Birthday

Fancy Nancy Birthday Send Off Spa Day

June 3, 2015 by dailygnome Leave a Comment

Hadley had the perfect gift idea to celebrate my mom on her birthday before she and my dad head to Hawaii this week for a four month interim position {wait, didn’t he retire like eight years ago?} . Inspired by Fancy Nancy she treated GaGa to a special afternoon of pampering at our very own in-home Ooh La-La Spa!

Upon arrival she was greeted with ice cold lemon water and led upstairs to her private spa retreat. First treatment: a sea salt soak with lavender oil.

A sign on the door prevented any unwelcome interruptions:

Followed by a face mask {I think she looks relaxed}

Noshing on sandwiches sans crust is an absolute necessity. All that pampering can make a girl famished {that’s fancy for really hungry}.

Hadley practiced on me earlier to perfect her hand massage technique {that’s fancy for skills}:

Followed by a family birthday dinner topped off with a Pralines + Cream ice cream cake. Next stop: Hawaii! Ooh La La. Aloha!

Outsourcing the Party Planning

May 24, 2012 by dailygnome 2 Comments

This was the year I hung up my Party Planner hat and passed the baton. After the Backwards Party of 2011, Mary Poppins in 2010, and the Race Car Extravaganza when he turned three, I was ready to forego the home venue and outsource my kids’ birthdays.

Plus, I don’t know how I could have topped last year. Custom name tags for each guest? Just the thought exhausts me today.

Ever since Carson attended a classmate’s party last fall, he’d been determined to ring in his sixth year at PlayDate PDX in Northwest Portland. I booked a 9am Saturday slot and we practically had the entire place to ourselves. With fresh brewed Stumptown, a tray of Gabriel’s Bakery bagels, and a Party Host handling every detail, there was nothing to do but relax on the comfy couches and chat up the parents while our kids had a blast in the huge indoor playground.

Carson dancing a jig:

Game on! Red vs blue in the ball blaster arena.

Chocolate cake at 10am? Only if followed by a lollipop chaser.

Goodie bags! {I had to put my mark on something :}

Happy birthday C-man!

Magic Trick

May 11, 2012 by dailygnome 2 Comments

Performing the magic trick tonight, waking up a year older. Happy Birthday C-man, here’s to another year full of surprises and discoveries. Today a fohawk, can’t wait to find out what year six has up its sleeve.

Hadley’s Lollipop Birthday Party

July 20, 2011 by dailygnome 4 Comments

For her third birthday Hadley requested a “Lollipop Party.” I pictured lots of stripes and polka dots in the decor and turned to the talented TomKat Studio and their custom printables for invitations:

From cupcake toppers to favor tags TomKat made it easy to just click and print. I modified a few of the files for additional signage including this door hanger:

LOLLIPOP PARTY DETAILS:
Decor:
Lollipop bouquets: Mason jars filled with epson salt, swirl pops and other lollipops
Assorted solid and polka dot balloons
Colorful globe lights
Paper globes attached to white sticks (stuck into the ground to look like lollipops)

Food:
Since the party took place late morning, we kept the menu fairly easy and light with all finger food
Fruit lollipops (grapes, strawberries & melon skewered on lollipop sticks)
Sandwiches (cream cheese/cucumber; turkey/cheese; PB&J) quartered
Pirate’s Booty
Hummus & veggies
Assorted cheeses & crackers
Cupcakes (chocolate & vanilla topped with Jason’s cream cheese frosting made from fresh-squeezed orange juice)

Lollipop Birthday Party Playlist:

Mixed in with the B-day girl’s favs…

Lollipop | The Chordettes

On the Good Ship Lollipop | Rosemary Clooney

Sugar, Honey, Honey | The Archies

Wonka’s Welcome Song | Danny Elfman

I Want Candy | Bow Wow Wow

The Candy Man Can | Aubrey Woods

Lollipop Party Games:

Similar to a cake walk, all the kids walked around in a circle as Lollipop by The Chordettes played on the iPod. When the music paused, I drew a number and the child standing on that number won a prize (a candy-themed temporary tattoo). After three times, the game ended and all participants received a Dum-Dum Pop.