{Feature Friday} Goldilocks & Three Bears Birthday Party

March 11, 2011

We are so excited to feature this positively precious Goldilocks & Three Bears Birthday Party submitted to us by our wonderfully talented friend Paula of Frog Prince Paperie. In fact, this party was so amazing that it got the recognition it deserved and was first featured on Amy Atlas yesterday! Congratulations Paula! So step in to a Classic Fairytale as told by Paula herself.....

I founded my business on a fairytale party (the frog prince), and it only seemed fitting that for my son's second birthday, another fairy tale should be the theme. Guests were invited to our Goldilocks and the Three Bears party with a Goldilocks board book with a bookplate/invitation on the inside cover sent "Bear Mail."

I attempted to create a feeling of being in the bear family house at baby bear's birthday. I used painted bead board as a backdrop with silhouettes of mama bear, papa bear and baby bear. Tiny sewn paper bunting added a birthday feel to the backdrop. The base table linens was sewn together patchwork gingham - casual, but mama bear's best! I topped this with a monogrammed white cloth.

The blocks were custom made by Laugh Loud Smile Big to match the party and spell out Brennan's name. (So to make my daughter happy, they also spell Madeline!)

The kids ate all their goodies and lunches at a four-poster twin bed I converted into a kid-sized table. Party favors were porcelain bowls and wooden spoons personalized with each child's name and a small teddy bear nestled in the bowl.



I used dark woods in crates, trays and tiny dollhouse chairs to display desserts that might find their way into a bear celebration: baked porridge topped with maple frosting and cinnamon, marzipan acorns, honey cupcakes, chocolate covered bear pops, bear sugar cookies, and all natural lollipops.

Allyson Jane provided the sugar cookies, and I baked the rest, save the cake! The cake was special; grandma flew in just for the party and made the cake for the birthday boy. Mama bear probably didn't deal in fondant or cake tips, so we left it very homemade with love looking and topped it with a little mini bunting and wooden bear.

Since we were entertaining 10 two year olds beginning at 10:30am, I also made a snack bar for the kids with berries (candy), mushrooms (cracker sticks with mushroom tops), twigs (pretzel sticks) and brown bears (teddy grahams.) Little boxes were set out at kid height so they could see what was in all the glass jars and help themselves.

There were also photo props for the kids to be silly with and have their picture taken.

Thank You Paula for letting us share this amazing day with all our readers. Your son's Birthday was yet another Classic Fairytale created by one fantastic Mama Bear! We look forward to reading more!

Smiles~

Amy & Bri

Credits:

Paperie and styling: Frog Prince Paperie

Photography: John McLaughlin and Paula Biggs

Sugar Cookies: Allyson Jane

Name Blocks: Laugh Loud Smile Big

Party hats: Southern Belle's Charm

Monogrammed birthday boy jon jon - 2 Manic Mommies Embroidery

{Feature Friday} Green and Orange 2nd Birthday

January 28, 2011

When it comes to parties, really the sky is the limit. You can create a party around a theme, a character, a color or in this Friday's Feature, a word. Christi of P is For Party created her son's 2nd Birthday around a word that best describes him, "Silly". This green and orange "Sillybration" was first featured on the extraordinary Kate Landers Events and definitely kept us there for a while with all of the details that Christi so perfectly polished!

And how is this for an invitation? Christi worked with her designer friend Haley Hardcastle to create a kid friendly as well as fun invitation. Each guest received a colorful invite that was placed inside a mailing tube along with a sweet surprise, confetti and a blower!! Talk about creative!!


One of our favorite party trends right now are these 36" Round balloons.
These balloon make a BIG statement and come in lots of fun colors!

In keeping with the "Sillybration" Christi set out a "Let's Get Silly" station for the kids. Christi's friend Haley also designed the sign which she placed in an IKEA frame. This activity station was made up of an orange tub from Target that was also filled with the coordinating party colors; jumbo glasses, maracas, toy microphones, and white feather boas. This is a relatively inexpensive idea which I am sure had the biggest impact when it came to two year olds!!! Most of these items can be found at your local Dollar Tree.


The colors of the party were perfectly carried out on to the dessert table. Since dessert tables have become the big "Ta-Da!" of parties, Christi simply used a 4X6 board and covered it with fun fabric as her backdrop. She then placed 2 boxwood topiaries on each side of the table giving it balance and that POP! of green.

