Check out Suann‘s new blog, Hip Hip Hooray! It covers all things kids parties: invitations, decorations, themes and such.  I will definitely be checking this site out when I help my sister plan my nephew’s first birthday party this August!

{images shown belong to Hip Hip Hooray}

This older post from Jordan Ferney caught my eye…  I need to add summer dinner parties to my summer to-do list!

{image via Oh Happy Day; photos belong to Tec Petaja}

Adele from Dace threw an Alice in Wonderland “unbirthday” party for her daughter… and it looks like it was a big hit!  Found via unruly things.

{images shown taken by Ryan Savella}

I’m thinking it’s right about time to have a spring tea party for all the wonderful women in my life…

{image from my Mom’s winter tea party in February.  For more of my images of this tea party, check out my Flickr}

Sunday was perfect: family, good food, lots of tea, a hot fireplace, and plenty of relaxing and gabbing.  The birthday tea party I hosted for my Mom went well, with the exception of some very missed and loved family members (who were all sick… and I hope are all on the mend!).  I did a little bit of decorating for the party, including making 2 paper garlands for the fireplace mantel (after being so inspired by this garland by Lobster and Swan).  Surprisingly, preparing for the party went well and there was no rushing or stressing at all (hopefully my new outlook on parties and holidays is paying off).  The soup was delicious, the sandwiches perfect, and the desserts and scones absolutely scrumptious.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves and got to relax and catch up with each other.  I’m now thinking tea parties should happen at least once a month… or even once a week, for that matter.

{for more of my perfect parties photos, check out my Flickr}

This month my beloved grandparents have been married for 60th years – quite a feat for anyone.  A few days after Christmas with all the extended family visiting, we are going to have a fantastic party to celebrate, including having my grandparents renew their vows (I am beyond excited for that).  When my aunt came to me and asked if I would letterpress print invitations for the party, I jumped at the chance.  The colors of the invite, red and gold, coordinate with the party’s color scheme as well as with the holiday season.  I chose typefaces and illustrations that were elegant for this momentous and festive occasion.  My grandparents haven’t actually seen the invite yet, but I think we’re planning on presenting it to them framed, a keepsake of what will hopefully be an incredibly touching and memorable night with family and close friends.

{for more images of my letterpress work, please check out my Flickr}

With Thanksgiving being only a week away, I’m thinking of simple and beautiful ways to dress up the table.  Of course, Martha is always full of ideas: from placecards, to centerpieces, to table decor.  I’m really liking those squirrels… too cute.

{images shown belong to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.}

I had posted about Suann’s very cute invitations for her son Ike’s third birthday party, and today there are lots of images of the party on her blog as well as on Real Simple.  Every detail is perfect, from the photo stand, to the signage, to the boxed lunches and cake.  Suann has done it again!  She has such a great eye for detail.  I’d like her to design all of my parties!

{images shown belong to simplesong design and Suann Song}

Today is my last post on the details on my sister’s baby shower.  With the color scheme, theme, invitation, and menu already shared, all that’s left is showing you the decorations, table settings, and favors.  When I was searching for inspiration on decorating, I turned to the very talented Chelsea Fuss and fell in love with her Orchard Wedding Table.  We decided to have the “picnic” tables on the back porch that would allow the red, white, and green colors to pop as well as add to the summery outdoorsy feeling.  I hung cherry red and green apple paper lanterns from red and white striped bakery string near the ceiling and covered the tables with white tablecloths.  I found a perfect red and white pin-striped fabric and made the table runners for each table.

I loved Chelsea’s use of bottles, so I found vintage milk bottles on Etsy and eBay to act as vases and filled each with white, red, and light green flowers.  I wanted the flowers to emphasize the picnic setting, looking simple and relaxed, like I had the milk bottles on hand and cut the flowers fresh from the garden.

On every table I scattered several Richard Scarry characters driving in cars and vehicles, as well as baby and childhood photos of the parents-to-be.  I also was inspired by Chelsea’s use of fruit as centerpieces and places several bowls of Bing and Rainier cherries on each table to add to the late summer atmosphere (as well as adding more red to the color scheme).

The favors were also inspired by the Orchard Wedding Table design, but instead of apple butter, assorted jams (blueberry, cherry, apricot, and plum) were topped with green apple gingham fabric, tied with red and white bakery string, and finished with a tag (with of course, a Richard Scarry character).

It was a lovely day and we were truly lucky to have absolutely perfect weather.  Sunny and warm, but cool enough to leave the glass porch doors open for a soft breeze to flow through the room.  Absolutely perfect summertime picnic weather.  I had so much fun planning this event with my Mom for my sister and wanted to make this event as special as she is.  I am so excited for her to be a Mom and can’t wait to meet baby James!

{for more of my perfect parties photos, check out my Flickr}

Yesterday I began showing you details about my sister’s Richard Scarry Summertime Picnic baby shower, and today I’m sharing with you the menu for the event.  To stick with our theme, we served everything we could think of for picnic food: an assortment of sandwiches (chicken salad, egg salad, and seafood salad), tiny chicken wings, a mixed greens salad, fruit salad, and lots of sides (potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, and pickles).

For beverages we served homemade raspberry ice tea, fresh lemonade, sparkling juices and several Italian sodas.  I also found three Richard Scarry toys on eBay to keep the refreshments company.

The menu was capped off by a fresh strawberry shortcake, assorted cookies, and vanilla cupcakes.  I created a simple and inexpensive cupcake tier (or as my Dad called it, a cupcake pyramid) using gift boxes of different sizes wrapped in brown kraft paper.  To bring the shower design elements to the desserts, I bought striped cupcake paper cups and designed Richard Scarry flags for the tops.  The entire day was full of yummy and delicious food (that also left plenty of leftovers for midnight snacks!).

Tomorrow, I’ll wrap up the posts on the shower with the details on my favorite part, the decorations, table settings, and favors.

{for more of my perfect parties images, check out my Flickr}