for the little girls who attended!

INVITATIONS:

Each envelope was tied with this cute ribbon, and inside could be found...

...the invitation (my sister Miranda turned Elle's picture into this 50's beauty queen...it became the theme of the party!) and...

a beauty mask!

boy did I have fun sewing 10 of these!  At first they seemed easy, but I used a stripe fabric, then the batting, the lace and minkie...I think I sewed around each one 3-4 times!

DECORATIONS:

Ok, so decorations were quite simple! I made a couple different fabric buntings to hang various places, and then signs with Elle's picture. The makeup and nail polish helped me decorate!

ACTIVITIES:

I made a little schedule up, to make sure we had time for everything...it looked a little something like this:
10-10:15 coloring make up on faces
10:15-10:45 brunch
10:45-11:00 makeup/hair (divide group in 2)
11:00-11:15 hair/makeup (divide group in 2)
11:15-11:45 manicure/pedicure (altogether)
11:45-12:00 presents & cake and icecream
So they started by coloring until they all arrived:

Brunch was SUPER simple...fresh fruit cups, mini quiches, raspberry lemonade & pastries.

Then they went to their stations.

Hair Salon
(I made them each a cute fabric headband, so doing their hair wouldnt be too hard!)

MAKE UP

NAILS

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Then of course we took pictures of the little Beauties!

CAKE:

I decided to make all the makeup out of fondant, but use real mirrors!  So, after a couple hours of work...Voila!

 

FAVORS:

Each little girl went home with her own set of "Elle" beauty products!

I ordered the bottles online, and filled them with bath and body works lotion, bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner (in pink colors) Then I made labels to match the theme.