The cake, which was the centerpiece of the dessert table was perfectly silly!

The boxwood topiary balls placed in white ceramic pots also from IKEA were carried out on to the guests tables. These were a perfect kid-friendly centerpiece idea and can be re-used again and again! There were also centerpiece sticks created by Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress that were placed in the same white ceramic pots filled with white crinkle paper.

We also loved the traditional Party Hats that each kiddo got to take home! Celebrate Today and Posh Party Pretties had a hand in creating these fun hats!

One of our signature touches to our Play Parties are Placemats. We just loved this party detail. Each place setting had a custom placemat that added color and fun to the tables!

We may sound like a broken record but this was probably our favorite part of the whole party!!! For food, Christi treated the parents and kids to a Gourmet Grilled Cheese Station.....doesn't get any better than that!!! A great idea for food for those cold Winter Birthday's!! She also had peanut butter and banana sandwiches, as well as chips and fruit.



A warm touch to the party were these green and orange throws from IKEA that were placed out for the guests to cuddle up with.

{Photography by Melanie Pereira}
We just loved how Christi pulled this "Sillybration" off with so many SAVVY touches! For more inspiration and well if you just want to sit and stare some more, head over to Kate Landers Events to view more photos from this amazing day! Make sure you also check out more of Christi's party inspirations over at P is For Party.

Thank You Christi for sharing your creativity, you are an inspiration!

Smiles~

Amy & Bri

Captured Moments.....365 Days.

January 20, 2011

Today is my Birthday.

And yes I am 21

A day of reflection for me, as it is every year.

A day when I look at the blessings that the year has brought.

The lessons I have learned.

Moments and Memories I will treasure.

And the heartbreak and headaches that have passed.

And as I recount the 365 days since my last 'reflection' I can't help but smile.

I smile because I am beyond Blessed.

My heart is so filled with love and joy that it often feels like it will burst.

Though my Fears and Anxiety can often be great.

My Hope and Faith are always greater.

And as I take a look at the year in pictures I can't help but stop and take it all in.

And share.

Share just what I feel in this moment.

Because these Captured Moments are Forever Memories.

Time Never stands still.

In fact as I get older it seems to go faster.

And I wish it would just stop for a moment.

Slow down for a day.

So I can hold onto these minutes that I don't want to end.

But Life is Sweet....

And you can Never turn back.

You have to keep moving forward.

Taking it all in.

Cherishing the Memories.

Oh the excitement of what this year will bring.

But with it the sorrow of another year gone.

Thank You Captured Moments by Nicole for giving me the beautiful gift of Priceless Moments captured through your lens.

Smiles~

Bri

A Savvy Pink & Green Princess Party

September 24, 2010

So, we have shown you just a glimpse of how Savvy we can be. In trying to understand how to put together a blog. How to understand all the technicalities. And trying to understand all the ins and outs. We have not been able to show just how Savvy 'YOU' are, our loyal followers. If you notice we have tabs across the top of our home page that are sadly empty. These tabs are where we want and hope to showcase all that is Savvy out there in the 'blogosphere'. So until those technicalities are magically explained to us, this is how we will start showing you.

Our first official "How Savvy Are You" party comes from one of our dear friends, Suzy. She threw her daughter a magical Pink and Green Princess party for her 4th birthday. Every detail was Savvy perfection! Suzy made the majority of the pretty pink pieces you see. She used her Savviness to create adorable Styrofoam and ribbon topiaries, a shadow box, some scrapbook paper and rhinestones for a cupcake platter, and finally with some paint, more pinkalicious rhinestones and a clay pot, she was able to create delectable marshmallow pop centerpieces.

The adorable coordinating Birthday banner and cupcake toppers were from Ciao Bambino. The kids table, which was so perfectly set for a princess was dressed with hot pink polka dot plates and cups which was provided by The Celebration Shoppe.
Don't forget to click on the Image to see all of the AMAZING details!
Thank you so much Suzy for sharing these amazing photos and Savvy designs. You make party planning look easy!

If you have a party, idea, or event you would like to share, we would love to see your Savviness!!!! Send your photos and ideas to

www.thesavvymomsguide@yahoo.com

Smiles,
Amy & Bri