SIX months before Princess Ella’s first birthday, I had everything planned to a tee. There was the cake:
I should have been a cake decorator.
All the presents:
Should have been a professional shopper too.
Party games to test the patience of one-year-olds (and parents), guest list that exceeded the space available in our house and event timeline, which went out the window when someone arrived half an hour late. I know, I can hear you all saying “she should have been an event planner’’. No really, I should have.
However, Baby Holly’s first birthday is 2.5 weeks away and I’ve done… nothing. Well, up until a phone call with the lovely Louisa of Everything Is Edible, who has her little Bear’s first birthday planned to within an inch of its life – a birthday which is AFTER Holly’s. It was enough motivation to get my butt into gear.
I might add here that this is not the norm for this list-making, control freak planner. It has something to do with the last one getting out of hand and life having me busier than Angelina Jolie in an orphanage.
Thanks to my wonderful online friends, I now know what to buy a girl for her first birthday when her sister got it all the first time around. It’s been even more important since discovering the Kmart Christmas layby, which included a few items for Holly’s birthday, can’t be picked up until… Christmas. I probably should have seen that one coming, right?
Now I’ve done the invitation. Feel free to download it if you can’t be bothered either making your own or forking out money for expensive ones with special envelopes.
Yep, should have been a stationary designer. Instead, I’ll go and change another pooey nappy. Hmm, of all the things I could be doing…
So this week, I’m thankful for Lou, thankful for my incredible talent (OK, maybe more like Microsoft Word) and thankful for my online friends.
Linking up with the lovely Kate Says Stuff’s Thankful Thursday. Click on the link to find out what others are thankful for this week.
Do you get full-on into party planning mode or do you leave everything to the last minute?
PS. I know these parties are more about parents celebrating surviving the “challenging’’ first year, but in 10 years time Holly would never let me hear the end of it if she discovered she never had one and her sister did. I know, I have a sister.
I absolutely understand the sibling rivalry when it comes to parties… and presents… and just about anything else! I haven’t much gotten into parties just yet, we’ve just done family time and cake, but I am already planning the older kids fully themed parties for when the time {and appreciation factor} comes!
Ella’s first birthday was with family (BIG family) and a couple of friends. I’m thinking JUST family for Holly’s. The Bloke in The Shed has six brothers and sisters, all married with children of their own, so family events tend to become big events!! I think we’ll go for the themed parties when they’re a bit older too. xx
Love the cake!! Such pretty baby girl pink 🙂 Enjoy all that planning. I just had family gatherings and a beautiful messy cake for them to enjoy, face and all, for all of our firsts. Holly will love it.
I so enjoyed making that cake, Caz. Simple, but effective. I used the recipe from one of the Women’s Weekly birthday cookbooks and the cake was so incredibly moist. I use it every time now. Our gatherings are usually just family too. The only challenge is that the O’Brien family is HUGE! This one may just be grandparents and a few cousins, I think. 🙂
Big party planner here!! I started Harrys UP party at least six months ago! I’m already planning Dominics soccer one for November and the twins/AB combined Tangled & ToyStory for start of Dec! Then there is Christmas, I’ve already got Xmas craft Planned for this school holidays so Dom doesn’t miss out while he’s at school next term! Nearly every weekend from now to Xmas is booked! It’s crazy!
Love the cake!! I have that same cookbook and love it!
And your UP party was amazing! from what I saw online anyway 🙂
Oh my goodness, Kirsty. You are so super organised. That’s fabulous! I was much the same with Ella, but I have no idea what happened this year!!
The Tangled and Toy Story parties sound like lots of fun! Can’t wait to hear about them. x
Birthdays are a big deal in our family but I’m a bit all over the shop with parties. Some I go all out for others are kept fairly simple. I guess it depends on how much energy I have lol
LOL! So true, Kate. I don’t know whether we’ll do the party thing every year. It’s going to be hard to explain to Ella that Baby Holly got one this year and then have her miss out. Particularly when they’re only a month apart. So looks like I’ll be back into party planning mode as soon as this one is over! 🙂
You are awesome Kellie 🙂
I will freely admit to being a little bit happy that my little man is not a boy who likes groups or parties when it came to his b’day yesterday. We had a beautiful relaxed day at home together and it was blissful. Same cannot be said for babygirl who will need a big first b’day in a couple of months, seeing as her big sibs did!
Thanks for linking up xox.
That sounds like heaven, Kate. That’s pretty much what we had for Ella’s birthday last year and I think we all enjoyed it a lot more. I’m trying to keep the numbers down for Baby Holly’s, even though the first birthday is always a little bit special!! 🙂
I am a last minut kinda gal here though I have definitely slackened off things as I got down the line of children. DD1 had a proper christening in a church with a massive party afterwards. DD2 had a naming ceremony in a park with a small BBQ. DD3 looks like she gets nothing!
LOL!! Oh Rhianna, I love that. There’s a blog post in that for you (if you haven’t already!!). 😉
I’ve made a big deal out of the first threes first birthdays. They were all at the same place, and really special.
