Almi's Birthday Plans

I have always loved birthdays. I come from a family, though, that isn't much into celebrating birthdays--or should I say, we didn't celebrate them the way I think they should be celebrated! I think you should go ALL OUT to make it a fantastic day from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep (or heck, celebrate all week or all month!). I have been thinking about this and wanting this for my new family for years. I had all these plans to do all these amazing things for my children, yet here I am finally a mom but I am a single mom (I hadn't factored that in) and I am short on cash (in my dreams, money was no object) and I have never been busier (somehow my visions included an over abundance of time, apparently). The theme parties with fun crafts and games and the cupcake toppers, banners, balloons and streamers and matching plates/cups/tableclothes, etc sound like so much fun to plan!! I would love to have the time to organize a parties like this but, well, unfortunately, somehow again this year I just can't see that happening as much as I want it.

Here she is on her birthday last year -- celebrated in July because I didn't have the energy to do it in June last year. How lame is that? Next year is going to be better!!! The reality is I am short on time, money and creative input but I still want the day to be extra special. I mean, come on! She is only going to turn three once! But I have been wondering how on earth I was going to pull this off -- specially since her birthday falls on a Tuesday this year!

On Sunday night I crafted an evite and I sent it out. The invitation read to join us in celebrating her third birthday on Saturday from 10-12. I invited six kids and about twice as many adults. The invitiation stated, however, that the site was still to be determined because when I sent it out Sunday night I still hadn't flushed out the details! I knew I had a busy week ahead with her readoption hearing, Field Day as school and the normal crazed schedule of trying to get ready for our move abroad but I am pretty hopeful that somehow I will be able to pull it together. Based on her interview I am planning on doing something with pink and cats.

While at Target to exchange her flip flops (she has outgrown a size 8 in like two months!) I found a Hello Kitty shirt on sale for $4.88. That's it!, I thought. A Hello Kitty idea could be really cute and now she has the perfect shirt to wear to her party! So, with a theme in mind, I set to work planning the party. On Monday, while she was with the babysitter, I found some cups, plates and napkins at the dollar store with a fun birthday print. They also had matching blowers (those little party favors that you blow into - are they called blowers?!) I figured the favors could be the blowers and some bubbles. Activity ideas were cat whisker face painting and blowing bubbles in the yard.

With that pretty much set, planning the menu was next. A party from 10-12 makes me think of brunchy-type foods, so after discussing this with a couple of friends I have decided on bagels, cream cheese, lunch meats & cheeses, juices and cupcakes. Nothing elaborate and something the adults can enjoy as well. I am so grateful for the sweet friends who have offered to help by hosting or bring foods! That has made pulling this so much easier!

Finally, the fun part for Almi is going to be the cupcakes. I've decided I am going to decorate them like Hello Kitty so I stopped Whole Foods and picked up a yellow cake mix and white frosting, both free of dyes and chemicals, and some pink sugar to dip them in. I also picked up some mini chocolate chips for the eyes, yellow (dye free) jelly beans for the nose, black licorice for the whiskers and red jelly beans for the bow.
So that's the plan. I kinda wish her birthday was July 7 (like I originally thought) because I would have time to plan a great party but hopefully she will still think this is fun! Now wish me luck pulling it altogether!! :-D