Strawberries and Cupcakes

I work part time at the most adorable baby store you have ever seen, called Lauren Alexandra. This past week we received a shipment of a new line called Jelly The Pug. Their sweet designs remind me of items my mom would have put me in when I was little. It definitely has a bit of a vintage feel to it.

Part of the Spring line is an apron dress and a baby bubble with the sweetest cupcake and strawberry print. It got me thinking...wouldn't this make for an adorable Birthday theme? Especially if you have a little girl with a summer birthday...this would be PERFECT!

(pictured)
Apron Dress $52
Baby ruffle bottom Bubble $38.50
Both available at Lauren Alexandra Bebe Boutique Brookside location, in Kansas City

So Grown Up...

When does age 2 suddenly seem like age 6? We got Julian all ready to go this morning for his first day of Mother's Day Out (pre-pre-school) and as I packed his lunch I felt like I was sending him off to Kindergarten! He had a bit of a rough day. Apparently it started out great, but when he realized I wasn't coming back for a while and that he had to nap there he got kind of upset. I think it was on and off tears all day.

I picked him up to find a very tired, but still pretty happy guy withn a big smile on his face. 2 is tough, they don't quite understand everything yet and in their eyes 7 hours way from mom is a long time! I missed him like crazy, but I got a MILLION things done. I am hoping it just gets easier from week to week.

On a lighter note, we did celebrate his 2nd birthday (early) because my parents decided to visit for the long weekend. We had an impromptu, very casual, but very fun celebration. It was so gorgeous this weekend, we spent a lot of time outside.

it's always hard to get a toddler to smile...

how sweet is this pic? His twin cousins are the best!

a new car to add to the collection with some help from his Pappy

slightly overwhelmed by all the excitement

Our very "tidy" son didn't want to get his hands dirty in the cake. So mom and dad showed him how it was done...

yep, that's how you get your toddler to eat his cake!

We had an amazing weekend, and I hope you all did too!

Blissful Butterflies

Rebekah from a Blissful Nest did the sweetest butterfly birthday party for her daughter, Lauren. Rebekah makes very cute paper products, so it was no surprise that the party turned out perfect. The pink and yellow color theme is obviously a favorite of mine (I used the colors for Gigi's shower). It's so cheerful, especially for a late summer party...

isn't the striped fabric fantastic?

cuter than cute Birthday girl

adding a ribbon to the top of the stand is very festive

what an outstanding little cake!

Stay tuned to her blog this week, she is going to give some tips on how to duplicate the dessert table and other DIY's from the party!

Sprinkles and Fluff

via Amy Atlas

Cupcakes are certainly holding their own in the popularity department. Everything from party decor, to clothing, to housewares. They seem to be everywhere! I adore them (to eat) and I also think they make for a perfect birthday party theme. My niece had a Cup"Kate" themed party 3 years ago, here are some pics...

from the chandeliers...

down to her shirt...

If you are planning a party for your little one and needed a cute outfit, Etsy has an AMAZING selection. Here are a few super sweet favorites...mixed in with a few of my own cupcake inspired hair bows!

$25 by Donna Johagar

$6 by Mel-Belles

 

$28 by Green Apple Boutique

$6 by Mel-Belles

$30 by Bella Claire Baby

$6 by Mel-Belles

$18 by Elise Claire Designs

$6 by Mel-Belles

Traditional, Sweet, Charming, and everything in between...

The Party Dress is having a great giveaway by one of the most darling Kids Party decor/gifts sites that I have come across!  The site is called Kate Landers Events . She has everything from paper products, to favor ideas, pretty little things for your birthday girl to wear and wonderful gifts as well. I love her old-fashioned point of view. Her items are classic, but SUPER cute. I am so glad I found her, because there are many things that I know I would want if I was throwing a party...

What I really adore is all of her very "girly" items...

Festooned Party Hat $16.50

Birthday Princess Crown $18

Corduroy Dress with Peter Pan collar-CAN BE MONOGRAMMED!!! $65

Fabric Napkins (how pretty!) 10 for $22.50

customized stickers...perfect for favor bags or cups or on the envelope of an invite. 10 for $7-$9

If you want to enter Kate Landers giveaway on the Party Dress, go here...

Scarlett's "Tu-Tu" Sweet 2nd Birthday!

A Scout reader came to me with a challenge. To come up with a "theme" for her daughter's 2nd Birthday. She is a working mom, with 3 little ones (her littlest is only a few months). I wanted to give her something easy, cost-efficient and something that would tie in with her daughter's Feb 10th (close to Valentine's day) Birthday! My theme for her is a "Tu-Tu" Sweet Birthday! A mix of tulle, a candy bar, and lots of pink and red!

If you are somewhat computer savvy, there are many vendors on Etsy that make printable invites. You can save yourself a ton of money this way!

$10 for the print template!!!! By Parties by Hardie on Etsy

I think that a candy table is the new "centerpiece". It has a little something for everyone, and it can be the focus of your party. How darling is this red and pink bonanza?

image courtesy of partywishescv.blogspot.com

If you don't want to do the boards behind the table, you could just simply hang a cute banner...

$23 by the Crafty Boutique on Etsy

I really do love cupcake toppers, I would use these party dress toppers to tie in with the "tu-tu" theme...

$7 for a set of 6 by Jean Knee on Etsy

And of course, the party girl needs her very OWN Tu-Tu!

$35.99 for the whole outfit!

2nd Birthday Pink cupcake tutu outfit by Tutu Cute for Cadence on Etsy

$25 Pink/Red Sweetheart Tutu by my Posh Baby Couture on Etsy

$26 Be My Valentine Tutu by Little Fortune Cookie on Etsy

AND...the icing on the cake? The perfect hair accessory...

$15 Wool/Felt Flower Posy headband by Pink Little Posies on Etsy

$9.95 by Ribbon Candy Hair Bows on Etsy

and a shameless plug...

$6 By Mel-Belles on Etsy

Birthdays on the brain...

Between thunderstorms, a bad headache and planning 2 BIG birthdays, I am just not able to sleep tonight! So, here I am...watching re-runs of Sex and the city and working on a blog post...I can't help but write about birthdays, as I am in the middle of planning Julian's first.

The big trend right now is custom birthday tees. My good friend Casey sent me 2 that I have to share with you, and I found some great options on Etsy as well. If you want your little guy or gal to look extra special on their big b-day, invest in a cute shirt!

custom cupcake tee $24 by planetpudge on Etsy

It's my Birthday tee $29 by Appaman

Birthday Dragon shirt 39.95 on Squeeze Hugs

Birthday cupcake Monster tee $39.95 on Squeeze Hugs