This year we had a combined party for all four (they are I’ll in June or July) so Ava’s first birthday got lumped in with that, and I do feel slightly guilty. But she got presents and cake, so I guess she was happy with that.
Not sure what I will tell her when she is older though!
Why is it we seem to always have our babies close together? Hehe!!
Maybe she can have a special 18th, Jess! At least that way she’ll remember it. These first birthday parties are definitely more for us than the kids! 🙂
How talented are you, such a multi tasker.
Excellent job on the invitations. Thanks for sharing. xx
Oh yes, there’s a design career in my future!! LOL!
Not sure they’re quite up to professional standard, but I don’t think Baby Holly minds! Hehe! Plus, I had heaps of fun doing it. x
Party mode over this way too…18 kids converging Saturday. I’m on a sugar high already just thinking about it.
Have a great time!
Oh my goodness, Andrea. 18? I hope you survived! 😉
Love the invite. We had a lovely first birthday party for Miss A last year. Given that this year we’re actually getting married on her 2nd birthday I haven’t planned a party, but reading this makes me think I really should celebrate it. Now to finish planning the wedding and organise a birthday party in three weeks…eek!!
Oh my goodness, Shelley, don’t do that to yourself! LOL! I hope the wedding preparations are coming along well. I loved planning my wedding. I spent two years doing it (sad, but true). And here I am spending a few weeks on my baby’s first birthday. Priorities! Ha! 🙂
LOL! I made the rule that we will only have parties once they’ve started school and have their own friends 😉
We’re just doing the family dinner/BBQ thing for now. I don’t want them to always expect a huge fuss for every birthday!
Now that’s a mighty fine rule, Kellie. I may have to adopt that.
For Ella, at least, it’s always been all about the cake. I don’t think the party is really that important to her. Last year it was just grandparents and a few cousins dropped in as well, so it wasn’t actually a party. She enjoyed that. I think that might be the way we go for the next few years, at least. 🙂
I get full on into party plan mode, but have pared it back by only having one proper party a year (the other three have a family dinner party only)…
I think the family dinner parties are a good idea, Sif. At least that way everyone seems to enjoy themselves more. Most importantly, us mums! 🙂
HAHA. The only major disappointment when it comes to Bear’s party is that you guys won’t be able to be there!!
Awww! We would so love to be there! We’ll be there in spirit, for sure! x
I understand everything you say in your post Kel, I planned the eldest down to a T for her Pink Polka Dot first birthday and also her 2nd and now I am not as organised as I would normally be with birthday parties with the new princess here. I have her theme planned for January and a few pieces but usually I have it all planned in my head by now. I agree with the sister thing too as you will be guaranteed to never live it down if you don’t have one for both.
Oh, I’m so glad I’m not the only one, Kym. I think once the second (and third!) children come along, there’s just so much more taking up our time. Unlike with the first, where we had nothing else to do but kiss and cuddle them all day!! Oh, those were the days…. Hehe! 🙂
I have just discovered your blog – hello!
As a former PR person, both my children’s birthdays are reason for annual event planning lists – my mum said only someone in my former field of work would do a ‘run-through’ practice candle-blowing with my babes so all would go well on the day! 🙂
Hi Paula. Thanks so much for dropping by.
I love that you do a run-through practice candle-blowing. That is fabulous! I always have a go at any party foods I haven’t attempted before, but that’s about as far as I’ve gone!! You’re making me think I should do more now!! LOL! 😉
[…] It’s my party and I’ll create a free downloadable princess birthday invitation if I want to […]
What amazing talent you have….you could hire yourself out to plan birthday parties for busy Mums! I love the colour of the invitation (pink is my favorite colour) and the design is so nice.
Sounds like the day is going to be so much 🙂
Happy Birthday Holly for your amazing first birthday!
Cheers
LIsa
Thanks Lisa. It was a bit of fun designing. I have NO designing skills, I might add! Hehe!! How fabulous would it be to plan birthday parties all day long. Now there’s an idea for a career! 😉
I’m pretty organised. For Chatterbox’s 2nd birthday I even made a practice cake the week beforehand. But we didn’t have a first birthday for him so I kinda felt a bit guilty and wanted to make sure it all worked out. He doesn’t remember anything except the cake so at least I got it right. Goodness knows what 3 will bring…and Little Cowboy turns 1 the week after so there might be some party combining…
Love love love your invitations! Pity I don’t have girls…
Oh yes, I’ve done the practice cake too, Kate. Actually, I only did it for Ella’s first birthday. After that, I’ve just winged every one since!
Love that his only memory was the cake. It must have been pretty fabulous! I think it’s what the kids look forward to most.
I think there might be a few combined birthdays in our future too, with the girls only a month apart. x
I was the same with Emily’s 1st birthday, I had my theme and ran with it! Practised the cake and made a banner for it, designed chocolate wrappers, bought all accessories imaginable. most of which never even got used! So, I really must get organised this time! Eek! I only have four months!! lol
Hehe!! Good luck with it, Belinda. Funny how we go so overboard with the first one!! 🙂